Sunday, April 19, 2009
Interview with 3 Lost People- #3
These interviews really have me puzzled. The majority of the people interviewed in all three videos come from a catholic background, yet most of them have turned on their faith. The first man interviewed in this video believes in Christianity yet also reincarnation. The second girl had parents that were divorced when she was very young. Her mother raised her and her sister while her father was Jewish yet never went to the Temple. Her mother was an alcoholic yet took them to church while her actions never changed. This confused her and to this day she does not understand why Christians believe the way they do. The last lady interviewed was older. She was a recovering alcoholic that had a spiritual encounter. She went through the AA program yet was still struggling with her addiction. She went to go for another drink and heard a voice say ‘you will not have to drink anymore.’ She thought she was losing her mind! When asked if they believe they are lost, they all responded no. They try to be good people and live rewarding lives. Yet the second girl remains confused. Maybe it’s from the demonstration that her mother set before her; going to church and being a “Christian” yet having a lifestyle that says differently. No wonder she’s confused. The first man interviewed works with a Christian that has a horrible lifestyle. No one wants to be around him and says that the “Jesus fish” on his real-estate card he hands out stinks! What kind of examples are we setting? The older lady at the end challenges us to see people with addictions as people who have spiritual unease. They need a connection with a higher power to completely recover from their addiction. We need to start seeing people through the eyes of Jesus.
Interview with 2 Postmodern Lost Guys- #2
Both of these guys were raised Catholic. One stopped going once he was 18 when he no longer was forced to go. The other continues to attend Catholic mass every week with his family (mother, father, and 5 brothers and sisters). Both have experience with religion. One took a trip with his family where a lady sees signs of the Virgin Mary and Jesus when she prays. He was at the lady’s house on her yard and felt a strong peace come over him and the smell of roses. After that he has taken church more seriously. The other went on a retreat and had a “spiritual” experience and actually led it the next year. Both guys have differing views on premarital sex. One feels as if it’s ok as long as you love each other; the other says it is wrong (although he has committed it). When asked about homosexuality they also both differed. One feels as if the person is predestined to it. He has a friend that came out and told people that he was gay. He said it doesn’t change the person it’s just how they are. The other, feels it is very wrong. Neither has accepted Jesus as their personal savior yet holds these beliefs. Both believe the bible is a teaching tool, but is not to be taken literally and feel that Christians can use it as an intimidation factor. Both feel as if they are being lectured when they are confronted by Christians about their wrong lifestyle. It’s hard having just a normal conversation with them. There are Christians though that they interact with that just want to lead them to Jesus not push them. They would prefer to be led then pushed. Why don’t Christians understand this? They also suggested that instead of being called “lost” why don’t refer to them as “searching?” I almost feel as if the one guy is a Christian just doesn’t know it. Is that possible?
Interview with 3 Lost People- #1
I found these videos very interesting. Typical terms that we throw around as Christians, when presented to unbelievers really made me think. Christians will naturally call other people who have not accepted Jesus “lost.” When the three people being interviewed were asked whether or not they felt as if they were lost, they all three replied no. The person I found most interesting was the female, Katrina. She responded that she doesn’t feel lost, just more confused. When asked what she thought about when she heard “born again” she responded that the majority of people that she knew were “born again Christians” were rude and you did not want to be around them. What kind of name have we made for ourselves? Katrina feels as if God is real but doesn’t know where he would fit into her daily routine. She prays to him but isn’t sure if her prayer is even heard by anyone or if he can even heal. But yet she prays for healing for her brother. Is it put in us at birth that in our heart we know he is real? It just blows my mind how she can question whether or not God is healer, but yet prays to him. Is it wrong of them to do that? Merely go to God when they are in need of help? Or is that how God has designed their method of meeting him? Each person has their own story. Many were raised in some form of religion and because of something happening, made other choices when they reached the age to make their own decisions. We must not forget, sometimes we are the only Jesus people will see. If they see us, knowing that we are Christians, and think of us as arrogant and stand offish, why would they want to meet our leader? We must check ourselves every day.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
New Believer #3
1. Tell me about your journey to faith in Christ?
I was raised in a Christian family. Went to church and was “saved” at a young age. I never really had a relationship with Christ, just did the motions. It wasn’t until I left home and found Jesus for myself that I truly became a Christian.
2. What helped you the most to step over the line and make the commitment?
I realized who Jesus was on my own. He wasn’t forced on me. I wasn’t made to go to church. It was a decision that I made. And he waited for me.
3. What has been the best part of becoming a Christ follower to you?
I have someone who is always there for me. All I have to do is pray to him and he’s there. He never leaves me.
4. What has been the most challenging part of following Christ?
Changing some sinful lifestyles.
5. What do you think is helping you grow the most in your faith?
Going to a church and becoming involved with fellowship and small groups. I’ve met friends who hold me accountable.
6. What advice do you have for me in helping others like you to grow in their faith?
Don’t push people to have a relationship with Jesus. Let them come to him on their own. Make him available but don’t cram him down their throat.
I find a lot of people have been “forced” to go to church and have a “relationship” with Jesus. This person is very similar to my childhood best friend. Her dad was a strong Christian. Her mom never went to church. Her father made my best friend go every Sunday, even though she didn’t want to. She didn’t like church so therefore she never took the time to understand who Jesus was. Up until this present day, she will not go because she was forced to go for so long when she didn’t want to. Jesus stands at the door and waits. In the bible, we never see him forcing himself on people. He is patient and kind. I think a lot of times if we were the same way people would see Jesus in us and want to know why we are different. In the world we live in today, people want something that isn’t going to change. They long for permanence and stability. That is what is found in Jesus. He never changes, he’s always the same. And if we mess up, he doesn’t leave us. It’s typical that this person has some problems changing their lifestyle. You know what? God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He says “come to me as you are.” It’s through him and through getting to know him that we are changed. It doesn’t happen over night. This person found a great help in getting involved with a church. She has made Christian friends that hold her accountable for her actions and encourage her on her walk. This is key. It’s hard to become a Christian and be successful on your own. Everyone needs someone else in their life. Her advice related back to her story. You can’t force someone to meet Jesus. They have to do it on their own. We all know, only his timing is perfect.
I was raised in a Christian family. Went to church and was “saved” at a young age. I never really had a relationship with Christ, just did the motions. It wasn’t until I left home and found Jesus for myself that I truly became a Christian.
2. What helped you the most to step over the line and make the commitment?
I realized who Jesus was on my own. He wasn’t forced on me. I wasn’t made to go to church. It was a decision that I made. And he waited for me.
3. What has been the best part of becoming a Christ follower to you?
I have someone who is always there for me. All I have to do is pray to him and he’s there. He never leaves me.
4. What has been the most challenging part of following Christ?
Changing some sinful lifestyles.
5. What do you think is helping you grow the most in your faith?
Going to a church and becoming involved with fellowship and small groups. I’ve met friends who hold me accountable.
6. What advice do you have for me in helping others like you to grow in their faith?
Don’t push people to have a relationship with Jesus. Let them come to him on their own. Make him available but don’t cram him down their throat.
