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BUILDING A HEALTHY REPRODUCING CHURCH

BUILDING A HEALTHY REPRODUCING CHURCH. Hungary October 2011. ACKNOWLDGEMENTS. WHAT FOLLOWS IS A SYNTHESIS OF FOUR MAJOR STREAMS: THE WORD OF GOD MY OWN STUDIES AND RESEARCH. NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH OF CHRISTIAN SCHWARZ.

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BUILDING A HEALTHY REPRODUCING CHURCH

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  1. BUILDING A HEALTHY REPRODUCING CHURCH Hungary October 2011

  2. ACKNOWLDGEMENTS WHAT FOLLOWS IS A SYNTHESIS OF FOUR MAJOR STREAMS: • THE WORD OF GOD • MY OWN STUDIES AND RESEARCH. • NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH OF CHRISTIAN SCHWARZ. • THE CHURCH HEALTH SURVEY AS COMPILED BY JIM FANN AND HIS TEAM

  3. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY REPRODUCING CHURCH? • BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT A BIBLICAL CHURCH IS LIKE. • BECAUSE THREE KINDS OF GROWTH OCCUR IN A HEALTHY CHURCH. QUANTITATIVE GROWTH = THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLES QUALITATIVE GROWTH = GROWTH IN THE QUALITY OF DISCIPLES ORGANIC GROWTH = THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH IN THE WAY IT LIVES & REPRODUCES

  4. QUANTITATIVE GROWTH IS QUANTITATIVE GROWTH IMPORTANT? Acts 1:15 “a group numbering about a hundred and twenty” Acts 2:41 “about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41 “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 4:4 “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.” Acts 6:1 “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing ( multiplying).” Acts 6:7 “The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased (multiplied) rapidly.” Acts 9:31 “the church…grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” Acts 16:5 “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”

  5. QUALITATIVE GROWTH IS QUALITATIVE GROWTH IMPORTANT? [42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)

  6. ORGANIC GROWTH IS ORGANIC GROWTH IMPORTANT? Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. [2] And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. [3] Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. [4] But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." [5] And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. [6] These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. [7] And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:1-7 (ESV)

  7. 10 KEY QUALITIES OF A HEALTHY REPRODUCING CHURCH WM 320 Dallas Theological Seminary

  8. 1. PRIORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD THIS MEANS THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS THE TOUCHSTONE FOR ALL THAT IS DONE IN THE CHURCH AND ITS MINISTRIES. • THE DOCTRINE OF THE WORD. • THE GOSPEL IN PARTICULAR.

  9. A HEALTHY CHURCH MAJORS ON THE FOLLOWING. • FAITHFUL PREACHING AND TEACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD. • GROWTH IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD OF GOD. • CONCERN FOR APPLICATION OF THE WORD OF GOD. • DISCERNMENT OF ALL THAT IS DONE AND TAUGHT BY THE WORD OF GOD.

  10. AND WHAT ABOUT THE GOSPEL? • IS THE GOSPEL REGULARLY PROCLAIMED AS IT IS? See 1 Cor 15:1-4 • ARE PEOPLE LIVING CONSISTENTLY WITH THE GOSPEL? See Galatians 2:14

  11. TIME TO DISCUSS AND EVALUATE • TO WHAT DEGREE IS THE WORD OF GOD THE PRIORITY IN OUR CHRURCH? • ARE PEOPLE GROWING IN THE WORD OF GOD? • CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE ABOVE? • WHAT CHANGE CAN BE SEEN IN LIVES BY THE WORD OF GOD AT WORK? • HERE IS THE TIME TO WORK THROUGH THIS: A. WHAT WILL WE KEEP ON DOING? B. WHAT WILL WE EMPHASIZE MORE? C. WHAT WILL WE DO AWAY WITH? D. WHAT WILL WE ADD?

