Acts 1:8 Church Growth Workshop UNIT 1 Where are we?

Where is your Church? (What is the state of the church?) Where are we? Not compared to another church but compared to what God wants for your particular church. Where do we need to go from here? A vision from God (results) What changes/key steps need to be made?

Church LIFE Leadership Team LIFE Family LIFE Personal LIFE LEADER’S WHERE ARE YOU?

Where are you as a Pastor? Proclaim Care Lead Strategic Planning

A pastors work is never done

The word Pastor(s) is used 9 times in the Bible. (KJV) _8_ times in Jeremiah _1_ time in Ephesians

Our Calling ‘Jeremiah’ JER 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, JER 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Our Calling ‘Jeremiah’ JER 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. JER 1:7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Our Calling ‘Jeremiah’ JER 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. JER 1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. JER 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Our Calling knowledgeunderstanding.JER 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. JER 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Our Calling JER 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. JER 12:11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.

Our Calling JER 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. JER 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

Church Leadership table Leadership table Pastor Jesus Influential Leader _______ Influential Leader _______ Influential Leader _______ Positional Leader _______ Positional Leader _______ Positional Leader _______ Positional Leader _______

Changing the Status Quo Two ways or avenues we have as leaders to change the status quo. Position What are some issues that you would use your position to change? (Example – Doctrinal) Personal Influence & sharing of knowledge What are some issues that you would use your Personal Influence & sharing of knowledge to change?

Changing the Status Quo Time Degree of Difficulty 1. Change in Knowledge 2. Change in Attitude 3. Change in Individual Behavior 4. Change in Group Behavior Power of Personal Influence Power of Position

Changing the Status Quo Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Is this positional or personal influence & the sharing of knowledge? I Peter 5:3 “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.”

Where is your Church? (What is the state of the church?) Where are we? Not compared to another church but compared to what God wants for your particular church. Where do we need to go from here? A vision from God (results) What changes/key steps need to be made?

Where is your church? –Growth –Numbers –Health –Fellowship –Reproduction –___________?

Church History? Pastors - Church ACP report BT II Planters - please work the evaluation handout. (It will be covered and discused in unit 6) SO, Where is your Church in light of the facts?

Surveys Characteristics of a Growing Church? Faith Formula for Growth Evangelism – Engel’ scale – are you moving folks along down the scale? How do you choose a church? Bell curve (Next slide)

Dream Goals Beliefs Structure Polarization Questioning Nostalgia Ministry Dropout Robert Dale In To Dream Again

Characteristics of a Church Dream Belief Goals Structure Ministry Nostalgia Questioning Polarization Dropout Creative Child Rational Adult Nurturing Parent Critical Parent

Refocusing Restructuring Reenergizing Restarting Large internal changes & refocus on outreach Deal with some internal issues & refocus on outreach On Evangelism and outreach Ed Stetzer In Comeback Churches

Where are we as a Church? Every Church ought to be a healthy, soul winning, caring, reaching, teaching reproducing church! Would you agree or disagree?

Discipler’s Role Task Unbeliever Witness Evangelism 1Cor 1:18 1Cor 2:1-5 Spiritual Babe 1Cor 3:1-3 Parent Nurture Spiritual Disciple Discipling 1Cor 3:5-6 Servant..... :.. :.. Multiplying Leader 1Cor 4:1 1Cor 3:10-16 Equipping Steward A Healthy Reproducing Church.::.::.::::. :::::.:.:.. ….... 1Cor 3:7-9 1Cor 4:6, 17 Co-laborer Encourager Supporting.:.:.:.:.:.: ::.::.:.::: Emphasis Partnership LeadershipDiscipleshipLordshipFriendship Master Builder

Every Church ought to be reaching the Lost. The Bible has told us so... WHY?

Psalm 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” If this is true… ‘what do the following passages tell us?’

“When they saw him they worshiped him …Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (Ta Ethne- ethnic groups), 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 always, even unto the end of the world. A-men.” KJV Matthew 28:17-20

Five mandates Worship When they saw him, they worshiped him… (28:17) Ministry/Missions Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (ethnic groups)... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (ethnic groups)...Evangelism...Baptizing them... Discipleship Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you... Fellowship And remember, I am with you always (28:20)

ACTS 1:8 " But you will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

What must we do? Acts 1:8 We must seek to understand our communities We must focus on reducing lostness Effective evangelistic churches will operate as missionaries Missional evangelistic pastors lead their flock of 99 to reach the 1 Missions and evangelism can no longer be two separate disciplines in Oklahoma Churches must seek to bring transformation to their community rather than grow in numbers by transfer.

Scan US – demographics Focus Group Population Change? –Population growth or decline Treads –Racial Trends Male-Female balance? Age trends? Households? –Family –Non-family Income trends? –Work sheet

Oklahoma Counties % of Population in 2000 at Christian churches on any Given Weekend

Acts 1:8 Who are the unchurched people in my community? Who are the people groups in my community? Do the people in my community know that we love them? Why would a lost person come to my church? Who am I counting on to not show up at my church? What are some of the reasons my church may be becoming distant from its communities What ministries is my church doing to show our love to our community?

What has happened?

Our churches have set wrong priorities.

A lot of churches look like they are hunting for souls but are a lot like this guy.

A lot of churches are fishing in dry holes!

A lot are not fishing at all!

Sometimes we stick our nose into others business. I Peter 4:15 Some of our Churches are fussing and fighting

Some Churches... Any ole way will work!

Some Church leaders are Lazy!

Have you seen churches do something like this? How could they have prevented this? Planning? This is why were are in this meeting.

So.... Where are you? After looking at your ACP report? After working the surveys? In relation to the great commission? In relation to your community and focus group

The Process of Planning Purpose Out of God’s Great commission (BIBLE) comes the Church’s Purpose dream Out of the church’s Purpose comes our dream goal (expected results, FAITH) Out of our dream come our goal (expected results, FAITH) Action Plans Out of goal comes Action Plans Out of Action Plans comes a need for a Calendar of Activities, People to work andBudget Calendar of Activities, People to work and a Budget Out of Work come God’s given results – James “Faith without works is dead”

Purpose From these scriptures: “What is the Purpose of the Church?” My church exists to: ___________________________________

Original Dream

Dreaming New dreams With the ability to Change

Out of God’s Purpose comes a Dream What kind of Christians do I dream of? What kind of Church program must I develop to grow that Christian? What kind of leadership team – volunteer and/or paid must I develop to produce my dream? What kind of minister must I become to gather my dream team What kind of support system do I need… family, peers Proverbs 29:18WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH Proverbs 29:18

Out of God’s Purpose comes a Dream My dream (VISION) for my church is... OR -- Next year I see my church... ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________