One of the most fascinating characters in the Bible is this corrupt businessman Zacchaeus.
He's unlikely - He's wealthy, and this puts him in rather a small group of Jesus' followers.
Strange, really, that he appears in Luke - Luke tends to be very critical of the rich in general, if one is to look at the book overall. But as we can see here, that's not the whole story.
Why is it that Jesus chooses to spend time with Zacchaeus?
Firstly, let's examine a little background. He's a tax collector. For us, a tax collector is simply a job; perhaps an unpleasant job, but you'd seldom bear anyone any malice for doing it. But Zacchaeus (called Zac from now on!) was in a different situation. In the Roman system of the day, tax collectors were private citizens who had put out a tender for how much the province could produce; the best bid won the contract. Once the contract had been won, the successful bidder had the army placed at his disposal so the money could be extracted, and the tax collector was required to fulfil his bid (whatever means became necessary). In effect, Zac had become a government-sponsored extortionist.
No wonder he was hated!
So what is it that puts him in the category of people Jesus is interested in hanging out with?
Throughout the book, we see a variety of unfortunate types. Probably the main feature they all have in common is a deep understanding of their own unworthiness before Jesus. This is striking simply because it's the difference between (say,) the Pharisee and the tax collector in Jesus' story!
True, Zacchaeus wasn't in the normal demographic Jesus hung around. But he was definitely reaching a low point.
How do we know?
Well, the tree is a clue. He was desperate enough to climb the tree so that he could catch a glimpse of the teacher. Ever considered how desperate that must be? He was acting like a fanboy!
Not surprisingly, this culminated in raised eybrows. Jesus and Zac were a bit of an odd couple. The short tax collector and the (probably) tall teacher did't seem to be a match.
Yet salvation came to Zac's place. Why?
I think the key to pleasing God is sipmply to show faith in Him. What you do to show faith depends, but in Zac's case, he was willing to give whatever was asked of him - and then some.
16 May 2012
10 May 2012
Luke 18: 15 - 43
So here we see Jesus dealing with three entirely different situations.
Is there a link? They happen to be together.
Maybe they were just chronologically close. Maybe they were in the same place.
Maybe there's some other reason; let's look closer.
First there is the story beloved by all parents - Jesus blessing the children. "Let the children come to me." The main point here is simple - the only thing a child can offer is simple faith; but that is enough for Jesus.
We have the Rich Young Ruler (as he's called in many Bibles). One dramatisation of this story suggested that this very person was Mark, the writer of the Gospel. Perhaps. We have no real evidence to say so, however, so maybe that's just wishful thinking.
Whoever he was, we need to understand something about him - to people around, he was the epitome of moral uprightness.
Now, to us in this post-Christian world, this can seem a little shocking - after all, the "arrogant rich" have become a trope among Christians (albeit a trope with which we see a disturbing amount of similarity - often we wonder if WE are the rich people that get called "arrogant" in the Bible!). But to the people listening to Jesus, this man was someone who looked good. Riches were a mark of God's blessing to Pharisees (hence their reputation, seen in chapter 16, as "money-obsessed"), so it LOOKED to them like this man had it made.
So when Jesus asks "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God's Kingdom?" we can get some idea of the thought bomb he's dropping. This was an amazing concept. This is like questioning Mother Theresa's spirituality! It's like saying that "Billy Graham is heading to Hell." It's like declaring the Archbishop of Canterbury a heretic (actually, more shocking than that, since Sydney Anglicans do that regularly!).
You can see that in the shocked response. "Who has any chance at all?"
And here we have Jesus bringing it home. His point is not a sly dig at the rich, at least not by themselves. He's saying "The best you can do is not enough." He's demonstrating that the source of salvation is not one's goodness (as seen by the world) but one's willingness to trust God. It comes back to simple faith.
Finally we have the blind man. The blind man just calls out "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!".
Now, the Disciples are a little annoyed. Jesus is talking to them about some pretty heavy stuff. He's laying down the heavy prophecies about being handed over to the Romans and executed; you'd think that that was important enough to ignore some hairy old beggar!
But that's not how Jesus works. Once again, He's a sucker for simple faith. The man has faith that Jesus can fix things; simple faith, and faith that won't be denied. So ultimately Jesus DOESN'T deny it. He heals the man instantly.
I am a complicated person, and I desperately want things to be complicated between me and God. It gives me an excuse, an out. But this passage indicates that complexity is getting things wrong. Jesus doesn't want complexity; He wants simple, child like faith. That's the way we can please Him. No matter whether you're a child, a beggar or a rich ruler, we all come to Him on exactly the same terms - His terms.
Is there a link? They happen to be together.
Maybe they were just chronologically close. Maybe they were in the same place.
Maybe there's some other reason; let's look closer.
First there is the story beloved by all parents - Jesus blessing the children. "Let the children come to me." The main point here is simple - the only thing a child can offer is simple faith; but that is enough for Jesus.
We have the Rich Young Ruler (as he's called in many Bibles). One dramatisation of this story suggested that this very person was Mark, the writer of the Gospel. Perhaps. We have no real evidence to say so, however, so maybe that's just wishful thinking.
Whoever he was, we need to understand something about him - to people around, he was the epitome of moral uprightness.
Now, to us in this post-Christian world, this can seem a little shocking - after all, the "arrogant rich" have become a trope among Christians (albeit a trope with which we see a disturbing amount of similarity - often we wonder if WE are the rich people that get called "arrogant" in the Bible!). But to the people listening to Jesus, this man was someone who looked good. Riches were a mark of God's blessing to Pharisees (hence their reputation, seen in chapter 16, as "money-obsessed"), so it LOOKED to them like this man had it made.
So when Jesus asks "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God's Kingdom?" we can get some idea of the thought bomb he's dropping. This was an amazing concept. This is like questioning Mother Theresa's spirituality! It's like saying that "Billy Graham is heading to Hell." It's like declaring the Archbishop of Canterbury a heretic (actually, more shocking than that, since Sydney Anglicans do that regularly!).
You can see that in the shocked response. "Who has any chance at all?"
And here we have Jesus bringing it home. His point is not a sly dig at the rich, at least not by themselves. He's saying "The best you can do is not enough." He's demonstrating that the source of salvation is not one's goodness (as seen by the world) but one's willingness to trust God. It comes back to simple faith.
Finally we have the blind man. The blind man just calls out "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!".
Now, the Disciples are a little annoyed. Jesus is talking to them about some pretty heavy stuff. He's laying down the heavy prophecies about being handed over to the Romans and executed; you'd think that that was important enough to ignore some hairy old beggar!
But that's not how Jesus works. Once again, He's a sucker for simple faith. The man has faith that Jesus can fix things; simple faith, and faith that won't be denied. So ultimately Jesus DOESN'T deny it. He heals the man instantly.
I am a complicated person, and I desperately want things to be complicated between me and God. It gives me an excuse, an out. But this passage indicates that complexity is getting things wrong. Jesus doesn't want complexity; He wants simple, child like faith. That's the way we can please Him. No matter whether you're a child, a beggar or a rich ruler, we all come to Him on exactly the same terms - His terms.
09 May 2012
Luke 18: 1 - 14
Again it's a long chapter (Luke 18), so again I'll split it. However, I'll split it a little differently to the way that some Bibles do - as far as I can see, the natural split is after verse 14. Jesus has just told a couple of parables, and we then move into a few stories. So for tonight we'll look at the parables.
The first parable is an interesting one. It's the parable of the persistent widow. Now, for many of us this will need little or no introduction - the story of a woman who keeps bothering an uninterested judge until he finally settles her case.
This story is probably too familiar. We lose the sense of scandal it conveyed to its early readers.
Scandal? That a judge would be so uncaring (of God and of people)? No - scandalous that a woman can be treated as having legal rights!
Remember, this is in the first century AD. A woman usually obtained access to legal systems through her principal male relative (in Greek, her "Kurios" - Lord!), who would usually be her father or her husband (or maybe her son). But this woman is a widow, and has nobody to go in to bat for her. So she tries to deal with the case herself.
What is the point of this situation?
It's a nice one, actually. The odds are stacked against her. She's a woman (no rights), a widow (no advocate to fight for her) and the judge has no compassion or spirituality. On paper, she's got nothing. But in fact she DOES have one thing - persistence.
The point of the parable is that even if the odds are stacked against you, persistence can pay off. Now, Jesus then brings up the fact that God actually cares about you - He's NOT an uncaring judge! - to contrast this situation.
THis does lead to an interesting question - how does persistence work with God? Doesn't He already know everything? How come someone praying over and over again achieves something?
A hard one, that. Worth thinking about some more (and praying persistently!).
Second parable: the Tax man and the Pharisee. One pround, one humble. One knowing the law and yet not doing it; the other not knowing the law, yet following it to the best of his ability.
The key to understanding this is understanding that God isn't interested in our ability to know and understand all the rituals. Oh, God is okay with ritual that's done from a loving and pure heart; but ultimately, if He was to choose, He would pick someone with the right heart attitude any day.
God isn't like we often think of Him, sitting there wanting to ensure we're all in the right club. He works by Grace. Oh, I believe that we Christians have been privileged to receive a special revelation of God; but even so, God is ultimately most interested in where our hearts are at.
One day we may be surprised at whom we meet in glory . . .
The first parable is an interesting one. It's the parable of the persistent widow. Now, for many of us this will need little or no introduction - the story of a woman who keeps bothering an uninterested judge until he finally settles her case.
This story is probably too familiar. We lose the sense of scandal it conveyed to its early readers.
Scandal? That a judge would be so uncaring (of God and of people)? No - scandalous that a woman can be treated as having legal rights!
Remember, this is in the first century AD. A woman usually obtained access to legal systems through her principal male relative (in Greek, her "Kurios" - Lord!), who would usually be her father or her husband (or maybe her son). But this woman is a widow, and has nobody to go in to bat for her. So she tries to deal with the case herself.
What is the point of this situation?
It's a nice one, actually. The odds are stacked against her. She's a woman (no rights), a widow (no advocate to fight for her) and the judge has no compassion or spirituality. On paper, she's got nothing. But in fact she DOES have one thing - persistence.
The point of the parable is that even if the odds are stacked against you, persistence can pay off. Now, Jesus then brings up the fact that God actually cares about you - He's NOT an uncaring judge! - to contrast this situation.
THis does lead to an interesting question - how does persistence work with God? Doesn't He already know everything? How come someone praying over and over again achieves something?
A hard one, that. Worth thinking about some more (and praying persistently!).
Second parable: the Tax man and the Pharisee. One pround, one humble. One knowing the law and yet not doing it; the other not knowing the law, yet following it to the best of his ability.
The key to understanding this is understanding that God isn't interested in our ability to know and understand all the rituals. Oh, God is okay with ritual that's done from a loving and pure heart; but ultimately, if He was to choose, He would pick someone with the right heart attitude any day.
God isn't like we often think of Him, sitting there wanting to ensure we're all in the right club. He works by Grace. Oh, I believe that we Christians have been privileged to receive a special revelation of God; but even so, God is ultimately most interested in where our hearts are at.
One day we may be surprised at whom we meet in glory . . .
08 May 2012
Luke 17:20 - 37
In Luke 17:20 - 37, Jesus becomes a little bit mystical and a little cryptic. This is annoying for people like me who are trying to make sense of what He says!
Jesus is in the middle of a grilling by the Pharisees, and (perhaps not surprisingly, because this is pretty much His Modus Operandi!), He turns it around into an attack on His questioners.
Here He seems to struggle a little bit. Not with any issue of understanding; more a linguistic issue. Basically He's saying "The Kingdom of God isn't what you seem to be expecting!"
In fact, He is waxing more than a little apocalyptic really.
The big deal about what Jesus is saying is simple enough - There is a day coming when all this wil be coming to an end. BE READY.
There was a fad for end times prophecy a few years back; even though my experience of life is fairly limited, I'm coming quickly to the conclusion that this is just one of those things that people do, and Christians aren't immune. After a while, it ran its course (though the "Left Behind" books are still very much available!) and people moved on to the next trend.
I sometimes wonder if in our enthusiasm not to be seen as freaks by the outside world[1], we've lost something important. Christians throughout the History of the world have been ridiculed, lampooned even, for our willingness to believe in an end time; Scientists look at the universe and say "It just goes on."
Yet we are told in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS - the end is coming, and we are to be ready for it.
How do we prepare ourselves for an end which may not come in our lifetimes?
I think the best answer to this question must go to Martin Luther. When asked what he would do if he were aware that the Lord would be returning tomorrow, he thought a moment and consulted his diary.
Then he replied "I'd plant a row of petunias."
The questioner was puzzled. What significance did these flowers have? Were they some kind of symbol? Some sort of message to the world left behind?
But when quizzed further, Luther just smiled. "That's what I'm planning to do tomorrow. I always live my life in such a way as to be ready for the Lord's return, even if it is tomorrow."
To me that's the greatest thing that a Christian could ever say - Living Life prepared for the Lord's coming. I wonder how many of us could say that with any degree of honesty . . .
[1] And here, it must be said, Christians could do with a bit less freakiness. The Gospel makes us unusual, true - there are some values and attitudes that are simply incomprehensible to the World. However, a lot of our freakiness comes from our culture, and we need to be continually on our guard to ensure that we don't just do things because we've always done them . . .
07 May 2012
Luke 17: 1-19
There's a lot happening in Luke 17, so I'll split it up into two sections - firstly, 1 - 19, then 20 - 37.
But really that doesn't help much - even within those sections, Jesus is tackling a lot of different issues, and the topic isn't really constant.
As an historian, I think I'd look at these chapters as sort of a "collection of sayings" rather than a coherent sermon.
What about as a theologian though?
Well, let's see - verses 1-2 is about the bringing of temptations to "these little ones" (in other gospels identified as children), and the definite preferability of certain situations, vis-a-vis exploring the depths of the sea wearing millstone jewellery.
Verses 3 - 4 are about forgiveness, and how it should ALWAYS be given to the penitent.
Verses 5 & 6 are about faith, and how it's not the amount that matters, but the object of faith.
Verses 7 - 10 tell us about how a servant doesn't get special rewards just for doing their bounden duty and service.
Verses 11 - 13 talk about the 10 lepers, including one - a samaritan - who takes the time to say "Thank you" to Jesus after He heals them.
Okay, so how do you link all these up?
I'm not entirely sure. Maybe I'm drawing a long bow here, and maybe they're not supposed to be joined together. But maybe there IS something buried into this passage.
Here's a wild stab in the dark - do you notice how ALL these sayings and actions of Jesus are extremely countercultural?
Our world is one that basically says "Bad things happen, and you can't do anything about it." But in the Kingdom of God there will be true justice - it's coming.
Our world says "Get revenge." But in the Kingdom of God there is freely given forgiveness.
If it cares about faith at all, our world says "You need lots." But in the Kingdom of God, a small amount of faith in a powerful object can go into the Earthmoving business.
Our world says you should be congratulated for just being a nice guy. In the Kingdom of God, however, good works are just what EVERYONE does - nothing more, nothing less. No special honour for you if you just do that!
And our world doesn't really care about certain people. In Jesus' day it was the lepers and the prostitutes. Today it might still be prostitutes; maybe AIDS patients or refugees might top the list. But the Kingdom of God is for those people.
Oh, and while we're at it - the one man who returns to say "Thank you" is singled out more than many other people in the New Testament.
Need any more hints? This guy MATTERS to Jesus. His contemporary equivalent had better matter to us!
But really that doesn't help much - even within those sections, Jesus is tackling a lot of different issues, and the topic isn't really constant.
As an historian, I think I'd look at these chapters as sort of a "collection of sayings" rather than a coherent sermon.
What about as a theologian though?
Well, let's see - verses 1-2 is about the bringing of temptations to "these little ones" (in other gospels identified as children), and the definite preferability of certain situations, vis-a-vis exploring the depths of the sea wearing millstone jewellery.
Verses 3 - 4 are about forgiveness, and how it should ALWAYS be given to the penitent.
