Church Planting Stuff

The way we do church

As you know, we are in the last stages of the negotiations for Discovery to purchase the property that is currently home to another congregation.  This congregation is facing the difficult decision of disbanding and selling the property to us at a fraction of the value.

This is a hard choice and many of the older congregation have questions.  I thought I'd share one of those congregant's concerns and my reply.  Hopefully, it'll help you see why we do church the way we do...

"...I have some questions in light of the the above and in light of the books - John MacArthur (editor): Fool's Gold: Discerning Truth in an Age of Error, and The Truth War - Fighting for Certainty in the Age of Deception: 

What seems lacking, according to MacArthur, in the Purpose Driven Church, is: "Christ's Lordship spelled out from the beginning of a gospel presentation (in light of Creation and his true Lordship), the concept of the need for true repentance in light of God's hatred of sin - again in light of his true Creation/Lordship, the Cross as the remedy for needed justice for the evil on this earth,
that Christ's shedding of blood, being a true satisfaction to God for His justice, paid in full for the debt we owe to him as our Creator and loving God (who also sent his Willing Son as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world)."

In other words, how would Randy acknowledge the dilemma of shunning worldliness and shunning the conforming our thoughts to the very evil ways of the world, while at the same time seeking that 70% of necessary "cross-cultural knowledge" to be able to communicate well to our own culture - or any culture we wish to know well and deal with.  Paul graciously tried to do that - but he did it biblically ("to the Jew I became a Jew, to the Greeks, a Greek, etc.") There is apparently some real neglect, perhaps even leading to duplicity in the way Christ is possibly presented in some Purpose Driven Churches  - Does Randy see the need for combating these things mentioned here as valid criticisms/suggestions - and would he endeavor to tackle them?

I think these are very fair questions from someone who is not well acquainted with a purpose driven church and is only getting one side of the issue from a guy like MacArthur - who obviously is not that acquainted with Purpose Driven Churches either (smile). 

In any case, here is my answer,

"Thank you for your questions.  Most of what you asked has been answered in an article I posted on our website at http://www.discoverychurchnj.com/seeker.htm.  I encourage you to read the article - it will answer many of your questions.

Just in case you don't have the time to visit the site, there are a few main thoughts I'd like to convey. 

First, being what John MacArthur calls "seeker sensitive" does NOT mean compromising the message - it just means you communicate it in words that non-believers understand!  Jesus drew enormous crowds ("multitudes") without compromising the message. He was just clear, practical, and loving.

Second, being seeker-sensitive doesn't mean the preaching is shallow. I challenge the people of Discovery to invest in the lives of those far from Christ.  We need to have dinner with them, play golf, and spend our lunch hours with them.  When we do, and if we really listen to lost people, we'll discover that their felt needs are quite deep. They have the need for meaning; the need for purpose; the need for forgiveness; the need for love. They want to know how to make right decisions, how to protect their family, how to handle suffering, and how to have hope in our world. These are deep issues.  What's really interesting is that these deep issues are just as real for Christ-followers.  These are the issues we address.  By the way, we are moving a way from the "seeker sensitive or obsessed" term.  We like to say we are a family expecting guests.

I think the real issue here is one of selflessness and balance.  If we are to reach our worlds, the church must have spiritually mature members who are unselfish.   We'll never be able to start an evangelistic movement that grows into a discipleship lifestyle until we are willing to limit their own preferences and worship style in order to reach lost people for Christ.

We must also be balanced - that’s the message Acts 2 is really teaching.  In the early church worship, teaching, discipleship, spiritual gifts, evangelism and even stewardship were balanced against each other to produce a vibrant, growing ministry in Acts 2.  Balance should be our objective.

So how does balance apply to our discussion about "guest sensitive" churches?  For some reason, authors like John MacArthur neglect to get outside the Sunday morning service.  There is more than just "Sunday."  Simply put, there is more to a properly balanced church than just the Sunday service.  Besides hosting services on Sunday morning or on Saturday evening, the balanced "guest sensitive" church goes to great lengths to have times of extended worship, bible study, discipleship, small groups and growth seminars at other times during the week.  They just don’t do those things on Sunday morning!

A balanced guest sensitive church strives to maintain the equality of the purposes of the church that the Acts 2 church exhibited.  A balanced guest sensitive church wants to follow the balance that Jesus commanded when He left this planet, "Go into all the world and make disciples."  There's a balance there - one every church (regardless of their orientation) should work hard to keep.

