Principles for Developing a Church Growth Vision
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Transcript of Principles for Developing a Church Growth Vision
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Principles for Developing a Church Growth Vision
By James A. Cress
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Vision = More Than Sight!
Some people see things as they are and ask why?
Other see things as they could be and ask why not!
-- Robert F. Kennedy
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1. Intentionality
• God expects the church to grow (Acts 2).
• Growth is not a numbers game! But God is interested in numbers
• Church is not the church if it is not growing!
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2. Dissatisfaction with Status Quo
• If all is okay, why still here?• A great heritage and marvelous
history1949 1 million members worldwide200920 million members worldwide
• But we are still here!What should we be doing differently?
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3. Analytical Analysis
• Not salvation by number-crunching• Who have you got?• What is working?• What is not working?
1. Unconscious ineffectiveness2. Conscious ineffectiveness3. Unconscious effectiveness4. Conscious effectiveness5. Naturalized effectiveness
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4. Target Best Potentials = Positioning
• Youth vs. aged• Win a youth, win a multiplication table• No one power group controls• On-going repositioning is essential• Population demographics determine
mission tactics (i.e. Paul’s different approaches).
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5. Build on Strengths
• Slogan: The Caring Church• Nobody believed – not even the
members• Seventh-day Adventists . . .
When you’re looking for answers!• ADRA - You can trust > than “they care”• Build on strengths:
Adventists not charismatics
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6. Pastoral Tenure
• 21 years experience• Live through and resolve problems
vs. escape
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7. Emphasize Spiritual Growth
1. Bible Study2. Prayer3. Fellowship4. Witnessing5. Obedience
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8. Consistent Preaching
• Christ-centered• No surprises• Listener-focused • Take home value• Certainty – preach “as if”• Study your questions, of course.• Don’t take your questions into the
pulpit!
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9. Invitations
• Response cards• Pew card summary• Spiritual business• Public invitations• Invite “an appointment”• Easy to say “Yes”
I would like to be baptized I request a pastoral visit
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10. Big Deals
• Baby Dedications• Baptismal Services• Anniversaries• Friends’ Day• Honor Teachers• Visitor Recognition
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11. Advertise
• Sabbath Worship Service – Advertise – Weekly newsletter, paper, radio,
televisionSermon series
• Best evangelistic opportunity• Complimentary advertising• Pastoral business cards for your leaders• Announce:
Open CommunionPublic BaptismAnnual HomecomingFree Lunch
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12. Dynamic Worship
• Creatively Dynamic• Need not be radical!• Timeliness
Cut extraneousTime CzarEmphasize essentialsMail bulletins
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13. Inclusive Reckoning as Outreach Method
Believers Attending
Believers Non-Attending
Non-Believers Attending
Non-Believers Non-Attending
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14. Small Group Ministries
• Pastor’s Work = “work the members”• Pastors Method = “lead the leaders!”• Small Group Effectiveness Factors:
– Word– Worship– Fellowship– Service
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15. Leaders Who Lead!
• Not an enabler who says, Here I am, What do you want me to do?
• Not a facilitator who says, Figure out what you want to do and I’ll help you get there.
• Rather . . . A leader who says, “This is where God wants us to go . . . Follow me as I follow Christ!
A. Assume responsibility for growthB. Work hardC. Share ministryD. Not paralyzed by pessimists – some members cannot be
pastoredE. Invest time, energy and money in training
Self – continuing educationLeaders – for responsible serviceMembers – increased world view
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16. Followers Who Follow
A. Willing to follow the leader. B. Expect pastoral ranchers more than
shepherdsC. Pay the price for followingD. Readjust fellowship patterns – assimilate
newE. Open up leadership opportunitiesF. Intentionally include youth and newcomers
– Rather youth not attend than sing
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17. Administrators who value local congregation more than structure
• Tip O’Neill -- All politics is local• Resource sharing• Key Result Areas (KRA) as
base for appropriations• Performance Standards
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18. Global Worldview = Mission