Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age (Notes taken from Ed Stetzer’s book)

1. Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age (Notes taken from Ed Stetzer’s book) U.S. Culture & Church Planting

2. Broad Cultural Groups – U.S. • Modern Era (Age of Reason – 1950) • Builders (50 million) • Transition Era (Starting around 1950) • Boomers (70 million) • Postmodern Era (1965 to Present) • Busters (30 million) • Millennials (70 million) • Babies (10 Million)

3. Broad Cultural Groups – U.S. • Builders (Modern Era) • Self-sufficient • Individualistic • Personal responsibility

4. Broad Cultural Groups – U.S. • Boomers (Transition Era) • First generation raised with absentee fathers • First generation that grandparents had no significant impact on their lives • Most educated generation in history • Raised with extreme affluence & opportunities • Less purchasing power than parents at each stage of adulthood • Raised under the threat of nuclear war • First generation with television as a significant parenting tool

5. Broad Cultural Groups – U.S. • Boomers & their church • Open to spiritual experiences • Bible studies emphasizes practical living • Place a healthy emphasis on relationships • Have fewer titles and less formality • Understand the new family in America • Share their faith by what they say and do • Recognize the ability of women • Place emphasis on worship • High tolerance for diversity • Action oriented

6. Broad Cultural Groups – U.S. • Postmoderns • Denial of personal objectivity • Uncertainty of knowledge • Death of any all-inclusive explanation • Denial of the inherent goodness of knowledge • Rejection of progress • Supremacy of community-based knowledge • Disbelief in objective inquiry

7. Broad Cultural Groups – U.S. • Modernism • Naturalism – reality consists of what is observed • Humanism – humanity is the pinnacle of the universe • Scientific Method – right method brings explains reality • Reductionism – humanity the highest developed animal • Progress – enough knowledge will continue progress • Nature – evolution, not creator, the source of life • Certainty – knowledge is objective • Determinism – events happen because of fixed causes • Individualism – supremacy of the individual • Anti-authoritarianism – people are not under constraints

8. Planting Churches - Postmoderns • Ten most frequent traits to plant a church • Being transparently spiritual • Striving for an incarnational ministry • Service oriented • Allowing for experiential praise in worship • Preaching narrative expository messages • Valuing and participating in ancient patterns • Worship with visual • Technological utilized • Community atmosphere • Transparent team leadership

9. Planting Churches - Postmoderns • Representative culture • Prefer decisions made on their behalf • Leadership is to provide guidance & regulation • Work for reward • People cannot be trusted with personal freedom in service to society • Participatory culture - postmodern • Have multiple choices and make their own • Leadership is empowering others to lead • People make sacrifices for the good of whole • People can be trusted to use their resources wisely Postmodern Pilgrims by Len Sweet

10. Engel Scale Spiritual Decision Process Model -8 Awareness of a supreme being only Initial awareness of the gospel Awareness of gospel fundamentals Grasp of implications of the gospel Positive attitude toward the gospel Personal problem recognition Decision to act Repentance & faith in Christ -7 -6 -5 -4 rejection Make Disciples -3 -2 -1 The person is regenerated & becomes a new creature +1 Post-decision evaluation Incorporation into the Body Lifetime of growth in Christ +2 +3 Nurture ETERNITY Source: Spectrum, Winter, p. 5

11. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Gray Metrix – Desire for people to move toward “C”

12. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Planting Churches - Postmoderns

13. Planting Churches - Postmoderns • Stetzer’s Suggested Evangelistic Methods • Meeting and engaging unchurched people • Relationship building • Marketplace farming (intentional routines) • Prospect cards (keeping track of contacts) • Existing relationships • Three-minute rule • Every-Sunday registration • Welcome cards • Guest follow-up • Door-to-door survey through mission teams

14. Planting Churches - Postmoderns • Initiate church plant with core group • Members from sponsoring church • Recruit temporary people from other churches • Leadership from other nearby churches • Recruit people who want to plant new churches

15. Planting Churches - Postmoderns

16. Planting Churches - Postmoderns American’s Spiritual Needs – Gallup Poll • 70% of Americans say the church is not meeting their needs – they desire to: • Believe life is meaningful and has purpose • Have a sense of community and deeper relationships • Be appreciated and respected • Be listened to and heard • Grow in faith • Receive practical help in developing a mature faith From Dale Galloway, The Small Group Book

17. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Effective Elements for New Church Plant • Small Group • Worship • Prayer • Bible Study • Discussion oriented, not lecture • Prepare leading questions • Stay focused • Avoid sidetracks • Use the same Bible text • Make the point • Formulate questions carefully • Use the power of silence • Draw the conclusion • Fellowship

18. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Effective Elements for New Church Plant

19. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Effective Elements for New Church Plant

20. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Effective Elements for New Church Plant

21. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Effective Elements for New Church Plant

22. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Effective Elements for New Church Plant Worship style should be biblical and fit the culture

23. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Effective Elements for New Church Plant • Reasons for sponsoring a daughter church • Evangelize the unchurched • Develop new leaders • Grow the kingdom • Transmit a lasting legacy • Meet ethnic and language group needs • Glorify God

24. Planting Churches - Postmoderns Effective Elements for New Church Plant • Planting a Daughter Church • Select a mission committee • Select a target area • Select a sponsoring church • Cultivate the target area • Start home Bible studies • Begin a mission chapel (public worship) • Plan the finances • Secure the facilities • Constitute the church