The Jethro Model

Exodus 18:1–2 NLT

1 Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the Lord had rescued them from Egypt. 2 Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in.

Exodus 18:6–9 NLT

6 Jethro had sent a message to Moses, saying, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to see you with your wife and your two sons.” 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other’s welfare and then went into Moses’ tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the Lord had rescued his people from all their troubles. 9 Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.

Exodus 18:13–18 NLT

13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” 15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.” 17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.

Dunbar’s Number - 150

"The number of people you would not feel embarrassed about joining uninvited for a drink if you happened to bump into them at a bar"

Church Size in America

The mean church size is 75

90% of churches are 350 or less

10% of the churches have 50% of the attenders

The average church size is 184

50% of all church attendees go to a church that is larger than 350

The Limitations of a Pastor-centric church structure and leadership

It undermines Jesus’ command for all to make disciples of all

It limits the growth of the church.

It is safe to say that a single pastor can only effectively pastor 75-150 people before the pastor-centric church structure limits the opportunities to make more disciples. The needs of the disciples renders the church infertile because the only person making disciples is the pastor who is now consumed with the needs of the disciples.

It neglects the health (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) of the pastor

It creates hierarchy (as opposed to structure) thereby setting aside members of the body (high-performance is preferred over faithful)

Newark at its current size and structure requires a workaholic pastor

Exodus 18:19–23 NLT

19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”

Jethro’s Structure

Groups of 10, 50, 100, 1000

Groups of 10 - small groups with members caring for members

Groups of 50 - 5 small groups (members caring for members) organized, structured, and cared for by 1 person

Groups of 100 - 1 person, along with 2 others (the ones caring for the group of 50) organizing, structuring, and caring for 100

Groups of 1,0000 - 1 person, along with 10 others who each have two others, (a team of 31) organizing, structuring, caring for 1000

Any one person is only caring for 30-50 people

The New Testament Structure

Pastor is only used once in Ephesians 4:11 and the role (along with apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers) is to equip the church to do God’s work

All other occasions for the role of pastor is actually the term elder and is never found in the singular. In other words, when elder (meaning the role of a pastor) is found within church structure in the NT, it is always elders or a team

Great example is Acts 13:1-3

We even see the early Christian church having to adapt to grow the team in Acts 6:1-7

What does this mean? Conclusions:

If a church is to continue making disciples the pastor-centric model must transition to a team model

The church members must become active and primary in caring for one another

The church members must become active and primary in making disciples themselves

There must be ministry leaders who lead (serve through organizing and structuring) church members

There must be pastors who only pastor other pastors and ministry leaders

The church must be composed of groups of members caring for one another while being organized by ministry leaders

These ministry leaders are caring for their teams even as they organize them

Finally teams of pastors caring for and organizing each other and the ministry leaders must be developed and embraced

Again, if a church is to continue growing past 150 the pastor-centric model must transition to a team model

The team model means that the whole body is structured so as to help one another carry the load

Ephesians 4:11–13 NLT

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

The Year of Expected Change