Implementation
Overview
Here we explain how we contextualize and implement the approach we outlined on the page called Strategy: The Apostolic Cycle according to the cyclical functions of the church: evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development. What specific strategies do we use in each area?
Evangelism: (1) Praying for, Serving, and Sharing Lives with Non-Christians, (2) Evangelistic Presentations to Individuals and Groups, (3) Inviting Non-Christians to Our Public Gatherings, and (4) Inviting Non-Christians to Our House Churches
Discipleship: (1) Public Gatherings, (2) House Churches, (3) Small Groups for Sharing and Prayer, and (4) Daily Encouragement
Leadership Development: (1) The Pastoral Training Program, (2) Leadership Coaching, and (3) Elder Meetings
We have not singled out, for example, the category of worship, for we believe that worship is the ultimate motivation for each of the preceding categories.
Detailed Explanation
Evangelism
Praying for, Serving, and Sharing Lives with Non-Christians
We developed a series of lessons called Reaching Our Networks for Christ, which we encourage people to apply to their own networks of relationships. Our strategy consists of (1) clarifying our motives, (2) identifying our networks, (3) praying for ourselves and others, (4) caring for others, and (5) sharing our faith (see below). Loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves drive our evangelistic efforts (Matt. 22:37–40).
Evangelistic Presentations to Individuals and Groups
We prioritize scheduling meetings with individuals or, preferably, meetings with groups of people (networks of family and friends) to introduce people to God through Jesus Christ. For those meetings, we print out multiple copies of The Path to God, which is a short article for facilitating conversation with others on how to know God. The book Discover is a 16-week Bible study to be used with non-Christians (to introduce them to God through Jesus) or with Christians (first to review the basics of the Christian faith and then to lead evangelistic studies of their own). It is available here as a free PDF of here in paperback.
Here is one approach to starting a study: (1) pray for guidance from God, (2) invite others (such as your neighbors, friends, and family members) to study The Path to God or Discover with you, (3) establish a time and place to meet (e.g., Saturday nights from 5 to 7 p.m. at your house or church building), (4) pass out copies of The Path to God or Discover at the first meeting, and (5) share a meal together each week before you study the lessons. Another approach: teach and discuss these lessons to people in your church, community, or other settings (like a jail or prison) to equip them to lead studies of their own. In time, proactively coach them through steps (1) through (5) above. These are helpful strategies if your goal is to start house churches in neighborhoods.
Inviting Non-Christians to Public Gatherings
We invite non-Christians to our public gatherings, where we explain the gospel at most meetings.
Inviting Non-Christians to Our House Churches
We invite non-Christians to our private gatherings, where we explain the gospel at most meetings, not only through the Bible lessons but also before we take the Lord’s Supper.
Discipleship
Public Gatherings of the Church
The early Christians gathered in both public settings (such as the temple) and private settings (in homes) (Acts 2:46; 5:42; 20:20). Both larger, public gatherings of Christians and smaller, private gatherings (see #2 below) have unique advantages.
We gather publicly:
to enjoy fellowship with God and one another—through Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit.
to repeatedly cast our vision: to start, strengthen, and multiply churches—building up the church in four categories: (1) in homes, (2) in cities, (3) in regions, and (4) throughout the world.
to pray for ourselves (for clarity about the gospel, boldness, and wisdom) as we share the gospel.
to pray for the non-Christians and Christians to whom we minister.
to train people to evangelize, to disciple, and to develop leaders—primarily through teaching The Discipleship Series
to share the gospel with the non-Christians who attend those gatherings.
to communicate to our respective networks of house churches.
Private Gatherings of the Church in Homes
The early Christians gathered in homes, which provided them an ideal context to care for the less fortunate members of society (particularly through providing them a meal), and to evangelize non-Christians and to disciple Christians in more personalized ways (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Philem. 2). In a document called Gathering in Homes: The Weekly Assembly of the Church, we explain our gatherings in more detail. On that web page, we also outline how we structure our gatherings, which typically last two and a half to three hours.
We gather privately:
to enjoy fellowship with God and one another—through Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit.
to take Lord’s Supper in the context of a meal, with the bread and the cup as the bookends of our gatherings.
to explain and apply God’s Word in a more personalized setting.
to pray together, particularly as it relates to one another’s ministries and personal needs.
to minister to another’s physical needs (through sharing possessions) and spiritual needs (through using our spiritual gifts and applying the Word of God to one another’s lives).
to share the gospel with the non-Christians who attend those gatherings.
to sing to God and speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Small Groups for Sharing and Prayer
Our approach to discipleship includes a commitment both to structured training (hence the Discipleship Series) AND spontaneous sharing and prayer. In order to facilitate more spontaneous sharing between Christians, we created a page called Applying the Word and Praying Together that people can use for self-reflection and/or to facilitate discussion with others during the week (such as between a husband and a wife, in small groups of men, or in small groups of women). The goal of that page is to help people connect more deeply with other Christians in a way that is personalized to their own walk with Christ. For example, within a church a group of men may meet on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 6 to 7:15pm, while the women meet on the second and fourth Thursdays at the same or a different time. We believe this creates a healthy balance—more structured conversations during our gatherings of the church (based on large passages of Scripture) and more personalized conversations and ministry during the week.
Daily Encouragement
The author of Hebrews teaches us: “12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception” (Heb. 3:12–13). With passages like that in mind, we strive to stay connected with one another throughout the week—through one on one meetings, texts, and phone calls. “How can I pray for you?” is one of the simplest ways to facilitate mutual encouragement and prayer.
Leadership Development
The Pastoral Training Program
The Pastoral Training Program is a three-year incubator for men who desire to be a pastor/elder/overseer (which is one office in the New Testament). Participating in the program does not guarantee that a man will become a pastor, but the program will help him, at very least, to be a more effective leader within his family, church, and neighborhood.
We have created a leadership development process called The Path of Church Leaders. With that framework in mind, the Pastoral Training Program helps men to successfully navigate transitions #4 and #5. The total time investment is four to five hours per week. We meet by videoconference for ten months out of the year, three times a month, for two hours each meeting. Participants can also expect to read about two to three hours a week—three weeks a month. We measure our progress by tracking how many men are enrolled in the program and how many men complete the program.
Leadership Coaching
We believe men and women who consistently shepherd groups need leadership coaching. Leaders receive coaching one to four times a month—depending on factors such as their level of experience and the size of their ministry. The one receiving coaching should come to the meeting prepared to answer the following questions:
What successes have you experienced in leading your ministry since we last met?
What challenges or obstacles have you encountered in your ministry?
In what areas of your ministry do you need advice, resources, and encouragement?
How can you help those in your ministry between now and the next time you meet with your coach in the following areas?
Evangelism
Discipleship
Leadership Recruitment and Development
What prayer requests would you like to share for yourself and/or your family members?
Elder Meetings
Elder meetings are both a core leadership function of churches and an opportunity for men to grow as leaders, given that we learn through planning to do God’s work, and sharing and evaluating our ministry efforts. When we meet as elders of citywide churches, we follow this agenda:
Prayer
Leadership Training through Discussions of Books and Articles
Individual Updates and Feedback on One Another’s Ministries
Strategize and Align Resources in Light of the Document Strategy: The Apostolic Cycle
a. Evangelism
b. Discipleship
c. Leadership Development
d. Church Planting
e. Network Communication
Identify and Delegate Tasks to be Completed
Prayer