A biblical church balances the different purposes of church - grace (outreach), growth (worship, prayer, bible study), groups (fellowship, discipleship, community), gifts (service) and good stewardship - against each other so that the ministry does not become known for it's accomplishment in one particular area ... but rather for it's commitment to all five!  As a result, the leadership of a guest sensitive church strives to keep a balance in maintaining the purposes of the church as a goal in every activity, event or decision.

Christ told us to reach and teach, go and grow!  If a guest sensitive church neglects to keep the balance and it forgets or neglects to disciple and train Christ followers, it will become shallow.  At the same time, if too much emphasis is placed on the believers, the church can become self-absorbed - uninviting or alien to the unchurched, even closed.  We must keep a biblical balance in ministry and if a biblical balance is kept - if irreligious people are being turned into devoted followers of Christ - the guest sensitive church can’t help but grow and change its world!

God's best!

randy

One of the secrets to success

This is an article from Business Week Online

BusinessWeek
From Homeless to Multimillionaire
Tuesday July 24, 8:08 am ET
By Carmine Gallo

It's not every day you get the chance to pick the brain of a man whose real-life rags-to-riches story was turned into a Hollywood movie starring one of America's top actors. But the other day I had the opportunity to spend time with Chris Gardner, subject of the 2006 movie The Pursuit of Happyness, in which Gardner was played by Will Smith.

While attending an unpaid internship program at Dean Witter Reynolds in 1981, Gardner spent a year on the streets with his two-year-old son. They took refuge at night in a church shelter or the bathroom of a BART subway station in Oakland, Calif. Nobody at work knew. Gardner eventually won a position as a stockbroker at Dean Witter. Two years later he left for Bear Stearns BSC), where he became a top earner. In 1987, he founded his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich,in Chicago. Today, Gardner is a multimillionaire, a motivational speaker, a philanthropist, and an international businessman who is about to launch a private equity fund that will invest solely in South Africa. His partner in the fund? Nelson Mandela. Not bad for a guy who, six years before founding his own brokerage firm, was "fighting, scratching, and crawling my way out of the gutter with a baby on my back."

"Passion is Everything"

Gardner is a magnificent speaker and has an engaging personality -- qualities all business professionals would crave. But what's behind his success? What is the one thing -- the one secret -- that helped him change his life? "It's passion," he told me. "Passion is everything. In fact, you've got to be borderline fanatical about what you do." Gardner says he was fortunate to find something he truly loved, something where he couldn't wait for the sun to rise so he could do it again. His advice to entrepreneurs and those seeking a career change? "Be bold enough to find the one thing that you are passionate about. It might not be what you were trained to do. But be bold enough to do the one thing. Nobody needs to dig it but you."

Gardner wanted to be "world-class at something." For him, that something was being a stockbroker. For you, finding something you are passionate about will make the difference in how engaging you become as a communicator and as a leader. If you love what you do, you'll eagerly share the story behind it with boundless enthusiasm.

Passion is not teachable. As a communications coach, I can help clients craft and deliver a powerful story, but I can't create passion. But it's passion that separates the electrifying presenters from the average ones. I'm absolutely convinced of it. As a former television journalist, I've interviewed thousands of spokespeople and personally coached hundreds of others in my current profession. Donald Trump once said: "Without passion, you have no energy -- and without energy, you have nothing." Your listeners want to be in the presence of someone with energy, a person who greets people with a smile and an abundance of enthusiasm. Passion is not something you necessarily verbalize, but it shows. When Gardner walked into Dean Witter after having slept in a subway station the night before, he only wanted to leave one impression on his co-workers. "All they needed to know is that I would light it up day after day. Passion is not something you have to talk about. People feel it. They see it just as clearly as the color of your eyes, baby."

Coffee and Commitment

I have spent the last several years interviewing inspiring leaders, and I can say without hesitation that passion is the No. 1 quality that sets them apart. In many ways, my talk with Gardner reminds me of a conversation I once had with Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz. Like Gardner, Schultz used the word "passion" throughout our entire conversation. But remarkably, the word "coffee" was rarely spoken. You see, for Schultz, coffee is not his passion. Instead, Schultz says, he is passionate about creating a workplace that "treats people with dignity and respect;" a workplace environment that his father never had the opportunity to experience. The coffee product offers the means to help Schultz fulfill his passion. In much the same way, stock trading and commissions offered Gardner the means to fulfill his passion, which was to give his son something he never had -- a father.

