Episode 35 - Avoiding Distractions That Derail Our Momentum

We all know what it feels like to get some momentum going in our 200church. Things are going smoothly, we have buy in from our people, leaders are stepping up and making things happen. Life is good. Then, inevitably, something happens that distracts us. A squeaky wheel needs some grease. A fire gets started that needs to be put out. Right when we think things are going as well as they possibly can, distractions arise that threaten to knock us off course.

Sometimes, the distractions that come up happen because of the momentum. Some people don't like to change or move and they cause a little friction. But more often than not, the distractions are completely unrelated. Out of left field. Those distractions are the worst. When you're focusing your energy at moving toward a particular ministry or goal, the last thing you need is a peripheral problem dragging you away. So what can you do?

First, recognize that distractions are always people related. As pastors, our job is to care for people, so in some ways distractions are part of the deal. But we still have to be effective in our handling of those situations by not letting them fester. If someone has an issue in your church, the worst thing you can do is leave it alone and hope that it goes away. It never goes away. Deal with distractions quickly and efficiently, don't leave them for later.

Second, don't waste time with sideways energy. We have to be decisive with our handling of distractions. Spending too much time worrying over them or plotting out how we might deal with them is just sideways energy that is being taken away from the momentum. Maintaining momentum requires the vast majority of your energy, so don't spend any more than you need to on dealing with distractions.

Finally, remember that you're doing God's work. If you have momentum at your church, it's momentum toward something God has placed before you. That's too important for you to get distracted from! If these were your own plans or purposes it would be okay to pull back and slow down, but they're not! When God places something in front of us, we don't want to let distractions knock us off course. 

As 200church leaders, the responsibility is on us to maintain momentum. A church that is actively moving toward a mission is a beautiful thing and something we should never squander. It's hard work getting a 200church going, so don't let the distractions push you off course!