“Nurturing the Roots”St. Paul Lutheran Church

Plano, Texas

Nurturing: A Quick History

Pre-January 2007• 25 year old LCMS

congregation• Had suffered through a

significant split• Had been through 8

years of healing.• A faithful community

committed to Christ.

Nurturing: A Re-Newed Focus

January 2007• Change the Way We Think.• 3 Month Reflection:

“We Are Not Ready!”– Re-Visit the Mission Statement.– Shift to a “Both/And” focus.– Shift from Doing to Being.– Shift the Way We Measure.

Matthew 28:18-20

Nurturing: TodayTransfiguration Sunday 2009

“We Are Ready!”Laying Out the Expectation of:

• Training

• Planting

• Mission/Service

• Community Center

• Where we are at:

– We Have Had 3 Official “Creating Community Together” meetings this past year.

– Last year M2C: 2 people involved

– This year M2C: Planning team.Joshua 1:6-9

Nurturing: How We Got Here• Keys to Christ-Centered

Culture Shift:– Patience– Humility– Transparency– Integrity– Courage w/out Destruction– Celebration

• Simplicity +

Consistency

(done creatively) =

Formation Philippians 2:1-11

Nurturing: Vision

10 year vision

1.) Easily Communicated

2.) Owned by the People.

Reach, Establish, Send =

Creating Community Together

We are “Both/And” PeopleJoel 2:28

Nurturing: Communication

Nurturing: Discipleship

Starting A ReVolution• The Shift to Intentionally Engage

Transformation – – Galatians 2:20

• The Shift from Institutionalization to Relational Movement – – Ephesians 4:11-13

• The Shift from Consumerism to a Creative Culture –– Romans 12:1-3

• The Shift from Rote Evangelism to Prophetic Speaking – – Mark 1:14-20

• The Shift to a Strong/Focused Emphasis on Life Story - – I Peter 3:15

Deuteronomy 32:39

Nurturing: Strategic Theological Planning

The ReVolve Calendar

– Breaking the year into (3) parts to match up with our mission and vision.

– Our preaching and teaching are in line with one another.• ReVolutionary Preaching Series

– Making The Connection– Building Relationships That Last– New Frontiers

• Revolutionary Bible Study– The Unity of Community– Confusing Cultures– Rebuilding the Walls of Community

– Our experiential events are connected and specifically set and designed for particular times of year.• ReVolutionary Experiences

Deuteronomy 30:8-10

August

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.January

March

April

May

June

February

JulyBegin 8 Sundays of

Vision Preaching & Teaching on “Reaching”

“Join the Journey”Character study on Abraham

Bible Study on “Commitment”

Epiphany Sunday – January 10th,Begin 8 Sundays of

Vision Preaching & Teaching on “Establishing”“Dare to Discover” Character Study on “Joseph”

Bible Study on “Consistency”

Pentecost Sunday – April 25th,Begin 6 Sundays of

Vision Preaching & TeachingOn “Sending”

“Experience the Adventure”Character study on “Joshua”

Bible Study on “Courage”

St. Paul “ReVolving” Calendar!August 2009 – June 2010

Mission trip to China, Yunnan Province

During “Reformation”Oct. 26th – Nov. 1st

Use a Reformation,ReVolution, & Mission emphasis

to transition between the previous series and Advent.

Nov. 29th, 1st Sunday in Advent

Ash Wednesday – February 17th,Kicks off Lenten Series

“Stops in the Wilderness”Character Studies on

Moses & Jesus

Easter Sunday – April 4th,

Nurturing: Culture Shift Tools• Shifting to The Listening Project

• Shifting the Focus of Small Groups

• Shifting the Fiscal Year.

• Shifting the Metrics of the Church Council

• Shifting to Community Actions

– Local Mission Experiences

– The Neighborhood Picnic

60 (2006) – 225 (2007) – 300+ (2008)

– Habitat for Humanity

– Set them Free Ministries

– National Mission Experiences

– Global Mission Experiences

– Hong Kong

– Yunnan province, China

• Shifting to Meaningful Partnerships

• Water’s Edge, Frisco

• Prince of Peace, Carrolton

• LINC NT

Romans 12:1-3

Nurturing: The Future• Spring 2009: External Listening Project• Summer 2009: Creating Community Planning

Team brainstorm meeting with Water’s Edge.• October 2009: Adult Mission trip to China• January 2010: Up the communication of the

Vision, Planning, & Timeline of planting a church & creating a community center to the congregation.

• Spring 2010: Prepare and coordinate the planting team – to work on identifying the right person and brainstorm the mission field opportunities.

• Fall 2011: Call the right lead person to research, build relationships, and lead us into a specific community through:– The Listening Project &– Community Service– To help prayerfully consider form & fashion

I Corinthians 3:6-9

Nurturing: The Future