The Conversion Investment – the problem with Church economics (Part 2)
How long does conversion take?
An instant?
A week?
Six weeks, after taking a class at a church?
I don’t think that there is an answer, but that it is different for every person. So, some exchange their allegiance for Jesus in an instant and some over a period of years and some somewhere in between.
The issue lies in the fact that in order to determine where people are in their journey we need to hear their story, and sometimes it takes a while before you hear the whole story. We almost just rubber stamp the whole thing as if God really didn’t want to use humans to help other humans come to faith. So, they come, we listen, they pray, we dunk, and they leave unchanged.
We aren’t willing to sit with someone for an hour or two in order to witness the intersection of God’s story with the story teller’s. It’s emotionally exhausting. It’s mentally exhausting. It’s a battle with unseen forces to help people exchange their story for His story, and we’d just rather there be a pill to prescribe.
So, I am convinced that…
there are far more people who prayed a prayer after someone than are actually converted.
there are far more people who are baptized than are actually converted.
there are far too few churches that see this as fraud.
there are far too many of us, especially in the South, who refuse to challenge someone’s “I believe in God” to substitute for a real allegiance to Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
there are far fewer churches who are trying to change their “five minute, come speak to a pastor and before the song ends pray a prayer invitation approach” into bringing people to Christ so that they might be radically transformed by Him…who die and are raised to new life.
And so there are far less Converted People than we Church people might like to admit.
Spiritual formation or transformation – what are we doing?
Mark Waltz | …because People Matter: Spiritual Formation Isn’t a Department Ministry
Spiritual Formation Isn’t a Department Ministry
Life Formation
Last week Tim Stevens used a similar diagram to illustrate the importance of keeping the weekend service’s purpose clean and clear. In Steven’s words “We are at our best when we focus our weekend services squarely on those who are at the beginning of their spiritual journey…” (read his post here). Some would argue that discipleship happens in some component outside of the weekend. Perhaps in groups. Or maybe a class.
Really? Since when does discipleship happen in a department of ministry?
Dallas Willard points out in his book, Renovation of the Heart, that spiritual formation begins at birth. As in – human birth. Like as a baby. Through our parents, friends, coaches, pastors, culture, life events – good and bad we are daily being formed. Formation is happening. Hence, because all of life is spiritual, spiritual formation happens whether or not we ever make it to church. Our views of God, life, others and ourselves are being formed everyday in every way. That’s spiritual formation.
However, spiritual transformation – or rather – life transformation (it’s all spiritual) occurs through the power and work of the Holy Spirit. And He utilizes what He chooses to transform us. He uses relationships, the Scriptures, biblical teaching, spiritual practices, serving, giving, and life experiences to transform us.
Spiritual transformation has never been a department. Unless you consider the Holy Spirit to be a department.
Our role in the local church is to leverage every venue, every tool, with clear communication to help our people live integrated lives that are step by step surrendered to the work and cause of Christ through His Spirit. Our role is to be responsible to our people by being responsible for environments that help them take their next step in relationship. (For more on this thought, check this out)
What is your church-wide plan for making disciples?
Ten Things I Believe About Your Ministry! – Perry Noble
November :: 2009 :: Perry Noble | Leadership, Vision & Creativity
Ten Things I Believe About Your Ministry! November 23, 2009
#1 – God’s heart is not for your to fail and/or drop out!
#2 – God’s plans for your life/ministry are greater than yours! (I Corinthians 2:9, Ephesians 3:20, Isaiah 49:6) SEEK HIM!!!
#3 – God will surround you with the right people in order to make His vision become a reality. (Proverbs 15:22)
#4 – God will reveal what He wants in His time…and it will be amazing! (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
#5 – God cares more about your character than He does your churches numerical growth. (II Chronicles 16:9)
#6 – The tomb is empty…and He didn’t mean for THAT to lead to boring, lifeless church services.
#7 – We should fear becoming IMPOTENT (having the equipment but lacking the passion to perform, via Bishop TD Jakes) way more than we fear becoming IRRELEVANT.
#8 – Success needs to be viewed through the lenses of obedience and not through comparing yourself to another ministry.
#9 – If what you are doing doesn’t cause you to say “oh crap” internally…then there probably isn’t any desperation for God…which means He will allow you to do ministry without Him.
#10 – If everybody likes you then you’ve spent way too much time kissing rear ends instead of being faithful to who God has called you to be and what He has called you to do!
