The Tent: A safe place for shepherds to reflect together
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Bill H
Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 21
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject: Firts Things First |
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Growth, fruitfulness and multiplication are all kingdom values. The Creator’s call to humanity in the Genesis account was,†Be fruitful and multiplyâ€. Tim Laniak reminds us of two powerful truths:†Reproduction is ultimately the result of divine intervention.†(p.227) we can strategize, set goals and muscle up for redemptive expansion of our churches and ministries but ultimately; reproduction comes from “aboveâ€. New life comes from God. We as leaders and ministers must maintain a posture of God dependence. Laniak also reminds us of keeping first things first! “When we are healthy and well-resourced, reproduction is natural.†There has been a healthy shift in thinking regarding church growth. The old school of Church Growth could rightly be labelled the technocrats of church growth locked into a Newtonian worldview of causality. Cause “A†will result in effect “Bâ€. Adopt the latest program and your church will grow. This ministry paradigm positioned the pastor-leader as a technician focussing on techniques, formulae, fads and nuts and bolts to grow the church.
Christian Schwartz has pioneered “Natural Church Development†whereby the emphasis is on health. The assumption is healthy things will grow and reproduce; thus the focus is on cultivating church health and seeing organic kingdom growth as a by-product. Here the minister is not a technician but more of a farmer; cultivating the church’s health. _________________ Bill H |
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