A Relevant ChurchMighty C. Rasing

Young People’s Ministries

DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES

Relevant: What’s in a Word?

• Relation to the matter at hand• Practical and especially social applicability• The ability (as of an information retrieval system) to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of a user. (user-friendly)• Looking for information on parenting, but finds information on how

to castrate a boar

Relevant: What’s in a Word?

•“Contemporary”•Visually appealing•Pop Culture References•“Cool”•Appealing

Relevant: What’s in a Word?

“The Shangri-La debacle taught us that excellent worship, decent preaching, and

a cool venue would attract Christians looking for a more meaningful church experience. It also taught us that non-Christians really do not care about those

things, and they proved it by staying away.”

- Steve Murrell, Wikichurch: Making Discipleship Engaging, Empowering, and Viral

RELEVANCE

What is the MISSION

of the United Methodist Church?

RELEVANCE

RELEVANCE for WHO?

Pause this video, go to your groups and devote 20 minutes to answer

the four questions that follow.

RELEVANCE for WHO?

Are new peoples (young & old) coming to

our churches?Who are they?

How are they coming to our church?

RELEVANCE for WHO?

Are United Methodists (both young & old)

leaving our churches? WHY?

RELEVANCE for WHO?

Who are the PEOPLE we are engaging?

RELEVANCE for WHO?

WHO are the people

that God calls us to serve?

RELEVANCE for WHO?

What does it look like when a church is diligent to equip but does not empower people to minister? What if the church freely empowers people without them being well equipped? If we equip every member to minister, then we are also

compelled to provide a platform for every person in our church to put those

ministry skills into practice. I have visited churches on the day when training school graduates stand up on a stage to receive

certificates for completing a course in ministry.

RELEVANCE for WHO?

Too often there is a sad but certain awareness that there is nothing for them to do—no clearly defined next step, no process or platform for them to begin

putting their training into practice. Eventually many overequipped and

under-empowered disciples will drop out, others will look for another church, and

some will just settle into a role as spectators or critics.

RELEVANCE for WHO?

A few will be bold enough to empower themselves and create their own

opportunities. Unfortunately, only a few will do this, and often they will find their opportunity in another ministry or in a

new ministry they create for themselves. Sometimes the ministry they create will form a splinter group from the church

where they were equipped but not empowered.

RELEVANCE for WHO?

We have a lot of OVER-TRAINED Methodists

but without opportunities to use their training for

ministry.

LESSONS FOR A RELEVANT CHURCH

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Lessons for a RELEVANT Church

• "slave to all people"• "with the Jews, I lived like a Jew"• "with the Gentiles, I lived apart from the law"• "when I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness"• "I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some."

Lessons for a RELEVANT Church

How can we ENGAGE the people that God calls us to

serve?