Passion is the foundation of effective communication. Dig deep to discover your core purpose, your true passion. Once you connect to it, use it as fuel to build a rapport with your audience -- recruiters, managers, employees, etc. Your presentations, pitches, speeches, and all forms of business communication will be more engaging than ever. Nearly everyone has room to increase what I call the "passion quotient" -- the level of passion you exhibit as a speaker. The higher your passion quotient, the more likely you are to connect with people. Chris Gardner's passion fueled his determination in the face of overwhelming odds and obstacles. Take the time to imagine where harnessing your passion can take you.

Creativity with a few people and less money

On any given day, we wake up and watch the traffic report on 3D HDTV and listen to stereo music or even watch sports highlights on our iPods while dressing. We skip the stack of brightly colored cereal boxes in the cupboard for the “#2 Special” at the donut shop (we know what the #2 Special is because it’s pictured on the board – coffee with two donuts!). And while we try to follow our diet, the smell of cinnamon buns is just too much – we buy some, but it’s only for “the office!” We drive to our first appointment with help from a full color GPS and while waiting to start the meeting, we download pictures and video of our vacation. And that’s all before 8:30 a.m.

We live in a world where we can view music videos made with the latest technology, get online news as it happens, see full color ads everywhere we go, and basically experience a world full of visual, emotional, and thousands of other stimuli. This happens every Monday through Saturday.

Then comes Sunday.

On Sundays we go to church and, in most cases, we sit in one seat and stare at one teacher or pastor using only one method of communication – the spoken word. Sometimes he doesn’t even move one inch.

It’s time we admit it – to keep the attention of today’s “hi-tech, low attention span” world we must communicate with more than just words. This is especially true for those of us planting churches that target the unchurched and the dechurched – people that say they avoid church because it’s boring!  Don’t give those who are looking for a reason not to attend church an excuse to avoid Sunday mornings. Never let it be said that our services were boring.

I believe the message of God’s love is more important than any newscast or advertising blitz. Our message has more to say than any TV talk show host and it certainly is more important than a music video. It deserves to be communicated and celebrated in the most creative ways available. It doesn’t matter where you meet or if your team is big or small, rich or poor. We must be creative in the ways we present the greatest message ever given. That value should be a part of your church’s DNA from day one.

Now most people’s reaction to that challenge is to excuse our lack of creativity by focusing on what we don’t have. Maybe you don’t have a budget, maybe you don’t have a workroom, maybe you don’t have a large team of people yet or you more than likely don’t have your own building. Well, join the crowd! My home church has none of the above. We planted with no financial support and meet in a gym and a theater. We have a very limited creative budget, a small number of volunteers, and less workspace than your basement. But each week Discovery Church’s creative team goes above and beyond their natural capabilities and capacity to creatively communicate that week’s topic. Here’s how they do it!

First, we plan well in advance. Our pastors, weekend communicators, and some handpicked volunteers work together as a team to develop each message (That’s another article for another time). We start that process 12 weeks out. Let me say it again so the pastors that just fainted get it – we start 12 weeks ahead of time! A rough draft or “skeleton” with the main points and key verses then goes to the creative team two weeks later (10 weeks before the message is given). In other words, they get up to eight weeks to create, delegate, and consummate the creative elements of any particular message. My point here is simple: If you want your team to be creative you have to give your team time! The days of completing your message on the Thursday before delivery are over! So as you dream about what your church will look like, plan now to plan well in advance.

Second, not only do you need to plan in advance,but you also need a plan. There’s nothing worse than throwing a group of creative types in a room without some direction. While the creative road admittedly should be large, wide, and winding, you still have to give creative people some guidance. If not, they’ll just go in circles, spin their wheels, or come up with things like “sharing times.” At Discovery our creative guide is comprised of what author Bernd Schmitt calls the five experiences: feeling, thinking, the five senses, action, and relating.

The first experience is feelings – we want to create emotional responses. We want to make people feel in their heart what we’re communicating.

Then, we want to stimulate thinking. What we communicate should percolate in the minds for more than just 30 to 40 minutes on Sunday morning.

The third experience is sense. We have five of them. They are sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. By the way, when it comes to the senses I encourage you to not limit yourself to just one when you communicate. Len Wilson in his book, Digital Storytellers, The Art of Communicating the Gospel says, “The best senses are integrated – that is, they appeal to more than one sense at a time.” 

The fourth experience is action. We want then to do something that in effect teaches truth as effectively as the spoken or written word.

Finally, the fifth experience is relating. We want people to relate to what’s being taught. Our goal is to get them to say, “Been there, need to do that!”

