CHURCH GROWTH STRATEGY
Guy Roam
INTRODUCTION
A. Two plans for CHURCH GROWTH STRATEGY — easy and ise
1. EASY PLAN — one, two, three
a. Always works, every successful man uses it; ___________,
__________, _____________, _____________.
b. Three g’s each worth 1,000.00
1. Get up = out of bed, cut of easy chair, from the table.
2. Get out = of that house, of that car, of that church, of that inferiority complex.
3. Get with it = Get with God (He’s waiting on you) pray, fast, knock door, witness, witness, witness.
2. ISE PLAN — too old to learn, too dumb to live.
B. What do we mean by; “church growth strategy”?
1. Church on earth — U.P.C. — your district — Your local Church!
2. Growth = spiritually, numerically, financially and physically.
3. Strategy =
a. “A careful plan or method.”
b. “The art of devising or employing plans or stratagems”
c. Greek word “STRATEGIA “which means “GENERALSHIP”
1. Jesus Christ the Supreme Commander needs some Generals in His Army.
I. VISUALIZE
A. Apostle Paul — Macedonian Vision and Call
1. Acts 16:9, 10 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him saying come over into Macedonia, and help us. (10) And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”
B. YOUR VISION
1. Proverbs 4:23: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he . . .”
2. Think your town — streets, people, a church.
3. Think revival
a. “Dare to Dream” Joseph
b. See it NOW! Grab a hold of it.
c. Sinners baptism, Holy Ghost, healing, miracles.
d. Heb. 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
e. “See things that are not as though they were”
f. “See yourself not as what you are but as what you are going to be.
C. My vision
1. At Portland 150-200-300-400-500 (1/2 a thousand)-600-700- (Nov. ’73, Victory in ’73).
a. ___________________, (not here, maybe in the south)
2. THIS GROUP — when I look I see sinners at an altar, Baptism, Holy Ghost, etc.
II. ANALYZE
A. Analyze = scrutinize or take a close look.
B. Self Analysis
1. I. Thess. 4:17 — “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.”
2. I Tim. 4:16 — “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
3. Look at you!
a. Great men build great churches, great churches don’t build great men.
1. Illustration = Man with a capacity for a church of 25 takes a church of 200 and soon has 25. Man with a capacity for church of 200 takes a church of 25 and the church grows to 200.
b. Work on weakness, ask questions, utilize other mens’ ministries (evangelists, teachers, promoters, etc.).
C. Church Analysis
1. Acts 20:28 — “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over that which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
2. Look at your church
a. How does God see it?
b. How do the saints see it?
c. How do sinners see it?
d. How do you see it?
3. Church growth must be “Balanced”!
a. Church a body — arms, legs, hands, feet; and must grow in balance.
b. Balance attack
1. Spiritual balance = spirit and truth
2. Numerical balance + S.S. children, adults, teenagers
3. Financial balance + local, missions, projects, etc.
4. Physical balance + size of auditorium, S.S., etc.
5. Illustration = “Military attack” on a hill must be balanced.
III. ORGANIZE
A. James 2:20 — “Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” — visualize then organize.
B. Jesus feeding 5,000–sat down in companies–5 loaves and two fishes
C. Your — Plan of ACTS IN ACTION
1. Material side
a. Building, furniture, sign, piano, S.S. classes.
2. Business side
a. Rom. 12:11 — “Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit”
b. Constitution and by-laws-affiliation, incorporation(United Pentecostal Church)
c. Organize for growth — How with this fit in our plan when we reach 50- 100- 200- 300.
1. THINK IT THROUGH — What am I doing? Where am I going? How will I get there? What will I do after I get there?
2. Master calendar — Easter – How many souls?
D. Make it happen — Set goals — shoot for something
1. “Evangelism is not accidental”
2. Offense, not defense — greatest defense is a good offense.
a. Mr. Thoss — assistant basketball coach at Wellston High School – “Remember fellas if you’ve got that ball they can’t score and if they got the ball you can’t score, so get that ball”.
