Helping declining churches revitalize

Jesus said, „The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.“

The church leadership observes the development of the church: Church life-cycle Birth Death Growth Maturity Preservation Decline Structure Leadership Resources Refocusing Control Polarisation Dreaming Clarifying Developing Organizing Longing Questioning Blaming Leaving

Assessment: Status of our Church Birth Death Growth Maturity Preservation Decline

The Core Issues Birth Death Growth Maturity Preservation Decline Structure LeadershipControl Polarisation Or: Issues that cause crises when left unaddressed

Characteristics of Decline in a local church Plateau or decline in Membership over ten years Transfer growth as opposed to conversion growth Centripetal focus (inward) – Members, youth, building Spirit of resignation (Our best years are behind us) Leader- types have left the church Resistance to change People serve structures, not structures serving people Information is more valued than transformation

Realize If we keep doing what we have been doing, we will keep getting what we have been getting! Is that what we want?

How can we become harvest-driven? Displaying REAL love for one another (Joh 13) Praying expectantly (Col 4:2) Developing an outward-looking focus (Matt 9:36) Discovering our potential church in our OIKOS Seeking to become culturally relevant (adding value to the lives of non-Christians) Key Question: Should our church cease to exist tomorrow, would we be mourned or missed by the people of our city/region?

The four elements needed for turn- around to take place Attitudinal change (We refuse to allow decline to strangle us) Missional behavior Skilled Pilot (Guide, encourage, plan, results, celebrate) Abiding/Expectant Prayer

Non-ChristiansChristians The spoken word Non-ChristiansChristians Grace experienced Moving away from an Event-Focus Coming to a foucus on Relating

Culturally Relevant Church Growth The Gospel Talents and Gifts in the Chruch Real needs in our society

The Gospels surface two questions: Who is Jesus? What does He want from me?

Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus wants to shape the future with us Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore as you are going make disciples of all nations (non-Christians): Baptizing them into the reality of the triune God, teaching them to oberserve everything, I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

When the saw him, they worshiped him The Future begins with Worship

Jesus is Lord and King

The Future is all about making people into apprentices of Jesus Jesus: As you are going about your normal living, make them into my apprentices...

Who do we make into Jesus apprentices? All nations- Those not yet believing

How do we make them into Jesus apprentices? 1. During our normal course of living. 2. By immersing them into the reality of the trinue God. 3. By helping them to apply what Jesus commanded

Jesus wants to lead us into His future, and His future is the harvest.

What it really comes down to:

My Kingdom God‘s Kingdom Me Jesus

Break out questions in triads What change do I need to make personally? What will it cost me? Who will I ask to keep me accountable?