THE METHOD OF THE CHURCH
We people have certain absolutes in our lives. For instance, we need food and water to exist. If we have no food or water we die - that is an absolute.
My wife and I have had the opportunity to travel to many lands. What they eat truly is different, and the instruments they eat with differ. Some eat with hands, some with chopsticks, some with knives and forks, but they hold them differently. Now how we eat, or when we eat, or what we eat varies from person to person - so our forms or methods differ. But we all eat! In fact, I am convinced that the 11th commandment is that where two or more Christians are gathered, there will be food to eat.
What is it that the church uses for its principles or absolutes? The Bible, the Word of God. But how we implement these principles and absolutes will vary from church to church. So our forms or methods probably differ from church to church. But to be effective in today's society, we must look to new methods to bring the Gospel to the lost.
As Christians, we must realize that the United States is a heathen nation. One of the latest statistics I've read was that only 4% of young people are going to church. Note that I said going to church, I did not say they were Christian. If this trend continues, things will only get worse in the United States.
Therefore, as Christian leaders, we must develop a missionary mind-set for our churches and ministries.
What do missionaries do?
1. They remove cultural barriers to the Gospel
2. They build cultural bridges to the Gospel. They make the Gospel relevant to people's lives.
3. They consider that the most important culture to know is their local culture because that is where they live.
4. They must learn the language and customs of their local people: what issues are important to them and how these issues affect their lives.
5. A missionary must learn to be flexible. They must know their core values. If a particular point of doctrine is not worth dying for, then it is probably something the missionary can be flexible on.
One mistake that churches make is to try to duplicate another successful church in their community. As Joyce Myers recently stated, "God will make you all that you are supposed to be, but He will not help you be someone else."
For example, Bill Hybel has a wonderful church in the Chicago area. We had a pastor that lived in our small rural town come back and try to duplicate Bill Hybel's church. The problem was that the culture was different: there were no upper-middle-class people to reach out to. We can use the same Biblical principles that Bill Hybel uses, but applied to our culture.
God has called you and your church to reach and disciple certain people in your community. You are the ones whom these people will relate to. They are drawn by the Holy Spirit to you for guidance. As you and your people are faithful to minister to a few, then God will give you more.
The problem that most churches have is that they get fixated on their method of ministry. If you are ministering the same way you ministered 20, 10 and even five years ago, then you are not relevant to the present culture. Note: I am not saying to water down the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is as relevant today as it has always been, but we must find new ways to communicate it to each new generation.
I remember once ministering in a church in which the average age was over 60. We were holding a men's luncheon, and I had a team member sing a song. He sang a traditional hymn with an upbeat rhythm. One of the local churchmen said he did not like the way it was sung. That brought up a discussion on church music.
I asked the man who objected whether he would be willing to have different music in his church if it meant that younger people would come in, and that some of them might be saved. He told me he would pray about and let me know the next day.
The next day he stopped me in church and said, "I prayed about it. I guess new music would be OK, but I sure would not like it." If your church has that mind-set, it will not grow. If you are only trying to satisfy the people presently attending your church, you are already a declining church. All our church activities should be aimed at reaching the lost for Jesus Christ.
The question is what new methods you are using to minister in your church and community. Are you using the internet to communicate with your people? Several years ago I was trying to reach people in California. I called ... no response. I mailed them ... no response. Finally I sent them e-mail. Plenty of response!
Do you have a website? Nowadays people do not ask for your business card; they ask for your website or your e-mail address. Many successful youth groups now have computer-game night. Yes, there are some good Christian computer games! Stay away from the it's-not-done-that-way-around-here mind-set. Look for creative ways to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
My wife and I used to own a book store. Believe me when I say that the younger generations are not reading books. They are audio- and visual-oriented in their learning. My grandson spends hours on his computer playing games, doing homework on-line. My granddaughter spends time doing her homework on-line and instant-messaging her friends. By the way, they are multi-tasking - listening to their music, doing homework and instant-messaging their friends!
Young married people are now working more hours than ever. The only time a lot of families have together is Sunday, because a lot of them work Saturdays. So if they are going to give you any of their time, it must be for something that is meaningful to them. If they are going to give you their time, they want it to make a difference for them and their community. That is, the Gospel must be relevant in their lives.
When looking at the ministry of the church, you might consider these Biblical steps for renewal.
1. Have ministries that reach the lost for Jesus Christ.
2. Have ministries that strengthen marriage in the church. Most churches are interested in ministries to the youth. Most leaders know that if they do not have ministry for the youth, then families will not stay. However, we must look to ways to strengthen our Christian marriages. Too many are ending in divorce. If you do not have strong Christian marriages, then you will not have strong Christian Families.
3. Have ministries to strengthen the family unit.
4. Have ministries that will identify your people's spiritual gifts, and then train them and release them for ministry. Most Christians are looking for revival in their communities. I would suggest that revival will come when we as leaders put more time and emphasis on getting our people ministering in the community than on getting people into our Church. It is only when we release our people for ministry and encourage them that the love of Christ will be seen in the community, and revival will come.
