Purpose Driven Church

Purpose Driven Church by: Rick Warren

Chapter 5~ Defining your purpose

Is your church “sound” or “Sound asleep”? 

This was a great chapter to get you excited whether you are thinking about your church body as the book is centered on or you as an individual operating in a body of Christ.

            Rediscovering your purpose! Warren points out that, “What we hold with conviction is that what we discover ourselves.”  People in leadership in the church can tell you “what to do” but until you believe it for yourself, you won’t be convicted of it. What we do must be carried out because we believe it is the right way or correct thing in Gods eyes. Studying the word of God is the only way to truly find your way in this lost world.

            Warren suggests four questions we must ask ourselves as part of the church:

1.     Why does the church exist?

2.     What and who are we to be as a church?

3.     What are we to do as a church

4.     How are we to do it?

Taking the time to write out your answers then rereading them, streamline your thoughts will help you to make an effective “purpose” statement. Warren warns to aim your statement to make the most difference for Jesus sake. I found that to be very powerful, when I really ask what is that I need to do and what does that look like daily.

Warren presents five purposes of the Church as he notes all five have been intended for the church to bring about. They include: Love the Lord with all your Heart, Love your neighbor as yourself, go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teach them to obey God.

It was another great chapter that I will spend some time working on the suggestions. How about you?

Chapter 6~ Communicating your Purposes

Note the plural on the word purposes. We could be in trouble if we were hoping for God to reveal the one purpose for us to communicate in the church.

Warren believes the church’s purpose bears reminding at least once a month in order to not lose their sense of purpose. The book points out ways to communicate the vision and purpose of the church thru use of:

1.     scripture (choosing Bible scripture)

2.     symbols (the five concentric circles, the cross, etc.)

3.      slogans, (pitchy phrases)

4.     stories (using illustration)

5.     specifics (action steps to take).

We need to personalize our purpose by connecting it to the responsibilities and privileges we have as a believer. Repetitiveness in repeating your church purpose in sermons, bulletins, and monthly newsletters are all good ways for the church to become familiar with your purpose statement. On page 125 of the book you will see an example of a chart to use for explaining your church’s purposes.  Keeping a balance in the church through the people will keep it healthy. Meeting people where they are at and helping to move them to the next level through discipling so they too can grab onto the purpose of the church and feel part of it is essential for growth.

 

Purpose Driven

James N. Lanza

Tom Rees

GIS PST 443 Disciple Making and Equipping

Fall 2012

Portrait of a Disciple

I John have been following my new friend Jesus, he is not ordinary like my other friends he has a spiritual aspect that draws all who meet him in. He speaks eloquently and relates the messages from his father God, the form of God is being taken on by this his son Jesus.  I have witnessed Jesus much spoken words come to happen, be it forgiveness, judgment, healing, mercy, grace, joy and love. Promise is made available in these spoken words, the broken the fallen, sinful and diseased all called to salvation by Gods spoken words thru this his son Jesus.  It is my understanding that something over time when the world was brought into existence went very wrong. Wickedness had entered by way of disobedience to Gods perfect creation and sin was now among us.  Jesus is preaching about salvation something we need to recognize can take the sins of the world and declare us his followers clean. A rapport with Jesus Christ is an intimate and personal relationship communicating through prayer and obedience to the words of God written for us to follow.

I have seen many amazing things happen with the birds of the air, water being turned to wine. At a well one day Jesus asked a Samaritan women for a drink, the women was unsure of  why he was even talking to her let alone asking for a drink. Jesus spoke of living water the young women was interested and asked for this living water for her. There was another time that we were gathered at the Sea of Galilee a crowd followed Jesus as he climbed up a hill and began to speak it was almost time for the feast of the Passover, Jesus took five barley loaves and two fish and miraculously feed the crowd of five thousand from it and there were left overs.

Jesus was aware if he continued to Judea the Jews were looking to kill him so he continued speaking in the temple. Upon reaching Mount Olives the crowd again gathered and the Pharisees brought an adulteress woman to him wanting him to fulfill the law and stone this woman. Jesus spoke and said, “The sinless one among you go first: Throw the first stone.” You should have seen the people’s reactions as they cowardly walked away. Jesus sent this woman on her way reminding her to sin no more. I was watching all this and could not believe my eyes nor ears. I knew I was chosen and was reminded of how much he cared for me, John, when he spoke about the sheep and how their shepherd knows them by name and they know his voice and listen. Liking the story to him being the gate keeper anyone who passes through him will be cared for. He is the good shepherd and this I know for I have been following him for some time. While many felt he was crazy and even picked up stones to throw at him saying he was a Blasphemer saying his proclaiming to be the Messiah was false. Jesus stood firm proclaiming he is the son of God.

I watch as he received word that the one he loved, Lazarus was sick. After two days of knowing this we followed him back as Jesus told us his friend was asleep and he would wake him up. We all stood in amazement as Jesus told Lazarus to come out and he did.  This was pivotal and changed the minds of so many to believe, it also began people to plot against and kill my friend Jesus, their narrow-mindedness lead them to believe if this one man would die the rest would live. Jesus no longer went in to public.

I knew what I knew because I witnessed this first hand. I believed in all I had seen. The day they took Jesus thru the town after whipping him and hung him on the cross I stood there with his mother now my mother as Jesus had said, “Women here is your son” then to me “here is your mother”  Upon hearing the words come from Jesus, “It is done” the earth shook, lighting and darkness. He was laid to rest but three days later much to all of our surprise he was gone when they went to his tomb. Not gone as in lost but gone from the tomb and ALIVE. Appearing to us his disciples he said, “Peace to you”, showing us his nail pierced hands. My brother Thomas doubted what his eyes were seeing and asked to touch the holes in his hands. Not I, for I believed.   