Verses 5 & 6 are about faith, and how it's not the amount that matters, but the object of faith.
Verses 7 - 10 tell us about how a servant doesn't get special rewards just for doing their bounden duty and service.
Verses 11 - 13 talk about the 10 lepers, including one - a samaritan - who takes the time to say "Thank you" to Jesus after He heals them.
Okay, so how do you link all these up?
I'm not entirely sure. Maybe I'm drawing a long bow here, and maybe they're not supposed to be joined together. But maybe there IS something buried into this passage.
Here's a wild stab in the dark - do you notice how ALL these sayings and actions of Jesus are extremely countercultural?
Our world is one that basically says "Bad things happen, and you can't do anything about it." But in the Kingdom of God there will be true justice - it's coming.
Our world says "Get revenge." But in the Kingdom of God there is freely given forgiveness.
If it cares about faith at all, our world says "You need lots." But in the Kingdom of God, a small amount of faith in a powerful object can go into the Earthmoving business.
Our world says you should be congratulated for just being a nice guy. In the Kingdom of God, however, good works are just what EVERYONE does - nothing more, nothing less. No special honour for you if you just do that!
And our world doesn't really care about certain people. In Jesus' day it was the lepers and the prostitutes. Today it might still be prostitutes; maybe AIDS patients or refugees might top the list. But the Kingdom of God is for those people.
Oh, and while we're at it - the one man who returns to say "Thank you" is singled out more than many other people in the New Testament.
Need any more hints? This guy MATTERS to Jesus. His contemporary equivalent had better matter to us!
06 May 2012
Luke 16
So it's a little more than a night after my last attempt to write this particular blog . . .
Well, it's time I got back into it!
I have always found the story of the Crooked Manager ("Shrewd Manager" was what it was called in my older versions of the Bible) a little puzzling. I mean, what is Jesus actually trying to get us to do? Is He wanting us to actually copy the actions of the manager? Surely not. But then the manager's master PRAISES HIM, for acting "shrewdly". What gives?
The old saying says "A text out of context is a pretext." Well, here's a pretty good demonstration of that fact - this parable comes into focus when you read the text after it.
Verses 10 - 13 talk about how our attitudes are fairly consistent - if we have a certain attitude in one part of our life, it'll flow over to other parts. So an attitude of love of money is a major problem, because "One cannot serve two masters".
But more than this, Jesus wants us to apply the shrewdness of the manager to our lives, without the obsessions with money and position. Basically the message is "If the people you see around you can be this clever with the things of this world, why can't you be that clever with doing what is right?
Jesus is really coming down hard on the rich here. This is possibly due to the fact that his opponents for the moment, the Pharisees, are described in verse 14 as "Money-obsessed" (MSG). Now, as I have pointed out in my blogs before, in his approach to theology, Jesus was very much a Pharisee; however, he tears strips off them.
Why do that?
Why attack the people who are closest to your views?
I'm not sure why, but I think it might be as simple as this - they, of all people, should have known better.
As far as Jesus was concerned, their theology was pretty much on the money (hur hur hur). They had the right idea of how to serve God, the right idea about what the significance of the resurrection was, they understood the idea that God could do the miraculous (people denying the miraculous is nothing new - see the Saducees!). On the surface, they looked good, smelt good.
However, their weak spot was becoming too comfortable with things of the world. Money. Power. Political influence.
And here Jesus tells his most damning story - that of the rich man and Lazarus.
Why is this story such a shock?
Remember that the Pharisees have a fairly early version of what we call today "Prosperity Doctrine" - that is, that wealth is a sign of God's favour. Therefore, the idea that the rich man goes to Hell and the poor man to Heaven is nothing less than a subversion of the entire Pharisee worldview! It's putting everything in reverse of what the Pharisees expect.
Two thousand years on, we're past those attitudes, right? Now we've got things all sorted out, right?
Heh. Not at all, and we know it. More than that, however, Jesus is still surprising us, still subverting our worldview.
Sadly, I think we're still resistant to change.
Pharisees, the lot of us. At least, I am.
Well, it's time I got back into it!
I have always found the story of the Crooked Manager ("Shrewd Manager" was what it was called in my older versions of the Bible) a little puzzling. I mean, what is Jesus actually trying to get us to do? Is He wanting us to actually copy the actions of the manager? Surely not. But then the manager's master PRAISES HIM, for acting "shrewdly". What gives?
The old saying says "A text out of context is a pretext." Well, here's a pretty good demonstration of that fact - this parable comes into focus when you read the text after it.
Verses 10 - 13 talk about how our attitudes are fairly consistent - if we have a certain attitude in one part of our life, it'll flow over to other parts. So an attitude of love of money is a major problem, because "One cannot serve two masters".
But more than this, Jesus wants us to apply the shrewdness of the manager to our lives, without the obsessions with money and position. Basically the message is "If the people you see around you can be this clever with the things of this world, why can't you be that clever with doing what is right?
Jesus is really coming down hard on the rich here. This is possibly due to the fact that his opponents for the moment, the Pharisees, are described in verse 14 as "Money-obsessed" (MSG). Now, as I have pointed out in my blogs before, in his approach to theology, Jesus was very much a Pharisee; however, he tears strips off them.
Why do that?
Why attack the people who are closest to your views?
I'm not sure why, but I think it might be as simple as this - they, of all people, should have known better.
As far as Jesus was concerned, their theology was pretty much on the money (hur hur hur). They had the right idea of how to serve God, the right idea about what the significance of the resurrection was, they understood the idea that God could do the miraculous (people denying the miraculous is nothing new - see the Saducees!). On the surface, they looked good, smelt good.
However, their weak spot was becoming too comfortable with things of the world. Money. Power. Political influence.
And here Jesus tells his most damning story - that of the rich man and Lazarus.
Why is this story such a shock?
Remember that the Pharisees have a fairly early version of what we call today "Prosperity Doctrine" - that is, that wealth is a sign of God's favour. Therefore, the idea that the rich man goes to Hell and the poor man to Heaven is nothing less than a subversion of the entire Pharisee worldview! It's putting everything in reverse of what the Pharisees expect.
Two thousand years on, we're past those attitudes, right? Now we've got things all sorted out, right?
Heh. Not at all, and we know it. More than that, however, Jesus is still surprising us, still subverting our worldview.
Sadly, I think we're still resistant to change.
Pharisees, the lot of us. At least, I am.
29 March 2012
God mustn't have wanted it!
I had just completed a new post. I was having trouble writing it (on Luke 16).
Then my internet crashed, spectacularly.
An hour's work, gone like that. . .
I guess God didn't want it to be seen.
I'll try again tomorrow night. :(
Johno
Then my internet crashed, spectacularly.
An hour's work, gone like that. . .
I guess God didn't want it to be seen.
I'll try again tomorrow night. :(
Johno
28 March 2012
Brief announcement
Hey all,
Just letting you know that there won't be a commentary tonight. I had to do a lot of stuff which was time-critical, and now it's nearly 1 AM. Fear not, I'll return tomorrow night. It'll be Luke 16 - I wonder if, like me, you've wondered about some of the stuff that is there . . . .
Johno
Just letting you know that there won't be a commentary tonight. I had to do a lot of stuff which was time-critical, and now it's nearly 1 AM. Fear not, I'll return tomorrow night. It'll be Luke 16 - I wonder if, like me, you've wondered about some of the stuff that is there . . . .
Johno
27 March 2012
Luke 15
. . . The story of LOST THINGS (spot the father of two small girls - gratuitous Tinkerbell reference!).
I'm going to confess something here - I have heard conflicting stories about these parables of Jesus. I have a fairly good level of knowledge about the New Testament context, but the trouble is that both ideas make some level of sense. The best thing I can do is summarise both.
The first idea - let's call it the conventional view - is that Jesus is being quite literal. In the Good Shepherd story, he's describing what his Jewish listeners would expect of a shepherd (if an idealised one who genuinely cares for the sheep rather than a hired man who's just doing a fairly unpleasant job!). The story of the coin is relating to the tradition (still seen in parts of the Middle East today) of giving a woman the gift of several gold coins as a wedding present, making each one valuable beyond its appearance; naturally she'd be willing to turn the house upside down if one was missing. And of course, we see the Prodigal Son story in this way too. It's literally what people would say an ideal father should do.
The alternative view is interesting in that it kind of turns these parables on their heads. I'm unsure of whether or not it's true, but it deserves some thought.
This view, which we'll call the radical view, proposes that Jesus is actually being a little ironic. When He says "Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?", the answer a real shepherd would give is "No. You don't leave the Ninety-nine and seek one. That's illogical." Similarly, a woman wouldn't waste too much time seeking one silver coin; and she certainly wouldn't call her friends together to celebrate! As for the Prodigal son, remember that the Son had effectively informed his father that as far as the son was concerned, the father may as well be dead; you can't return from that. It's burning the bridges, then digging up and dynamiting the foundations.
Is this radical view correct? Really, I'm not sure. But it intrigues me because it makes a separate and very pertinent point - that God's love is amazingly and mind-blowingly beyond anything a human could ever imagine or give. No mere human love can fully explain it.
One thing I have noticed in the past is the difference between the three lost things.
The sheep wandered away. There's no bad feelings (a sheep isn't really bright enough to harbour malice), but there is action on the part of the sheep. So too, sometimes we walk astray from God. The point of the parable is that when we wander, God will come and get us.
The coin just got lost. It was not through the coin's action (a coin HAS no action!), just the result of circumstances. So too, when the thing separating us from God is just the random stuff that happens, God can and will find us.
What about the Prodigal son then? He was lost, not by random circumstances and not by carelessness; he was lost because with intelligent consideration and malice aforethought, he would go where he wanted, regardless of the will of his father. Similarly, when we rebel against God, He is still willing and able to forgive.
One last, personal thing - Philip Yancey believes that we all need to realise that we can relate to all three roles in the Parable of the Prodigal son. We too can be like the prodigal (in fact, it's a matter of basic doctrine that we are). But we can also be like the Older brother (which, come to think of it, is the person I tend to see this parable through), and we run the risk of resenting new brothers and sisters as they come to Christ (and sometimes loading them up with burdens we can't carry ourselves). Similarly, we can also relate to the father, welcoming his son home. In the same way, we need to avoid the mistakes of the older brother, and one way we can avoid that is to put ourselves in a place where we are enthusiastically welcoming our prodigals home.
I'm going to confess something here - I have heard conflicting stories about these parables of Jesus. I have a fairly good level of knowledge about the New Testament context, but the trouble is that both ideas make some level of sense. The best thing I can do is summarise both.
The first idea - let's call it the conventional view - is that Jesus is being quite literal. In the Good Shepherd story, he's describing what his Jewish listeners would expect of a shepherd (if an idealised one who genuinely cares for the sheep rather than a hired man who's just doing a fairly unpleasant job!). The story of the coin is relating to the tradition (still seen in parts of the Middle East today) of giving a woman the gift of several gold coins as a wedding present, making each one valuable beyond its appearance; naturally she'd be willing to turn the house upside down if one was missing. And of course, we see the Prodigal Son story in this way too. It's literally what people would say an ideal father should do.
The alternative view is interesting in that it kind of turns these parables on their heads. I'm unsure of whether or not it's true, but it deserves some thought.
This view, which we'll call the radical view, proposes that Jesus is actually being a little ironic. When He says "Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?", the answer a real shepherd would give is "No. You don't leave the Ninety-nine and seek one. That's illogical." Similarly, a woman wouldn't waste too much time seeking one silver coin; and she certainly wouldn't call her friends together to celebrate! As for the Prodigal son, remember that the Son had effectively informed his father that as far as the son was concerned, the father may as well be dead; you can't return from that. It's burning the bridges, then digging up and dynamiting the foundations.
Is this radical view correct? Really, I'm not sure. But it intrigues me because it makes a separate and very pertinent point - that God's love is amazingly and mind-blowingly beyond anything a human could ever imagine or give. No mere human love can fully explain it.
One thing I have noticed in the past is the difference between the three lost things.
The sheep wandered away. There's no bad feelings (a sheep isn't really bright enough to harbour malice), but there is action on the part of the sheep. So too, sometimes we walk astray from God. The point of the parable is that when we wander, God will come and get us.
The coin just got lost. It was not through the coin's action (a coin HAS no action!), just the result of circumstances. So too, when the thing separating us from God is just the random stuff that happens, God can and will find us.
What about the Prodigal son then? He was lost, not by random circumstances and not by carelessness; he was lost because with intelligent consideration and malice aforethought, he would go where he wanted, regardless of the will of his father. Similarly, when we rebel against God, He is still willing and able to forgive.
One last, personal thing - Philip Yancey believes that we all need to realise that we can relate to all three roles in the Parable of the Prodigal son. We too can be like the prodigal (in fact, it's a matter of basic doctrine that we are). But we can also be like the Older brother (which, come to think of it, is the person I tend to see this parable through), and we run the risk of resenting new brothers and sisters as they come to Christ (and sometimes loading them up with burdens we can't carry ourselves). Similarly, we can also relate to the father, welcoming his son home. In the same way, we need to avoid the mistakes of the older brother, and one way we can avoid that is to put ourselves in a place where we are enthusiastically welcoming our prodigals home.
26 March 2012
Luke 14d
So after the foray into the Purpose Driven Church, now it's time to get back into the Word of God. And hopefully the change will have done me good; my blogs were starting to get pretty conventional!
Anyways . . .
Christians are often fairly limp-wristed in their approach to people they want to reach. I wonder if sometimes we give people the wrong idea of who God is. I mean, we see Him as the great and mighty master of Everything. Yet we seem to be leaving people thinking that God desperately wants you on his side, and that He'll be REALLY SAD if you don't come along . . .
Well, that's certainly not the approach Jesus takes in this chapter. He's willing to lay it all on the line for people. Everyone is welcome with Him - but on HIS terms. And he's not going to leave you to die wondering.
In context here, Jesus is dealing with a big crowd following him. We need to realise here that Jesus was COOL. He was the flavour of the month! Everyone who was anyone was dashing out to the countryside to hear this rebellious rabbi speak. So really, Jesus needed to ensure that anyone who chose to follow Him was doing so out of right motives.
So at a time when many of us might tell the crowd what they wanted to hear to secure their allegiance, Jesus was telling them the plain and simple (and unpleasant) truth.
Firstly He says that you need to be prepared to let go of family - Father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters - and shoulder the cross, and follow.
Because these words are familiar, and because our culture is so different, it can be easy to lose sight of the horror these words would engender. Remember, in Jesus' culture, family is everything. When He says to let go of them, He's really saying to a person to let go of everything that gives their life meaning, that gives them identity. Effectively He's demanding that a person take on a new identity!
The Early Christians could see that - when someone became a Christian, they were granted a new name from the community! I think sometimes we are so much a part of the Christian ethos that we lose sight of how radical Christ's demands were.
More is to come, however. Jesus uses the phrase "shoulder the cross" (Message version - to many people it may be more familiar as "Take up your cross"). This is not only a forshadowing of Jesus' death, it's an expression directly referencing an extremely unpleasant form of execution. It would possibly have been seen as being in profoundly bad taste - imagine how you might react if someone said "You really need to sit on the electric chair".
Talk about talking tough . . .
Jesus then underlines it with using the metaphor of "counting the cost". He compares the person choosing whether or not to follow him with a king considering war with a larger army. Similarly, he proposes the image of a builder planning a house. Basically He's saying "Finish what you start, or don't start."
I have often wondered why the Salt metaphor is where it is, but it makes sense here - Jesus is saying that He wants people who will spice up the world. Anyone who's not prepared to count the cost will be no more than a bland flavour.
Anyways . . .
Christians are often fairly limp-wristed in their approach to people they want to reach. I wonder if sometimes we give people the wrong idea of who God is. I mean, we see Him as the great and mighty master of Everything. Yet we seem to be leaving people thinking that God desperately wants you on his side, and that He'll be REALLY SAD if you don't come along . . .
