Proper 24 - B - Mark 8:35 - Thinking About Growth - Harold Percy

" In my work with church leaders I often encourage them to give up the burden of trying to save the church or even of helping it to survive. Instead, I suggest that they take up the much more invigorating work of developing a congregation that can penetrate their community with the gospel.

In so doing, there is a very good chance that in the process they just might discover that their congregation is beginning to thrive as well - but only as a by-product. After all, we are trying to follow the one who taught that those who seek to save their lives will lose them, while those who are willing to lose their lives for the sake of the gospel will save them (Mark 8:35). This is as true today as it was when Jesus said it. "


Harold Percy, Your Church Can Thrive; Abington Press, Nashville, Tennessee; 2003; Pg 21.