Chapter 9: Who is your target?
This chapter is about identifying who your church is specifically targeted for. A lot of people will say their church is trying to save the “unchurched.” That’s great but the unchurched are not all the same. Everyone is different! It’s important to find out what the people in your surrounding area is like and then go from there. After discovering your purposes, this is the second most important thing, it can even be found in the bible. Several occassions Jesus states he came here to seek the lost Jews. He tells Peter and Paul to target the Gentiles and Jews. We have to remember, it’s impossible for one church to meet everyone’s needs. Pick one target group and focus on them. So how do we define our target? Find out all you can about your community. The typical person will drive 15 minutes to church. Make a 15 mile radius on a map around your chuch location and find out the population. Church location is important, but so is what it offers. Some people will drive farther to a church that offers a program they can’t find closer. Define your target demographically. This means finding age, martial status, education level, jobs, income etc. Get to know what kind of people live in the population. Depending on these results, should decide how you set your services and programs up. You wouldn’t have the same service for an elderly congregation that you would for college age. Define your target culturally. Different cultures have different values, morals, and beliefs. Get to know what they think. This requires talking to people personally. Also define your target spiritually. Sometimes even depending upon location, some people will associate themselves with a denomination. If you know a general idea about the other religions dominant in your area, you can relate to what people already believe. Personalize your target. If you have a visual representation of the typical person you are targeting, this helps you stay focused. Make sure your church knows who your target is also.”The more you understand someone, the easier it is to communicate with him (171).”
Chapter 10: Knowing whom you can best reach
This chapter relates to the previous one. It is easiest to reach people that you have something in common with. We are all made differently. One church is not going to be able to reach everyone. One way to find out who you can best reach is by looking at who already attends your church. When a visitor walks in, they naturally look around to see if there is anyone else like them there. If there is, most likely they will return. If not, they won’t. “A church may be unsuccessful in reaching certain types of people isn’t a matter of right or wrong, but a matter of simply respecting the wonderful variety of people God has placed in the world (175).” What kinds of leaders do you have? What is the cultural makeup and background of the leaders in the church? Are they all young? All old? All caucasian? A lot of people can even relate to you as a pastor. You are a key factor in determining whether they come back or not. The kind of person that you are, will decide what kind of people come to your church! As stated before, you will reach those who you best relate to. Naturally you attract people like yourself. Get used to this. Be true to who you are and don’t try to be a certain way just because you want your church to grow. When there is growthit’s because the type of people in the community, the congregation, and the pastor all match. Go in the location where your strengths are. If your church does not match your community there a number of things you can do. First build on your strengths. Be the best pastor to the type of people in your congregation that you can be. Another option (but a terribly tough one) is to reinvent your congregation. This means new music, new programs, worship, etc. This can take years to complete and can cause a lot of hardships. If you chose this route, be prepared! Another option is to start new congregations. Create new services for those you are trying to reach. This might include a different form of worship, or preaching. Know how you are spiritually accepted in your church. There are two types of people that are most receptive: those who are in transition (such as people new to the community, getting a new job, new school, etc) and those under tension (loss of job, loss of relationship, death, etc). People in both situations are looking for hope and someone bigger than them. The next step, is to discover your evangelism strategy.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Purpose Driven Church- Assign. #4
Chapter 7: Organizing around your purposes
This chapter is full of information! He begins by comparing two great preachers: George Whitefield and John Wesley. They both were amazing evangelists however had two different outcomes. Whitefield would evanglize and leave his converts with no organization. Wesley developed an organization and it became known as the Methodist church. Most churches have the structure, but don’t have it balanced. There are five unbalanced church examples given. The soul winning church. This church’s main focus is simply that, reaching out and saving souls. The experiencing God church. The focus of this church is experiencing and knowing God through worship. The family reunion church has focus on fellowship. This type of church is most common among small churches. The classroom church. The pastor takes the role of a teacher and that’s all he does. The social conscience church is out to change the world (such as in politics). Ask the people at any of these and they are at the most spiritual church out of all of them. There have been movements throughout history that have played a part in reviving some of these purposes. The Lay Renewal Movement gave the church back it’s call for ministry, that every person is to minister. The Discipleship/Spiritual Formations Movement reestablished the idea of developing christians to full maturity. The worship/renewal movement brought back the importance of worship. The church growth movement refocused the church on evangelism and missions. The small group/pastoral care movement brought back small groups and caring for one another. There is no single key to maintaining a healthy balanced church. To make sure you maintain balance, pick a couple concepts to focus around. We also learn in this chapter that there different levels of commitment. The community represents anyone who might come to church 4 times a year. The crowd are the people who attend weekly. The congregation is the group that made a commitment to be a member of the church and take on those responsibilities. The committed are those who who are serious about their faith. They are members who pray, give tithes, and participate in a small group. The core are those people who are involved in ministry teams and actually minister to other members of the church. It’s important that we remember “Jesus started where people were—at their level of commitment—but he never left them there (135).” He built up a relationship with them and brought them to the core commitment level over time.
