Elements Essential To Revitalization Bruce Raley Director Church Education Ministry
Our Lord’s Final Command And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20
BASIC ASSUMPTION All churches can be more effective in carrying out their Kingdom work…improving a Kingdom focus.
QUESTION ? What do you think God wants to do in every church?
People Reached For Christ People Matured In Christ Commonalities…and Distinct Differences
NUMERICAL GROWTH: The lost being saved SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION: The saved becoming more like Christ MINISTRY EXPANSION: The saved being involved in ministry KINGDOM ADVANCE: The saved being involved in missions
What prevents your church from doing what it should and experiencing what God wants to do?
An effective disciple- making process ALWAYS begins with the leadership.
Paul’s Example 1 Corinthians 4:16 1 Corinthians 11:1 Ephesians 5:1 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
Disciple-making guides people to be transformed into Christlikeness so they think and act like Christ.
ABAB God’s Plumb Line Amos 7:8
TRENDS Impacting the Disciple- making Ministry of the Church
Moving from a scorecard of simply bodies, budgets and buildings to also including intangible measurements. Society has moved past a “post-Christian” culture to a “pre- Christian” culture. Transition of paradigms: Believe – Behave – Belong to Belong – Believe – Behave
Society is no longer a melting pot, but now mosaic. Growing demand for process in discipleship. Church leaders are trying to define “family ministry”. There is a shift from ministry at church to ministry at home. Shift in moving from group training to individual or within small groups of people.
How many apples?
Offensive vs Defensive Discipleship
What is discipleship? 1.Discipleship is not information. 2.Discipleship is not behavior modification. 3.Discipleship is transformation.
True discipleship always goes after the heart – not behavior.
Realities 1.Discipleship takes places best in the context of relationships. 2.Relationships develop within smaller groups. 3.A group is composed of two or more individuals.
God & Me Daily in the Word My Family & Me Other Christians & Me Lost & Me Open Group On-going Group Short-term Group Closed Group One-on-One (Mentoring, Coaching Bruce Raley MarriageParenting Church Group Ministry Discipleship Worship
8 Attributes of Discipleship Bible Engagement Obeying God and Denying Self Serving God and Others Sharing Christ Exercising Faith Seeking God Building Relationships Unashamed
Truth PostureLeaders
Truth Gospel Identity Discipline Truth PostureLeaders
Posture Weakness Interdependence Outward Focus Truth PostureLeaders
Indispensible quality Godly leaders applying truth Truth PostureLeaders
Start New Groups
Form a circle
The Word of God is the focal point of life transformational groups
Barriers must be overcome Time and location no longer define groups Need for Sunday and weekday groups
Catalysts are essential for the creation of new groups New groups are created proactively
Organization attendance will increase approximately 10 for every new adult groups properly started.
HOPE!
More people accepting Christ and being baptized More people maturing in Christ More people engaged in ministry More people giving to kingdom causes
Every church begins at least one new Sunday School class each year … one group for every hundred people in attendance.
Watch For The Breaks in the Sandbar
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. - 2 Timothy 2:2 (HCSB)