Post on 28-Mar-2015
REGIONALOUTREACH
CONFERENCE
Nashville, TNSeptember 7, 2013
Jesus is the only Door to salvation (John 10:9)
There are many doors to the community
The Church must get out of the building!
OPENING DOORS
HOW DO WE REACH THEM?
DON’T BE THIS GUY!
No Lone Rangers in the Church!! No Silver
Bullets for Outreach!!
No return to the Golden Days of Yesteryear!!
BUILDING BRIDGESTO YOUR COMMUNITY
Bridging to the Community
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come
down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ”
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I haveCheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Luke 19:5-9
The Gospel is communicated best through…
REALITY CHECK
1. What kind of people are you most comfortable with? Least comfortable with? Why?
2. Define friend.3. Who was the last friend you made
outside of your church? Describe how that friendship was made.
4. What is that person’s relationship with Jesus? How could you help draw your friend closer to Christ?
Most people in our congregations look like these Legos!
PEOPLE ARE LIKE LEGOS…
We need to make room for new people on our Legos!
PEOPLE ARE LIKE LEGOS…
Who is my neighbor?
Who is my neighbor?
Place #1
Place #2
Place #3
The larger the church, the more 3rd places need to be created
Interest groups Life Transformation
Groups (Triads) Churches grow as groups
multiply “Motivation for Mission”
RELATIONSHIPS (3rd Places)
GETTING STARTED
• What are some ways that you personally can fill your Lego with unchurched friends?
• What are some potential Interest Groups you might start?
THE TWO APPROACHES
1.THEY COME TO US
2.WE GO TO THEM
Dechurched
Unchurched
Attractional
Incarnational
HOW DO WE REACH THEM?
Two Approaches
Dechurched
Member as inviter(People come to Church and find Jesus)
Unchurched
Member as missionary(Jesus finds people through His people, who bring them to church)
Two Approaches
Dechurched
Programs will draw people to a church
Unchurched
Process. Relationship building, witness.
Bridging to Our CultureOct. 2012 Pew Survey
20% Adult Americans: no religious affiliation (46 million)
Increase from 15%, in last 5 years 1/3 Adult Americans under 30 unaffil. Compare 9% unaffiliated among 65+ 13m. self-described atheists (6%) 33m. no particular affiliation (14%)
“Nones” on the RiseLong-Term Trends in Religious Affiliation
Source: General Social Surveys, 1972-2010.
Church
ed
Pre-Church
Post-Church
MISSION MODELS IN CONTEXTCultural Insiders vs. Cultural Outsiders
The Post-Church Trend: Church is Losing Ground
Churched era map does not work in Post-Churched era
There is no map in the Post-Churched era
The Post-Churched era is in transition
The Church is behind the times
The Church is polar opposite to the culture
The Church uses a pre-churched map
The Church is ahead of the times: members behave as missionaries
In other words…
We need to think less like a church organization…
And think more like missionaries. …Be transformed by the renewal of
your minds (Rom 12:2)
Reggie McNeal: Missional Renaissance
Opening Doors to Your Community
Through Seasonsof Discovery
WHAT?
What is Seasons of Discovery?
Transforming Churches Network
Seasons of Discovery Is …
A Two-Year Introductory Process
Delivered into Four Seasons That helps your church begin
to engage your community with the Gospel of Jesus
Each Season Includes:
Personal Coaching & Peer Learning Group for the Pastor
Tools for Equipping People for Ministry
Events to Rally the People of the Church around the Theme of the Season
Outreach Activities
Each Season Equips 3 Groups
Pastor & Staff A Mission-Minded Group Called
People of Passion The Entire Church
HOW?
How Does Seasons of DiscoveryWork?
Timeline of the Seasons
Churches have 2 blocks of time (seasons) in a year in which to work consistently on projects;
Fall (Labor Day to Thanksgiving)Winter/Spring (Jan-Feb & Easter to June15)
This multi-phase process focuses on areas of discovery spread out into four or more seasons.
Year 1
Season 1Preparation
Introduction to the Basic
Principles and Practices of
Transformation(Romans 12:2)
Season 2Visioning
Discovering God’s Vision
for your Community
Year 2
Season 3Outreach
Finding Practical Ways to Reach Lost People in your Context
Season 4Empowerment
Empowering your Congregation to
Effectively EngagePeople in your
CommunityWith the Gospel
Year 3+
Season 5 & FollowingDiscovering How Your Church
Can Adapt to Meet the Future Needs of Your
Community
Learning How to be Missional in a Post-Church Culture
At your Table
Share the two people who have emerged on your list with the group (first names only). Discuss your plan to share Jesus with them.
Pray for all these people to come to know Christ, and pray for each other to follow through on your blessed intentions.
1160 Vickery Lane, Suite #1 Cordova, TN 38016 901-757-9700 www.transformingchurchesnetwork.org terry@transformingchurchesnetwork.org
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