Chapter 8: Applying your purposes
So now that we have attempted to master all the things mentioned in the previous chapter, it is time to apply our purposes within our church. This is not to be a rushed process, so be prepared to spend time taking it slow. Rick states that there are ten ways to be a purpose driven church. The first suggestion he makes is: assimiliate new members on purpose. This means to grow your church from the outside in. A lot of times if a church is grown from the inside out, the people will become too comfortable and will not want to associate with nonbelievers. Bring your community in and develop them into the different rings of your church. This is demonstrated in how Saddleback was developed (going door to door meeting the community, creating a survey, etc). From there he took year by year discipling his congregation. The second task is program around your purposes. Create programs that fulfill each purpose. Some ideas for these programs are: bridge events (building bridges/relationships between the church and community), seeker services (services geared towards the unsaved through group support), life development institute (holding workshops, or opportunities where people can expand their knowledge, and SALT (this is leadership training). The third suggestion is to educate your people on purpose. Create a way for people to work their way around the life development process. As they learn, they gain responsibility and opportunities. “You don’t get create for people left on base (145).” Fourth, start small groups on purpose. There are several different kinds of small groups your church could start: seeker groups, support groups, service groups, and growth groups. Each of the names are pretty self explanatory. Also, fifth, add staff on purpose. It doesn’t take a large church to be purpose driven, just a focused, purpose driven staff team. Each member should have their own purpose based goals that they are passionate about. Hire for a purpose. Sixth, also structure on purpose. Create teams within the church that have a purpose. For example, the magnification/music teams purpose is to lead worship and their target is the crowd. They are responsible for music in weekend services and events. Preach on purpose. Plan your sermons to where you can preach at least 4 times on each of the five purposes a year. This leaves plenty of time to plan your own sermons. Budget on purpose. This is not about in regards to money, but also time. Spend time and money wisely and where it can benefit the most. If you make something a priority, support it with your time and money. Also calendar on purpose. This relates back to your sermons. Plan your sermons around seasons and months. Lastly, evaluate on purpose. Track your progression. If something isn’t working, change it! Be honest. Take a look at who’s on the different bases in your church.
This chapter is full of information! He begins by comparing two great preachers: George Whitefield and John Wesley. They both were amazing evangelists however had two different outcomes. Whitefield would evanglize and leave his converts with no organization. Wesley developed an organization and it became known as the Methodist church. Most churches have the structure, but don’t have it balanced. There are five unbalanced church examples given. The soul winning church. This church’s main focus is simply that, reaching out and saving souls. The experiencing God church. The focus of this church is experiencing and knowing God through worship. The family reunion church has focus on fellowship. This type of church is most common among small churches. The classroom church. The pastor takes the role of a teacher and that’s all he does. The social conscience church is out to change the world (such as in politics). Ask the people at any of these and they are at the most spiritual church out of all of them. There have been movements throughout history that have played a part in reviving some of these purposes. The Lay Renewal Movement gave the church back it’s call for ministry, that every person is to minister. The Discipleship/Spiritual Formations Movement reestablished the idea of developing christians to full maturity. The worship/renewal movement brought back the importance of worship. The church growth movement refocused the church on evangelism and missions. The small group/pastoral care movement brought back small groups and caring for one another. There is no single key to maintaining a healthy balanced church. To make sure you maintain balance, pick a couple concepts to focus around. We also learn in this chapter that there different levels of commitment. The community represents anyone who might come to church 4 times a year. The crowd are the people who attend weekly. The congregation is the group that made a commitment to be a member of the church and take on those responsibilities. The committed are those who who are serious about their faith. They are members who pray, give tithes, and participate in a small group. The core are those people who are involved in ministry teams and actually minister to other members of the church. It’s important that we remember “Jesus started where people were—at their level of commitment—but he never left them there (135).” He built up a relationship with them and brought them to the core commitment level over time.
Chapter 8: Applying your purposes
So now that we have attempted to master all the things mentioned in the previous chapter, it is time to apply our purposes within our church. This is not to be a rushed process, so be prepared to spend time taking it slow. Rick states that there are ten ways to be a purpose driven church. The first suggestion he makes is: assimiliate new members on purpose. This means to grow your church from the outside in. A lot of times if a church is grown from the inside out, the people will become too comfortable and will not want to associate with nonbelievers. Bring your community in and develop them into the different rings of your church. This is demonstrated in how Saddleback was developed (going door to door meeting the community, creating a survey, etc). From there he took year by year discipling his congregation. The second task is program around your purposes. Create programs that fulfill each purpose. Some ideas for these programs are: bridge events (building bridges/relationships between the church and community), seeker services (services geared towards the unsaved through group support), life development institute (holding workshops, or opportunities where people can expand their knowledge, and SALT (this is leadership training). The third suggestion is to educate your people on purpose. Create a way for people to work their way around the life development process. As they learn, they gain responsibility and opportunities. “You don’t get create for people left on base (145).” Fourth, start small groups on purpose. There are several different kinds of small groups your church could start: seeker groups, support groups, service groups, and growth groups. Each of the names are pretty self explanatory. Also, fifth, add staff on purpose. It doesn’t take a large church to be purpose driven, just a focused, purpose driven staff team. Each member should have their own purpose based goals that they are passionate about. Hire for a purpose. Sixth, also structure on purpose. Create teams within the church that have a purpose. For example, the magnification/music teams purpose is to lead worship and their target is the crowd. They are responsible for music in weekend services and events. Preach on purpose. Plan your sermons to where you can preach at least 4 times on each of the five purposes a year. This leaves plenty of time to plan your own sermons. Budget on purpose. This is not about in regards to money, but also time. Spend time and money wisely and where it can benefit the most. If you make something a priority, support it with your time and money. Also calendar on purpose. This relates back to your sermons. Plan your sermons around seasons and months. Lastly, evaluate on purpose. Track your progression. If something isn’t working, change it! Be honest. Take a look at who’s on the different bases in your church.
