Smart Thoughts

Diana and I returned from the Congress on Evangelism. We found the trip and congress enjoyable, inspiring, educational and rewarding. I chose to go based on the focus on the Bishop Schnase book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations and the announced speakers such as Bishop Schnase, Terry Teykel, Maxie Dunham, Dr. Billy Abraham, Mike Slaughter and Tyrone Gordon. I was pleasantly surprised by the presentation made by Paul Gordon.

Dr. Gordon has written several books on revitalizing mainline churches. He has been extremely successful to bringing new life to the American Baptist churches of northern California. Mainline churches including the United Methodist church have been losing membership for decades. We have managed to grow in membership slightly in Central Texas as a result of our Church Growth and Development Program, which has planted 41 new churches.

I have heard over and over again from local churches whose growth is stagnant, “Why doesn’t Church Growth and Development help us?” A part of the answer is new churches are willing to do what some established churches are not willing to do. They are willing to take the Great Commission seriously. New churches know their existence and future depend on them making new disciples of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Gordon told us that the first decision a church must make, if they are to grow, is whether they are an entity on a mission or an organization with a mission statement. The mission? Jesus gave us two, and they are not multiple choice. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples...” and “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength...and love your neighbor as yourself.” For a church to be vital, both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment must be central to all it does.

The focus of Fruitful Congregations is beyond the congregation. They major in “others” and “minor” on self. They practice radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity.

During Lent my focus will be on Bishop Schnase’s book. There will be a sermon series based on these five practices and being fruitful. There will be a study that will add to the sermon series. I have resources not only from the book, but also the presentations at the Congress on Evangelism. The same subject may be offered a couple of days each week to offer more than one opportunity. I am considering Wednesday evenings and Sunday evenings as potential times. If those are bad times for you, I want to hear from you. While I cannot fit the schedules of everyone, I want to make these studies as accessible as possible.

See you on Sunday,