Let me give you an example of how that all works:

Our topic a few months ago was suffering. I wanted to show that while some questions will never be answered until we get to Heaven there are some great scriptural truths that will help us get through the tough times. The way I wanted to communicate this was to convey the idea of someone being lost in a car on a foggy night. You can’t stop because you’ll get rear ended. You can’t pull off the road because you don’t know if there is a ditch or maybe even a cliff along the side. So you’re just creeping down the highway and it’s a very scary experience.

But then a truck pulls up on the highway in front of you going in the same direction. You can see the truck’s taillights through the fog and he seems to know where he is going. All you have to do is keep those points of light in your view and follow those points and if you do that you just know it would come out all right.

In a similar way, that’s how our understanding of why there’s pain and suffering in this world works. We may not be able to make out all the peripheral answers in terms of why. They still may be enshrouded by our limited ability to understand. But there are some key biblical truths that are illuminated to us through Scripture. And if we keep our eyes on those points of light – just like the taillights of that truck – I believe they will take us to a place of understanding where our hearts and our minds can be satisfied.

That was the creative scenario I set up. Our creative team used the “five experiences” as a starting point in their creative process and here are just some of the ideas they came up with.  While we certainly didn't use every idea you'll see how the process produces creativity.

Senses:

• Sight:  The stage was designed to look like a highway with a rear view of a tractor-trailer. The Café would be changed to look like a truck stop.
NOTE: Another effective creative idea we’ve been using is to video part of the message – as much as a whole point – on location. In this case, we could shoot a video at a truck stop. They actually would see and hear the trucks as I speak.
• Sound: truck and traffic sounds played pre- and post-service
• Smell:  gas (don’t try it – it’s not worth the nausea!)
• Taste:   special food items in the Café (cellophane wrapped buns, hot dogs, and other tasty truck stop menu items)
• Touch:  a tractor-trailer in parking lot, kids (and some adults with social issues) could sit in the driver’s seat and blow the horn.

Feelings (creating emotional responses):

• One suggestion was that we sing that country western hit, “My woman and my dawg left me and all I have left is my gun and this truck!” Just kidding – actually, we started with a spiritual direction that gave the scenario I just described, “Close your eyes and imagine you are on a foggy road. You’re lost and scared ... ” This actually ended up being a monologue performed by one of our drama team turned truck driver.

Relating:

• This was a “My Story.” One of the women at Discovery told the story of her advanced MS and how she deals with it with God’s help and direction.

Action:

• We weren’t at our best here. We settled for the tractor-trailer in parking lot, sitting in the driver’s seat, blowing the horn. I admit it - we missed the boat on this one.

• One good idea we recently used when we were talking about spiritual growth was having everyone write a characteristic of God on dressing mirrors we placed in the entrance ways. During the spiritual direction, we brought the mirrors on stage and said, “Spiritual growth is seeing the characteristics of God when you look in the mirror. What you wrote about God you see in your own life.”

Stimulate Thinking:

• We gave the illustration of being lost in the fog in the spiritual direction and used the trucking motive throughout the service. Our goal was to remind them of how God wants to lead them through hard times every time they see a taillight in the real world.
• A second suggestion was to give out 3x5 cards with the numbers 293 printed on them. This is a reference to Job 29:3 which says, “ ... by his light I walked through the darkness!” These cards can be taped to a workstation or the bathroom mirror as a constant reminder of God’s love and promise of guidance.

See how it works? With time for planning and a plan you can be creative. And by the way, the total cost of that whole Sunday was about $40 for the wood for the backdrop. Everything else was donated.

There’s one last point I need to make. To be creative you need to plan, you need a plan and, last but certainly not least, you need people. Enlisting the help of others is critical to the creative process. This is especially true in the early days of a new church. You working alone means the creativity of your message is limited to just your energy level and your creativity. No offense, but that’s not enough.

I know from experience that it’s a great temptation for ministry leaders just to do it all ourselves – that’s a recipe for forgetfulness and mistakes and burnout. More importantly, that’s also probably a real reason why many churches have slipped into what I call “well-intentioned mediocrity.” It’s not that we want to do things halfway, it’s just simple vocational math – no one can do a good job at everything.

The solution is simple – get a team!
Write this down: The most important thing you can do is to get help planning and implementing the creative worship experience. Actually, you can expand that statement to encompass the whole church planting process. It's all about the team. That should be the case no matter what a church’s size or budget but it’s even more necessary when you have nothing. You can’t do it all alone!