Friday, March 27, 2009
New Believer #2
1) Tell me about your journey to faith in Christ
I was raised in a Christian family but never had a real relationship with Christ until after I
graduated high school and went onto college and explored and searched out Christ for myself.
2) What helped you the most to step over the line and make the commitment?
I have always believed in God, but God was never personal to me until a huge prayer of mine was answered which showed me that God really does hear our prayers and truly cares for us individually.
3) What has been the best part of becoming a Christ follower for you?
God is a constant friend and comforter through the trials life throws at us.
4) What has been the most challenging part of following Christ?
The temptations and trials that Satan uses to break us down.
5) What do you think is helping you grow the most in your faith?
Fellowship with believers within my home church and of course my family.
6) What advice do you have for me in helping others like you to grow in their faith?
Start by just being a good friend to those in need. People will notice God’s kindness through your actions.
This survey reminds me of a previous survey I conducted. People really do not grasp who Christ is until they have discovered him on their own timing. You can’t force Christ or religion on people. It wasn’t until this person got away from their family, and got to know Christ on their own that they became a “real” dedicated Christian. God also knows exactly what it takes to bring a person to him. Sometimes people need to see a miracle to believe. Others need a prayer answered; this is what the person who took this survey needed. They needed to know that when they prayed, it wasn’t just going into air. That there is actually a God who not only hears but also answers prayer. God became real to her in this way. This person found comfort in the fact that God is a friend. A lot of people put God on a pedestal and do not feel that he can interact with humans. He in fact longs for a relationship with us. He is a friend and comforter when we need him. The hardest part of becoming a believer has been resisting the devil. When you aren’t a believer you don’t see the devil at work because you don’t necessarily have the same morals that you hold once you become a believer. I think this is a common challenge for all Christians, not just new believers. Growth can be found in numbers. This person found fellowship to be one of the best promoters. When you are around people who have the same desires as you, temptation is easier to resist. When people hold you accountable for your actions, you think twice before doing something. I think her last words are very important. People see Jesus through us. Not by preaching necessarily, but by being who Christ was…a friend.
I was raised in a Christian family but never had a real relationship with Christ until after I
graduated high school and went onto college and explored and searched out Christ for myself.
2) What helped you the most to step over the line and make the commitment?
I have always believed in God, but God was never personal to me until a huge prayer of mine was answered which showed me that God really does hear our prayers and truly cares for us individually.
3) What has been the best part of becoming a Christ follower for you?
God is a constant friend and comforter through the trials life throws at us.
4) What has been the most challenging part of following Christ?
The temptations and trials that Satan uses to break us down.
5) What do you think is helping you grow the most in your faith?
Fellowship with believers within my home church and of course my family.
6) What advice do you have for me in helping others like you to grow in their faith?
Start by just being a good friend to those in need. People will notice God’s kindness through your actions.
This survey reminds me of a previous survey I conducted. People really do not grasp who Christ is until they have discovered him on their own timing. You can’t force Christ or religion on people. It wasn’t until this person got away from their family, and got to know Christ on their own that they became a “real” dedicated Christian. God also knows exactly what it takes to bring a person to him. Sometimes people need to see a miracle to believe. Others need a prayer answered; this is what the person who took this survey needed. They needed to know that when they prayed, it wasn’t just going into air. That there is actually a God who not only hears but also answers prayer. God became real to her in this way. This person found comfort in the fact that God is a friend. A lot of people put God on a pedestal and do not feel that he can interact with humans. He in fact longs for a relationship with us. He is a friend and comforter when we need him. The hardest part of becoming a believer has been resisting the devil. When you aren’t a believer you don’t see the devil at work because you don’t necessarily have the same morals that you hold once you become a believer. I think this is a common challenge for all Christians, not just new believers. Growth can be found in numbers. This person found fellowship to be one of the best promoters. When you are around people who have the same desires as you, temptation is easier to resist. When people hold you accountable for your actions, you think twice before doing something. I think her last words are very important. People see Jesus through us. Not by preaching necessarily, but by being who Christ was…a friend.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Purpose Driven Church- Assign. #3
Chapter 5: Defining your purposes
In this chapter we learn how critical it is to clearly define your church’s purpose. As a leader, you should direct your church through the process of defining your purpose. When people discover on their own, they have more personal conviction compared to when they are told. Study what the bible says. Rick gives a list of biblical passages that can help with discovering and defining purpose. He did a personal bible study before starting the church then lead the church through the same study. He suggests: looking at Christ’s ministry on earth; Looking at the different images and names of the church and looking at the commands of Christ. We should understand what Christ wants for the church and that should be our purpose. Next put your findings down in writing. You can do this by organizing information under main headings. This is vital because you are building a foundation for your ministry. After looking at your findings, summarize them in one sentence. Organize them into categories, summarize them in a paragraph, and then work your way down to a sentence. By condensing it to a sentence you are making it information that people will be able to remember! How can you be sure your purpose is effective? For one, it needs to be biblical. It also needs to be specific. “A narrow mission is a clear mission (100).” When people are given specific information, there is less gray area of unknown. This also helps to focus your energy. When purpose statements are short enough, they can be transferable and passed on through the church. People remember phrases. You also need to be able to measure it. If your statement doesn’t have any form of evaluation, how will you know if it’s working or not? Rick gives two key scriptures he believes are the purposes of the church: Matthew 22:37-40 and Matthew 28:19-20. He also states five purposes of the purpose driven church. The first purpose is to love the Lord with all your heart. The church does this through worship. Love your neighbor as yourself is the second purpose. The church does this through ministry. The third purpose is to go and make disciples. In the church we do this through evangelism. This is not just a responsibility but a privilege. We are also called to baptize them. When a person gets baptized, not only are they coming up a new person but they are also identifying that they are part of the body of Christ. Fellowship falls under this purpose. The last purpose is teaching them to obey and is done through discipleship. We are called to reach and teach people as Christians. Be sure that your purpose statement is measurable, encouraging, and in sequence. This is a process and we shouldn’t expect people or the church to transform over night.
Chapter 6: Communicating your purposes
Once you have clearly defined your purpose it is not important to communicate it to your congregation. There are several ways to communicate vision and purpose. Through scripture you can teach the biblical truth about your church. Show the people how your purpose is biblically based. Using symbols is another idea. Symbols have always displayed power. When one sees the American flag they think of freedom and justice. People need visuals. Choose a symbol to represent the purpose of your church. Slogans are also very helpful. As stated in the previous chapter, people remember short phrases better than long paragraphs. Picking a slogan or even several can be beneficial for your church. Story telling is also a great idea. Many times people relate to stories and grasp a better meaning of the concept. Jesus used stories all the time. Always use clear action steps describing how your church is going to reach its goals and purposes. “Nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific (114).” The next step is to personalize the purpose. When something has value to each individual, it becomes so much more than just a church purpose. Each member should recognize what their personal responsibilities are as a believer. God wants us to be members of his family. He wants us to be a model of his character and be a minister of his grace. God wants us to be a messenger of his love and a magnifier of his name. Along with responsibilities also come privileges. God blesses his people in a variety of ways. It’s important to state your purpose over and over to your congregation and there are many different ways of doing this. You can write songs about your purpose, send out fliers, etc. It’s important that each person in your church is aware of the purpose and remembers it.
In this chapter we learn how critical it is to clearly define your church’s purpose. As a leader, you should direct your church through the process of defining your purpose. When people discover on their own, they have more personal conviction compared to when they are told. Study what the bible says. Rick gives a list of biblical passages that can help with discovering and defining purpose. He did a personal bible study before starting the church then lead the church through the same study. He suggests: looking at Christ’s ministry on earth; Looking at the different images and names of the church and looking at the commands of Christ. We should understand what Christ wants for the church and that should be our purpose. Next put your findings down in writing. You can do this by organizing information under main headings. This is vital because you are building a foundation for your ministry. After looking at your findings, summarize them in one sentence. Organize them into categories, summarize them in a paragraph, and then work your way down to a sentence. By condensing it to a sentence you are making it information that people will be able to remember! How can you be sure your purpose is effective? For one, it needs to be biblical. It also needs to be specific. “A narrow mission is a clear mission (100).” When people are given specific information, there is less gray area of unknown. This also helps to focus your energy. When purpose statements are short enough, they can be transferable and passed on through the church. People remember phrases. You also need to be able to measure it. If your statement doesn’t have any form of evaluation, how will you know if it’s working or not? Rick gives two key scriptures he believes are the purposes of the church: Matthew 22:37-40 and Matthew 28:19-20. He also states five purposes of the purpose driven church. The first purpose is to love the Lord with all your heart. The church does this through worship. Love your neighbor as yourself is the second purpose. The church does this through ministry. The third purpose is to go and make disciples. In the church we do this through evangelism. This is not just a responsibility but a privilege. We are also called to baptize them. When a person gets baptized, not only are they coming up a new person but they are also identifying that they are part of the body of Christ. Fellowship falls under this purpose. The last purpose is teaching them to obey and is done through discipleship. We are called to reach and teach people as Christians. Be sure that your purpose statement is measurable, encouraging, and in sequence. This is a process and we shouldn’t expect people or the church to transform over night.
