Natural Church Development

An Introduction and Update

God and Church Growth

What’s going on in this picture?

Everything we need to see the church grow has been provided by God

The problem is that we do not make use of it!

Principles vs. models

The Eight Quality Characteristics of Growing Churches

Quality Characteristic #1:Empowering Leadership

Not “empowered,” but “empowering”

Growing churches have leaders who raise up leaders and give leadership away

Equip, support, motivate, and mentor

Quality Characteristic #2:Gift-Based Ministry

Growing churches help members identify their gifts and integrate them into ministries

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Frederick Buechner

NCD research: no greater joy than living according to our spiritual gifts

Quality Characteristic #3:Passionate Spirituality There are divergent

styles of spirituality The important thing is

not the way spirituality is expressed, but that faith is really lived out with commitment, fire, and enthusiasm

What good is the best engine if the gas tank is empty and when there is no energy?

Quality Characteristic #4:Effective Structures

Growing churches have forms and structures that fulfill their purpose well

Structures are always a mean to an end

This characteristic gets the most resistance “Traditionalism means

church forms have to stay the same way I have become used to them.”

Quality Characteristic #5:Inspiring Worship Service

The key is not the style (or model) of worship

The key is the principle of worship: Is worship an inspiring experience for those who attend it?

This characteristic clearly separates growing from non-growing churches “People who attend inspiring

worship services unanimously declare that the church service is ‘fun.’”

Quality Characteristic #6:Holistic Small Groups

Intimate community, practical help, and intensive spiritual interaction

“Christian small groups are not a nice, yet disposable hobby. No, it is the very essence of the true life of Jesus Christ that is worked out in small groups.”

Quality Characteristic #7:Need-Oriented Evangelism

Growing churches share the gospel in a way that meets the questions and needs of non-Christians

See John 1:35-51

Quality Characteristic #8:Loving Relationships

How much time do members spend together beyond church-sponsored events?

How much laughter is there in the church?

“Unfeigned, practical love endows a church with a much greater magnetic power than all the marketing efforts of this world.”

The All-by-Itself Principle

God has given the church everything it needs to grow

Mark 4:26-29 Then Jesus said, “This is what God’s kingdom is like. It’s as though

someone scatters seed on the ground, then sleeps and wakes night and day. The seed sprouts and grows, but the farmer doesn’t know how. The earth produces crops all by itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full head of grain. Whenever the crop is ready, the farmer goes out to cut the grain because it’s harvesttime.”

Every church has the nouns Growth comes through the adjectives

Key Concern: The Quality of Churches

Quality is the root Quantity is the fruit What is our weakest

area?

Quality Characteristic Current Profile

Empo

wer

ing

Lead

ersh

ip

Gift-B

ased

Min

istry

Pass

iona

te S

pirit

ualit

y

Effec

tive

Stru

ctur

es

Insp

iring

Wor

ship

Holistic

Sm

all G

roup

s

Need-

Orient

ed E

vang

elism

Loving

Rel

atio

nshi

ps

Curre

nt A

vera

ge0

20

40

6044

52

34

47 50 52

36 3544

2013 50 = Average

65 = High

35 = Low

Empowering Leadership Current Profile

0204060

35

6350 42

2013 How well do the leaders

delegate and share ministry?

Is our pastor(s) free to make decisions and lead the church?

Is this a team effort or a one-person show?

Are we just maintaining current ministry or are there definable goals?

Gift-Based Ministry Current Profile

0

20

40

60 5261

50 44

2013 Do we match people’s gifts to the task(s) they perform at the church?

Do people feel joy in their service or is it an obligation?

Does the church leadership support people in their ministry?

Are people trained for their task(s)?

Passionate Spirituality Current Profile

Expe

rienc

ing

God

Pass

ion

for C

hurc

h

Pass

ion

for d

evot

ions

Spiri

tual

inte

r- co

nnec

tedn

ess

0

20

40

6040 39 39

23

2013 What role does my relationship with Christ have in my daily life?

Not just a passion for the local church, but for Christ’s church.

How important is the Bible to the way people live their lives?

How can we move religion from being a private matter to a topic that we discuss with other believers?

Effective Structures Current Profile

0

20

40

60 53

3542

52

2013 How do we determine and communicate corporate goals?

What would an organizational chart of our church look like?

How does the church encourage and allow creative thinking?

How are leaders appointed and trained? Who do they report to?

Inspiring Worship Current Profile

0

20

40

60 56

39 4151

2013 Do people leave worship feeling better than when they arrived?

Do people want to share the worship service with their friends?

Why do people come to your worship service?

Does the sermon address real-life needs of the congregation?

Holistic Small Groups Current Profile

0

20

40

60 51 4959 62

2013 What does group life look like when “God shows up”?

Are the groups growing? How fast?

How effective have your groups been in incorporating new people?

What makes your small groups a safe place for learning and sharing?

Need-Oriented Evangelism Current Profile

Compa

ssio

nate

chu

rch

Corpo

rate

eva

ngel

istic

effor

ts

Pers

onal

eva

ngel

ism

Seek

er- s

ensitiv

e ch

urch

0

20

40

6041 37

2542

2013 How do you make newcomers feel as if they belong?

How intentional is the leadership at encouraging evangelism?

How well do the people in your congregation do in sharing their faith?

How do we as a church work together to welcome seekers?

Loving Relationships Current Profile

0

20

40

6036 34

56

25

2013 Do we encourage one another?

Are joy and acceptance present in our church on a weekly basis?

How interconnected are the people in our church?

Is conflict addressed or ignored?

Passionate Spirituality Focus Questions1. What are two ideas that will help you be more passionate, inspired, and enthusiastic in your Bible study and devotional life?

2. What are two ideas that will help you become more comfortable and confident in talking about your faith with others?

3. What are two ideas that will help you stretch yourself to be more intentional and confident in showing your faith through your daily life?

4. What are two ideas that will prompt you to graciously increase your financial stewardship to St. Philip’s Lutheran Church?

5. What are two ideas that you will personally commit to that will help St. Philip’s Lutheran Church actively engage the changing neighborhood and community?

Where Do We Go from Here?

Healthy Church Team Congregational Survey

30 representative active members

Measure SPLC’s eight quality characteristics

Focus Groups Set SMART Goals based on SPLC’s Minimum Factor Collaborate, communicate, and participate Monitor progress toward goals Congregational Survey in 12-15 months