After a week-long Perspectives Intensive course, I was challenged by this very question – which kingdom are we trying to build? Are we trying to build the church’s kingdom, where our heart and goal is to get more and more members into our body, or is it the Lord’s Kingdom,where we seek to transform entire communities throughout the world with the gospel?
Hear me out in this: I adore the local church. I truly do, and I think it is imperative to the growth in Christian maturity. But if you were to travel around the world there is one thing that is painfully clear – no one does “church” like Americans do. It is not about the building, it is not about events, and it is not about the programs. It is about advancing the Kingdom of God. People relinquish their comfort for the sake of the gospel, keeping what is of most importance ahead of them.
Here’s a few ways to show which kingdom we are focusing our efforts in building:
Church Growth:
- The church in mind – the church is central, and so we focus on creating a comfortable environment for people to come into
- Discern needs – what do our people need? comfy chairs? more programs? childcare during events?
- Individual conversions – how can we tailor the message to meet each person where they are at?
- Believer’s turf – staying where it’s comfortable to you, and inviting people into this. (Church softball leagues, church basketball courts, church coffee shops)
- Find Christians – Christians love to hang out with other Christians where everything they do is around other people that think like they do, act like they do, and value the same things that they do.
- Large group – people are OK with keeping their definition of church to be Sunday morning gatherings filled with numerous amounts of people, where they do not have to know or be known by anyone.
- Scripture for knowledge – we soak in the Scriptures and obtain a sort of spiritual obesity, where we can spit off theology like crazy with little influence or effect on our lives.
- Build programs – we create ministries, events, and programs for our people, creating a dependence within the body on the church organization in order to obtain maturity.
- Build buildings – We outgrow our space, so we build larger buildings. Then, we outgrow that space, and have add-ons to the building. Then, we build even larger buildings, and so on, and so on….
Kingdom Advance:
- The Kingdom in mind – the local church is pivotal, but it is not the end-all, be-all.
- Group/family conversions - we desire to see the entire family saved, and not just individual members.
- Unbeliever’s turf - we go to them, we don’t just hope that they cross out paths. we learn what’s important to them, we learn their culture, we learn where they are coming from. does your friend like the arts? then learn about film, music, dance, etc. does your friend like basketball? then learn who the stars in the league are, and keep up with how teams are doing. does your friend like nascar? then learn why turning left for three hours is exciting.
- Find “person of peace” - when in another culture, look for the man that the church can be built upon. work your way out of a job there so that you will turn the ministry over to them – the kingdom is NOT reliant on you!
- Small groups - discipleship cannot be done by coming to a building filled with hundreds/thousands of people once a week.
- Scripture for obedience – we read as an overflow of love and gratitude for the Father, with the desire that it will radically transform our lives.
- Build disciples – don’t seek to make people feel good or comfortable – discipleship costs.
- Train leaders – doesn’t structure ministry in a way that is dependent on you or the church organization. work yourself out of a job, and at some point you will need to turn the ministry over and leave.