OFFENSE
3. New methods and new ideas. Marry the message but don’t even go steady with a method. Use methods that fit you.
4. Battle plan — ATTACK, take the country. (hound dog)
E. T. B. Kiss — Think big, keep it simple.
IV. DEPUTIZE
A. Use-em or lose-em attitude
1. God’s way is deputizing
a. Jesus said, John 10:21 — “As my Father hath sent me so send I
you”.
b. Jesus to Peter, Matt. 15:19 — “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
2. DARE TO SHARE
a. Give everybody a job
1. “Ain’t nobody want to do nothing”
2. Don’t be afraid to ask people to do a job.
3. Children, pick up paper, wife
a. Man said in Fairfield, California, “okay I get it, if you don’t have the Holy Ghost you get all the dirty jobs.” He later received the Holy Ghost.
B. Work with them – God’s Way
1. MARK 16:20 (Disciples) — “And they went forth, and they preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following.
2. Laborers Together
a. No slaves — neither you or them.
3. Job description sheets
a. Most problems are a result of someone not doing their
responsibility and authority begins and ends.
V. SUPERVISE
A. Pastor- overseer – You’re the GENERAL!
1. Shepard — knows the sheep — knows whats going on — watches for
wolves.
a. BIRTHS — he is always present at birth. Lambing season,
shepard is there.
b. Stay close to job — can’t be running off, fishing, visiting
back home, preaching all over the country.
2. Finances
B. Sensitive — stay in touch — spiritual supervision
1. FEEL — the pulse beat — sinner ready to repent in middle of
service.
2. EYES open – opportunity to reach people, people in need, death,
sickness, troubles in family, or finances.
3. EARS — listen, stay on key, tune in with God.
C. SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY
VI. AGONIZE
A. Jesus – Gethsemene and Calvary
1. Cross to bear — no Pentecost without a Calvary
B. Birth — Church being born
1. Pain, travail, anxiety, heaviness
2. Blood, sweat, tears, toil
3. DESPERATE – John the Baptist
a. Matt. 11:12 — “Jesus said, The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force.”
4. Life and Death — Heaven and Hell
C. Prayer and Fasting — forget this and all is lost
D. BURN THE BOATS — Julius Caesar – across channel from Gaul – chalk cliffs of Dover – men looked down and watched the boats burn.
1. “WE CAME TO CONQUER”
2. Phil. 3:13,14 — “Brethern I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
3. We will conquer
VII. EVANGELIZE
A. Soul winning is the only justification for a church existing: soul saving station.
1. The church’s business
a. Not a gathering, club, place to make friends, place to relax.
b. Soul winning is our business- our ultimate objective.
1. The churchs’ business and everyone in the church.
2. Getting people saved and keeping them saved.
a. Everything must hinge on this.
c. “Soul winning drives” — not attendance drives
1. Evangelism Sunday School (last Sunday 4 families)
a. Tim and Toni
2. Every department-must share in soul winning and be geared for soul winning.
2. More souls are saved at church than any other place.
1. Show hands: those saved in a church.
B. Prior to church service: SOUL WINNING TIME — you at home running late, playing church, 6440 suburban.
1. Cleanliness of the building
a. Illustration – church in ————–. Dirty clothes hanging over altar rail.
b. Maternity ward — must be clean — occasionally a birth takes place in a filthy building but it’s an accident.
2. PRAYER – prayer room
a. Early Church, Acts 4:31 — “–and when they had all prayed, the place was shaken where they were all assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
3. Orchestra in place – playing 5 minutes before service. Piano player
4. Friendliness
a. Church receptionists or ushers – warm friendly people.
b. Ushers – at post of duty – friendly.
1. Get their names and addresses.
2. Prospect file and letter to every visitor (Wayne Odom)
c. All saints – introduce yourselves, go out of your way to greet people you don’t know. BE FRIENDLY!
