Being Anonymous

In a recent conversation with a pastor, the issue of declining worship attendance was brought up. Having attended all sizes of churches, I believe one of the factors behind declining worship attendance is the lack of community in the larger church. In a large church both my presence and my absence can go unnoticed — I’m just anonymous. Thus, it is easy to be a drop-in worshiper — attending at my convenience. However, in a small church, I’m not anonymous — I’m known by name and people genuinely care about both my absence and my presence. For someone somewhat shy like me, it is hard to make a personal connection with those around me during the passing of the peace. In a small church, not only do I get the chance to know others by name but I’m not allowed to remain anonymous. I believe that somehow, this sense of  ‘small church community’ needs to be developed within worship services at large churches. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to develop that sense of community.

Aiming for Revival

Notes from Church of The Resurrection, Sept. 20th sermon: Prophets and Ministers of Hope

The story of the Old Testament repeats over and over the same story:

• People have been blessed by God and thus do well
• People become proud and fall away from God
• God removes his blessing
• People repent
• God takes people back
• Circle starts again

This cycle not only applies to individuals but to marriages and to the church. In the mid 20th century, many churches forgot that people need to be transformed and became too focused on social justice. In becoming centered on social justice, these churches forgot the spiritual needs of individuals. By focusing on the social justice agenda, the greatest asset of the church – its members – began to fall away from God. These churches and their members forgot the instruction from God in Deuteronomy 8:

Be careful you do not forget the Lord, your God.

God has done great things thru His church. But greater things are expected. Our churches are in need of revival. Each one of us needs to personally reflect on our faith and on our church.

• What more is wanted by God for His church?
• What can I personally do to help my church be what God has intended?

What can I do to bless, encourage and bring revival in the church?

I Luv My Church

by Perry Noble 8/1/2010

Based on Ezekiel 37

What I wasn’t doing was practicing my faith outside the church.

Is my spiritual condition bones that are very dry?

Valley of dry bones represents the condition of the church in the US today. The church has become impotent – has the equipment but can’t perform.

The early church (book of Acts)

• prayed for boldness
• was generous
• changed the culture

17% of Americans attend church weekly. Little league sports, shopping and other activities have become more important than church.

Reasons why church is on decline:

1. Misunderstanding
   • Believe church is full of hypocrites
     • YES, it is, we all fall short — there’s room for more
   • Can be a Christian and not go to church —
     • To have a dynamic relationship with Christ I have to be in community with other believers
   • Search for ‘perfect church”
     • Every church has problems
     • Detrimental spiritually when I begin to criticize church
     • Matt 16:18 – Church belongs to Christ
     • Eph 1:22 – Christ is the head of the church
     • Eph 3:10 — thru the church
     • Eph 3:20-21 — glory in the church
     • Col 1:18 — Christ is the head of the church
     • If church is so unimportant then why does the Bible talk about it so much and why did Jesus die for it?
     • Church not given to us so we would have a Sunday option, but so I would have a Sunday opportunity to get together and worship the living God – so others want to have what I have
2. Laziness
   • Spiritually lazy by not belonging to local church
   • God did not call me to attend, he called me to make a difference with my involvement in a local church
   • I’m an owner of my church — members have rights but as an owner I have responsibility
3. Obsession with Image
   • We’ve raised a bunch of rule followers that love rules but not Jesus
   • Many are de-churched (including me) — walked away from church and came back
   • We’ve told people to follow rules instead of following Jesus
   • If we want our youth to drop out of church someday — force them to go to church when you wish you didn’t have to go
   • Isa 29:13 – It’s not about the eternal, it’s about the internal – our hearts

People

• Church is for all people – I should accept them no matter what
• Ezekial – preach to the dry bones (I represent the dry bones) –
• A Supernatural Act of God happens whenever someone preaches Word of God making people alive in Christ
• Church is supposed to be excited about Christ
• When a football game is loud it means something exciting is happening on the field. When a church is loud, it means something exciting is happening for God
• People matter to God — every # represents a person — church needs to grow
• Why get mad at large churches when people matter to God when you don’t get over a large bank account because money matters to you?
• I often have things of man in mind more than things of God

Potential

• of where church can go
• of where I can go when I have the Holy Spirit inside of me
• Potential is unlimited in Christ
• God did not call us to be spectators — he called us to be participants
• Army gets on field and is willing to give life — what am I willing to give for my church?
• Nothing church can’t accomplish if just step outside walls and be the church
• Nothing has power to see people cross over from death to life like the local church – IT MATTERS

Real Fans

Based on Ed Young series comparing Fan for Christ to sports fan.

