The Force Is Strong With This One

My uncle was a huge movie guy and he would record movies onto VHS tapes (I know I know...that makes me old!) for me and his other nephews and nieces.

Getting a tape was a huge win for us.

Typically, he'd be able to get 3 movies on there...pretty cool in the days long before streaming on Netflix!

Anyways, my all time favorite tape had Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade on it.

Doesn't get more epic than those flicks!

But my true fave was definitely the star wars movies.

Pretty rad.

And there's a line I remember really clearly...

Darth Vader (voiced by the legendary James Earl Jones) says about Luke Skywalker, "The force is strong with this one."

That line, in that iconic voice, stuck with me...

And now I think about it in a different way.

I apply it to church culture!

I know i know...that's a big jump from star wars to church...but just stick with me.

Every church has a culture.

It's how things feel.

I say it this way, "Vision is on the walls. Culture is in the halls!"

You might have a "vision" to be a welcoming/inviting church.

But if people aren't nice when a guest walks in the door...well that's a big problem.

A culture problem to be more specific!

And the thing about culture is that the strongest force wins.

If the dominant culture of your church is exclusive and unwelcoming thats how it feels!

Doesn't matter how much you preach, teach, or wish it was different.

If your culture doesn't celebrate inviting new people you aren't going to get many guests.

But when your culture is healthy it can become incredibly strong!

Thing is...the devil wants your positive church culture to be weak...

And he wants your negative church culture to be strong...

But just like Darth Vader, he's terrified of a leader that understands how to shape strong, positive culture in their church!

He's quaking in his boots saying, "The force is strong with this one."

Because when you realize that culture plays by a set of rules and you can create positive culture in your church by taking the right steps...oh boy...things get interesting!

That's why we talk a lot about "culture" at our weekly UpLevel Leader calls.

We've had dozens of testimonies of pastors turning toxic, unhealthy church cultures into vibrant, life-giving ones!

Are you next?

Are you ready to break barriers, build a team, and get traction this year?

UpLevel Leader is a weekly coaching program where we laugh, learn, and sometimes cry together. It’s all about growing healthy churches and making disciples.

So, if you’d like hands on coaching to help you break your current growth barrier, create an incredible team, revitalize your mission, and see your church thrive I’d love you to join me and dozens of other pastors in the UpLevel Leader program.

Plus you get access to ALL of my courses including: Facebook Invitation System, Gust Follow-Up, Vision, and Kickstarting Church Growth.

Do you need community of like-minded leaders?

Do you need fresh ideas to get your church moving again?

Come join us here.

Oh, and if your worried about the finances please don’t! We can show you how the program entirely pays for itself in as little as one month. We teach a simple (but incredibly effective) strategy for covering the very minimal cost of the program!

Plus for the next 5 3 pastors I’m offering a 50% discount on the group. Use code: MOMENTUM to save 50% FOREVER.

Click here to learn more and join. But heads up…we only have room for 5 pastors to join this month. So don’t delay!

Talk soon,

Pastor Jake