  12. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE PRIORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR CHURCH

  13. 2. TRUE DISCIPLESHIP Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

  14. 2. TRUE DISCIPLESHIP DEVELOPED Acts 2:42 (ESV) And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. • The Word of God. • True communion with other believers. • Meaningful worship. • Prayer. • Witnessing • Spiritual disciplines.

  15. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE TRUE DISCIPLESHIP IN YOUR CHURCH

  16. 3. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Mark 3:13-15 (ESV) And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. [14] And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons.

  17. 3. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Ephes. 4:11-12 (ESV) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, APOSTLES PROPHETS EVANGELISTS PASTORS TEACHERS THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY

  18. 3. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Ephes. 4:11-12 (ESV) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, APOSTLES PROPHETS EVANGELISTS PASTORS TEACHERS THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY COACH THE SAINTS

  19. Bill Hull says: “The goal of many individual churches is to transform a congregation of spectators being led by a minister into an army of ministers being led by a pastor.” In Jesus Christ Disciple Maker, p. 154

  20. 3. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT • ARE FOLLOWERS BECOMING LEADERS? • WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MOVE FROM “COME AND FOLLOW” TO “COME AND BE WITH ME?” • ARE PEOPLE BEING HELPED WITH THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFTING? • ARE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE AREA OF THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFTING? • ARE THERE LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING?

  21. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP IN YOUR CHURCH

  22. 4. SPIRITUAL GIFTING VALUED. Romans 12:4-8 (ESV) For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, [5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. [6] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; [7] if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; [8] the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

  23. SPIRITUAL GIFTS • DO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH KNOW WHAT THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE? • HAVE THEY DONE A SURVEY TO BEGIN TO GET AN IDEA OF THEIR GIFTING? • HAS THERE BEEN INPUT FROM OTHERS TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR GIFTING MIGHT BE? • DOES MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH FIT SPIRITUAL GIFTING OR IS IT “FILL IN THE GAPS”? • DO PEOPLE ENJOY (FIND JOY IN) THEIR MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH OUR OUTSIDE?

  24. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE TO WHAT DEGREE SPIRITUAL GIFTING DETERMINES MINISTRY IN YOUR CHURCH

  25. 5. BIBLICAL WORSHIP John 4:23-24 (ESV) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. [24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

  26. 5. BIBLICAL WORSHIP TRUE BIBLICAL WORSHIP IS DOUBLE: • PERSONAL- REGULAR WORSHIP AND PRAISE ALONE WITH GOD. • CORPORATE – REGULAR WORSHIP AND PRAISE WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.

  27. 5. BIBLICAL WORSHIP BIBLICAL WORSHIP IS BOTH: CELEBRATIVE & REFLECTIVE BOB LOGAN

  28. BIBLICAL WORSHIP • ARE THE BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH PEOPLE WHO SPEND TIME PERSONALLY IN WORSHIP? • ARE THEY HELPED IN THIS? • IS CORPORATE WORSHIP CELEBRATIVE? • IS CORPORATE WORSHIP REFLECTIVE? • ARE PEOPLE LEARNING MORE ABOUT GOD THROUGH WORSHIP? • WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE WORSHIP TOGETHER BRINGS EACH ONE CLOSER TO GOD?

  29. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE WORSHIP IN YOUR CHURCH

  30. 6. EFFECTIVE SMALL GROUPS. Acts 2:46 (ESV) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, Acts 5:42 (ESV) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

  31. EFFECTIVE SMALL GROUPS: • GROUPS WHERE PEOPLE CAN TRULY RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER. • GROUPS WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHARE THEIR HEART. • GROUPS WHERE THE WORD OF GOD IS LEARNED AND APPLIED. • GROUPS THAT HAVE FUN TOGETHER. • GROUPS THAT PRAY TOGETHER. • GROUPS THAT MULTIPLY BY GIVING BIRTH TO NEW GROUPS. • GROUPS THAT SEEK TO WIN OTHERS TO CHRIST.