So how do you get help? Well, finding creative types and then molding them into a team is not an easy task but it certainly beats working alone! Here are some closing hints:

Remember that “less is more.” I stress that as leaders we can accomplish more by doing less. We need to enlist people to use their gifts in ministries where they are impassioned. There’s just nothing like having people function in their “zone” or “sweet spot” – the area where they can do that one thing they do the best. Creative, talented leaders have to get past the thinking that they are the only ones who can do all the jobs necessary to do the arts.

Give them ownership. I rely 100 percent on the creative team to plan and execute the first half of the service as well as suggest creative ideas for the message. While I get advance notice and “right of refusal” for every aspect of the service, the creative team at Discovery has taken ownership of the arts portion of the service and they do spectacular. They strive for an even greater excellence because they “own” the first 30 to 40 minutes and have great influence in the creativity of the message. Plus, there is another advantage, they judge themselves far greater than I could ever do.

Learn how to make the “big ask.” At Purpose Driven Church Planting we say you have to make the “big ask.” Learn to ask! There are people out there who can sing and dance and draw and are great with a hammer and saw. There are people out there that are creative and administrative and you don’t know it because you haven’t asked. 

Cast a vision of what God’s called you to do with your ministry and describe the kind of people, expertise, and skill level you are looking for. People are more than happy to be a part of that kind of ministry and to really serve in that because it’s an exciting thing. Especially if somebody sees their work on the stage and being used for the glory of God. I think you can get a lot of people involved in that. Here’s a hint, when you ask, buy them lunch. It’s harder for them to say no after you just paid for their meal.

NOTE: Get your launch team into a C.L.A.S.S. 301. Search for people with a S.H.A.P.E. that would benefit your team.

Look in your seats and beyond your walls. At Discovery we have a “Randy’s Researchers” team. Every so often we list the upcoming sermons in the weekly program or newsletter and ask people to suggest film clips or songs. We communicate with the congregation. We survey the congregation. You should do the same. While most future church planters don’t have a congregation you do have a launch team and a list of prayer partners. Get their opinion and build interest in the creative process. By the way, if you see one or two of those people constantly offering suggestions – rope them in, they’re probably creative!

You can also enlist (at little or no cost) the graphics or music students from local high schools and colleges. Some probably attend your current church. Dance studios can help you with dancers (Here’s a free, no obligation idea for a teaching series – call it “Soul Dance” and enlist the help of local dance studios to perform the opening number of each service.) Drama students from colleges or local drama clubs can be a source of actors. And don’t forget the college intern – they pay some college or seminary to work for you!

Speaking of colleges, introduce yourself to the music, arts, and graphic design professors at your local colleges. They can put you in touch with students who need projects – so what if it’s drawing for your children’s program or building sets for your new series? The key to enlistment is asking. I’ve also enlisted the help of a friend who has a banner printing company and you would not believe what a 10th grader with a digital camera, a PC, and $99 editing software can do if you just ask!

Let me close by repeating the point I started with. To communicate God’s love to a “hi-tech, low attention span” world, we need to communicate with more than just words. Don’t give those who are looking for a reason not to attend church an excuse to avoid Sunday mornings. Never let it be said that our services were boring. The greatest message of all deserves to be communicated in the most creative ways available. Do that and we can change our world!

NEW BLOG SITE

In an effort to consolidate my blogging, I'm moving most of my ranting and raving to: http://discoverychurch.typepad.com/churchstuff/

Church planting stuff will stay at churchplantingstuff.

PLEASE MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES ON YOUR FEEDS, ETC.

Why Start Another Church?

Some of my Purpose Driven Church Planters coaching group (go California!!!) have been asked why they feel called to start a church in an area that already has churches of every creed, denomination and ilk.  I am asked the same question every time we started or begin planning the next campus at Discovery. This is my response (taken from Discovery's website www.discoverychurchnj.com):

WHY START ANOTHER CHURCH?

All New Testament churches exist to fulfill the Great Commission and Great Commandments.  The difference in Discovery is the generation God has placed us here to reach.  Our target is all of postmodern culture of South Jersey that has little or no understanding of God.  Not many churches are structured to meet that group of people.  In fact, instead of reaching the unchurched, most churches start and experience most of their growth as the result of church splits or transfers from other churches.  The pollster Barna says “4 out of 5 churches grow by taking people from other churches.”  That’s not what Discovery is all about!!!

Our rallying cry is, “working as a team to turn irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Christ.”  That demands that we reach the crowd that sleeps in on Sundays (while at the same time teach believers).  That's the challenge.

