Joining His Harvest the “Phases” of a Local Assembly Part 1
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I Cor. 2:1-2 1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (You must be born again!)
THE MAIN THING IS TO MAKE THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING!
As Christ’s church, is there “one” main thing, or a combination of things that together are the “MAIN THING”?? This combination is listed in Matt. 28:18-20
What is an apple, why do apple trees make them? Healthy organisms reproduce.
How can a local assembly become pregnant? What is a “Phase 3” church?
Luke 10:1-3 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. (Spiritual Army)
4 very important truths 1 very important command
I Pet. 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (A Command given to all believers??)
Do you believe that somewhere today, close by, someone is crying out, maybe for the first time, “God If you’re there please help me!”? Show of hands??
Will the Lord Jesus hear that cry? (Who do you think the broken woman at the well was in John 4?)
Does Jesus maybe want to send you?
Have you prepared yourself and been trained, so He can send you?
Let’s get trained and free up some time so He can send us. I Cor. 9:22 (became)?
MATT. 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, ''All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age."
What is the “main thing” in a “Phase 1” church shown above?
1) Becoming “Fishers of Men” (An apple tree trying to plant a new apple tree)
2) Caring for a small strong church family.
Sharing Christ in a young, healthy “Phase 1” church often has a very well- trained “Spiritual Army.” Lots of conversion growth!
Very well-trained “Spiritual Army,” trained to do what??
Four Levels of outreach training competency. Actions done intentionally by individuals during all events and activities.
1) Praying, acts of love, personal testimony, invite
2) Praying, acts of love, personal testimony, witnessing, invite
3) Praying, acts of love, personal testimony, witnessing, discipleship, invite
4) Praying, acts of love, personal testimony, witnessing, discipleship, win their friends to Christ, invite
Over 14,000 people were asked the question: "What or who was responsible for you coming to Christ?" Eight possible responses were offered. Which was the most “successful?” Here are the results.
Special Need 1-2% ///
Walk-in 2-3% /// Pastor 5-6% /// Visitation 1-2%
Sunday School 4-5% /// Evangelistic Crusade 1/2 of 1% /// Church Program
2-3%
Friend/Relative 75-90% Is this one also the most cost-effective?
What is the “main thing” in a “Phase 2” church shown above?
1) To continue being “Fishers of Men” (Hard Army work)
2) Repairing the lives of the broken people who just got saved (“Spiritual Hospital”)
3) Meeting the needs of the congregation, which is growing in number and is more diverse. (“Spiritual Family”)
What is the “main thing” in a “Phase 3” church shown above?
1) To continue being “Fishers of Men” (“Spiritual Army”)
2) Repairing the lives of the broken people who just got saved (“Spiritual Hospital”)
3) Meeting the needs of the congregation, which is growing in number and is more diverse. (“Spiritual Family”)
4) Taking care of the physical building, where most of the ministry now starts to take place. But should it?
5) Training some of the transfer growth people to form a larger Army. (Harder than it sounds)
6) Intentional leadership training.
A “Phase 3” church will often outgrow its building. Now, with surplus leaders, resources, and man power, it is now pregnant! It made an apple.
When people at the local church are only trained to Level 1 competency, most all conversion growth will come from Front Door Conversion through events at church and led by leadership. For Side Door conversion, a church needs a number of members who are trained & competent at Level 3.
What is the sad reality of the “watered down main thing” in a “Phase 4” church?
1) “Fishers of Men” (“Spiritual Army”) becoming rare, now is a small priority.
2) Repairing the lives of the broken people (“Spiritual Hospital”)--not much is needed.
3) Meeting the needs of the shrinking congregation. Typically they are older, declining, and have less energy. (“Spiritual Family”)
4) Taking care of the physical building, is now the large, main focus.
A “Phase 4” is at high risk of closing for within 20 years or less.
With Christ’s help and hard work a “Phase 4” church, can be revived maybe.
Next week we will look at how to resist becoming a “Phase 4” assembly.
Joining His Harvest the “Phases” of a Local Assembly Part 2
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It takes prayer and deliberate planning to maintain “Spiritual Army” work. (HOLD THE LINE)
What is the “main thing” in a “Phase 3” church shown above?
