Church consultants Brown Church Development Group
(BCDG) highlighted eight areas that healthy churches are growing in.
Celebration ranked extremely high in all eight areas. This week so far we have
looked at:
Empowering Leadership, Gift Oriented Ministry,
Passionate Spirituality, Effective Structures, Inspiring Worship and Holistic
Small Groups. Today we will conclude by focusing on:
Need-oriented Evangelism - Need-oriented
evangelism intentionally cultivates relationships with pre-Christian people so they
can become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who are actively
participating within the life of the church and community. Using appropriate
ministries and authentic relationships, believers can guide others into the
family of God. Growing churches are not “pushy” or “manipulative” in the way
they share the gospel, rather, their secret is to share the gospel in a way
that meets the questions and needs of pre-Christians. One of the scriptures I
will be sharing this Sunday in my message with be from 1 Peter 3:15-16 “Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”…
Loving Relationships -
Loving relationships are the heart of a healthy, growing church. Jesus said
people will know we are his disciples by our love. Practical demonstration of
love builds authentic Christian community and brings others into God's kingdom.
Authentic love
endows a church with a much greater magnetic power than all the marketing
efforts of this world. Growing churches manifest a measurably higher “love
quotient” than stagnant or declining ones.
In
conclusion, through extensive research, the Brown Church Development Group discovered
these eight characteristics we have been talking about all week to be more
developed in growing churches than in non-growing churches. By striving for
excellence in these areas, we release our congregation’s God-given potential.
Your pastor
and partner in ministry,
Kyle
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