Now I don't say this with a judgmental spirit, I say it with a spirit of sadness, deep sadness: The average church on the corner of Elm and Main Streets, scattered all over the Western world and even all around the world, the average church is mainly captured with the idea of just protecting and taking care of their own congregation, the already convinced, just kind of making sure existing sheep stay in their pens.  Most evangelical churches do not target irreligious people - they cater to the already convinced.  That is a fact supported by the language of the sermons, the music, the Sunday morning topics and the percentage of budget and outreach that goes toward reaching their area as well as the world. 

Don't believe me?

I challenge you to take a look and listen at your church this Sunday.  Examine the words to your music, look at your budget, listen to what the majority of discussion at your leadership meetings are centered on, listen to the language of your sermons, study the list of your last 20 visitors, look at your communication pieces - then ask yourself, who are we really reaching here?   The average church is structured to reach the already convinced.

But Discovery doesn't want to be just an average church.

Discovery is called to reach seekers and teach Christ-followers.  We want to reach irreligious people and make them into fully devoted followers of Christ!  We are not about stealing people from other churches.  Jesus said we are to be “fishers of men” not swappers of fish from aquarium to aquarium.  We are not looking to borrow believers from other churches, we are looking to attract those that slept in and missed church.

We need multiple churches to do this!  In fact, we could put a church on every corner and still not do the job!  40, 60, 100 churches would only begin to do the job of reaching the unchurched as well as teaching and discipling believers.

The latest demographic study has shown that approximately over 400,000 people live in a ten mile radius of where our second campus (Discovery-Township) meets.  Most of these people are unchurched.  Even though many unchurched people are spiritually hungry, they are mostly biblically illiterate.  Many of them are families with young children, for whom they wish to provide a solid foundation.  Many are spiritual seekers wondering about truth.  Others are believers wanting to grow deep and discover “life to the full” as Jesus described it.  Some are wealthy.  Some struggle to make ends meet.  Some are highly educated.  Some are not.  Some are young.  Some are less young or quite older.  We all share one thing in common: we are pilgrims on a spiritual journey during one of the most complex and amazing and exciting times in human history. We need vibrant, relevant churches to steer us toward the right destination.

Sadly, while 400,000 live in the area, I estimate less than 15% are attending any given church.  Simply put, we need more relevant, creative churches.  Two on the same block wouldn't even come close to doing the job! 

Third, we believe the best way to reach these 400,000 people and get them to visit Discovery (or any other church) is by invitation.  Friends invite friends!  For instance, although we have many attenders who drive from Gloucester County communities to our Voorhees campus, they find that their unchurched neighbors are much less likely to accept an invitation to drive 20-30 miles down 295 to our current location in Evesham Township.  This new campus places Discovery out in the southern communities where some of our congregation lives, a short three-minute Sunday drive from Turnersville and only ten minutes from Mullica Hill.  If the people are coming from there we want to bring the church to them!  By the way, this is the same criteria we'll use to determine the timing of starting the next campus in Swedesboro/Beckett.

Fourth, there are many churches structured to the 19th century or even the 20th century.  We certainly aren't saying such a structure is wrong. It takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people.  Your church reaches people Discovery can't.  At Discovery, we are called to structure ourselves to reach the 21st century. 

Finally, since the average church size in America stands at 100 it seems to me we could use not just a few more churches, we need a lot more!

When it's all said and done, I believe there's nothing like the local church when the church is working right.  We need more churches that are working right!  That's what we want to do.  We want to be a catalyst of churches working right!  At Discovery we dream of being part of something earth-rocking.  We stand here on the edge—at the dawn of the 21st century.  We hear the voice of God, and are captivated by the call to be a group of churches for such a time as this.

We believe God is going to do it…one more time – this time in Gloucester County then in Salem and Burlington Counties and throughout the whole world (well, ok...at least the Delaware Valley!)  How will it work?   We've prepared and planned but only God really knows for sure, but we can’t wait to find out!

Why Small Groups 1

Why get in a small group?

The Big Church
In our present culture people are searching for significance.  They search for it in relationships.  It is easy to get lost in the setting of a growing church unless you are involved in a smaller body within that community.  At Discover Church that smaller body is a Small Group or Community Connection.  Although they come in many shapes and sizes, from a casual weekly contest on the basketball court to bi-weekly meetings in homes to accountability groups or mentoring sessions where innermost personal issues are shared, Small Groups have a common purpose.  They are the glue that holds together the larger community.

Where The Rubber Meets The Road
We rush through the daily activities of a busy schedule, then crisis arises.  An accident or illness occurs and suddenly we need help.  Our culture teaches us to be self reliant and yet Christ taught over and over about community and caring for one another.  Enter the Small Group.  It was in God’s design that we come along side one another through trials.  Some of these trials are minor daily annoyances, and some seem to crush us to the point that we will never recover.  The close relationships fostered by the small group experience supports us through those times. 

