Fall Push?

Posted by Joe Thorn - 14/08/08

A lot of churches have a Fall push. Are any of your churches doing that? You know, summer vacations are over, kids are back in school, new residents are moved in and getting settled, a rhythm is developing and many churches use that time to try and connect with new people. Ads, mailers, door hangers, public events, press releases, new programs, classes, et al. Around here, the big churches use and actually increase their attendance via those Outreach postcard mailers. I have found that smaller churches do not typically bear the same fruit even when using the identical methods. Like those disclaimers for Jenny Craig. *Results not typical. Your experience may vary.* :)

Anyway, I’d like to hear what churches are doing, or are not doing, now that we’re nearing that time of year.

Gospel-Centered Assimilation

Posted by Joe Thorn - 13/08/08

I’ve been thinking through the issue of “assimilation” and the local church - a lot. This has been one of those areas in which I feel weak. The theology of the church (ecclesiology) is something I am passionate about and comfortable with. But systems and methods for doing church where Scripture does not explicitly speak are more difficult for me. Assimilation is generally considered to be the process of leading visitors to the church to become active, healthy members of the church. I believe every church needs to put serious thought in this system, method, or whatever you want to call it, as it is clearly a part of Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples. So what should it look like? Whose model will we adopt?

Some assimilation models are based around a well designed program with classes that emphasize education. For example, there may be four classes that relate to different stages of assimilation. One completes a class and moves ahead. I don’t think this is wrong. Classes are helpful tools in assimilation, but it’s easy to adopt this method (or any other method) second hand without first laying a theological/philosophical foundation on which the system can be built. New churches want to get going, don’t want to reinvent the wheel, and therefore sometimes adopt a program for assimilation that can amount to running people through formalities without ever really accomplishing the goal of producing mature members who are on mission. So here are my thoughts on a foundation for assimilation. You can think of it like a skeleton on which muscle and flesh must be added. Or you can think of it in terms of our goals concerning general experiences and spiritual progression. Like most of my thinking, this is very simple stuff, but perhaps you will find it somewhat useful.

Gospel-Centered Assimilation (sketch from my journal)

I write and draw everything out in my Moleskine journal. This is what my thinking on assimilation looks like visually. It breaks down into four progressive experiences/spheres that overlap with one another. When a family or individual comes to an event or gathering - or even into a member’s home the process begins. For more info on [circle, triangle and square, see this post.]

Gospel Encounter
The first sphere is a gospel encounter. At every event, in all our gatherings and ministries, and in even our homes as we practice hospitality, we expect visitors to encounter the gospel in word and/or deed. This is something we are completely in control of. While we cannot ensure that an individual will embrace the gospel, we can ensure the gospel is demonstrated through works of mercy, preached in our worship gatherings, seen in our parenting, fellowship and dialog with the world.

The unchurched, non-Christian and the mature believer who has walked with Christ for decades will both encounter the gospel. A gospel encounter is not dependent on a particular program, but can use them as appropriate. The point is that in every point of entry to the body (worship gathering, mercy ministry, etc.) the gospel is exalted and people are in some way confronted with it.

Gospel Experience
The second stage of assimilation for us is experiencing the gospel. This is out of our control, but is the aim of all our ministry. By gospel experience I mean people are not only confronted with the gospel, but are in some way affected by it. Conviction of sin, seeking God, and eventually faith and repentance (conversion) are progressive goals. There is overlap between the gospel encounter and gospel experience, for some will have been prepared for this in advance, and some will be Christian. Therefore, some who come into our midst will encounter and experience the gospel immediately. Others will experience it later as they continue with us.

For many of our visitors, the first two stages of assimilation focus on the gospel and them as individuals and families. People are more the recipients of the gospel, rather than the servants of it.

Gospel Service
The second stage in assimilating into the church is gospel service - where people begin to see the gospel as something not just for them, but for everyone. Consequently they begin participating and serving with the church in her mission. It is our goal and expectation that everyone at Redeemer will participate in and serve both the body and the community with the gospel. At some point in this stage covenant membership is expected. How a church moves forward with membership varies greatly, but I like the idea of a class or classes to help in this aspect of assimilation.

Gospel Calling
As believers are growing in grace the church must work to help individuals identify their spiritual gift, mature as followers of Christ, be able to reproduce themselves via discipleship, lead in whatever capacity God has equipped them, and determine what God has called them to (in church life, family, vocation, etc.).

These latter two overlapping spheres orient the indivudal outwardly. Rather than focusing only on the “gospel and me” they are brought to live out a “gospel and me and the world” perspective.

I have not addressed the issue of new visitors and the parking lot, visitor’s centers, worship guides (bulletins for the old schoolers), etc. All of that is relevant - even important in my estimation. But first, I needed to work out in a clear way what assimilation really is. I do not believe assimilation is simply becoming a member of an organization. It is the spiritual progression of an individual with Christ and his people. It moves one from conviction, to conversion, to covenant membership and beyond. In ym view it should rely less on a program and more on immersion into the church’s culture (and counter-culture).

While this doesn’t spell out all the ways we, or any other church, may practically carry out assimilation, it is a helpful foundation from which we are developing the ins and outs of this process in our fellowship.

Of course, I am always curious how others are doing it, thinking about it. From big picture stuff to the practical details - please share your thoughts on this.

