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When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation) Presented by Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

Announcements • Next week we will meet on the 3rd floor of the “old” education building – 1st door on the right. • This will be our location for a couple of months.

Segue from Romans • The book of Romans was addressed to a church and the individuals that made up the church. • Was the church at Rome perfect? • Was it effective? Could it have been more effective? • Based on our study, what did we learn that a healthy church looked like?

Characteristics of a Healthy Church • Unified & At Peace – vertical and horizontal • Missional – carries the gospel to the world • Charitable – cares for the needy and sick and supports the kingdom mission • Worshipful – responds to God as one worthy of praise • Encourages Transformational Living - ?

Transformational Church "Transformational churches make disciples whose lives are being transformed by the gospel, so that people engage the culture around them for its ultimate transformation. Deeply committed to the essential foundations of discipleship (worship, community, and mission), transformational churches practice their faith and make disciples through vibrant leadership, prayerful dependence upon God, and relational intentionality. And they do so paying mind to their unique context and with a missionary mindset."

Success • Scorecard 1 • Bodies • Budget • Buildings • Scorecard 2 • Accountability • Discipleship • Spiritual Maturity • How do we measure a “successful” church?

Success The long term “success” of our church will be determined by the effectiveness of our discipleship

A New Scorecard

Our Approach • 7 Part Transformational Church Study – based on a Lifeway sponsored research project and book Transformational Church • Use information learned to devise a strategy for our church &/or target age group

Next Week The Transformational Church – Part 1

Announcements • This will be our location for a couple of months.

Ramp-Up • Is Transformation in the church “normal”? • Read 2 Cor. 3:18 • Too often it may be the exception vs. the rule. • The goal of a Transformational Church is to make disciples, and nothing will deter them from this task. • Too often the church has become a symbol of gathering for one another rather than scattering for the sake of others.

Transformational Church "Transformational churches make disciples whose lives are being transformed by the gospel, so that people engage the culture around them for its ultimate transformation. Deeply committed to the essential foundations of discipleship (worship, community, and mission), transformational churches practice their faith and make disciples through vibrant leadership, prayerful dependence upon God, and relational intentionality. And they do so paying mind to their unique context and with a missionary mindset."

From Ancient to Modern Times • A small group of Jews were returning to Jerusalem after being held captive in Assyria and then Babylon for 70 years. • As they crested the last hill and laid eyes on the ruins of the temple which once was the very place where God dwelt, they needed a new vision for the future. • God has a plan for our future!

Renewal Principles • Transformation begins with God • The purity of gold and the emanating light represent God the Father. • The lampstand reveals oil flowing to 7 (biblical number for completeness) different lights. • Oil is symbolic of God the Holy Spirit • Where did the vision come from? • Principle: There can be no renewal, revival, or rebuilding without a vision for and an experience of the all-consuming, all-illuminating presence of God.

Renewal Principles • To Zerub. “Not by strength or might . . . but by my spirit” v6 • The work can only be done by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts • Leaders must leave their willpower behind (huh?) • The work of a TC is not about us and/or our abilities. • We must (re)learn to rely more on God’s empowered mission than the personal preferences of the congregation. • When God’s people are willing to face the stark reality that their will power brings no hope, they are in a proper position to be empowered by God. • Principle: God is present and ready to do a great work in the life of His people

Renewal Principles • “the mountain ... will become level ground” v7 • TCs press on in faith, crazily trusting that when God said a mustard seed faith could move mountains, He meant it. • TCs believe in God more than they worry about mountains. It’s not denial of the mountain. God will remove and replace them with His presence • TCs celebrate past “mountain removals” but focus on getting through the “mountains” of today or tomorrow. • Principle: God is bigger and more powerful than any obstacle or challenge.

Renewal Principles • God directed Zerub. to rebuild the temple by divine power which was granted to him. • As church leaders of today, God is just as present with you. You are not building a physical temple, but you do have a divine mission. • TCs are moving beyond “programs” and into His harvest fields. When God directs the work, people take notice. • Principle: When God rebuilds His “house”, people will know undeniably that it is the work of God.

Principle Review • There can be no renewal, revival, or rebuilding without a vision for and an experience of the all-consuming, all-illuminating presence of God. • God is present and ready to do a great work in the life of His people • God is bigger and more powerful than any obstacle or challenge • When God rebuilds His “house”, people will know undeniably that it is the work of God.

Next Week The Transformational Loop

Announcements • ?

Ramp-Up • Week 1 – Intro • Characteristics of a healthy church • Definition of a Transformational Church • Value of assessments (i.e. “scorecards”) • Week 2 - Hope for Transformation • Inspiration to persevere against great odds; i.e. the story of Zerubbabel and the Israelites from Zechariah 4 • Week 3 – Change the Scorecard

Change the Scorecard • A house of any kind, physical or spiritual, begins with a dream and then requires a blueprint. • The “blueprint” suggested in this study is the Transformational Loop • Measurements are important but some are more important than others • One of the most important measurements is ensuring that men and women are being changed by the power of the gospel.

Discern Embrace Engage

TC Churches • Actively seek to understand their community • Move from number crunching to spiritual discernment; i.e. discerning your context • Moves believer from observation to action • Moves to an external focus; i.e. missions as a way of life. • Element: Missionary Mentality Discern

TC Churches • Exhibit vibrant as opposed to positional leadership • Move believers into places of effective leadership for the mission • Helps Christians deliberately connect with one another • Need to connect with God in prayer was evident and motivated by mission rather than selfish need • Elements: Leadership, Prayer, Relational Intentionality Embrace

TC Churches • When people arrive for worship, they knew something great was going to happen • Create systems to put people in community with each other • Not a place with a set number of programs but places that know how to prioritize their activities Engage

“Loop” Principles • There is no one starting point to enter • The Loop appears as a continuous cycle without a starting point • All three categories and all seven elements are necessary parts for a church to engage in transformational ministry. • One must allow the elements to flow together; i.e. common convergence of elements

Next Week Missionary Mentality

Ramp-Up To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, that I may become a partner in its benefits. (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)

Ramp-Up A genuine missional impulse is a sending rather than an attractional one.

Missionary Mentality • Your ministry assignment has delivered you to a place. What does God want you to do? • A critical mindset shift toward a more missionary mentality is from the idea that people have stories to people are stories. • Sadly, Christian leaders are often more in love with they way they do church than they are in love with people in the community.

Missionary Mentality • TCs are characterized by a missionary mentality: • They know their context • They know their community • They know the stories of people in their community • So they are able to clearly present the claims and power of Jesus to their community

Are We Really “Missional” • Some people have only discovered personal dimensions of missions • There has been a shift from global evangelization (“missions”) to societal transformation (“mission”). • Many are focused on being good news rather than telling good news. • Many lose the context of the church’s global mission and needed global presence

God’s Mission ? The Great Commission provides the whatof mission while the Great Commandment provides the how.

Next Week Vibrant Leadership

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