1) To continue being “Fishers of Men” (“Spiritual Army”)
2) Repairing the lives of the broken people who just got saved (“Spiritual Hospital”)
3) Meeting the needs of the congregation, which is growing in number and is more diverse. (“Spiritual Family”)
4) Taking care of the physical building, where most of the ministry now starts to take place. But should it?
5) Training some of the transfer growth people to form a larger Army. (Harder than it sounds)
6) Intentional leadership training.
What is Christ’s calling and function for your church at this time?
Let’s get the totals written down. Who will write down the totals??
How many called to Spiritual Army work?___ How many of you are Level 4 trained? ___Level 3 trained?___ Who will be the main Army trainer?___
How many called to Spiritual Hospital work?___ How many of you have training and tools to use?___ Who will be the main hospital trainer?___
How many called to meeting spiritual needs of the church family?___
How many are called to meet the physical needs of the building and people?___
How many are called to intentional leadership training?___
There is always overlap and it changes based on your training and changes with the seasons of your personal life. What do these total say about your local assembly?
Why people show up (motives) and their 4 needs/expectations
1) a benefit 2) feel safe 3) make friends 4) they can contribute
Could a “Level 3” assembly do all five types of events? Did the early Church??
Maintaining a “Phase 3” Local Assembly
1) Recruit, train, and do spiritual army work
2) Recruit, train, and do spiritual hospital work
3) Care for the spiritual needs of the church family
4) Care for the physical needs of the building and the church family
5) Training some of the transfer growth people into a larger Army.
6) Intentional leadership training 2 Tim. 2:2
THE MAIN THING IS TO MAKE THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING!
So let’s look at an overview of these activities
1) Recruit, train, and do spiritual army work
Matt. 4:19 19 Then He said to them, "(1)Follow Me, and I will (2)make you fishers of men."
II Tim. 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
How do we start our Army work?? What is “Ambassador Prayer Evangelism?”
Pray, Care, Share, Ambassadors Prayer Houses. The only requirement is a passionate commitment to a threefold mission—pray for, care for, and share with the people who attend any of these events.
Pray like this: God's protection and blessing for their family, for the evil forces
around them to be restrained, for God to show them their need for Him, safety at home, at work, and while driving. Pray that they will turn to God for His help with their struggles. Pray that your heart will be turned towards them and so that you will have the love of Christ for them. Pray for a natural opportunity to meet them. Pray that by observation you'll be shown what to specifically pray and what acts of love you could do for them.
By phone call or by face to face:
1) I KNOW YOU BRING THE KIDS TO CAMP, DID YOU HAVE A CAMP OR CHURCH INVOLVEMENT WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER?
2) NOW THAT YOU ARE AN ADULT WHAT KIND OF SPIRITUAL BELIEFS DO YOU HAVE NOW?
3) WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?
4) DO YOU THINK THERE IS A HEAVEN AND A HELL?
5) IF YOU DIED RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? WHY?
6) IF THE LORD WANTED TO SHOW YOU MORE ABOUT HIMSELF AND HE KNEW THAT PART OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT HIM WERE NOT TRUE, WOULD YOU WANT HIM TO REVEAL IT TO YOU OR JUST LEAVE YOU ALONE?
7) I HAVE FOUND SOME BIBLE VERSES THAT REALLY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND GOD BETTER. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WHAT THOSE VERSES SAY?
Develop as many Level 4 competency “Spiritual Army” members as God brings!
THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS
THE ROMAN ROAD
THE WORDLESS BOOK
2) Recruit, train, and do spiritual hospital work
By definition a Discipler implies 2 things: 1) The Discipler has been discipled themselves. 2) They are now available to Christ to enter into a one-on-one relationship with a new believer (of the same sex) in order to guide the new believer into a basic, growing walk with Christ.
II Tim. 2:2-7 / Matt. 28:19-20 / Luke 14:26 / Tithe your time to God???
I Do-You watch me / I Do - You Help me / You Do – I help You / You Do – Someone new watches You!
Hospital Training Tools
1) The Basic Eight
2) Introduction to The Biblical Counseling Database
3) Will life make you better? Or will it make you bitter? (teaching)
Each of these 8 things can be studied in a small group to gain a fuller understanding.