Well, that's certainly not the approach Jesus takes in this chapter. He's willing to lay it all on the line for people. Everyone is welcome with Him - but on HIS terms. And he's not going to leave you to die wondering.
In context here, Jesus is dealing with a big crowd following him. We need to realise here that Jesus was COOL. He was the flavour of the month! Everyone who was anyone was dashing out to the countryside to hear this rebellious rabbi speak. So really, Jesus needed to ensure that anyone who chose to follow Him was doing so out of right motives.
So at a time when many of us might tell the crowd what they wanted to hear to secure their allegiance, Jesus was telling them the plain and simple (and unpleasant) truth.
Firstly He says that you need to be prepared to let go of family - Father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters - and shoulder the cross, and follow.
Because these words are familiar, and because our culture is so different, it can be easy to lose sight of the horror these words would engender. Remember, in Jesus' culture, family is everything. When He says to let go of them, He's really saying to a person to let go of everything that gives their life meaning, that gives them identity. Effectively He's demanding that a person take on a new identity!
The Early Christians could see that - when someone became a Christian, they were granted a new name from the community! I think sometimes we are so much a part of the Christian ethos that we lose sight of how radical Christ's demands were.
More is to come, however. Jesus uses the phrase "shoulder the cross" (Message version - to many people it may be more familiar as "Take up your cross"). This is not only a forshadowing of Jesus' death, it's an expression directly referencing an extremely unpleasant form of execution. It would possibly have been seen as being in profoundly bad taste - imagine how you might react if someone said "You really need to sit on the electric chair".
Talk about talking tough . . .
Jesus then underlines it with using the metaphor of "counting the cost". He compares the person choosing whether or not to follow him with a king considering war with a larger army. Similarly, he proposes the image of a builder planning a house. Basically He's saying "Finish what you start, or don't start."
I have often wondered why the Salt metaphor is where it is, but it makes sense here - Jesus is saying that He wants people who will spice up the world. Anyone who's not prepared to count the cost will be no more than a bland flavour.
21 March 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch20 - God's Purpose for your Church
So we reach the final chapter!
Warren's last word to the church is summed up in those two phrases beloved of motivational speakers - "You can do it", and "It's worth it." But more than that, there's a good nugget for those at Sanctuary (and any other church members reading this - Hi Richard, Jane, Andrew Carolyn and Sarah!).
It is this:
When you plant Chinese bamboo, for at least four or five years nothing seems to happen. You water and fertilize, water and fertilize, water and fertilize, and see no visible evidence that anything is happening. But suddenly over a six week period the tree grows about 90 feet tall!
Warren's point is obvious - Focus on fulfilling the purposes of you church. Keep watering and fertilizing, cultivating, weeding and pruning. God will grow His church to the size He wants it, at the rate that is best for your situation.
You may be required - by God! - to labour for years without visible results. Don't be discouraged.
Warren gives the example of David, whose epitaph is "When David had served God's purposes in his own generation he [died]". Imagine having that inscribed on YOUR tombstone. Leaders who fulfil God's purposes are to be honoured in such a way; it's worth living and dying for.
So how do you measure success? Warren uses a phrase I used to hear a lot in Student Life - "Sharing the Gospel in the Power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results up to God." He adapts it to suit the church context: "Building the church on the purposes of God in the Power of the Holy Spirit and expecting the results from God."
Growing churches have one thing in common - leadership that is not afraid to believe God. Leadership that EXPECTS the congregation to grow (That's a poke in the ribs for Yours Truly!).
Warren finishes with the example of The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37). No matter how dry the Church's bones may seem, God can breathe new life into them again. Well, Sanctuary has had its problems, but it's never been DEAD as such, so that's no problem for God!
I guess a good finishing point is the quote with which Warren closes the book:
"The greatest churches in history are yet to be built. Are you available for that task? I pray that God will use you to fulfill His purposes in your generation. There is no greater use of your life."
Warren's last word to the church is summed up in those two phrases beloved of motivational speakers - "You can do it", and "It's worth it." But more than that, there's a good nugget for those at Sanctuary (and any other church members reading this - Hi Richard, Jane, Andrew Carolyn and Sarah!).
It is this:
When you plant Chinese bamboo, for at least four or five years nothing seems to happen. You water and fertilize, water and fertilize, water and fertilize, and see no visible evidence that anything is happening. But suddenly over a six week period the tree grows about 90 feet tall!
Warren's point is obvious - Focus on fulfilling the purposes of you church. Keep watering and fertilizing, cultivating, weeding and pruning. God will grow His church to the size He wants it, at the rate that is best for your situation.
You may be required - by God! - to labour for years without visible results. Don't be discouraged.
Warren gives the example of David, whose epitaph is "When David had served God's purposes in his own generation he [died]". Imagine having that inscribed on YOUR tombstone. Leaders who fulfil God's purposes are to be honoured in such a way; it's worth living and dying for.
So how do you measure success? Warren uses a phrase I used to hear a lot in Student Life - "Sharing the Gospel in the Power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results up to God." He adapts it to suit the church context: "Building the church on the purposes of God in the Power of the Holy Spirit and expecting the results from God."
Growing churches have one thing in common - leadership that is not afraid to believe God. Leadership that EXPECTS the congregation to grow (That's a poke in the ribs for Yours Truly!).
Warren finishes with the example of The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37). No matter how dry the Church's bones may seem, God can breathe new life into them again. Well, Sanctuary has had its problems, but it's never been DEAD as such, so that's no problem for God!
I guess a good finishing point is the quote with which Warren closes the book:
"The greatest churches in history are yet to be built. Are you available for that task? I pray that God will use you to fulfill His purposes in your generation. There is no greater use of your life."
20 March 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch 19b - Turning Members into Ministers
Completing this chapter tonight.
Provide on-the-job training.
This is in many respects better than pre-service training, because before a person is doing the ministry they don't even know which questions to ask.
Also, a long pre-service training course loses peoples' enthusiasm. On-the-job training gets them to the coalface faster.
(Note: The SALT program at Saddleback is interesting in that it appears to be one program for all ministries rather than providing specific training. They do, however, have other programs for training in specific ministries.)
Never start a ministry without a minister.
Don't create a ministry position and then try to fill it. Without the right leader, a ministry will stumble along and may do more harm than good.
Trust God's timing and let ideas percolate until God provides the right person to do the job. Also never push people into ministry. If you do the person will have a motivation problem.
Don't worry if there isn't a person for a particular ministry. Take a long-term perspective as a leader. Solid growth takes time.
Acts: organising always followed the Spirit's action.
Establish minimum standards and guidelines.
Best intentions are not enough when working with human beings. Job descriptions are needed which outline issues like time commitment, resources, restrictions, lines of authority and expected results.
Keep these standards clear and brief. e.g. Saddleback: Any member who has completed Class 301 and a SHAPE interviewmay begin a new ministry as long as they follow 3 guidelines:
1) Don't expect the staff to run your ministry - "The church should do something"; You are the church!
2) The ministry must be compatible with the church's beliefs, values and philosophy of ministry. -Be careful of any ministry that does not. Especially careful of events co-sponsored by other organisations.
3) No fund-raising is allowed. A unified budget is essential for a unified church - it avoids fights over limited dollars!
Allow people to quit or change ministry gracefully.
People need to be allowed to take sabbaticals or change ministries without feeling guilty. They may become stale or need a change of pace. If someone doesn't enjoy or fit a particular ministry, they are encouraged to change to another without shame or embarrassment.
Experimenting is the best way to discover your gifts. During lay ministry month, everyone is encouraged to try a new ministry if currently unsatisfied.
Trust people: Delegate authority with responsibility.
The secret of motivating people over an extended period of time is building ownership. People in a particular ministry need to make their own decisions without interference from a board or committee. People respond to responsibility. If you treat them like babies, you have to change nappies and feed them for the rest of their lives.
Expect the best of your people and trust them with ministry. Rick did everything for a while, but got burnt out and made a deal with the church -"If you agree to do the ministry of the church, I'll make sure you're well fed!" The church was never meant to be a one-man superstar show.
If a ministry is built around a prominent person it is personality driven, not purpose driven, and if that person leaves or dies the ministry dies with them.
Provide the necessary support.
Provide material support - Space, paper, copy machines, telephones etc.
Provide communication support -Develop ways to stay in touch with lay ministers.
Provide promotional support - Keep ministries visible to the congregation.
Provide moral support - Express appreciation in both private and public ways.
Renew the vision regularly.
Don't use guilt or pressure. It is VISION that motivates. Help people see that there's no greater cause than the Kingdom of God.
"Imagine dying, and fifty years from now somebody in heaven comes to you and says 'I want to thank you.' You reply 'I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you.' They explain 'You were a minister at Sanctuary. You served and sacrificed and built the church that reached me for Christ after you died. I'm here because of you.' Do you think your effort is worth that?"
Provide on-the-job training.
This is in many respects better than pre-service training, because before a person is doing the ministry they don't even know which questions to ask.
Also, a long pre-service training course loses peoples' enthusiasm. On-the-job training gets them to the coalface faster.
(Note: The SALT program at Saddleback is interesting in that it appears to be one program for all ministries rather than providing specific training. They do, however, have other programs for training in specific ministries.)
Never start a ministry without a minister.
Don't create a ministry position and then try to fill it. Without the right leader, a ministry will stumble along and may do more harm than good.
Trust God's timing and let ideas percolate until God provides the right person to do the job. Also never push people into ministry. If you do the person will have a motivation problem.
Don't worry if there isn't a person for a particular ministry. Take a long-term perspective as a leader. Solid growth takes time.
Acts: organising always followed the Spirit's action.
Establish minimum standards and guidelines.
Best intentions are not enough when working with human beings. Job descriptions are needed which outline issues like time commitment, resources, restrictions, lines of authority and expected results.
Keep these standards clear and brief. e.g. Saddleback: Any member who has completed Class 301 and a SHAPE interviewmay begin a new ministry as long as they follow 3 guidelines:
1) Don't expect the staff to run your ministry - "The church should do something"; You are the church!
2) The ministry must be compatible with the church's beliefs, values and philosophy of ministry. -Be careful of any ministry that does not. Especially careful of events co-sponsored by other organisations.
3) No fund-raising is allowed. A unified budget is essential for a unified church - it avoids fights over limited dollars!
Allow people to quit or change ministry gracefully.
People need to be allowed to take sabbaticals or change ministries without feeling guilty. They may become stale or need a change of pace. If someone doesn't enjoy or fit a particular ministry, they are encouraged to change to another without shame or embarrassment.
Experimenting is the best way to discover your gifts. During lay ministry month, everyone is encouraged to try a new ministry if currently unsatisfied.
Trust people: Delegate authority with responsibility.
The secret of motivating people over an extended period of time is building ownership. People in a particular ministry need to make their own decisions without interference from a board or committee. People respond to responsibility. If you treat them like babies, you have to change nappies and feed them for the rest of their lives.
Expect the best of your people and trust them with ministry. Rick did everything for a while, but got burnt out and made a deal with the church -"If you agree to do the ministry of the church, I'll make sure you're well fed!" The church was never meant to be a one-man superstar show.
If a ministry is built around a prominent person it is personality driven, not purpose driven, and if that person leaves or dies the ministry dies with them.
Provide the necessary support.
Provide material support - Space, paper, copy machines, telephones etc.
Provide communication support -Develop ways to stay in touch with lay ministers.
Provide promotional support - Keep ministries visible to the congregation.
Provide moral support - Express appreciation in both private and public ways.
Renew the vision regularly.
Don't use guilt or pressure. It is VISION that motivates. Help people see that there's no greater cause than the Kingdom of God.
"Imagine dying, and fifty years from now somebody in heaven comes to you and says 'I want to thank you.' You reply 'I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you.' They explain 'You were a minister at Sanctuary. You served and sacrificed and built the church that reached me for Christ after you died. I'm here because of you.' Do you think your effort is worth that?"
19 March 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch19a - Turning Members into Ministers
It's been a long time since I have blogged. Those at Sanctuary know well that this hasn't been a time of inactivity, however - on the contrary, we've been enacting some of the stuff we've been learning here from this book!
Nevertheless, it's time to knock over the last couple of chapters. My apologies, dear reader, if you have been frustrated by the long wait for them . . .
Anyway, let's get started.
The analogy of a Sleeping Giant (spoken of Napoleon about China, and often quoted of Admiral Yamamoto regarding the United States) is an apt one. The Church IS a sleeping giant. But in many cases the only things required of us are attendance and financial support.
(This is generally not the case of a small church - we're much more prone to the equally dangerous problem of running around, doing everything and eventually collapsing in a heap because you're completely out of energy! However . . . )
Apparently in America only 10% of church members have some kind of personal ministry; 50% have no interest in ministry at all. Sad, but believable (and I'd guess similar figures would be found in Australian churches). But turn this around - that means 40% of church members ARE interested in ministry, and of those only 10% are mobilised - so imagine what would happen if the church mobilised the remaining 30% who are already interested!
In large churches talent can hide in the crowd. Your church will never be stronger than the core of lay ministers who carry out the various ministries of the church.
The biblical basis for Every-Member Ministry:
This forms four pillars.
Pillar 1: Every believer is a minister. Many verses, but see especially Eph 2:10. In God's army there are no volunteers - we've all been drafted!
Pillar 2: Every ministry is significant (See the "Body passage" in 2 Cor 12: 18 - 22). "Small" ministries often make the biggest difference.
Pillar 3: We are dependent on each other. When one part malfunctions, the whole body suffers.
Pillar 4: Ministry is the expression of my SHAPE (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience). We are each uniquely gifted by God for specific ministries.
Spiritual gifts: Some churches say "Discover your spiritual gift, then you'll know your ministry". Warren says "Experiment with ministries and you'll discover your spiritual gifts." Many surveys of gifts are arbitrary and reflect a denominational bias.
Heart: You are passionate about certain causes and people groups. This is given by God.
Abilities: You have natural talents (apart from Spiritual gifts) which are part of your makeup. People have all kinds of abilities, and it's surprising what can be used.
Personality: God uses all kinds of personalities, but certain personalities are better suited to particular jobs and particular methods. This is why mimicking someone else's ministry never works.
Experience: Educational, vocational, spiritual, ministry and painful experiences all have a role in making us who we are. Use them!
Streamline your organisational structure.
Many churches have so many meetings that their members are too busy to minister to friends and neighbours. We need people to know the difference between "maintenance" and "ministry". Many churches take their best and brightest and turn them into bureaucrats.
Committees discuss ministry. Ministries do it.
Paid staff should do maintenance work. Members should do ministry. This is the opposite to the normal approach!
For a church to grow, both the leadership and the members must give up control - the leadership must give up control of the ministry, and the members must give up control of the leadership.
A church is happiest when its members are ministering, not sitting on committees.
Never vote on lay ministry positions.
* You avoid popularity contests.
* New ministries often need to develop slowly.
* New members can get involved more quickly.
* You avoid attracting people who are interested primarily in prestige and power.
* If people fail, it makes removal easier.
* You can respond more quickly to the Holy Spirit's leading.
Establish a ministry placement process.
Saddleback's process:
* A class (301 - discovering my ministry)
* A placement program
* Staff to administer the process.
There's a little more for tomorrow evening. This, however, is plenty for now!
Nevertheless, it's time to knock over the last couple of chapters. My apologies, dear reader, if you have been frustrated by the long wait for them . . .
Anyway, let's get started.
The analogy of a Sleeping Giant (spoken of Napoleon about China, and often quoted of Admiral Yamamoto regarding the United States) is an apt one. The Church IS a sleeping giant. But in many cases the only things required of us are attendance and financial support.
(This is generally not the case of a small church - we're much more prone to the equally dangerous problem of running around, doing everything and eventually collapsing in a heap because you're completely out of energy! However . . . )
Apparently in America only 10% of church members have some kind of personal ministry; 50% have no interest in ministry at all. Sad, but believable (and I'd guess similar figures would be found in Australian churches). But turn this around - that means 40% of church members ARE interested in ministry, and of those only 10% are mobilised - so imagine what would happen if the church mobilised the remaining 30% who are already interested!
