Beyond Worship: Ministry with Adults Using A Contemporary Church Model Bill Alphin Virginia Baptist Mission Board

Beyond Worship:Ministry with Adults

Using A Contemporary Church Model

Bill Alphin

Virginia Baptist Mission Board

How did Jesus How did Jesus grow grow disciples?disciples?

How do we How do we develop a develop a

mature faith mature faith as disciples as disciples

of Jesus?of Jesus?

• StudyStudy• PrayerPrayer

• NurtureNurture• ServiceService• TestingTesting

• ReflectionReflection

Some churches grow Some churches grow disciples by accident!disciples by accident!

Natural Church Development

Schwarz• Empowering leadership• Gift-oriented ministry• Passionate spirituality• Functional structures• Holistic small groups• Need-oriented evangelism• Loving relationships

The Influence of the Contemporary Church Models• To “Clone” rather than learn from

“Principles”

• Contemporary Worship vs. Traditional

• Sunday School verses Small Groups

• Closed Groups verses Open Groups

The IssueIs Not Just Style Of Worship. Its What Happens Beyond Worship…

For adults to “stick” with the church, they must

find a place where they are known by name and

where friendships can develop.

Essential Groupsin the church:

•Worship—Focus on God.•Adult Bible Fellowship (Sunday School).—Focus on people.

•Small Groups—Focus God’s relationship with His people.

TheSaddlebackModel forBuildingUp TheChurch

The CommunityUnchurched

The CrowdRegular Attendees

MembersCongregation

CommittedMaturing

Core Lay Ministers

THE BIG PICTURE:

How Small Groups Fit IntoThe Ministry Of The Church

WorshipCommunity

ABF

SS

ABF’s andSS Classes are“Open”:

THE BIG PICTURE:


WorshipCommunity

ABF

SS


THE BIG PICTURE:

Covenant(Open)

BAGOAG

TaskGroup

SMALL GROUPS


WorshipCommunity

ABF

SS


THE BIG PICTURE:

Covenant(Open)

BAGOAG

TaskGroup

SMALL GROUPS

VariousMissions/Ministries

Opportunities


WorshipCommunity

ABF

SS


THE BIG PICTURE:

Covenant(Open)

BAGOAG

TaskGroup

SMALL GROUPS


Opportunities


MissionAction

WorshipCommunity

Worship ServiceEntry Point

People who are neverassimilatedat this pointare at high risk of exiting.

Small GroupsAs A Tool ForGrowingDisciples…

ABF

ABF

SS

ABF

Possiblepoint ofassimilation:

ABF’s andSS groups are“Open”:The focus isfellowship.

THE BIG PICTURE: How Small Groups “fit” in the Church

Covenant(Open)

BAG

OAG

OAGTask

Group

SMALL GROUPS

Content of SmallGroups (Varies depending on the purpose of the group)

•Prayer•Disciplines of the faith.•Time of accountability• and encouragement.•Training.•Ministry beyond self.


Opportunities

LeadershipCommunity

used tocoach

leaders.

EntryPoints

EntryPoints

MissionAction Debrief and

reflection.

MinistryBeyond“Self”.

TERMINOLOGY:

ABF= Adult Bible FellowshipBAG=Basic Accountability Group.OAG=Ongoing Accountability Group

Agree-Disagree:

“A church that relies only on Church member participation in the Sunday morning worship experience and adult Sunday School class will not go very far in developing mature disciples of Jesus Christ.”Bill Alphin

Turning Attenders Into Members Rich Warren, Saddleback Valley Community Church

• Develop a plan to assimilate member.• Communicate the value of membership.• Establish a required membership class.• Develop a membership covenant.• Make your members feel special• Create opportunities to build relationships.• Encourage every member to join a small group.

EvangelismAnd Assimilation

BibleStudy

CareMinistry

Three functions ofThe Adult Bible Fellowship…

(Adult Sunday School Classes)

Why Should We Care About Small Groups?