I find a lot of people have been “forced” to go to church and have a “relationship” with Jesus. This person is very similar to my childhood best friend. Her dad was a strong Christian. Her mom never went to church. Her father made my best friend go every Sunday, even though she didn’t want to. She didn’t like church so therefore she never took the time to understand who Jesus was. Up until this present day, she will not go because she was forced to go for so long when she didn’t want to. Jesus stands at the door and waits. In the bible, we never see him forcing himself on people. He is patient and kind. I think a lot of times if we were the same way people would see Jesus in us and want to know why we are different. In the world we live in today, people want something that isn’t going to change. They long for permanence and stability. That is what is found in Jesus. He never changes, he’s always the same. And if we mess up, he doesn’t leave us. It’s typical that this person has some problems changing their lifestyle. You know what? God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He says “come to me as you are.” It’s through him and through getting to know him that we are changed. It doesn’t happen over night. This person found a great help in getting involved with a church. She has made Christian friends that hold her accountable for her actions and encourage her on her walk. This is key. It’s hard to become a Christian and be successful on your own. Everyone needs someone else in their life. Her advice related back to her story. You can’t force someone to meet Jesus. They have to do it on their own. We all know, only his timing is perfect.
Purpose Driven Church- Assign. #9
Chapter 19: Turning Members into Ministers
This chapter is about completing the final step of God’s desire for your church; Making people ministers to the world. Some people just don’t feel “lead” to a ministry, others have never been asked. These people haven’t been tapped into yet. So how do we turn members into ministers? Rick explains the system he has set up in his church that helps promote their members for ministry. Teach the biblical basis for every-member ministry. In everything you do, may it have a biblical foundation and remember to instruct people the “why” before the “how.” Pillar #1: Every believer is a minister. Not everyone is called to lead a church, but we are called to spread the gospel. We are to be like Jesus. Pillar #2: Every ministry is important. Some ministries are more evident then others. Some ministries get attention while others don’t. There isn’t one ministry that is more important than the other. They are all vital! Pillar #3: we are all dependent on each other. Every ministry is intertwined with another. There isn’t a single ministry that can meet all the needs of the church, there fore there are many that work together to accomplish this task. Pillar #4: ministry is the expression of my SHAPE. SHAPE stands for spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. Based on these five things, a person can determine what their ministry should be. We are all different and can use those differences in our ministries. It’s important to understand your SHAPE. Spiritual gifts- God gives us all spiritual gifts that reveal part of God’s will for your ministry but not all of it. A lot of people put too much emphasis on the gifts and in fact grow into what they think should be their gifts. Heart- represents your desires, motivation, interests etc. Another word for heart is passion. Things you are passionate about reflect the expression of your heart. God has purpose in your interests. Abilities- natural talents. God gave us all different talents. Some people excel in sports, others in academics. We all have some kind of talent. A lot of people don’t use their talent for God. Everyone has been gifted with something. Personality- we are all different (in case you haven’t noticed yet). Your personality reflects how and where you will use your ministry. When everything lines up, your will notice fulfillment. Experiences- there are all kinds of different experiences that have shaped our lives. Because God allowed these things to happen, we should never resent them. Next is streamline your organizational structure. Teach the difference between maintenance and ministry. You don’t have to attend every meeting on the agenda. Make a difference between a committee and a ministry. Note that there’s a very big difference in leading and controlling. Maximize ministry and minimize maintenance. Don’t vote on ministry positions. A lot of people fear rejection; this will scare them away from becoming involved. Development is a slow process, don’t rush it. You avoid attracting the wrong kind of people who are only interested in power and position. You don’t have to have a public removal if a person fails and you can respond more quickly to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Establish a ministry placement process. Making members into ministers is a process that includes three essential parts. Have a monthly class about discovering your ministry. Review SHAPE. Have a placement process. Have your members take different steps into order to achieve their goal. Empower them during this time. And have staff to administer the process. Have people who can personally meet with the members and give encouragement, help, etc. Provide on the job training. A lot of times people don’t have questions to ask until they are in the ministry. Never start a ministry without a minister. Always have leadership in a ministry, it can’t run merely off of an idea. Establish minimum standards and guidelines. Keep the standards clear and brief. Allow the people to make their own decisions and movements within the ministry. Don’t allow any fundraising, make sure the ministry follows the church beliefs and don’t rely on the pastors to run the ministry. Allow people to quit and change ministries gracefully. God calls people into different areas. Give people freedom to move and experiment to find their place. Trust people. Give them a sense of ownership. Expect the best from your people and trust them! Provide necessary support and keep communication lines open. Provide materials, and promotional and moral support (these are pretty self explanatory). Never forget to renew the vision regularly. Keep your ministers focused on the goal and watch and see how God moves!
Chapter 20: God’s purpose for your church
In the conclusion Rick encourages us not to worry about the growth of our church but the fulfillment of the purposes of the church. Do not become weary in hard times but fully rely on God and the trust in the things he has given you. Be a purpose driven person. To have a purpose driven church, it must be lead by a purpose driven pastor. Remember David. He served God’s purpose. The main part of this book is finding out what purposes God has for your church. His purposes for the church are also for his people. Love your church. David also served God’s people in his own generation. We can’t serve God in any other generation except for the one we’re in. We must learn from people in the past but adapt to the present culture and meet them on their level. God gave us lessons to learn from, and examples so that we too can reach out to people. Be contemporary without compromising the truth. Be current, but don’t change what God’s word says. Let it speak. Measuring success. How do you do it? You build your church on Godly purposes and you expect great things from God. That’s how you measure success. You stay focused, and do what God has called you to do, and he will complete the rest! Rick says that he has studied churches over the years and one great “common denominator” among every growing church is having a pastor that is not afraid to believe God. Sometimes we may not see what’s going to happen, but to have a faith that goes beyond understand is what he has called of us. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, learned a lot from it, and am glad I had the opportunity to interact with Rick Warren through his book, The Purpose Driven Church.
