Healthy Church, Part 2

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 25, 2008 – 9:17 am
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Have you ever thought about what makes a church healthy? In our last post, we mentioned that two ingredients in a healthy church are UNITY and DIVERSITY. Although diverse people from various walks of life usually make up a church, they can still be unified through the Holy Spirit. In this post, we will continue looking at Five Ingredients of a Healthy Church. The ingredients Paul mentions in Ephesians are not the only ingredients of a healthy church, but they are all very important to church health.

5 INGREDIENTS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH

3.  SERVICE.

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”  Ephesians 4:11-12

According to Paul, the main role of the church leaders at Ephesus was to prepare and equip the church members to do works of service. You show me a church where the people of God are serving others through their gifts and abilities, and I’ll show you a church that is hitting on all cylinders. Healthy churches are serving churches!

We are never more like Jesus than when we serve without regard for what’s in it for us!

Jesus said himself, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”  (Mark 10:45).

4.  MATURITY.

“….until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”  Ephesians 4:13-14

God wants each of us to mature spiritually throughout our life. He wants every Christian to grow and to become more & more like Christ. Although we will never reach sinless perfection this side of Heaven, we should strive to live a holy life before the Lord. A healthy church will put a system in place that encourages and facilitates spiritual maturity. 

5.  LOVE.

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”  Ephesians 4:15-16

Paul constantly emphasized love. Remember how he stressed the supremacy of love in the following passage:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 13 (NIV)

Why is love so important? Why is love so significant? Why is it crucial, essential, critical, chief, paramount, foremost, greatest, supreme, numero-uno! Henry Blackaby summed it up correctly when he said….

“Settle the love relationship and everything else is settled!”

Could it be that in many of our churches that the heart of the problem is a problem of the heart? Could it be that in many of our own lives that the heart of the problem is a problem of the heart? Above all, a healthy church will be a LOVING church. Remember Jesus words….

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”  Matthew 22:37-40, NIV 

Filed under Church Growth, Discipleship, Personal Journey, Preaching, Spiritual Growth |

Healthy Church, Part 1

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 19, 2008 – 8:56 am
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I have been a pastor for eighteen years in the state of Kentucky. In my current role with the Kentucky Baptist Convention, I travel around the state and work with churches of all shapes and sizes. In my travels, I’ve seen and heard of churches I would describe as “healthy” and churches I would describe as “unhealthy.” Have you ever thought about what makes a church healthy?

One of the churches the Apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison at Rome was the church at Ephesus. The church at Ephesus was a strong church during those early days of Christianity. Although the church was not perfect by anyone’s standards (Revelation 2:1-7), it was generally a church that was leading the way.

Scholars tell us that the letter to the church at Ephesus was a circular letter. Paul intended for the letter to circulate around the region, so several churches could benefit from the advice. As Paul talks about the church in the fourth chapter, I see several ingredients of a healthy church.

5 INGREDIENTS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH

1.  UNITY.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

Paul used the word “unity” 10 times in first 10 verses of the chapter 4. Paul stressed the importance of unity in the church. Like Noah, Paul understood that . . . .

The woodpeckers on the inside of the ark are often more dangerous than the storm on the outside!

Paul strongly called for unity, but please note that he DID NOT call for UNIFORMITY! Paul did not expect everyone to look or think exactly like him nor did he expect all the members of the Ephesus church to look or think exactly like each other. The unity he spoke of was the unity of the Spirit.  The church’s unity rested in the fact they had one purpose, one body, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. Why is unity so important?

The devil knows that it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to FIGHT and FISH at the same time! Disunity sidetracks a church from its main mission.

2.  DIVERSITY.

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:  ‘When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers….” Ephesians 4:7-8, 11

 At first glance, it may seem contradictory to say that a church should have unity and diversity at the same time, but that is what Paul told the church at Ephesus. In these verses, Paul talked about the gifts the Lord gave to the leaders of the church. In describing these gifts, Paul explained that the Lord gave different, unique gifts to each leader.

The same is true with every Christian. God gives us unique gifts, abilities, talents, hair colors, personalities, experiences, passions–yet we are unified in Christ. God loves variety–just look at creation. Yet, there is only one Creator (John 1:3). God loves variety in the church too, but He demands oneness. It is similar to an orchestra. Every instrument has a different sound (timbre) and every musician has a different style, but their music is glorious. It is glorious because diversity and unity both exist. Although the instruments and musicians vary greatly, they tune to the same pitch, play the same composition, and follow the same conductor. The conductor demands oneness from the diverse group. 

