The Research behind Simple Church

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When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people
say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say
John the Baptist others say Elijah and still
others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But
what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed
are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not
revealed to you by man, but by my Father in
heaven.
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And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of
Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the
keys of the kingdom of heaven whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven." (Matthew 1613-19)
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A simple church is a congregation designed around
a straightforward and strategic process that
moves people through the stages of spiritual
growth.
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And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of
Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the
keys of the kingdom of heaven whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven." (Matthew 1613-19)
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Clarity in a Simple Church
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For we are Gods workers you are Gods field,
Gods building. By the grace God has given me, I
laid a foundation as an expert builder, and
someone else is building on it.
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But each one should be careful how he builds. If
what he has built survives, he will receive his
reward. (I Corinthians 36-9)
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• 1) I am Gods builder.

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• 2) Building the body of Christ is an ongoing
  process.

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• 3) Our ministry needs a clear ministry blueprint.

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I laid a foundation as an expert builder
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• 4) I must design a clear how.

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The process is more important than the purpose of
an organization because it is the process that
makes everything work. (Michael Hammer)
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Five essentials for clarity
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1. Define your process.
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1. Define your process.

• Determine what kind of disciple you wish to make.

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1. Define your process.

• Describe your purpose as a process.

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1. Define your process.

• Decide how each weekly program is a part of your
  process.

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2. Illustrate your process.
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2. Illustrate your process.

• The illustration must show progression.

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3. Measure your process.
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3. Measure your process.

• What gets measured gets done.

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3. Measure your process.

• View numbers horizontally.

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3. Measure your process.

• Measure each stage in your process.

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4. Discuss your process.
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4. Discuss your process.

• View everything through the lens of your simple
  process.

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4. Discuss your process.

• Test your leaders on the process.

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5. Increase understanding.
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5. Increase understanding.

• Articulate corporately.

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5. Increase understanding.

• Share interpersonally.

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5. Increase understanding.

• Live personally.

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I must be a tour guide and not a travel agent.
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Movement in a Simple Church
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We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his
face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it
while the radiance was fading away Now the Lord
is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is freedom.
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And we, who with unveiled faces all behold the
Lords glory, are being transformed into his
likeness with ever-increasing glory. II
Corinthians 314, 17-18
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• 1) Only God produces spiritual transformation.

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• 2) Spiritual transformation moves people to
  greater levels of commitment.

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• 3) Our ministry must place people in the pathway
  of Gods transforming power.

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• 4) I must design a process that partners with God
  to move people through the process of spiritual
  growth.

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Johnny Lechner
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Five prescriptions to remove congestion
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1. Strategic programming
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1. Strategic programming

• Begin with your clearly defined process.

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1. Strategic programming

• Choose one program for each phase of your
  process.

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1. Strategic programming

• Design each program for that specific aspect of
  the process.

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2. Sequential programming
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2. Sequential programming

• Order the sequence to reflect your process.

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2. Sequential programming

• Designate a clear entry-point.

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2. Sequential programming

• Identify the next levels of programming.

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3. Intentional Movement
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3. Intentional movement

• Create short-term steps.

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3. Intentional movement

• Capitalize on relationships.

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3. Intentional movement

• Consider the now what ?

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3. Intentional movement

• Connect people to groups.

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4. Clear next step for new believers.
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5. New members class
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5. New members class

• Structure the class curriculum around your
  process.

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5. New members class

• Ask for commitment to the simple process.

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Alignment in a Simple Church
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I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one
another so that there may be no divisions among
you and that you may be perfectly united in mind
and thought. Paul
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I pray for those who will believe in me through
their message, that all of them may be one,
Father, just as you are in me and I am in you I
have given them the glory that you gave me, that
they may be one as we are one I in them and you
in me.
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May they be brought to complete unity to let the
world know you sent me and have loved them even
as you have loved me. John 1720-23
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• 1) Unity reflects the nature of God.

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• 2) Unity is attractive.

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• 3) God is passionate for our unity.

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• 4) I must align people around our simple process.
  

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Five essentials to alignment
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1. Recruit on the process.
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1. Recruit on the process.

• Look for philosophical alignment, not just
  theological alignment.

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1. Recruit on the process.

• Look for similar ministry approach, not just
  similar doctrine.

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Pastor of Extreme Worship Arts
Ability to infuse the TULIP doctrine in all
worship sets Postmodern, Visionary, Missional
leader capable of creating an ethos and
apostolitic movement in an Ancient-future
church Willing to find some songs written from a
premillenial dispensationalist theological
tradition Desires to develop an emerging handbell
choir Some snake handling may be appropriate (for
our believers service only) Agree that the Lord
is to be worshiped through magnificent attire and
appropriate versions of the Bible Demonstrate
proof of a second blessing... Tongue speaking in
various accents is a major plus as we are a
multicultural church Exegetically establish a
movement of fluidity in the Extreme Worship
Ministry
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2. Offer accountability.
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2. Offer accountability.

• Job descriptions should be tied to the simple
  process.

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2. