Painting The Big Picture

First, I want to apologize to you all. I think we have had some great conversations. I think we have talked about some really important stuff, and some really interesting stuff. But I have not done a very good job at keeping us on track. I think we started in the right spot, but then we moved on too quickly from there, which caused us to start jumping into different topics before we were ready.

Tonight, I want us to get back to the beginning. I want us to go back to where we were originally when this all started. We started these meetings by discussing what the Word said about the church. The first question we had was, "What are the biblically defined functions of the church?"

We all took a few weeks, studied that, and then came back with answers from the Word of God that said, “This is how God designed the Church to operate. This is what He expects of us.”

***Look over all of the Biblically defined functions of the church

With that thought in mind, what is our main goal in all of this? To be a Healthy Church!!

What is a healthy church?

“A healthy church is a congregation that increasingly reflects God’s character as it has been revealed in His Word.” Mark Dever: What Is A Healthy Church?

A healthy church is a faithful church. It is a biblically functioning church. That is our goal.

Our main goal is not to grow, though typically healthy churches do grow. Our main goal is not to have a bunch of programs and ministries, though healthy churches do usually have thriving programs and ministries. Our main goal is not to reach young people, though healthy churches do usually reach young people.

Our main goal is simply to be a healthy church… a church that is faithful to the Word of God.

Is everyone in agreement with that?

Now, as we continue our meetings with a focus on developing a 5-10 year plan, what are we going to call it? I do not think we should call it a development plan, because we may be tempted to develop certain things without Christ. I think we should call it something that aligns with our true purpose so that we are constantly reminded of what we are doing and why.

Church Revitalization Plan or Church Health Plan

Before we can just begin developing a 5 or 10-year plan, we must first evaluate where we currently are. When we take the functions of a church that the Bible outlines, and then couple that with where we currently are, we will then be able to start developing a long-term plan to becoming “A Healthy Church!”

Questions: ***Take a brief moment with each of these questions to allow for a response

Do our people regularly share Christ with others outside of the church?

Is being done, but could use some improvement.

Are we intentionally making disciples or simply conducting programs?

No

Does this church strive to operate under the headship of Christ?

Yes

What percentage of attendees are involved in the Sunday School Program?

70 %

How many new members have been successfully assimilated into the church over the past 6 months?

0

Are leaders being developed?

Not really

Is church discipline ever practiced?

Yes, but could use some extra teaching.

Are members genuinely caring for one another?

The core of the church does really well with this

What ministries exist because they are effective, and which exist because they are traditional?

Are we caring for widows and orphans?

Somewhat

Do we faithfully administer the sacraments?

Yes

Does this church preach and practice prayer as it should?

Yes, but could be better

Do we take seriously our time of praise, and do we really worship in a manner that glorifies God?

Not nearly enough

Do we fellowship with one another like real family?

The core of the church does

Is Church Membership meaningful and clearly explained?

Needs to be integrated into the culture of the church

Do we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us as we should?

Could us some improvement

Are there are any other questions that you all can think of that we need to be asking?

The reason we want to ask all of these questions, is because we don’t want to develop a church health plan just around one or two main things, and leave out some other very crucial things. We want to make sure that our 5-10 year goals encompass all of what God has called us to be faithful in.

If we were to boil all of this down into 5 or 10 main categories, that fully embrace all of what God has outlined for us, what would they be?

***Write out these main categories on the board

So as we move forward in developing a 5 to 10-year plan, we need to be working towards a church that is/has:

Developing Leaders

A Freedom of the Spirit

Evangelistically Driven

Discipleship Oriented

Helping those in Need

Bent Towards Prayer

Unified, Accountable, and Operates as a family.

Building T.E.M.P.O.

Is this something that everyone here can get behind. Does “Building T.E.M.P.O.” excite you? If so, we now have our current Vision!!!

Our next immediate goal is to take all of this information and put into a 5 to 10-year plan.

Training

Leadership Development

Accountability Within Leadership

Apprenticeship Program

Discipleship Pathway

Exaltation

Praise

Choir / Music

Media Team

Worship

Altar Team

Ordinances

Communion

Baptism

Ministry

Evangelism

Community Outreach

Gospel Conversation Training

Evangelism Workshops

Gospel Presentation Models

Romans Road

3 Circles

Discipleship

Sunday School

D-Groups / One-On-One Discipleship

New Convert Classes

Missions

Our Immediate Family

The Community

The County

The State

The Country

The World

Prayer

Being Led of the Spirit

Being Full of the Spirit

Accomplishing God’s Will

Prayer Ministry

Oneness

Membership

New Member Classes

Church Discipline

Fellowship

Unity