Tomorrow, we will continue this discussion in Healthy Church, Part 2.

Filed under Church Growth, Discipleship, Personal Journey, Preaching, Spiritual Growth |

Training Opportunities

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 18, 2008 – 1:29 pm
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Tim Holcomb, Tennessee Baptist Convention

This past Saturday at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, the Kentucky Baptist Convention offered a variety of great training opportunities. If you missed the event, similar training is being offered at five other locations across the state.

One of the discipleship faculty was Tim Holcomb, Director of Discipleship for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. In the morning session, he dealt with the recent Spiritual Maturity Study the Kentucky Baptist Convention conducted with LifeWay Research. In the afternoon, he taught a conference called, S.H.A.P.E. - Finding Your Unique Purpose. Tim will be teaching again this Saturday.

Here are the titles of all the conferences that will be offered in the areas of discipleship and assimilation this Saturday, August 23, at the St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

  •  Increasing Spiritual Maturity
  • S.H.A.P.E. - Finding Your Unique Purpose
  • Six Keys to Spiritual Growth
  • Disciple Making 101
  • Bible Reading Basics
  • A Comprehensive Follow-Up Strategy
  • Recruiting and Motivating Volunteers
  • Putting Your Best Foot Forward

I hope to see you there!

Filed under Assimilation, Church Growth, Discipleship, New Member Classes, Resources, Spiritual Growth |

Common Leadership Traps

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 15, 2008 – 8:58 am
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I recently read an article by Rick Warren called, Seven Errors to Avoid if You Want Your Ministry to Last. The title got my attention, and as usual, Rick hit the nail squarely on the head. Rick wrote, “A lot of ministries begin with a bang, then explode with new growth. But after the initial growth, they plateau. I have heard this repeated, not hundreds, but thousands of times from pastors I’ve talked with over the years. I’ve seen this happen with women’s ministries, men’s ministries, small-group ministries, children’s, singles’, on and on – that they have an initial growth spurt, then stop.  When a ministry plateaus, God is telling you that you’ve reached the limit of what he’s empowered you to do by yourself.”

Warren reminded those of us who are leaders that “God doesn’t want our ministries to stagnate. Not only does he want them to succeed, but he also wants us to succeed as ministry leaders. To help us achieve this goal, God has given us examples of errors to avoid – seven common traps of leadership – that Satan is most likely to use to keep your ministry from becoming all that God wants it to be.”

Seven Common Leadership Traps

  • You stop growing. It’s significant to me that this is first on the list. We MUST continue to be transformed into the image of Christ. This transformation happens as we continue to grow spiritually. We should read and reread the Bible. Live it. Meditate upon it. Share it. Digest it. We should also learn from others by attending conferences, downloading podcasts, reading books, surfing blogs, scanning periodicals and articles, pursuing a new degree–whatever it takes to keep striding towards spiritual maturity.
  • You stop caring. If a leader that stays in love with Jesus will more likely love the things and people Jesus loves. A leader should maintain proper balance and rest in their lives or they may experience ministerial “burnout”.
  • You stop listening. Warren reminds us that we should “learn to listen and be sensitive to others. Encourage the people you serve in ministry to talk to you. Let them tell you about their problems, their troubles, their fears, their aspirations, their dreams, and their hurts. Be open to suggestions and constructive criticism and look for other perspectives.”
  • You get distracted. “Many things can distract you from ministry. Personal or health problems can distract you. Competing interests can distract you. Finances can distract you. Things that you think are fun and good and wonderful can distract you….God wants us to stay focused. Never forget your mission. The Bible says, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’ (Luke 9:62 KJV) Stay focused. Don’t get distracted.” (Warren)
  • You get complacent. We should never become complacent. If God is in it, we should go for it! We should dream often and dream big. We should take risks and attempt things that cannot be done unless God intervenes.
  • You become arrogant. God will not tolerate arrogance and pride. Show me a leader with arrogance and I will show you a person who has lost the full blessing of the Lord.
  • You fail to delegate. We should strive to involve others in ministry. We should do our part, but we should striive to also give ministry away, so others can experience the joy of serving Jesus.