Chapter 6: Communicating your purposes
Once you have clearly defined your purpose it is not important to communicate it to your congregation. There are several ways to communicate vision and purpose. Through scripture you can teach the biblical truth about your church. Show the people how your purpose is biblically based. Using symbols is another idea. Symbols have always displayed power. When one sees the American flag they think of freedom and justice. People need visuals. Choose a symbol to represent the purpose of your church. Slogans are also very helpful. As stated in the previous chapter, people remember short phrases better than long paragraphs. Picking a slogan or even several can be beneficial for your church. Story telling is also a great idea. Many times people relate to stories and grasp a better meaning of the concept. Jesus used stories all the time. Always use clear action steps describing how your church is going to reach its goals and purposes. “Nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific (114).” The next step is to personalize the purpose. When something has value to each individual, it becomes so much more than just a church purpose. Each member should recognize what their personal responsibilities are as a believer. God wants us to be members of his family. He wants us to be a model of his character and be a minister of his grace. God wants us to be a messenger of his love and a magnifier of his name. Along with responsibilities also come privileges. God blesses his people in a variety of ways. It’s important to state your purpose over and over to your congregation and there are many different ways of doing this. You can write songs about your purpose, send out fliers, etc. It’s important that each person in your church is aware of the purpose and remembers it.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Purpose Driven Church- Assign. #2
Chapter 3: What drives your church?
There are many different things within a church that “drives” it. Sit in on a board meeting and you will hear many of them mentioned. It is important for the church to be driven by common things. If you have multiple things driving, you will face problems. There are many different forces that can drive a church. Churches can be driven by tradition. These are churches that never change. They do what they’ve always done. They feel stabile because of their traditions. Churches can be driven by personality. In this church the focus is on the leader and what they want. If the church has a history of changing leaders, this is where a problem can be found. When the person leaves, the church comes to a standstill. Churches driven by finances are ones that focus merely on money. They worry about the cost of everything instead of the souls being won. Churches do not exist to make a profit. Churches can also be driven by programs. In these types of churches, all the energy is focused on the programs it offers. Churches can also be driven by buildings. Sometimes churches can get caught up in needing a large, beautiful building that they get in over their heads. Other times a church will refuse to get a larger building so the attendance is restricted. Churches can be driven by events. At this church you might be overwhelmed when you look at the calendar. When do the people have any time off? A church can be just busy without any real purpose as to why they do what they do. There are also churches driven by seekers. These churches make reaching the unbelievers their sole objective. They cater to their needs and wants. God’s purpose of the church includes a lot of different things including evangelism. Purpose driven churches are different. Purpose driven churches are exactly that, driven by purpose instead of force. Remember that not all programs are meant to last forever. They must maintain a purpose. Have a driving purpose that your congregation knows about. If your church is struggling, redefine your purpose and use this as a fresh starting point. When your members are on the same page as your staff, you will find success.
Chapter 4: The foundation for a healthy church
A strong church begins with a strong foundation. When there is a clear purpose, there are many benefits. The first being a clear purpose builds morale. When people come together for a great purpose, they have high morale and little time to argue. Therefore if you don’t have a clear purpose, your morale will be low. “Nothing discourages a church more than not knowing why it exists (87).” A clear purpose reduces frustration. Just as stated before, when people have a common purpose there is little or no confusion. “A clear purpose not only defines what we do, it defines what we don’t do (87).” When there isn’t a purpose, it is easy to become distracted by other things. Once your purpose has been set, it is easier to make decisions and move forward with your church. A clear purpose allows concentration. When something is concentrated, it has so much more power. Think about sunlight being focused through a magnifying glass. It can set things on fire! That’s what a focused congregation can do. You must be focused on what your purpose is. God wants churches to be effective. This means He wants them to be doing the right things. A clear purpose attracts cooperation. People want to join a church that has direction. When people know where the church is headed, they are eager to join the team. Just like Paul was clear in his purpose, people will follow where there is clarity. This brings cooperation. When people join your church, make sure they have a clear understanding of what your purpose is. A clear purpose also assists evaluation. A church evaluates itself by asking, “Are we doing what God intended us to do?” No matter how big or small a church is does not decide its strength. Becoming a purpose driven church does not happen overnight. It is a process.
