VII. Effective Evangelism.
A. The biblical basis for effective evangelism is seen in Acts 2:47 (ESV) “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
B. All the numbers showing quantitative growth that we see in Acts and in the beginning of this study.
C. Effective evangelism is:
1. Spontaneous
2. Structured in the church to help the believers win people to the Lord.
3. Worship is “doxological evangelism.” (see Tim Keller’s understanding of Edmond Clowney’s view of evangelistic worship in Keller 2002, p. 218.
4. Relevant to the context of the local church taking into account both the culture around and the particular context where the church lives and ministers.
5. Is a part of almost everything the church does.
6. Not something that happens at set occasions but keeps on happening.
7. Followed by baptism and assimilation into the church life where believers continue to evangelize their friends.
NOW EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 TO WHAT DEGREE EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM IS TAKING PLACE IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
Keller, Timothy J. 2002. “Reformed Worship in the Global City” chapter 4 in Worship by the Book, D. A. Carson, editor. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sixth Quality of a Healthy Reproducing Church
Sixth Quality -- Effective Small Groups.
A. The biblical basis for small groups.
1. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, Acts 2:46 (ESV)
2. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:42 (ESV)
B. Effective biblical small groups are:
1. Groups where people can truly relate to one another.
2. Groups where people can share their heart.
3. Groups where the Word of God is learned and applied.
4. Groups that have enjoy being together.
5. Groups that pray together.
6. Groups that multiply by giving birth to new groups.
7. Groups that seek to win others to Christ.
C. Are these types of groups growing and developing in your church?
NOW TO EVALUATE:
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
A. The biblical basis for small groups.
1. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, Acts 2:46 (ESV)
2. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:42 (ESV)
B. Effective biblical small groups are:
1. Groups where people can truly relate to one another.
2. Groups where people can share their heart.
3. Groups where the Word of God is learned and applied.
4. Groups that have enjoy being together.
5. Groups that pray together.
6. Groups that multiply by giving birth to new groups.
7. Groups that seek to win others to Christ.
C. Are these types of groups growing and developing in your church?
NOW TO EVALUATE:
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SMALL GROUPS IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Fifth Quality of a Healthy Reproducing Church
V. Biblically Balanced Personal and Corporate Worship.
A. John 4:23-24 (ESV) “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. [24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
B. Personal-regular worship and praise alone with God.
C. Corporate –regular worship and praise with other believers in the church.
D. Bob Logan explains that true biblical worship is both celebrative (touching the heart) and reflective (touching the mind)
E. Key questions:
1. Are the believers in the church taking time to worship God personally?
2. Is the church helping them in this?
3. Is corporate worship celebrative engaging the heart?
4. Is corporate worship reflective engaging the mind?
5. Are people learning more about God through worship?
6. Does the worship bring the believers into a greater experience with God?
7. Is the corporate worship balanced between receiving from God and responding to him?
NOW EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 TO WHAT DEGREE BALANCED WORSHIP IS TAKING PLACE IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
A. John 4:23-24 (ESV) “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. [24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
B. Personal-regular worship and praise alone with God.
C. Corporate –regular worship and praise with other believers in the church.
D. Bob Logan explains that true biblical worship is both celebrative (touching the heart) and reflective (touching the mind)
E. Key questions:
1. Are the believers in the church taking time to worship God personally?
2. Is the church helping them in this?
3. Is corporate worship celebrative engaging the heart?
4. Is corporate worship reflective engaging the mind?
5. Are people learning more about God through worship?
6. Does the worship bring the believers into a greater experience with God?
7. Is the corporate worship balanced between receiving from God and responding to him?
NOW EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 TO WHAT DEGREE BALANCED WORSHIP IS TAKING PLACE IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
Friday, October 22, 2010
Fourth Quality of a Healthy Reproducing Church
Spiritual Gifting Valued.
A. Biblical basis for this characteristic.
1. “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)
2. “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” 1 Cor. 12:14-20 (ESV)
B. Questions in relation to spiritual gifts:
1. Do the members of the church know about spiritual gifts?
2. Do the members of the church know what their spiritual gifts are?
3. Have they done a survey to begin to get an idea of their gifts?
4. Has there been input from others so as to determine what their gifting might be?
5. Does ministry in the church fit spiritual gifting or is it a “fill in the gaps” approach?
6. Do people find joy in their ministry in the church or outside in relation to the church?
NOW EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE TO WHAT DEGREE SPIRITUAL GIFTING DETERMINES MINISTRY IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
A. Biblical basis for this characteristic.
1. “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)
2. “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” 1 Cor. 12:14-20 (ESV)
B. Questions in relation to spiritual gifts:
1. Do the members of the church know about spiritual gifts?
2. Do the members of the church know what their spiritual gifts are?
3. Have they done a survey to begin to get an idea of their gifts?
4. Has there been input from others so as to determine what their gifting might be?
5. Does ministry in the church fit spiritual gifting or is it a “fill in the gaps” approach?
6. Do people find joy in their ministry in the church or outside in relation to the church?
NOW EVALUATE ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE TO WHAT DEGREE SPIRITUAL GIFTING DETERMINES MINISTRY IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
