“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” – John 21:15-17 ESV

We can have the greatest line up of programs the world has ever seen in the most impressive building mankind has ever built led by the most charismatic leaders that have ever walked the face of the earth, but if we don’t take the time to invest in people then we are only so much flash and sparkle, having to real substance.

The mark of an effective church is not the calendar of events or the size of the congregation. The mark of a church that is using their resources properly is an active culture of discipleship. An investment in people, one-on-one pouring into the lives of others is what makes for an effective church. It’s easy to get caught up in the bells and whistles, but in reality, it is that personal investment that matters.

Does the church love? Does the church serve? Does the church take the time to invest in other people? If the answer is ‘yes’ then they’re probably on the right track. If they are more consumed with being busy, with adding more and more programs and keeping things light, then that evidence will point toward another end.

Even though Peter was guilty of abandoning Jesus, publicly and within earshot denying Him, Jesus still say down with Him and loved him back in, returning responsibilities and showing grace. As Christians following His example, we cannot just look for the best and brightest to invest our time and efforts. We must look for the right ‘wrong’ people sometimes and pour into them instead.

We have all heard the list of problems and people that come in the line up of God’s handiwork:
“Noah was a drunk, Abraham and a liar and a worrier, Moses was a murderer, Gideon doubted, David was the youngest, an adulterer and a murderer, etc.”
God’s kingdom is never going to operate according to human standards. His are much higher. But His methods also include a personal investment that goes beyond caring about numbers and instead points toward His own standard of becoming personally involved and stepping into a situation.
He loved us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to be our redemption, dying for us and being raised again. As we GoLove others, we are called to lay down our lives as well as we lead them to the cross. It is that investment, that discipleship process, that changes the world. A full roster of programs does not a healthy church make.