ACTS 1:8 Growth Workshop UNIT 3 WHERE DOES GOD WANT US TO GO FROM HERE?

Barriers to moving to the next level: Spiritual Issues Unconfessed sin hampers the Spirit's work. Unconfessed sin consumes growth energy. Unconfessed sin hinders body life. Neglect of devotional life. Ignoring the reality of spiritual warfare. Failure to put on the whole armor of God. Question: How are we going to deal with this issue in the life of this church?

Leaders tied to unproductive work. Pastor/Planter and church members' time is limited. Pastor/Planter and church members' time and energy often misspent. Pastor/Planter and church members' time use should be analyzed, appropriately invested. –Whatever the church does must be evaluated on a regular basis, and this takes place under the lens of its vision/purpose –Aubrey Malphurs

No growth mentality Don't expect church to grow Will not work here Don't want church to grow Comfortable

Leadership imbalance Class I, volunteers turned inward Class II, volunteers turned outward

Ratio and Ministry Mode In Effective Church Leadership, Kennon Callahan says 70% C I (turned inward) to 30% C II Maintenance ministry mode 30% C I (turned inward) to 70% C II Missional mode

Two critical questions: 1. How many C I and C II leaders do we have? What is the ratio? 2. How many C I and C II leaders do we need to enlist and train?

Risk Takers Care Takers Under Takers 31% On Average, the last Five years Oklahoma Baptist Churches, 23% 46%

No plans for growth. Churches with no plans Budget just for inflation Churches with maintenance plans Churches with growth plans Churches tend to fall into three groups.

.Organization and program limitations. Organization fixed Resistant to new units, Unrelated to vision, values, mission Doors closed to outsiders

Members not mobilized or equipped to be on mission. Mentality that sees ministry is for clergy. Giftedness of members ignored Members seen as spectators and supporters.

Normal patterns and plateaus of growth. Organizational Issues.

(See Appendix A)Cells division (See Appendix A) –Cell (s) –Congregation (s) –Church

Organizational Issues. Single Cell, Single Congregation Church Appendix A

Organizational Issues. Multicell, Single Congregation Church

Organizational Issues. Multicell, Multi-congregation Church

Internal structure of a single cell church Key Family or Families Deacons Youth Mission group Sunday School Choir ???

rubber band effect Mid – size rubber band effect Key families or families Disconnected groups

Churches in transition Small Church Characteristics Medium Church Large Church Characteristics Transition period begins Rubber Band effect

McIntosh’s Typology of Church Size Factors Small Church Medium Church Large Church Size Worshipers Orientation Relational Programmatical Organizational Structure Single cell Stretched cell Multiple cell Leadership Resides in Resides in Resides in key families committees select leaders Pastor Lover Administrator Leader Decisions Made by made by made by staff congregation committees and leaders Driven by Driven by Driven by History changing needs vision

Decision Making Climate Small Church Medium Church Larger Church Emotional (a mixture)Rational SubjectiveObjective PopularMerit InformalFormal FamilyLeaders

McIntosh’s Typology of Church Size Factors Small Church Medium Church Large Church Size Worshipers Staff Bivo or single pastor and Multiple staff pastor small staff Change Bottom up Middle outTop down through key through key through key people committees leaders Growth Attraction Program Proclamation Patterns model model through through key through ministry word of mouth relationships

McIntosh’s Typology of Church Size Factors Small Church Medium Church Large Church Size Worshipers Growth Small Church Inadequate Poor assimilation Obstacles image facilities -Ineffective Inadequate Increased evangelism staff bureaucracy - Inadequate Inadequate Poor programming finances communication - Downward Poor admin- Loss of vision momentum -istration -Ingrown Increasing Lack of member fellowship complexity care

Important questions 1. Are we willing to keep groups growing? 2. Do we see need to begin new cells? 3. Are we willing to begin new groups-- formal and informal?

Normal patterns & plateaus of growth & decline (Appendix B)

Normal patterns & plateaus of growth & decline Range (Breaking the 15 Barriers ) 5 – 50 Range (Breaking the 35 Barriers) 48 – 86 Range (Breaking the 65 Barriers) 90 – 150 Range (the 115 Barriers) Range (the 200 barrier)

Discussion Questions Which of these barriers, organizational issues and/or leadership issues need to be addressed in your setting? What issues are priority for your church’s health and growth? How will you address these issues?