  32. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVNESS OF SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR CHURCH

  33. 7. EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM. Acts 2:47 (ESV) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

  34. EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM • IS SPONTANEOUS. • IS ALSO STRUCTURED TO HELP PEOPLE WIN OTHERS TO THE LORD. • IS RELEVANT TO THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THE CHURCH IS FOUND. • IS STRUCTURED INTO ALMOST EVERYTHING THE CHURCH DOES. • DOES NOT HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME BUT IS A REGULAR THING. • DOES NOT ONLY BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST BUT BRING THEM TO BAPTISM AND INTEGRATION INTO THE CHURCH

  35. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EVANGELISM IN YOUR CHURCH

  36. 8. LOVING CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. John 13:34-35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

  37. LOVING CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER • MEANS THAT PEOPLE SENSED THEY ARE LOVED BY ONE ANOTHER. • IS CHARACTERISED BY KOINONIA. • IS NOT CHARACTERISED BY KOINONITIS. • DOES NOT MEAN THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR LIVES. • MEANS THAT THERE ARE CONFLICTS BUT THEY ARE WORKED THROUGH BY LOVE. • MEANS THAT NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO THE CHURCH CAN SENSE SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE FABRICATED BY HUMANS.

  38. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE WHETHER LOVING RELATIONSHIPS PREDOMINATE IN YOUR CHURCH

  39. 9. REPRODUCTION BY CHURCH PLANTING. Acts 13:1-3 (ESV) Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." [3] Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

  40. 9. REPRODUCTION BY CHURCH PLANTING (CONTINUED) Acts 14:21-23 (ESV) When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, [22] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. [23] And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

  41. Do We Need to Multiply Churches in Australia to Reach More People? Let’s Look at the Need!

  42. REPRODUCTION BY CHURCH PLANTING. • WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF AN APPLE TREE? • WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF A CHURCH? • WHY IS THIS? • THE DNA OF A CHURCH SHOULD BE THAT OF REPRODUCING ANOTHER CHURCH. • IS THE IDEA OF PLANTING ANOTHER CHURCH THAT REPRODUCES A PART OF YOUR CHURCH? • IS TRAINING FOR CHURCH PLANTING A VISION OF YOUR CHURCH?

  43. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE VISION FOR PLANTING NEW CHURCHES OUT FROM YOUR CHURCH

  44. 10. WORLD MISSIONS VISION. Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Acts 1:8 (ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witactnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

  45. WORLD MISSIONS VISION • DO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH TAKE THE GREAT COMMISSION SERIOUSLY? • WHAT PROOF IS THERE? • DOES THE CHURCH PREACH AND TEACH MISSIONS REGULARLY? • DOES THE CHURCH SUPPORT MISSIONARIES? • HAS THE CHURCH EVER SENT OUT MISSIONARIES? • IS MISSIONS A PART OF THE DNA SO THAT THE VISION IS TO PLANT REPRODUCING CHURCHES IN OTHER LANDS?

  46. NOW TO EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE WORLD MISSIONS VISION IN YOUR CHURCH

  47. REVIEW OF THE TEN ELEMENTS • PRIORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD • TRUE DISCIPLESHIP • LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT • SPIRITUAL GIFTING VALUED. • BIBLICAL WORSHIP • EFFECTIVE SMALL GROUPS. • EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM. • LOVING CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. • REPRODUCTION BY CHURCH PLANTING. • WORLD MISSIONS VISION.

  48. NOW WHAT DO WE DO? • SET UP A TEAM TO STUDY THE GREATEST NEED. • WORK ON DEFINING AND DEVELOPING THIS NEED. • GIVE RESULTS TO THE CHURCH AFTER _____ MONTHS. • WORK OUT A CLEAR PLAN TO WORK ON THE GREATEST WEAKNESS. • PRESENT THIS PLAN TO THE CHURCH. • WORK THE PLAN THAT YOU HAVE PLANNED.

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