The Twelve Laws ofBuilding a Healthy Growing Ministry

The Twelve Laws ofBuilding a Healthy Growing Ministry

The Law of LoveThe Law of Love

The Law of LoveThe Law of Love♦ Growing churches are characterized by

warm, caring, initiatory relationships that grow out of a culture committed to hospitality, laughter and celebration of who God is and what He is doing among them.

♦ Text – Romans 12:9-13

♦ Growing churches are characterized by warm, caring, initiatory relationships that grow out of a culture committed to hospitality, laughter and celebration of who God is and what He is doing among them.

♦ Text – Romans 12:9-13

I. Objective of this SessionI. Objective of this Session

I. Objective of this SessionI. Objective of this Session

To help us as pastors understand the importance of measuring and promoting the qualitative factors in the life of the church over and above any quantitative factors. We need to understand that it is not only theologically correct to make our goal to become more loving but also pragmatically more effective when seeking to grow a church with high impact, to measure the qualities of love in the environment of the church rather than simply numerical goals.

To help us as pastors understand the importance of measuring and promoting the qualitative factors in the life of the church over and above any quantitative factors. We need to understand that it is not only theologically correct to make our goal to become more loving but also pragmatically more effective when seeking to grow a church with high impact, to measure the qualities of love in the environment of the church rather than simply numerical goals.

II. Major Teaching PointsII. Major Teaching Points

II. Major Teaching PointsII. Major Teaching Points

a. An exposition of Romans 12:9-13 in which authenticity and purity are the foundation for genuine love.

a. An exposition of Romans 12:9-13 in which authenticity and purity are the foundation for genuine love.

II. Major Teaching PointsII. Major Teaching Points

b. One of the most powerful and attractive means of reaching unbelievers and building up the body of Christ is for authentic, warm loving relationships to be a spontaneous and ever-growing part of the culture of the healthy church.

b. One of the most powerful and attractive means of reaching unbelievers and building up the body of Christ is for authentic, warm loving relationships to be a spontaneous and ever-growing part of the culture of the healthy church.

II. Major Teaching PointsII. Major Teaching Points

Romans 12verse 1-2 : A holy offeringverse 3-5 : An interdependent bodyverse 6-8 : Supernatural abilities and gifts to

fulfill God’s purposesverse 9-13 : All happening in an environment of

love

Romans 12verse 1-2 : A holy offeringverse 3-5 : An interdependent bodyverse 6-8 : Supernatural abilities and gifts to

fulfill God’s purposesverse 9-13 : All happening in an environment of

love

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)

III. ResearchIII. Research

III. ResearchIII.Research

It can be demonstrated there is a significant connection between “laughter in the church” and that a church’s qualitative and numerical growth. It is interesting that such a significant factor which, according to the data, definitely has the status of a church growth principle receives almost no mention in church growth literature. (NCD, 36).

It can be demonstrated there is a significant connection between “laughter in the church” and that a church’s qualitative and numerical growth. It is interesting that such a significant factor which, according to the data, definitely has the status of a church growth principle receives almost no mention in church growth literature. (NCD, 36).

IV. Practical Implementation

IV. Practical Implementation

IV.Practical ImplementationIV.Practical Implementation

a. This demands modeling by the senior pastor and key leaders in the church that they do not take themselves too seriously but take God very seriously.

b. A sense of humor is a part of the formal and informal life of the church.

a. This demands modeling by the senior pastor and key leaders in the church that they do not take themselves too seriously but take God very seriously.

b. A sense of humor is a part of the formal and informal life of the church.

IV.Practical ImplementationIV.Practical Implementation

c. The hospitality and specific mechanisms for building a culture of warmth and caring is absolutely vital in the life of the church. Ways to do this include:1. Have a good system of ushers and

greeters in your church. Enlist ushers who love people.

c. The hospitality and specific mechanisms for building a culture of warmth and caring is absolutely vital in the life of the church. Ways to do this include:1. Have a good system of ushers and

greeters in your church. Enlist ushers who love people.

IV.Practical ImplementationIV.Practical Implementation

c. The hospitality and specific mechanisms for building a culture of warmth and caring is absolutely vital in the life of the church. Ways to do this include:2. Train people to look for the needs, pull

seeds, find out who might need to be loved.

c. The hospitality and specific mechanisms for building a culture of warmth and caring is absolutely vital in the life of the church. Ways to do this include:2. Train people to look for the needs, pull

seeds, find out who might need to be loved.

IV.Practical ImplementationIV.Practical Implementation

c. The hospitality and specific mechanisms for building a culture of warmth and caring is absolutely vital in the life of the church. Ways to do this include:3. Be a friendly, warm, loving pastor.4. Be devoted to one another in brotherly

love, giving preference to one another.

c. The hospitality and specific mechanisms for building a culture of warmth and caring is absolutely vital in the life of the church. Ways to do this include:3. Be a friendly, warm, loving pastor.4. Be devoted to one another in brotherly

love, giving preference to one another.

IV.Practical ImplementationIV.Practical Implementation

d. Although we as humans tend to fall in love with size as a matter of success, research indicates that churches over 1,000 are usually weakest in the area of loving relationships. Thus the crucial need is for:1. A vital small-group ministry2. An intentional focus in the worship

services on the importance of the individual

d. Although we as humans tend to fall in love with size as a matter of success, research indicates that churches over 1,000 are usually weakest in the area of loving relationships. Thus the crucial need is for:1. A vital small-group ministry2. An intentional focus in the worship

services on the importance of the individual

IV.Practical ImplementationIV.Practical Implementation

d. Although we as humans tend to fall in love with size as a matter of success, research indicates that churches over 1,000 are usually weakest in the area of loving relationships. Thus the crucial need is for:3. The modeling of genuine concern and

love for the community

d. Although we as humans tend to fall in love with size as a matter of success, research indicates that churches over 1,000 are usually weakest in the area of loving relationships. Thus the crucial need is for:3. The modeling of genuine concern and

love for the community

V. Key QuestionsV. Key Questions

V. Key QuestionsV. Key Questions1. What one thing can you do to become more loving, which

will increase the atmosphere of love in your church?1. What one thing can you do to become more loving, which

will increase the atmosphere of love in your church?

VI. Helpful Resources/ToolsVI. Helpful

Resources/Tools

VI. Helpful Resources/ToolsVI. Helpful Resources/Tools• Natural Church Development, pages 36-37• Love One Another, audio series from Walk Thru the Bible• Natural Church Development, pages 36-37• Love One Another, audio series from Walk Thru the Bible

VII. Questions and Answers

VII. Questions and Answers