Daily Discussion Question: What does your church do to spur one another to grasp the deeper truths of the faith?
Jeremy Geerdes
definition of the seeker-sensitive church. Their strategy was simple:
tailor everything about the church to appeal to non-believers. So they
built their facility to resemble a mix between a theater and a
stadium, with all sorts of bells-and-whistle amenities, they
incorporate drama and worship that intentionally resembles a rock
concert into their worship service, and the primary message is focused
on the seeker's primary need: salvation.
For the better part of three decades, Willow Creek grew by leaps and
bounds, becoming one of the largest churches in the country and even
encouraging other congregations to emulate the same model in their own
context. But about a year ago, Willow Creek admitted a shocking truth
that compelled senior pastor Bill Hybels, a renowned leader of
evangelicalism, to declare that he and his church had made a mistake.
The realization sprung from the study's discovery that the most
effective evangelists at Willow Creek Community Church were neither
the pastors nor the new believers that were excited about their
newfound faith. Rather, it was the spiritually mature among the
congregation that was making the greatest impact on the ministries and
success of the church. What was striking about this discovery was
that, despite a number of programs designed for these parishioners, an
alarming approximately 25% of these spiritually mature believers were
feeling spiritually stagnant or dissatisfied. And among these, nearly
two-thirds had contemplated finding another church.
In response to this discovery, Willow Creek has announced a number of
strategic and philosophical changes that they will be enacting over
the next few years to better equip and encourage people to go beyond
the simple salvation message to, in the words of the apostle Paul,
"keep hold of the deep truths of the faith" (1 Timothy 3:9 NIV).
In light of these revelations, we must ask ourselves, what are our
churches doing to encourage people to go deeper than the sinner's
prayer? What are we doing to equip our spiritually mature believers to
continue to strengthen and develop their relationship with God? What
are we doing to make sure that our most effective ministers don't
become stagnant, dissatisfied, and ultimately leave the church?
So here's the question: What does your church do to spur one another
to grasp the deeper truths of the faith? And the follow-up: how
effective are those efforts?
Rev. Jeremy R. Geerdes, Pastor
Debra Heights Wesleyan Church
4025 Lower Beaver Rd.
Des Moines, IA 50310
p/f: (515) 279-5212
h: (515) 277-7491
jgee...@mchsi.com
jgeerdes.wordpress.com
Jeremy R. Geerdes (Debra Heights Wesleyan - Des Moines)
question, reiterating the concern that Willow Creek has revealed.
Check it out at the link below:
http://www.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT03NDY1NDEmcD0xJnU9MTAxNjU4NzYyJmxpPTI5NTQ1NDE/index.html
jg
ste...@discoveroakhills.com
http://www.revealnow.com/index.asp
I think Willow Creek would say that they made a mistake in their
understanding about where spiritual growth is occurring. I don't think
it would be correct so say that they made a mistake in all of their
methods of outreach to a boomer generation. Let's be honest. How many
of us would like to say that only 25% of their spiritually mature
adults were feeling stagnant. I think many of us would find that the
percentage in our churches would be much higher.
Stephen
> jgeerdes.wordpress.com
Sharon
ministry...I think they are just admitting that there was a gap in
their ministry that they hadn't realized before. What is interesting
is that in their book Rediscovering Church, they state very plainly
that their church was committed to producing disciples, not just
converts, so spiritual development of believers was already a goal of
theirs. It must have been a painful admission for them to say they
were failing 25% of the time.
And I agree with you Stephen...I know in the churches I have been
pastor in, the percentage of those who felt stagnant...or the pastor
believed them to be stagnant based on carnal lifestyles...has been
much higher than 25%.
In fact, one of the things that I have observed even before becoming a
pastor is that we emphasize conversion, and once that goal is met we
just assume the person will grow, and move on to the next "conquest."
And what I've seen is the same people coming to the altar year after
year after year to get saved, but nothing ever seems to change.
Then there are those wonderful times when someone gets saved and their
life turns upside down, and they grow faster than I can keep up. That
is what I long for! I want to see more of that!
What is the difference? I'm not sure I've figured that out yet.
Stressing relationship with God as opposed to teaching salvation as an
event has helped some. Getting someone to see beyond a one time
experience to the potential of being in a vibrant, exciting
relationship with the Almighty God is vital. Even in my youth group
right now, I'm struggling to get the kids to see beyond being a good
person, and either sinning or not sinning, and to instead imagine the
adventure they can have living with Jesus as their best friend. We
expect far too little!
On Mar 17, 8:58 am, step...@discoveroakhills.com wrote:
> The information you are speaking about is the Reveal Surveyhttp://www.revealnow.com/index.asp
DarrenWaite
in our congregations where their passion come from. Why are they
growing so fast? Only they know, but they can clue us in if we ask.
- Darren
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