helping declining churches revitalize jesus said, „the harvest is plentiful but the workers are...
TRANSCRIPT
Helping declining churches revitalize
Jesus said,
„The harvest is plentiful
but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,
to send out workers
into his harvest field.“
The church leadership observes the development of the church: Church life-cycle
Birth
Death
Growth
Maturity Preservation
Decline
Structure
Leadership
Resources
Refocusing
Control
Polarisation
Dreaming
Clarifying
Developing
Organizing
Longing
Questioning
Blaming
Leaving
Assessment: Status of our Church
Birth Death
Growth
Maturity Preservation
Decline
The Core Issues
Birth Death
Growth
Maturity Preservation
Decline
Structure
Leadership Control
Polarisation
Or: Or: Issues that cause Issues that cause crisescrises when left when left unaddressedunaddressed
Characteristics of Decline in a local churchPlateau or decline in Membership over ten yearsTransfer growth as opposed to conversion growthCentripetal focus (inward) – Members, youth, buildingSpirit of resignation (Our best years are behind us)Leader- types have left the churchResistance to changePeople serve structures, not structures serving peopleInformation is more valued than transformation
Realize - - - If we keep doing what we have been doing, we will keep getting what we have been getting!
Is that what we want?
How can we become harvest-driven?
Displaying REAL love for one another (Joh 13) Praying expectantly (Col 4:2) Developing an outward-looking focus (Matt 9:36) Discovering our potential church in our OIKOS Seeking to become culturally relevant (adding
value to the lives of non-Christians)Key Question: Should our church cease to exist
tomorrow, would we be mourned or missed by the people of our city/region?
The four elements needed for turn-around to take place Attitudinal change (We refuse to allow
decline to strangle us)Missional behaviorSkilled Pilot (Guide, encourage, plan, results,
celebrate)Abiding/Expectant Prayer
Non-Christians Christians
The spoken word
Non-Christians Christians
Grace experienced
Moving away from an Event-Focus
Coming to a foucus on Relating
Culturally Relevant Church Growth
The Gospel
Talents and Gifts in the Chruch
Real needsin our society
The Gospels surface two questions:
Who is Jesus?
What does He want from me?
Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus wants to shape the future with us
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore as you are going make disciples of all nations (non-Christians):Baptizing them into the reality of the triune God, teaching them to oberserve everything, I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
When the saw him, they worshiped him
The Future begins with Worship
Jesus is Lord and King
The Future is all about making people into apprentices of Jesus
Jesus: As you are going about your normal living, make them into my apprentices . . .
Who do we make into Jesus apprentices?
All nations-Those not yet believing
How do we make them into Jesus apprentices?1. During our normal
course of living.
2. By immersing them into the reality of the trinue God.
3. By helping them to apply what Jesus commanded
Jesus wants to lead us into His future, and His future is the harvest.
What it really comes down to:
My Kingdom
God‘sKingdom
Me Jesus
Break out questions in triadsWhat change do I need to make personally?What will it cost me?Who will I ask to keep me accountable?