There are many different things within a church that “drives” it. Sit in on a board meeting and you will hear many of them mentioned. It is important for the church to be driven by common things. If you have multiple things driving, you will face problems. There are many different forces that can drive a church. Churches can be driven by tradition. These are churches that never change. They do what they’ve always done. They feel stabile because of their traditions. Churches can be driven by personality. In this church the focus is on the leader and what they want. If the church has a history of changing leaders, this is where a problem can be found. When the person leaves, the church comes to a standstill. Churches driven by finances are ones that focus merely on money. They worry about the cost of everything instead of the souls being won. Churches do not exist to make a profit. Churches can also be driven by programs. In these types of churches, all the energy is focused on the programs it offers. Churches can also be driven by buildings. Sometimes churches can get caught up in needing a large, beautiful building that they get in over their heads. Other times a church will refuse to get a larger building so the attendance is restricted. Churches can be driven by events. At this church you might be overwhelmed when you look at the calendar. When do the people have any time off? A church can be just busy without any real purpose as to why they do what they do. There are also churches driven by seekers. These churches make reaching the unbelievers their sole objective. They cater to their needs and wants. God’s purpose of the church includes a lot of different things including evangelism. Purpose driven churches are different. Purpose driven churches are exactly that, driven by purpose instead of force. Remember that not all programs are meant to last forever. They must maintain a purpose. Have a driving purpose that your congregation knows about. If your church is struggling, redefine your purpose and use this as a fresh starting point. When your members are on the same page as your staff, you will find success.
Chapter 4: The foundation for a healthy church
A strong church begins with a strong foundation. When there is a clear purpose, there are many benefits. The first being a clear purpose builds morale. When people come together for a great purpose, they have high morale and little time to argue. Therefore if you don’t have a clear purpose, your morale will be low. “Nothing discourages a church more than not knowing why it exists (87).” A clear purpose reduces frustration. Just as stated before, when people have a common purpose there is little or no confusion. “A clear purpose not only defines what we do, it defines what we don’t do (87).” When there isn’t a purpose, it is easy to become distracted by other things. Once your purpose has been set, it is easier to make decisions and move forward with your church. A clear purpose allows concentration. When something is concentrated, it has so much more power. Think about sunlight being focused through a magnifying glass. It can set things on fire! That’s what a focused congregation can do. You must be focused on what your purpose is. God wants churches to be effective. This means He wants them to be doing the right things. A clear purpose attracts cooperation. People want to join a church that has direction. When people know where the church is headed, they are eager to join the team. Just like Paul was clear in his purpose, people will follow where there is clarity. This brings cooperation. When people join your church, make sure they have a clear understanding of what your purpose is. A clear purpose also assists evaluation. A church evaluates itself by asking, “Are we doing what God intended us to do?” No matter how big or small a church is does not decide its strength. Becoming a purpose driven church does not happen overnight. It is a process.
Purpose Driven Church- Assign. #1
Chapter 1: Seeing the Big Picture
In this chapter, Rick gives a background of his personal development and the development of Saddleback Church. Rick knew as a child that he wanted to be a pastor. For a while he was unsure as to what God wanted him to be. It wasn’t until he heard Dr. Criswell speak that this was confirmed. After the service, he went to meet Dr. Criswell. When their eyes met, God spoke and Dr. Criswell prayed over him, blessing his future congregation and him as a pastor. This was the moment he knew God’s plan for his life. He had served as a student missionary in Japan and knew that God wanted to use him. God directed him and his wife’s path to be pastors. They were to start a church in the United States. Rick began doing research on different un-churched communities when God directed him again to Saddleback, California. His family picked up and moved. They had no money, no house, no church, yet God provided. God taught them that they didn’t have to be perfect, just willing. Their services started with a bible study in their house. When his bible study attendance reached 15, they decided to do a community survey to get to know the locals better. They went door to door and embraced conversations with many. Rick knew he wanted to start holding services and wanted to use Easter Sunday as the first service. They composed a letter just briefly stating what the new church would be about and gave the date of the first service. They sent out 15,000 of these. The first service they had two hundred five people! God is incredible! From their, their attendance grew. They bounced from location to location as they grew to 10,000. The church’s mission was to reach the un-churched. They did not want it to be a place for Christians to merely come and attend weekly. They wanted to reach those who had never heard the gospel before.
Chapter 2: Myths about Growing Churches
When you think about mega churches there are many different myths that come into your mind. Sometimes we think the church has copied their program from another church, or are only large because their service airs on television. In this chapter, Rick addresses several different myths and helps bring understanding to the truth behind the myth. The first myth is: the only thing large churches care about is attendance. We must realize it is only healthy for a church to grow. If it isn’t growing then something is not right! There are five dimensions of church growth that are listed: churches grow warmer through fellowship; churches grow deeper through discipleship; churches grow stronger through worship; churches grow broader through ministry and churches grow larger through evangelism. Growth is healthy! Myth #2 states: All large churches grow at the expense of smaller churches. Yes sometimes people leave a church to transfer to another church. Saddleback however focuses on converts rather than transfers. In order for a church to be growing in the proper way, it must be growing from converts rather than Christians switching churches. Myth #3: You must choose between quality and quantity at your church. Rick explains that quality is the kind of disciples you have at your church while quantity refers to the number of disciples a church is producing. As you can tell, that clearly makes the myth false. We must have these two together! In fact “quality produces quantity (51).” And it’s also true vice versa. When you have more people, fellowship gets better, the worship is better, and a lot of things are affected in a positive way. We must care about both of these. Myth #4: You must compromise the message and mission of the church in order to grow. People think this way because there are many examples of large churches that have grown large while practicing false theology. When Jesus preached multitudes of people came to listen. Why? Because the message brings good news! Don’t be afraid to ask for commitment at your church just be aware in how you’re asking. “Jesus never lowered his standards but he always started where people were (56).” Myth #5: If you are dedicated enough, your church will grow. This is completely false. The church growth does not merely rely on the dedication of the pastor alone. It takes skill to lead a church. It’s important that pastors take the time to learn the skills needed in ministry. God grows churches but giving people the skills to enable growth. Myth #6: There is one secret key to church growth. How can a large church be affected by one thing? It takes many different keys to work a church. There are many ways to run a church and because we’re all different there are many different churches. “Never confuse methods with the message. The message must never change, but the methods must change with each new generation (61).” Myth #7: All God expects of us is faithfulness. God expects both faithfulness and fruitfulness from us. He wants us to have a result! One will reach success when they have been as fruitful as possible with the gifts and talents God has given them. Myth #8: You can’t learn from large churches. We learn from examples! Certain areas you will not be able to directly copy, but you can take a model and adapt it to your church. That is fine! Personalize ideas you get from other churches and see if it works with your congregation; maybe it will, maybe it won’t. “We must never become so enamored with methods that we lose sight of our mission and forget our message (71).”