In large churches talent can hide in the crowd. Your church will never be stronger than the core of lay ministers who carry out the various ministries of the church.
The biblical basis for Every-Member Ministry:
This forms four pillars.
Pillar 1: Every believer is a minister. Many verses, but see especially Eph 2:10. In God's army there are no volunteers - we've all been drafted!
Pillar 2: Every ministry is significant (See the "Body passage" in 2 Cor 12: 18 - 22). "Small" ministries often make the biggest difference.
Pillar 3: We are dependent on each other. When one part malfunctions, the whole body suffers.
Pillar 4: Ministry is the expression of my SHAPE (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience). We are each uniquely gifted by God for specific ministries.
Spiritual gifts: Some churches say "Discover your spiritual gift, then you'll know your ministry". Warren says "Experiment with ministries and you'll discover your spiritual gifts." Many surveys of gifts are arbitrary and reflect a denominational bias.
Heart: You are passionate about certain causes and people groups. This is given by God.
Abilities: You have natural talents (apart from Spiritual gifts) which are part of your makeup. People have all kinds of abilities, and it's surprising what can be used.
Personality: God uses all kinds of personalities, but certain personalities are better suited to particular jobs and particular methods. This is why mimicking someone else's ministry never works.
Experience: Educational, vocational, spiritual, ministry and painful experiences all have a role in making us who we are. Use them!
Streamline your organisational structure.
Many churches have so many meetings that their members are too busy to minister to friends and neighbours. We need people to know the difference between "maintenance" and "ministry". Many churches take their best and brightest and turn them into bureaucrats.
Committees discuss ministry. Ministries do it.
Paid staff should do maintenance work. Members should do ministry. This is the opposite to the normal approach!
For a church to grow, both the leadership and the members must give up control - the leadership must give up control of the ministry, and the members must give up control of the leadership.
A church is happiest when its members are ministering, not sitting on committees.
Never vote on lay ministry positions.
* You avoid popularity contests.
* New ministries often need to develop slowly.
* New members can get involved more quickly.
* You avoid attracting people who are interested primarily in prestige and power.
* If people fail, it makes removal easier.
* You can respond more quickly to the Holy Spirit's leading.
Establish a ministry placement process.
Saddleback's process:
* A class (301 - discovering my ministry)
* A placement program
* Staff to administer the process.
There's a little more for tomorrow evening. This, however, is plenty for now!
29 February 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch18b - Developing Mature Members
Continued from yesterday.
Saddleback's strategy is based on the truths listed against each myth (see yesterday's blog, italics). Spiritual growth begins with commitment, is a gradual process, involves developing habits, is measured by five factors, is stimulated by relationships and requires participation in all five purposes of the church.
Raise the level of commitment.
Ideally every church should be known for the commitment of its members. A good way to assess whether your church is maturing is to ask whether standards of leadership get tougher as time passes. Each time you raise the standards for leadership you bring everyone else along a little bit. Focus on raising the commitment of the leadership, and others will follow.
Ask people for commitment. If you don't ask for it, you won't get it. And if you don't ask for it, other groups will. One of the most helpful things a church can do for people is assisting them in clarifying what commitments to make and what to decline.
Ask confidently for a big commitment. Jesus always asked clearly and confidently. He demanded that people drop everything and follow Him - and they did! People want to be committed to something that gives significance to their lives (Luke 14:33). People do not resent being asked for a great commitment if there is a great purpose behind it. They respond to passionate vision better than need.
Be specific in asking for commitment. Tell people exactly what is expected of them.
Explain the benefits of commitment. God attaches His promises to obedience. Explain epersonal benefits, family benefits, church benefits and eternal benefits.
Build on commitment rather than to commitment. It is important to start with whatever commitment people are able to give, even if it seems weak at first. Also break commitments into steps. Celebrate each time someone commits to moving forward.
Help people develop spiritual growth habits.
There are many habits that will be heplful. Four basics are time with God's word, prayer, tithing and fellowship. Sign a commitment in writing, and renew annually.
Build a balanced Christian education program.
It should contain:
Knowledge of the Word of God. Regularly offer "new believer" studies. 5 core books for these: Genesis, John, Romans, Ephesians, James.
Perspective. Understanding the word from a larger frame of reference; understanding how things fit together.
Conviction. Help people discover reasons for doing things that are as important as life itself. (The church MUST teach biblical convictions in order to counter the secular values to which believers are constantly exposed).
Skills. Help people learn how to do the above!
Character. The ultimate goal for the program (Eph 4:13). It is the only thing we take into eternity!
Saddleback's strategy is based on the truths listed against each myth (see yesterday's blog, italics). Spiritual growth begins with commitment, is a gradual process, involves developing habits, is measured by five factors, is stimulated by relationships and requires participation in all five purposes of the church.
Raise the level of commitment.
Ideally every church should be known for the commitment of its members. A good way to assess whether your church is maturing is to ask whether standards of leadership get tougher as time passes. Each time you raise the standards for leadership you bring everyone else along a little bit. Focus on raising the commitment of the leadership, and others will follow.
Ask people for commitment. If you don't ask for it, you won't get it. And if you don't ask for it, other groups will. One of the most helpful things a church can do for people is assisting them in clarifying what commitments to make and what to decline.
Ask confidently for a big commitment. Jesus always asked clearly and confidently. He demanded that people drop everything and follow Him - and they did! People want to be committed to something that gives significance to their lives (Luke 14:33). People do not resent being asked for a great commitment if there is a great purpose behind it. They respond to passionate vision better than need.
Be specific in asking for commitment. Tell people exactly what is expected of them.
Explain the benefits of commitment. God attaches His promises to obedience. Explain epersonal benefits, family benefits, church benefits and eternal benefits.
Build on commitment rather than to commitment. It is important to start with whatever commitment people are able to give, even if it seems weak at first. Also break commitments into steps. Celebrate each time someone commits to moving forward.
Help people develop spiritual growth habits.
There are many habits that will be heplful. Four basics are time with God's word, prayer, tithing and fellowship. Sign a commitment in writing, and renew annually.
Build a balanced Christian education program.
It should contain:
Knowledge of the Word of God. Regularly offer "new believer" studies. 5 core books for these: Genesis, John, Romans, Ephesians, James.
Perspective. Understanding the word from a larger frame of reference; understanding how things fit together.
Conviction. Help people discover reasons for doing things that are as important as life itself. (The church MUST teach biblical convictions in order to counter the secular values to which believers are constantly exposed).
Skills. Help people learn how to do the above!
Character. The ultimate goal for the program (Eph 4:13). It is the only thing we take into eternity!
28 February 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch18a - Developing mature members
Tonight's chapter is long, very long. Over 30 pages long. So this will have to be a multi-part entry. I'm mainly concentrating on providing a concise version rather than commenting on it, unless there's something I just can't leave alone!
God's will for every believer is spiritual maturity. The ultimate goal of spiritual growth is to become like Jesus. How does this happen? How do we become mature?
Myths about Spiritual maturity
1) Spiritual growth is automatic once you are born again.
Many churches have no plan and leave it all to chance, assuming that Christians will automatically grow to maturity if they attend church services. This isn't true. Churches are filled with people who have attended services for their entire lives yet are still spiritual babies. Hebrews 5:12 laments about people who need elementary truths when they should be teaching.
Spiritual growth is intentional. It requires commitment and effort. Phil 2:12-13 says that we need to work out Salvation (not work on! There is nothing we can add to what Christ did). Growth that leads to maturity begins with the commitment described in Rom 6:13.
2) Spiritual growth is mystical, and maturity is attainable only by a select few.
Spirituality is linked in our minds to cult members in robes and monastic people such as monks or nuns. Many Christians feel that maturity is out of reach. This is partly due to biographies which gloss over the humanity of godly people and imply that you have to pray 10 hours a day, move to a jungle and plan to die as a martyr!
Spiritual growth is very practical. Any believer can grow to maturity if he or she will develop habits needed for spiritual growth. 1 Tim 4:7 - Spiritual fitness. Anyone can become physically fit if they exercise and practise good health habits. Spiritual fitness is about learning spiritual exercises and being disciplined to do them until they become habits.
3) Spiritual maturity can occur instantly if you find the right "key".
Many sincere Christians spend their entire lives seeking for the an experience, conference, revival or book that will instantly transform them into mature believers. This is futile.
Spiritual growth is a process that takes time. Eph 4:13 says we arrive at maturity, implying that maturity is the destination in a journey. If you lead people to commit to growing spiritually, teach them some basic habits and give them guidance on the way, you can expect to see them grow.
4) Spiritual maturity is measured by what you know.
Maturity is often confused with knowledge of and/or ability to debate doctrine. While knowledge of the Bible is foundational to spiritual maturity, it isn't the total measurement of it.
Spiritual maturity is demonstrated more by behaviour than beliefs. Deeds must be consistent with creeds (James 2:18). By their fruit you will recognise them (Matt 7:16)! As well as knowledge, we can measure maturity through perspective, conviction, skills and character. Knowledge increases responsibility (James 4:17).
5) Spiritual growth is a personal and private matter.
Most spiritual growth teaching is self-centred and self-focused. This is unbiblical.
Christians need relationships to grow. Growth does not occur in isolation (Hebrews 10:24 - 25).
Relationships play an important role in moving people to maturity; Fellowship is not optional for the Christian, it is mandatory. The litmus test for a Christian is whether they love other believers (1 John 3:14).
6) All you need is Bible study to grow.
Many churches are built on this myth. They stress the teaching of Bible content and doctrine, but give little emphasis to emotional, experiential and relational development.
It takes a variety of spiritual experiences with God to produce spiritual maturity. Genuine maturity includes having a worshiping heart, building and enjoying loving relationships, using talents in service to others and sharing your faith with the lost. A strategy to bring people to maturity must include all of these. Christians do more than study the Christian life, they experience it.
Because some groups glorify experience, evangelical churches tend to overreact by de-emphasising it. Deut 11:2 says we remember what we have learned of the Lord through our experiences with Him.
Continued tomorrow night . . .
God's will for every believer is spiritual maturity. The ultimate goal of spiritual growth is to become like Jesus. How does this happen? How do we become mature?
Myths about Spiritual maturity
1) Spiritual growth is automatic once you are born again.
Many churches have no plan and leave it all to chance, assuming that Christians will automatically grow to maturity if they attend church services. This isn't true. Churches are filled with people who have attended services for their entire lives yet are still spiritual babies. Hebrews 5:12 laments about people who need elementary truths when they should be teaching.
Spiritual growth is intentional. It requires commitment and effort. Phil 2:12-13 says that we need to work out Salvation (not work on! There is nothing we can add to what Christ did). Growth that leads to maturity begins with the commitment described in Rom 6:13.
2) Spiritual growth is mystical, and maturity is attainable only by a select few.
Spirituality is linked in our minds to cult members in robes and monastic people such as monks or nuns. Many Christians feel that maturity is out of reach. This is partly due to biographies which gloss over the humanity of godly people and imply that you have to pray 10 hours a day, move to a jungle and plan to die as a martyr!
Spiritual growth is very practical. Any believer can grow to maturity if he or she will develop habits needed for spiritual growth. 1 Tim 4:7 - Spiritual fitness. Anyone can become physically fit if they exercise and practise good health habits. Spiritual fitness is about learning spiritual exercises and being disciplined to do them until they become habits.
3) Spiritual maturity can occur instantly if you find the right "key".
Many sincere Christians spend their entire lives seeking for the an experience, conference, revival or book that will instantly transform them into mature believers. This is futile.
Spiritual growth is a process that takes time. Eph 4:13 says we arrive at maturity, implying that maturity is the destination in a journey. If you lead people to commit to growing spiritually, teach them some basic habits and give them guidance on the way, you can expect to see them grow.
4) Spiritual maturity is measured by what you know.
Maturity is often confused with knowledge of and/or ability to debate doctrine. While knowledge of the Bible is foundational to spiritual maturity, it isn't the total measurement of it.
Spiritual maturity is demonstrated more by behaviour than beliefs. Deeds must be consistent with creeds (James 2:18). By their fruit you will recognise them (Matt 7:16)! As well as knowledge, we can measure maturity through perspective, conviction, skills and character. Knowledge increases responsibility (James 4:17).
5) Spiritual growth is a personal and private matter.
Most spiritual growth teaching is self-centred and self-focused. This is unbiblical.
Christians need relationships to grow. Growth does not occur in isolation (Hebrews 10:24 - 25).
Relationships play an important role in moving people to maturity; Fellowship is not optional for the Christian, it is mandatory. The litmus test for a Christian is whether they love other believers (1 John 3:14).
6) All you need is Bible study to grow.
Many churches are built on this myth. They stress the teaching of Bible content and doctrine, but give little emphasis to emotional, experiential and relational development.
It takes a variety of spiritual experiences with God to produce spiritual maturity. Genuine maturity includes having a worshiping heart, building and enjoying loving relationships, using talents in service to others and sharing your faith with the lost. A strategy to bring people to maturity must include all of these. Christians do more than study the Christian life, they experience it.
Because some groups glorify experience, evangelical churches tend to overreact by de-emphasising it. Deut 11:2 says we remember what we have learned of the Lord through our experiences with Him.
Continued tomorrow night . . .
23 February 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch17b - Turning Attenders into Members
Continuing the chapter we started yesterday . . .
Develop a membership covenant
This one scares me, a little - I ask myself "Who am I to demand a commitment like this?" But I can see that it is biblical. We're asked to be willing to lay down our lives for each other. And that takes commitment - surely to goodness it's not too much to ask people to commit to doing what the Bible says you should be doing anyway!
Make your members feel special
Feeling that one belongs is important. Whilst this can be difficult to do, it's fairly self-explanatory all the same.
Create opportunities to build relationships
Relationships are the glue that holds a church together. People join because of the pastor, but they stay because of the friends. Relationships need to be intentionally developed. Weekend retreats are really good for this - they spend more time together in one weekend than they will spend together on Sundays for a whole year.
Encourage every member to join a small group.
This combats the feeling that "we'll lose the small church fellowship if we grow!". Both large group celebrations and small group cells are important for the well-being of the church. Small groups are the most effective way of closing the back door of your church.
Keep communication lines open
Informed members are effective members. Use any means of communication available to you.
We're in this together.
Continually emphasise this. Preach it, teach it and talk about it. We belong together. We need each other. We are connected as parts of one body. We are a family! Koinonia has healing power.
Develop a membership covenant
This one scares me, a little - I ask myself "Who am I to demand a commitment like this?" But I can see that it is biblical. We're asked to be willing to lay down our lives for each other. And that takes commitment - surely to goodness it's not too much to ask people to commit to doing what the Bible says you should be doing anyway!
Make your members feel special
Feeling that one belongs is important. Whilst this can be difficult to do, it's fairly self-explanatory all the same.
Create opportunities to build relationships
Relationships are the glue that holds a church together. People join because of the pastor, but they stay because of the friends. Relationships need to be intentionally developed. Weekend retreats are really good for this - they spend more time together in one weekend than they will spend together on Sundays for a whole year.
Encourage every member to join a small group.
This combats the feeling that "we'll lose the small church fellowship if we grow!". Both large group celebrations and small group cells are important for the well-being of the church. Small groups are the most effective way of closing the back door of your church.
Keep communication lines open
Informed members are effective members. Use any means of communication available to you.
We're in this together.
Continually emphasise this. Preach it, teach it and talk about it. We belong together. We need each other. We are connected as parts of one body. We are a family! Koinonia has healing power.
22 February 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch 17a - Turning Attenders into Members
This is a long chapter, so I'll do it in two sections. I think it deserves to be tackled thoroughly, as this is an area where Sanctuary has historically been weak.
