Vision is a clear mental image of a preferable future. The team needs clear vision, mission and goals.
A church or ministry needs one overarching vision/ mission statement, and all the other ministry vision/ mission statements need to support and reflect the main vision.
The early church had a clear vision and strategy and they worked together to accomplish miraculous things. Challenging goals motivate the team to attempt great things. Praying together is essential. Unity.
A clear and common vision enables a team to row in the same direction at the same time.
A clear and common vision also enables the church and the ministry teams to evaluate their effectiveness.
COMMUNICATION/ COMMITMENT:
This is one clear ministry principle that I operate under, “People are down on what they are not up on.”
Clear communication builds trust and improves morale.
Your ministry team needs to make sure that it is communicating up, down and across the board. We must communicate clearly and resolve conflicts when they arise.
Without clear communication, you will have ministry hic ups and personal conflicts.
Commitment is strengthened through conflict resolution. Do not let conflict destroy team dynamics.
COMPLEMENTARY GIFTS and TALENTS:
Every person knows and is using his or her spiritual gifts and is working together to accomplish the vision.
This is where prayer and walking in the Spirit is so important. If we are all walking with God and listening for the Shepherd’s directions, then we will be guided by one voice. We complement each other as we follow the Spirit’s leading.
If we are not listening to the Spirit, we will Edge God Out. EGO’s will destroy the body of Christ!
Great teams are not composed of a bunch of superstars and prima-Dona’s. Great teams are composed of different individuals who willingly submit their goals to the overall goal of winning for the team.
Coaching the individual to grow and develop to contribute to the team is the goal. Jesus is the example.
COMMUNITY:
Jesus told his disciples at the end of his time with them that He was not going to call them servants any longer, but friends. Coaching individuals like Jesus helps the team member to engage successfully.
The “One Another’s” are the blueprint to help us discover ways to serve and build up each other.
The gifts of the Spirit enable us to serve and equip each other so that we can “grow up” in all aspects into Christ.
We do not just work together, but we are friends. This is where we want to go.
Great teams are composed of friends who are willing to sacrifice to see the vision of the team accomplished. They are committed to the mission and to each other.
CONQUER:
Eventually the evidence that a team is functioning at optimum is that the team wins victories.
Setting goals and holding each other accountable for the accomplishment of the individual and team goals is critical here.
You must learn to generate short-term wins, before you can win the big games. Peak performances at the right time are very important here. Plan and pray ahead to generate victories!
After the win celebrate the win and recognize team member contributions.
After the win, evaluate the measurable metrics. Follow the maxim, “What gets measured gets managed.” Set new goals based upon the vision and the evaluations.
IF I WERE STARTING OR REVITALIZING A CHURCH TODAY…
I would:
Understand that missiology determines methodology. Jesus on Mission determines what the church looks like. Focus on reaching your Jerusalem for Christ (Acts 1:8) with missional formats for every demographic/ people group in your context. John 20:21. Partner with other Kingdom Outposts to create a “City Reaching Movement”. Show and Share the Gospel!
Christocentric Mission
Gospel Net
Joining Jesus on Mission
Mission Informs Mission Chart
City Reach Mission Statement with Steps
City Reach Statements PowerPoint
The ABC’s of suburban missions
Apartment Life
Community Groups
Tampa Underground
Understand what the church is… what is the controlling metaphor? The church is His body with members. Each member is expected to play his or her part in the grand plan of God (Eph. 2:10)
Rom. 12/ 1 Cor. 12/ Eph. 1 and 4/ Col. 1
Healthy Church Systems chart
Disciple Making Is Chapter 19 “Understanding the Importance of the Body”
Chapter 4 Disciple Making Is
Body Life- Ray Stedman
“Body of Christ”
Life in His Body- Bonhoeffer
Be clear on your job and do your job. My job is to bring glory to God by… developing healthy “missional disciples” who love God, love one another & love neighbor. Love is the goal of our instruction… 1 Tim. 1:5
Connect People to Christ/ To One Another and to the Mission
Venn Diagram
Matthew 28- 1 command 3 participles/ 1 promise
Eph. 4:11
APEST
Healthy Body Healthy Church
Healthy Church Assessment
Create a Prayer Team that prays every morning. I would also teach everyone to pray Luke 10:2 twice a day
Quotes on Prayer
“Biblical Prayer Requests”
How Much Prayer Chapter 22
Neil Cole How to Pray for the Lost
Dr. Falwell quotes and plan
Small Groups become the praying arm of the church
Make sure the Preaching of the Gospel is connected to believing in and following Jesus!
