God’s Vision for a Healthy Church
Agenda • Understanding Vision • God’s Vision for the Church • The Lifecycle of a Healthy Church • What Keeps Large Churches Healthy • What Can We Do To Help UBC? • Goal: Develop a better understanding of what will make UBC effective for the Kingdom as we continue to grow by the grace of God. 2
What is Vision? A vision is a picture of a preferred future 3
God’s Vision for the Church • What is God’s vision for the church? • What does God expect the church to do and be? 4
God’s Vision for the Church Evangelism The Great Commission All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 5
God’s Vision for the Church Evangelism He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8 6
God’s Vision for the Church Growth My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their [the disciples’] message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. John 17:20-21 7
God’s Vision for the Church Growth When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:37,41 8
God’s Vision for the Church Growth But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. Acts 4:4 9
God’s Vision for the Church Growth The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Acts 5:12-14 10
God’s Vision for the Church Growth Continues • Saul begins to preach in Damascus (Acts 9:19-20) • The gospel is carried to Antioch (Acts 11:20-21) • The gospel is carried to other regions: Lystra, Derbe, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus 11
God’s Vision for the Church Transformation Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 12
God’s Vision for the Church Transformation So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18 13
God’s Vision for the Church Reorganization In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:1-4 14
God’s Vision for the Church Reorganization Overseers (pastors) and Deacons 1 Timothy 3 Elders 2 and 3 John 15
God’s Vision for the Church Reorganization Moses Leads the Israelites 13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Exodus 18:13-23 16
Lifecycle of a Healthy Church 17
Healthy Large Churches More than Growing Churches, God wants Healthy Churches The New Testament letters from 1 Corinthians to Titus teach doctrine and church health: Healthy Leadership 1 Corinthians 3; 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 Healthy Membership 1 Corinthians 12 Healthy Stewardship 2 Corinthians 8 Healthy Relationships Ephesians 4; Philippians 4 Healthy Families Ephesians 5 18
Healthy Large Churches How does this help us at UBC? “Leadership and Church Size Dynamics: How Strategy Changes with Growth” “One of the most common reasons for pastoral leadership mistakes is blindness to the significance of church size. Size has an enormous impact on how a church functions. There is a “size culture” that profoundly affects how decisions are made, how relationships flow, how effectiveness is evaluated, and what ministers, staff, and lay leaders do.” 19
Healthy Large Churches 20 To remain healthy as they grow, churches must address the following: • Diversity (ages, programs, additional staff, multiple services/campuses) • Changing member-staff responsibilities • Improved Communication • Increased Intentionality • Quality of Production • Increased Openness to change • Loss of Members • New focus of the Pastor • Organizing the church into smaller units • Emphasis on vision and strengths
What can we do to help UBC? Growth Depends on God; Health Depends on Us At your table, discuss the following: In the church where you grew up… 1. How many services? 2. How many members? 3. How was information communicated to the congregation? 4. What were the expectations of the pastor? 21
Healthy Large Churches 22
Healthy Large Churches What does health look like in large churches? • Missional focus • High quality teaching, arts and children’s programming • Choices • Low-pressure approach to guests • Full-service family support system • Staff-managed • Vision driven • Faith-based holistic ministries • A place to test out new ministry ideas, curriculum and programs 23
Healthy Large Churches Which characteristics of large, healthy churches are exciting to you? Why? 24
What can we do to help UBC? Growth Depends on God; Health Depends on Us • In what ways can we improve communication as a church? • Why do we need to pay attention to the stages in the lifecycle of a healthy church (evangelism, growth, transformation, reorganization)? • What new ministry initiatives would meet the needs of people, provide new points of entry and involvement, and build disciples? 25
What is the Picture of our Preferred Future? Lives being transformed by the love and grace of God. Intergenerational and Multigenerational Ministry Spirit-filled Worship Christ-centered Hospitality A church that is impacting our neighborhood, city and the world through and with God. 26
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