Gathering a crowd is difficult, but compared to the task of turning the crowd into a congregation, it's positively simple. Warren describes it aptly in these terms: "The community talks about 'that church', the crowd talks about 'this church', but the congregation talks about 'our church'." We're talking about developing a sense of ownership and contribution.
"Floating Christians" just believe. This is about belonging to a particular church. Being in relationship with other Christians is important to our growth.
Being a member of a church is less about administrative things - name on a role, membership fees, rituals - and more about becoming a vital organ of a living body. People who become Christians at a church do NOT automatically follow through and join the church (and boy do I ever know that!). The church must take the initiative in assimilating new people. When God wants to deliver baby Christians, He looks for the warmest incubator He can find!
Develop a plan to assimilate new members.
Warren lists 12 questions that will determine the best assimilation plan (and remember these are unique to each Church).
1) What does God expect from members of His church?
2) What do we expect from our members right now?
3) What kind of people already make up our congregation?
4) How will that change in the next five to ten years?
5) What do our members value?
6) What are new members' greatest needs?
7) What are our long-term members' greatest needs?
8) How can we make membership more meaningful?
9) How can we ensure that members feel loved and cared for?
10) What do we owe our members?
11) What resources or services could we offer our members?
12) How could we add value to what we already offer?
Prospective members also have questions:
Do I fit here? - acceptance
Does anybody want to know me? - friendship
Am I needed? - value
What is the advantage of joining? - benefit
What is required of members? - expectations
Communicate the value of membership
Church membership has changed from conformity to commitment. People join churches when they can see a "value-for-value benefits they receive in return for their commitment".
This is where a personalised purpose is important. You need to emphasize the fact that the church provides them with benefits they cannot find anywhere else in the world.
The church should be positioned as a family rather than an institution. "Organised religion" is a dirty word; yet people want to be more spiritual. Also there is a current longing for belonging.
Establish a required membership class
This class sets the tone and expectation level for everything to follow. The best time to elicit a strong commitment from membersis the moment they join. If little is required to jon, little can be expected of them later on. This should be a STRONG class, which doesn't mean a LONG class (Saddleback's is 4 hours long and taught in a single day). It should be taught by senior leadership. It should cover:
* What is a church?
* What are the purposes of a church?
* What are the benefits of being a member?
* What are the requirements for membership?
* What are the responsibilities of membership?
* What is the vision and strategy of this church?
* How is the church organised?
* How can I get involved in ministry?
* What do I do now that I'm a member?
This should also include a clear explanation of salvation. People will want to join who are not believers!
Use varied teaching methods. Completion of the class should be a requirement of membership. Also think of different age groups.
(Continued tomorrow night!)
Gathering a crowd is difficult, but compared to the task of turning the crowd into a congregation, it's positively simple. Warren describes it aptly in these terms: "The community talks about 'that church', the crowd talks about 'this church', but the congregation talks about 'our church'." We're talking about developing a sense of ownership and contribution.
"Floating Christians" just believe. This is about belonging to a particular church. Being in relationship with other Christians is important to our growth.
Being a member of a church is less about administrative things - name on a role, membership fees, rituals - and more about becoming a vital organ of a living body. People who become Christians at a church do NOT automatically follow through and join the church (and boy do I ever know that!). The church must take the initiative in assimilating new people. When God wants to deliver baby Christians, He looks for the warmest incubator He can find!
Develop a plan to assimilate new members.
Warren lists 12 questions that will determine the best assimilation plan (and remember these are unique to each Church).
1) What does God expect from members of His church?
2) What do we expect from our members right now?
3) What kind of people already make up our congregation?
4) How will that change in the next five to ten years?
5) What do our members value?
6) What are new members' greatest needs?
7) What are our long-term members' greatest needs?
8) How can we make membership more meaningful?
9) How can we ensure that members feel loved and cared for?
10) What do we owe our members?
11) What resources or services could we offer our members?
12) How could we add value to what we already offer?
Prospective members also have questions:
Do I fit here? - acceptance
Does anybody want to know me? - friendship
Am I needed? - value
What is the advantage of joining? - benefit
What is required of members? - expectations
Communicate the value of membership
Church membership has changed from conformity to commitment. People join churches when they can see a "value-for-value benefits they receive in return for their commitment".
This is where a personalised purpose is important. You need to emphasize the fact that the church provides them with benefits they cannot find anywhere else in the world.
The church should be positioned as a family rather than an institution. "Organised religion" is a dirty word; yet people want to be more spiritual. Also there is a current longing for belonging.
Establish a required membership class
This class sets the tone and expectation level for everything to follow. The best time to elicit a strong commitment from membersis the moment they join. If little is required to jon, little can be expected of them later on. This should be a STRONG class, which doesn't mean a LONG class (Saddleback's is 4 hours long and taught in a single day). It should be taught by senior leadership. It should cover:
* What is a church?
* What are the purposes of a church?
* What are the benefits of being a member?
* What are the requirements for membership?
* What are the responsibilities of membership?
* What is the vision and strategy of this church?
* How is the church organised?
* How can I get involved in ministry?
* What do I do now that I'm a member?
This should also include a clear explanation of salvation. People will want to join who are not believers!
Use varied teaching methods. Completion of the class should be a requirement of membership. Also think of different age groups.
(Continued tomorrow night!)
21 February 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch16: Preaching to the Unchurched
Warren's first comments in this chapter resonate strongly with me, because like him I have a solid catalogue of years of sermons on my computer.
My initial idea in putting this together was some vain hope that one day I'd have so much of the Bible catalogued in my sermon list that I could rotate through and just re-use them. Well, that was a vain hope anyway (sermons date faster than you might think!).
But according to Warren, there's another reason - Ask yourself the question "Would this make sense to an unchurched person?" It is quite possible to preach a biblical sermon which is totally doctrinally sound which wouldn't make the slightest difference to someone who hasn't "signed on the dotted line" so to speak.
Warren has some tips.
Adapt your style to your audience.
If you're preaching to believers, preaching through a passage verse by verse is useful. This is because a Christian should accept God's word as authoritative and be motivated to learn the scriptures. But neither of these are true of unbelievers, meaning this tactic may well be ineffective with them. When preaching at the Areopagus, Paul initially found common ground. With unbelievers, the Bible ISN'T common ground; rather, our shared human experiences are. Instead of starting with the Bible and applying it, you need to start with common experience and move to what God has to say about it. So far so good. Warren then suggests using lots of verses with each topic; I'm not sure about this. I have ringing in my ears David Jackman's comment "A text out of context is a pretext for a proof text". However, the general principle is sound. Warren finishes with the concept that both book exposition and topical exposition are necessary in order to grow a healthy church.
Make the Bible accessible to Unbelievers.
This part is fairly intuitive to Australian Christians, many of whom moved away from the King James Version many years ago (but even here some of us still have the idea that if it was good enough for Paul it's good enough for us . . .). So:
- Read scripture from a newer translation. Clarity is important (I would additionally point out that the English language changes rapidly, and even a ten-year-old translation can be out of date in some communities!).
- Use pew Bibles. Unchurched people don't know where Bible books are, so it's useful to be able to tell them the page number.
- Select scripture readings with the unchurched in mind. Some passages are hard for an unbeliever to understand.
Provide an outline with scriptures written out.
The benefit of this is fairly self-explanatory.
Plan your titles to appeal to the unchurched.
Remember - felt needs. An unchurched person is more likely to come if the topic of the service sounds like something he or she would be interested in. Catchy titles are good.
Preach in Series.
Try announcing sermon titles in advance - people can bring friends on days that sound appealing! New series should be announced on the days you expect a lot of visitors (e.g. Easter) - it creates a hook for first time visitors. Ideally series should run four to eight weeks.
Be consistent in preaching style.
Don't try targeting believers and unbelievers in the same service. Teach theology and doctrine, for sure, but do so in a way that is accessible and connects with the needs of unbelievers.
Choose guest speakers carefully.
Hear hear. We've had problems with this one in the past.
Preach for commitment.
Always offer unbelievers the opportunity to respond to Christ. The way this is done will vary depending on local culture and the layout of your building. Saddleback uses cards. Their welcome card has a decision card on the back! They collect cards and offerings at the same time at the end of the service. Processing happens immediately. This is private; baptism is the public profession.
Clearly explain exactly how to respond to Christ.
Plan out your time of commitment (Think through what you want to happen).
Be creative in inviting people to receive Christ (don't just say/do the same thing every week).
Never pressure unbelievers to decide (People need time to think).
Offer multiple ways to indicate a commitment (Try cards, altar calls, Spiritual surveys).
Expect people to respond (don't be surprised when they do!).
The primacy of preaching
Although styles change, nothing can take the place of Spirit-anointed preaching.
My initial idea in putting this together was some vain hope that one day I'd have so much of the Bible catalogued in my sermon list that I could rotate through and just re-use them. Well, that was a vain hope anyway (sermons date faster than you might think!).
But according to Warren, there's another reason - Ask yourself the question "Would this make sense to an unchurched person?" It is quite possible to preach a biblical sermon which is totally doctrinally sound which wouldn't make the slightest difference to someone who hasn't "signed on the dotted line" so to speak.
Warren has some tips.
Adapt your style to your audience.
If you're preaching to believers, preaching through a passage verse by verse is useful. This is because a Christian should accept God's word as authoritative and be motivated to learn the scriptures. But neither of these are true of unbelievers, meaning this tactic may well be ineffective with them. When preaching at the Areopagus, Paul initially found common ground. With unbelievers, the Bible ISN'T common ground; rather, our shared human experiences are. Instead of starting with the Bible and applying it, you need to start with common experience and move to what God has to say about it. So far so good. Warren then suggests using lots of verses with each topic; I'm not sure about this. I have ringing in my ears David Jackman's comment "A text out of context is a pretext for a proof text". However, the general principle is sound. Warren finishes with the concept that both book exposition and topical exposition are necessary in order to grow a healthy church.
Make the Bible accessible to Unbelievers.
This part is fairly intuitive to Australian Christians, many of whom moved away from the King James Version many years ago (but even here some of us still have the idea that if it was good enough for Paul it's good enough for us . . .). So:
- Read scripture from a newer translation. Clarity is important (I would additionally point out that the English language changes rapidly, and even a ten-year-old translation can be out of date in some communities!).
- Use pew Bibles. Unchurched people don't know where Bible books are, so it's useful to be able to tell them the page number.
- Select scripture readings with the unchurched in mind. Some passages are hard for an unbeliever to understand.
Provide an outline with scriptures written out.
The benefit of this is fairly self-explanatory.
Plan your titles to appeal to the unchurched.
Remember - felt needs. An unchurched person is more likely to come if the topic of the service sounds like something he or she would be interested in. Catchy titles are good.
Preach in Series.
Try announcing sermon titles in advance - people can bring friends on days that sound appealing! New series should be announced on the days you expect a lot of visitors (e.g. Easter) - it creates a hook for first time visitors. Ideally series should run four to eight weeks.
Be consistent in preaching style.
Don't try targeting believers and unbelievers in the same service. Teach theology and doctrine, for sure, but do so in a way that is accessible and connects with the needs of unbelievers.
Choose guest speakers carefully.
Hear hear. We've had problems with this one in the past.
Preach for commitment.
Always offer unbelievers the opportunity to respond to Christ. The way this is done will vary depending on local culture and the layout of your building. Saddleback uses cards. Their welcome card has a decision card on the back! They collect cards and offerings at the same time at the end of the service. Processing happens immediately. This is private; baptism is the public profession.
Clearly explain exactly how to respond to Christ.
Plan out your time of commitment (Think through what you want to happen).
Be creative in inviting people to receive Christ (don't just say/do the same thing every week).
Never pressure unbelievers to decide (People need time to think).
Offer multiple ways to indicate a commitment (Try cards, altar calls, Spiritual surveys).
Expect people to respond (don't be surprised when they do!).
The primacy of preaching
Although styles change, nothing can take the place of Spirit-anointed preaching.
17 February 2012
Announcement
Hey all. Big week. And having operated more or less at full capacity from Tuesday morning till now, I am not really functioning. Hopefully next week will have a bit more blog action.
16 February 2012
Sanctuary Purpose pt 2: DISCIPLESHIP
We train and prepare God's people to live strong Christian lives.
Sanctuary Purpose introduction (read first!)
Tonight's post is different. We're still reviewing the Purpose Driven Church (and I will write some more about the next chapter tomorrow night). However, at tonight's Bible Study we introduced some material on the purpose of Sanctuary Church, Baulkham Hills.
As elders we have drafted some purpose statements. Each has (we believe) a solid, Biblical basis. However, we have tried to put them into common, contemporary English, avoiding (as much as possible) Christian jargon. The idea is that a person should be able to read and understand them without first learning to speak or think like a Christian.
Each of these statements will be published in a separate Blog entry. I encourage Sanctuary Church members to comment on each one. When you do, please put your name in the text of your comment (sometimes the comment system calls you "anonymous" even if you have logged in)!
Non Sanctuary members are ALSO welcome to post any comments if you think it will be helpful in further refining our purpose statements.
As well as these, I will publish the worksheets we used in Bible Study tonight.
2) In what ways is Sanctuary Church like that image?
3) In what ways is Sanctuary Church NOT like that image?
Answers to cloze activity:
This means a minimum of: 365 new Christians per year !!!!!
Why did this happen?
God wants his Church to grow and His sheep to be found!
A healthy church is full of people sharing Christ with others.
5 reasons the church exists:
Psalm 96: 1-10:
Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The church exists for DISCIPLESHIP.
John 13:34 - 35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The church exists for FELLOWSHIP.
As elders we have drafted some purpose statements. Each has (we believe) a solid, Biblical basis. However, we have tried to put them into common, contemporary English, avoiding (as much as possible) Christian jargon. The idea is that a person should be able to read and understand them without first learning to speak or think like a Christian.
Each of these statements will be published in a separate Blog entry. I encourage Sanctuary Church members to comment on each one. When you do, please put your name in the text of your comment (sometimes the comment system calls you "anonymous" even if you have logged in)!
Non Sanctuary members are ALSO welcome to post any comments if you think it will be helpful in further refining our purpose statements.
As well as these, I will publish the worksheets we used in Bible Study tonight.
--
Acts chapter 2:41 - 47
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
1) Think about the passage above. What are some amazing things you can imagine if a church like this was set up in Astoria Park?
2) In what ways is Sanctuary Church like that image?
3) In what ways is Sanctuary Church NOT like that image?
Answers to cloze activity:
One key characteristic of the New Testament Church:
“Every day their numbers grew.”
“Every day their numbers grew.”
This means a minimum of: 365 new Christians per year !!!!!
Why did this happen?
God wants his Church to grow and His sheep to be found!
A healthy church is full of people sharing Christ with others.
5 reasons the church exists:
Matthew 25:34 – 36: “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.” (MSG)
The church exists for MINISTRY.
Psalm 96: 1-10:
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” (NIV)
The church exists for WORSHIP.
Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The church exists for EVANGELISM.
Ephesians 4:11 – 13: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11 – 13: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The church exists for DISCIPLESHIP.
John 13:34 - 35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The church exists for FELLOWSHIP.
14 February 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch15 - Selecting Your Music
I have to say that I'm interested in what Warren has to say on this subject. After all, I am a musician myself.
Warren starts by talking of the power of music to persuade. I agree to some extent, although I am not sure it has the near-mystical power he imbues it with. However, he also mentions the problems that many churches have with "Bach to Rock" in a service.
I'm not sure this is as much of a problem in Australia. One thing that the dominance of Hillsong over Christian music in Australia has done is to identify a particular sound that is more or less typical of churches. It's fairly contemporary, although we'll certainly happily adapt songs from earlier eras (but in a contemporary way).
Correctly Warren identifies the choice of your music style as important and controversial. This may well be correct, but it's a battle we fought years ago, not just as a congregation but as a Christian culture.
Nevertheless, an important aspect deserves mentioning - no style of music is right or wrong; it is the message that makes the song. There is no "Christian Music", only Christian lyrics.