In this chapter, Rick gives a background of his personal development and the development of Saddleback Church. Rick knew as a child that he wanted to be a pastor. For a while he was unsure as to what God wanted him to be. It wasn’t until he heard Dr. Criswell speak that this was confirmed. After the service, he went to meet Dr. Criswell. When their eyes met, God spoke and Dr. Criswell prayed over him, blessing his future congregation and him as a pastor. This was the moment he knew God’s plan for his life. He had served as a student missionary in Japan and knew that God wanted to use him. God directed him and his wife’s path to be pastors. They were to start a church in the United States. Rick began doing research on different un-churched communities when God directed him again to Saddleback, California. His family picked up and moved. They had no money, no house, no church, yet God provided. God taught them that they didn’t have to be perfect, just willing. Their services started with a bible study in their house. When his bible study attendance reached 15, they decided to do a community survey to get to know the locals better. They went door to door and embraced conversations with many. Rick knew he wanted to start holding services and wanted to use Easter Sunday as the first service. They composed a letter just briefly stating what the new church would be about and gave the date of the first service. They sent out 15,000 of these. The first service they had two hundred five people! God is incredible! From their, their attendance grew. They bounced from location to location as they grew to 10,000. The church’s mission was to reach the un-churched. They did not want it to be a place for Christians to merely come and attend weekly. They wanted to reach those who had never heard the gospel before.
Chapter 2: Myths about Growing Churches
When you think about mega churches there are many different myths that come into your mind. Sometimes we think the church has copied their program from another church, or are only large because their service airs on television. In this chapter, Rick addresses several different myths and helps bring understanding to the truth behind the myth. The first myth is: the only thing large churches care about is attendance. We must realize it is only healthy for a church to grow. If it isn’t growing then something is not right! There are five dimensions of church growth that are listed: churches grow warmer through fellowship; churches grow deeper through discipleship; churches grow stronger through worship; churches grow broader through ministry and churches grow larger through evangelism. Growth is healthy! Myth #2 states: All large churches grow at the expense of smaller churches. Yes sometimes people leave a church to transfer to another church. Saddleback however focuses on converts rather than transfers. In order for a church to be growing in the proper way, it must be growing from converts rather than Christians switching churches. Myth #3: You must choose between quality and quantity at your church. Rick explains that quality is the kind of disciples you have at your church while quantity refers to the number of disciples a church is producing. As you can tell, that clearly makes the myth false. We must have these two together! In fact “quality produces quantity (51).” And it’s also true vice versa. When you have more people, fellowship gets better, the worship is better, and a lot of things are affected in a positive way. We must care about both of these. Myth #4: You must compromise the message and mission of the church in order to grow. People think this way because there are many examples of large churches that have grown large while practicing false theology. When Jesus preached multitudes of people came to listen. Why? Because the message brings good news! Don’t be afraid to ask for commitment at your church just be aware in how you’re asking. “Jesus never lowered his standards but he always started where people were (56).” Myth #5: If you are dedicated enough, your church will grow. This is completely false. The church growth does not merely rely on the dedication of the pastor alone. It takes skill to lead a church. It’s important that pastors take the time to learn the skills needed in ministry. God grows churches but giving people the skills to enable growth. Myth #6: There is one secret key to church growth. How can a large church be affected by one thing? It takes many different keys to work a church. There are many ways to run a church and because we’re all different there are many different churches. “Never confuse methods with the message. The message must never change, but the methods must change with each new generation (61).” Myth #7: All God expects of us is faithfulness. God expects both faithfulness and fruitfulness from us. He wants us to have a result! One will reach success when they have been as fruitful as possible with the gifts and talents God has given them. Myth #8: You can’t learn from large churches. We learn from examples! Certain areas you will not be able to directly copy, but you can take a model and adapt it to your church. That is fine! Personalize ideas you get from other churches and see if it works with your congregation; maybe it will, maybe it won’t. “We must never become so enamored with methods that we lose sight of our mission and forget our message (71).”