Scripturally Speaking
Exploring the word of God in a Small Group is unlike the large church experience.  The smaller setting allows for transformation that comes from questioning and grappling with deep issues.  Discussion is the “iron sharpens iron” that promotes spiritual growth.  Tough questions get answered.  This is a natural outcropping of trust.  To be able to learn, debate, search, and discover together we then become equipped to make an impact on the larger body. 

Having Fun
Getting together with good friends just for fun is another part of the Small Group experience.  There is a common bond that has developed from growing together in Christ that makes these times that much more fun. 

A Life Changing Experience
Because of the relational level that is reached in a Small Group it is hard not to experience some life change. You will enter into a deeper relationship with God.  You may learn more about yourself.  You may even make friends that you will have the rest of your life. 

Why Small Groups 2

Here's what Rick Warren says about small groups...

Eight Reasons to Join to Join a Small Group

1. You will understand the Bible better in a small group.

If you´ve ever listened to a Bible teacher or preacher and wanted to stop that person and say, "But what about...?" or "I don´t understand!"
Then a small group is for you! Preaching and teaching is one way communication. You listen while the speaker speaks. It´s fine for imparting knowledge but not as effective for personal application as a small group. In a small group setting, you can ask questions, participate in a discussion of the text, and hear others share insights and illustrations of the truth you are trying to grasp. The Bible must be applied to your own personal situations and that happens best in small groups.

Sometimes I´ve had people tell me after a service, "Pastor Rick, it would be helpful if I could sit down with some others and discuss the implications of your message today. You said so much, I need to digest it!" Many of our groups are using the Sunday morning message outline as a Bible discussion guide.

2. You will begin to really feel like part of God´s family.

Most people who have been a part of a group say the greatest benefit is the close relationships and friendships that develop. They will frequently telephone each other during the week to share an urgent prayer request or an exciting answer. You´ll discover that your needs and problems are not unique ~ we´re all in the same boat. It helps to know that others are facing the same dIfficulties, or have lived through them and learned spiritual principles in the process.
Over fifty times in the New Testament the phrase "one another" is used to describe our relationship to other believers. We are instructed to love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, accept one another, bear one another´s burdens, and build up one another. The only way you can obey these commands is in a small group! We really do need each other. God never meant for you to go it alone in the Christian life. If you´re lonely, the answer to your problem is to join a group.

3. Prayer will become more meaningful to you.

Many people are hesitant to pray in front of others, especially in a large church. In a small group of 6 to 12, you will learn to participate in prayer by having a conversation together with God. No one is pressured to pray, but as you become comfortable, you´ll be able to pray sentence prayers and join in. There are many promises in the Bible related to group prayer. In praying together with a few others, we are drawn together and we find answers to the needs in our lives.

4. You will be able to handle stress and pressure better.

Small groups provide excellent support in times of crisis, change, and stress. You´ll have a sense of stability and security knowing there are people who really care for you and are committed to standing with you.
When someone loses a job, or a family member has an extended illness, or a mother needs a babysitter - these are practical needs that will be naturally taken care of through your small group. Your group will coordinate the sharing of hot meals to be brought in when If your family is in need. Many people in our church could testify that they would not have made it through a difficult time if it hadn´t been for the support of their group. In addition, we have a number of special support groups that deal with problems like alcoholism, financial difficulty, abuse, and other needs.

5. You will have a natural way to share Christ with friends, relatives, and work associates.

It may be that some of your friends who don´t I know the Lord wouldn´t be caught dead in a church. They have a preconceived idea and just the thought makes them defensive. But those same people may be open to an invitation to a casual Bible discussion in a home or office setting. In a small group, your unbelieving friend can ask questions and express honest doubts without feeling "put on the spot". When your friend sees the love and warmth and honesty of your group, it will make him more receptive to the Good News.

6. You will develop leadership skills you never knew you had!

The Bible teaches that every believer is given certain talents or "gifts" to benefit others in the family of God. Unfortunately most Christians remain as Sunday morning spectators all their lives because large group meetings are primarily "sit and listen" situations. As you share and participate in a relaxed small group setting, you´ll discover your confidence and self-esteem rising. This will help you at work, at church, and in every other relationship.