My wife and I have had the opportunity to travel to many lands. What they eat truly is different, and the instruments they eat with differ. Some eat with hands, some with chopsticks, some with knives and forks, but they hold them differently. Now how we eat, or when we eat, or what we eat varies from person to person - so our forms or methods differ. But we all eat! In fact, I am convinced that the 11th commandment is that where two or more Christians are gathered, there will be food to eat.
What is it that the church uses for its principles or absolutes? The Bible, the Word of God. But how we implement these principles and absolutes will vary from church to church. So our forms or methods probably differ from church to church. But to be effective in today's society, we must look to new methods to bring the Gospel to the lost.
As Christians, we must realize that the United States is a heathen nation. One of the latest statistics I've read was that only 4% of young people are going to church. Note that I said going to church, I did not say they were Christian. If this trend continues, things will only get worse in the United States.
Therefore, as Christian leaders, we must develop a missionary mind-set for our churches and ministries.
What do missionaries do?
1. They remove cultural barriers to the Gospel
2. They build cultural bridges to the Gospel. They make the Gospel relevant to people's lives.
3. They consider that the most important culture to know is their local culture because that is where they live.
4. They must learn the language and customs of their local people: what issues are important to them and how these issues affect their lives.
5. A missionary must learn to be flexible. They must know their core values. If a particular point of doctrine is not worth dying for, then it is probably something the missionary can be flexible on.
One mistake that churches make is to try to duplicate another successful church in their community. As Joyce Myers recently stated, "God will make you all that you are supposed to be, but He will not help you be someone else."
For example, Bill Hybel has a wonderful church in the Chicago area. We had a pastor that lived in our small rural town come back and try to duplicate Bill Hybel's church. The problem was that the culture was different: there were no upper-middle-class people to reach out to. We can use the same Biblical principles that Bill Hybel uses, but applied to our culture.
God has called you and your church to reach and disciple certain people in your community. You are the ones whom these people will relate to. They are drawn by the Holy Spirit to you for guidance. As you and your people are faithful to minister to a few, then God will give you more.
The problem that most churches have is that they get fixated on their method of ministry. If you are ministering the same way you ministered 20, 10 and even five years ago, then you are not relevant to the present culture. Note: I am not saying to water down the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is as relevant today as it has always been, but we must find new ways to communicate it to each new generation.
I remember once ministering in a church in which the average age was over 60. We were holding a men's luncheon, and I had a team member sing a song. He sang a traditional hymn with an upbeat rhythm. One of the local churchmen said he did not like the way it was sung. That brought up a discussion on church music.
I asked the man who objected whether he would be willing to have different music in his church if it meant that younger people would come in, and that some of them might be saved. He told me he would pray about and let me know the next day.
The next day he stopped me in church and said, "I prayed about it. I guess new music would be OK, but I sure would not like it." If your church has that mind-set, it will not grow. If you are only trying to satisfy the people presently attending your church, you are already a declining church. All our church activities should be aimed at reaching the lost for Jesus Christ.
The question is what new methods you are using to minister in your church and community. Are you using the internet to communicate with your people? Several years ago I was trying to reach people in California. I called ... no response. I mailed them ... no response. Finally I sent them e-mail. Plenty of response!
Do you have a website? Nowadays people do not ask for your business card; they ask for your website or your e-mail address. Many successful youth groups now have computer-game night. Yes, there are some good Christian computer games! Stay away from the it's-not-done-that-way-around-here mind-set. Look for creative ways to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
My wife and I used to own a book store. Believe me when I say that the younger generations are not reading books. They are audio- and visual-oriented in their learning. My grandson spends hours on his computer playing games, doing homework on-line. My granddaughter spends time doing her homework on-line and instant-messaging her friends. By the way, they are multi-tasking - listening to their music, doing homework and instant-messaging their friends!
Young married people are now working more hours than ever. The only time a lot of families have together is Sunday, because a lot of them work Saturdays. So if they are going to give you any of their time, it must be for something that is meaningful to them. If they are going to give you their time, they want it to make a difference for them and their community. That is, the Gospel must be relevant in their lives.
When looking at the ministry of the church, you might consider these Biblical steps for renewal.
1. Have ministries that reach the lost for Jesus Christ.
2. Have ministries that strengthen marriage in the church. Most churches are interested in ministries to the youth. Most leaders know that if they do not have ministry for the youth, then families will not stay. However, we must look to ways to strengthen our Christian marriages. Too many are ending in divorce. If you do not have strong Christian marriages, then you will not have strong Christian Families.
3. Have ministries to strengthen the family unit.
4. Have ministries that will identify your people's spiritual gifts, and then train them and release them for ministry. Most Christians are looking for revival in their communities. I would suggest that revival will come when we as leaders put more time and emphasis on getting our people ministering in the community than on getting people into our Church. It is only when we release our people for ministry and encourage them that the love of Christ will be seen in the community, and revival will come.
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