Growing Our Church

A Healthy Church

• All living things grow • Growth is automatic provided that it is healthy • Hindrances to growth need to be removed (unsafe environment, poor nutrition) • A Healthy Church GROWS. Our Church is a living body - if it doesn’t grow, it is dying.

What the Bible says about Church Growth

1 Corinthians 3:6-11 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

What the Bible says about Church Growth

Acts 2: 42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What Drives our Church ?

Tradition ?

“We’ve always done it this way” The goal is to perpetuate the past Stagnation interpreted as stability Bound together by rules and regulations, not sense of purpose or mission

What Drives our Church ?

Personality ?

“What does the leader want ?” Agenda driven by the leader, with all his/her background, needs and insecurities. Agenda may not reflect God’s will or the needs of the people What happens when the leader leaves ?

What Drives our Church ?

Finances ?

“How much will it cost ?” Good stewardship and cash flow are essential for a healthy issue ……. but …….

Finances should never be the controlling issue. The Church does not exist to make a profit Not “How much did we save ?”, but

“Who was saved ?”

What Drives our Church ?

Programs ?

Creative Activities, Sunday English Classes, Pathfinders, Youth Programs, New Start, Women’s Program, Singles Ministry etc. Programs are often Driving forces in the Church Focus is maintaining and sustaining Church programs Drive may shift from developing people … to just filling positions Does the program still work ? If results are poor it may not be that you are not working hard enough. What is the purpose of the program ?

Seekers ?

What Drives our Church ?

What do the “unchurched” want ? The needs of the “unbelievers” become the driving force We need to be sensitive to the needs and interests of these ‘seekers’ and it is important to design evangelistic activities that targets these needs BUT – This should not drive the whole agenda of the church

Seekers ?

What Drives our Church ?

Our society is very “market driven” – give the customer what he/she wants The Church however has a higher calling. It should be “seeker sensitive” but not “seeker driven” We can adapt our communication style to our culture WITHOUT adopting the sinful elements or abdicating to it.

What Drives our Church ?

Tradition Personality Finances Programs Seekers Buildings Events

A Purpose Driven Church

The Importance of being Purpose Driven

Nothing precedes purpose Why do we exist ?

Until we know why ……… We have - NO Foundation - NO Motivation - NO Direction

What is our purpose ?

Christ’s Ministry on Earth

Matthew 5: 14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Christ’s Ministry on Earth

Matthew 9: 35-38 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Christ’s Ministry on Earth

Luke 4: 18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Purposes of the Church

1. Love the Lord with all your heart WORSHIP Matthew 4:10 ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Worship comes before service Not out of duty, but because we enjoy expressing our love to God

Purposes of the Church

2. Love Your Neighbour as Yourself MINISTRY We exist to minister, to demonstrate God’s love to others To meet others needs. To Share. To be the “Light of the World” Faithfulness is not just about attendance. Faithfulness must include SERVICE.

Purposes of the Church

3. Go and Make Disciples EVANGELISM We exist to communicate God’s word. We are ambassadors for Christ We have a commission 5 commissions in the New Testament

Purposes of the Church

3. Go and Make Disciples Matthew 28: 19-20 Mark 16:15 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Luke 24: 47-49 John 20: 21 Acts 1: 8

Purposes of the Church

3. Go and Make Disciples What would you do if you discovered a cure for all cancer ? A cure for SARS ?

We have an even greater knowledge We have the Gospel of Eternal Life to share As long as there is ONE person in the world who does not know Christ, our church has a mandate to keep growing

Purposes of the Church

4. Baptizing Them - Fellowship Part of the command to “make disciples” Why is Baptism so important ?

Fellowship – Identification with the Body of Christ. To belong to Christ’s family and be members of his body A symbol of salvation and Fellowship.

A common purpose

Purposes of the Church

5. Teaching them to Obey DISCIPLESHIP The process of helping people become more like Christ in their thoughts Begins when one is born again and continues through the rest of his life.

The Church is not just for the “Seekers” but also for helping Christians to mature

Purposes of the Church

5. Teaching them to Obey Ephesians 4: 12-13 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.

What is our purpose ?

Purposes of the Church

Worship Ministry Evangelism Fellowship Discipleship

Matthew 22: 37-40 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 28: 19-20 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Purposes of the Church

Worship Ministry Evangelism Fellowship Discipleship

Church Growth – Our Mission Statement

Matthew 28: 19-20 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Applying Our Purpose

Who are our Targets for Church Growth ?

