The Twelve Laws of Building a Healthy Growing Ministry The Law of Structure

The Twelve Laws ofBuilding a Healthy Growing Ministry

The Twelve Laws ofBuilding a Healthy Growing Ministry

The Law of StructureThe Law of Structure

The Law of StructureThe Law of Structure• Growing churches understand the role of

various size groups (large, medium, small) within the church and have learned to recognize predictable plateaus within each size and how to break through those sociological barriers to growth.

• Text – Acts 2:42-47

• Growing churches understand the role of various size groups (large, medium, small) within the church and have learned to recognize predictable plateaus within each size and how to break through those sociological barriers to growth.

• Text – Acts 2:42-47

I. Objective of this SessionI. Objective of this Session

I. Objective of this SessionI. Objective of this Session

To help pastors to see there is great variety and diversity in church structure but some structures are God-ordained. We want to teach pastors that there are predictable growth barriers and how to break through these barriers.

To help pastors to see there is great variety and diversity in church structure but some structures are God-ordained. We want to teach pastors that there are predictable growth barriers and how to break through these barriers.

II. Major Teaching PointsII. Major Teaching Points


Acts 2:42-47Acts 2:42-47

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)


a. The practice of the early church:- Committed to the Word.- Committed to making Christ the focal

point of their celebrations.- Committed to one-another relationships.- Committed to deeply praying.

a. The practice of the early church:- Committed to the Word.- Committed to making Christ the focal

point of their celebrations.- Committed to one-another relationships.- Committed to deeply praying.


b. Two main structures within the early church:- The large group where there is

inspiration, instruction from the Word and worship.

- The small group where there is accountability, sharing, deep relationships and life change.

- The large group met in the temple courts and the small groups house to house.

b. Two main structures within the early church:- The large group where there is

inspiration, instruction from the Word and worship.

- The small group where there is accountability, sharing, deep relationships and life change.

- The large group met in the temple courts and the small groups house to house.


c. Jesus made it clear that new wine demands new wine skins.- Truth can never change.- Methods must always be open to change.- Traditions that are not from the Bible limit

our structure.

c. Jesus made it clear that new wine demands new wine skins.- Truth can never change.- Methods must always be open to change.- Traditions that are not from the Bible limit

our structure.

III. ResearchIII. Research

III. ResearchIII.Research

There are predictable documented growth patterns in churches of all backgrounds and theological persuasions. (The High Impact Church, chapter 18-19)

There are predictable documented growth patterns in churches of all backgrounds and theological persuasions. (The High Impact Church, chapter 18-19)

IV. Practical Implementation

IV. Practical Implementation

IV.Practical ImplementationIV.Practical Implementation

a. The pastor and church leadership must identify the purpose for each of the specific group sizes.• LARGE group are where we inspire and

instruct people (100 or more).• MEDIUM-sized groups are for identity and

to develop leaders, and teachers (20-80).

a. The pastor and church leadership must identify the purpose for each of the specific group sizes.• LARGE group are where we inspire and

instruct people (100 or more).• MEDIUM-sized groups are for identity and

to develop leaders, and teachers (20-80).


a. The pastor and church leadership must identify the purpose for each of the specific group sizes.• SMALL groups are where life change,

deep personal relationships, application, accountability and caring occur (3-10 but can be sub-grouped between 10 and 20).

a. The pastor and church leadership must identify the purpose for each of the specific group sizes.• SMALL groups are where life change,

deep personal relationships, application, accountability and caring occur (3-10 but can be sub-grouped between 10 and 20).


b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 1. The House Church (10 to 25 people)

The extended family feel.Having a vision and strategy for the lost.

b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 1. The House Church (10 to 25 people)

The extended family feel.Having a vision and strategy for the lost.


b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 2. Single Cell Church (25 to 85 people)

Feeling of closeness.Sub-grouping.

b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 2. Single Cell Church (25 to 85 people)

Feeling of closeness.Sub-grouping.


b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 3. Small Church (85 to 100 people)

The family feel, and a pastor to do the ministry.Make a love for the community more important than the family feel.

b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 3. Small Church (85 to 100 people)

The family feel, and a pastor to do the ministry.Make a love for the community more important than the family feel.


