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30 Positive Discoveries in a Healthy Church
1. Transformed adults (ages 18-40) are the future of your church.
Adults who are changed, gifted, called, and equipped will take care of the
children-and everything else! 2. Everybody wants to be touched by the healing and transforming
power of God.
The public is desperate to be changed, different, and liberated from
their hurts and addictions. 3. Thriving, growing churches provide multiple
opportunities for safe, healthy intimacy.
People want to go beyond the coffee urn to bare their souls with a deeply
trusted few. 4. Worship that works is the only spiritual standard in the
post-Christendom world.
"Good" worship helps people experience the power of God and wald with Jesus -- everything else is tactics. 5. Most people like contemporary music with a strong melody and lots of
rhythm.
Percussion, guitar, creative arrangements and small group ensembles get
people's attention. 6. What matters most is how people feel following the worship service.
People want to "feel alive" for worship and be motivated to
learn and serve through the week. 7. Self-affirmation is the right message
People seeking self-worth give generously to express and celebrate their
inner value. 8. Small groups are the bedrock of Christian Education.
Small groups meeting during the week in homes promote Christian
Growth. 9. In all aspects of congregational life and mission participation is
everything.
Hands-on mission and involvement in ministry are more meaningful than
merely belonging to church. 10. Jesus calls you to risk everything for mission.
If the past helps you grow Chrisitians for the
future, use it. If not, the Gospel is all that matters. 11. Core disciples, who in turn make more disciples, expand God's realm.
A few people who are already to go,l
grow and mentor are more effective than numerous committees. 12. Excited pursuit of a call brings personal fulfillment.
People would rather fulfill their destiny than spend their time
implementing someone else's agenda. 13. Nurturing amateurs to lead ministries from within the congregation
causes the church to grow.
The only reason you add staff is to add staff is to release more gifted,
called and equipped volunteers. 14. It is the pastoral leader's job to train gifted laity in pastoral
care.
Clergy are trainers, motivators, and visionaries who equip others to do
ministries 15. On-the-job, Biblical action and reflection bear fruit.
Study the bible in the physical context of work or mission, and relfect on your daily living. 16. If you want action, find gifted and called individuals and turn them
loose.
Trained laity, who are free to take initiatve, will find the help they need. 17. You must share your faith motivation for evry
beneficial service.
Evangelism and social action are two sides of the same coin. 18.
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