A passive church is a declining church.
Spectators may fill a room, but they will never build a future.
If we are serious about advancing God’s Kingdom, we must call forth builders—people who take ownership, embrace responsibility, and sacrifice comfort for a cause greater than themselves.
The harvest is plentiful. The workers are few.
We’re not just inviting people to attend—we’re calling them to build.
And that requires a different kind of leadership, culture, and language.
“Victory is not in avoiding hardship, but in building something worth suffering for.” Howard Schultz,
The same is true in God’s church.
1. Raise the Language, Not the Volume
Hype doesn’t build. Clarity does. The problem isn’t that we need to shout louder to get people’s attention—it’s that we need to speak clearer and stronger to capture people’s hearts. Hype may create temporary excitement, but it cannot sustain long-term commitment. Builders are not looking for emotional spikes; they are looking for meaningful challenges. They are drawn not by volume but by vision, not by noise but by purpose. When we communicate with clarity—articulating the weight of the calling, the value of the sacrifice, and the eternal significance of the mission—we attract those who are ready to own the responsibility, not merely attend the event. Hype fades. Clarity endures. And a clear, courageous call will always find and form the builders God is sending.
Instead of saying:
- “Join us for an event!”
- “Sign up to help!”
Say:
- “Step into ownership.”
- “Take responsibility for something that matters.”
- “Your commitment shapes the future of this house.”
Example: Instead of, “We need volunteers for kids ministry,” say: “We are raising the next generation of world-changers. If you step into this team, you are shaping destinies.”
Application:
- Audit your announcements and event invitations.
- Replace passive invitations with ownership language to foster a sense of responsibility and commitment among participants, encouraging them to take initiative in the activities and interactions within the group.
- Speak to the spirit of a builder: ownership, sacrifice, meaning, dedication to craftsmanship, resilience in the face of challenges, and the pursuit of excellence in every project undertaken.
“Responsibility is not given; it is embraced.” — Craig Groeschel
2. Call People Up, Not Out
Don’t beg people to serve. Inspire them to rise.
Builders are not motivated by guilt; they are moved by vision. When we guilt people into action, we might get a moment of compliance, but we will never build a culture of ownership. Guilt produces temporary action that fizzles out when the feelings wear off. Vision, on the other hand, awakens something deeper—a sense of purpose, a holy calling that captures both the heart and the will. Builders want to be part of something that matters, something that demands the best of them and offers eternal significance in return. When we call people up—to sacrifice, to leadership, to eternal impact—we stop managing behavior and start mobilizing destiny. Guilt pressures people to do more. Vision invites people to become more.
Instead of:
- “We don’t have enough volunteers.”
- “Why aren’t people stepping up?”
Say:
- “God has placed greatness in you—and greatness demands a response.”
- “We are inviting you into a calling that echoes into eternity.”
Example: Instead of complaining that people aren’t giving, declare: “Every time you give, you are building a testimony of faith that God uses to change lives. You’re not giving to a need—you’re giving to a vision.”
Application:
- Celebrate sacrifice stories publicly.
- Call people up to mission, not guilt-trip them about the institution, emphasizing the importance of shared goals and inspiring them to actively participate in a positive and supportive environment.
- Regularly link actions to eternal impact.
“The Church is not built on the gifts and talents of a few but on the sacrifices of many.” — Brian Houston
3. Remove Comfort-Oriented Language
Comfort culture kills builder culture. When the language of the church centers around ease, convenience, and minimal commitment, it produces a community of spectators rather than a movement of soldiers. Builders are not looking for the easiest path—they are looking for the most meaningful one. Churches that overpromise convenience and underemphasize calling unknowingly attract those who only show up when it’s easy and leave when it’s hard. Comfort breeds passivity, but calling demands action. If we want to build a church that impacts generations, we must stop marketing Christianity as a low-cost, low-risk experience. Instead, we must boldly present the high calling of Christ—the cross before the crown, the cost before the reward, the mission that demands everything but gives back even more. Builders are not deterred by challenge; they are drawn to it.
Instead of:
- “It’s easy!”
- “It won’t take much of your time!”
Say:
- “This will stretch you—and grow you.”
- “Building always costs something—but it’s worth everything.”
Example: Instead of marketing small groups as “low-commitment,” emphasize: “You’re stepping into a family that will stand with you, stretch you, and strengthen you.”
Application:
- Audit your slogans, event promos, and service invitations.
- Remove language that centers around ease, fun, comfort, and emphasize more serious, targeted, and professional tones instead.
- Replace it with language about mission, growth, transformation.
“God is not interested in your comfort; He’s interested in your character.” — Rick Warren
4. Stop Over-Explaining; Start Expecting
Builders respond to high expectations, not over-explanations. Builders respond to high expectations, not over-explanations. When we over-explain, we often slip into a defensive posture—trying to justify why commitment is necessary, why sacrifice is hard, or why serving matters. Without realizing it, over-explaining sends a subtle message: “We’re sorry this costs you something.” But builders don’t want an apology; they want an opportunity. They aren’t looking for leaders who lower the standard to make it easier—they are looking for leaders who lift the vision to make it worth it. Expecting commitment assumes that those called by God are ready to rise to the challenge. It frames service as an honor, not a burden; a privilege, not a favor. Great builders don’t shrink back from high expectations—they are strengthened by them. Set the bar high. Assume greatness. Let the expectation itself separate the committed from the casual.
Instead of:
- “I know it’s asking a lot…”
- “We totally understand if you’re too busy…”
Say:
- “We believe God has entrusted you with gifts too powerful to sit dormant.”
- “We expect much because we believe much has been deposited in you.”
Example: Instead of defending why attending leadership training matters, declare: “Builders sharpen themselves before they shape others. We expect you there.”
Application:
- Assume commitment and maturity in your builders, understanding that their dedication and growth are vital for the long-term success of your projects and overall objectives.
- Set high expectations and let them act as a natural filter, ensuring that only those who are truly committed and capable will rise to meet these standards, fostering a culture of excellence and dedication within the team.
- Trust that the right people will lean in, not lean away, supporting your growth and encouraging your journey toward success while being present during both challenges and triumphs.
“What you tolerate, you endorse. What you expect, you empower.” — Anonymous
5. Protect the Builders
You can’t build with spectators sitting in leadership seats.
- Set the tone: Speak often about values like excellence, sacrifice, honor, accountability.
- Name the values: Define them clearly and unapologetically.
- Enforce the standards: Honor those who uphold them. Confront gently but firmly those who don’t.
Expect attrition. Some spectators will leave—but what remains will be pure, strong, and ready to move.
Example: A church that stopped allowing late volunteers to serve in key roles saw short-term pushback but long-term transformation—because excellence became a real value, not just a slogan.
Application:
- Publicly honor builders who sacrifice their time and energy, and who consistently uphold high standards of quality and integrity in their ministry, recognizing their dedication and contributions to the church.
- Privately correct or reposition those who erode the culture.
- Regularly restate that the mission is too important for mediocrity.
“You cannot build a ship with sailors who refuse to leave the shore.” — Anonymous
Closing Statement:
The future does not belong to the comfortable. It belongs to the committed.
Spectators will watch history happen. Builders will make history happen.
Jesus didn’t call people to attend a show—He called them to take up a cross and follow Him.
The invitation was never about comfort—it was about costly, glorious, eternal purpose.
“We are not diplomats, but prophets; and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.” A.W. Tozer
So be bold. Be clear. And start building.
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