Growth Forces/Organic Principles Releasing “all by itself” Growth Growth Forces/Organic Principles Now we want to discover the dynamic “all by itself” power contained in the adjectives © 2008 ChurchSmart Resources and CoachNet, Inc. For use by authorized trainers only

Our Thanks To: Christian Schwarz and Christoph Schalk for their research and development of Natural Church Development (NCD)

Session Content Review the six organic principles Examine how we have applied them in our ministry setting. Provide feedback on how we can more effective assist you in utilizing the organic principles in your ministry.

Organic Principles Organic principles are simply the life principles upon which God’s creation operates. Frederic Vester – Identified six biotic principles to achieve optimum biological life. ”the maximum capacity of organisms to grow and reproduce under ideal conditions.” Goal – to achieve optimum biological life How – under ideal conditions Question – How many in this room have “ideal conditions” in your church? This is where our role as the farmer in Mark 4 comes in – we can influence the environment.

These principles operate under “ideal” conditions These principles operate under “ideal” conditions. How many of you have “ideal conditions” in your ministry? Understanding the growth forces helps you to be a better “farmer” of your ministry “field”.

Growth Forces: As Easy As ABC ! You have seen them in ministry. You have used them, even as a child. A human being would find it virtually impossible not to use them. The growth forces are complex dynamics that seem simple when understood and observed in life and ministry.

Insight The secret to understanding organic principles is recognizing where they are already operating! Let’s unpack the growth forces through practical illustrations

Energy transformation The Six Growth Forces Interdependence Multiplication Energy transformation Sustainability Symbiosis Fruitfulness These are the six growth forces – we’ll go into depth on each one Don’t teach each one here.

Interdependence Individual units are connected to each other in a larger system. Changes in one will affect others in the church and community. Interdependence defined Share an illustration from your ministry Does anyone in the room have a good illustration from their church they could share?

What are the short and long-term Interdependence What are the short and long-term effects of this action? “connecting” This is the question to wrestle with in the church health team Where do we make the mistake of jumping on short-term solutions and miss seeing the connectedness in our churches?

INTERDEPENDENCE In your ministry group, describe how you have seen interdependence at work in your mission development. Be prepared to provide an example on how your work on this principle could be reported online.

Healthy organisms do not grow endlessly but reproduce themselves. Multiplication Multiplication – Reproduction is “Natural” in life. Healthy organisms do not grow endlessly but reproduce themselves.

How does this contribute to multiplication, not just addition? “reproducing” Multiplication is “natural reproduction”.

How you have seen multiplication at work in your mission development? How have you been intentional about multiplication? Be prepared to provide an example on how your work on this principle could be reported online.

Energy Transformation Momentum or energy already flowing, whether positive, potential or negative, can be redirected to accomplish God's purposes. God can accomplish His purposes in “All Things” – positive and negative.

“leveraging” Energy Transformation How can we utilize positive and negative resources to fulfill God's purpose? “leveraging” Harnessing means we can leverage the good and the bad, strengths and weaknesses, maximum factors and minimum factors to accomplish God’s purposes.

ENERGY TRANSFORMATION How do you focus the energy in your mission development? How have you been intentional about energy transformation? Be prepared to provide an example on how your work on this principle could be reported online.

Sustainability Resources used should increase the capacity for on-going growth and development, as well as serve multiple purposes. Sustainability forces us to take the long view. No quick fix, no short cuts.

“recycling” Sustainability How do these actions contribute to future ministry cycles? “recycling” A contemporary word like recycling communicates that we think beyond the present need or generation.

How do you build sustaninability into your ministry? SUSTAINABILITY How do you build sustaninability into your ministry? How have you been intentional about sustainability? Be prepared to provide an example on how your work on this principle could be reported online.

Symbiosis Different ministries can cultivate cooperative relationships so the mutual benefit is greater than operating separately. There is a “life dependence” seen in symbiotic relationships. Together we live – alone we fail.

“cooperating/teamwork” Symbiosis How can we work together to enhance ministry effectiveness? “cooperating/teamwork” Teamwork – another way of showing how “together” we can compete but alone we cannot play the game.

How do we demonstrate cooperation and teamwork in our ministry? SYMBIOSIS How do we demonstrate cooperation and teamwork in our ministry? How have you been intentional about symbiosis? Be prepared to provide an example on how your work on this principle could be reported online.

Fruitfulness Each ministry needs to produce discernible results in line with its intended purpose. What is the purpose of this ministry…are we accomplishing the desired results?

fruitfulness of this ministry? How can we maximize the fruitfulness of this ministry? “evaluating” The fruit “evidence” of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, patience, etc…what kind or fruit is evident in our lives? Even when we take communion the Apostle Paul urges us to “examine ourselves” or evaluate our walk with God so we do not take communion inappropriately.

How do we practice this principle? FRUITFULNESS How do we practice this principle? How have you been intentional about evalutation? Be prepared to provide an example on how your work on this principle could be reported online.

Growth Forces Interdependence = connecting Multiplication = reproducing Energy transformation = harnessing Sustainability = recycling Symbiosis = cooperating Fruitfulness = evaluating Let’s review the growth forces and related concepts.

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Where do you see Growth Forces operating in your life and ministry? Think Naturally Think about it…these are not foreign concepts, they are a part of God’s natural design for life and ministry. Where do you see Growth Forces operating in your life and ministry?