Real Fans are

1. Informational
   • Know the Word
2. Applicational
   • Apply word of God
3. Self Feeders
   • Attend worship
4. Generational
   • Teach young
5. Financial
   • Willing to spend $$$ to support team
6. Positional
   • Want best seats
   • Engaged / Involved
7. Hopeful / Faithful
   • Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
8. Invitational

Lord, fill my church with real fans!

UMC and Consolidation

I just read Adam Hamilton’s post on “General Motors and UMC” along with most of the comments. This post along with the tweet, “In the state of Kansas, 47% of UM churches had 0 professions of faith” quoting Bishop Jones from the Kansas West Conference reinforces my feelings that the church needs to prayerfully consider both the issue of discipleship and small churches.

Unlike most of the people who commented on Hamilton’s GM post, I am not a pastor. Nor do I attend a large UM church. I am a member of a small rural church in Kansas that is part of a 4 point charge. Even though we average between 40 and 50 in church each Sunday, we are the largest church in the charge.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe closing the churches will be successful if evaluated on the basis of advancing the kingdom of God. Most of these communities still remember school consolidation and see their church as an essential part of the community. They are linking the loss of the church to the loss of the community. I sincerely doubt that they would drive to my community for worship. Nor, would the members of my church be willing to drive to a neighboring community with a larger church for worship.

Thus, I think the denomination needs to find a compromise. I totally agree with most of the comments about the need for excellence in worship leadership. I also agree with Sam Fisher’s comment about the need for a personal connection with the pastor. With technology, it is possible to deliver the excellent worship experience. Would it be possible to utilize the ‘tent maker’ concept and technology to deliver worship in small settings while having the regional pastor to provide the human link? This would require a willingness of that regional pastor to “give up” some of the preaching in order to become more of a shepherd for the flock.

Perhaps the young clergy movement has the answer – PRAYING for the church!

Exploring Web Ministry

Yesterday’s Communique contained information about an online learning opportunity thru the United Methodist church that intruqued me. I decided to investigate and am now enrolled in ‘What is Web Ministry.’ This course is one of several on the church’s Moodle site. So far, all I’ve done is to update my profile and participate in a forum by introducing myself and responding to others in the class. Now I’m ready for the next assignment which is to define web ministry.

For me, the hard part of this assignment is describing ministry since that isn’t my vocation while working with the web is .  A simple description might be working to advance the kingdom of Christ. This would involve a variety of tasks including preaching, teaching, prayer, Bible study, sharing, communicating and connecting. Many of these tasks can occur via the web.

However, if one limits their perception of web ministry to a web site and email, then they are not utilizing the full potential of the web. Collaborative sites, blogs, wikis, twitter, podcasts, vodcasts. Moodle, social networks and even sites such as Second Life all have potential uses for ministry.

The challenge comes in matching the web tool to the task and to the capabilities of those involved. For my church, not only is ease of use an issue, but also the amount of time required to utilize the tool. Another challenge in a small church with limited staff is getting the content – the raw material to work with.

I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge in these areas as I progress thru this class.

Facing the Future

During his Jan. 4, 2009 sermon, Perry Noble spoke about God’s work during the nine year history of NewSpring Church. For me, this inspirational story of NewSpring’s success could be used by any church, large or small, including my small church, to evaluate what God is doing in the church and to see where God could lead us if we would be willing to follow. Below are my notes from this sermon — but I encourage you to watch it for yourself.

