Revitalize and Replant

Someone is pre-eminent in your church. Who is it?  Is your church bringing glory to God, and how?  Do your church members behave in a God-glorifying way?  What role does church discipline play?  Resources:  Flickering Lamps by Richard & Henry Blackaby 

How would you currently describe your church? Are you weak, poor, or rich? What do you base your evaluation upon?  Is there anything in the recent past that you can point to and say, “If God hadn’t done this, we wouldn’t be where we are”?  Is your church characterized by giving itself away or holding on to what it has?  God will always provide what His church needs right when His church needs it.  Resources:  Flickering Lamps by Richard & Henry Blackaby 

If you are not experiencing God’s power in your church, what is the issue?  A dying church, more than anything else, needs the power and presence of the risen Savior.  Sin is not something to be toyed with, it is something to war against and put to death.  Christ’s power will only be present in His church when God’s people – beginning with the pastor – are pursuing holiness.  Resources:  Flickering Lamps by Henry & Richard Blackaby  The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges  Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell 

 Christ is always present with His church.  How does Christ’s presence visible in your church?  How do you encourage the people in your church to repent when they sin against God?   Resources:  Flickering Lamps by Henry & Richard Blackaby 

How has your congregation sought to find out what Jesus wants your church to do?  What one ministry in our church could only have been developed because God showed us how to do it?  Is your church focused only on your own ministry, or are you kingdom-focused?  Resources:  Flickering Lamps by Henry & Richard Blackaby 

Why was your church founded?  How is the church different now than when it was founded?  How does your church glorify God?  In what ways is your church making disciples?  What are some sins for which your church needs to repent?  Resources:  Flickering Lamps by Henry & Richard Blackaby 

Sign 1: The commute  Sign 2: Worn out ministries  Sign 3: Declining ministry funds for children and students  Sign 4: The pastoral parade  Sign 5: The aging facility 

We are thrilled to welcome the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, Bart Barber, to discuss the importance of revitalization, particularly in smaller, rural, churches. Episode Highlights: Small rural churches have great value for the Kingdom of God. Jesus has a plan for every church. Over half of the churches in the SBC average less than 50 people on Sunday morning. Resources mentioned in this podcast: Reclaiming Glory by Mark Clifton

1. The church boldly confronted the traps of tradition. 2. Leadership developed a clear and compelling vision 3. Leadership communicated a sense of urgency 4. The pastor was willing to endure a season of intense criticism 5. The leadership of the church was willing to let go of members

The church stopped blaming past experiences or outside circumstances.  The pastor formed an alliance of key influencers in the church.  The influencers made a commitment to pray daily for revitalization.  The church made a commitment to look like the community.