05.13.09
Evangelism Doesn’t Matter!
Evangelism doesn’t matter….or does it? Today, I want to continue today and reverse the question, “Can you do Discipleship without Evangelism? Is there a choice? Some of the last words that Jesus left with His disciples were words of instructions: “Go and make disciples.” So here is the question, “What is more important? Evangelism or discipleship?” As long as people are discipled, does it really matter if we evangelize or is that God’s job? Can you separate the mission given in Matthew 28:19, 20?
I have the privilege to work at an amazing church where we are seeing God do a movement. Over the past few weeks, we have seen over 1,000 people come to know Christ and in just one weekend, we were able to see over 1,400 people baptized. I have the privilege of having a front row seat of what God is doing in “Sin City”. Our Senior Pastor, Jud Wilhite said yesterday in our all-staff meeting, “I hope you guys don’t ever get tired of this because we are never going to let our foot off the gas when it comes to evangelism.” One of the great motivators for us is a poem that was written by Sam Shoemaker entitled “I Stand at the Door.” One thing that it emphasizes is the need for relevant church to maintain an intentional outward focus. Jud continually reminds us that it is our mandate to be more concerned with those not yet a part of the community. The poem is posted below. A great reminder to us all…Don’t forget about evangelism…those that are standing at the door!
“I stand by the door.
I neither go to far in, nor stay to far out.
The door is the most important door in the world -
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There is no use my going way inside and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where the door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men,
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it.
So I stand by the door.The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door – the door to God.
The most important thing that any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands
And put it on the latch – the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man’s own touch.Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter.
Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live on the other side of it – live because they have not found it.Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him.
So I stand by the door.Go in great saints; go all the way in -
Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics.
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in.
Sometimes venture in a little farther,
But my place seems closer to the opening.
So I stand by the door.There is another reason why I stand there.
Some people get part way in and become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them;
For God is so very great and asks all of us.
And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia
And want to get out. ‘Let me out!’ they cry.
And the people way inside only terrify them more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled.
For the old life, they have seen too much:
One taste of God and nothing but God will do any more.
Somebody must be watching for the frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they came in,
To tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far in do not see how near these are
To leaving – preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door
But would like to run away. So for them too,
I stand by the door.I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not yet even found the door.
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply and stay in too long
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there too.Where? Outside the door -
Thousands of them. Millions of them.
But – more important for me -
One of them, two of them, ten of them.
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch.
So I shall stand by the door and wait
For those who seek it.‘I had rather be a door-keeper
So I stand by the door.”
Okay, I would love to know your thoughts.
05.11.09
Discipleship Doesn’t Matter…
Discipleship Doesn’t Matter…
Discipleship doesn’t matter…or does it? Some of the last words that Jesus left with His disciples were words of instructions: “Go and make disciples.” So here is the question, “What is more important? Evangelism or discipleship?” As long as people come to know Christ, does it really matter whether they are taught the teachings from His Word? Can you separate the mission given in Matthew 28:19, 20?
- “Go and make disciples”
- “Teach these new disciples”
In a recent article Suggestions for Today’s “Relevant” Church, Craig Groeschel writes a challenge to the relevant and growing churches of today:
“While the intentions of most relevant pastors (including my own) are generally to reach those who don’t know Christ, we have to ask ourselves, “How effective are our ministries really?” Just because we are “growing” numerically doesn’t mean the people coming are growing spiritually.”
So, what do you think? How effective are we at reaching people for Christ? How effective are we at teaching the new disciples? Does the relevant and growing church of today need to make some corrections about discipleship? Love to know your thoughts!
05.06.09
Megachurches and Small Groups: Are Small Groups still important?
In the age of super growth and Megachurches, are Small Groups still important? According to a survey, Small Groups remain a central component of Spiritual Formation. This recently published survey, completed in August 2008, contained various sections researched from the Megachurch and its current attendees. The survey showed research on topics such as politics, student and children’s ministry, financial reports, and even minister’s activities. The one section that caught my attention was the research between current Megachurches and Small Groups. Here is what the survey concluded from its research:
• Small groups. Another aspect of congregational life that has dramatically changed in the past 8 years is the increasing emphasis on small groups. While small groups have always been seen as important to megachurches, they haven’t always been central to how many of these large churches function. In 2000, just half (50%) of the megachurches said small groups were central to their strategy for Christian nurture and spiritual formation. In 2008, that number had risen to 84% of megachurches affirming the centrality of a small group strategy.
This shift in emphasis by the leadership did not appear to have a corresponding significant change in involvement (or the perception of it by the survey informant) in small groups among congregational participants. When survey respondents were asked to estimate the percentage of persons in their churches that participated in small groups in 2005 and 2008, there is slight evidence of change but nothing that would correspond to the 34% increase in churches making small groups a central component of their Christian nurture and spiritual formation efforts.
SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH:
Megachurches – Protestant congregations that draw 2,000 or more adults and children in a typical weekend (attendance not membership) – show considerable consistency over the past eight years. They continue to:
• Grow in size,
• Lead the way as America’s most multi-ethnic class of church,
• Show a strong bias toward contemporary worship, and
• Remain minimally involved in politics.
However, they also are institutions in transition. They are now:
• Offering more worship services and expanding to multiple-locations,
• Shifting to playing a greater role in community service,
• Decreasing their use of radio and television, and
• Putting greater emphasis on the role of small groups.
These are some of the most salient findings of a national study of America’s roughly 1,200 megachurches with approximately one third returning a usable response to an eight-page, 150-question survey that was fielded between February and August, 2008, with comparison given to similar (but non-longitudinal) national studies in 2000 and 2005.
So what do you think? Has your church shown growth and an increased emphasis on Small Groups? Are Small Groups a central component of Spiritual Formation at your church? And if it is central, what is your current percentage of attendees that are connected in some type of Small Group?
To see the rest of the survey, click here.
09.30.08
BIG Ideas for SMALL Groups
As a Small Group Pastor, have you ever wanted to be creative and think “outside of the box” and give your leaders some amazing ideas for their next Small Group meeting? Are you in need of some really neat and creative ideas to help make your Small Group Leader’s next meeting more fun and exciting? Here is a fun idea! One of our Small Groups has been together for a few years and they wanted to try something “out of the box.” One person in their group came up with an idea that I have called “Potluck Gone Wild!” or “Spin the Meal!” Whatever name works for you…use it!
Here is how it works: First of all you need someone who is creative and good with a computer and have them make three “spinning wheels”. If you have ever watched Wheel of Fortune, you know what I mean. After that you label each of the three wheels accordingly:
· Wheel #1 is labeled with different COLORS.
· Wheel #2 is labeled with different TEMPERATURES.
· Wheel #3 is labeled with TEXTURES. (Soft, chewy, crunchy, etc.)
· Optional Wheel Ideas could include: Which one of the four food groups or is it an appetizer, main entree, dessert, or salad.
Secondly, have each group member spin the three wheels and that will give them a description of the food that they will prepare and bring for the next Small Group meeting. Have Fun!
Thanks to Todd and Kandi Jones’ Small Group for sharing another BIG Idea for a SMALL Group!
Let us know in what ways your Small Groups have been creative and fun!
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