It starts with a picture, not a lecture

1
(No Transcript)
2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
It starts with a picture, not a lecture

• A prisoner bound in chains in the company of two
  armed guards dressed in plain clothes.

7
Scriptures

• Luke 414-21
• Luke 1114-22
• Ephesians 612
• Colossians 113-14
• Colossians 213-15

8
And Can It Be?

• Long my imprisoned spirit lay
• Fast bound in sin and natures night
• Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
• I woke, the dungeon flamed with light
• My chains fell off, my heart was free,
• I rose, went forth and followed thee.
• My chains fells off, my heart was free,
• I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
• Charles Wesley

9
Differences Between the Outreach Focused Church
and the Ingrown Church
10
The Outreach Focused Church

• The outreach focused church exists primarily for
  outreach.
• The ingrown church exists primarily for the
  nurture of its own members.

11
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches see their church as a
  missionary outpost.
• Ingrown churches see themselves as a fortress,
  designed to protect people within the fort so
  that they can live a safe and separated life from
  all the evils in society.

12
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches are courageous and take
  risks to advance the mission.
• Ingrown churches are fearful and play it way too
  safe because the status quo must be maintained at
  all cost.

13
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches are motivated by
  compassion.
• Ingrown churches are motivated by judgment.

14
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach churches charge every ministry with the
  responsibility for outreach.
• Ingrown churches have delegated outreach to a
  committee.

15
The Outreach Focused Church

• In outreach focused churches, the pastor equips
  the people to do the work of the ministry.
• In ingrown churches, the people expect the pastor
  to do the work of the ministry.
• In other words, in outreach focused churches, the
  pastor (s) are in the bleachers and the members
  are out on the field. In ingrown churches, the
  pastor (s) are out on the field and the members
  are in the bleachers.

16
The Outreach Focused Church

• The outreach focused church revolves around the
  mission.
• The ingrown church revolves around the pastor and
  the sermon.

17
The Outreach Focused Church

• In outreach focused churches, the people see
  themselves as missionaries.
• In ingrown churches, the members see themselves
  as consumers of religious goods and services.

18
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches zero in on identity and
  mission and what the members can do for the
  community.
• Ingrown churches zero in on the clergy and what
  the pastor can do for the members.

19
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches have more problems.
• Ingrown churches have less problems.

20
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches have arguments over the
  things that really matter.
• Ingrown churches have arguments over the things
  that dont really matter at all.

21
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches are mission sensitive.
  
• Ingrown churches are consensus sensitive.

22
The Outreach Focused Church

• The default of outreach focused churches is
  mission.
• The default of ingrown churches is friends.

23
The Outreach Focused Church

• The outreach focused church identifies the needs
  of the community and gears most of the ministry
  to the community.
• The ingrown church identifies the needs of the
  congregation and gears most of the ministry to
  the members.

24
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches are simple.
• Ingrown churches are complex.

25
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches interpret scripture
  through the lens of mission.
• Ingrown churches interpret scripture through the
  lens of maintenance.

26
The Outreach Focused Church

• Outreach focused churches change the way they do
  business in order to get the job done.
• Ingrown churches do business as usual in order to
  keep the members happy.

27
Outreach Focused Churches

• Outreach focused churches comfort the afflicted
  and afflict the comfortable.
• Ingrown churches focus on keeping the peace at
  any price.

28
Outreach Focused Churches

• The outreach focused church understands that the
  world has changed and sees new opportunities to
  minister effectively.
• The ingrown church understands that the world has
  changed and continues to use the same old methods
  and is in despair that Christendom is dead.
  

29
Outreach Focused Churches

• In outreach focused churches, the attitude is one
  of common ground regarding the sinful human
  condition.
• In ingrown churches, the attitude is us against
  them.

30
Outreach Focused Churches

• Outreach focused churches at lighthouses.
• Ingrown churches are clubhouses.

31
Questions

• Which one of these comparisons stands out for
  you? Which ones are a struggle for you?
• How would you relate this to what is happening
  right now at First Covenant?
• How is God speaking to you about your own life?
• What is your one take-away from this message?