So here we go. If you missed the intro [I Held The Dying Bride in My Arms], catch it here.
We had almost half our town in church, Easter, 2008. We had 3 campuses regionally and 1 in China when we left New Hope, but there was always something that seemed like it was missing at the deepest levels.
That’s what I want to write about. How God is leading us to change everything. Not because we want to be “anti-attractional” and embrace the “missional model” [because it is the trendy thing to do right now, church-bash] but because the Bible tells us to. It tells us we have to live in both worlds. Living in just one or the other are epic fails in my mind.
Day 1: How Did Jesus Really “Do Ministry”?
After reading books in every camp, I decided to reflect a little more on Scripture as a whole. Always a good thing.
It’s simple to me. I see Jesus with 4 distinct “groups” of people. If you want a good paradigm for ministry, here it is:
1. THE CROWDS
Yep, He drew them. And we should too in His power. 12 people sitting in your house for the next 12 years will not accomplish the great commission.
2. THE 12
Jesus did spend his life pouring into the 12 though as well. Then 11 men [and their clans] went on to not just change Jerusalem, but the world. Something to be said here. But it wasn’t 12 people who came together at a “mixer” to study Jesus latest teaching. It was communitas. Do you have “small groups” or “house churches” living a dangerous mission together?
3. THE 3
He then poured a little extra into the chosen 3 with intense mentorship [mentoring is very different from discipleship]. Who are you pouring into? Jesus did this. Do you? You are probably too busy like I was programming services and talks because Sunday comes with regularity every 6 days without fail [or in our case every 5, with Saturday nights].
4. THE 1
The disciples got ticked when Jesus wanted to stop and be with the 1, remember that story? [Women with issue of blood.] Come on, the super-star had ministry to do, and can’t be burdened by the 1, especially this lady. But time and time again, we see Jesus 1 on 1.
And yes, 1 on 1 is and has always been the best way to pour into people. Do you do this form of discipleship? Small groups don’t accomplish this fully. Do you have a strong 1 on 1 push?
This is what Jesus did. He didn’t sit around with the 12, and he didn’t just prepare for the mega-crowds. If you want a peak into where this is all going, check this read out by my new friend Hugh that I met recently at a conference we were speaking at. He shares the same desire and is way more eloquent than I.
[more tomorrow...and please, WHAT DO YOU THINK? Light up my comments either way, good or bad].
Chaz – You are going to love what’s coming in November. http://www.andconference.com
I love this post and I love where you are going with this. I think I only recently connected with you via twitter but I saw your tweet and had a feeling it would resonate with some of my own thinking. I recently wrote a series of blog posts about “Marketing Your Church Plant”. My whole point is that we need to be doing the relational thing but we also need to be investing in the crowds. Jesus was intentional with the twelve but there were dozens of other disciples that He couldn’t have spent as much time with. How did they become disciples? Because they caught Him at one of those big events and liked the teaching! Thanks for the post. Right on!
Good thoughts Charles. I like the way it is broken down. I think we often get enamored by the #1 approach-the crowds. “let’s do something this time that will really bring them in.” So (it seems) we reach for something bigger and better than the last time. As a result we come up with a bigger production but not always a better or the best thing. Jesus had the crowd, the 12, and the 3 but He was totally focused on the 1 when need be. And perhaps that was His focus even when the the crowd, 12 & 3 were meeting with Him. Jesus was not glitz and I suspect He may look at us with raised eyebrows with some of our attempts to be attractional. Looking forward to the other posts.