Beyond Worship: Ministry with Adults Using A Contemporary Church Model

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Beyond WorshipMinistry with AdultsUsing A
Contemporary Church Model

• Bill Alphin
• Virginia Baptist Mission Board
• April 21, 2006

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How did Jesus grow disciples?
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How do we develop a mature faith as disciples of
Jesus?

• Study
• Prayer
• Nurture
• Service
• Testing
• Reflection

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Some churches grow disciples by accident!
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Natural Church DevelopmentSchwarz

• Empowering leadership
• Gift-oriented ministry
• Passionate spirituality
• Functional structures
• Holistic small groups
• Need-oriented evangelism
• Loving relationships

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The Issue Is Not Just Style Of Worship. Its
What Happens Beyond Worship
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• For adults to stick with the church, they must
  find a place where they are known by name and
  where friendships can develop.

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Essential Groupsin the church

• WorshipFocus on God.
• Adult Bible Fellowship (Sunday School).Focus on
  people.
• Small GroupsFocus Gods relationship with His
  people.

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The Saddleback Model for Building Up The Church
Core Lay Ministers
The Community Unchurched
Committed Maturing
Members Congregation
The Crowd Regular Attendees
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THE BIG PICTURE
How Small Groups Fit Into The Ministry Of The
Church
Worship Community
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THE BIG PICTURE
How Small Groups Fit Into The Ministry Of The
Church
Worship Community
ABF
SS
ABFs and SS Classes are Open
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THE BIG PICTURE
How Small Groups Fit Into The Ministry Of The
Church
Task Group
Covenant (Open)
Worship Community
ABF
SMALL GROUPS
BAG
OAG
SS
ABFs and SS Classes are Open
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THE BIG PICTURE
How Small Groups Fit Into The Ministry Of The
Church
Various Missions/Ministries Opportunities
Task Group
Covenant (Open)
Worship Community
ABF
SMALL GROUPS
BAG
OAG
SS
ABFs and SS Classes are Open
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THE BIG PICTURE
How Small Groups Fit Into The Ministry Of The
Church
Various Missions/Ministries Opportunities
Mission Action
Task Group
Covenant (Open)
Worship Community
ABF
SMALL GROUPS
BAG
OAG
SS
ABFs and SS Classes are Open
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THE BIG PICTURE How Small Groups fit in the
Church
Small Groups As A Tool For Growing Disciples
Various Missions/Ministries Opportunities
Mission Action
Debrief and reflection.
Entry Points
BAG
Possible point of assimilation
Entry Points
OAG
ABF
Covenant (Open)
Ministry Beyond Self.
ABF
Entry Point
SMALL GROUPS
Worship Service
ABF
OAG
Task Group
SS

• Content of Small
• Groups (Varies depending
• on the purpose of the group)
• Prayer
• Disciplines of the faith.
• Time of accountability
• and encouragement.
• Training.
• Ministry beyond self.

People who are never assimilated at this
point are at high risk of exiting.
ABFs and SS groups are Open The focus
is fellowship.
Leadership Community used to coach leaders.
TERMINOLOGY ABF Adult Bible
Fellowship BAGBasic Accountability
Group. OAGOngoing Accountability
Group
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Agree-DisagreeA church that relies only on
Church member participation in the Sunday morning
worship experience and adult Sunday School class
will not go very far in developing mature
disciples of Jesus Christ.Bill Alphin
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Turning Attenders Into Members Rich Warren,
Saddleback Valley Community Church

• Develop a plan to assimilate member.
• Communicate the value of membership.
• Establish a required membership class.
• Develop a membership covenant.
• Make your members feel special
• Create opportunities to build relationships.
• Encourage every member to join a small group.

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Three functions of The Adult Bible
Fellowship (Adult Sunday School Classes)
Evangelism And Assimilation
Care Ministry
Bible Study
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Why Should We Care About Small Groups?

• Growing churches think small.
• High tech cries for high touch!
• Millennials want honest, caring relationships
• Millennials are looking for family.
• Church renewal often comes from God working with
  people in a small group community setting.
• It may be the most important Niche the Church
  has that will differentiate itself from other
  organizations and institutions.

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Why Are Small Groups Important To The Development
Of Disciples?

• Disciples are best developed in groups.
• Disciples are best developed when there is
  accountability and encouragement.
• Disciples are best developed where there is a
  high degree of trust in the group.
• Disciples are best developed when there is agreed
  expectations and outcomes.
• The adult Sunday School is not very effective as
  a disciple making group.

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It is difficult to move People who attend
Worship where they can Be anonymous to
Involvement in small Groups that require A high
degree of intimacy.
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Brief Theology of Small Groups

• Exodus 1817-18a,21 (NIV)
• Moses' father-in-law replied, What you are doing
  is not good. You and these people who come to
  you will only wear yourselves out.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.

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Brief Theology of Small Groups

• John 1016 (NIV)
• I have other sheep that are not of this sheep
  pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen
  to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one
  shepherd.

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Contents of A Small Group(Varies depending on
the purpose of the group)

• Fellowship and possible ice breaker.
• Prayer (talking and listening).
• Disciplines of the faith.
• Time of catching up Accountability and
  encouragement.
• Additional new training.
• Ministry beyond self Gift based Missions
• Time of hospitality and fellowship.

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Small groups should be sequential...

• People are grouped according to stage of faith
  journey...
• Each phase of discipleshipmoves the disciple to
  a higher level of commitment.

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The Traditional Model Verses The Contemporary
Church Model
Small Groups As A Tool For Growing Disciples
Various Missions/Ministries Opportunities
BAG
OAG
ABF
Covenant (Open)
(Traditional Church Model)
ABF
Entry Point
SMALL GROUPS
Worship Service
ABF
OAG
Task Group
SS
(Contemporary Church Model)
Leadership Community used to coach leaders.
Open Small Groups With Empty Chair
Entry Point
Worship Service
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The Contemporary Model Verses The Traditional
Baptist ModelTraditional
Contemporary

• Sunday School/ABF
• Out Reach/ Caring through the SS.
• Discipleship Small Groups are often Hit or Miss
  No curriculum plan.
• Discipleship Training Director.

• Open Small Groups
• Outreach/Caring through the Small Group (Open
  Chair)
• Small Group Ministry Tends to Be Organized with
  Coaches.
• Leadership Community.
• Movement from anonymity to intimacy without
  transition.

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Open Verses Closed Groups
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Elements of a Healthy Small Group
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An effective disciple making church must have
leaders. Develop disciple making leaders by...

• Affirm those who are effective Christian
  disciples and leaders.
• Provide vision and encouragement.
• Discover and utilize spiritual gifts.
• Create accountability relationships for leaders
  through a leadership community.
• Free leaders of institutional Maintenance.
  Edward H. Hammett Making the Church Work.

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The Leadership Community

• Nurture
• Vision Casting-Large Picture
• Ideas and activities. (Plenary)
• Skill Development (Sub-groups by type)
• Huddle/Planning (Sub-groups by type)
• Meets at least monthly.

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What will you do next?