The Thriving Church Part 8: Context

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 CEB

19 Although I’m free from all people, I make myself a slave to all people, to recruit more of them. 20 I act like a Jew to the Jews, so I can recruit Jews. I act like I’m under the Law to those under the Law, so I can recruit those who are under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law). 21 I act like I’m outside the Law to those who are outside the Law, so I can recruit those outside the Law (though I’m not outside the law of God but rather under the law of Christ). 22 I act weak to the weak, so I can recruit the weak. I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means. 23 All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it.

Hey You!

Story of Temple City successfully attempting to grow young

Look!

Six Core Commitments to Thriving and Growing Young

Unlock keychain leadership

Empathize with Today’s Young People

Take Jesus’ Message Seriously

Fuel a Warm Community

Prioritize Young People (and families) Everywhere

Be the Best Neighbors

See!

Great news. Deep and lasting change is possible. It benefits us in many ways to grow young. But we must understand how to embody the six core commitments in our context. Otherwise, just haphazardly trying things to change could slow things down or hinder our efforts, due to the real challenges that can arise anytime a church tries to change.

For instance, some people may get upset and anxious with what needs to change, and some of them may be people who have been great supporters of the church for years.

It is natural to have elements that don’t go as planned to be perceived as failures and this can lead to some members getting frustrated with leadership.

So our success is rooted in prayerfully seeking God’s call for our congregation, for our specific context. Not what God is calling some other congregation to do. But what how He wants us to reach out.

Now that we have explored the six core commitments, it’s important to briefly dispel some of the myths that are out there about becoming a thriving church that grows young.

Myth Busting

Myth #1: There Is a Single Silver Bullet

Myth #2: Bigger and Well-Resourced Churches Can Change Faster and Easier

Myth #3: Hiring ___________ Will Solve the Problem

No area showed up higher than 10%. Which means we need to listen really well to the people we are trying to reach in our specific context.

Some of the most successful churches have basic facilities and thrived on lay leaders and little to no paid staff.

Hiring someone can be helpful, but not necessary. For real change to take affect, the change process needs to be owned and implemented by the entire church.

Creating Our Plan for Change

***We need to come up with an intervention through understanding our context and coming at it as an adaption challenge, rather than coming at it as a technical problem. In other words, adaption implies a shift in attitudes, values, and behaviors. **

It is about a shift in attitudes, values, and behaviors.

Broken arm vs. stopping Smoking

Look at our scripture passage in . Paul is highlighting what we should value. Saving people for the sake of the gospel. Modifying behaviour based on context, while holding to principles, and understanding values.

1 Corinthians 9:20 CEB

I act like a Jew to the Jews, so I can recruit Jews. I act like I’m under the Law to those under the Law, so I can recruit those who are under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law).

1 Corinthians 9:22–23 CEB

I act weak to the weak, so I can recruit the weak. I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means. All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it.

For instance, a Jew would want to keep a ceremonial law like staying ceremonially washing hands before eating. Paul being a convert, would not value that ceremony anymore. He could get right to eating when he is hungry. However, because he has changed his values to uphold sharing the gospel, he will look at the context of those he is trying to reach and modify his behavior to better connect with the jews. and therefore he will do the ceremonial handwashing. Because he has this deeper understanding, he is able to modify his behaviors. Whereas, if he valued the ease of not needing to do the washing, he would have had a harder time modifying his behavior to reach the Jews.

How do we know what to do? What adaptions need to happen? Where to start?

Do!

Begin with listening.

Begin with listening.

From this we learn about our own unique church context.

This also keeps us from equating the health of our church to the Three B’s. Building, Body, and Budget. Or the ABC’s. Attendance, Baptisms, and Cash.

F

Rather we should take the time to respond to the needs of our own young people. By listening we learn a lot. We can get the board to listen, create a special team, etc. It was done a number of years ago. The nominating committee listened to the youth, and from there called gifted people to help meet the needs the youth highlighted.

To understand our context, listen to... ()

God

Young people

Your own heart

Research about young people

Parents, church leaders, youth and young adult leaders

Older Generations

Our Neighbors

What we have heard

Youth and nom comm

Jon and church planting

Neighbors and community surveys

Assessment of our own leadership

Significance of Stories

Share stories of future hope.

Stories tell a lot and help us take what we are learning from listening and giving us inspiration to move forward through the challenge of change. What’s a story that can propel us forward? My story. Going back to home church. Someone remembered when I would talk up front...

Tools

Focus where we have the most influence.

Graph showing influence.

Cultural and generational awareness

Cultural and generational awareness

Leadership training

Strategic planning

Material resources

Vision and Mission Casting

Fostering authentic worship

Our greatest obstacle or challenge is our own congregation. But it’s also the areas where we have the most influence. We will be hard pressed to change surrounding culture, young people themselves that we don’t have a relationship with, or their parents. But we can change things like how we share our leadership, uniting around a common vision, taking Jesus’ message seriously, etc.

Holding Environment

Carefully make changes in a smaller setting.

in a holding environment so as not to cause too much stress too soon. Just enough pressure at the right time.

Experiment on the margins

Try new ideas in a smaller setting.

Disciplined attention

Stay disciplined.

Keep the eye on the ball with a plan to handle what is likely. Like conflict, failure. Create a special team to help pay attention. Treat failures as a learning experience.

Highlight small wins.

Think longterm

Pray together.

***To find***

Adventist storefront or barn church for context.