2. Studying Church Growth Considering Worship Choices

3. 1 Corinthians 9:22 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. Methods change, but not the message.

4. Luke 5:36-38 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. Wineskins change, but not the wine.

5. Trends among growing and declining churches of Christ indicate 6 clear choices for churches that have decided to grow. Not really open to discussion anymore. It’s just a matter of whether we’ll choose to act.

6. Trends indicate 6 clear choices for churches that have decided to grow. CHOICE #1 The Culture Choice Recognizing the generation gap is now a culture gap!?!

7. CHOICE #2 The Leadership Choice Trends indicate 6 clear choices for churches that have decided to grow. Staff to member ratio choices Leadership attitudes

8. Trends indicate 6 clear choices for churches that have decided to grow. CHOICE # 3 The WORSHIP Choice

9. The number one growth factor in forty predictive variables was the worship assembly’s ability to attract new members between the ages of 20 and 39.

10. When all facets of the assembly were examined six questions on the satisfaction level of church members stood out as predictors of church growth 1. Visitors felt church was warm/friendly 2. Looked forward to the morning assembly 3. Satisfied with morning worship assembly 4. Preaching attracts new members 5. Church is warm and friendly 6. Satisfied with singing

11. Members of GROWING CHURCHES were more satisfied with every aspect of their worship assembly than members of DECLINING CHURCHES.

12. Habakkuk 2:20 reverent quiet respectful

13. Psalms 30:11-12 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness; that my soul may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.

14. Habakkuk 2:20 reverent quiet respectful Ps. 30:11-12 Joyful inspiring enthusiastic “celebrative”

15. Since the Lord’s day was the day of the resurrection, Christian sources often identified it as a day of joy. This was a pervasive note in contrast to the Sabbath. The rabbis stressed joy in connection with the Sabbath, but the Jewish customs for the Sabbath seemed somber to outside observers. Everett Ferguson, Greek scholar, author

16. Dynamic assemblies are not a chance occurrence. They are the product of prayer, planning, variety, and the pursuit of excellence. - John Ellas The biggest difference between growing and declining congregations was not what they did – they did about the same things – rather it was how they did it. Growing churches do a better job.

17. (preachers)… of growing churches are optimistic, evangelistic, and ambitious. They are pacesetters. They place a great emphasis on the Bible in their preaching and they are able to generate enthusiasm. Kirk Hadaway Church Growth Principles

18. David McKinny did a survey in the Memphis area of 107 personally interviewed young adults. Half were involved in the church and half were not. Question: If you were looking for a church in this area, what kind of things would you look for? Answer: (dominant response with no close 2 nd answer) A loving fellowship

19. We are on the right road when our worship is 1. biblical 2. relevant 3. warm and friendly 4. joyful and celebratory 5. and balanced in music styles