Much of the activity we do in the church simply “offers a way to stay busy and preoccupied with methodological pursuits while not facing the hard truth: none of this seems to be making a difference. Church activity is a poor substitute for genuine spiritual vitality.”

Reggie McNeal “The Present Future”

NATURALNATURALCHURCHCHURCH

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

??What’s ThatWhat’s That

“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest?’ I tell you open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

-- John 4:35

Look to the fieldsLook to the fields

““Some church growth Some church growth concepts are so focused concepts are so focused on FRUIT...on FRUIT...

...that they fail to consider ...that they fail to consider the ROOT that produces the ROOT that produces the fruit.”the fruit.”

Peter Drucker

3 Questions Every Church Should Ask

Are we doing the right thing?

Leadership

Mission

Vision

Are we doing the right thing?

Are we doing it the right way?

Management

ProcessesEfficiency Effectivene

ss

Are we doing the right thing?

How do we know?

Are we doing it the right way?

Evaluation

Change

Mark 4:26-29Mark 4:26-29

"Jesus also said, "This is what the kingdom of God

is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.”

Mark 4:26-29Mark 4:26-29

“Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though

he does not know how.”

Mark 4:26-29Mark 4:26-29

“All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in

the head.”

Mark 4:26-29Mark 4:26-29

“As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it,

because the harvest has come.”

Jesus Explained What We Can And Cannot Do

•We can prepare the soil

•We can sow the seed

•We can sleep & can get up

•We can harvest the crop

We CANNOT

bring forth the fruitNCS © 2000

Key QuestionKey Question

How can we release the

potential that God has placed within EVERY church?

IntroductionIntroductionNatural Natural Church Church

DevelopmentDevelopment

International Research International Research ProjectProject

• 1,000 churches

• 32 countries

• 18 languages

• 6 continents

The Institute TodayThe Institute Today

• 55,000 churches• 60 countries• 25 languages• 30,000 churches

in USA

It is “no longer possible to design a program, edit a hymnal, produce a

curriculum series, offer a study program, train a youth minister, outline

the format for a corporate worship service, fashion a church growth

strategy, design a staff configuration, or recommend a system of governance

that will meet the needs of every congregation.”

Lyle Schaller, The Interventionist ©1997

One Size Fits All

“Ministry by mimicry is mockery”

“If you can’t

imitate him, don’t copy him.”

Yogi Berra

1 2 3 4

1 2

3 4

Uncle Buddy

Phineas BreseeJohn Wesley

James Arminius

Growing and declining churches vary significantly in eight quality areas

Schwarz’ research revealed:

Quality Quality CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Empowering LeadershipEmpowering LeadershipCongratulations,

Pastor! Your leadership

training was so successful that

we don‘t need you any

longer.

Gift-Gift-basedbased Ministry Ministry

Passionate SpiritualityPassionate Spirituality

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the

Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

-- Romans 12:11-12

Effective StructuresEffective Structures

InspiringInspiring W Worship Serviceorship Service

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all

circumstances, for this is God´s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit´s fire.”

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

Holistic Small GroupsHolistic Small Groups

Loving RelationshipsLoving Relationships

Need-oriented EvangelismNeed-oriented Evangelism

Research ResultsResearch Results

Improving quality in your church's "minimum factor" often results in quantitative church growth.

The Minimum BarrelThe Minimum Barrel

Worship Attendance

Minimum Factor

Quality Characteristics

Jan 2006

Jan 2008

Strategic Planning For A Healthy Church

The key issue is NOT church growth

It’s

CHURCH HEALTH

“Healthy churches are always growing, but

Not all growing churches are

healthy churches!”

“…the fire will test the quality of each man’s (& church’s)

work.” (1 Cor. 3:13)

“If we fail to plan, we plan to fail.”

“If we plan with God, we will not

fail!”

Strategic Steps To Consider

Make a commitment to keep focusing on church health as

the foundation of your strategy and planning

Consider conducting a church health analysis every other

year to evaluate your progress

The Life Cycle & Stages of Organizational Development

George W. Bullard Jr. in Congregational Passages

Adolescence (VIPm)

(VIPM) Adulthood

(vIPM) Maturit

y Retirement (viPM)

Old Age (vipM)

Death (m)

GROWTH

PRIME

AGING

Birth (Vipm)

Infancy (VIpm)

V = Vision I = Inclusion P = Programs M =Management

Refocus

This is a church

in which the leadership is

committed heart and soul to church

growth;

This is a church

in which nearly every Christian is

using his or her gifts to edify

the church;

This is a church

in which most members are living out the faith with

power and contagious

enthusiasm;

This is a church in which church structures are evaluated on

whether they serve the growth of the

church or not;

This is a church in which worship

services are a high point of the week for the majority of the

congregation;

This is a church in which the loving

and healing power of Christian fellowship can be experienced

in small groups;

This is a church

in which nearly all Christians, according to their gifts, help to

fulfill the Great Commission;

This is a church

in which the love of Christ permeates almost all church

activities.Christian A. Schwarz in Natural Church Development (p 40)

Are we doing the right thing?

How do we know?

Are we doing it the right way?

for the Body of Christ

TheBottom Line

Quality of Health