Friday, October 15, 2010
Third Quality: Leadership Development
III. Leadership Development.
A. Biblical basis for this characteristic.
1. “And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” Mark 3:13-15 (ESV)
2. “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” Ephes. 4:11-12 (ESV)
B. Bill Hull says: “The goal of many individual churches is to transform a congregation of spectators being led by a minister into an army of ministers being led by a pastor.” (Hull 1990, 154)
EVALUATION QUESTIONS:
1. Are followers becoming leaders?
2. What is happening to move people from “come and follow” phase to the “come and be with me phase?”
3. Are people being helped to develop in the area of their spiritual gifting(s)?
4. Are people working in the area of their spiritual gifting(s)?
5. Are there levels of leadership training?
6. How long does it take a person to move from being a part of the church to moving into leading in some way or other?
NOW TO EVALUATE
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
A. Biblical basis for this characteristic.
1. “And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” Mark 3:13-15 (ESV)
2. “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” Ephes. 4:11-12 (ESV)
B. Bill Hull says: “The goal of many individual churches is to transform a congregation of spectators being led by a minister into an army of ministers being led by a pastor.” (Hull 1990, 154)
EVALUATION QUESTIONS:
1. Are followers becoming leaders?
2. What is happening to move people from “come and follow” phase to the “come and be with me phase?”
3. Are people being helped to develop in the area of their spiritual gifting(s)?
4. Are people working in the area of their spiritual gifting(s)?
5. Are there levels of leadership training?
6. How long does it take a person to move from being a part of the church to moving into leading in some way or other?
NOW TO EVALUATE
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
Friday, September 17, 2010
Second Quality of a Healthy Church - True Discipleship
II. True Discipleship.
A. Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ "
B. John 15:8 (ESV) “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
C. True discipleship illustrated: Acts 2:42 (ESV) “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
D. This includes the following:
1. The Word of God.
2. True communion with other believers.
3. Meaningful worship.
4. Prayer.
5. Witnessing
6. Spiritual disciplines.
NOW TO EVALUATE
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE TRUE DISCIPLESHIP IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
A. Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ "
B. John 15:8 (ESV) “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
C. True discipleship illustrated: Acts 2:42 (ESV) “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
D. This includes the following:
1. The Word of God.
2. True communion with other believers.
3. Meaningful worship.
4. Prayer.
5. Witnessing
6. Spiritual disciplines.
NOW TO EVALUATE
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE TRUE DISCIPLESHIP IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
Saturday, September 4, 2010
10 QUALITIES OF A HEALTHY REPRODUCING CHURCH
TEN QUALITIES OF A HEALTHY REPRODUCING CHURCH
I. The Priority of the Word of God in General and the Gospel in Particular.A. This means that the Word of God is the touchstone and foundation for all that is done in the church and its ministries.
B. The doctrine of the church is the Word of God.
C. A healthy church majors on the following:
1. Faith preaching and teaching of the Word of God—especially expository preaching. (Dever 2004, 35-55)
2. Growth in the knowledge of the Word of God.
3. Concern for application of the Word of God to each life and the life of the church body.
4. Discernment of all that is done and taught by the Word of God.
D. The Gospel is very important in particular (Dever 2004, 76-95)
1. Is the Gospel regularly proclaimed in its fullness? I Cor 15:1-4
2. Are people living lives consistent with the Gospel. Galatians 2:14
TIME TO DISCUSS AND EVALUATE
1. To what degree is the Word of God the priority in your church?
2. Are people growing the Word of God?
3. Can you see examples and illustrations of this in the church?
4. What change can be seen in lives by the Word of God at work?
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” 1 Thess. 2:13 (ESV)
5. Is the Gospel the primary force in the life and ministry of the church?
6. Here is the time to work through this.
A. What will we keep on doing?
B. What will we do away with?
C. What will we emphasize more?
D. What will we add?
NOW TO EVALUATE
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE PRIORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
I. The Priority of the Word of God in General and the Gospel in Particular.A. This means that the Word of God is the touchstone and foundation for all that is done in the church and its ministries.
B. The doctrine of the church is the Word of God.
C. A healthy church majors on the following:
1. Faith preaching and teaching of the Word of God—especially expository preaching. (Dever 2004, 35-55)
2. Growth in the knowledge of the Word of God.
3. Concern for application of the Word of God to each life and the life of the church body.
4. Discernment of all that is done and taught by the Word of God.
D. The Gospel is very important in particular (Dever 2004, 76-95)
1. Is the Gospel regularly proclaimed in its fullness? I Cor 15:1-4
2. Are people living lives consistent with the Gospel. Galatians 2:14
TIME TO DISCUSS AND EVALUATE
1. To what degree is the Word of God the priority in your church?
2. Are people growing the Word of God?
3. Can you see examples and illustrations of this in the church?
4. What change can be seen in lives by the Word of God at work?
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” 1 Thess. 2:13 (ESV)
5. Is the Gospel the primary force in the life and ministry of the church?
6. Here is the time to work through this.
A. What will we keep on doing?
B. What will we do away with?
C. What will we emphasize more?
D. What will we add?
NOW TO EVALUATE
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 EVALUATE THE PRIORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR CHURCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0
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