Cutting Loose

Aging Without Maturing Kronos: Quantity “How long?” Kairos: Quality “Is it ready?”

Where’s the fruit?

?

Thinking of church a bit differently

Today’s Church vs. Jesus We have buildings… he didn’t We have buildings… he didn’t We are centralized… he stayed on the move We are centralized… he stayed on the move We seek large numbers… he often fled them We seek large numbers… he often fled them We seek programs… he sought relationships We seek programs… he sought relationships We use curriculum…he created experiences We use curriculum…he created experiences We seek warm bodies…he hand selected a team We seek warm bodies…he hand selected a team We do ministry… he equipped ministers We do ministry… he equipped ministers

Are Church House Rules Right?

Begin With The End In Mind! Winston Churchill said, "However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results."

WDJD? What did Jesus do?

Ingredient #1 Pick a Travel Team Pick a Travel Team

Travel Team Qualities * 3-12 *Covenantal Commitment *MEA (Mutually Earned Accountability)

Levels of Accountability Level 1: Casual (informal, friendly, low) Level 2: Convictional (informal, low-med.) Level 3: Covenantal (MEA, intentional, med-high) Level 4: Concerted (formal, 1-way, high) Level 5: Controlled (formal, 1-way, extreme high)

Ingredient #2 Pursue Directions

Degrees of Directions Biblical- fundamental Biblical- fundamental Explanatory/expositional Explanatory/expositional Topical/applicable Topical/applicable Complementary Complementary Music/arts/discussions Music/arts/discussions Nature/circumstances/God-sightings Nature/circumstances/God-sightings

Ingredient #3 Experiencing the Journey Experiencing the Journey

Experiencing the Journey Death by lecture Death by lecture Active learning Active learning Adult learning Adult learning Emotive Emotive Life in real time Life in real time Watching others in their natural habitat Watching others in their natural habitat Serving together Serving together Simulated experiences Simulated experiences

Experiencing the Journey Creating Experiences In Church Creating Experiences In Church Engaging the senses Engaging the senses Facilitating discussion Facilitating discussion Arts/media Arts/media Mnemonic symbols/souvenirs Mnemonic symbols/souvenirs

Ingredient #4 Path Finding Path Finding Recruiting Recruiting Unleashing Unleashing

Too Heavy or Too Light DIRECTIONS Judgmental Judgmental Confuses knowledge with application / academic Confuses knowledge with application / academic Self-righteous Self-righteous Vulnerable to heresy Vulnerable to heresy Wandering Wandering Up & down spiritually due to lack of grounding Up & down spiritually due to lack of grounding

Too Heavy or Too Light TRAVEL TEAM Lack of purpose – social group Lack of purpose – social group Exclusive / closed to “outsiders” Exclusive / closed to “outsiders” Confuses Christian fellowship with maturity Confuses Christian fellowship with maturity Low application due to nil accountability Low application due to nil accountability Self-centered Self-centered Lonely Lonely

Too Heavy or Too Light EXPERIENCES Emotionalism / entertainment driven Emotionalism / entertainment driven Spiritual pride Spiritual pride Pharisaic / judgmental / good deeds driven Pharisaic / judgmental / good deeds driven Intellectualism Intellectualism Low retention Low retention Little passion Little passion

Too Heavy or Too Light PATH FINDING Vulnerable to manipulation Vulnerable to manipulation Hero worship Hero worship Path Finder control and pride Path Finder control and pride Slow growth Slow growth Unnecessary pain Unnecessary pain Hit and miss searching Hit and miss searching Consumerism (by not becoming a Path Finder) Consumerism (by not becoming a Path Finder)

How did we miss it?

Resources for SI Free SI assessment “The Journey” Free SI assessment “The Journey” Book: Spiritual Intelligence (Baker Books), Made to Stick Book: Spiritual Intelligence (Baker Books), Made to Stick Raising Spiritual Champions Raising Spiritual Champions Articles: Spiritual Intelligence, Make it Stick ( Articles: Spiritual Intelligence, Make it Stick (

Bio Alan E. Nelson was a pastor for 20 years, starting new congregations in Mission Viejo, CA and Scottsdale, AZ. He is the author of a dozen books, including Embracing Brokenness, The Power of a New Attitude, Spirituality & Leadership, Coached by Jesus and was the editor of Rev! magazine. Alan has a doctorate (EdD) in leadership from the University of San Diego and is the founder of KidLead, a non-profit org providing executive caliber training for future leaders ( He has 3 sons and has been married to Nancy for 29 years, who is the co- founder of Quest of Monterey. Alan E. Nelson was a pastor for 20 years, starting new congregations in Mission Viejo, CA and Scottsdale, AZ. He is the author of a dozen books, including Embracing Brokenness, The Power of a New Attitude, Spirituality & Leadership, Coached by Jesus and was the editor of Rev! magazine. Alan has a doctorate (EdD) in leadership from the University of San Diego and is the founder of KidLead, a non-profit org providing executive caliber training for future leaders ( He has 3 sons and has been married to Nancy for 29 years, who is the co- founder of Quest of Monterey. For more info on Alan and this project, go to For more info on Alan and this project, go to