JESUS THE GREAT SHEPHERD SAYS TO YOU:
1) YOU ARE MY SHEEP, BUT OTHERS ARE MISSING. PLEASE GO OUT AND HELP FIND THEM. (SHARING JESUS) Matt. 9:36-38 When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, ''The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest."
2) YOU ARE MY SHEEP, PLEASE HELP MY NEW LAMBS SHOW OTHERS THAT THEY ARE NOW MINE. (BAPTISM) MATT. 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, ''All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age."
3) YOU ARE MY SHEEP, PLEASE TAKE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT ME, TO LEARN MY WAYS, AND TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING. (BIBLE USE) 2 TIM 2:15 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth
4) YOU ARE MY SHEEP, PLEASE ENJOY BEING WITH EACH OTHER AS YOU ACCOMPLISH MY WILL ON EARTH. (FELLOWSHIP) Acts 2:42 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
5) YOU ARE MY SHEEP, PLEASE REMEMBER THE GREAT PRICE I'VE PAID TO MAKE YOU MY OWN. (COMMUNION) LK. 22:14-20 14 When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. 15 And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 17 After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, "take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you."
6) YOU ARE MY SHEEP, PLEASE TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT IS ON YOUR MIND AND IN YOUR HEART. (PRAYER) Phil. 4:6&7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7) YOU ARE MY SHEEP, PLEASE TAKE SOME OF WHAT I HAVE BLESSED YOU WITH TO HELP A SHEEP WHO IS IN NEED. (GIVING) 2 Corinthians 9:6 My point is this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 9:7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
8) YOU ARE MY SHEEP, PLEASE GATHER AROUND ME AND I WILL CAUSE YOU TO REJOICE IN MY PRESENCE AND EXPERIENCE MY PLEASURE. (WORSHIP) ROM. 12:1-2 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship.
"I Love you Lord Jesus, so I will do these things for you and your glory!
Will life make you better? Or will it make you bitter
● God's will for our experiences is to make us better and more mature. If we react poorly to the things that happen to us, instead of being better we will end up bitter, angry, and alone. We have all met people who we would describe as having lost hope. These people are experiencing burnout. We find that this happens slowly over a period of time, and possibly through one or more significant events in their past. They have not learned how (with Christ help) to work through these past events. Often we see 3 things that dominate their thinking:
1 They don't try anymore because they don't believe in themselves
2 They won't reach out to others because they don’t trust others
3They expect everything to just get worse because they feel that God and others are just out to get them
3) Care for the spiritual and physical needs of the church family
4) Taking care of the physical building where most of the ministry now starts to take place.
5) Training some of the transfer growth people into a larger Army.
6) Ongoing, intentional leadership training
Training to become the spiritual high priest of your home
Able to counsel from the truth found in scriptures (teaching elder)
THE SEVEN LAWS OF TEACHING by John Milton Gregory(pdf)
2Tim. 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
1) applied to your life. 2) know it well enough to teach it 3) finding and teach new faithful men
This diagram shows the process that each local church could consider doing at least every two years:
1) Christ’s mandates from the Holy Bible never change. We as His people must often remind ourselves and recommit ourselves to the joyful privilege and duty of performing them.
2) The community around each local church does change rapidly. Each local church must therefore keep careful watch because the local community is the harvest field. A good harvester works the field as the conditions require.
3) The resources of that local church change as God works in the hearts and minds of people. Christ gives gifts. Christ will build His church and empower His people to: 1) Meet the needs of the harvest 2) Care for His sheep in that fold.
4) Christ’s master plan for each local church is unique. As each body of leaders from each local church bring together these three elements, a fresh vision and plan for his church will emerge. All four gospels were divinely inspired, but each is different. Through the power of God’s Holy Spirit He is able to direct each of His local churches to the next step in His plan for them.
Tithe your time to Christ, He will equip you to do His calling!!
Study the Bible by looking for these things in each verse:
Positive commands
Negative commands What do we do with commands?
Significant facts What do we do with significant facts?
Promises What do we do with promises?
Conditional Promises What do we do with conditional promises?
Continued thought or new thought Why is this important?
What do you thirst for?
Bond Servant of Jesus Christ Daily Prayer