7. You will deepen your understanding of worship.

Many believers mistakenly believe that worship can only happen on Sunday morning in large group with a sermon, a choir, and an offering plate! Worship happens anytime we focus on God. Sometimes that happens best in a smaller group in praying or singing together. At Saddleback, we are authorizing the Lay Pastor of each group to serve the Lord´s Supper whenever the group wants to have a communion service.

8. You will be a New Testament Christian!

The book of Acts is very clear about how God intends for his people to grow and have their needs met in the church. We will never be able to hire enough professional pastors to meet all the individual needs in our family. God never intended for it to be that way!
Consider these verses:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together... they broke bread in their homes and ate together... and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47

"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 5:42

"Greet also the church that meets at their house."

Rom.

16:5

"Aquilla and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord and so does the church that meets at their house."
I Cor. 16: 19

"Give my greetings...to Nympha and the church in her house." Col. 4: 15

I am excited about the incredible potential of the network of small groups we´re building within

Saddleback

 

Church

. Small Groups have these eight benefits that no believer can afford to pass up. If you are not participating in a group, why not join one this week?

Why Blog?

Hugh Hewitt recently wrote a book, BLOG --Understanding the Information Reformation That's Changing Your World."

Here are some thoughts...

Hugh Hewitt says there was one blogger in 1999 give or take a year (p. IX). As 2004 came to a close, Technorati counted over 4 million blogs. Interestingly, most online dictionary still don't even have the word "blog", a fact that speaks to the sudden explosion of the blog phenomenon. (p. XV) The statistics from Perseus, an online survey group, are even more staggering. They estimate there to be some 31.6 million hosted blogs worldwide and "growing to 53.4 million by year end." A part of the demographic profile of bloggers is this: The average age in America is 35 and the average age of the guy that watches the evening news is nearly 60.

When it comes to blogs, however, 92.4% are created by people 30 years and under (p. 83).

So how do we utilize Blogs...

Invite a leader, other believer or better yet, an outspoken seeker to your home or out to dinner and interview them for your blog. Post the interview with photos. Make it short, very, very informal, and fun. Photos of laughter work. Through word of mouth ask "friendlies" within your congregation "have you seen the interview?" Remember, ask permission to post an interview and be sure to invite them to check it out.

Ask a leader or two to post prayers or words of encouragement in the comment section of your blog. Use the blog to update and inform.

Post a one paragraph summary of your upcoming Sunday message.

Post an interview, a book summary, your latest learning or talk about your vision.

What are your ideas?????

The Center of Creativity - Church??

The next time you see a sidewalk performer or go to a Broadway play or make your annual pilgrimage to U2 - watch the crowd for a few minutes. And there is always a crowd. Why? People are hungry for creativity. People love ingenuity. Yet so many times the church crushes creativity instead of embracing and encouraging the creative spirit. Let's break the mold! Step out of the box. In fact, go way beyond the box and do something really creative in your service or ministry. We have the greatest message mankind has ever heard - let's present it in fresh, new and creative ways.  I believe the church should be the most innovative, energetic, enthusiastic creative place in town.   The church should be the center of creativity.  Let's make it so!

Leadership Books - Ya Gotta Read!

Nothing gets my heart pumping like leadership and creativity and the Arts and "getting what we do to the people who need to do it" (that's marketing!!!)  I believe the church should be the most innovative, energetic, enthusiastic creative place in town - it really is a sin for church to be boring!!!!

Here are some of the books that have shaped my thinking...

Rediscovering Church by Bill Hybels

Purpose Driven Church by "Some Guy in a Hawaiian Shirt"

The Jesus Style by Gayle Erwin

The Art of The Start by Guy Kawasaki
Built to Last by Jim Collins
An Hour On Sunday by Nancy Beach

Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordan Mackenzie
High Definition Churches by Ron Sylvia

Rules for Revolutionaries by Guy Kawasaki
Thinking for a Living by Joey Reiman
Starting New Churches by Ralph Moore

Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels

Purple Cow by Seth Godin
The Leadership Challenge by J. Kouzes

Who You Are When No One's Looking by Bill Hybels
The Art of Innovation by Kelley
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Too Busy Not To Pray by Bill Hybels

The Situational Leader by Paul Hersey
Can we Do that? Ed Young and Andy Stanley
Visioneering by Andy Stanley
Marketing Outrageously by Jon Spoelstra
An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus
Fish by Lundin and Christensen
Morph by Ron Martoia
Soul Tsunami by Leonard Sweet
Beyond The Box by Bill Easum
Unleashing the Idea Virus by Seth Godin
Leadership is an Art by Max Depress
Buzz Marketing
Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley
Nuts by Freiberg
Color Outside the Lines by Howard Hendricks