Purpose Driven Church

Chapter 3 - What drives your Church?

                   Proverbs 19:21 ²¹ Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the

                                                       Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Quotable - Just because a program worked in the past does this mean it is successful and will continue to work in the means that it has in the past? Reminds me of the old saying, “If it is not broken do not fix it!”

Expansion to the building or addition to programs, outreach or change to the existing are all part of church growth, what we need to be aware of is multi driven forces in the church that compete for attention. This will almost always result in conflict within the church.

            Every church today is driven by something weather understood or not, what we all need to figure out in all honesty and ask is, “what is the driving force behind your church?” 

                        Tradition – “We have always done it that way” change is seen as negative.

Personality – What does the Leader (s) want? Agenda is determined by the needs and insecurities of the leaders .

Finances – “How much will it cost?” Conflict in thinking, how much did we save VS Who was saved?

Programs – All energy is focused on maintain and sustaining the programs (ie. Sunday school, Women’s or Men’s group, Youth group or Choir becomes filling positions rather than developing people.

Buildings – Members are anxious to have a nice building, leading to budget issues and financial stress.

Events – A lot of activities but not much productivity. Busy with no clear purpose for what is does to further the kingdom of God.

Seekers – So other centered allowing the unbelievers to become their primary focus neglecting the feeding of their own.

Plans, programs and personalities don’t last BUT Gods purpose will last! (pg.81)

Absolutely nothing will revitalize a discouraged church faster than rediscovering its purpose. (pg. 82)

Chapter 4 - The foundation for a healthy church

Quotable, “When you have finished laying the foundation the most critical work is behind you”

Warren points out, “clarify in the minds of everyone involved exactly why the church exists and what it is supposed to do.” He believes if your statement is clear your church will grow by five purpose benefits. I will spell them out for you.

1.     A clear purpose builds Morale. “If your mission is unclear your morale will be low.” (pg. 86) Supported by scripture. Proverbs 29:18 KJV” Where there is no vision the people perish.”

2.     A clear purpose reduces Frustration. “A clear purpose not only defines what we do, it defines what we don’t do.” (pg. 87) Isaiah 26:3 “God gives perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in him.”

3.     A clear purpose allows Concentration. “A clear purpose allows you to concentrate your effort.” Phil. 3:13 “I am brining all my energies to bear on this one thing, forgetting what is behind and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

4.     A clear purpose attracts Cooperation. “When a church clearly communicates its destination people are eager to get on board. (pg. 91) Ezra 10:4 “Tell us how to proceed in setting things straight, and we will fully cooperate.”

5.     A clear purpose assists Evaluation. “Evaluate your church by asking, “what is our business? And then, How’s business.” (pg. 93) 2 Corinthians 13:5” Examine yourselves whether you are in faith; test yourselves.”

Warren wraps up the chapter in simple four phase steps, define your purpose, communicate those purposes, and organize your church around these purposes and finally Application. I am looking forward to see what the reality of this could hold for the church.

Purpose Driven Church

Purpose driven church ~ Rick Warren

Chapter 1~ The Saddleback story

“Not how you start that matters BUT how you end.”

 The Bible says, “Love never fails (1^st Corinthians 13:8)”

“If you minister out of love you can never be considered a failure.”

In the beginning of this book I was impressed with so much and ended up highlighting more then you could imagine. Warren begins with a reflection of a great Pastor, W.A Criswell. Renowned for pastoring the largest Baptist church and leading a fifty year ministry, authoring fifty three books as well as developing the Church model of the century. I appreciate when Warren points out that Criswell’s ministry was incredibly innovative, but that only became known as tradition AFTER everyone copied him.

Warren takes you back to the start of his church Saddleback and is honest about the mistakes he made along the way. He points to a change in his thinking and focus, as he was determined on resolving to understand the principles, Biblical, cultural as well as leadership to produce a healthy growing church ministry.

It was thru fervent prayer that he and his wife stayed focus on what God was telling them as to: where to go and when to go. This passion in obedience and faith in prayer led the Warrens to experience immense blessings and to be of service to God.

Chapter 2~ Myths about growing Churches

Warren begins this chapter poking fun at the silly myths we all grow up under, Santa and the Easter bunny or even the tooth fairy pointing to the possibility of the harm it may bring to us if we believe these or not.

The Bible is clear when it says, “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you FREE! John 8:32.

Warren then gives us ten myths that dispel some wrong thinking on how to grow a healthy, strong church. I will pick one out that spoke to me.

Myth: You must choose between Quality and Quantity in your church.

Warrens starts by answering this question and defining the terms.

Quality, in this context refers to the kind of disciples the church is producing.

Example is the transformation into the likeness of Christ genuine?  Is the word the foundation of their beliefs?  What is the maturity level of growth and using of talent in ministry and in service? Are they faith sharing regularly?

Quantity, on the other hand refers to the number of disciples a given church is producing.

Example what is the number of people being brought to Christ being developed and matured as well as mobilized for ministry and missions?

If you read the definitions over again that Warren uses, you will see that the two are not in disagreement but rather commonly relevant. There is not necessarily a need to choose one over the other but rather strive for both in producing a healthy church.

Warren liken it to going fishing and concentrating on just one either the quantity of the fish you catch or the on only the quality of the Fish.  You want both….. Don’t you?