When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-19)

3

4

A simple church is a congregation designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-19)

8 Clarity in a Simple Church

For we are God’s workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 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. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. (I Corinthians 3:6-9)

11 1) I am God’s builder.

12 2) Building the body of Christ is an ongoing process.

13 3) Our ministry needs a clear ministry blueprint.

I laid a foundation as an expert builder…

16 4) I must design a clear how.

The process is more important than the purpose of an organization because it is the process that makes everything work. (Michael Hammer)

18 Five essentials for clarity

19 1. Define your process.

20 1. Define your process. Determine what kind of disciple you wish to make.

21 1. Define your process. Describe your purpose as a process.

22 1. Define your process. Decide how each weekly program is a part of your process.

23 2. Illustrate your process.

24 2. Illustrate your process. The illustration must show progression.

25 3. Measure your process.

26 3. Measure your process. What gets measured gets done.

27 3. Measure your process. View numbers horizontally.

28 3. Measure your process. Measure each stage in your process.

29 4. Discuss your process.

30 4. Discuss your process. View everything through the lens of your simple process.

31 4. Discuss your process. Test your leaders on the process.

32 5. Increase understanding.

33 5. Increase understanding. Articulate corporately.

34 5. Increase understanding. Share interpersonally.

35 5. Increase understanding. Live personally.

I must be a tour guide and not a travel agent.

37 Movement in a Simple Church

38 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away… Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

39 And we, who with unveiled faces all behold the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever- increasing glory. II Corinthians 3:14, 17-18

40 1) Only God produces spiritual transformation.

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42 2) Spiritual transformation moves people to greater levels of commitment.

43 3) Our ministry must place people in the pathway of God’s transforming power.

44 4) I must design a process that partners with God to move people through the process of spiritual growth.

45

46 Five prescriptions to remove congestion

47 1. Strategic programming

48 programming 1. Strategic programming Begin with your clearly defined process.

49 programming 1. Strategic programming Choose one program for each phase of your process.

50 programming 1. Strategic programming Design each program for that specific aspect of the process.

51 2. Sequential programming

52

53 2. Sequential programming Order the sequence to reflect your process.

54 2. Sequential programming Designate a clear entry-point.

55 2. Sequential programming Identify the next levels of programming.

56 3. Intentional Movement

57

58

59 3. Intentional movement Create short-term steps.

60 3. Intentional movement Capitalize on relationships.

61 3. Intentional movement Consider the “now what ? ”

62 3. Intentional movement Connect people to groups.

63 4. Clear next step for new believers.

64 5. New member’s class

65 5. New member’s class Structure the class curriculum around your process.

66 5. New member’s class Ask for commitment to the simple process.

67 Alignment in a Simple Church

68 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. ~ Paul

69 I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you… I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.

70 May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23

71 1) Unity reflects the nature of God.

72 2) Unity is attractive.

73 3) God is passionate for our unity.

74 4) I must align people around our simple process.

75 Five essentials to alignment

76 1. Recruit on the process.

77 1. Recruit on the process. Look for philosophical alignment, not just theological alignment.

78 1. Recruit on the process. Look for similar ministry approach, not just similar doctrine.

79

80 Ability to infuse the TULIP doctrine in all worship sets Postmodern, Visionary, Missional leader capable of creating an ethos and apostolitic movement in an Ancient-future church Willing to find some songs written from a premillenial dispensationalist theological tradition Desires to develop an emerging handbell choir Some snake handling may be appropriate (for our believers service only) Agree that the Lord is to be worshiped through magnificent attire and appropriate versions of the Bible Demonstrate proof of a second blessing... Tongue speaking in various accents is a major plus as we are a multicultural church Exegetically establish a movement of fluidity in the Extreme Worship Ministry Pastor of Extreme Worship Arts

81 2. Offer accountability.

82 2. Offer accountability. Job descriptions should be tied to the simple process.

83 2. Offer accountability. Individual ministry goals should be aligned to the overall church direction and ministry process.

84 3. Implement the same process everywhere.

85

86 3. Implement the same process everywhere. Understanding is increased.

87 3. Implement the same process everywhere. Unity is promoted as silos are eliminated.

88 3. Implement the same process everywhere. Families experience the same process.

89 4. Unite people around the process.

90

91 4. Unite people around the process. Remind people of the process.

92 4. Unite people around the process. Highlight contributions to the fulfillment of the process.

93 5. Align new ministries

Focus in a Simple Church

Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.

Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. II Kings 18:1-5

98 1) The tools for worship can become the objects of worship.

99 2) God applauds the removal of anything that hinders spiritual transformation.

100 3) Programs can become an end in themselves instead of a means to an end.

101 4) I must focus our energy, resources, and attention on the process God has given our church.

102 Five essentials to Focus

Eliminate non-essential programs.

Be very careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of the time because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15

Eliminate non-essential programs. Elimination is a matter of stewardship of money.

Eliminate non-essential programs. Elimination is a matter of stewardship of time.

Limit adding programs.

Limit adding programs. Use existing essential programs for special emphases.

Limit adding programs. Less really is more.

Limit adding programs. Limit adding programs, not options.

Reduce special events.

Reduce special events. Funnel the event into an existing program.

Reduce special events. Combine the event with an existing program.

Reduce special events. Use the event strategically.

Ensure the process is easily communicated.

Ensure the process is simple to understand.

Ensure the process is simple to understand. Choose simple language.

Ensure the process is simple to understand. Be brief.