Reapers

"She said to the people, "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done." (John 4:29)

 

Just as the woman and the well's life was transformed as she became the person who invites, so do we have become transformed by Christ and ones who invite. The joy and love received by God cannot be contained and must be shared. It is in this right relationship with God and each other that the kingdom of God is made present. - here and now.

  • Questions to ask yourself every time you start a class, group or ministry? Will this form a small group? Will it facilitate new leadership? Is it helping fulfill our mission: Creating new disciples, growing disciples, or disciple makers?
  • Create places and times for people to share their stories. Sharing stories in the church community helps them share their stories in the world.
  • Train people in sharing God's story - the good news of Jesus Christ, especially in how they have experienced it personally. (I.e. Evangelism!)
  • Mentor and train people to facilitate every small group, every committee, every meeting so that in every gathering people have the opportunity to share, reflect and be formed at the same level.
  • Start each meeting/gathering with a Bible passage reflection - offering people to chance to share where they are and how their lives connect with the biblical story.
  • Equip your parishioners to invite friends.
    • Parishioners are your best way to newcomers - 86% of people come to church because a friend or relative invited them.
    • Calling cards invitations - Equip parishioners with an easy way to invite friends. Make up business cards with basic church information on the front and directions/map and service times on back. Some churches make up cards with upcoming sermon series or special events.
  • Apprentice/mentor mentality - Each leader needs an apprentice, who in turn gets an apprentice once they begin a new ministry.
  • No power plays. The kingdom about abundance, not scarcity. It's God's work, not mine. No ministry or domain of the church is "mine".
  • No Secrets! Clean the skeletons out of the closets. Deal with difficult situations in a healthy manner.
  • Celebrate mission, not maintenance, even celebrate mission-oriented failures.
  • Embrace change - "Every new beginning comes from another beginning's end" - Don't fear the death of old programs, old leadership, or old ways.