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!
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