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Elements Essential To Revitalization Bruce Raley Director Church Education Ministry. Our Lord’s Final Command
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Elements Essential To Revitalization Bruce Raley Director Church Education Ministry
Our Lord’s Final Command And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20
BASIC ASSUMPTION All churches can be more effective in carrying out their Kingdom work…improving a Kingdom focus.
QUESTION ? What do you think God wants to do in every church?
People Reached For Christ People Matured In Christ Commonalities…and Distinct Differences
NUMERICAL GROWTH: The lost being saved SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION: The saved becoming more like Christ MINISTRY EXPANSION: The saved being involved in ministry KINGDOM ADVANCE: The saved being involved in missions
What prevents your church from doing what it should and experiencing what God wants to do? What we should do What God wants to do
An effective disciple-making process ALWAYS begins with the leadership.
Paul’s Example 1 Corinthians 4:16 1 Corinthians 11:1 Ephesians 5:1 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
Disciple-making guides people to be transformed into Christlikeness so they think and act like Christ.
God’s Plumb Line Amos 7:8 A B
TRENDS Impacting the Disciple-making Ministry of the Church
Moving from a scorecard of simply bodies, budgets and buildings to also including intangible measurements. Society has moved past a “post-Christian” culture to a “pre-Christian” culture. Transition of paradigms: Believe – Behave – Belongto Belong – Believe – Behave
Society is no longer a melting pot, but now mosaic. Growing demand for processin discipleship. Church leaders are trying to define “familyministry”. There is a shift from ministry at church to ministry at home. Shift in moving from grouptraining to individual or within small groups of people.
Offensive vs Defensive Discipleship
What is discipleship? Discipleship is not information. Discipleship is not behavior modification. Discipleship is transformation.
True discipleship always goes after the heart – not behavior.
Realities Discipleship takes places best in the context of relationships. Relationships develop within smaller groups. A group is composed of two or more individuals.
Bruce Raley Lost & Me Other Christians & Me My Family & Me Worship God & Me Daily in the Word Open Group Closed Group Marriage Parenting On-going Group Short-term Group One-on-One (Mentoring, Coaching Church Group Ministry Discipleship
8 Attributes of Discipleship • Bible Engagement • Obeying God and Denying Self • Serving God and Others • Sharing Christ • Exercising Faith • Seeking God • Building Relationships • Unashamed
Transformational Sweet Spot Truth • Gospel • Identity • Discipline
Transformational Sweet Spot Posture • Weakness • Interdependence • Outward Focus
Transformational Sweet Spot Leaders • Indispensible quality • Godly leaders applying truth
Realities The Word of God is the focal point of life transformational groups
Realities Barriers must be overcome Time and location no longer define groups Need for Sunday and weekday groups
Realities Catalysts are essential for the creation of new groups New groups are created proactively
Realities Organization attendance will increase approximately 10 for every new adult groups properly started.
What are the possibilities of uniting in a vision to Grow through Groups? • More people accepting Christ and being baptized • More people maturing in Christ • More people engaged in ministry • More people giving to kingdom causes
A dream fulfilled… Every church begins at least one new Sunday School class each year … one group for every hundred people in attendance.
Necessity of Leadership And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. - 2 Timothy 2:2 (HCSB)