• When driving, if I take my eyes off of where I’m supposed to be going, I can cause a lot of damage. — Taking eyes off of Jesus causes serious damage!
• Perry prayed for a church were it is OK to be OK – No Perfect People Allowed
• Want to see crowds of people following Jesus. If I go to a crowded restaurant, I know that the food is good and the service is good. I won’t go to a restaurant with an empty parking lot. Why would I go to a church with one?
• God’s house should be the most crowded place on earth every Sunday.
• If you don’t like a big church, you won’t like Heaven. Heaven will be crowded and it won’t be all white.
• Jesus didn’t call perfect people to follow him. He called imperfect people.
• Disciples are to help people take one more step closer to Jesus.
• When you run from God, your life can get so bad it isn’t even funny.
• God created the church so his people could come together for a time of worship and praise and passion that we can’t experience by ourselves during the week.
• Why start a new church? It’s easier to birth a baby than to resurrect the dead.
• God can use other people to push us into unsafe places (new situations to grow his church).
• What would you be willing to do for God if you know it couldn’t fail? You’re a coward if you don’t do it.
• Denominations are dead. They are too focused on politics and not focused on Jesus. I believe God has removed his hand from them.
• Dream pray and think about what the church could be if focused on Jesus.
• If wondering why people aren’t getting saved in church, it’s because we’ve made the church about everything but Jesus.
• Create a place just about Jesus and the cross.
• What matters to God should matter to us — the church
• Want an environment where people come and know Christ
• Vision is not for sale. As a pastor, I’m answerable to God and not members of the church.
• It’s always about people meeting Jesus. We’re all messed up people. The goal is to get closer to Christ.
• When God has a plan, God will make the way. All you have to do is follow.
• Preaching his word – people get saved, lives are being changed
• Because we have a church about Jesus, God does something amazing.
• Always about people meeting Jesus. If he’s got them, he can keep them.

Changed Traditions

John 1: 43-46

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.

• Nathaniel was caught up in a traditional mind set that almost caused him to miss Jesus.
• Am I caught in this mindset? Is my church?
• So caught up in traditions, they’re completely missing the Son of God for whom the church was created
• Church has never been about knowing the pastor — it’s about knowing Jesus.
• God called US to do it all (not just the pastor) and as we partner together more people are reached, more lives are changed and that’s what the church is supposed to be about.

Changed Lives

John 1: 47-49

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

• Nathaniel’s life changed rapidly
• When people get in the presence of Jesus, he changes lives
• Change a community one life at a time

Changed Perspective

John 1:50
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.”

• Jesus said, “Wait to see what I’ve got for you.” Nathaniel’s mind was blown because he got in contact with Jesus. He saw water changed to wine, lepers healed, Jesus walk on water, multitudes fed. Lazurus raised, Jesus crucified, Jesus as the Risen Christ, 3000 saved
• Want a church whose mind is blown because it continually lifts up the name of Jesus

Brian Houston, Pastor of Hillsong United in Sydney, Australia wrote these words about his dream for his church. Perry quoted them as a dream for NewSpring Church.

“The church that I see is a church of influence.  A church so large in size that the city and nation cannot ignore it. A church growing so quickly that buildings struggle to contain the increase.

I see a church whose heartfelt praise and worship touches heaven and changes earth.  Worship which influences the praises of people throughout the earth exalting Christ with powerful songs of faith and hope.

I see a church whose alters are constantly filled with repentant sinners responding to Christ’s call to salvation.

Yes, the church that I see is so dependent on the Holy Spirit that nothing will stop it not stand against it.

A church whose people are unified, praying and full of God’s Spirit.

The church that I see has a message so clear that lives are being changed forever and potential is fulfilled though the power of His Word.  A message beamed to the peoples of the earth through their television screens.

I see a church so compassionate that people are drawn from impossible situations into a loving and friendly circle of hope, where answers are found and acceptance is given.

I see a people so kingdom-minded that they will count whatever the cost and pay whatever the price to see revival sweep this land.

The church that I see is a church committed to raising, training and empowering a leadership generation to reap the end-time harvest that all its ministries are consumed with this goal.

I see a church whose head is Jesus, whose help is the Holy Spirit and whose focus is the Great Commission.

Yes, the church that I see could well be our church.”

Are We Making a Difference?

Are we helping our members grow spiritually? Are they moving along the spiritual continuum as identified in the Reveal study:

• Exploring Christianity
• Growing in Christ
• Close to Christ
• Christ Centered

The Reveal study identified six key discoveries regarding the spiritual growth of their members.

1. Church activity alone made no impact on spiritual growth
2. Spiritual growth is about increasing closeness to Christ
3. The church’s role as a primary influence on spiritual growth becomes secondary as people move closer to Christ
   • Personal spiritual practices become more important than church for those more spiritually mature
     • Prayer
     • Journaling
     • Solitude
     • Bible study
4. Personal spiritual practices are key to a Christ-centered life
5. The more one grows, the more one tithes, serves and evangelizes
6. More than 25% of those surveyed considered themselves stalled or dissatisfied with the role of the church in their spiritual growth
   • Most dissatisfied members tend to be more Christ-focused
   • Most dissatisfied members were more likely to consider leaving the church
   • Most dissatisfied members want the church to hold them accountable and to keep them challenged

For the church to be able to better serve its members may mean to simply become better spiritual “parents” by showing them how to grow spiritually.