Mark 2: 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 15 :24 (Jesus) answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Galatians 2: 7 (Paul) On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.

Community Crowd Congregation Committed Core Lay Ministers Maturing Members Members Regular Attendees Non church goers

Applying Our Purpose

The goal of our Church is to more people from the outer circles to the inner circles.

From low commitment and maturity to high commitment and maturity

Applying Our Purpose – When ?

Inside Out approach ?

Teach and Discipline the “Core” first ?

Takes time and often results in losing contact with the community Small Churches – Often all ‘core’ and nothing else The same 50 come every week. We’ve all been Christians for so long, we have few “unchurched” friends to witness to.

Applying Our Purpose – When ?

Inside Out approach Newcomers are afraid to break into or join in the group as it is so closeknit.

The core group planning a new church spends so much time in the small group stage that it becomes comfortable with it and loses the sense of mission Fire of evangelism dies

Applying Our Purpose – When

Outside In Approach Start with the community not the core Move the community to our crowd (worship), then the crowd into the congregation (fellowship), the congregation into the committed (discipleship), and then the committed into the core (ministry) Send the core back out to the community (Evangelism) We can and should do this NOW

Evangelism Community Worship Crowd Congregation Fellowship Committed Discipleship Ministry Core Lay Ministers Maturing Members Members Regular Attendees Non church goers

Applying Our Purpose – How ?

We need to • Define who is our target We cannot be all things to all people. No single church can reach everyone.

• Ensure that EVERYONE here is involved.

We are a small church, we have limited people resources at present.

Acts 2: 42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43

Everyone

was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Applying Our Purpose – How ?

Our Target: Demographically Young families, Young families with children Geographically Local families within the Epping Community

Applying Our Purpose – How ?

Evangelism - Attract New Members from the Community Meet the community, be involved in the community Identify and meet the needs of the community Work to our strengths - Target Young families – They need to be aware that Epping Church exists and what we offer.

Raise our profile within the community e.g. letterboxing pamphlets, local papers, community radio stations

Evangelism - Attract New Members from the Community Adventurers / Pathfinders Outdoor activities – camping, fishing, bushwalking “Vacation Bible School” – Vacation activities / crafts Family Movie Nights Health Workshops – Asthma, COPD, SARS, Hypertension, Back Injury.

Worship - Moving the Community into our Church How do we meet the Spiritual Needs of those seeking Christ?

• Simple straightforward services that addresses issues relevant to the non church goer. ‘God’s plan for your life’, ‘Questions you always wanted to ask God’, ‘God’s family and your family’ • Services given in a practical interesting way as Christ did.

• Children’s Ministry. Introducing children to the concept of a loving caring God.

• Engaging our Youth in Church based activities e.g. website development, video ministry. Youth involvement in Children’s Ministry

Fellowship – Becoming Part of our Congregation Inspiring Commitment Small cell groups which addresses and discusses personal needs on a more intimate basis. Small group bible study.

Commitment required No point being an inactive or non-participating member Growing into spiritual maturity Using individual talents

Discipleship – Achieving Spiritual Maturity Active or leading out in small groups Children’s Ministry Addressing the needs of Young Families Learning to minister to others Skill building and leadership training Pastor plays a very important role here

Ministry – The Core Group Realising God’s Purpose for our lives.

Lead and serve in the ministry Lay ministers, Lay evangelists Deacons, Sabbath School Teachers Run Evangelistic Programs Pastor needs to help nurture, train and sustain this group

Evangelism Community Worship Crowd Congregation Fellowship Committed Discipleship Ministry Core Lay Ministers Maturing Members Members Regular Attendees Non church goers

Where do we want to be in 5 years ?

A Balanced Church – Soul winning, worship, fellowship, bible study and teaching all prominent A growing church A large core group active in the ministry and evangelism A larger group of committed members A established presence in the Epping, with a reputation for fulfilling the needs of the community.

Where do we go from here ?

Work from Outside In. We need to do it soon.

Feedback on this proposal Where are you willing to help ? What are your talents and skills ?

Discussion Paper to be circulated Forum for feedback to be held within a month

1 Corinthians - Chapter 12

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

18 God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

1 Corinthians - Chapter 12

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.