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The Top 5 Church Growth

Principles

... and What They Mean for Your Intergenerational

Ministry

The Top 5 Church Growth

Principles

... and What They Mean for Your Intergenerational

MinistryDr. Charles ArnDr. Charles Arn

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The natural tendency of a church (and older adult group) is to become increasingly self-centered and self-serving. Therefore…

It’s important for leaders to remind all…

What was Christ’s purpose?

What is our individual purpose?

What is our church’s purpose?

What is our group’s purpose?

The natural tendency of a church (and older adult group) is to become increasingly self-centered and self-serving. Therefore…

It’s important for leaders to remind all…

What was Christ’s purpose?

What is our individual purpose?

What is our church’s purpose?

What is our group’s purpose?

Principle #1:Principle #1:

““Disciple-makingDisciple-making is the is the #1 priority#1 priority””

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• Special Need 1 - 2%• Walk-In 4 - 5%• Visitation 1 - 2%• Church Program 2 - 3%

• Mass Evangelism 1/2 %

• Sunday School 3 - 4%• Pastor/Staff 1 - 6%• Friend/Relative 75 - 90%

• Special Need 1 - 2%• Walk-In 4 - 5%• Visitation 1 - 2%• Church Program 2 - 3%

• Mass Evangelism 1/2 %

• Sunday School 3 - 4%• Pastor/Staff 1 - 6%• Friend/Relative 75 - 90%

How do people come to faith and church membership?

How do people come to faith and church membership?

Principle #2:Principle #2:

““Social networks are the vehicleSocial networks are the vehicle””

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Acts 16: 12 - 15Acts 16: 12 - 15 LydiaLydia ((... she and the members of her ... she and the members of her householdhousehold were baptized... were baptized...))

Acts 16: 23 - 31Acts 16: 23 - 31 Philippian jailerPhilippian jailer ((SiSirs, what must I do to rs, what must I do to be saved? They replied, be saved? They replied, BeBelieve in the Lord Jesus, and lieve in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your you will be saved — you and your householdhousehold..))

Luke 8: 38 - 39Luke 8: 38 - 39 Demon-possessed manDemon-possessed man ((GoGo back to your back to your householdhousehold, Jesus said, , Jesus said, anand tell them what a wonderful thing God d tell them what a wonderful thing God has done for you.has done for you.))

Luke 19: 5 - 9Luke 19: 5 - 9 ZacchaeusZacchaeus ((ToToday salvation has come to day salvation has come to this this househouse ...) ...)

John 4: 49 - 53John 4: 49 - 53 Roman CenturionRoman Centurion ((YoYour son will live. ur son will live. So he and all his So he and all his householdhousehold believed. believed.))

Acts 18: 7 - 8Acts 18: 7 - 8 CrispusCrispus ((Crispus, the synagogue ruler, Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire and his entire householdhousehold believed in the Lord. believed in the Lord.))

The “household” principle in the N.T.The “household” principle in the N.T.““oikosoikos

””

It’s been happening for centuries: It’s been happening for centuries:

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What are people’s felt What are people’s felt needs today?needs today?

Principle #3:Principle #3:

““Felt needsFelt needs are the are the connecting pointconnecting point””

People feel disconnected and isolated, People feel disconnected and isolated, they are looking for a place tothey are looking for a place to belongbelong and feel part of a family or community.and feel part of a family or community.

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People are feeling the pressure of a People are feeling the pressure of a busy and stressful world. They are busy and stressful world. They are looking for a greater sense of looking for a greater sense of balancebalance and ways to manage priorities.and ways to manage priorities.

What are people’s felt What are people’s felt needs today?needs today?

Principle #3:Principle #3:

““Felt needsFelt needs are the are the connecting pointconnecting point””

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People sense the shallowness of super-People sense the shallowness of super-ficial encounters with others. They are ficial encounters with others. They are looking for authentic looking for authentic relationshipsrelationships..

What are people’s felt What are people’s felt needs today?needs today?

Principle #3:Principle #3:

““Felt needsFelt needs are the are the connecting pointconnecting point””

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People are feeling empty and drained People are feeling empty and drained from striving to meet their desires from striving to meet their desires through work, material possessions, through work, material possessions, or entertainment. They are looking for or entertainment. They are looking for spiritualspiritual answers to their unfulfilled answers to their unfulfilled "hunger.""hunger."

What are people’s felt What are people’s felt needs today?needs today?

Principle #3:Principle #3:

““Felt needsFelt needs are the are the connecting pointconnecting point””

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People are feeling overwhelmed by the People are feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change in every aspect of their pace of change in every aspect of their world. They are looking for help through world. They are looking for help through transitionstransitions..

What are people’s felt What are people’s felt needs today?needs today?

Principle #3:Principle #3:

““Felt needsFelt needs are the are the connecting pointconnecting point””

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Number of new friends in church

Number of new friends in church

New Friendships After MembershipNew Friendships After Membership

Principle #4:Principle #4:

““RelationshipsRelationships are the are the glueglue””

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+

Drop-OutsActive Mbrs

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• The typical “convert” made an average of 7 new friends in the church.

• The typical “drop-out” made an average of 2 new friends in the church.

• The typical “convert” made an average of 7 new friends in the church.

• The typical “drop-out” made an average of 2 new friends in the church.

Principle #4:Principle #4:

““RelationshipsRelationships are the are the glueglue””

New Friendships After MembershipNew Friendships After Membership

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Principle #4:Principle #4:

““RelationshipsRelationships are the are the glueglue””

What makes friendships meaningful?What makes friendships meaningful?

Common

Common

Common

Common

Common

Common

Common

Common

(the more common denominators…(the more common denominators…the better!)the better!)AgeAgeAgeAge

Marital StatusMarital StatusMarital StatusMarital Status

Family StatusFamily StatusFamily StatusFamily Status

Interest/RecreationInterest/RecreationInterest/RecreationInterest/Recreation

NeedNeedNeedNeed

Concern/ProblemConcern/ProblemConcern/ProblemConcern/Problem

Ethnic/CultureEthnic/CultureEthnic/CultureEthnic/Culture

????????

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RECEPTIVERECEPTIVERECEPTIVERECEPTIVE RESISTANTRESISTANTRESISTANTRESISTANT

Receptivity — Resistance AxisReceptivity — Resistance Axis

Principle #5:Principle #5:

““TransitionsTransitions provide the provide the window window of opportunityof opportunity””

“Turn your eyes to the fields that are white unto harvest!” (John 4:35)

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Life-Transition Life-Transition Events…Events…

Principle #5:Principle #5:

““TransitionsTransitions provide the provide the window window of opportunityof opportunity””