Again, what Warren attacks over the next few pages is something which remains fairly rare today in Australia - the attitude that "hymns" are somehow sacred, whereas other kinds of music are not. I don't think you'll find many Christians in Australia that would object to songs on the grounds of style (although you'll find many people objecting to, for example, Hillsong music on the grounds of theological content, which is a question for another time). I don't think any Christian I know would have a problem with accepting a contemporary pop/rock sound as being culturally accessible for our local community.
Moving on to practical suggestions for music in church:
Preview all music you use.
Make sure that all music fulfils supports the purpose of the event you are using it in. Is the song of edification, worship, fellowship or evangelism? Are the lyrics doctrinally sound and understandable? How does it make me feel?
Speed up the tempo.
Lively singing is good at first (although then it can be good to move into a slower and more meditative sound). Unbelievers usually prefer celebratory music over contemplative music because they don't yet have a relationship with Christ.
Update the lyrics.
Just as the Bible needs translation from old English to contemporary English, so too many songs can be reclaimed by translating the lyrics. Remember that even contemporary songs sometimes contain Hebrew or Greek phrases which are familiar to Christians but mumbo jumbo to others (e.g. Jehovah Jireh!).
Encourage members to write new songs.
New songs are good, especially if they are home-grown.
Replace the organ with a MIDI band.
Again, more of an issue in the USA than here. Even small churches in Australia are more likely to have a guitar than an organ for most services.
Don't force unbelievers to sing.
People can be quite comfortable listening to the music. Focus on performed music in seeker services, and save times of congregational praise for believers' services.
Make your music count.
We need to be willing to set aside our personal preferences for the sake of the Gospel.
How does Sanctuary rate? Well, we're a long way ahead of what Warren is imagining as he writes to various churches. However, it's been a while since we introduced a lot of new songs; maybe it's time for us to do some writing.
Warren starts by talking of the power of music to persuade. I agree to some extent, although I am not sure it has the near-mystical power he imbues it with. However, he also mentions the problems that many churches have with "Bach to Rock" in a service.
I'm not sure this is as much of a problem in Australia. One thing that the dominance of Hillsong over Christian music in Australia has done is to identify a particular sound that is more or less typical of churches. It's fairly contemporary, although we'll certainly happily adapt songs from earlier eras (but in a contemporary way).
Correctly Warren identifies the choice of your music style as important and controversial. This may well be correct, but it's a battle we fought years ago, not just as a congregation but as a Christian culture.
Nevertheless, an important aspect deserves mentioning - no style of music is right or wrong; it is the message that makes the song. There is no "Christian Music", only Christian lyrics.
Again, what Warren attacks over the next few pages is something which remains fairly rare today in Australia - the attitude that "hymns" are somehow sacred, whereas other kinds of music are not. I don't think you'll find many Christians in Australia that would object to songs on the grounds of style (although you'll find many people objecting to, for example, Hillsong music on the grounds of theological content, which is a question for another time). I don't think any Christian I know would have a problem with accepting a contemporary pop/rock sound as being culturally accessible for our local community.
Moving on to practical suggestions for music in church:
Preview all music you use.
Make sure that all music fulfils supports the purpose of the event you are using it in. Is the song of edification, worship, fellowship or evangelism? Are the lyrics doctrinally sound and understandable? How does it make me feel?
Speed up the tempo.
Lively singing is good at first (although then it can be good to move into a slower and more meditative sound). Unbelievers usually prefer celebratory music over contemplative music because they don't yet have a relationship with Christ.
Update the lyrics.
Just as the Bible needs translation from old English to contemporary English, so too many songs can be reclaimed by translating the lyrics. Remember that even contemporary songs sometimes contain Hebrew or Greek phrases which are familiar to Christians but mumbo jumbo to others (e.g. Jehovah Jireh!).
Encourage members to write new songs.
New songs are good, especially if they are home-grown.
Replace the organ with a MIDI band.
Again, more of an issue in the USA than here. Even small churches in Australia are more likely to have a guitar than an organ for most services.
Don't force unbelievers to sing.
People can be quite comfortable listening to the music. Focus on performed music in seeker services, and save times of congregational praise for believers' services.
Make your music count.
We need to be willing to set aside our personal preferences for the sake of the Gospel.
How does Sanctuary rate? Well, we're a long way ahead of what Warren is imagining as he writes to various churches. However, it's been a while since we introduced a lot of new songs; maybe it's time for us to do some writing.
13 February 2012
The Valley . . .
Well, it's been an interesting week. And interesting in a not-so-good kind of a way.
Unfortunately, I've been unable to find my copy of Purpose-Driven Church to do the next chapter. Mere probably knows where it is, but she was already asleep before I twigged to the fact that it was missing (and I know better than to wake her).
However, the sad events of this week have taught me something interesting, and I thought I'd publish a little devotion I put together for my Church last sunday, relating to what I have discovered.
--
THE VALLEY
Psalm 23: 4-6
This week has been a tough one, as some of you will already know.
On Wednesday afternoon, I went onto Facebook, not expecting anything out of the ordinary. The first message I read was from one of last year’s Yr 12 group. It was a fairly regular tribute, the kind that you see when someone dies. Which is always sad, but generally kind of safe and remote.
Then I noticed something that would change everything. The name she was giving was “Emily”. And she linked to the FB page of one of her classmates.
Emily was a cheerful, bubbly kid. She was small and blonde. She reveled in her small size; Her Year Jersey read “Shawty”! She was also very likable. I can’t think of one person in her year that she didn’t get along with, and vice versa. She was a peacemaker.
It’s hard to know what goes on in a person’s heart, but she said she was a Christian, and I certainly saw no evidence to contradict that claim. And I guess I’d be in as much of a position as any other teacher to know, since I was her roll call teacher for two years.
Emily was absolutely beside herself with excitement about her 18th birthday and party, which would happen on Thursday and Friday respectively. I’d had a few discussions with her on FB, teasing her gently about her excitement. “You’d think you’ve never had a birthday before!” I said. She laughed, of course.
I wonder if I would have said that if I’d have known that she wouldn’t make it to that birthday.
Tuesday night she went to bed as normal. She had no reason to suspect that anything was wrong; her last Facebook status reveals only a newfound appreciation of Peanut M&Ms. She wasn’t drinking or taking drugs, and she hadn’t mentioned any health issues, mental or otherwise.
Emily never woke up on Wednesday.
It took about 12 hours for the news to spread through the School community.
Now, whilst this is a sad story, why do I mention it?
I do so because it illustrates something that I think many of us have experienced at one time or another. It’s something that is mentioned in a popular psalm – Psalm 23. In modern translations, verse 4 says “Though I walk through the darkest valley”.
This is an accurate translation, but it lacks the poetry of the older versions such as the King James version, or even the earliest version of the NIV; and I’m going to use it here:
“Though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death”.
We’re going to complete the sentence and look at what happens despite the Valley shortly. But first let’s look at that phrase.
On Thursday, which was otherwise a bleak and rainy day even without this situation, we had to break the news to the students and staff. Most of them had already heard the news through various social media systems, but some hadn’t, especially the Year 7 class (many of whom had only arrived at the school this year, and therefore had never met her).
What was interesting was that even in my Year 7 class that day, Emily’s death cast a really strong pall over everything we did that day. You could sense the sadness. It was hard for students who had never met the girl to understand why, but it was absolutely palpable to anyone there. Everyone from the Principal to the Photocopying lady was affected.
This wasn’t my first experience of it, but it was certainly one of my clearest examples of the situation David describes in Ps 23. I truly understood what it was like to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”.
A shadow is cast by an object. It therefore takes on some of the characteristics of that object such as its size and general shape, although it can appear bigger than the object is. Since it’s actually a pattern of blocked light, it can obscure the presence of things that you can normally see.
In the same way, when we’re walking through the valley where we can sense the shadow of death, we see something that has the same general look and feel as death. It often appears bigger than it should, and when we’re there it can be hard to see or sense God. Perhaps that’s one reason why many people don’t seem to see Him these days – we live our lives very much in a permanent state of darkness and shadow.
Now, notice what follows in verse 5: God DOESN’T promise that we’ll avoid the Valley. In fact it’s inevitable. David doesn’t even say “If I walk through the valley of the Shadow of death; he says “WHEN”. We live in a fallen world where there are bad things that happen – wars, diseases, and 17 year old girls dropping dead the day before their birthday.
God simply promises that He will be there with us.
That’s an important point. No matter where you are, no matter what’s going on in your life, you are never alone.
Sometimes God works partly through His people. At School this week that’s been very evident. Even within the midst of their own grief, people have been looking out for each other, spending time with each other, praying for each other.
But there do come times when we face the Valley without other humans. We feel alone. And the amazing truth of this passage is this – even then, even when no-one else dares or cares to be with us, Our shepherd – our father in heaven – is still there, still caring, still listening.
The interesting thing is that line “Your rod and staff comfort me.”
Shepherds used to carry two simple tools – a rod and a staff. The staff was also called the “crook”, and it’s the long stick with a curved end that you see in all images of shepherds.
The rod was a weapon. It could be used to defend the sheep against predators. So from that point of view, we can understand that it might be comforting to the sheep. But it was also used to smack a sheep that went the wrong way! So maybe there’s an aspect of God’s correction in there too.
Certainly that can be said of the Crook. When a sheep strayed into a place the Shepherd couldn’t or shouldn’t go, the crook was a way that he could reach out and grasp the animal. So the crook is an instrument of direction.
Something to correct you, something to direct you, something to protect you. Poetic, isn’t it? We could put that into a song. But the reality is that we need God to do those three things. And whether He’s protecting, correcting or directing, each one of those is a reminder that He’s there, taking an active interest in our lives. So when you’re in that dark place, the Valley, anything God does is comforting – a hint that no matter how it feels, you are not alone.
There have been times in my life when my atheist friends’ gibes have almost hit home. But this week has not been one of them.
The reality is that when you pass through the Valley, it’s then that you sense God and His power. And it’s then that you truly realize what it is to be loved by God.
Unfortunately, I've been unable to find my copy of Purpose-Driven Church to do the next chapter. Mere probably knows where it is, but she was already asleep before I twigged to the fact that it was missing (and I know better than to wake her).
However, the sad events of this week have taught me something interesting, and I thought I'd publish a little devotion I put together for my Church last sunday, relating to what I have discovered.
--
THE VALLEY
Psalm 23: 4-6
This week has been a tough one, as some of you will already know.
On Wednesday afternoon, I went onto Facebook, not expecting anything out of the ordinary. The first message I read was from one of last year’s Yr 12 group. It was a fairly regular tribute, the kind that you see when someone dies. Which is always sad, but generally kind of safe and remote.
Then I noticed something that would change everything. The name she was giving was “Emily”. And she linked to the FB page of one of her classmates.
Emily was a cheerful, bubbly kid. She was small and blonde. She reveled in her small size; Her Year Jersey read “Shawty”! She was also very likable. I can’t think of one person in her year that she didn’t get along with, and vice versa. She was a peacemaker.
It’s hard to know what goes on in a person’s heart, but she said she was a Christian, and I certainly saw no evidence to contradict that claim. And I guess I’d be in as much of a position as any other teacher to know, since I was her roll call teacher for two years.
Emily was absolutely beside herself with excitement about her 18th birthday and party, which would happen on Thursday and Friday respectively. I’d had a few discussions with her on FB, teasing her gently about her excitement. “You’d think you’ve never had a birthday before!” I said. She laughed, of course.
I wonder if I would have said that if I’d have known that she wouldn’t make it to that birthday.
Tuesday night she went to bed as normal. She had no reason to suspect that anything was wrong; her last Facebook status reveals only a newfound appreciation of Peanut M&Ms. She wasn’t drinking or taking drugs, and she hadn’t mentioned any health issues, mental or otherwise.
Emily never woke up on Wednesday.
It took about 12 hours for the news to spread through the School community.
Now, whilst this is a sad story, why do I mention it?
I do so because it illustrates something that I think many of us have experienced at one time or another. It’s something that is mentioned in a popular psalm – Psalm 23. In modern translations, verse 4 says “Though I walk through the darkest valley”.
This is an accurate translation, but it lacks the poetry of the older versions such as the King James version, or even the earliest version of the NIV; and I’m going to use it here:
“Though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death”.
We’re going to complete the sentence and look at what happens despite the Valley shortly. But first let’s look at that phrase.
On Thursday, which was otherwise a bleak and rainy day even without this situation, we had to break the news to the students and staff. Most of them had already heard the news through various social media systems, but some hadn’t, especially the Year 7 class (many of whom had only arrived at the school this year, and therefore had never met her).
What was interesting was that even in my Year 7 class that day, Emily’s death cast a really strong pall over everything we did that day. You could sense the sadness. It was hard for students who had never met the girl to understand why, but it was absolutely palpable to anyone there. Everyone from the Principal to the Photocopying lady was affected.
This wasn’t my first experience of it, but it was certainly one of my clearest examples of the situation David describes in Ps 23. I truly understood what it was like to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”.
A shadow is cast by an object. It therefore takes on some of the characteristics of that object such as its size and general shape, although it can appear bigger than the object is. Since it’s actually a pattern of blocked light, it can obscure the presence of things that you can normally see.
In the same way, when we’re walking through the valley where we can sense the shadow of death, we see something that has the same general look and feel as death. It often appears bigger than it should, and when we’re there it can be hard to see or sense God. Perhaps that’s one reason why many people don’t seem to see Him these days – we live our lives very much in a permanent state of darkness and shadow.
Now, notice what follows in verse 5: God DOESN’T promise that we’ll avoid the Valley. In fact it’s inevitable. David doesn’t even say “If I walk through the valley of the Shadow of death; he says “WHEN”. We live in a fallen world where there are bad things that happen – wars, diseases, and 17 year old girls dropping dead the day before their birthday.
God simply promises that He will be there with us.
That’s an important point. No matter where you are, no matter what’s going on in your life, you are never alone.
Sometimes God works partly through His people. At School this week that’s been very evident. Even within the midst of their own grief, people have been looking out for each other, spending time with each other, praying for each other.
But there do come times when we face the Valley without other humans. We feel alone. And the amazing truth of this passage is this – even then, even when no-one else dares or cares to be with us, Our shepherd – our father in heaven – is still there, still caring, still listening.
The interesting thing is that line “Your rod and staff comfort me.”
Shepherds used to carry two simple tools – a rod and a staff. The staff was also called the “crook”, and it’s the long stick with a curved end that you see in all images of shepherds.
The rod was a weapon. It could be used to defend the sheep against predators. So from that point of view, we can understand that it might be comforting to the sheep. But it was also used to smack a sheep that went the wrong way! So maybe there’s an aspect of God’s correction in there too.
Certainly that can be said of the Crook. When a sheep strayed into a place the Shepherd couldn’t or shouldn’t go, the crook was a way that he could reach out and grasp the animal. So the crook is an instrument of direction.
Something to correct you, something to direct you, something to protect you. Poetic, isn’t it? We could put that into a song. But the reality is that we need God to do those three things. And whether He’s protecting, correcting or directing, each one of those is a reminder that He’s there, taking an active interest in our lives. So when you’re in that dark place, the Valley, anything God does is comforting – a hint that no matter how it feels, you are not alone.
There have been times in my life when my atheist friends’ gibes have almost hit home. But this week has not been one of them.
The reality is that when you pass through the Valley, it’s then that you sense God and His power. And it’s then that you truly realize what it is to be loved by God.
10 February 2012
Another announcement
A week has gone by with no commentary action, and for that I apologise. A lot of stuff has happened this week, some of which has made Commentary activity seem (temporarily) a lot less important.
That said, Sanctuary Church has made some real progress in determining its purpose; for that, we thank God for His wisdom. Thanks also to those who have prayed for us.
And as for the Purpose Driven Church, we'll resume on Monday.
That said, Sanctuary Church has made some real progress in determining its purpose; for that, we thank God for His wisdom. Thanks also to those who have prayed for us.
And as for the Purpose Driven Church, we'll resume on Monday.
