The Importance of Preparation

Luke 14:17

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

The parable of the supper gives the church key insight as to what the church is to do to fill the church house. Preparation is one of the keys to filling the church house. You will notice this man who made the supper say, Come; for all things are now ready. This man prepared for the crowds to come before he sent for the crowds.

You will never grow beyond your preparation and organization. One reason so many fail to fill their house is because they fail to prepare. Let’s face it, do you think God will fill a church that is not prepared to handle the crowd? Preparation is critical to the growth of any church. A failure to prepare results in a failure to grow. A failure to grow is a failure to reach the lost to the fullest potential that God planned for us to reach. Preparation is critical to reaching the lost. There are five keys to preparation you must implement if you want to be prepared so God can grow your church.

First, vision is critical to preparation. If I have no vision, I will not know what I need to prepare for. In the very next parable that Jesus taught, He talked about counting the cost. Counting the cost can only happen if you keep records. You cannot prepare properly if you don't keep records. Records help you to have a vision. You can plan in the blind and hope that you will be prepared, or you can get a vision by looking at the records you kept so you can properly prepare to see that vision filled. Record-keeping is critical to having a vision. Your records WILL tell you if your vision is lunacy or a reality. Having a vision for what can be done by keeping records is a reality-based vision of what truly can be done with your church infrastructure.

Second, plans are critical to preparation. You cannot know how to be prepared if you don't take time to get a plan on how to prepare. Planning for God to do something is critical for God to work. God will not work with people who have not planned. You can wait for God to do something, or you can plan for God to do something. Planning shows you have faith that God will do something if you prepare. Get a good plan on what needs to be done to see God work mightily.

Third, organization is critical to preparation. To be prepared, you must give duties to leadership and tell them what you expect them to do. Organization is dividing the workload so you can accomplish more with the people you have. A lack of organization limits the possibilities of God doing something mighty. The better organized you are, the better prepared you will be, and the better prepared you are, the more God can work through you. God always works much greater through organization than He does through disorganization.

Fourth, details are critical to preparation. Don't overlook the little details. The little details make the difference between mediocrity and excellence. Be sure every detail is cared for, and you will be better prepared for God to work.

Fifth, deadlines are the key to accomplishing duties so you can be prepared. You will not be prepared without setting deadlines for when you expect things to be done. Deadlines are what force us to get things done, and without them, you will never be prepared. These are the five keys that are critical to preparing for God to work mightily through your life and church.