MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

The Five Stages of Renewal in the Local Church

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, June 30, 2008
Viewed 122
(27) comments so far

3. Missional Renewal: This is when a church discovers what God wants it to do. We have a kingdom assignment. We’re not here just to bless one another. God wants to bless the world through us. Specifically, God has given the church five purposes – worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. Missional renewal happens when we focus our churches on these purposes. When your church gets personal, relational, and mission renewal, it can’t help but grow.

4. Cultural Renewal: In this stage, God renews the culture of the church. I’ve known pastors who have tried to change the culture of the church without going through the other three renewals. There’s a word for that – martyrdom. You cannot change the culture of the church. Only God can. But once the first three renewals have happened in the church, God will change the culture.

5. Structural Renewal: After your church has been through the first four renewals, it’s going to outgrow your current structure. No doubt about it. I’ve seen it happen at Saddleback. The structure that works for a church of 100 won’t work for a church of 250 and so on. There is no perfect structure in Scripture. Why? Every situation is different. We’ve got to structure our churches differently depending on our circumstances. We change structures just about every year at Saddleback. You can’t put new wine in old wineskins. As your church begins to get healthier and healthier, the structure has to change.

But wait… there’s a sixth renewal… but to read that you have to go to The Christian Post!

What do you think? Do you think the church is close to another reformation?

Love to hear your thoughts!

Rick Warren believes that God is preparing the church for another reformation. The first reformation focused on what the church believed, this next reformation, according to Warren, will focus on what the church does. Here are five things that Rick says must happen before the next great reformation; and all of these things much happen from within the church:

1. Personal Renewal: It starts with the heart. If God is going to renew your church, he’ll begin it with you – and then it has to continue with the rest of your church. You might call it rededicating your life, being filled with the Spirit, or the “deeper life.” I don’t care what you call it. Just get it! Pastor, the bottom line is this – you need to fall in love with Jesus again. Do that and all of a sudden it’s not about religion and rituals; it’s about a relationship with Jesus. You realize that Jesus doesn’t just love you, but he likes you.

2. Relational Renewal: After you get right with God, you’ve got to get right with others. Jesus told us this. He told us to love God with all of our heart and then love others as ourselves. When you have relational renewal in your church, the gossip goes down and the joy goes up. How do you know when a church has been through relational renewal? People hang around longer after the service. They want to spend time together. If people don’t want to hang around after your services, you have a performance not a church. The church is more than content; it’s a community.

Comments

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layne on Mon, June 30, 2008

I am not necessarily a warrenite, but some of the things he expresses do seem to fit both my experience and how I understand the scripture. I do work in churches which is transformational during times of transition, (mostly between pastors) I think the reformation of local churches does seem to generally fall into the patern he describes. My experience is limited my understanding is not perfect, I know that I need personal ref. every day, and I know that the church needs to look at itself with some basic questions in mind are we fulfilling the basic call of Jesus in the things we do are we understanding the scripture as accurately as we can, where are our monies going, how is our time being spent, great time to do that between pastors. But pastors should be doing that regularly too.

Cs I agree with you to a point; about not just doing what someones idea about what the church should be doing or even where we should be going. I would suggetst though that if we looked at the functions that are described in the bible of the church it might be possible to say that the functions (built on the word not just doing stuff to make us feel like we are making a difference) it is possible to do the things; discipling, worshipping, etc in ways which are not the same as what we grew up with. While being obediant to what He has called us to do/be.
jud on Mon, June 30, 2008

fishon,

I know this is an aside from the topic but to answer you, I am very familiar with the emergent church. One of my very close friends is right in the thick of the middle of one of the largest and founding “cohorts” of that movement… oops I said movement! It’s a very sad thing but the spirit of it is really nothing new. From what I can tell it’s really just “mainline” Universalists who have a background in Christianity and are nostalgic for “Jesus”. That sounds really harsh but from COUNTLESS conversations with this person and a bunch of research and reading that is the only way I can sum it up. Or, another def. might be “one who has replaced Christ as the center with doubt” Doubt is no longer an peripheral element of faith but the highest of virtues and it’s confused with humility and worn as such.
Peter Hamm on Mon, June 30, 2008

Jud writes [One of my very close friends is right in the thick of the middle of one of the largest and founding “cohorts” of that movement…] with all due respect, I’m not so sure that makes you “very familiar with the emergent church”. Only with one individual’s encounter with it (whatever “it” is…).

