““Maintenance or Mission”Maintenance or Mission”

JohnJohn10:1610:16

THE MISSION DRIVENTHE MISSION DRIVENCHURCHCHURCH

JohnJohn 10:16 10:16

(16a) The (16a) The ProvidenceProvidence of “Others” of “Others”

(16b) The (16b) The Pursuing Pursuing of “Others”of “Others”

(16c) The (16c) The ProclaimingProclaiming to “Others” to “Others”

(16d) The (16d) The PotentialPotential of “Others” of “Others”

OUTLINE

THE “OTHERS” OFTHE “OTHERS” OF OUR CHURCH OUR CHURCH

MINISTRY MINISTRY

Uttermost “Others”….. over there Samaria “Others”……. out there Judea “Others”………. around here Jerusalem “Others”…. in here

*Guests That Jesus “Brings In”!

*Do They Hear His Voice “In Here”?

The Mission Statement The Mission Statement Of The ChurchOf The Church

Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

This Great Commission of Christ is TheMission Statement for Every Local Church!

We must ask ourselves, “If the Mission of the Church is to be fulfilled, what do we do?”…..

CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE IS CHANGE IS WRONGWRONG!!

!!! CHANGE !!!!!! CHANGE !!!

CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF IMPROVEMENT IS IMPROVEMENT IS RIGHTRIGHT!!

If we keep doin’ what we’re doin’If we keep doin’ what we’re doin’we’ll keep gettin’ what we’re gettin’!we’ll keep gettin’ what we’re gettin’!

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?Which Disciple Are you Like?Which Disciple Are you Like?

Change-Leader (like Peter) … Faith to see the need for Change and Lead Others Thru It!

Change-Agent (like Andrew) … Faith to go along with Change and Help Others Follow!

Change-Resistor (like Thomas) … Fear of Change and the Spreading of Doubt to Others!

Change-Rejector (like Judas) … Fear of any Change and Willing to Betray to Avoid It!

STATISTICS OF THE STATISTICS OF THE MAINTENANCE CULTUREMAINTENANCE CULTURE

98% of all growth in the American church is from church transfer, not conversion.

2% fulfillment of Jesus’ Mission Statement.

95% of all Christians are not making disciples.

80% of churches retain 5% or less of their visitors, who are “white” unto harvest.

80% of churches are not growing in number.

Maintenance Driven Maintenance Driven Church StandardsChurch Standards

• Worship Service Attendance Worship Service Attendance • Sunday School AttendanceSunday School Attendance• Success of Programs & ActivitiesSuccess of Programs & Activities• Beauty of the Building & Grounds Beauty of the Building & Grounds • Giving To The General FundGiving To The General Fund• Giving To The Missions FundGiving To The Missions Fund

We Must Get Back To “Harvest” Principles And Abandon “Hold-Down-The-Fort” Principles

Mission DrivenMission Driven Church Standards Church Standards

• WorshipingWorshiping // Serving In Spirit & Truth Serving In Spirit & Truth • Growing in Grace & Knowledge of ChristGrowing in Grace & Knowledge of Christ• Success of EvangelismSuccess of Evangelism // Disciple-MakingDisciple-Making• Using Building & Grounds to Glorify God Using Building & Grounds to Glorify God • Giving Your All to the Local ChurchGiving Your All to the Local Church• Giving Your All to the Mission FieldGiving Your All to the Mission Field

Harvest” Principles = Growth “Hold-Down-The-Fort” Principles = Defeat

COMPARISONCOMPARISON Maintenance Values Mission Values

Nice People Spiritual People

Attendance Availability Parishioners Disciple-Makers Works-Led Spirit-Led Self-Focused Others-Focused Meetings Gatherings Weak Leaders Strong Leaders Settling For Less Expecting More Visitors Who Visit Guests Who Stay

The Overall Affect of aThe Overall Affect of a“Ministry to Guests”“Ministry to Guests”

A Ministry To Guests…A Ministry To Guests… Can Affect… Can Affect…

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH!THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH! THE MORALE OF THE CHURCH!THE MORALE OF THE CHURCH! THE MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH!THE MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH! THE MOMENTUM OF THE CHURCH!THE MOMENTUM OF THE CHURCH! THE MONEY MATTERS OF THE CHURCH!THE MONEY MATTERS OF THE CHURCH!