Warren closed his article with this advice, “If you avoid these seven traps, you’ll go a long way towards building a ministry that lasts.”

Filed under Church Growth, Discipleship, Spiritual Growth |

New Member Class Evangelism

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 14, 2008 – 10:28 am
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Recent studies by Dr. Chuck Lawless and Dr. Gary L. McIntosh indicate that more and more churches are utilizing new member classes. Although some require the class for membership (31% according to Lawless), the majority do not. Regardless of whether the class is required for membership or not, it can serve as a great tool for relationship building, vision sharing, and assimilation.

A membership class is also a great place to present the Gospel. Another key component of a membership class should be a presentation of the plan of salvation. One should not assume that every person who in the new member class is, in fact, a believer. Often individuals attend out of curiosity or in an attempt to seek the truth.

With this in mind, be sure you follow these guidelines when you develop your new member’s class:

  • Never assume everyone in the class in a “born again” believer. Many who seek membership and many who are already members in our churches are not “born again” believers. We should use every opportunity to present the Gospel of the Lord.
  • Always present the plan of salvation simply and thoroughly. Strong does not mean long. Give a complete presentation, but make it short and sweet. Use the ABCs, the Roman Road, FAITH, or some other simple Gospel presentation.
  • Tell the class your purpose in sharing the gospel with the class. Say something like this to the class, “Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, we’re thrilled you’ve chosen to be a part of this class. Some of you have been believers for years, some of you are fairly new followers of Christ, and some of you are still considering the decision. In any case, we’re glad you’re here. Because all of us are at different stages of our spiritual journey, let’s talk for a few minutes about what it means to be a follower of Christ….”
  • Invite persons in the class to receive Christ if they have not already done so. Be sure that you invite people to become a Christian as a part of your presentation of the Gospel.
  • Offer one or more ways a person in the class can respond to the invitation to receive Christ. Here is an effective way to encourage a response. Present the Gospel on the last night of the class. Include a tearout information sheet in the back of the membership class booklet. Have everyone in the class complete the sheet at the same time. Ask class members to check the appropriate boxes that apply to them. Provide a box for basic spiritual decisions including one that says something along the line of ”I invited Christ into my life during this class.”

For further help in this area, please see the following posts:

Filed under Assimilation, Church Growth, New Member Classes |

Super Saturday Training Opportunities

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 12, 2008 – 10:41 am
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August 16
Immanuel Baptist Church, Lexington
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August 23
St. Matthews Baptist Church, Louisville
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September 6
First Baptist Church, Somerset
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September 6
Lone Oak First Baptist Church, Paducah
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September 13
First Baptist Church, Pikeville
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September 13
First Baptist Church, Bowling Green
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Practical Training for Kentucky Baptists
Designed to equip Kentucky Baptists for a variety of ministries, Super Saturdays are among the KBC’s most comprehensive and highest attended training events. Practical training is available in over 20 focus areas, and participants from churches of all sizes will benefit from courses taught at each event. Make plans now to join us for a Super Saturday at a location near you!

Discover the possibilities for your ministry:
Assimilation, Baptist Men, Church Architecture, Deacon Ministry, Discipleship, Evangelism, Finance, Hispanic Ministry, Leadership, Ministers’ Wives, Pastors/Staff/DOMs, Prayer, Preschool/Children, Secretaries, Single Adult Ministry, Small Groups, Stewardship, Students (Teen Track), Sunday School, Women’s Ministry, Worship & Music, WMU Directors, and Youth Ministry

New This Year:
Comeback Churches Track and Safe Church Initiative Courses

Registration
$30 per person or $20 Early Bird Special.

Early Bird registrations for the August 16 & 23 and September 13 events are due by the Monday before each event to qualify for the discount. Early Bird registrations for the September 6 events are due by Tuesday, September 2, to qualify for the discount.

For more information contact: 502.489.3572 or 866.489.3572 (toll free in KY) or e-mail supersaturday@kybaptist.org.

Please note: This rate covers only a portion of the cost of this training; additional funding provided by the Cooperative Program.

Extended Teaching Care
Childcare is available for children ages 6 weeks – upcoming 5th graders. We regret that we are unable to provide care for special needs children.

ETC Fees: $10 per child, $25 family maximum

Advance registration is required. For more information, call 502-489-3575 or 866-489-3575 (toll free in KY).