Some of those (some of us?) who are described as emergent actually believe that Jesus is The Way! (In fact most, including some who are described as not believing that, like McLaren, whose beliefs are far different than what everybody reads on the internet at places like “slice”.) In fact, I’m not sure that any of those emergent authors I’ve read or heard speak have even remotely embraced universalism. Some of them are remarkably conservative in their theology as a matter of fact. Unfortunately, certain individuals have decided that taking their statements out of context and misquoting them is fun and rewarding. RW is at the top of the list of people who are routinely mis-interpreted.

So, back to the original question, what would be so wrong with a “reformation” of deeds which resulted in the kind of renewal listed in the original post. Pastors close to Jesus, relationships centered around Him, the mission and culture of our churches re-centered around Christ and all that he’s called us to do in our world, and the renewal of our structures… all leading to institutional renewal where newly formed clergy would be coming of age (educationally speaking) as people who just can’t hide their “cities on hills.”?

A church that goes beyond just doctrine as a measuring stick or list of distinctives and statements… and journeys towards the Word of God dwelling richly within us, so that we might show Christ to the world, and so that the world will know us by the way we love one another… I’m excited just thinking about that! Think of all who might come to faith in Jesus when they see that!
DanielR on Mon, June 30, 2008

Rick Warren’s got to be crazy if he thinks the church can tackle global issues of spiritual emptiness, self-serving (corrupt) leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases, and rampant Illiteracy.

But I praise God that he’s crazy enough to try. I keep hearing some criticizing the P.E.A.C.E. plan for not being “Christian”, or not being scriptural enough, or all kinds of thing it’s not supposed to be.

PEACE isn’t a new way to “do” church, or a new doctrine, and it certainly isn’t an idea from the “emergent” church. Isn’t it basically a call for the church as a whole to try and address what they consider to be some of the most urgent global problems? Would you prefer the church do nothing?

Is it just because it’s RW that you’re against PEACE? If it was John McArthur’s PEACE plan but it was exactly the same plan it is now would you like it better?

I get it, you don’t like CGM, or seeker-sensitive, or, well, the list is pretty long so I’ll stop there. But feeding the hungry, treating disease, educating the illiterate? Why wouldn’t you like that stuff?
fishon on Mon, June 30, 2008

Peter,

Let’s get down in the dirt. The reality of what might divide even you and I. How do you and I come together and “and journeys towards the Word of God dwelling richly within us, so that we might show Christ to the world, and so that the world will know us by the way we love one another… ?”

I imagine you and I even differ on the need for a “reformation” of what the “church does”? It is my contention that the Church /para-church does a fantastic job. Could it do better, always, but we are not the sinking ship of deeds that so often we are depicted as, and sadly by those who are part of the ship.

Heck, I suspect that you disagree with me that we need a reformation of belief before we move into the deed/doing issues?

Peter, I am serious. Jud said something that is very fundmental to millions of Christians:::::

“But “faithfull” people unified in their avoidance of absolute truth .... it is the Peace Corps, Not Christianity.”

—————-How do you suggest we get past that and do and become what you suggest?

—————-If you do not want to go there, fine. But I would like to dialogue a little and hear some concrete ideas as to how the Church can become what you think it is not.

fishon
jud on Mon, June 30, 2008

DanielR,

You’ve got me dead to right, I abhor the feeding of the hungry, the teaching of the illiterate and the treating of disease. I am white, I am male, I’m the fundamentalist that Tony Campolo and your mother warned you about,. Did they tell you that I eat small Children too?

Look, if John MacArthur penned the P.E.A.C.E plan I’d still be again’ it. Rick Warren doesn’t speak for me and I could also argue that he isn’t speaking for Jehovah God too. Crack open Revelation and you will see the REAL peace plan. You will also find a Church described seven different ways that will occupy this planet… curiously enough it looks much like our reality today, not a global peace making force… although there is a global “peace initiating” force that is described. Sadly I believe many more in the Church are looking for this earthly peace than the Prince of Peace.
Peter Hamm on Tue, July 01, 2008

fishon,

Earlier you said this. [A new reformation with empasis on what the church does. I think not. Not until we know what we believe.] Does it occur to you that if we wait till everyone in the pews has all their theology figured out to make a difference in this world, that we never will? If you and I differed on some area of doctrine, could be both work together to perhaps give a cup of water to a thirsty stranger, or would we have to work out our differences first?

