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?