This chapter is about completing the final step of God’s desire for your church; Making people ministers to the world. Some people just don’t feel “lead” to a ministry, others have never been asked. These people haven’t been tapped into yet. So how do we turn members into ministers? Rick explains the system he has set up in his church that helps promote their members for ministry. Teach the biblical basis for every-member ministry. In everything you do, may it have a biblical foundation and remember to instruct people the “why” before the “how.” Pillar #1: Every believer is a minister. Not everyone is called to lead a church, but we are called to spread the gospel. We are to be like Jesus. Pillar #2: Every ministry is important. Some ministries are more evident then others. Some ministries get attention while others don’t. There isn’t one ministry that is more important than the other. They are all vital! Pillar #3: we are all dependent on each other. Every ministry is intertwined with another. There isn’t a single ministry that can meet all the needs of the church, there fore there are many that work together to accomplish this task. Pillar #4: ministry is the expression of my SHAPE. SHAPE stands for spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. Based on these five things, a person can determine what their ministry should be. We are all different and can use those differences in our ministries. It’s important to understand your SHAPE. Spiritual gifts- God gives us all spiritual gifts that reveal part of God’s will for your ministry but not all of it. A lot of people put too much emphasis on the gifts and in fact grow into what they think should be their gifts. Heart- represents your desires, motivation, interests etc. Another word for heart is passion. Things you are passionate about reflect the expression of your heart. God has purpose in your interests. Abilities- natural talents. God gave us all different talents. Some people excel in sports, others in academics. We all have some kind of talent. A lot of people don’t use their talent for God. Everyone has been gifted with something. Personality- we are all different (in case you haven’t noticed yet). Your personality reflects how and where you will use your ministry. When everything lines up, your will notice fulfillment. Experiences- there are all kinds of different experiences that have shaped our lives. Because God allowed these things to happen, we should never resent them. Next is streamline your organizational structure. Teach the difference between maintenance and ministry. You don’t have to attend every meeting on the agenda. Make a difference between a committee and a ministry. Note that there’s a very big difference in leading and controlling. Maximize ministry and minimize maintenance. Don’t vote on ministry positions. A lot of people fear rejection; this will scare them away from becoming involved. Development is a slow process, don’t rush it. You avoid attracting the wrong kind of people who are only interested in power and position. You don’t have to have a public removal if a person fails and you can respond more quickly to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Establish a ministry placement process. Making members into ministers is a process that includes three essential parts. Have a monthly class about discovering your ministry. Review SHAPE. Have a placement process. Have your members take different steps into order to achieve their goal. Empower them during this time. And have staff to administer the process. Have people who can personally meet with the members and give encouragement, help, etc. Provide on the job training. A lot of times people don’t have questions to ask until they are in the ministry. Never start a ministry without a minister. Always have leadership in a ministry, it can’t run merely off of an idea. Establish minimum standards and guidelines. Keep the standards clear and brief. Allow the people to make their own decisions and movements within the ministry. Don’t allow any fundraising, make sure the ministry follows the church beliefs and don’t rely on the pastors to run the ministry. Allow people to quit and change ministries gracefully. God calls people into different areas. Give people freedom to move and experiment to find their place. Trust people. Give them a sense of ownership. Expect the best from your people and trust them! Provide necessary support and keep communication lines open. Provide materials, and promotional and moral support (these are pretty self explanatory). Never forget to renew the vision regularly. Keep your ministers focused on the goal and watch and see how God moves!
Chapter 20: God’s purpose for your church
In the conclusion Rick encourages us not to worry about the growth of our church but the fulfillment of the purposes of the church. Do not become weary in hard times but fully rely on God and the trust in the things he has given you. Be a purpose driven person. To have a purpose driven church, it must be lead by a purpose driven pastor. Remember David. He served God’s purpose. The main part of this book is finding out what purposes God has for your church. His purposes for the church are also for his people. Love your church. David also served God’s people in his own generation. We can’t serve God in any other generation except for the one we’re in. We must learn from people in the past but adapt to the present culture and meet them on their level. God gave us lessons to learn from, and examples so that we too can reach out to people. Be contemporary without compromising the truth. Be current, but don’t change what God’s word says. Let it speak. Measuring success. How do you do it? You build your church on Godly purposes and you expect great things from God. That’s how you measure success. You stay focused, and do what God has called you to do, and he will complete the rest! Rick says that he has studied churches over the years and one great “common denominator” among every growing church is having a pastor that is not afraid to believe God. Sometimes we may not see what’s going to happen, but to have a faith that goes beyond understand is what he has called of us. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, learned a lot from it, and am glad I had the opportunity to interact with Rick Warren through his book, The Purpose Driven Church.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Unchurched Friend #3
What do you think is the greatest need in your area?
Right now I think it’s crime. There are a lot of shootings and killings going on in the streets for no reason.
Are you actively attending any church?
No.
What are a few issues or topics that interest you?
I am concerned with the education of inner city children and how they seem to get the worst of everything.
Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
I think it’s because they don’t see a difference in people who go to church compared to those who don’t. People are looking for a change.
If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?
I would look to see if the people are the same way they are in church outside. Are they real? Are they friendly? Is the church there for me when I need them? Is the church all about money?
What advice can you give to pastors who really want to be helpful to people?
Be friendly. Don’t use language that the people you’re speaking to don’t understand. Make it exciting and apply it to my life.
This interview was from a friend that lives in the city. They have a different view point of life. They live in Philadelphia, specifically a section that has a really high crime rate. They have lots of children in their family and therefore that is one of their concerns and interests. Something needs to be done with the violence in their area. They also are concerned with the schools children attend. They said they feel as if they get the worst of everything, maybe the worst teachers since no one wants to be where there’s violence. These kids need a hope, a chance to get out of the area they live in. She doesn’t attend a church and didn’t specify why. She did however say that a lot of people don’t attend church because the Christians are necessarily Christian when they are outside the church walls. Is this true? In the world today, people are looking to see how real everyone is. It’s important for us as Christians to show them a lifestyle that is the same both in the church and out. We are to live like Christ did. If she was looking for a church, that is one of things she would look for. People want a “church family” they can rely on. When times get hard, does the church bail? Or are they there to comfort and help out? We must see the needs the world has and meet them. Her advice to a pastor is first and foremost to be friendly. Not to stay behind the pulpit and disappear after the service, but to get to know his congregation. Also to use terms and language the common person would know. No one can meet Jesus and learn about who he is if the pastor is speaking in an unknown language. Relate to your congregation and present them an exciting message that applies to their life.
Right now I think it’s crime. There are a lot of shootings and killings going on in the streets for no reason.
Are you actively attending any church?
No.
What are a few issues or topics that interest you?
I am concerned with the education of inner city children and how they seem to get the worst of everything.
Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
I think it’s because they don’t see a difference in people who go to church compared to those who don’t. People are looking for a change.
If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?
I would look to see if the people are the same way they are in church outside. Are they real? Are they friendly? Is the church there for me when I need them? Is the church all about money?
What advice can you give to pastors who really want to be helpful to people?
Be friendly. Don’t use language that the people you’re speaking to don’t understand. Make it exciting and apply it to my life.
This interview was from a friend that lives in the city. They have a different view point of life. They live in Philadelphia, specifically a section that has a really high crime rate. They have lots of children in their family and therefore that is one of their concerns and interests. Something needs to be done with the violence in their area. They also are concerned with the schools children attend. They said they feel as if they get the worst of everything, maybe the worst teachers since no one wants to be where there’s violence. These kids need a hope, a chance to get out of the area they live in. She doesn’t attend a church and didn’t specify why. She did however say that a lot of people don’t attend church because the Christians are necessarily Christian when they are outside the church walls. Is this true? In the world today, people are looking to see how real everyone is. It’s important for us as Christians to show them a lifestyle that is the same both in the church and out. We are to live like Christ did. If she was looking for a church, that is one of things she would look for. People want a “church family” they can rely on. When times get hard, does the church bail? Or are they there to comfort and help out? We must see the needs the world has and meet them. Her advice to a pastor is first and foremost to be friendly. Not to stay behind the pulpit and disappear after the service, but to get to know his congregation. Also to use terms and language the common person would know. No one can meet Jesus and learn about who he is if the pastor is speaking in an unknown language. Relate to your congregation and present them an exciting message that applies to their life.