And Jud,

I just cannot believe how many people (yourself included) miss the fact that the PEACE plan is designed to help CHURCHES (churches that trust Jesus is more than implied by that) make a greater impact in this world, empowered by God. I suspect that since RW refuses to use the exact verbage and language you’re used to, that THAT is the reason you find such fault with him. Too much of these arguments strike me as arguments of semantics only.

I suspect that too many Christians (yourselves included?) espouse, teach, or sustain a faith that is merely a list of doctrinal distinctives or specific facts about God and man that you “mentally assent to”. Faith needs to be living and active or it is dead. Not after we all agree on everything, not after we all have our theologies figured out, but as we are learning and growing and working in the world at the same time.
Leonard Lee on Tue, July 01, 2008

Going back to the original question Todd asked. Do you think the church is close to another reformation? The short answer is no. I do not think we are that close right now.

The reason I do not think we are that close is evidenced in these postings. Too much either/or thinking. Too much chicken or the egg arguments… No some churches will do church, some churches will be the church.

Do we need reformation in our beliefs and doctrine? some need to be reformed some just need to be learned. Is this important? Absolutely. It is not mega churches et al that struggle alone with the kind of results the Pew Forum posted in our beliefs. It is not RW’s fault it is all churches. The way people learn has changed but the way the church gives out information has not. We married our methods and in doing so quit acting like the bride of Christ in this world. That is what will keep us from reformation

Jud, Fishon, Fred and CS… Please hear this in a spirit of love as it is intended. I hate arguing the same thing with you guys every post you chime into. I am a firm believer in doctrine, sound doctrine. I agree it needs to be imparted. Your posts make assumptions about me, Peter and several others that are not true and each time they keep us from really sharpening our tools.

What if you came here and asked questions that were not loaded questions? Not the kind of questions designed to trap, reveal the slightest error or confirm the suspicion that we are liberal care nothing about doctrine kind of people you say we are. What is you engaged here from a perspective of learning? What if you came saying something like… How does your ministry handle this issue of practical bible doctrine and living out the mission of the church?

Please hear me in this. I am theologically conservative. I do not pastor a SS church nor am I a part of the CGM. I care deeply about doctrine and practice. I am here at MMI to gain encouragement, discuss “how” other people are making progress, reaching people, sharpen my own thinking and practice, learn and grow. I am not here to argue Calvinism, the evils of RW or his kind, the terrible practices of the emergent, how McLaren is the Anti-christ and how evil and liberal all the churches have become.

I want an exchange of ideas not an argument about theology. I am fine with my theology. Fishon, your church is growing and God is working there… I would love to hear about how you are leading in your church. Where it applies, how do you go about teaching doctrine and practice? What do you do to ensure your people do not just believe the right things but also live them out? That is the point of this post, not whether it “should be” but “how it can be.”

That is the purpose of MMI. Not a platform for someone to argue but a place to share and sharpen. If that is not why you are here then please with all due respect, why are you here? What is it you believe so strongly that makes you disrespect this forum and believe the worst about the posters here. Why do you keep chiming into discussions, hijacking them often from the original point? These are not angry questions, they are honest questions. They come from a heart that is tired of being here at MMI if this is all we do.

Todd, I apologize if I have over-stepped my bounds here. I may not speak for everyone who lurks or posts here but I know more than a few people have quit posting for these reasons. MMI is a fantastic resource, I have gained much from it’s presence on the web. I hope I can get some honest answers from these guys about the WHY.
CS on Tue, July 01, 2008

Leonard:

“Jud, Fishon, Fred and CS… Please hear this in a spirit of love as it is intended. I hate arguing the same thing with you guys every post you chime into. I am a firm believer in doctrine, sound doctrine. I agree it needs to be imparted. Your posts make assumptions about me, Peter and several others that are not true and each time they keep us from really sharpening our tools. “

After our chat in private, I took things to heart. If you check my posts recently, you’ll see that I stay focused on the question, am not assuming things about you or Peter, and am being pretty polite. Yes, I still disagree with Warren, CGM, etc., but I’m not going off on a tirade and slamming them hardcore.

—

CS
fishon on Tue, July 01, 2008

Peter wrote:

“Does it occur to you that if we wait till everyone in the pews has all their theology figured out to make a difference in this world, that we never will? If you and I differed on some area of doctrine, could be both work together to perhaps give a cup of water to a thirsty stranger, or would we have to work out our differences first?’

