Hope For Our Churches
An Even Greater Future
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a
path in the mighty waters, … Do not remember the
former things, … I am about to do a new thing; now
it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a
way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. … to
give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I
formed for myself so that they might declare my
praise.
Isaiah 43:16-21
Hope For Our Churches
An Even Greater Future
Who is this dude, Bob Meyer?!
And what is he up to here?
Introduce what we will be doing for the
next year.
God’s intention for the church is that it grow!
Matthew 28:19-20 “Make disciples of all the
nations, (by) baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
and (by) teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you.”
Presbyterian Book of Order G-1.0100 # 2
The Great Ends of the Church
“The great ends of the church are the
proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of
humankind. . .”
How are our churches doing?
94% of churches are plateaued or declining.
This is true across denominational lines.
Dave Olsen The American Church in Crisis
In the Builder Generation 65% accepted Christ
In the Boomer Generation 35% accepted Christ
In the Buster generation 15% accepted Christ
In the Current generation 4% are accepting Christ
Dan Schaffer Spiritual Fathers
Some say that Islam is the fastest growing
religion in America
Of children who grow up in our kind of churches
only 9% of them remain true to their faith after
leaving home.
Why are these things happening?
91% of Christians today, when asked the
question “Why does the church exist?”
Answer “To take care of me and my family.”
Research by George Barna
A consumer mentality is killing our churches.
Congregations that are not growing by
consistently and regularly making new
disciples for Jesus are disobedient to the
Great Commission.
Let’s not sugar-coat this.
It is disobedience, to the Great Commission
and the Great Commandment
Leaders bear responsibility for this.
The first part of the solution is repentance.
Sorrow for our disobedience
And determination to change
Growing churches make reaching lost people
their first priority
Growing churches evaluate every ministry for
outreach effectiveness.
They do not accept ministries that have
no higher purpose than just
“having fun with our Christian friends.”
Growing Churches effectively assimilate new
people.
The quickest way to start growing your church
Is to start assimilating 50% of your visitors
People do not come back to a church
that is friendly.
They come back to a church
where they have made a friend.
The number one principle of retaining visitors
Is to put new people with new people
immediately.
They all have open relationship slots
And are looking for friends.
All churches follow predictable life cycles.
Life Cycle Of A Church
Adulthood
Adolescence
Vrms
vRMS
Empty Nest
vRMS
VRMs
Infancy
Birth
VRMS
VRMs
Childhood
Maturity
VRms
VVisionÉÉÉÉ
Retirement
vrMS
Where are we going?
RRelationshipÉ Who is going with us?
MMinistryÉÉÉ How do we get there?
SStructure ÉÉ ..What do we control?
Old Age
vrmS
s
Death
Four Key Elements Determine Place on Life Cycle
•
•
•
•
V-Vision (Changing the World)
R-Relationships (People connecting with people)
M-Ministries
S-Structure (Management)
Small Churches Operate Through Relationships
Larger Churches Operate Through Systems
– Nine essential systems
• Evangelism
• Worship
• Assimilation
• Lay Mobilization
• Spiritual Formation
• Leader Development
• Congregational Care
• Communication
• Decision-making
Growing churches are changing.
This is our greatest challenge
in revitalizing a declining church.
It cannot be done without change!
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and
over again but expecting different results!”
Peter Drucker, “If the rate of change outside an
organization exceeds the rate of change inside
an organization the organization is dying.”
Change or Die!
People do not resist change. They resist the
loss of what was comfortable, provided status
and influence, and made them feel significant.
Change agents must understand this
and try to mitigate
at least some of these losses.
Growing churches adapt
to the culture around them.
Eg. Missionary in New Guinea
The culture changes with every generation.
We have to change our “style” for every new
generation.
Growing churches take risks.
Hebrews 11:1&6 “Faith is being sure of what we
hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Without faith it is impossible to please God”
WALKING BY SIGHT WALKING BY FAITH
(The Comfort Zone)
What we can do ourselves
(The Scary, Impossible Zone)
Beyond what we can do
ourselves
Our own resources are adequate Our resources are not adequate
We have enough:
We don't have enough:
Strength
Wisdom
Money
Power
Clout
Strength
Wisdom
Money
Power
Clout
Growing churches are staff led and managed.
This includes staff led/vision driven budgeting
The congregation does the ministry. Eph.4:11-12
The pastor is the leader.
The staff does management
The board does governance
Requirements of a large church:
1. Mission and vision is placed above self-interest
2. Staff led, this includes staff led/vision driven budgeting
3. Fellowship and shepherding must be programmedSystems (people are cared for as they participate in ministry)
4. Intentional assimilation of visitors (The goal of
assimilation is mobilization.)
5.Church vision is continually kept before the people.
6. Communication is maintained to the level of redundancy.
7. The senior pastor leads the staff, board, and
congregation.
8. The board affirms rather than granting permission.
9. There are changed expectations of how ministry is done.
10. The congregation is honeycombed with third places.
The church in America is in desperate condition
It is in intensive care on life support
We who are leading churches are responsible
The Lord is calling on us to repent of our
disobedient failure to make reaching lost people
our first priority
What is your response to the Lord’s call
to you now?