“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
I have always been fascinated by space travel. As a little kid, I watched in amazement as men walked on the moon. I never could understand why it was impossible for us to live on other planets. I mean on Star Trek, the atmosphere was almost always perfect for Captain Kirk. As I got older, I learned about the importance of the atmosphere for maintaining life. The earth’s atmosphere is composed of just the right amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. Because these three chemicals are mixed in just the right percentages, we are able to breathe.
Our churches and organizations have an atmosphere too. As pastors and leaders, we are the architects of that atmosphere. It is the leader who creates just the right mix so that the organization and all those who are a part of it can breathe. Healthy organizations have a healthy atmosphere. Unhealthy ones don’t. It doesn’t take long to tell if a church is healthy or not.
For those of us who are church leaders, we want to create the kind of atmosphere that attracts God and attracts people.
Atmosphere of Faith– There is a sense that anything is possible. People are empowered and told what they can accomplish something rather than being told what they can’t do. Faith attracts God as well. “Without faith, it is impossible to please God…” The Holy Spirit is drawn to the atmosphere of faith.
Atmosphere of Hope– People feel that their best days are ahead. They might be going through a tough time now, but hope keeps them pushing forward. Hope is the light at the end of a dark tunnel. When people stop hoping, they stop living. Hope is living in constant anticipation of God’s blessing.
Atmosphere of Love– Love is the language of the Kingdom. “For God so loved the world that he gave…” Love creates an atmosphere of acceptance and grace that people want to be a part of of. An organization that operates in love creates a sense of security for its members. They feel safe because they know they are loved.
What kind of atmosphere does your church or organization have? Do you feel that you can breathe there?
Annie and I are serving the Lord in the US, Africa, South America, and India. We are training leaders and helping plant churches. Would you join our team and help us impact lives? Just click here to get involved. Thanks so much!
