REGIONALOUTREACH

CONFERENCE

Nashville, TNSeptember 7, 2013

Jesus is the only Door to salvation (John 10:9)

There are many doors to the community

The Church must get out of the building!

OPENING DOORS

HOW DO WE REACH THEM?

DON’T BE THIS GUY!

No Lone Rangers in the Church!! No Silver

Bullets for Outreach!!No return to

the Golden Days of Yesteryear!!

BUILDING BRIDGESTO YOUR COMMUNITY

Bridging to the CommunityWhen Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come

down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I haveCheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”

Luke 19:5-9

The Gospel is communicated best through…

REALITY CHECK1. What kind of people are you most

comfortable with? Least comfortable with? Why?

2. Define friend.3. Who was the last friend you made

outside of your church? Describe how that friendship was made.

4. What is that person’s relationship with Jesus? How could you help draw your friend closer to Christ?

Most people in our congregations look like these Legos!

PEOPLE ARE LIKE LEGOS…

We need to make room for new people on our Legos!

PEOPLE ARE LIKE LEGOS…

Who is my neighbor?

Who is my neighbor?

Place #1

Place #2

Place #3

The larger the church, the more 3rd places need to be created

Interest groups Life Transformation

Groups (Triads) Churches grow as groups

multiply “Motivation for Mission”

RELATIONSHIPS (3rd Places)

GETTING STARTED

• What are some ways that you personally can fill your Lego with unchurched friends?

• What are some potential Interest Groups you might start?

THE TWO APPROACHES

1.THEY COME TO US

2.WE GO TO THEM

Dechurched

Unchurched

Attractional

Incarnational

HOW DO WE REACH THEM?

Two Approaches

Dechurched

Member as inviter(People come to Church and find Jesus)

Unchurched

Member as missionary(Jesus finds people through His people, who bring them to church)

Two Approaches

Dechurched

Programs will draw people to a church

Unchurched

Process. Relationship building, witness.

Bridging to Our CultureOct. 2012 Pew Survey

20% Adult Americans: no religious affiliation (46 million)

Increase from 15%, in last 5 years 1/3 Adult Americans under 30 unaffil. Compare 9% unaffiliated among 65+ 13m. self-described atheists (6%) 33m. no particular affiliation (14%)

“Nones” on the RiseLong-Term Trends in Religious Affiliation

Source: General Social Surveys, 1972-2010.

Churched

Pre-Church

Post-Church

MISSION MODELS IN CONTEXTCultural Insiders vs. Cultural Outsiders

The Post-Church Trend: Church is Losing Ground

Churched era map does not work in Post-Churched era

There is no map in the Post-Churched era

The Post-Churched era is in transition

The Church is behind the times

The Church is polar opposite to the culture

The Church uses a pre-churched map

The Church is ahead of the times: members behave as missionaries

In other words…

We need to think less like a church organization…

And think more like missionaries. …Be transformed by the renewal of

your minds (Rom 12:2)

Reggie McNeal: Missional Renaissance

Opening Doors to Your Community

Through Seasonsof Discovery

WHAT?

What is Seasons of Discovery?

Transforming Churches Network

Seasons of Discovery Is …

A Two-Year Introductory Process

Delivered into Four Seasons That helps your church begin

to engage your community with the Gospel of Jesus

Each Season Includes:

Personal Coaching & Peer Learning Group for the Pastor

Tools for Equipping People for Ministry

Events to Rally the People of the Church around the Theme of the Season

Outreach Activities

Each Season Equips 3 Groups

Pastor & Staff A Mission-Minded Group Called

People of Passion The Entire Church

HOW?

How Does Seasons of DiscoveryWork?

Timeline of the SeasonsChurches have 2 blocks of time (seasons)

in a year in which to work consistently on projects;

Fall (Labor Day to Thanksgiving)Winter/Spring (Jan-Feb & Easter to June15)

This multi-phase process focuses on areas of discovery spread out into four or more seasons.

Year 1Season 1

Preparation

Introduction to the Basic

Principles and Practices of

Transformation(Romans 12:2)

Season 2Visioning

Discovering God’s Vision

for your Community

Year 2Season 3Outreach

Finding Practical Ways to Reach Lost People in your Context

Season 4Empowerment

Empowering your Congregation to

Effectively EngagePeople in your

CommunityWith the Gospel

Year 3+Season 5 & Following

Discovering How Your ChurchCan Adapt to

Meet the Future Needs of Your Community

Learning How to be Missional in a Post-Church Culture

At your Table

Share the two people who have emerged on your list with the group (first names only). Discuss your plan to share Jesus with them.

Pray for all these people to come to know Christ, and pray for each other to follow through on your blessed intentions.

1160 Vickery Lane, Suite #1 Cordova, TN 38016 901-757-9700 www.transformingchurchesnetwork.org terry@transformingchurchesnetwork.org

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