They Were Unwilling To Dream Again

Jonah was unwilling to dream again—He didn’t want to see the world the way God did.

Jonah chose to hold on to his own old dream of the way things should be.

God’s plan carried on anyway…

An entire city received the grace of God.

And Jonah was angry.

He just couldn’t picture how any of this was good.

Over the past 5 years as the lead pastor at NWLife Church, many people have come and many people have gone.

Reflecting on those who left, there is an obvious trend…

They were unwilling to dream again.

They chose to hold on to an old dream of the way things should be.

Here are some of their reasons for leaving:

• I want a King James only church.
• I want a church that promotes homeschooling.
• I want a church where no hats are allowed in the sanctuary.
• I can’t deal with a pastor who wears jeans in church.
• It’s not spiritual enough for me.
• I don’t like the stage lights.
• I want to twirl, dance, and shake during worship.
• I want end-times prophecy teaching at least 1 out of 4 Sundays.
• I want a church that gives solemn warnings about impending doom and God’s judgment of America.
• I don’t like the music here / the music is too loud here.
• I want a church that brings back the Jewish law.
• I want a church that has a political agenda and passes petitions around.
• I just can’t picture myself having a bald pastor.

Yup, someone actually told me, “I just can’t picture myself having a bald pastor”.

What were they really saying?

“I’m unwilling to dream again.”

I can’t help it that I’m bald. God made me that way.

I’m 100% convinced that it was God’s plan for us to come lead the church.

And I’m convinced God has a plan for our church and for our city.

We need people who are willing to dream again.

We need people who are willing to ask…

God, what do you want to do in my life?

God, what do you want to do in my city?

God, what do you want to do in my church?

Let’s be people who dream again.