Purpose Driven Church- Assign. #8
Chapter 17: Turning Attenders into Members
Once you have a group of attenders turning out for service, it’s important that you turn them into members! This would be considered getting people to “first base.” Like everything else, it’s important to start out with a plan on how you’re going to handle new members. You can do this through asking questions, but be prepared, each member with have their own answer (ex questions: what do we owe our members? What do our members value, etc). There are five unspoken questions that are said to be at church: do I fit here? Does anybody want to know me? Am I needed? What is the advantage of joining? And what is required of members? Take this into consideration when planning your approach. It’s important that you communicate the value of membership. Give your attenders a reason for wanting to be a member by giving them the benefits. Remember, when planning to personalize it for your church and your target. Being a member gives a variety of benefits, but it also gives a sense of belonging, which many people are searching for today. Create a mandatory membership class. In this class let the members know what will be expected of them. Keep it a decent length, not too long and include a variety of activities to keep it exciting. In order to be a member, the person would have to complete the class, and maybe even take a quiz just to verify they understand important information regarding the church. Gear your class towards specific age groups. Next, develop a membership covenant. The members need to know what they are committing to, a lifestyle of serving Christ. First you commit yourself to Christ, then to the church (believers). These can also be used for accountability purposes. Make your members feel special. You can do this in a number of ways. Baptisms are always great celebrations. Hold banquets to welcome new comers and special times for them to get to know the pastor one on one. Sending cards, recognizing anniversaries and birthdays are all ways that you can make someone feel special also. Create opportunities to build relationships. If a person has friends in the church, they are less likely to leave then the person who feels alone. Weekend retreats are perfect for this. When people are together for 48 hours, they create bonds and friendships faster than would happen if they merely relied on Sunday services. Also encourage members to join a small group. Develop a variety of small groups for interests, ages, etc. As your church grows so should your number of small groups. If possible, hold these in homes. Keep communication lines open. Use a variety of communication techniques (email, prayer chains, newsletters, etc). Keep your members informed of what’s going on and let them know that the church is also there for them. Always remember, that this is a group effort. Everyone’s in this together.
Chapter 18: Developing Mature Members
This chapter is full of information so I will do my best to condense it. It begins with presenting several myths regarding spiritual maturity:
#1: Spiritual growth is automatic once you are born again. Many churches have no follow up once a person has committed their life to Jesus. They are simply left on their own. They think as long as they show up to meetings and services, their job is done! The truth is spiritual growth is intentional. A person has to make the decision that they want to spiritually grow and make effort in order to. It just doesn’t happen.
#2: Spiritual growth is mystical, and maturity is attainable by only a select few.
Sometimes people picture spiritual growth as something they cannot reach. It is only for the true holy Christians that have never sinned, they cloth themselves in white garments. The truth is spiritual growth is very practical. Any believer can achieve this if they have the habits needed. Just like you become physically fit, you can also spiritually. It just takes time.
#3: Spiritual maturity can occur instantly if you find the right “key.”
Many people look for the right book, video, experience, etc to tell them what exactly they need to achieve spiritual maturity. The truth is spiritual growth is a process that takes time. We must realize this is a process and takes time. There are no short cuts for this and it can take a lifetime!
#4: spiritual maturity is measured by what you know. A lot of Christians think you’re spiritually mature when you know scripture in depth. The truth is spiritual maturity is demonstrated more by behavior than by beliefs. Maturity is how you life your life and the actions you take day to day.
#5: Spiritual growth is a personal and private matter. Because of how America is today, a lot of people think growth must take place in private. The truth is Christians need relationships to grow. Like stated in the previous chapter, fellowship is vital to growth. It keeps people coming to church and the bible even encourages us to question our faith if we do not love one another.
#6: All you need is bible study to grow. This is when a church merely teaches straight from the bible, never relating it to real life, or emotional needs. The truth is it takes a variety of spiritual experiences with God to produce spiritual maturity. Just like the previous myths, this takes time and can be enhanced in a variety of ways! It includes participation and dedication. We are to learn through experiences.
The next section was about designed your strategy. It encouraged raising the level of commitment. People want to be committed to something. Whether it’s a group, a club, or church, people want to be committed. When there is purpose behind commitment, people will act. When you raise the standards of commitment with your leadership, you will raise that for the church also. It’s a chain reaction! Don’t’ be afraid to ask people for big commitment. Jesus wasn’t, so why should we? Let people know what the benefits of committing are. Possibly even create classes that are geared towards certain levels of commitment. Build on your commitment rather than toward it. It’s easier to start with a foundation then it is trying to get somewhere without a track. It’s ok to break a big commitment into small steps also. Celebrate when someone makes a big commitment and keeps it! Help people develop spiritual growth habits. This is when classes also come in handy. As they advance from class to class they will grow and learn different habits. Build a balanced Christian education program. There are five levels of learning that should take place. Knowledge of the word. Find out what the people know and what do they need to know. Start from ground zero and assume your new members don’t know anything. Offer new believer bible studies and small groups. Perspective. This basically means seeing life from God’s point of view. Perspective helps us see why God wants things to go certain ways and helps us answer the ‘why’s’ in life. It causes us to love God more, resist temptation, handle trials, and protects us from error. Conviction. Conviction is used to motivate. Convictions are essential for spiritual growth and must be taught in order to counter act the secular pulls that we face everyday. Jesus lived his life under conviction and was very influential and powerful. Skills. This is the ability to do something with ease and accuracy. You have to develop your skills by going through certain situations and having experiences you might not necessarily want. “Skills are how to steps of spiritual growth (358).” Character is the last part and our goal is to have a Christ like character. It is not something that can be taught but is developed also by experiences and situations we go through. God allows certain things to happen to mold and shape us into who he wants us to be. “On top of knowledge of the word, you add perspective. The better you know God’s word, the more you’ll begin to see life from God’s viewpoint. Conviction naturally grows out of perspective. Once you begin to see things from God’s perspective, you begin developing biblical convictions. An understanding of God’s purposes and plan changes your motivations (362).”
Once you have a group of attenders turning out for service, it’s important that you turn them into members! This would be considered getting people to “first base.” Like everything else, it’s important to start out with a plan on how you’re going to handle new members. You can do this through asking questions, but be prepared, each member with have their own answer (ex questions: what do we owe our members? What do our members value, etc). There are five unspoken questions that are said to be at church: do I fit here? Does anybody want to know me? Am I needed? What is the advantage of joining? And what is required of members? Take this into consideration when planning your approach. It’s important that you communicate the value of membership. Give your attenders a reason for wanting to be a member by giving them the benefits. Remember, when planning to personalize it for your church and your target. Being a member gives a variety of benefits, but it also gives a sense of belonging, which many people are searching for today. Create a mandatory membership class. In this class let the members know what will be expected of them. Keep it a decent length, not too long and include a variety of activities to keep it exciting. In order to be a member, the person would have to complete the class, and maybe even take a quiz just to verify they understand important information regarding the church. Gear your class towards specific age groups. Next, develop a membership covenant. The members need to know what they are committing to, a lifestyle of serving Christ. First you commit yourself to Christ, then to the church (believers). These can also be used for accountability purposes. Make your members feel special. You can do this in a number of ways. Baptisms are always great celebrations. Hold banquets to welcome new comers and special times for them to get to know the pastor one on one. Sending cards, recognizing anniversaries and birthdays are all ways that you can make someone feel special also. Create opportunities to build relationships. If a person has friends in the church, they are less likely to leave then the person who feels alone. Weekend retreats are perfect for this. When people are together for 48 hours, they create bonds and friendships faster than would happen if they merely relied on Sunday services. Also encourage members to join a small group. Develop a variety of small groups for interests, ages, etc. As your church grows so should your number of small groups. If possible, hold these in homes. Keep communication lines open. Use a variety of communication techniques (email, prayer chains, newsletters, etc). Keep your members informed of what’s going on and let them know that the church is also there for them. Always remember, that this is a group effort. Everyone’s in this together.