• Growing churches think small.• High tech cries for high touch!• Millennials want honest, caring relationships• Millennials are looking for “family”.• Church renewal often comes from God working

with people in a small group community setting.• It may be the most important “Niche” the

Church has that will differentiate itself from other organizations and institutions.

Why Are Small Groups Important To The Development Of Disciples?• Disciples are best developed in groups.• Disciples are best developed when there is

accountability and encouragement.• Disciples are best developed where there is a

high degree of trust in the group.• Disciples are best developed when there is

agreed expectations and outcomes.• The adult Sunday School is not very effective as

a disciple making group.

It is difficult to move People who attend Worship where they canBe anonymous to Involvement in smallGroups that requireA high degree of intimacy.

Brief Theology of Small Groups

•Exodus 18:17-18a,21 (NIV)•Moses' father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out….But select capable men from all the people-- men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain-- and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”

Brief Theology of Small Groups

•John 10:16 (NIV):

•I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Contents of A Small Group(Varies depending on the purpose of the group)

• Fellowship and possible ice breaker.• Prayer (talking and listening).• Disciplines of the faith.• Time of “catching up”: Accountability and

encouragement.• Additional new training.• Ministry beyond self: Gift based Missions• Time of hospitality and fellowship.

Small groups should be Small groups should be sequential...sequential...

People are grouped People are grouped according to stage of faith according to stage of faith journey...journey...

Each phase of discipleshipEach phase of discipleshipmoves the disciple to a moves the disciple to a higher level of higher level of commitment.commitment.

Worship ServiceEntry Point

Small GroupsAs A Tool ForGrowingDisciples…

ABF

ABF

SS

ABF

The Traditional Model Verses The Contemporary Church ModelThe Traditional Model Verses The Contemporary Church Model

Covenant(Open)

BAG

OAG

OAGTask

Group

SMALL GROUPS


Opportunities

Leadership Community

used to coach leaders.

(Traditional Church Model)

Entry PointWorship Service

OpenSmall Groups

With “Empty Chair”

(Contemporary Church Model)

The Contemporary Model Verses The Traditional “Baptist” Model

Traditional: Contemporary:• Sunday School/ABF• Out Reach/ Caring

through the SS.• Discipleship Small

Groups are often “Hit or Miss” –No curriculum plan.

• Discipleship Training Director.

• Open Small Groups• Outreach/Caring through

the Small Group (Open Chair)

• Small Group Ministry Tends to Be Organized with “Coaches.

• Leadership Community.• Movement from anonymity

to intimacy without transition.

OpenVerses

Closed Groups

Elements of a Healthy Small Elements of a Healthy Small GroupGroup

X

EGR

H G

S

LXa

(B)

Leader

Facilitator

Apprentice

Recruiter

Empty Chair

Overseer

Observer

Seekers

Babysitter

Children’s Minister

if needed

Growing

Disciples

Extra GraceRequired Person

Hospitality

Person

29

An effective disciple making An effective disciple making church must have leaders. church must have leaders.

Develop disciple making leaders Develop disciple making leaders by...by...

• Affirm those who are effective Christian disciples and leaders.

• Provide vision and encouragement.• Discover and utilize spiritual gifts.• Create accountability relationships for

leaders through a leadership community.• Free leaders of institutional Maintenance.

Edward H. Hammett Making the Church Work.

The Leadership CommunityThe Leadership Community• NurtureNurture

• Vision Casting-Large PictureVision Casting-Large Picture

• Ideas and activities. (Plenary)Ideas and activities. (Plenary)

• Skill Development (Sub-groups by Skill Development (Sub-groups by type)type)

• Huddle/Planning (Sub-groups by type)Huddle/Planning (Sub-groups by type)

• Meets at least monthly.Meets at least monthly.

What will you do next?

Documents

Beyond Worship: Ministry with Adults Using A Contemporary Church Model Bill Alphin Virginia Baptist Mission Board