Church Planting Series, Part fourteen
C.S. Lewis published “Mere Christianity” in 1952. The book was based on radio talks he gave in the 1940’s. These talks outlined the basic fundamentals of the Christian faith.
What if there was a “Mere Church Plantery” book? What essentials of church planting might be included?
PASSION – The starting point is one person with unstoppable passion to share Jesus. Salary or not, the love of Christ must be passed along in deed and word.
GROWTH – Immersion in prayer, a life of worship, and study of the Bible marks every church planter and church planting effort.
TRAINING – Those who plant churches need to be seasoned in the Scriptures, faith, and life. They must be able in relationships, teaching, and the sharing of tasks.
INTEGRITY – Honoring God and His people is essential.
ORGANIZING – The church planter must be able to formulate a plan, form relationships, and help guide others into effective outreach for Christ.
COMMUNITY – Those in ministry must learn to mentor, share, and collaborate. This is not a one-person show. The goal is to create a movement of passionate evangelists.
SERVING – The goal in everything is ultimately to reach out with the Good News of Jesus.
RISK – Never satisfied, the question is always, “What next bold step needs to be taken for the sake of the cross of Jesus Christ?”
Mere Church Plantery isn’t contingent on a building, sound equipment, new computers, or even money! These are secondary to the central task of growing a movement of God’s Spirit of grace in and through people. The secondary tools might become important, but if the first things are taken care of, the secondary items will develop and will serve the primary focus.
What secondary areas might be distracting you? How do you need to get back to Mere Church Plantery?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Public Behavior
Church Planting Series, Part thirteen
I went to a movie the other day. I actually saw it in a theater. I regretted every moment. Why? Theater behavior has undergone radical changes.
After the lights finally went down thirty minutes into the movie, and after the focus was adjusted at about the same time, the activity in the crowd began. To my left, a woman in her 70’s was texting someone during the movie. To my right, a man and woman narrated their commentary of each scene. In front of me, several people made multiple trips in and out of the theater for a variety of reasons, some which involved large quantities of snacks. Behind me, the person kept tapping the back of my seat with his foot—tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. You get the idea.
It was a circus, a fiasco, a disorderly din of sights, sounds, and smells. I wasn’t able to become lost in the story or engrossed by the compelling plot line. I got annoyed because it felt like I invited 100 restless people into my living room to watch a rented video.
Theater behavior has changed.
When my grandparents and parents went to the movies it was a special occasion. People got dressed up. Ushers seated you. They patrolled the aisles for noise and disruption. People stayed quiet. A hush fell over the theater when the previews began.
Now, after the movie is over, I wouldn’t be surprised if many in attendance would say, “What movie?”
Yes times have changed. Public behavior has changed. Restraint is disappearing. Shame is fading. The veneer that once made lives look civil and orderly is wearing very thin. Real life is showing through.
This fact impacts church. It is a new day with new behavior and a new set of expectations for a church planter. Yes, signs abound reminding people to turn off cell phones. Yes, texting and tweeting are being integrated into some teaching. But there’s a bigger issue. Sin, brokenness, addiction, and dysfunction are very evident in people’s lives. Polite conformity to society is vanishing. This brings about some key challenges for ministry:
First, how will you reach and relate to sinners? Jesus dined with them after Matthew’s conversion. In Luke 5:27-32 He outlined His strategy. How will you uphold the integrity of the Gospel while bringing the Gospel to its prime audience: sinners?
Second, how will you address sin, brokenness, dysfunction, and unholy behavior in a clear and balanced way? How will you bring the living Word that changes lives to lives that really need changing, but do so in a way that doesn’t do damage to the mission of God?
Third, how will you not fall prey to a ministry of power and control in the midst of radically changed public behavior, but, instead, move forward in the love, humility, and truth of Christ?
Answers to these questions will help you truly reach the lost with the saving news of the cross of Jesus. Just don’t expect to eliminate coffee spills and stray Cheerios from your meeting place.
I went to a movie the other day. I actually saw it in a theater. I regretted every moment. Why? Theater behavior has undergone radical changes.
After the lights finally went down thirty minutes into the movie, and after the focus was adjusted at about the same time, the activity in the crowd began. To my left, a woman in her 70’s was texting someone during the movie. To my right, a man and woman narrated their commentary of each scene. In front of me, several people made multiple trips in and out of the theater for a variety of reasons, some which involved large quantities of snacks. Behind me, the person kept tapping the back of my seat with his foot—tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. You get the idea.
It was a circus, a fiasco, a disorderly din of sights, sounds, and smells. I wasn’t able to become lost in the story or engrossed by the compelling plot line. I got annoyed because it felt like I invited 100 restless people into my living room to watch a rented video.
Theater behavior has changed.
When my grandparents and parents went to the movies it was a special occasion. People got dressed up. Ushers seated you. They patrolled the aisles for noise and disruption. People stayed quiet. A hush fell over the theater when the previews began.
Now, after the movie is over, I wouldn’t be surprised if many in attendance would say, “What movie?”
Yes times have changed. Public behavior has changed. Restraint is disappearing. Shame is fading. The veneer that once made lives look civil and orderly is wearing very thin. Real life is showing through.
This fact impacts church. It is a new day with new behavior and a new set of expectations for a church planter. Yes, signs abound reminding people to turn off cell phones. Yes, texting and tweeting are being integrated into some teaching. But there’s a bigger issue. Sin, brokenness, addiction, and dysfunction are very evident in people’s lives. Polite conformity to society is vanishing. This brings about some key challenges for ministry:
First, how will you reach and relate to sinners? Jesus dined with them after Matthew’s conversion. In Luke 5:27-32 He outlined His strategy. How will you uphold the integrity of the Gospel while bringing the Gospel to its prime audience: sinners?
Second, how will you address sin, brokenness, dysfunction, and unholy behavior in a clear and balanced way? How will you bring the living Word that changes lives to lives that really need changing, but do so in a way that doesn’t do damage to the mission of God?
Third, how will you not fall prey to a ministry of power and control in the midst of radically changed public behavior, but, instead, move forward in the love, humility, and truth of Christ?
Answers to these questions will help you truly reach the lost with the saving news of the cross of Jesus. Just don’t expect to eliminate coffee spills and stray Cheerios from your meeting place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)