Chapter 18: Developing Mature Members
This chapter is full of information so I will do my best to condense it. It begins with presenting several myths regarding spiritual maturity:
#1: Spiritual growth is automatic once you are born again. Many churches have no follow up once a person has committed their life to Jesus. They are simply left on their own. They think as long as they show up to meetings and services, their job is done! The truth is spiritual growth is intentional. A person has to make the decision that they want to spiritually grow and make effort in order to. It just doesn’t happen.
#2: Spiritual growth is mystical, and maturity is attainable by only a select few.
Sometimes people picture spiritual growth as something they cannot reach. It is only for the true holy Christians that have never sinned, they cloth themselves in white garments. The truth is spiritual growth is very practical. Any believer can achieve this if they have the habits needed. Just like you become physically fit, you can also spiritually. It just takes time.
#3: Spiritual maturity can occur instantly if you find the right “key.”
Many people look for the right book, video, experience, etc to tell them what exactly they need to achieve spiritual maturity. The truth is spiritual growth is a process that takes time. We must realize this is a process and takes time. There are no short cuts for this and it can take a lifetime!
#4: spiritual maturity is measured by what you know. A lot of Christians think you’re spiritually mature when you know scripture in depth. The truth is spiritual maturity is demonstrated more by behavior than by beliefs. Maturity is how you life your life and the actions you take day to day.
#5: Spiritual growth is a personal and private matter. Because of how America is today, a lot of people think growth must take place in private. The truth is Christians need relationships to grow. Like stated in the previous chapter, fellowship is vital to growth. It keeps people coming to church and the bible even encourages us to question our faith if we do not love one another.
#6: All you need is bible study to grow. This is when a church merely teaches straight from the bible, never relating it to real life, or emotional needs. The truth is it takes a variety of spiritual experiences with God to produce spiritual maturity. Just like the previous myths, this takes time and can be enhanced in a variety of ways! It includes participation and dedication. We are to learn through experiences.
The next section was about designed your strategy. It encouraged raising the level of commitment. People want to be committed to something. Whether it’s a group, a club, or church, people want to be committed. When there is purpose behind commitment, people will act. When you raise the standards of commitment with your leadership, you will raise that for the church also. It’s a chain reaction! Don’t’ be afraid to ask people for big commitment. Jesus wasn’t, so why should we? Let people know what the benefits of committing are. Possibly even create classes that are geared towards certain levels of commitment. Build on your commitment rather than toward it. It’s easier to start with a foundation then it is trying to get somewhere without a track. It’s ok to break a big commitment into small steps also. Celebrate when someone makes a big commitment and keeps it! Help people develop spiritual growth habits. This is when classes also come in handy. As they advance from class to class they will grow and learn different habits. Build a balanced Christian education program. There are five levels of learning that should take place. Knowledge of the word. Find out what the people know and what do they need to know. Start from ground zero and assume your new members don’t know anything. Offer new believer bible studies and small groups. Perspective. This basically means seeing life from God’s point of view. Perspective helps us see why God wants things to go certain ways and helps us answer the ‘why’s’ in life. It causes us to love God more, resist temptation, handle trials, and protects us from error. Conviction. Conviction is used to motivate. Convictions are essential for spiritual growth and must be taught in order to counter act the secular pulls that we face everyday. Jesus lived his life under conviction and was very influential and powerful. Skills. This is the ability to do something with ease and accuracy. You have to develop your skills by going through certain situations and having experiences you might not necessarily want. “Skills are how to steps of spiritual growth (358).” Character is the last part and our goal is to have a Christ like character. It is not something that can be taught but is developed also by experiences and situations we go through. God allows certain things to happen to mold and shape us into who he wants us to be. “On top of knowledge of the word, you add perspective. The better you know God’s word, the more you’ll begin to see life from God’s viewpoint. Conviction naturally grows out of perspective. Once you begin to see things from God’s perspective, you begin developing biblical convictions. An understanding of God’s purposes and plan changes your motivations (362).”
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Purpose Driven Church- Assign. #7
Chapter 13: Worship can be a witness
There are twelve convictions about worship that this chapter takes a look at. The first one being; only believers can truly worship God. I have heard this said growing up in my church before. “The direction of worship is from believers to God (239).” The purpose of worship is for worshippers to adore him and praise him. This can’t be done if you’re not a believer. There are many ways of doing this, not just throwing singing but also prayer, reading the bible, and obeying it, etc. You don’t need a building to worship God. You can worship him anywhere! Worship doesn’t come with four walls and a ceiling. You can worship in the car, in your room, outside, anywhere! Some people get this mixed up and worship their church building more than God. There is no correct style of worship. Each person is different. Therefore, there are a variety of worshipping styles. Your cultural background can play a part in this. Regardless of what the style is, true worship should include everything in you. Unbelievers can watch worship. A lot of times, people can see how genuine a person is through their worship. Worship shows relationship. Worship has a way of strengthen and encouraging, these are all things that can be witnessed. In the same sense, worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers if God’s presence if felt and if the message is understandable. When people feel God’s presence, they react. There is a changing that takes place. A lot of times, people can be won more easily to Christ simply by feeling his presence then when we bombard them with the truth. Its also important the message of worship be translated into a language that they understand. Worship and evangelism go together! God expects us to be sensitive to the fears, hang ups, and needs of unbelievers when they are present in our worship services. A lot of the ways of church are familiar to church goers, but those who don’t go may have never heard of speaking in tongues before. This can be a scary thing! It is important that we are aware of this. God tells us to be sensitive to them. We should adjust when they are in our worship services. Just because we must be sensitive does not mean the service should be shallow or compromised. It’s just important that people understand what is going on. “Being seeker sensitive does not limit what you say, but it does affect how you say it (244).” All people want to hear is the word of God and how it relates to their lives. Remember, they still haven’t found their identity in Christ. It’s important to also remember that the needs of everyone overlap; they can be very different but also the same. Both need to know what God is really like and understand life. Forgiveness is also a common need. Just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean your needs stop. It is best to specialize your service according to its purpose. Design different services with different purposes and gear them towards a certain target. You can hit two targets at once. When you separate the two, you can use the tactics that are most efficient for each target. And just a side note, a lot of people don’t enjoy Sunday evening services, even church goers! A service geared toward seekers is meant to supplement personal evangelism, not replace it. Often times, seeing other people go for Christ help people make decisions. There is power in numbers so to say. When a nonbeliever sees a lot of people worshipping the same God, it becomes real. There is no standard way to design a seeker service. Let the spirit lead! Once again, people are not all alike. There’s no one method that will reach all nonbelievers. The only thing you can do in all services is 1) treat unbelievers with love and respect, 2) relate the service to their needs and 3) share the message in a practical, understandable manner. Everything else is up for grabs! Want to know what attracts people to church? Changed lives. Lastly, it takes unselfish, mature believers to offer a seeker sensitive service. As stated before, you will have to change some things in your service to be sensitive to others. Be ok with that.
