Transforming Church

Becoming more clear all the time is that these seven* practices, as identified here, are most meaningful to disciples. How significant they can become remains in a bit of fog for those who choose only to be a member of a congregation. Much of the church today was distracted from discipleship by the emphasis that was placed on the perogatives of church membership. In most of our immigrant-shaped congregations, membership does not ask one to exercise the faith practices, except perhaps minimally to receive Communion and make a contribution of record at least once a year. All by itself this has hugely contributed to a sense that God’s grace is cheap. It is free, but it is a travesty to presume or assume that it is cheap.

A huge percentage of congregations are so comfortable with their own little "loving family" they don’t even want to grow. A smaller percentage of congregations believe there is work to be done for Christ, but their mission outreach is shaped by getting more families to help share the load. I feel a special sadness for congregations who think the main game plan is to get more members to help serve on the committees, to help get all the work done, and to help get the bills paid. Part of that help is being sought to address the two most frequent complaints of churchmembers, boredom and burnout. The other part is naievly being sought to spread the expenses over a greater number of families. Reality has shown, however, that the more congregations grow, the responsibility to meet expenses increases even more. Congregations that were surprised by this are the first to say, "Don't wish for growth unless you are prepared to financially support it."

Congregations aligned with the Great Commission, though, understand that what Christ needs is kingdom multipliers, not congregations willing to sit back comfortably and watch a slow trickle of new families joining the congregation each year. Kingdom multiplier congregations are the smallest group we have identified, less than fifteen percent of all congregations. Not only are they disciple-focused instead of member-focused, they strive annually to multiply disciples by hundreds instead of adding members by tens.

Adding newcomers to the roll of membership hopefully occurs in all congregations, but in discipleship congregations that is not the objective. Instead passion for outreach is focused on making disciples who make disciples rather than adding members to the roll. The more a congregation lives out its mission and calling, generally there is some disparity between the number of disciples attending regularly on Sundays and the number of members on the role of the congregation. For ten years we have been blessed with Sunday attendance numbers that are greater than our membership numbers. Experiencing this has convinced me that it is in this setting that Christ’s mission is lived out.

The biblical significance of numbers has always fascinated me. We have here seven faith practices. In Hebrew tradition seven is a perfect number, because three, the number for God, and four, the number for His creation, are combined. The practices disciples live regularly number seven, not two that minimally must be acted upon at least once a year.

Another observation is worth noting. Like the vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationship with other human beings that can be seen in the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer, that same is seen in the faith practices. The first three focus more on the vertical dimension of our relationship, the next three on the horizontal dimension, and the seventh practice is shared with both directions.

Those content to be only members of a congregation may never sense the significance of the seven faith practices and how they strengthen such as zeal, trust, courage and hope. On the other hand, if being a disciple of Jesus Christ is part of your living, growing relationship with Him, you will want to be intentional as possible with these practices that among other things are conduits that fuel trust.

To Pray ...as in praying frequently each day of your life
Prayer is communication with God, without the need of telephone line, cell tower, internet or usps. It is unfortunate so many people see prayer as “to God,” since that produces a huge distraction from the equal importance of listening. Prayer is communication “with God,” and one of the key ways to know and grow with God. It builds assurance and confidence in our relationship with Jesus and with God’s promise to both hear and answer us.

To Study ...as in studying God’s Word diligently and daily
Discipleship is a life-long growing and serving process. It accentuates Christian education is for all ages and worship is never to be a substitute for studying God’s Word. Highlighting the importance of personal Bible study, the Psalmist says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

To Worship …as in worshipping regularly and faithfully each week
Jesus started the church for the purpose of nurturing His relationship with us in this life. We experience Him in worship as the church in ways that do not occur in prayer or study. “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” (Psalm 34:3)

To Invite ...as in inviting others often to experience Christ within worship
Though it is the Holy Spirit who moves each of us to experience on-going relationship with Jesus Christ, each Christian is to be an evangelist, share the Good News of Jesus with others and invite them to come experience the Lord. How will they ever know to call on Him if they have never had the opportunity to meet Him? (Romans10:14-15)

To Encourage ...as in passing on the faith to all others of any generation
This is mentoring, the faith practice of inspiring others to grow and rise above where they are, to become in Christ what He aspires for them. The world dares us to “be all we can be,” but as Christians we are encouraged to allow the Holy Spirit to make us all that God has called us to be.

To Serve ...as in becoming a servant for the sake of all others
Jesus is the incomparable model of a servant, and because we are Christians we aspire here to serve and give ourselves for others in gratitude for all that He has done for us. The greatest challenge in a self-centered world is to practice a selfless attitude in whatever way we might be of service to others.

To Give ...as in giving freely in any and all ways to the glory of God
Stewardship is important as it helps people discipline their lives to put God first. To live out giving and sharing in ways that put God first allows everything else to fall into proper place. Along with being generous, this faith practice teaches us to give and share like God does, with no strings attached.

For significant work by the ELCA within the last decade to identify and encourage faith practices, look here. From there explore Faith Practices (as well as explore each faith practice separately). If you wish to make use of this in your own ministry, excellent clipart for this emphasis is available here.