31 January 2012
Announcement
Special night tonight. Sorry to all the regular readers (I know there are several). I'm quite sound of mind and body tonight . . but given that the Elders are meeting at Sanctuary to discuss purpose tomorrow evening, I felt that rather than writing another chapter tonight I would re-read the material on that topic. Please pray for us that we make good decisions.
Johno
Johno
30 January 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch14 - Designing a Seeker Sensitive Service
This is a long chapter. What I have written is, I believe, the briefest possible summary of it. If I've left stuff out that I shouldn't have, I apologize!
Warren has a problem when it comes to reaching unchurched people - Like many of us growing up in a Christian home, he had trouble with inviting his friends to church if they were non-believers. It seemed that whenever he invited people, there would be something completely inappropriate to their needs; however when the sermon was just right, he'd not have invited anyone. It led to him giving up on inviting unbelievers.
Similarly, few of us ever bring friends to church. When we do, they're usually already Christians.
Why is this? Warren gives three reasons.
1) The target of the sermon is unpredictable.
2) Services are not designed to be accessible to unbelievers.
3) Members are embarrassed about the quality of the service.
Many Christians feel that their unchurched friends wouldn't get their church (though they still feel guilty about not inviting them!).
No one becomes a church member without first being a visitor. If you only have a few visitors each year, you'll have even fewer new members. A crowd is not a church, but to grow a larger church, you must first attract a crowd.
According to Warren, the easiest way to increase the number of visitors to church is by creating a service that is intentionally designed for our members to bring their friends to. If it is attractive, appealing and relevant to the unchurched, members will be eager to share it with the lost people they care about.
Remember that this is "purpose-driven", and since you should already know what the local people are like (think of "Saddleback Sam and Samantha"), this dictates many of the aspects you will need to consider. The entire service needs to be designed with the unchurched in mind.
Make it as easy as possible to attend.
There are a few recommendations Warren makes in this area:
* Offer multiple service times. This would be challenging in the Sanctuary situation, but maybe in the future this could be practical.
* Offer Surplus parking. No problem there!
* Offer childrens' Sunday School simultaneously with the service. Again, we do that already.
* Put a map to your church on all advertising. We don't yet do this with ALL our advertising, but it'd be easy - Google Maps!
Improve the pace and flow of the service.
Churches are often loaded with "dead air". A lot of this could be eliminated.
Keeping prayer times short in seeker services is good - other times can be offered for intercessory prayer.
Speed things up and improve the flow.
Acronym for designing flow of the music: IMPACT.
* Inspire Movement (Bright, up-beat song to start).
* Praise (Joyful songs about God)
* Adoration (Meditative, intimate songs TO God)
* Commitment (Giving people an opportunity to affirm or reaffirm commitment to God). "I want to be more like You."
* Tie it together - another short, upbeat song.
Make visitors feel comfortable.
First impressions last. Visitors ' first emotional response is often one of fear. Imagine your feelings as you attend a mosque for the first time! Reducing fear makes them more responsive to the Gospel.
Reserve the best parking spots for visitors. At Saddleback, visitors switch on headlights to be directed! Pastors and staff park on the dirt.
Station greeters outside the building. Ensure these are people who project warmth and smile easily.
Set up information tables outside the building.
Place directional signs everywhere.
Have recorded music playing when people enter your building. Silence is scary to unchurched visitors. Play it reasonably loud so that people talk animatedly.
Allow visitors to remain anonymous in the service. Don't bother them or single them out. (Oops!). They should be called "Guests" rather than "visitors" ("visitor" implies "not here to stay". "Guest" means someone you do everything you can to make feel comfortable).
If you use a registration card, have everyone fill one out.
Offer a public welcome that relaxes people. Let people know they can expect to enjoy the service. Tell them they won't have to say anything and nobody's going to embarrass them. Give a disclaimer in the offering.
Begin and end the service with people greeting each other. Saddleback has the "Three minute rule" - for the first three minutes after the service was over, members would only talk to people they'd never met.
If you use name tags, make sure everybody gets one. Nah. No name tags. :)
Offer a refreshment table at each service. Visitors hang around longer if you can get a coffee and a donut into their hands.
Brighten up the environment.
The mood should be one of celebration. You want a light, bright, cheerful environment. Do an environmental impact report on your church!
Lighting - most churches are too dark. Church buildings should be bright and full of light. Open curtains, windows and doors.
Sound - invest in the best system you can afford.
Seating - uncomfortable seating is a distraction the Devil can use! If you're using movable chairs, always set up fewer chairs than you need, especially in a small church.
Space - Don't have too much or too little. Either extreme limits your growth. If the building is too small, growth is strangled. If the building is too large, it's hard to create a feeling of warmth. Small crowds need to be close to the front.
Temperature - Make sure it's about right.
Plants - plants say "At least something is alive in this place!" Even haul small trees, ferns and plants into and out of your rented place!
Clean, safe nurseries.
Clean toilets.
Create an attractive atmosphere.
The mood or tone of the service.
Expectation. "Something good is about to happen." Members praying every week, praying during service, enthusiastic members bringing friends to church, history of life changing services, celebratory music, faith of the team leading the service. The opening prayer should express the expectation that God will be in the service and that peoples' needs will be met.
Celebration. Should resemble a festival, not a funeral!
Affirmation. Services should be an encouragement.
Incorporation. The way we greet each other, the way people interact with each other, and the way we speak to the crowd should say "We are a family".
Restoration. The service should recharge you after a tough week.
Liberation. Where the Spirit is, there is freedom. Informal services help with this.
Print a simple order of service
If people don't know what to expect they can get anxious. Print an order of service that says "there are no surprises here." Describe the service in completely non-technical terms.
Minimize internal announcements.
Train members to read the bulletin and announce only events that apply to everyone.
DO NOT CONDUCT INTERNAL CHURCH BUSINESS DURING A SEEKER SERVICE!
Continually evaluate and improve.
Remember Whom you are serving!
This is, after all, for the Lord, not for the seekers and not for the church members!
Warren has a problem when it comes to reaching unchurched people - Like many of us growing up in a Christian home, he had trouble with inviting his friends to church if they were non-believers. It seemed that whenever he invited people, there would be something completely inappropriate to their needs; however when the sermon was just right, he'd not have invited anyone. It led to him giving up on inviting unbelievers.
Similarly, few of us ever bring friends to church. When we do, they're usually already Christians.
Why is this? Warren gives three reasons.
1) The target of the sermon is unpredictable.
2) Services are not designed to be accessible to unbelievers.
3) Members are embarrassed about the quality of the service.
Many Christians feel that their unchurched friends wouldn't get their church (though they still feel guilty about not inviting them!).
No one becomes a church member without first being a visitor. If you only have a few visitors each year, you'll have even fewer new members. A crowd is not a church, but to grow a larger church, you must first attract a crowd.
According to Warren, the easiest way to increase the number of visitors to church is by creating a service that is intentionally designed for our members to bring their friends to. If it is attractive, appealing and relevant to the unchurched, members will be eager to share it with the lost people they care about.
Remember that this is "purpose-driven", and since you should already know what the local people are like (think of "Saddleback Sam and Samantha"), this dictates many of the aspects you will need to consider. The entire service needs to be designed with the unchurched in mind.
Make it as easy as possible to attend.
There are a few recommendations Warren makes in this area:
* Offer multiple service times. This would be challenging in the Sanctuary situation, but maybe in the future this could be practical.
* Offer Surplus parking. No problem there!
* Offer childrens' Sunday School simultaneously with the service. Again, we do that already.
* Put a map to your church on all advertising. We don't yet do this with ALL our advertising, but it'd be easy - Google Maps!
Improve the pace and flow of the service.
Churches are often loaded with "dead air". A lot of this could be eliminated.
Keeping prayer times short in seeker services is good - other times can be offered for intercessory prayer.
Speed things up and improve the flow.
Acronym for designing flow of the music: IMPACT.
* Inspire Movement (Bright, up-beat song to start).
* Praise (Joyful songs about God)
* Adoration (Meditative, intimate songs TO God)
* Commitment (Giving people an opportunity to affirm or reaffirm commitment to God). "I want to be more like You."
* Tie it together - another short, upbeat song.
Make visitors feel comfortable.
First impressions last. Visitors ' first emotional response is often one of fear. Imagine your feelings as you attend a mosque for the first time! Reducing fear makes them more responsive to the Gospel.
Reserve the best parking spots for visitors. At Saddleback, visitors switch on headlights to be directed! Pastors and staff park on the dirt.
Station greeters outside the building. Ensure these are people who project warmth and smile easily.
Set up information tables outside the building.
Place directional signs everywhere.
Have recorded music playing when people enter your building. Silence is scary to unchurched visitors. Play it reasonably loud so that people talk animatedly.
Allow visitors to remain anonymous in the service. Don't bother them or single them out. (Oops!). They should be called "Guests" rather than "visitors" ("visitor" implies "not here to stay". "Guest" means someone you do everything you can to make feel comfortable).
If you use a registration card, have everyone fill one out.
Offer a public welcome that relaxes people. Let people know they can expect to enjoy the service. Tell them they won't have to say anything and nobody's going to embarrass them. Give a disclaimer in the offering.
Begin and end the service with people greeting each other. Saddleback has the "Three minute rule" - for the first three minutes after the service was over, members would only talk to people they'd never met.
If you use name tags, make sure everybody gets one. Nah. No name tags. :)
Offer a refreshment table at each service. Visitors hang around longer if you can get a coffee and a donut into their hands.
Brighten up the environment.
The mood should be one of celebration. You want a light, bright, cheerful environment. Do an environmental impact report on your church!
Lighting - most churches are too dark. Church buildings should be bright and full of light. Open curtains, windows and doors.
Sound - invest in the best system you can afford.
Seating - uncomfortable seating is a distraction the Devil can use! If you're using movable chairs, always set up fewer chairs than you need, especially in a small church.
Space - Don't have too much or too little. Either extreme limits your growth. If the building is too small, growth is strangled. If the building is too large, it's hard to create a feeling of warmth. Small crowds need to be close to the front.
Temperature - Make sure it's about right.
Plants - plants say "At least something is alive in this place!" Even haul small trees, ferns and plants into and out of your rented place!
Clean, safe nurseries.
Clean toilets.
Create an attractive atmosphere.
The mood or tone of the service.
Expectation. "Something good is about to happen." Members praying every week, praying during service, enthusiastic members bringing friends to church, history of life changing services, celebratory music, faith of the team leading the service. The opening prayer should express the expectation that God will be in the service and that peoples' needs will be met.
Celebration. Should resemble a festival, not a funeral!
Affirmation. Services should be an encouragement.
Incorporation. The way we greet each other, the way people interact with each other, and the way we speak to the crowd should say "We are a family".
Restoration. The service should recharge you after a tough week.
Liberation. Where the Spirit is, there is freedom. Informal services help with this.
Print a simple order of service
If people don't know what to expect they can get anxious. Print an order of service that says "there are no surprises here." Describe the service in completely non-technical terms.
Minimize internal announcements.
Train members to read the bulletin and announce only events that apply to everyone.
DO NOT CONDUCT INTERNAL CHURCH BUSINESS DURING A SEEKER SERVICE!
Continually evaluate and improve.
Remember Whom you are serving!
This is, after all, for the Lord, not for the seekers and not for the church members!
27 January 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch 13 - Worship Can be a Witness
Good evening all! I was quite sick last night (the night before that, I was out extremely late), but no matter - now I'm back on deck, and so we'll have a look at chapter 13.
This chapter is a shortish one, but it's also an important concept (and a little controversial).
Many times when we run events designed to attract the unbeliever (remembering from the last chapter that attractional concepts of evangelism aren't necessarily wrong), we don't include worship. The rationale is that worship is primarily aimed at people who are already Christians. But Warren here introduces the radical idea that worship can actually be a witness.
He lists 12 convictions about worship.
1) Only believers can truly worship God. No problem there so far. After all, it's impossible to tell someone what they're worth if you don't believe they exist, and that's essentially what worship is.
2) You don't need a building to worship God. Again, no questions so far. If you needed a special building, the church I have really been involved in since 1982 would be problematic!
3) There is no "correct" style of worship. No hassles here. The last 20 years has shown me so much in the way of variation of worship style that I'd accept this one as axiomatic[1].
4) Unbelievers can watch believers worship. Well, yes. They can see us, how we value God, how we respond to God's word, how the Bible answers the problems and questions of life. Interesting - a difficult question would be "What would people see if they watched us when we didn't realise they were there?
5) Worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers if God's presence is felt and the message is understandable. I wrestle with this concept - thinking of the day of Pentecost, for example! - but I can see the truth in it. If someone came to church and saw God doing God's thing, unbelief would become problematic. Warren goes on to point out that at Pentecost, one of the key things that made the difference was people hearing the Gospel in their own language; we must communicate in the normal ways people communicate truth to reach them.
6) God expects us to be sensitive to the fears, hang-ups and needs of unbelievers when they are present in our worship services. That makes sense too. Warren talks about the concept of "Seeker sensitive" services.
7) A worship service doesn't have to be shallow to be seeker-sensitive. The message doesn't have to be compromised to be understandable. I think I have always seen the truth in this intellectually; however, I realise that at some level I don't believe it. I keep thinking that when we do things to be seeker sensitive we have to "dumb it down" so to speak. This is easily seen to be a bad idea.
8) The needs of believers and unbelievers often overlap. They are very different in some areas but very similar in many areas. I guess this makes sense, but it goes against my gut feelings. Here's where some humility is necessary - it's important that I don't give gut feeling more importance than someone who has demonstrated that he understands how to build a church! In any case, he's right - everyone needs to know what God is like, to understand the purpose of life, to know how and why to forgive others and [especially] everyone needs help in strengthening marriage and family.
9) It is best to specialize your services according to their purpose. I guess this is fairly self-evident too. Here's where the difference between a "seeker sensitive" service and a "seeker service" comes in - not all services should be seeker services, but all services should be seeker-sensitive.
10) A service geared towards seekers is meant to supplement personal evangelism, not replace it. A hearty AMEN! to this one. Remember that the amazing movement of God we experienced at the Billy Graham Crusades was actually the result of years of work before Billy Graham came to Australia, not just something that happened there and then.
11) There is no standard way to design a seeker service. Unbelievers are not all alike! Added to that, We're not all alike either. The non-negotiables are: 1) Treat unbelievers with love and respect; 2) Relate the service to their needs, and 3) Share the message in a practical, understandable manner. Remember that what really attracts large numbers of unchurched to a church is changed lives!
12) It takes unselfish, mature believers to offer a seeker-sensitive service. That's another axiom, right there. Remember, our attitude should be the same as Christ's!
[1] Science language, sorry - but this is a great word. It just means "Self-evident truth."
This chapter is a shortish one, but it's also an important concept (and a little controversial).
Many times when we run events designed to attract the unbeliever (remembering from the last chapter that attractional concepts of evangelism aren't necessarily wrong), we don't include worship. The rationale is that worship is primarily aimed at people who are already Christians. But Warren here introduces the radical idea that worship can actually be a witness.
He lists 12 convictions about worship.
1) Only believers can truly worship God. No problem there so far. After all, it's impossible to tell someone what they're worth if you don't believe they exist, and that's essentially what worship is.
2) You don't need a building to worship God. Again, no questions so far. If you needed a special building, the church I have really been involved in since 1982 would be problematic!
3) There is no "correct" style of worship. No hassles here. The last 20 years has shown me so much in the way of variation of worship style that I'd accept this one as axiomatic[1].
4) Unbelievers can watch believers worship. Well, yes. They can see us, how we value God, how we respond to God's word, how the Bible answers the problems and questions of life. Interesting - a difficult question would be "What would people see if they watched us when we didn't realise they were there?
5) Worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers if God's presence is felt and the message is understandable. I wrestle with this concept - thinking of the day of Pentecost, for example! - but I can see the truth in it. If someone came to church and saw God doing God's thing, unbelief would become problematic. Warren goes on to point out that at Pentecost, one of the key things that made the difference was people hearing the Gospel in their own language; we must communicate in the normal ways people communicate truth to reach them.
