I really used to like this stuff. Organizational alignment. Hedgehog concept. Strategic plan. So helpful to run a business.

In my forties, I got so excited about it I convinced a group of men to try it out on their families. We all went home and began working with our wives on what our goals were and how to prioritize activities that would get us there, along with timelines and key performance indicators. Strangely, none of them went for it (saying it pleasantly). Why didn’t it work for families? Is church more like a business or a family?

One of the problems with mission-vision-values thinking it that the next thoughts are: who’s leading? how do we get people aligned? what are the measurables? how do we hold people accountable? Lots of work.

In the kingdom, people aren’t behaving differently because someone talked them into it. They believe something. And at the core of it, they believe Jesus is inside them.

• Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38

• Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? – 1 Corinthians 6:19

• To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. – Colossians 1:27

The Spirit of God on the inside of us generates the fruit of the Spirit from the inside.

• Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. – John 7:38

• I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

This is much more powerful than conforming our minds to follow a mission, vision or values.

• Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. – Matthew 23:25-26

• You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? – Galatians 3:1-3

Let’s believe something. Actually believe almost anything about the kingdom and it will multiply. Can you imagine if you really believed any one of these? How powerful!

• Jesus loves you
• You’re forgiven
• Heaven is real
• Hell is real
• …
• …
• The Holy Spirit lives in you