The Monologue

Posted by Joe Thorn - 28/05/08

Earlier this year at the Acts 29 Bootcamp in Chicago Mark Dever spoke on Evangelism and Church Planting, and something he said about preaching has stuck with me more than anything else I heard at that gathering. It is particularly provocative in light of the current conversation that is taking place among pastors about the nature and place of preaching in the church.

Some have become vocal in their objection to preaching as a “monologue.” Some argue that a unilateral proclamation of truth as the regular form of preaching in the church is a bad thing in that it prohibits dialog, turns people into passive spectators, and contributes to the sit-there-and-do-nothing ethos of many of our evangelical churches. But at the Acts 29 Bootcamp Mark Dever argued that gospel-centered preaching as “monologue” is not only biblical, but is practical in that both the content and even the form itself point to the grace of God as our only hope of redemption.

In salvation God acts. He accomplishes our redemption while we receive it by faith. Because salvation is of the Lord, to “sit there and do nothing” is the proper posture of the sinner. Of course that is an overstatement, and I know this is not the point of those arguing against the monologue, but the point is relevant. God has acted on our behalf, he sends his word out into the world announcing this work, and we respond to this word in faith/repentance. When God converts a man he does so through the preaching/proclamation of the word, (Rom 10). Dialog, while good, is not required. When God sanctifies his people, and brings revival to the church and world, he uses Scripture (Jn. 17:17. 2 Thess. 2:13; ). “Back and forth” is often used, but is not necessary. The explicit testimony of Scripture, and the implicit example of the preaching in both the Old and New Testatments all lift up the sermon as monologue as a good thing. In fact, a normative thing. God speaks, and his people are changed. God’s word goes out, and does not return void.

I believe back and forth is an important and necessary aspect to Christian ministry. We should seek opportunities to cultivate such dialog in order to reason with people about the gospel, counsel, etc. But to claim that dialog is necessary for preaching to be effective is not just a stretch, it mocks both the model of the apostolic church and the means of God. Yes, let’s create opportunities for dialogical ministry/teaching, but let’s not abandon the proclamation of Scripture “as monolog” as if it were merely an antiquated and ineffective approach to teaching. I am convinced with Mark that such preaching makes much of the gospel in content and form.

An Evangelical Manifesto

Posted by Joe Thorn - 07/05/08

An Evangelical Manifesto: A Declaration of Evangelical Identity and Public Commitment was officially released today. This is a document that seeks to clarify what it means to be an evangelical and how we should engage culture and politics. I like it a lot, but have only read it through once.

For more check out Ed Stetzer’s blog, Justin Taylor’s interaction here, and his interview with Os Guinness here.

The Hope of Obedience

Posted by Joe Thorn - 02/05/08

I am preaching on Philippians 2:12, 13 this weekend on “Learning Obedience.” Preaching on obedience is tricky. If all I do is call people to keep the law (obey) it will only result in pride or despair. Pride for those who only superficially examine their lives and see themselves as good performers, and despair for those who see their inability to meet God’s standards. In preaching on obedience I have to be careful to show 1) our ultimate hope is not our obedience, but Jesus’ fulfillment of the law, and 2) that there is real hope for our own progress in obedience - but even that is found outside of ourselves. As Paul wrote, “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

In The Gospel for Real Life Jerry Bridges says it this way,

…just as we by faith look to Christ for our righteous standing before God, so by faith we are to look to Him for the enabling power to live the Christian life. This power comes to us a result of our vital and living union with Him.

This is our hope; this is our encouragement to press on in the midst of our frequent falling and failing - the gospel itself!

It is the assurance in the gospel that we have indeed died to the guilt of sin; that there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus; that the Lord will never count our sins against us; and that we are truly delivered from the reigning power of sin, that will motivate us and keep us going even in the midst of the tension between the Spirit and the sinful nature.

Bridges goes on to quote Horatius Bonar whose words were the best thing I’ve read this week:

The secret of a believer’s holy walk is his continual recurrence to the blood of the Surety, and his daily [communion] with a crucified and risen Lord. All divine life, and all precious fruits of it, pardon, peace, and holiness, spring from the cross. All fancied sanctification which does not arise wholly from the blood of the cross is nothing better than Pharisaism. If we would be holy, we must get to the cross, and dwell there; else, notwithstanding all our labour, diligence, fasting, praying and good works, we shall be yet void of real sanctification, destitute of those humble, gracious tempers which accompany a clear view of the cross.

False ideas of holiness are common, not only among those who profess false religions, but among those who profess the true. The love of God to us, and our love to Him, work together for producing holiness. Terror accomplishes no real obedience. Suspense brings forth no fruit unto holiness. No gloomy uncertainty as to God’s favor can subdue one lust, or correct our crookedness of will. But the free pardon of the cross uproots sin, and withers all its branches. Only the certainty of love, forgiving love, can do this….

Free and warm reception into the divine favor is the strongest of all motives in leading a man to seek conformity to Him who has thus freely forgiven him all trespasses.

Whether you are preaching, teaching or listening this Sunday - let the law and the gospel do their work, but do not confuse the two. The law should show us the way to live, expose our guilt and condemnation since we do not live that way, and show us our need for God’s mercy. The gospel shows us that Jesus fulfilled the law of God for us (our justification), and empowers us to obey (our sanctification) from a sense of love and joy.

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