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Beyond Worship:Ministry with Adults
Using A Contemporary Church Model
Bill Alphin
Virginia Baptist Mission Board
How do we How do we develop a develop a
mature faith mature faith as disciples as disciples
of Jesus?of Jesus?
• StudyStudy• PrayerPrayer
• NurtureNurture• ServiceService• TestingTesting
• ReflectionReflection
Natural Church Development
Schwarz• Empowering leadership• Gift-oriented ministry• Passionate spirituality• Functional structures• Holistic small groups• Need-oriented evangelism• Loving relationships
The Influence of the Contemporary Church Models• To “Clone” rather than learn from
“Principles”
• Contemporary Worship vs. Traditional
• Sunday School verses Small Groups
• Closed Groups verses Open Groups
For adults to “stick” with the church, they must
find a place where they are known by name and
where friendships can develop.
Essential Groupsin the church:
•Worship—Focus on God.•Adult Bible Fellowship (Sunday School).—Focus on people.
•Small Groups—Focus God’s relationship with His people.
TheSaddlebackModel forBuildingUp TheChurch
The CommunityUnchurched
The CrowdRegular Attendees
MembersCongregation
CommittedMaturing
Core Lay Ministers
ABF
SS
ABF’s andSS Classes are“Open”:
THE BIG PICTURE:
How Small Groups Fit IntoThe Ministry Of The Church
WorshipCommunity
ABF
SS
ABF’s andSS Classes are“Open”:
THE BIG PICTURE:
Covenant(Open)
BAGOAG
TaskGroup
SMALL GROUPS
How Small Groups Fit IntoThe Ministry Of The Church
WorshipCommunity
ABF
SS
ABF’s andSS Classes are“Open”:
THE BIG PICTURE:
Covenant(Open)
BAGOAG
TaskGroup
SMALL GROUPS
VariousMissions/Ministries
Opportunities
How Small Groups Fit IntoThe Ministry Of The Church
WorshipCommunity
ABF
SS
ABF’s andSS Classes are“Open”:
THE BIG PICTURE:
Covenant(Open)
BAGOAG
TaskGroup
SMALL GROUPS
VariousMissions/Ministries
Opportunities
How Small Groups Fit IntoThe Ministry Of The Church
MissionAction
WorshipCommunity
Worship ServiceEntry Point
People who are neverassimilatedat this pointare at high risk of exiting.
Small GroupsAs A Tool ForGrowingDisciples…
ABF
ABF
SS
ABF
Possiblepoint ofassimilation:
ABF’s andSS groups are“Open”:The focus isfellowship.
THE BIG PICTURE: How Small Groups “fit” in the Church
Covenant(Open)
BAG
OAG
OAGTask
Group
SMALL GROUPS
Content of SmallGroups (Varies depending on the purpose of the group)
•Prayer•Disciplines of the faith.•Time of accountability• and encouragement.•Training.•Ministry beyond self.
VariousMissions/Ministries
Opportunities
LeadershipCommunity
used tocoach
leaders.
EntryPoints
EntryPoints
MissionAction Debrief and
reflection.
MinistryBeyond“Self”.
TERMINOLOGY:
ABF= Adult Bible FellowshipBAG=Basic Accountability Group.OAG=Ongoing Accountability Group
Agree-Disagree:
“A church that relies only on Church member participation in the Sunday morning worship experience and adult Sunday School class will not go very far in developing mature disciples of Jesus Christ.”Bill Alphin
Turning Attenders Into Members Rich Warren, Saddleback Valley Community Church
• Develop a plan to assimilate member.• Communicate the value of membership.• Establish a required membership class.• Develop a membership covenant.• Make your members feel special• Create opportunities to build relationships.• Encourage every member to join a small group.
EvangelismAnd Assimilation
BibleStudy
CareMinistry
Three functions ofThe Adult Bible Fellowship…
(Adult Sunday School Classes)
Why Should We Care About Small Groups?
• Growing churches think small.• High tech cries for high touch!• Millennials want honest, caring relationships• Millennials are looking for “family”.• Church renewal often comes from God working
with people in a small group community setting.• It may be the most important “Niche” the
Church has that will differentiate itself from other organizations and institutions.
Why Are Small Groups Important To The Development Of Disciples?• Disciples are best developed in groups.• Disciples are best developed when there is
accountability and encouragement.• Disciples are best developed where there is a
high degree of trust in the group.• Disciples are best developed when there is
agreed expectations and outcomes.• The adult Sunday School is not very effective as
a disciple making group.
It is difficult to move People who attend Worship where they canBe anonymous to Involvement in smallGroups that requireA high degree of intimacy.
Brief Theology of Small Groups
•Exodus 18:17-18a,21 (NIV)•Moses' father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out….But select capable men from all the people-- men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain-- and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”
Brief Theology of Small Groups
•John 10:16 (NIV):
•I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Contents of A Small Group(Varies depending on the purpose of the group)
• Fellowship and possible ice breaker.• Prayer (talking and listening).• Disciplines of the faith.• Time of “catching up”: Accountability and
encouragement.• Additional new training.• Ministry beyond self: Gift based Missions• Time of hospitality and fellowship.
Small groups should be Small groups should be sequential...sequential...
People are grouped People are grouped according to stage of faith according to stage of faith journey...journey...
Each phase of discipleshipEach phase of discipleshipmoves the disciple to a moves the disciple to a higher level of higher level of commitment.commitment.
Worship ServiceEntry Point
Small GroupsAs A Tool ForGrowingDisciples…
ABF
ABF
SS
ABF
The Traditional Model Verses The Contemporary Church ModelThe Traditional Model Verses The Contemporary Church Model
Covenant(Open)
BAG
OAG
OAGTask
Group
SMALL GROUPS
VariousMissions/Ministries
Opportunities
Leadership Community
used to coach leaders.
(Traditional Church Model)
Entry PointWorship Service
OpenSmall Groups
With “Empty Chair”
(Contemporary Church Model)
The Contemporary Model Verses The Traditional “Baptist” Model
Traditional: Contemporary:• Sunday School/ABF• Out Reach/ Caring
through the SS.• Discipleship Small
Groups are often “Hit or Miss” –No curriculum plan.
• Discipleship Training Director.
• Open Small Groups• Outreach/Caring through
the Small Group (Open Chair)
• Small Group Ministry Tends to Be Organized with “Coaches.
• Leadership Community.• Movement from anonymity
to intimacy without transition.
Elements of a Healthy Small Elements of a Healthy Small GroupGroup
X
EGR
H G
S
LXa
(B)
Leader
Facilitator
Apprentice
Recruiter
Empty Chair
Overseer
Observer
Seekers
Babysitter
Children’s Minister
if needed
Growing
Disciples
Extra GraceRequired Person
Hospitality
Person
29
An effective disciple making An effective disciple making church must have leaders. church must have leaders.
Develop disciple making leaders Develop disciple making leaders by...by...
• Affirm those who are effective Christian disciples and leaders.
• Provide vision and encouragement.• Discover and utilize spiritual gifts.• Create accountability relationships for
leaders through a leadership community.• Free leaders of institutional Maintenance.
Edward H. Hammett Making the Church Work.
The Leadership CommunityThe Leadership Community• NurtureNurture
• Vision Casting-Large PictureVision Casting-Large Picture
• Ideas and activities. (Plenary)Ideas and activities. (Plenary)
• Skill Development (Sub-groups by Skill Development (Sub-groups by type)type)
• Huddle/Planning (Sub-groups by type)Huddle/Planning (Sub-groups by type)
• Meets at least monthly.Meets at least monthly.
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