Bill Hull
Gospel Questions
Gospel Conversations
Gospel Presentations
Discipleship starts with believing in Jesus as savior and Lord. (Rom. 10:9-10) “
Required Baptism class”
Write out Testimony and follow the B.L.E.S.S. method for every member
Start small (create the DNA). “Do not despise the day of small beginnings.”
I would meet for 10-12 months with a leadership team setting the DNA
After/ during the 10-12 months each couple would recruit their own group of 10-12 people
Then bring the 10-12 groups together on Sunday morning as a collection of missional groups
Sunday morning would be exegetical, expositional teaching for the missionaries
The focus would be growing from the “inside out” not the “outside in”
Each week recognize and commission new groups being born and sent out to the mission
Organize around small groups (Follow Wesley’s system of Bands/ Classes/ Society)
Every person in a group
Every group to have gender specific “Growth Groups” (see pamphlet)
Every group would have a mission
Every member would be a missionary (Teach and practice B.L.E.S.S.)
Every group would have an apprentice
Every group would be expected to multiply within 18 months
Have a great Assimilation Process and connect Sunday morning to midweek- (Sermon Series Groups)
Assimilation Process
7 Step Assimilation Process
Strengthens the partnership
Increase Women leadership
Have a required connect class and assimilation process with non-negotiable membership commitments.
Why Should I Join a Church?
“Church Membership” by Thom Rainer
Rom. 12/ 1 Cor. 12/ Eph. 4-
Members of the Body must be fulfilling their part in the Body.
Have a “Jethro” coaching system for discipleship/ group leaders-
Exodus 18
(5 x 5 Model)
“COACH” article
What should I report to my Coach 25
Joel Comiskey Coaching
Have a full blown training institute that focuses on “Ortho Praxy”-
Triple Diamond and
Clint Clifton-Residency Programs
City Partnerships
Have a leadership/ teaching team from Eph. 4:11 (APEST) or I would try to reflect APEST.
APEST
Leadership Quotes
Three Streams Chapter 17-19
The 5 C’s
Focus on Eph. 4:16… the “proper working of each individual part” and
Col. 1:28-29 “Every Person Focus”
Make sure the architecture and programming reflects the missional nature of the church… not “Come and See” but “Go and Be”. Places for food, clothing, education, life skills… AND Only hire/pay people who produce/ develop/ train missional disciples. Every paid person is personally involved in equipping, and discipling others for the Great Commission.
With/ Of/ Is
TAHO
Organic
”Show and Share the Good News!”
“Creating A Disciplng Culture.”
How Do you Measure Success?
Health
Multiplication
55 Metrics
Focus on keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing… MAKE DISCIPLES and qualify for the Promise!
I would not:
Start large
Start in a church building
Start with a Sunday morning service
I would be careful about: (Performance based ministry)
Having a worship team… keep it simple… congregational singing
Having a children’s ministry that minimizes parental discipleship
Having a youth ministry that minimizes parental discipleship
Hiring traditional staff for Sunday morning
Focusing on the centrality of the pulpit (Venn Diagram)
The church is the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27/ Eph. 5:30). In the natural world we know whether or not a body is healthy or not by taking an assessment of certain baseline measurements that indicate health. If we are disinterested or lazy about growing and maintaining our systems, they will not produce the results we want. In other words, slack equals lack. When we become slack in taking care of our systems, we experience lack, and a weak system or a system that has decreased function will not be healthy and an unhealthy body will not be a good representation of Christ and will not reproduce.
HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS:
SKELETAL (Support)
RESPIRATORY (Breathing)
NERVOUS (Signaling)
MUSCULAR (Movement)
DIGESTIVE (Energy)
CARDIOVASCULAR (Circulation)
IMMUNE (Defense)
REPRODUCTIVE (Life Giving)
CHURCH/ BODY OF CHRIST SYSTEMS:
THE PRAYER SYSTEM (Dependence on Christ in all SYSTEMS)
THE EVANGELISM SYSTEM (Attractional and Missional)
THE WEEKEND SERVICE SYSTEM (Worship and Preaching)
THE ASSIMILATION SYSTEM (Discipleship- Small Groups)
THE MOBILIZATION SYSTEM (Discipleship- Ministry Teams)
THE STEWARDSHIP SYSTEM (Discipleship- Giving)
THE LEADERSHIP SYSTEM (Great Commission Leaders)
THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM (Missions and Church Planting)
QUESTIONS:
What are the strongest 2 systems in your church?
What are the weakest 2 systems in your church?
What is your strategic plan to create healthy systems for a healthy body?
THE KEYS:
Identification of the Systems
Measuring the health of the Systems (body). (#’s/ percentages/ ratios)
Creating a plan for improving the health of a system(s). (Personnel/ Strategic Planning/ Accountability= Annual Department Ministry Plan).
4 QUADRANTS:
Good People/ Good Systems= Maximized Results
Good Systems/ Bad People= Better than average Results
Understand that missiology determines ecclesiology. Jesus on Mission determines what the church looks like. Focus on reaching your Jerusalem for Christ with missional formats for every demographic/ people group in your context. John 20:21 “We are joining Jesus on His mission to make disciples to reach the world.”
Understand what the church is- what is the controlling metaphor? The church is His body with members. Each member is expected to play his or her part in the grand plan of God (Eph. 2:10)
Be clear on your job and do your job. My job is to bring glory to God by… developing healthy “missional disciples” who love God, love one another & love neighbor. Love is the goal of our instruction… 1 Tim. 1:5
Create a Prayer Team that prays every morning. I would also teach everyone to pray Luke 10:2 twice a day
Make sure the Preaching of the Gospel is connected to believing in and following Jesus! Discipleship starts with believing in Jesus as savior and Lord. (Rom. 10:9-10) “Required Baptism class”
Start small (create the DNA). “Do not despise the day of small beginnings.”
I would meet for 10-12 months with a leadership team setting the DNA
I would encourage each couple/ person to create their own group after 10-12 months
Organize around small groups (Follow Wesley’s system of Bands/ Classes/ Society)
Every person in a group
Every group to have gender specific “Growth Groups” (see pamphlet)
Every group would have a mission
Every member would be a missionary (Teach and practice B.L.E.S.S.)
Every group would have an apprentice
Every group would be expected to multiply within 18 months
Have a great Assimilation Process and connect Sunday morning to midweek- (Sermon Series Groups)
Strengthens the partnership
Increase Women leadership
Have a required connect class and assimilation process with non-negotiable membership commitments. Rom. 12/ 1 Cor. 12/ Eph. 4- Members of the Body must be fulfilling their part in the Body.
Have a “Jethro” coaching system for discipleship/ group leaders- Exodus 18 (5 x 5 Model)
Have a full blown training institute that focuses on “Ortho Praxy”- Triple Diamond
Have a leadership/ teaching team from Eph. 4:11 (APEST) or I would try to reflect APEST.
Focus on Eph. 4:16… the “proper working of each individual part” and Col. 1:28-29 “Every Person Focus”
Make sure the architecture reflects the missional nature of the church… not “Come and See” but “Go and Be”. Places for food, clothing, education, life skills…”Show and Share the Good News!”
Only hire/pay people who produce/ develop/ train disciples. Every paid person is personally involved in equipping, and discipling others for the Great Commission. “Creating A Disciplng Culture.”
Focus on keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing… MAKE DISCIPLES and qualify for the Promise!
I would not:
Start large
Start in a church building
Start with a Sunday morning service
I would be careful about: (Performance based ministry)
Having a worship team… keep it simple… congregational singing
Having a children’s ministry that minimizes parental discipleship
Having a youth ministry that minimizes parental discipleship
Hiring traditional staff for Sunday morning
Focusing on the centrality of the pulpit (Venn Diagram)
disciplemakingblog 