The gravitational pull of any church is toward insiders, not outsiders. Left unattended, your church will become a place where preferences of the members trump passion for the mission. There are two primary ways to address this drift:

• In every decision, focus on what you want to reach, not on who you want to keep.
• Commit to losing yourself for the sake of finding others.

people automatically respond with “What about me and my needs?

… People who focus on helping others and honoring Christ soon discover that their needs are met far more deeply than they ever experienced otherwise.

Carey Nieuwhof in his incredible new book Lasting Impact: 7 Powerful Conversations That Will Help Your Church Grow.