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Sleeping Is Spiritual

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 7, 2008 – 8:51 am
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Discouragement is a deadly disease that’s not only universal, but also highly contagious. Have you ever noticed that when you hang around with someone who’s discouraged, you get discouraged yourself? But discouragement is also curable! Veteran Dodger Bill Russell once said, “Winners – pros – never give up in a slump. They just keep on, and they ride it out.”

So one of the keys to curing discouragement is patience – just ride it out! But there’s something else you can do right now to help ward off this disease. You can take a nap. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is just go to bed. When you’re down physically, it’s hard to be up emotionally and spiritually. The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” That’s true. It’s amazing how much better things look after a good night’s sleep.

Although it sounds more admirable to burn out than rust out–either way you’re out! God’s calls us to stay in, to press toward the mark, to complete our race as an example to others and for the glory of the Lord!

If you’re discouraged right now, it might be you don’t need to change a thing, maybe you just need some rest. Even soil needs rest. Farmers know this; so they rotate their crops and systematically leave a portion of their land fallow. They do this because land that has rested produces a greater harvest.

In 1898 Frederick W. Taylor did a scientific study on the workplace and productivity. Do you know what his study proved? It showed that people will produce more if they have periodic breaks, and thus, the coffee break was born.

Resting is spiritual because the Bible teaches that “God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest” (Psalm 127:2, LB). Some of you need to underline that and put it on your refrigerator. The Bible says it’s vain for you to rise up early and stay up late.

The Psalmist said, “You made my body, Lord, now give me sense to heed your laws” (Psalm 119:73, LB). What are his laws for the body? Eat right, get your sleep, exercise, and relax. Rest is so important, in fact, that God put it in the Ten Commandments. He said, “Every seventh day you are to rest.”

Don’t ignore what God established: it’s the first key to warding off discouragement. A good night’s sleep makes a big difference. And you never know how different your mood might be even after a quick nap.

Filed under Discipleship, Personal Journey, Spiritual Growth |

God’s Bullseye

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 5, 2008 – 10:00 pm
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A little boy got a real bow and arrow for his 10th birthday and immediately went outside to practice in his yard. A few minutes later his father stepped outside to check how he was doing and was amazed to see a dozen arrows dead in the center of a dozen different bullseyes that were painted on the trees in the backyard.

“That’s astounding, Son! You just got that bow a few minutes ago. How do you manage to hit a bullseye every time?” “Easy, Dad. First I shoot the arrow. Then wherever it lands, I paint circles around it!”

That’s a cute story, but a deeper lesson is easy to find. I have found that many live theirs lives exactly that way. Instead of aiming for the targets of life set forth by the Bible, they draw circles around their own lifestyles and call it a bullseye. As a preacher, I must strive to preach the truth of the Bible without compromise. When this is done, we know where to aim in life.

As Christians, we should stand for what’s right! We should stand for the truths in the Bible. I believe if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything! With that in mind, let’s stand for what we know is right even when others don’t understand. I like the way the Apostle Paul said it in Philippians 3….

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14

Paul did not say, “I’m not pressing toward anything in particular . . . I’m just drawing a bullseye around my lifestyle.” Paul didn’t say, “I press toward what this cultural deems acceptable.” Paul didn’t say, “I press toward what would make me appear to be a really super nice guy!” No! Paul said, “I press toward the mark!” This mark had been set forth for Paul by the Lord.

Our marks are given to us in God’s Word. Take a solid stand on God’s Word, but be nice about it!

Filed under Miscellaneous, Preaching |

Why Should I Forgive

Posted by Steve Rice
on August 4, 2008 – 12:22 pm
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One of the most gifted writers of our day is Max Lucado. He has churned out book after book with creativity and professionalism. For a while, I read all that he wrote, but eventually I could not keep up with his pace. Of the books I’ve read, my favorite is The Applause of Heaven.  Listen to the following excerpt from that book:

Do you have a hole in your heart? Perhaps the wound is old. A parent abused you. A teacher slighted you . . . and you are angry. Or perhaps the wound is fresh. The friend who owes you money just drove by in a new car. The boss who hired you with promises of promotions has forgotten how to pronounce your name. Your circle of friends escaped on a weekend getaway, and you weren’t invited . . . And you are hurt.