YOU CAN BE PART OF THE YOU CAN BE PART OF THE PROCESS…….OF GOD’S PROCESS…….OF GOD’S

PLAN FOR A PERSONPLAN FOR A PERSON

1. A Decision for Christ is Made!1. A Decision for Christ is Made!

2. A Disciple of Christ is Made!2. A Disciple of Christ is Made!

3. A Disciple-Maker for Christ is Made!3. A Disciple-Maker for Christ is Made!

Prioritizing prayerPrioritizing prayer It All Starts It All Starts With PrayerWith Prayer

Pray Pray AboutAbout “Others”… “Others”… * *Tell God You Know They’re Out There!Tell God You Know They’re Out There!

Pray Pray For For “Others”…“Others”… * *Ask God To Bring Them In Here!Ask God To Bring Them In Here!

Pray Pray WithWith “Others”… “Others”… * *Serve God By Caring For Them!Serve God By Caring For Them!

The approachThe approach THE PURPOSE: To Make DisciplesTHE PURPOSE: To Make Disciples THE PEOPLE: Church GuestsTHE PEOPLE: Church Guests THE PLAN:THE PLAN:

*Looking*Looking For Needy People …. For Needy People …. Meeting AtMeeting At The Door The Door

*Loving*Loving The Needy People …. The Needy People …. Meeting TheMeeting The People People

*Leading*Leading The Needy People … The Needy People … Meeting TheMeeting The Need Need

GOD SENDS GUESTS TO OUR CHURCH SO WEGOD SENDS GUESTS TO OUR CHURCH SO WECAN MEET THEIR NEEDS AND MAKE DISCIPLESCAN MEET THEIR NEEDS AND MAKE DISCIPLES

MINISTERING TO MINISTERING TO OUR JERUSALEM OUR JERUSALEM

“OTHERS” “OTHERS”

Polite Greeting…Courtesy

Personal Interest…Connection

Prayerful Concern…Compassion

BODY

SOUL

SPIRIT

*Polite – “This person is being nice to me!”

*Personal – “This person is interested in me!”

*Prayerful – “This person is concerned about me!”

THE WELCOME MINISTRYTHE WELCOME MINISTRYattitude & approachattitude & approach

The AttitudeThe Attitude…..“Every church guest is…..“Every church guest is a potential disciple!” a potential disciple!”

The ApproachThe Approach…..…..

* * Courtesy QuestionsCourtesy Questions

* * Connection CommentsConnection Comments

* * Compassionate CommunicationCompassionate Communication

THE WELCOME MINISTRYTHE WELCOME MINISTRYCourtesy QuestionsCourtesy Questions

* The Greeting Question* The Greeting Question

* The Guidance Question* The Guidance Question

* The Gracious Question* The Gracious Question

“ “Hello, my name is _______, what’s yours?”Hello, my name is _______, what’s yours?”

“ “Can I help you find…..your SS class?”Can I help you find…..your SS class?”

……..the Sanctuary?”..the Sanctuary?”

“ “How are you feeling today?”How are you feeling today?”

THE WELCOME MINISTRYTHE WELCOME MINISTRYConnection CommentsConnection Comments

* The Providential Comment* The Providential Comment

* The Partnership Comment* The Partnership Comment

* The Paperwork Comment* The Paperwork Comment

“ “I’m glad the Lord brought you here today!”I’m glad the Lord brought you here today!”

“ “I’m here to help you if you have any needs!”I’m here to help you if you have any needs!”

“ “I’d appreciate it you could fill out this Guest CardI’d appreciate it you could fill out this Guest Cardand feel free to write down a prayer request!”and feel free to write down a prayer request!”

THE WELCOME MINISTRYTHE WELCOME MINISTRYCompassionate CommunicationCompassionate Communication

* The Polite Communication* The Polite Communication

* The Personal Communication* The Personal Communication

* The Prayerful Communication* The Prayerful Communication

“ “Nice to meet you…hope you were blessed today!”Nice to meet you…hope you were blessed today!”

“ “I’m glad you came…we’re here to care for you!”I’m glad you came…we’re here to care for you!”

“ “I noticed the prayer request on your Guest Card;I noticed the prayer request on your Guest Card; can I have a short prayer with you about it?” can I have a short prayer with you about it?”

WHERE DO WE GOWHERE DO WE GOFROM HERE?FROM HERE?

1.1. RepentanceRepentance…….…….from a Maintenance Driven Church Mind-set !

2.2. RededicationRededication…...…...to a Mission Driven Church Model !

3.3. RestorationRestoration……..……..of a Mission Driven Church Ministry !

4.4. RevivalRevival………….…………. with Mission Driven Church Manifestations !