5. BE ON TIME — this God’s business.
a. Tardiness is an insult to the Lord and lost souls.
C. During the service: SOUL WINNING TIME
1. Worship is the key
a. Worhsip, worship, worship
1. Song Service, testimonies, special songs
2. Offering (missions, giving, SOULS)
3. Spirit and truth–my vision-Bible in hand
b. Preaching: doctrinal, evangelistic, powerful WITH LOVE — preach, Soul Wining
c. During preaching–when others preach
1. Enter in – response – amen’s
2. Give attention – get attention
2. At altar call–most important part
a. Pray earnestly for God to move.
b. Don’t leave auditorium
c. If the spirit leads go to someone and ask them if they will go and pray with you.
d. When everyone is invited in to pray
1. Everyone should pray
2. Ask sinner or stranger, “Would you like to come and pray with us?”
3. This is a climatic point of service.
e. When someone comes to the altar a saint should come and kneel beside them.
1. Assign a saint to them.
D. The altar service
1. Thank God — Heb. 13:10 — “We have an altar.” Matt. 2:23,24 –
23:18 — New Testament says very little about an altar; but nothing about pews, musical instruments, or pulpit, but they are important.
2. Altar service is SOUL WINNING TIME. Altar service – an extremely important part of the service.
3. Basic rules
a. Work with them, not for them.
1. Those in need must not be left unattended. BURDEN
a. Don’t get off in a corner somewhere and pray.
b. Move with the spirit. Don’t clog up the flow by….
1. Visiting, practicing a song, experimenting with a musical instrument.
2. Worship atmosphere must be maintained.
c. Men pray with the men, and women pray with the women.
d. Know the person’s need before you give instruction.
1. Is he… a backslider, sinner, new convert, or someone seeking for the Holy Ghost, or someone with a great burden.
e. Obvious don’ts:
1. Yelling in the ear, spraying in the face, bad breath,
massage…
f. Concentrate on helping one person and stay with them. The minister may move from person to person to offer in instructional encouragement.
4. Working with the sinner.
a. Pray the sinners prayer.
1. I’m sorry, Lord forgive me, I want to do right…
2. Words of encouragement:
a. Jesus Loves you.
b. He forgives.
c. The Lord is a friend.
d. Jesus Saves.
b. Try to feel as he feels – some people cry, some feel the heaviness of sin.
c. Allow him to repent – don’t rush him into seeking the Holy Ghost.
d. If need be, explain the conviction he feels and encourage him to ask for forgiveness.
e. When you are certain he has obtained forgiveness, encourage him to worship and thank God and don’t let him fall back into the rut of repentance.
5. Working with a seeker:
a. Encourage worship, belief, faith, yield.
b. Atmosphere of worship and praise.
c. You worship in FAITH, expect God to do the work TONIGHT. NOW.
6. Working with a backslider:
a. Assure him God loves him.
b. Assure him God forgives.
c. Encourage him to worship.
7. Working with a troubled saint. Show love.
a. Support them with your presence and worship.
1. Oh God bless my brother.
E. After altar work – SOUL WINNING TIME
1. Sinner, seeker, backslider, saint
a. Sit with him, encourage him.
b. Explain: baptism and Holy Ghost.
c. Answer questions, tell him your personal experience
d. Introduce him to others.
F. After service
1. Invite soul to your house.
2. Pray for him in days to come.
3. Visit him to see how he is doing.
a. Follow-up and follow-up and follow-up
b. Keep soul winning
4. Four w’s: WORK, WITNESS, WORSHIP, PREACH THE WORD
a. You will have a soul winning church
G. A church on fire = a soul winning church. You get on fire and stay on fire!
CONCLUSION
A. Summarize
1. Visualize
2. Analyze
3. Organize
4. Deputize
5. Supervise
6. Agonize
7. Evangelize
a. Chorus: Lord Set me Afire
(The original source and/or publisher of the above material is unknown.)
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