Open Church in a Closed Community…

I just read of a large church that is opening an additional venue. The problem (in some readers’ minds) is that this venue is in a gated community. The building they will be using for worship is owned by the developer and one of the policies is that the building is only to be used by residents of the development and their guests. Some are upset that people who don’t live in that community won’t be able to drop in and visit the church.

Time for a reality check!! I think that those who are upset with this location are of the impression that mass marketing, creative signs and impressive media is what draws guests into America’s churches. All of the content that I am reading says that “programs don’t build churches, people build churches”. If the people of this new church are inviting their friends, neighbors and co-workers then the problem is solved—each person who attends this facility is a guest of a resident. I think the days when a person would see a steeple on a building and decide to drop in for services have long disappeared.

(Yes, I know that disconnected visitors may visit a worship service. But they would be a very small minority of those who do so!) The proportion would be even smaller of those who would come to your class or Small group because of some marketing or the fact that you are using a popular curriculum. MOST people who visit (and become a part of) the group you are leading will do so ONLY IF the current participants have been kind to them, invited them and welcomed them into your learning community.

This week I noticed ads in the newspaper paid for by churches who normally don’t do newspaper advertising. I am of the conclusion that ads will remind people who are already convinced, but they won’t persuade many (any?) to engage in becoming a Christ follower.

What are you doing to empower your current participants to be your sales, marketing and recruiting team for new group participants?

MondayMorningInsight.com > Saddleback to Open a Private Church Campus on Easter…

Leading in Silence

Over the last week I have read 2 blogs and one email that all address a similar problem—what are we to do when our heart is focused upon God but He remains silent. I’m confident that all who have been Christians for a significant amount of time have experienced this, and sometimes Small Group Leaders and Bible Study teachers are compelled to give lessens that are not fresh, but come from the storehouse of our Christian walk. This should not be the norm, but it does happen.

• One blog spoke about an extended hospital stay where God appeared mostly distant (with the exception of when other believers prayed).
• Another blog spoke of a man who tried church but gave up when “nothing happened”
• The email I received referred to Malachi 3:3 where God is described as a refiner and purifier of silver. The tone of the message was that many times we just have to wait and let God do what He does until the process is complete.

An interesting aspect of that passage in Malachi is the historical setting. Malachi spoke after the return from the Babylonian captivity. The walls of protection had been rebuilt under Nehemiah, the Law had been restored to prominence under Ezra, and the Temple operations had been restored under Haggai and Zechariah. Everything seemed to be poised for blessing when Malachi reminded the people that God would purify and refine the people. What happens next?  400 years of silence. How frustrating to have done all the right things then experience silence from God! [Imagine all that has happened in American History since the founding of Jamestown in 1607, that is how long God was silent with regards to speaking Scripture through his prophets.]

Scripture is full of times when God’s people had to wait until God decided to act.

• 400 years between Joseph’s death and Moses’ birth
• 40 years Moses was in Midian until the Burning Bush
• 15-20 years between David’s anointing and becoming King
• John the Baptist was imprisoned long enough that he began to wonder if Jesus was who he thought He was.
• Disciples kept falling asleep while Jesus prayed in the Garden before his crucifixion (nothing happening?)
• Eutychus fell asleep during a LONG service and fell out a window (Acts 20). Eutychus wasn’t hearing from God while he slept that soundly!

If you are going through a drought of the soul, now is the time to demonstrate faith (Heb 11:1). Faith, by definition, involves hope and things that are not seen/apparent!

As we approach the Easter season, remember that the GLORY of the Resurrection only happened after days of SILENCE. Don’t give up hope while waiting in the desert!

More Like the Master

The goal is NOT to make people like me.

Transformation means that we are regularly becoming more like Jesus in our relationships, our intellect, our experiences, the desires of our hearts, in the shedding of those elements of our lower nature and the embracing of the fruit of the spirit.
Helping people get to transformation is the key to spiritual formation or mentoring. The place to start is where people are and not where we think they should be.

The quote above is from the blog of a ministry friend. The link below will take you to that post so that you can read the rest of his thoughts. I think he hits the nail on the head in describing the difference between what many of our churches consider to be “discipleship” and what God really wants to accomplish in the lives of his children.

Leading From the Sandbox: Spiritual mentoring

Never Underestimate the Importance of a Good Party

Winter appears to be letting up and Spring is getting close. Have you thought about how to capitalize on this in your Small Group? The following quote comes from an article at smallgroups.com

Never underestimate the importance of a good party or social activity as a way to build your group. In the small groups at my home church, we learned we could easily double our regular small-group attendance with unchurched friends if the group members invited them to a party or two first.

Theme nights such as "I Hate Winter," "Thanksgiving Dinner," "Halloween Bonfire," and "Fifties Night" have been very successful for us. To gather a crowd, the key is to provide good food and play a few corny games. Unchurched people always have a good time, and are usually willing to listen intently as a few of our group members share their stories of how they came to a personal relationship with Jesus. Often, decisions are made for Christ at such gatherings—all because we had a party.

I’ve found that a beverage with bubbles (I’m thinking Ginger Ale) and a treat with frosting can turn any event into a celebration. I am eager to fire up the grill for the first time in several months. Perhaps your Small Group could celebrate by inviting friends before the Soccer and T-ball schedules get too busy.

The article quoted above (link is below) shows some of the ways Jesus leveraged the potential of a party.

Never Underestimate the Importance of a Good Party | Articles | SmallGroups.com

Irritation or Enrichment

I recently read of a family visiting New York City. Read their story below then my comments underneath.

And on our first day there, we took in the show STOMP... you know, the show that features rhythmic people using brooms, trash cans, and anything/everything imaginable to entertain.
The four of us really enjoyed the show. But as I was watching, I had one thought: Each of these people are incredibly talented. They can do things with brooms and pipes and matchboxes that I could never imagine. But let's face it... if there was just one of these people on stage beating on a trash can lid, it wouldn't be much of a show. Without the other members of the STOMP troupe, each cast member would most probably be a candidate for David Letterman's 'stupid human tricks' segment. But together with the rest of the show's crew, they have created an entertaining and mezmerizing show. By combining their talents with the talents of other, something incredible is created...

It reminds me so much of the church, when it’s working properly

At your small group meeting or class, are you an irritant who is just getting on the nerves of other group members or are you part of a community that is making something greater than the sum of its parts?

I was recently contemplating an individual who tends to be very confrontational and the sarcastic comment popped into my head (I would rarely say it out loud), “I didn’t realize there was a job opening in the Godhead and that the role of the Holy Spirit had been given to you”.

Yes, you are part of the BODY of Christ, but you are only part. It is important that you do your part but it is also imperative that EACH member of the Body is acting as it should so that something beautiful is accomplished and you are not just some nut hitting a trash can with a broomstick.

MondayMorningInsight.com > What the Church Could Learn from STOMP