We Are an Efficient Church

We Are an Efficient Church

Exodus 18:13-23

INTRODUCTION

Mark Middleberg, Minister of Evangelism at Willow Creek

After praying to receive Christ,

North Dakota Badlands to find friends.

Prop-plane to landing strip/ hitchhiked/ walked several miles/ slept alone in sub-freezing tempts/ ranchers with 6-shooter/ then a hunter/

2 day adventure- never found friends

“A” for effort but an “F” for execution.

Did not have a thought-out strategy for reaching his goal.

Our Mission Statement

Guided by God’s Word, Del Norte Baptist Church is a united community of believers worshiping God, growing in faith, and sharing Christ’s love.

Vision Statement

We see a day when we Del Norte Baptist Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is propelled by God’s Word to:

Become a multi-generational and multicultural community serving together to impact our world with the Gospel.

Raise up all generations to participate in the worship of God and to be lifelong followers of Jesus.

Build intergenerational relationship as we live life together.

Provide dynamic ministries that strengthen families and invest in individuals (children, youth, college and adults).

This is what we are trying to do.

This is how we make decisions.

Unless it is part of a sound strategy it will never make an impact.

We need a strategy that is effective at helping us accomplish our vision and efficient so we make the most of all we do.

God gave Moses an organizational strategy to efficiently make decisions.

Exodus 18:13–23 ESV

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

2 Characteristics of an Efficient Church

1- Dynamic Unity (I Corinthians 12)

Yet unity by itself is not enough.

2- Dynamic Organization

2 Organization Principles We Learn from Moses

God calls us to be Efficient

Ephesians 4:16 ESV

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Not enough to just be organized-

Must be well organized.

One Person Cannot Do It All

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

We have Each other

The church’s structure was in decline before COVID. COVID put an end to it.

We Have Pastors and Ministers

Equip the saints for the work of ministry.

Not hired to do ministry. That’s unbiblical.

We are proposing a new Team Ministry structure.

4 Reasons We Chose Teams Over Committees

Teams= a group of interdependent people working together to accomplish a common goal.

1- Teams Are Goal Oriented

Committees make decisions. Teams accomplish a goal.

2- Teams Work Like a Body

Better picture of the Body of Christ.

3- Teams Empower Ministry

Emphasizes gifts over positions. Put people on the right place on the team.

Empower people to do ministry. Not to control people.

4- Teams Create Intimacy

ILL- Michael and Kaitlyn/ Sue, Carole, Cami, Henry

The Proof of Efficiency -= Fruit

This is how we know if we are efficient.

Matthew 7:20 ESV

20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

John 15:1–8 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

It is not enough to just produce some fruit.

God prunes branches so they produce more fruit.

Pruning= CHANGE

Abiding= bearing MUCH Fruit.

CONCLUSION

Present structure does not organize us in the most efficient way to meet our vision.

Today a new team has met and presents a new structure.

The next step in building a Kingdom Building church.

Have Church Restructuring Team come to front.

Pass out new structure.

Review.

God has a purpose for our church.

God has a purpose for your life.