Part of you is broken, and the other part is bitter. Part of you wants to cry, and part of you wants to fight. The tears you cry are hot because they come from your heart, and there is a fire burning in your heart. It’s the fire of anger. It’s blazing. It’s consuming. Its flames leap up under a steaming pot of revenge.

And you are left with a decision. “Do I put the fire out or heat it up? Do I get over it or get even? Do I release it or resent it? Do I let my hurts heal, or do I let hurt turn into hate?” 

Resentment is the deliberate decision to nurse the offense until it becomes a black, furry, growling grudge . . . Unfaithfulness is wrong. Revenge is bad. But the worst part of all is that, without forgiveness, bitterness is all that is left.  (Max Lucado - The Applause of Heaven )

If you’re struggling with hard feelings toward someone . . . if you’re mad, hurt, bitter, or all the above rolled into one, then let it go! Forgive! Do it for their sake! Do it for your sake! Do it for the Lord! Don’t spend the rest of your life without rest in your life. Unforgiveness can slow down or even sidetrack your spiritual growth. Consider a few verses on the subject . . .

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”   Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”  Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV) 

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.”  Matthew 6:14 (Msg)

“He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:  Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.’”  Luke 11:2-4 (NIV) 

How can we forgive those we can’t stomach? The honest truth is we can’t! In our own strength, we are unable to forgive, but with God’s help it is possible. We must humbly turn our feelings and hurts over to God and ask Him to transform them into love and forgiveness. In time, He will change our hearts to match His heart. Pause now and ask God to start the process of healing and forgiveness in your heart.

Filed under Discipleship, Spiritual Growth |

Rainer’s Four Legs of Assimilation

Posted by Steve Rice
on July 31, 2008 – 9:02 am
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When Dr. Tom Rainer served as Dean of the Billy Graham School at Southern Seminary in Louisville, he ran a consulting company that helped churches across America. In his consultations, he discovered that the overwhelming majority of the churches needed marked improvement in the area of assimilation. As a result, he began to teach about the “four legs of assimilation.” Here are some of Rainer’s words on the concept:

While there is neither a secret nor a neatly-packaged process, there are four key principles to membership retention and involvement. Our research has shown that if a church improves in all four of these areas, assimilation will likely improve, and often dramatically improve.

Many times when I speak I am given a stool upon which to sit. Since I usually speak for a lengthy time, I appreciate a stool where I give my fallen arches an occasional break. These wooden stools have four legs. Most of the time the legs are balanced and even. Sometimes one leg is off balance, causing a wobbly stool. But if any one of the legs was missing, the stool would immediately collapse.

Assimilation is built on four key principles. Our research had not been able to identify any one principle as more important than the others. We do know, however, that a church weak in one of the areas will have some degree of assimilation problems.

Let’s look at these four principles that Dr. Rainer routinely discussed.

  • Expectation. Rainer’s research indicated that one of the key commonalities among the growing churches was a sense of expectation of members and prospective members. For them, church membership was more than placement on a church roll; the clear expectation was that the member was to make a difference through the ministries of the church. Giving was not touted as optional but expected among church members. And membership or inquirer classes were often the place where these expectations were most clearly articulated.
  • Involvement. Rainer also discovered that a church member’s involvement in some type of ministry in the church was key to retention. Because of this, the church leadership must seek to move new members to places of ministry. If more than six months lapses between the points of new membership to ministry involvement, the person will likely be already moving toward inactivity in the life of the church.
  • Relationships. The most effective development of relationships with new members takes place before the member joins. If the new member has no relationship with a church member when he or she joins the church, it is exceedingly difficult to create relationships. As a result, it is critically important for church members to become highly intentional about developing relationships with unchurched persons before that person visits the church.
  • Small-group involvement. New members can get involved in discipleship groups, home cell groups, ministry teams, choirs, praise teams, and sports leagues, to name a few. Rainer’s research shows that the most effective assimilation group is the Sunday School, which is the open-ended small group that typically meets on the church campus. A person involved in a Sunday school class is five times more likely to be active in the church five years later, than a person who attends worship services alone. (See The Sunday School Revolutionary for tons of help in the area of Sunday School).

How is your church being strategic about keeping each of the four legs balanced and strong? What is taking place with intentionality to monitor progress in these four areas? Conceptually, the process looks simple. In reality, it is often laborious and never-ending.

Here are additional posts that can help in these areas:

Filed under Assimilation, Church Growth, New Member Classes, Sunday School, Uncategorized |

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