1. Help members realize that they have to look beyond the church to grow spiritually
2. Provide “coaching” in the development of spiritual practices
3. Incorporate life applications and week long activities into the sermon

If the church is to make a difference by helping its members grow spiritually, it will need to use impact on spiritual growth when evaluating programs. Questions that might be asked during the evaluation process might include:

• Go beyond asking “How many?”
  • How did this event/activity help people grow?
  • Which segment of people was this event/activity expected to help and did it actually help them
• Ask more than “How are you?
  • What’s helping you grow spiritually these days?
  • How is the church making a difference in your life?
  • What changes in the church would you like to see in order for you to grow more?
• Evaluate ministry based on perceived level of impact it is having on spiritual growth

I am one of those “dissatisfied” people. Fortunately, I have found Internet sermons that are helping me grow spiritually. I believe that our church could adapt some of the practices of those churches in order to make a difference with our congragation, including myself.

• Weekly memory verse
• Thoughts to ponder — two or three questions to discuss with others regarding the sermon
• Daily Bible study related to sermon topic
• Daily prayers related to sermon topic

Let’s make a difference!

Identifying One’s Spiritual Gifts

After recently forwarding links to web sites regarding praying for the upcoming Methodist General Conference, I was asked what my spiritual type was. For some reason, I had ignored the link to the “Spiritual Types Test” on that web site. Intrigued by the question and curious about what the test would say about me, I not only took that short test but also a “Spiritual Gifts Assessment.”

The Spiritual Types Test identifies 4 types of spirituality: Sage, Prophet, Lover and Mystic. The Sage, characterized by thinking or head spirituality, values responsibility, logic and order. The Prophet values competence and knowledge and experiences God by serving others. Since a prophet is good at leading and influencing others, the prophet is a good kingdom builder and is thus characterized by kingdom spirituality. The lover values freedom, independence and spontaneity and has a spirituality that is primarily based on emotions and the heart. The lover helps others have fun and experience beauty. The Mystic, valuing peace, harmony and inner silence, is known for imaginative and intuitive spirtiuality.

The Spiritual Gifts Assessment identifies six areas of strength from the following types of gifts: Administration, Apostleship, Compassion, Discernment, Evangelism, Exhortation, Faith, Giving, Healing, Helping, Interpretation of Tongues, Knowledge, Leadership, Miracles, Prophecy, Servanthood, Shepherding, Teaching, Tonques, and Wisdom. These twenty gifts are identified in various portions of Paul’s letters. Each of us have different primary and secondary gifts. These primary and secondary gifts help define who we are and how God has equipped us for ministry. No one can be strong in all areas, but a successful church requires strength in all areas. Thus, to  be successful, a church must be composed of members willing to use his/her own spiritual gift in service to the church while respecting the different gifts of other members of the church.

What is your spiritual type?
What are your spiritual gifts?
Are you using your spiritual gifts to serve your church?

Reaching the Unchurched

Notes from: Surprising Insights: From the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them by Thom S. Ranier

First impressions make a difference

• Adequate parking
• Clean modern facilities
• High-quality preschool / nursery
• Variety of quality programs
• Relevant and quality music
• Friendly – outgoing greeters / congregation
• Good signage
• Comfortable – pews, temperature, sound level
• Attention-holding preaching

 Requires personal evangelism

• Members must be willing to talk about their faith
• Provide resources for family evangelism

Preaching to the Unchurched

• Biblically based
  • Utilize meaty teaching and preaching
  • Verse-by-verse expository preaching
  • Teaches the Bible in original context
• Incorporate doctrine
• Incorporate life application
• Must change life of listener

Key Issues for retaining members and increasing return visits of guests

1. Doctrine
   • Unambiguous in beliefs
   • Clear teaching of beliefs
   • Understanding of major doctrines critical to health of the church
2. High Expectations
   • Membership expectations communicated to members
3. Entry Point Class
4. Small Groups and Sunday School
   • Helps build relationships
5. Clarity of Purpose
6. Ministry Involvement
   • “Glue” that holds people to church

“The church that seeks to be a church of excellence in all things will see God’s blessings.”