—————-Peter, I pastor a small, rural, Church of Christ ‘Instrumental.’ We have no denominational ties; no para-church organization to give money or supplies in times of emergencies and needs. Just to name a few incidents: Tsunami, Katrine, 9-11, etc, we have raise thousands to send to help. I interject this only for clarification; We do not believe in “once saved;” however, we support Samaritians Purse and Operation Blessing, and they doctrine is “once saved.” The doctrinal issue is a pretty big difference for us, but we do put aside our differences and give a cup of water and a piece of bread through baptist organizations, and our church gets none of the credit. But we are not looking for any. We also support on a regular bases a baptist missionary. So you see, we don’t have to work out our differences to do the right thing.

Peter, why does Warren have to start up new things when there are some many wonderful churches and para-church groups doing much of what he say needs to be done? Why not join The Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity International, World Vision and Food for the Poor? Why not partner up with Samaritan’s Purse and Compassion International, or operation blessing? Why not join the Southern Baptist in there relief program that is second to none?

This idea that the Church is not doing much to help the World’s poor and hurting, sadly is being perpetuated by people such as Warren. And that is what gauls me and others. You see, you never hear about thousands of small churches who do and give such as the church I pastor. So, yes, it pushes buttons when we hear that the church [we], are not, and yes, their message is not, not doing anything to help.

I will say it again; yes, we can do better, but to paint a broad brush stroke as Warren does, does get under our skin.

I don’t know if what I tell you makes sense, but that is this one man’s thoughts and opinion.

fishon
fishon on Tue, July 01, 2008

Leonard,

You have made some assertions that I don’t agree with. So I ask of you the same consideration you asked of me as I share my disagreements: ‘Please hear this in a spirit of love.’

1. If my questions are loaded, it is not done so intentionally. And I surely would like an example of one of my ‘loaded’ questions. And I can assure you I am not trying to trap anyone. The questions I ask are questions I truely seek answers for. This is not a game to me.

2. Every question I ask, every exchange I have is coming from a “perspective of learning.”

When you insinuate that I don’t come from a “perspective of learning,” you are doing the same thing you accuse me of: Making assumptions.

3. I “disrespect” this forum! I “hijack[ing]” from the original point.”

Leonard, go back and read my FIRST post on this particular issue. It was an exchange with CS. He and I were discussing our thoughts and agreements. You will not find one word directed towards anyone on the forum in disrespect. Others read what CS and I were talking about, chime in, then we respond, and then get accused of hijacking.

4. Go and read my second post. Where is the disrespect for the forum? Where is the hijacking? I asked questions. Again, the thrust of the post was dialogue with Jud. Not a word of disrespect towards anyone posting.

5. My 3rd post was directed to Peter. If you see disrespect there, hijacking, then you are reading things that are not there. I asked him:::“How do you suggest we get past that and do and become what you suggest?” If that isn’t a question that is not trying to sharpen iron [read the whole context] then you are refusing to give me the benefit of the doubt.

6. Lastly, I suggest you think any point counter-points with you or your beliefs are disrespectful and arguementative.

Again, you go read my first 2 posts, and you will see they were in the context of agreement with those who shared the same perspective as me. Some of you read our perspective, they some of you chime in with your disagreements as to why we are wrong, then accuse us as hijacking and disrespect.

—-Excuse me. I am going back one more time and read my first 2 post.———I can not find disrespect or hijacking. Agreement with others on this forum, and a few general questions.

And since you were here at MMI before I was, and your “heart is tired” with the likes of me:::::” Why do you keep chiming into discussions, hijacking them often from the original point? These are not angry questions, they are honest questions. They come from a heart that is tired of being here at MMI if this is all we do,” I WILL LEAVE in deference to your tired heart.

You can sing with the choir and enjoy it.

You can go about known there are millions like me, but in your blest, ignore us because we challenge some of your thinking, and you see that as an attack.

It is to bad you see me as you do. You missed out on getting to know the real me. So, brother, you win. I’m gone from being a terrorist to your comfortability.

jerry [fishon]
Doug Duty on Mon, July 07, 2008

I dont know if there is a “reformation” on the horizon or not - it would be nice to think that a revival was on the horizon…

BUT how about this… and please forgive me - I am naive - BUT how about we all try to reach someone for Christ… lead them to repent and receive the grace of God through Christ.

If there is to be a reformation or revival - how about we let it start with the one - as one great pastor of old said when asked how to start a revival - “Go in your closet, draw a chalk circle around yourself and ask God to start a revival inside the circle.”

Again forgive me for being a simple minded man but I think if we would just starting introducing people to Jesus the reformation will take care of itself.

IMHO… Doug