What can the church learn from Ikea?

I read this post on Ikea today and have to say as I read the quotes from Ingvar Kamprad I was struck by how much the church could learn from Ikea.

So her are a few, why don't we see what could be applied.

"What we want to do, we can do and will do together. A glorious future!"

So one of the problems with the church is that to often people are not doing it together they are doing it alone, building their own empires without interest in the rest.

"Happiness is not reaching your goal. Happiness is being on the way."

The church can learn to go the journey not just set goals and do the business analysis. Christ called us to a lifestyle not an institutional business model!

"The general who divides his resources will invariably be defeated."

So often in church life we have so many transit the fire that their reasons are spread so wide they one borne to fail.

"By always asking why we are doing this or that, we can find new paths."

This is a great one! Churches are not too good at stopping this, so we Keep doing things regardless of their usefulness or need. we must stop more often and ask why!

"Part of creating a better everyday life for the many consists of breaking free from status and convention - becoming freer as human beings."

Now we most do this. we must allow each generation to find its expression of faith, free and honest.

"We do not need fancy cars, posh titles, tailor-made uniforms or other status symbols. We rely on our own strength and our own will!"

the church desperately needs to guard against the values of the world. Too often we take hold of consumerism without a-thought of what Christ would think. The twist is that we need to rely on God's Strength not our own.

"If there is such a thing as good leadership, it is to give a good example. I have to do so for all the Ikea employees"

This is the best! We must as leaders be examples! Jesus was this type of leader, but sadly to often leaders today tell us what to do and don't do it. How often have you heard the challenge from a pastor to evangelise your non Christian friends when the reality is the pastor often 20 years in ministry does not have any! We must lead by example!

So there it is, what we can learn from Ikea!