Chapter 14: Designing a seeker-sensitive service
Once again, this chapter was also lengthy so I will do my best to condense it. This chapter gave several suggestions on how to make your service more visitor friendly. The first suggestion is to plan the service with your target in mind. Remember the target you created several chapters back (education level, age, family size, etc). Create your service for them. Make it easy to attend your services. Have a variety of service hours and an abundance of parking available. Perhaps even a visitor only parking section. Offer a children’s service while the adult service is going on. Parents won’t have to worry about keeping their children quiet. Put a map on all of your advertising so people will be able to locate you. Improve the pace and flow of your service. Many times, church can go on for hours. Even church goers can get antsy. Remember the attention span of your congregation. At Saddleback, the average service length is seventy minutes. The acronym IMPACT helps keep their flow (Inspire Movement, Praise, Adoration, Commitment, Tie it all together). Make visitors feel comfortable. Remember the first emotion of a visitor is fear. Do your best to counteract this. Have greeters stationed outside the church to welcome them. Parking attendants can even help them find a spot. Do not have all your greeters wear a name tag. This makes things seem more official and less natural. Have information available in your building and have direction signs easily visible. Also, have taped music playing when they enter. Music soothes nerves. When a visitor walks in, there is music playing and people talking they won’t feel as nervous. Allow the visitors to remain anonymous during the service. The worst thing you can do is make them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. If you use a registration card, have everyone fill it out. You can keep track of attendance, prayer requests, etc this way. When you start your service, have a public welcome that makes everyone feel excited! Begin and end each service with people greeting each other. When a person feels “at home” they are more likely to return. Afterwards you could also after a refreshment table. Food also comforts. Brighten up the place! Keep the lights up and the windows open! This creates a cheery atmosphere. Make sure you have a great sound system. This can make the world of difference. Also, pews are out. Use chairs of you can and make sure they are comfortable. Make sure each person has their own personal space. Make sure the building size isn’t too large or small. If it’s too small it will limit your growth. If it’s too big it will limit the feeling of warmth. Temperature is also another area. If it’s too warm, expect people to fall asleep. Set it a couple degrees cooler to keep people alert. Make sure the entire building is clean and safe, especially nurseries and bathrooms. Create an attractive atmosphere. When people walk in, they should feel something in the air. Expectation, celebration, affirmation, incorporation, restoration and liberation should all be things felt. People come to church for a lot of reasons. You want people to relax and enjoy your service. They shouldn’t be so nervous that they cannot relax and experience the spirit of God. Printing out a simple order of service can also help. Be sure to use common terms when describing the service. If you need to, use notes explaining what will go on and what to expect. Preparing them always helps with nerves. Minimize your church announcements. This will cut back on time. Explain that there’s a bulletin and encourage everyone to take a look at it on their own time. If there’s an event for everyone, talk about it. If it’s only for certain groups, let it be. Also do not beg for volunteers from the pulpit or talk church business. Save those situations for the believer’s service. Remember to constantly evaluate how things are going. If you need to change, go ahead! Listen to feed back and be open for suggestions. Always remember that whatever you do, you are serving Jesus. This will be hard work but well worth it.
There are twelve convictions about worship that this chapter takes a look at. The first one being; only believers can truly worship God. I have heard this said growing up in my church before. “The direction of worship is from believers to God (239).” The purpose of worship is for worshippers to adore him and praise him. This can’t be done if you’re not a believer. There are many ways of doing this, not just throwing singing but also prayer, reading the bible, and obeying it, etc. You don’t need a building to worship God. You can worship him anywhere! Worship doesn’t come with four walls and a ceiling. You can worship in the car, in your room, outside, anywhere! Some people get this mixed up and worship their church building more than God. There is no correct style of worship. Each person is different. Therefore, there are a variety of worshipping styles. Your cultural background can play a part in this. Regardless of what the style is, true worship should include everything in you. Unbelievers can watch worship. A lot of times, people can see how genuine a person is through their worship. Worship shows relationship. Worship has a way of strengthen and encouraging, these are all things that can be witnessed. In the same sense, worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers if God’s presence if felt and if the message is understandable. When people feel God’s presence, they react. There is a changing that takes place. A lot of times, people can be won more easily to Christ simply by feeling his presence then when we bombard them with the truth. Its also important the message of worship be translated into a language that they understand. Worship and evangelism go together! God expects us to be sensitive to the fears, hang ups, and needs of unbelievers when they are present in our worship services. A lot of the ways of church are familiar to church goers, but those who don’t go may have never heard of speaking in tongues before. This can be a scary thing! It is important that we are aware of this. God tells us to be sensitive to them. We should adjust when they are in our worship services. Just because we must be sensitive does not mean the service should be shallow or compromised. It’s just important that people understand what is going on. “Being seeker sensitive does not limit what you say, but it does affect how you say it (244).” All people want to hear is the word of God and how it relates to their lives. Remember, they still haven’t found their identity in Christ. It’s important to also remember that the needs of everyone overlap; they can be very different but also the same. Both need to know what God is really like and understand life. Forgiveness is also a common need. Just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean your needs stop. It is best to specialize your service according to its purpose. Design different services with different purposes and gear them towards a certain target. You can hit two targets at once. When you separate the two, you can use the tactics that are most efficient for each target. And just a side note, a lot of people don’t enjoy Sunday evening services, even church goers! A service geared toward seekers is meant to supplement personal evangelism, not replace it. Often times, seeing other people go for Christ help people make decisions. There is power in numbers so to say. When a nonbeliever sees a lot of people worshipping the same God, it becomes real. There is no standard way to design a seeker service. Let the spirit lead! Once again, people are not all alike. There’s no one method that will reach all nonbelievers. The only thing you can do in all services is 1) treat unbelievers with love and respect, 2) relate the service to their needs and 3) share the message in a practical, understandable manner. Everything else is up for grabs! Want to know what attracts people to church? Changed lives. Lastly, it takes unselfish, mature believers to offer a seeker sensitive service. As stated before, you will have to change some things in your service to be sensitive to others. Be ok with that.