b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 4. The Mid-Size Church (150 to 250 people)

Lack of staff.Take the initiative in hiring the right staff.

b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 4. The Mid-Size Church (150 to 250 people)

Lack of staff.Take the initiative in hiring the right staff.


b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 5. The Large Church (250 to 750 people)

Lack of awareness of spiritual gifts and the need for every member to be a minister.Review the pastoral role to train/equip the members to do the ministry

b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 5. The Large Church (250 to 750 people)

Lack of awareness of spiritual gifts and the need for every member to be a minister.Review the pastoral role to train/equip the members to do the ministry


b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 6. Very Large Church (750 to 2,000 people)

The senior pastor has usually grown a church beyond his leadership capabilities.Gets outside help

b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 6. Very Large Church (750 to 2,000 people)

The senior pastor has usually grown a church beyond his leadership capabilities.Gets outside help


b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 7. Mega-Church (2,000 to 10,000 people)

Go inside each division an do the same thing as if it were a church of 100

b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 7. Mega-Church (2,000 to 10,000 people)

Go inside each division an do the same thing as if it were a church of 100


b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 8. META Church (A Church organized for

UNLIMITED GROWTH)Membership, pastoral care, counseling, and teaching on spiritual gifts and doctrine happen through the life of the small group. The small group even becomes the agency for evangelism.

b. Common barriers or plateaus to church growth: 8. META Church (A Church organized for

UNLIMITED GROWTH)Membership, pastoral care, counseling, and teaching on spiritual gifts and doctrine happen through the life of the small group. The small group even becomes the agency for evangelism.


c. In summary, the four types of barriers are: – SPIRITUAL barriers. – SPACE – when a room is 80 percent full

growth is impeded.– SOCIOLOGICAL barriers – 100 barrier,

200 barrier, 800 barrier, 1,500 barrier and

3,000 barrier.

c. In summary, the four types of barriers are: – SPIRITUAL barriers. – SPACE – when a room is 80 percent full

growth is impeded.– SOCIOLOGICAL barriers – 100 barrier,

200 barrier, 800 barrier, 1,500 barrier and

3,000 barrier.


c. In summary, the four types of barriers are: – STRUCTURAL barriers. There have to

be large group meetings of inspiration, instruction and meeting with God where there is critical mass. There have to be small groups where people are really trained so that life change can happen.

c. In summary, the four types of barriers are: – STRUCTURAL barriers. There have to

be large group meetings of inspiration, instruction and meeting with God where there is critical mass. There have to be small groups where people are really trained so that life change can happen.

V. Key QuestionsV. Key Questions

V. Key QuestionsV. Key Questions1. How can you structure so that the spark ignited through the teaching in

the large group can fan into the flame of life change in the small group?1. How can you structure so that the spark ignited through the teaching in

the large group can fan into the flame of life change in the small group?

VI. Helpful Resources/ToolsVI. Helpful

Resources/Tools

VI. Helpful Resources/ToolsVI. Helpful Resources/Tools• The High Impact Church, chapters 18-19• Natural Church Development, chapter 3• Seizing This Divine Moment, audio series and notes from Walk Thru the Bible

• The High Impact Church, chapters 18-19• Natural Church Development, chapter 3• Seizing This Divine Moment, audio series and notes from Walk Thru the Bible

VII. Questions and Answers

VII. Questions and Answers

Martin DeaconSenior Vice President, Global Church MinistriesWalk Thru the Bible

Martin DeaconSenior Vice President, Global Church MinistriesWalk Thru the Bible

www.walkthru.orgwww.walkthru.org

Jay MitchellDirector of ProgrammingChurch Communication Network

Jay MitchellDirector of ProgrammingChurch Communication Network

Chip IngramPresident & CEO, Walk Thru the BibleTeaching Pastor, Living on the Edge

Chip IngramPresident & CEO, Walk Thru the BibleTeaching Pastor, Living on the Edge

Jason GarciaLead Pastor

The Bridge Church Atlanta

Jason GarciaLead Pastor

The Bridge Church Atlanta

Documents

The Twelve Laws of Building a Healthy Growing Ministry The Law of Structure