It is very tempting in ministry to focus so much on the goal that you neglect the goal beyond the goal.
For example, I’m part of a team that puts a great deal of thought and effort into Sunday morning worship experiences. We want the Sunday gathering to be powerful, unexpected, cool, and inspiring. That’s sort of the goal and that’s where our minds and hearts focus.
But to what end? So that we can say we’ve had a worship service with all of those elements? May it never be!
We want that kind of worship experience so that, little by little, piece by piece, people are transformed into what C.S. Lewis calls “little Christs.” So that they are captured by his love and as a result of that love become people who are themselves full of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness.
That’s the goal beyond the goal.
Whether it’s worship ministry, youth programming, or children’s environments, don’t get so locked into the goal that you neglect the goal beyond the goal.