Chapter 14: Designing a seeker-sensitive service
Once again, this chapter was also lengthy so I will do my best to condense it. This chapter gave several suggestions on how to make your service more visitor friendly. The first suggestion is to plan the service with your target in mind. Remember the target you created several chapters back (education level, age, family size, etc). Create your service for them. Make it easy to attend your services. Have a variety of service hours and an abundance of parking available. Perhaps even a visitor only parking section. Offer a children’s service while the adult service is going on. Parents won’t have to worry about keeping their children quiet. Put a map on all of your advertising so people will be able to locate you. Improve the pace and flow of your service. Many times, church can go on for hours. Even church goers can get antsy. Remember the attention span of your congregation. At Saddleback, the average service length is seventy minutes. The acronym IMPACT helps keep their flow (Inspire Movement, Praise, Adoration, Commitment, Tie it all together). Make visitors feel comfortable. Remember the first emotion of a visitor is fear. Do your best to counteract this. Have greeters stationed outside the church to welcome them. Parking attendants can even help them find a spot. Do not have all your greeters wear a name tag. This makes things seem more official and less natural. Have information available in your building and have direction signs easily visible. Also, have taped music playing when they enter. Music soothes nerves. When a visitor walks in, there is music playing and people talking they won’t feel as nervous. Allow the visitors to remain anonymous during the service. The worst thing you can do is make them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. If you use a registration card, have everyone fill it out. You can keep track of attendance, prayer requests, etc this way. When you start your service, have a public welcome that makes everyone feel excited! Begin and end each service with people greeting each other. When a person feels “at home” they are more likely to return. Afterwards you could also after a refreshment table. Food also comforts. Brighten up the place! Keep the lights up and the windows open! This creates a cheery atmosphere. Make sure you have a great sound system. This can make the world of difference. Also, pews are out. Use chairs of you can and make sure they are comfortable. Make sure each person has their own personal space. Make sure the building size isn’t too large or small. If it’s too small it will limit your growth. If it’s too big it will limit the feeling of warmth. Temperature is also another area. If it’s too warm, expect people to fall asleep. Set it a couple degrees cooler to keep people alert. Make sure the entire building is clean and safe, especially nurseries and bathrooms. Create an attractive atmosphere. When people walk in, they should feel something in the air. Expectation, celebration, affirmation, incorporation, restoration and liberation should all be things felt. People come to church for a lot of reasons. You want people to relax and enjoy your service. They shouldn’t be so nervous that they cannot relax and experience the spirit of God. Printing out a simple order of service can also help. Be sure to use common terms when describing the service. If you need to, use notes explaining what will go on and what to expect. Preparing them always helps with nerves. Minimize your church announcements. This will cut back on time. Explain that there’s a bulletin and encourage everyone to take a look at it on their own time. If there’s an event for everyone, talk about it. If it’s only for certain groups, let it be. Also do not beg for volunteers from the pulpit or talk church business. Save those situations for the believer’s service. Remember to constantly evaluate how things are going. If you need to change, go ahead! Listen to feed back and be open for suggestions. Always remember that whatever you do, you are serving Jesus. This will be hard work but well worth it.
Purpose Driven Church- Assign. #6
Chapter 11: Developing your strategy
Rick relates this chapter to fishing. The best fisherman doesn’t just use one tactic. He chooses the time of the day, location, bait, temperature, etc. There’s a lot that goes into being a successful fisherman. Jesus called us to be fishers of men. We are to not only share the message but to also follow the methodology that Christ demonstrated for us. There are five principles that can help one be a more successful fisherman. The first one being to know what you are fishing for. In a body of water, there are tons of fish, not just one type. The same is true with people. We aren’t all the same. Define your target specifcally (as stated before). A lot of times, your target should be just like yourself. Go where the fish are biting. You can’t feed fish that aren’t hungry. Move on. There are certain times people are more responsive. Don’t get down on yourself because people aren’t being receptive, just move on! If someone has rejected Jesus it’s not our job to keep bothering them. Third, learn to think like a fish. Depending on the fish, they have certain habits. Try to understand what people are thinking. A lot of times for christians, it’s hard to think like an unbeliever. The way to do this is to talk to them! Create relationships. Thisis how Rick started his church. He went door to door talking to unbelievers getting to know them by asking a few questions. By doing this he learned there are four basic complaints about church: church is boring and doesn’t relate to life (present the Word in a practical way that relates to an unbeliever and something that works throughout the week, not just Sunday); church members are unfriendly (make visitors feel welcomed); church wants money not me (when taking an offering maybe only make it for the members, not visitors); quality of church child care (create a great children’s program that is safe and secure). After he did the survey he sent out a community letter that appealed to the unbeliever. The next principle is to catch fish on their terms. Sometimes you have to go a great distance to get to people. It’s important to understand and adapt to their culture. Jesus said we are to eat what is placed before. Have something common with the people. When we can relate, we can penetrate the people. Let your target determine the approach. Act accordingly for each culture. Do not change who you are or your beliefs, but the tactics you use. Jesus had no standard form of witnessing, he simply went to the people where they were. Begin with the needs of the unchurched. To really minister to the unchurched you have to be prepared for the messy situations. This brings us to understanding and responding to the hang ups of the unchurched. If you know something bothers an unchurched or they are uncomfortable, try to counteract it. People choose the church that best ministers to their need. Change your methods when necessary. Stay up to date with “bait.” Use as many and different varieties as needed. Use more than one hook. Offer multiple servies, programs, locations, etc. Don’t rely on just one worship service to meet the needs of everyone. And remember, it costs to reach your community. Don’t put a price tag on salvation. If it costs money to win a soul, it’s worth it. God will supply all your needs when you are walking in the path he has set before you. And always remember, fishing is not a hobby it should be a lifestyle.
Chapter 12: How Jesus Attracted Crowds
(This was a really long chapter so I will do my best to condense it.) Who better to learn from then the master himself? Jesus attracted crowds throughout his life. There are a couple different ways he did this. He loved unbelievers. He met their needs and He taught them in interesting and practical ways. First we must love just like Jesus did. This is an essential key. People must be drawn to the church because they feel loved and accepted regardless of their situations. A lot of times a congregation thinks their church is loving, but it’s only because they’re loving each other…not the visitors. Love new people and create an atmosphere of acceptance. In order for your church to grow, you have to love. Make people feel accepted at your church. Maybe send visitor cards in the language of a visitor. Speak to them on a normal level. It’s important for the love to be practical. Not only do the people need to demonstrate love, but also the pastor. Get to know your people! Greet them before and after services and do your best to use their name. When a visitor is greeted with their name, it creates a feeling of belonging. Don’t be afraid to touch people. Give hugs, pats on the back, etc. Sometimes, you might be the only touch someone gets all week. Jesus touched people and they felt his love. As a pastor you must choose whether or not you want to “impress your people or influence them (215).” Just because you accept a person doesn’t mean you have to approve of their lifestyle. There’s a difference. Make a distinction between the crowd and the congregation. Those who are visiting might not have morals at all. Be prepared for that. Jesus wanted people to come as they were. After they came is when he cleaned them up. Next, meet people’s needs. To meet someone’s need, first you need to get their attention. How? You must discover the key to the person’s heart! What concerns them, etc. We must meet the needs of the people around the church. If you’re really meeting the needs of the people around you, you will have to lock the doors to keep people out! To find out what these needs are, use a survey in your community. Based off the results, adapt your programs or create new ones! Everyone shares some of the same needs, to be loved, accepted, forgiveness, etc. Whenever a need is met, a life is changed. Where a life is changed, word spreads. You want your church to grow? Meet the needs of the people. Last Jesus taught in practical and interesting ways. The bible states that people would be amazed, enthusiastic and spellbound listening to Jesus! Are your messages like that? So many churches bore the word of God. Jesus kept them this way because he met their needs. He would usually get a message from a need or question and go from there. He met the people at their level. His message normally offered practical benefits. “We must learn to share the Gospel in ways that show it is both “good” and “news” (224).” Crowds will rush to hear good news. The way the world is today, people long to hear something that’s good and inspiring. When you base your message off of what people are interested in, you automatically have their attention. We must realize that people aren’t necessarily looking for the truth, but relief from their problems. The bible states that we are to only speak what benefits others. In the same way Jesus related truth to life. Jesus taught in a simple, practical manner. Instead of being instructed on how someone should be living, teach them how to live like Jesus did. There’s a different in ordering and assisting. A lot of times the un churched just want to see the relevance of the bible in today’s time. Jesus also spoke with an interesting style. Entertain your congregation. The word of God isn’t to be dry and boring but full of life! Make it exciting! Jesus used a variety of stories to enhance his message. He also used simple language that everyone understood. Keep the message simple! We must remember that ministry to crowds is controversial. We find both “go” and “come” in the bible. This means that some people will come to church and meet Jesus, others will have to be confronted with a Christian to find his truth. Both of these are ok! One must also maintain a balance when relating to the culture. Jesus states not to imitate, or isolate the church but to infiltrate the culture of the outside. In order to attract people, you must be appealing to the culture. “Jesus ministered in the world, but was not of it (236).” Be prepared for people to speak up about how they feel!
