Natural Church Development

1. Natural Church Development Effective Structures�

2. NCD - Effective Structures What is measured: To what extent do our decision-making processes, operating procedures (official and unofficial), leadership team, and ministry structures facilitate rather than hinder the fulfillment of our church's mission?

3. A Simple Request�

4. Gets Awfully Complicated!

5. Mission Moment Which one of the following best describes your congregation�s organizational structure: Homer Simpson Britney Spears George Bush Barack Obama Ruben Duran

6. Effective Structures� Framework for ministry Logos/order of �our� creation Institutionalizes the �institution� Using what you already have to do what God is calling you to do

7. Effective Structures� Visible sign of progress Lends legitimacy to ministry Lessens anxiety for those who need something to see - to �believe in� Dynamic � NOT static � way to order the body of Christ` Gives shape to ministry Biotics is the hardest to get your mind wrapped around � but it is one of the most important. German words � English words not chosen yet. A little easier now. Biotics is the hardest to get your mind wrapped around � but it is one of the most important. German words � English words not chosen yet. A little easier now.

8. Effective Structures� Define relationship, authority, accountability, responsibility, boundaries Mark of a healthy & growing church Measure of flexibility & change Always a spiritual matter �Gives birth to/reflects� the culture, customs, traditions, activities, mores, values and rites that define ministry

9. Think about it...

10. Think about it...

11. Think about it...

12. Insight: Bubba says...

13. Effectivity Asks� How can we maximize the fruitfulness of our ministry?

14. Effectivity Asks... Does the structure of our ministry help us to produce discernible results, reproduce our ministry, and change lives?�or not?

15. Effectivity Asks... Does every good tree bear good fruit? What�s the fruit look like?... John 15 � measuring results and taking the appropriate actions Other stuff to take off is what looks like it has life but isn�t producing � Dad pruning the dead wood first, but then cutting off the suckers � has lots of what looks like life but doesn�t produce any fruit � Churches sometimes have lots of �suckers� type of ministry that is not producing life Stuff that is working needs to be pruned to do more of the right less to make it even more fruitful � hard to do � yesterday�s success and sacred cows need to be pruned Denominational Seminary � 10 graduates into their churches � hugh subsidy - $50,000 per student. Realized they could save money, close school, sell property and set up scholarships to send students to another school Stewardship issue � everything you need for health and reproduction is given by God � squander this on what God doesn�t want done and you won�t have it to do what God is wanting done. Missuse of resources Good idea or God ideaJohn 15 � measuring results and taking the appropriate actions Other stuff to take off is what looks like it has life but isn�t producing � Dad pruning the dead wood first, but then cutting off the suckers � has lots of what looks like life but doesn�t produce any fruit � Churches sometimes have lots of �suckers� type of ministry that is not producing life Stuff that is working needs to be pruned to do more of the right less to make it even more fruitful � hard to do � yesterday�s success and sacred cows need to be pruned Denominational Seminary � 10 graduates into their churches � hugh subsidy - $50,000 per student. Realized they could save money, close school, sell property and set up scholarships to send students to another school Stewardship issue � everything you need for health and reproduction is given by God � squander this on what God doesn�t want done and you won�t have it to do what God is wanting done. Missuse of resources Good idea or God idea

16. What structures are you building to serve your ministry? What are you doing/will you do� to reproduce your ministry? What would you do (in ministry) if you knew you couldn�t fail? What�s the one �essential� thing that you can do that no one else can do? Which is more important � breathing out or breathing in? It depends on what you did last. Rhythm is one of the tests of sustainability in How sustainable is the life you are building? Could you keep doing this for another decade? (Steve and I � �don�t promise me it will change anymore! I am tired of that.) And if you did sustain it, would the fruit of your work be satisfying to you? Personal structures are all about the rhythm we build into our life. Jesus had a high impact life without being a high stress person because he followed a healthy rhythm that sustained his life. Can you say the same about yourself? Rhythm is � resting and getting up; being alone and being with people, teaching and learning; being a host and being a guest; play and work; praying and acting. What is more important � breathing in or breathing out? Answer � It depends on what you did last. Which is more important � breathing out or breathing in? It depends on what you did last. Rhythm is one of the tests of sustainability in How sustainable is the life you are building? Could you keep doing this for another decade? (Steve and I � �don�t promise me it will change anymore! I am tired of that.) And if you did sustain it, would the fruit of your work be satisfying to you? Personal structures are all about the rhythm we build into our life. Jesus had a high impact life without being a high stress person because he followed a healthy rhythm that sustained his life. Can you say the same about yourself? Rhythm is � resting and getting up; being alone and being with people, teaching and learning; being a host and being a guest; play and work; praying and acting. What is more important � breathing in or breathing out? Answer � It depends on what you did last.

18. Effective Structures The most important criterion for forms and structures in the church is if they help to fulfill and support the mission � or not! With the passing of time, people become more and more traditional � �fixed�. Traditionalism/traditions/structures then become an end in themselves. Evaluation and self-renewal will help combat the negative affects of traditionalism. Do you have the wisdom, the grace, and the guts to let it die?

20. Mission Moment Divide Into Groups Do a Quick Resource Inventory � What do you have to work with? Build/Create/Invent Something� Anything (Be Creative) Name Your Creation What�s It�s Purpose? How could you improve your creation? (What else do you need?)