Friday, March 6, 2009
Unchurched Friend #2
1) What do you think is the greatest need in your area?
I feel as though one of the greatest needs would be an after school program for teens. They don't have much to do around here, and I feel that after school program or weekend type program would be very beneficial to them.
2) Are you actively attending a church?
No.
3) What are a few issues or topics that impact/interest you?
A few topics that interest me are adoption, malnutrition in children and pollution issues.
4) Why do you think most people don't attend church?
I feel that most people don't attend church because people who do attend are hypocrites. They act very friendly and welcoming when you are in church but the second they leave so does their niceness. Some of the rudest people I know attend church, but they put on such a happy face for the other church-goers.
5) If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?
I would look for a church that doesn't discriminate against anyone. A church that is diverse in more ways than just one. I would look for a church whose actions match up with their words.
6) What advice can you give to pastors who really want to be helpful people?
I would tell pastors to be themselves. There is nothing more annoying then a "pastor" or "church member" who feel as though they need to speak to me in a different manner then they would someone who is a member of their church. If you go to a southern state you wouldn't try to speak with a southern accent, would you? Then do not go into the cities trying to use "city" terminology or accents.
This interview had a completely different feeling than the first one. This person almost felt bitter towards church. I felt as if they had had a couple experiences that burned them, or turned them away. They aren’t currently attending and based on the attitude given while responding to these questions I would say that they will not be attending anytime soon. With people like this, it takes time to change their mindset. They need to see that christians can be genuinely real people. This person was raised and lives in the city. They have a heart for teenagers. Because of violence on the streets they think that more after school programs would be beneficial for helping lower stastics of city teenagers. The person makes the statement that most people who attend church are hypocrits. Maybe they have worked with church goers or possibly even went to church, met someone there and ran into them on the streets. Outside the walls of the church, people change. I think this can be true and I think this very idea has turned people away. Non-church goes want real relationships. If you’re my friend in church, you should be my friend at the work place, in the streets, etc. Because this person lives in the city, they are used to evangelists coming and speaking in the streets. They look for a pastor who will be themselves. Won’t try to conform to the ways of the city (the city language, the style of the city, etc) especially if they aren’t from that part. They said that it almost makes the person fake in a sense and how are people supposed to learn about what’s real and solid from someone that isn’t their own person? I learned a lot through this interview. I thought the person gave some great points and was honest. They could’ve made everything sound cheery but they want to change the way people see church and saw this as an opportunity to be voiced.
I feel as though one of the greatest needs would be an after school program for teens. They don't have much to do around here, and I feel that after school program or weekend type program would be very beneficial to them.
2) Are you actively attending a church?
No.
3) What are a few issues or topics that impact/interest you?
A few topics that interest me are adoption, malnutrition in children and pollution issues.
4) Why do you think most people don't attend church?
I feel that most people don't attend church because people who do attend are hypocrites. They act very friendly and welcoming when you are in church but the second they leave so does their niceness. Some of the rudest people I know attend church, but they put on such a happy face for the other church-goers.
5) If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?
I would look for a church that doesn't discriminate against anyone. A church that is diverse in more ways than just one. I would look for a church whose actions match up with their words.
6) What advice can you give to pastors who really want to be helpful people?
I would tell pastors to be themselves. There is nothing more annoying then a "pastor" or "church member" who feel as though they need to speak to me in a different manner then they would someone who is a member of their church. If you go to a southern state you wouldn't try to speak with a southern accent, would you? Then do not go into the cities trying to use "city" terminology or accents.
This interview had a completely different feeling than the first one. This person almost felt bitter towards church. I felt as if they had had a couple experiences that burned them, or turned them away. They aren’t currently attending and based on the attitude given while responding to these questions I would say that they will not be attending anytime soon. With people like this, it takes time to change their mindset. They need to see that christians can be genuinely real people. This person was raised and lives in the city. They have a heart for teenagers. Because of violence on the streets they think that more after school programs would be beneficial for helping lower stastics of city teenagers. The person makes the statement that most people who attend church are hypocrits. Maybe they have worked with church goers or possibly even went to church, met someone there and ran into them on the streets. Outside the walls of the church, people change. I think this can be true and I think this very idea has turned people away. Non-church goes want real relationships. If you’re my friend in church, you should be my friend at the work place, in the streets, etc. Because this person lives in the city, they are used to evangelists coming and speaking in the streets. They look for a pastor who will be themselves. Won’t try to conform to the ways of the city (the city language, the style of the city, etc) especially if they aren’t from that part. They said that it almost makes the person fake in a sense and how are people supposed to learn about what’s real and solid from someone that isn’t their own person? I learned a lot through this interview. I thought the person gave some great points and was honest. They could’ve made everything sound cheery but they want to change the way people see church and saw this as an opportunity to be voiced.
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