Rick relates this chapter to fishing. The best fisherman doesn’t just use one tactic. He chooses the time of the day, location, bait, temperature, etc. There’s a lot that goes into being a successful fisherman. Jesus called us to be fishers of men. We are to not only share the message but to also follow the methodology that Christ demonstrated for us. There are five principles that can help one be a more successful fisherman. The first one being to know what you are fishing for. In a body of water, there are tons of fish, not just one type. The same is true with people. We aren’t all the same. Define your target specifcally (as stated before). A lot of times, your target should be just like yourself. Go where the fish are biting. You can’t feed fish that aren’t hungry. Move on. There are certain times people are more responsive. Don’t get down on yourself because people aren’t being receptive, just move on! If someone has rejected Jesus it’s not our job to keep bothering them. Third, learn to think like a fish. Depending on the fish, they have certain habits. Try to understand what people are thinking. A lot of times for christians, it’s hard to think like an unbeliever. The way to do this is to talk to them! Create relationships. Thisis how Rick started his church. He went door to door talking to unbelievers getting to know them by asking a few questions. By doing this he learned there are four basic complaints about church: church is boring and doesn’t relate to life (present the Word in a practical way that relates to an unbeliever and something that works throughout the week, not just Sunday); church members are unfriendly (make visitors feel welcomed); church wants money not me (when taking an offering maybe only make it for the members, not visitors); quality of church child care (create a great children’s program that is safe and secure). After he did the survey he sent out a community letter that appealed to the unbeliever. The next principle is to catch fish on their terms. Sometimes you have to go a great distance to get to people. It’s important to understand and adapt to their culture. Jesus said we are to eat what is placed before. Have something common with the people. When we can relate, we can penetrate the people. Let your target determine the approach. Act accordingly for each culture. Do not change who you are or your beliefs, but the tactics you use. Jesus had no standard form of witnessing, he simply went to the people where they were. Begin with the needs of the unchurched. To really minister to the unchurched you have to be prepared for the messy situations. This brings us to understanding and responding to the hang ups of the unchurched. If you know something bothers an unchurched or they are uncomfortable, try to counteract it. People choose the church that best ministers to their need. Change your methods when necessary. Stay up to date with “bait.” Use as many and different varieties as needed. Use more than one hook. Offer multiple servies, programs, locations, etc. Don’t rely on just one worship service to meet the needs of everyone. And remember, it costs to reach your community. Don’t put a price tag on salvation. If it costs money to win a soul, it’s worth it. God will supply all your needs when you are walking in the path he has set before you. And always remember, fishing is not a hobby it should be a lifestyle.
Chapter 12: How Jesus Attracted Crowds
(This was a really long chapter so I will do my best to condense it.) Who better to learn from then the master himself? Jesus attracted crowds throughout his life. There are a couple different ways he did this. He loved unbelievers. He met their needs and He taught them in interesting and practical ways. First we must love just like Jesus did. This is an essential key. People must be drawn to the church because they feel loved and accepted regardless of their situations. A lot of times a congregation thinks their church is loving, but it’s only because they’re loving each other…not the visitors. Love new people and create an atmosphere of acceptance. In order for your church to grow, you have to love. Make people feel accepted at your church. Maybe send visitor cards in the language of a visitor. Speak to them on a normal level. It’s important for the love to be practical. Not only do the people need to demonstrate love, but also the pastor. Get to know your people! Greet them before and after services and do your best to use their name. When a visitor is greeted with their name, it creates a feeling of belonging. Don’t be afraid to touch people. Give hugs, pats on the back, etc. Sometimes, you might be the only touch someone gets all week. Jesus touched people and they felt his love. As a pastor you must choose whether or not you want to “impress your people or influence them (215).” Just because you accept a person doesn’t mean you have to approve of their lifestyle. There’s a difference. Make a distinction between the crowd and the congregation. Those who are visiting might not have morals at all. Be prepared for that. Jesus wanted people to come as they were. After they came is when he cleaned them up. Next, meet people’s needs. To meet someone’s need, first you need to get their attention. How? You must discover the key to the person’s heart! What concerns them, etc. We must meet the needs of the people around the church. If you’re really meeting the needs of the people around you, you will have to lock the doors to keep people out! To find out what these needs are, use a survey in your community. Based off the results, adapt your programs or create new ones! Everyone shares some of the same needs, to be loved, accepted, forgiveness, etc. Whenever a need is met, a life is changed. Where a life is changed, word spreads. You want your church to grow? Meet the needs of the people. Last Jesus taught in practical and interesting ways. The bible states that people would be amazed, enthusiastic and spellbound listening to Jesus! Are your messages like that? So many churches bore the word of God. Jesus kept them this way because he met their needs. He would usually get a message from a need or question and go from there. He met the people at their level. His message normally offered practical benefits. “We must learn to share the Gospel in ways that show it is both “good” and “news” (224).” Crowds will rush to hear good news. The way the world is today, people long to hear something that’s good and inspiring. When you base your message off of what people are interested in, you automatically have their attention. We must realize that people aren’t necessarily looking for the truth, but relief from their problems. The bible states that we are to only speak what benefits others. In the same way Jesus related truth to life. Jesus taught in a simple, practical manner. Instead of being instructed on how someone should be living, teach them how to live like Jesus did. There’s a different in ordering and assisting. A lot of times the un churched just want to see the relevance of the bible in today’s time. Jesus also spoke with an interesting style. Entertain your congregation. The word of God isn’t to be dry and boring but full of life! Make it exciting! Jesus used a variety of stories to enhance his message. He also used simple language that everyone understood. Keep the message simple! We must remember that ministry to crowds is controversial. We find both “go” and “come” in the bible. This means that some people will come to church and meet Jesus, others will have to be confronted with a Christian to find his truth. Both of these are ok! One must also maintain a balance when relating to the culture. Jesus states not to imitate, or isolate the church but to infiltrate the culture of the outside. In order to attract people, you must be appealing to the culture. “Jesus ministered in the world, but was not of it (236).” Be prepared for people to speak up about how they feel!
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