SEEING BEYOND CHURCH WALLS Action Plans For Touching Your Community

SEEING BEYOND CHURCH WALLS -sh Action Plans For Touching Your Community Steve Sjogren -pastor Cincinnati.
(c) 2002 Group Pub. Loveland Cal. pp.199 price 32.95
Ch. 1. Simply Profound Christianity.
"Outreach is the only thing a person who is brand new in a relationship with Christ can do to benefit God’s kingdom within minutes of coming to faith in Jesus." p. 16. For a church to be outward focused takes dogged determination. "To love others into the kingdom" p. 29, is a noble mission and accompanied by many challenges and distractions.
Ch.2. How to Build an Outward-focused Church.
What is needed is a paradigm shift from a ‘come and see’ church to a ‘go and do’ church. There will be many obstacles to this shift. Being outward-focused involves definition, stimulation, speculation, and experimentation. The people ‘out there’ are not only the unchurched, but also the dechurched. Saying the right things without doing the right things is counter-productive. "The sum of our influence is greater than the parts of our physical presence." p.39. Our focus needs to be atmosphere. There are times when outreach needs to have a "READY, FIRE, aim" approach. It is legitimate to experiment.
Ch. 3. Ruining Your Ministry For Good. Brian D. McLaren-pastor, Baltimore,Wash.
Brian is a pastor of an outward-focused church. To become outward-focused requires a basic change not just a new program. Seeker sensitive services are ineffective without seeker-sensitive Christians. This probably requires a revisiting of our theology. A medical examination consists of numerous "intrusions". So does a theological examination. Ask hard questions.This author has been very impacted by the writings of Lesslie Newbigin. We are loved by God so that God can show His love to others , especially unbelievers, through us. Our ministry being ruined has to do with major changes in areas of language, fellowship, preachig, evangelism, and reputation.
Ch.4. Outward-focused Partnerships. Tom Patton. founder of March for Jesus.
Partnership among local churches can be very effective. Independence has strong roots in the past, even in churches. Even strange Christians are our brothers and sisters. Selfcenteredness is anti-Christian, even in a church. Evangelism goals don’t alwys align with kingdom values. Outward-focused partnerships have a way of moving leaders out of their comfort zones. Shared lesdreship in churches and organizations is basic to our new culture. Partnerships begin with relationships but grow through shared vision. Share leadership is identified more by a movement than an organization.
Ch. 5. A God-sized Transformation. Stephen L. Ayers-pastor-Hillview Heights Church.Kentucky.
This chapter is the story of how Hillview Heights became an outward-focused church. The change began with the pastor. Along with his people he went through a death and life experience. The ‘unchurched’, responded. The author talks about, "the cup of death, the cup of possibility, the cup of joy, and the cup of celebration," p.95, as basic to transformation..
Ch. 6. Fired Up. Doug Roe-pastor of the Vineyard-Dayton.Ohio
The church began with a strong commitment to serve the needy. When the needy are served change happens in those who serve more than those who are being served. "God wants to use ordinary, available people". p.101. Being kind to the needy (strangers) helps us to be kind to those we know well.
Ch.7. A Question of Being. Sally Morganthaler-speaker and consultant on issues of worship.
A problem that faces churches that want to be outward-focused is the contradiction between what the community of faith does and what it says. The Great Commission is outward-focused. There is much that can be said of "worships’ wittness". p.117. Worship needs to become more reverent, help people with vulnerability, change from I focus to we focus. Sally talks about "community worship-planning gatherings". p.123.
Ch. 8. Hooked On Jesus. Dale E. Galloway, pastor and dean of preaching.
"Small groups and teams provide the very best way for lay people to get involved in meaningful ministry." p.126. Small groups and large celebrations are totally complementary. Evangelism needs to be at the center of all small groups. Healthy groups reproduce. The author suggests seven "key actions’ for a "successful small group system". p.136. Prayer and the Holy Spirit. need to be emphasized in small groups.
Ch. 9. Creating A Place To Land. Dan Slatter-leader of Warehouse, a youth ministry in cities south of London, England.
The gospel presentation must be culturally relevant. There need to be safe "landing pads". p.150, for the unchurched, especially youth. i.e. safe environments.. The needy need unconditional commitment from those who are attempting to reach them. New Christians need family and friends.
Ch. 10. Curch Reproduction. Robert E. Logan-founder and executive director of Coachnet.
Church growth needs to go beyond it’s walls. Small churches have greater potential for evangelism. Outward-focus needs to be creative. e.g. Offering to teach new immigrants English. Church planting is basic to being outward-focused. "The key to revitalization lies in becoming outward-focused." p.172.
Ch. 11. Be There. Leonard Sweet- a visionary futurist.
"Thanks for being there", is a very large compliment. That is what the Incarnation was all about. Being there has to do with character and context. "If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know who you are," Wendell Berry. We are more ourselves (as God made us) as we become more like Christ. "Character is transformed by action." p.179. Effective leadership cannot happen from outside a given context. Being THERE is crucial in effective ministry.
Ch. 12. Leading From The Front. S S
Don’t let your life be void of WOW factors. Be passionate about being a differnce maker. Progress is in small steps. Avoid detractors from good ideas. There is no substitute for doing. "Dream big. Dream out, not in. p.198.
Comment. hd
Steve and the rest of the writers in this volume have presented some great challenges to motivate churches and their leaders to focus outside the physical limits of the church. That is where our impact needs to be. The people ‘outsde’ matter to God and they need to matter to us. This volume takes some fresh looks at the whole concept of evangelism that is quiet exciting. A good read for leader and lay in the church.