6) God expects us to be sensitive to the fears, hang-ups and needs of unbelievers when they are present in our worship services. That makes sense too. Warren talks about the concept of "Seeker sensitive" services.
7) A worship service doesn't have to be shallow to be seeker-sensitive. The message doesn't have to be compromised to be understandable. I think I have always seen the truth in this intellectually; however, I realise that at some level I don't believe it. I keep thinking that when we do things to be seeker sensitive we have to "dumb it down" so to speak. This is easily seen to be a bad idea.
8) The needs of believers and unbelievers often overlap. They are very different in some areas but very similar in many areas. I guess this makes sense, but it goes against my gut feelings. Here's where some humility is necessary - it's important that I don't give gut feeling more importance than someone who has demonstrated that he understands how to build a church! In any case, he's right - everyone needs to know what God is like, to understand the purpose of life, to know how and why to forgive others and [especially] everyone needs help in strengthening marriage and family.
9) It is best to specialize your services according to their purpose. I guess this is fairly self-evident too. Here's where the difference between a "seeker sensitive" service and a "seeker service" comes in - not all services should be seeker services, but all services should be seeker-sensitive.
10) A service geared towards seekers is meant to supplement personal evangelism, not replace it. A hearty AMEN! to this one. Remember that the amazing movement of God we experienced at the Billy Graham Crusades was actually the result of years of work before Billy Graham came to Australia, not just something that happened there and then.
11) There is no standard way to design a seeker service. Unbelievers are not all alike! Added to that, We're not all alike either. The non-negotiables are: 1) Treat unbelievers with love and respect; 2) Relate the service to their needs, and 3) Share the message in a practical, understandable manner. Remember that what really attracts large numbers of unchurched to a church is changed lives!
12) It takes unselfish, mature believers to offer a seeker-sensitive service. That's another axiom, right there. Remember, our attitude should be the same as Christ's!
[1] Science language, sorry - but this is a great word. It just means "Self-evident truth."
26 January 2012
24 January 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch12 - How Jesus attracted crowds.
More housekeeping: A few people have (kindly!) pointed out to me that in order to be truly useful, the summary must take less time to read than the book. Point taken! Okay, so today I'll try and be brief. Promise! (It's a long chapter, too . . . )
Jesus attracted crowds. I'm not going to go into this in too much detail because it's obvious. Warren believes a Christlike ministry STILL attracts crowds.
I have a feeling this may be uncomfortable. In fact, it probably is for anyone whose passion is a small church at which the word "Crowd" can seldom be used . . .
So how did Jesus attract crowds?
1) Jesus was loving to unbelievers.
This is a really important one. People called Him the "Friend of Sinners."
At first glance, my reaction was "Well, we do that." But the reality is that sometimes we don't. Oh, we love each other just fine. But does that love translate to those who come from outside? That's more difficult to judge. But sadly, the fact that many people have come for a while but not stuck around would seem to indicate that if we do love them, we're not communicating it.
Loving others like Jesus did
The command to love is the most repeated command in the New Testament - "Whoever does not love does not know God." It's key to our existence as Christians. To love each other but fail to love unbelievers is a terrible form of selfishness.
Creating an atmosphere of acceptance
Growing churches love, and loving churches grow. You need to be nice to people when they show up! To make an impact on a visitor, love must be expressed in a practical way. It means being sensitive to someone's needs and putting them ahead of your own.
The pastor must be loving
Church leaders set the tone of the congregation. Many pastors love preaching but don't love people. If people like you, they'll listen to you.
Ways to communicate love:
- Memorise names
- Personally greet people before and after services (Pray for people at some other time - they need you there now!)
- Touch people (This may be more appropriate in the USA than Australia).
- Use a warm, personal style when writing to people (many churches are excessively formal, especially Brethren churches!).
Accepting without approving
There is a difference between acceptance and approval. We are called to love people without approving of sinful lifestyles. We cannot expect unbelievers to act like believers until they believe! Jesus didn't say "Clean up your act and then I'll save you." He loved you before you changed. He expects you to do the same.
2) Jesus attracted crowds by meeting peoples' needs.
Jesus frequently asked "What do you want me to do for you?"
Getting peoples' attention
If you want to reach people you must first get their attention. That is what ministry is about -meeting needs in Jesus' name! God cares about every part of peoples' lives, and we must need all of them (not just the "Spiritual" needs). A church will never grow beyond its capacity to meet peoples' needs. Whilst there are many specific needs you'll find when you survey people in your area, there are some universal needs: love, acceptance, forgivness, meaning, self-expression and purpose. Also freedom from fear, guilt, worry, resentment, discouragement and loneliness. If you are meeting these needs, growth will not be a problem.
3) Jesus attracted crowds by teaching in a practical, interesting way.
The crowds were spellbound by Jesus' teaching.
Jesus began with peoples' needs, hurts and interests
Jesus usually taught in response to a question or problem from someone in the crowd. We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is - but we have to show the Bible's relevance by applying its message personally to peoples' lives, just as Jesus did. The Gospel is both "good" and "news". It offers people answers to their needs (listed before). When you preach, if you begin with peoples' needs, you immediately get their attention. Proclaimers of truth don't get much attention, but whilst people aren't looking for truth, they are looking for relief. If you teach a truth that relieves pains or sloves problems, unbelievers say "Thanks! What else is true in that book?" Most people who followed Jesus were similarly seeking relief from pain, leprosy, blindness etc. After their felt needs were met, they were anxious to know more. Instead of asking "What shall I preach on Sunday?" ask "To whom will I be preaching?" God knows who are there, and in His forknowledge he has ordained messages that will meet their needs.
Jesus related truth to life
Jesus' goal when teaching was to transform lives. Much preaching today is long on diagnosis, short on treatment. We need fewer "ought to" sermons and more "how to" sermons. The deepest preaching is that which makes a difference. Key words: "Go and do likewise". Your goal is to teach theology to the unchurched without telling them it is theology. You do not have to transform the message, but you will need to translate it.
Jesus spoke to the crowd with an interesting style
Crowds listened to Jesus with pleasure. Preachers should capture attention! To the unchurched, dull preaching is unforgivable. On the other hand, they will listen to foolishness if it is interesting! Watch late-night TV for a while . . . Jesus' stories were key. They hold attention, stir emotions and help us remember. He also used simple language. He didn't use the Greek or Hebrew of the scholars; He used common aramaic. Keep it simple! But not simplistic.
Ministry to crowds is controversial.
The controversy is based on two real questions:
"Go and tell" or "Come and see?"
* The Bible commands both. We do not need to choose between the two. Some will be reached by either.
Responding to culture - imitation, isolation or infiltration?
Some churches become like the world. Some isolate themselves from it. A third option is better - infiltrating the world! Jesus walked among people, in their world.
Jesus attracted crowds. I'm not going to go into this in too much detail because it's obvious. Warren believes a Christlike ministry STILL attracts crowds.
I have a feeling this may be uncomfortable. In fact, it probably is for anyone whose passion is a small church at which the word "Crowd" can seldom be used . . .
So how did Jesus attract crowds?
1) Jesus was loving to unbelievers.
This is a really important one. People called Him the "Friend of Sinners."
At first glance, my reaction was "Well, we do that." But the reality is that sometimes we don't. Oh, we love each other just fine. But does that love translate to those who come from outside? That's more difficult to judge. But sadly, the fact that many people have come for a while but not stuck around would seem to indicate that if we do love them, we're not communicating it.
Loving others like Jesus did
The command to love is the most repeated command in the New Testament - "Whoever does not love does not know God." It's key to our existence as Christians. To love each other but fail to love unbelievers is a terrible form of selfishness.
Creating an atmosphere of acceptance
Growing churches love, and loving churches grow. You need to be nice to people when they show up! To make an impact on a visitor, love must be expressed in a practical way. It means being sensitive to someone's needs and putting them ahead of your own.
The pastor must be loving
Church leaders set the tone of the congregation. Many pastors love preaching but don't love people. If people like you, they'll listen to you.
Ways to communicate love:
- Memorise names
- Personally greet people before and after services (Pray for people at some other time - they need you there now!)
- Touch people (This may be more appropriate in the USA than Australia).
- Use a warm, personal style when writing to people (many churches are excessively formal, especially Brethren churches!).
Accepting without approving
There is a difference between acceptance and approval. We are called to love people without approving of sinful lifestyles. We cannot expect unbelievers to act like believers until they believe! Jesus didn't say "Clean up your act and then I'll save you." He loved you before you changed. He expects you to do the same.
2) Jesus attracted crowds by meeting peoples' needs.
Jesus frequently asked "What do you want me to do for you?"
Getting peoples' attention
If you want to reach people you must first get their attention. That is what ministry is about -meeting needs in Jesus' name! God cares about every part of peoples' lives, and we must need all of them (not just the "Spiritual" needs). A church will never grow beyond its capacity to meet peoples' needs. Whilst there are many specific needs you'll find when you survey people in your area, there are some universal needs: love, acceptance, forgivness, meaning, self-expression and purpose. Also freedom from fear, guilt, worry, resentment, discouragement and loneliness. If you are meeting these needs, growth will not be a problem.
3) Jesus attracted crowds by teaching in a practical, interesting way.
The crowds were spellbound by Jesus' teaching.
Jesus began with peoples' needs, hurts and interests
Jesus usually taught in response to a question or problem from someone in the crowd. We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is - but we have to show the Bible's relevance by applying its message personally to peoples' lives, just as Jesus did. The Gospel is both "good" and "news". It offers people answers to their needs (listed before). When you preach, if you begin with peoples' needs, you immediately get their attention. Proclaimers of truth don't get much attention, but whilst people aren't looking for truth, they are looking for relief. If you teach a truth that relieves pains or sloves problems, unbelievers say "Thanks! What else is true in that book?" Most people who followed Jesus were similarly seeking relief from pain, leprosy, blindness etc. After their felt needs were met, they were anxious to know more. Instead of asking "What shall I preach on Sunday?" ask "To whom will I be preaching?" God knows who are there, and in His forknowledge he has ordained messages that will meet their needs.
Jesus related truth to life
Jesus' goal when teaching was to transform lives. Much preaching today is long on diagnosis, short on treatment. We need fewer "ought to" sermons and more "how to" sermons. The deepest preaching is that which makes a difference. Key words: "Go and do likewise". Your goal is to teach theology to the unchurched without telling them it is theology. You do not have to transform the message, but you will need to translate it.
Jesus spoke to the crowd with an interesting style
Crowds listened to Jesus with pleasure. Preachers should capture attention! To the unchurched, dull preaching is unforgivable. On the other hand, they will listen to foolishness if it is interesting! Watch late-night TV for a while . . . Jesus' stories were key. They hold attention, stir emotions and help us remember. He also used simple language. He didn't use the Greek or Hebrew of the scholars; He used common aramaic. Keep it simple! But not simplistic.
Ministry to crowds is controversial.
The controversy is based on two real questions:
"Go and tell" or "Come and see?"
* The Bible commands both. We do not need to choose between the two. Some will be reached by either.
Responding to culture - imitation, isolation or infiltration?
Some churches become like the world. Some isolate themselves from it. A third option is better - infiltrating the world! Jesus walked among people, in their world.
21 January 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch11 - Developing your strategy
Before I start, some housekeeping:
1) Thanks to those who have commented on my last two chapters! I wonder if you wouldn't mind doing me a favour, however - "Unknown," who commented yesterday, I'd love it if you could either email me at hughestech1@optusnet.com.au or FB inbox me to let me know who you are; and Richard, please also email/inbox to let me know WHICH Richard you are (I have some more questions for you!).
2) Normally I wouldn't be commenting on a weekend, but I really want to get through this book in January, and also I am likely to be out on Monday night given that it's the last night of the School Holidays and also that we have the kids being minded! :)
Anyway, let's get into it.
"Many churches lack a strategy for reaching people for Christ, and it shows in their results." I think that line, at least, is fairly self-evident, so let's keep moving.
Warren finds five guidelines for evangelism in Jesus' instructions to his disciples (Matthew 10 and Luke 10).
1) Know what you are fishing for.
This, as far as I can see, is broadly targeted in the previous two chapters. As one person commenting on yesterday's chapter has said, there is a question as to whether a homogenous congregation is ideal or not - just because it seems to make sense to reach those who are like ourselves, does that make it what God wants? However, it remains that in these chapters Jesus did send the disciples after those like themselves.
2) Go where the fish are biting.
In this context Warren is saying that we should spend most of our time working on leading those who are responsive to Christ rather than on those who resist. I would point out here that there is some value to ensuring that even the "hard cases" know that the church cares about them, but Warren has a point - do you really think that another session with someone who has rejected Christ repeatedly is going to make a difference? However, in God's time even the hardest case might thaw.
3) Learn to think like a fish.
This is hard for me - I came to Christ when I was four years old (even though I went through my questioning times at various points of childhood and adulthood). It is often challenging for me to understand how someone with a different experience of God might think. Warren gives the example of church advertising about how they are "Preaching the inerrant word of God!". Similarly, I can see parallels in some of the songs we sing at church (one from a few years back says "I've been forgiven; I've been set free; Restored and sanctified, in Christ I've been released!" Quite apart from words like "sanctified", which don't get used outside of religious contexts, even the normal words like "Forgiven," "Restored" and "Free" have particular meaning to Christians which they don't normally have [i.e. they're part of our jargon]). It is important that we remove barriers between the Gospel and people by at least TRYING to express it in the language of those we're preaching to!
How does one learn to think like an unchurched person? By talking to them. Warren discusses his experiences in doorknocking, and lists five questions which were helpful to him in that task. they are:
* What do you think is the greatest need in this area?
* Are you actively attending a church? (If the answer was "yes", Warren finished the survey there!)
* Why do you think most people don't attend church?
* If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?
* What could I do for you? What advice can you give a minister who really wants to be helpful to people?
Warren describes the complaints he found. Whilst they are interesting, I'm going to leave them for now - the Australian context will have some similarities, but it will also be different; and rather than focus on what he found, it will be more useful to us to focus on our own findings.
However, his next point is valid - successful evangelism requires one to understand and anticipate objections people may have before they voice them.
Also, because of the difference in contexts, Warren's letter to the local area won't be directly applicable. However, a letter to our area should address any common objections people voice.
4) Catch fish on their terms.
We need to be willing to be uncomfortable to reach people for Christ - and if anything is important enough to be worth a bit of discomfort, it's that!
Catching fish on their terms means:
- Understanding and adapting to the culture of unbelievers. This is fairly straightforward, but in Australia it's very important (especially in Sanctuary's area).
- Letting your target determine your approach. Start wherever people are, and move on from there.
- Beginning with the felt needs of the unchurched. We know that everyone needs to be forgiven, but often that's not what they FEEL. The psychologist Maslow created the hierarchy of needs (diagram right) - his concept was that people aren't interested in needs higher up on the hierarchy until the needs further down are satisfied. Similarly, people probably won't recognise or prioritise real needs until felt needs are taken care of.
-Understanding and responding to the hang-ups of the unchurched. A lot of people will have hang-ups about church; they may be uncomfortable with the church asking them for money, or with being asked to sing, or whatever else. If we want to reach them, we need to be ready to deal with those hang-ups, even when they are based on ignorance.
-Changing methods whenever necessary. If methods aren't working, it's time to try something different. Don't keep doing the same thing hoping it'll start working.
5) Use more than one hook.
Warren says that we need to offer people choices (for example, in worship styles, in service times, etc). Given the size and resources of our church, it's probably better for the moment that we focus our efforts, running one service well. However, that's not to say that we can't try to incorporate a variety of methods into each one.
6) It costs to reach your community
Don't cut advertising and evangelism programs when budgets get tight. They are the source of new blood for your church.
7) Fishing is serious business.
Evangelism isn't a hobby for Christians; it should be our lifestyle.
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