February 6, 2019
Taking ownership is about taking the initiative. We take ownership when we believe that taking action is not someone else’s responsibility. You, as an individual, are accountable for the proper functioning of the heating and cooling system, the campus being attractive, greeting and making visitors feel welcome, communication needs to the church staff, suggesting ideas for improvement, and engaging in personal evangelism.
Ownership serves as a key in speeding up the growth and development of an individual and a church. So, when church members take a step towards ownership, it helps in the following ways: It strengthens the individual and team relationship and focuses the body of believers on doing God’s work.
An Ownership Mindset means, as an individual or team, taking responsibility for the success of their local church.
Ownership involves moving beyond yourself and taking action to help people or situations around you that call for help. There are many travelers on the Jericho Road who’ll walk right by the person who needs help. But, they’re others—the saved/servers—who’ll stop and try to help.
The church is God’s and He, like the landowner in Mathew 21:36-44 requires we be faithful. In Matthew 21, Jesus says, 33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last, of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
The secret to ownership is to recognize that all things (Deut. 10:14) belong to God, He entrusts us with resources including the local church.
The real distinction between a church where members become partners and are responsible and being bystanders and irresponsible shows how they are carrying out the Great Commission. Accepting ownership–both personal and indirect responsibility–is one of the most crucial factors in defining a growing or declining church. When you are an owner, what you do–or don’t do–shows your commitment to Jesus Christ.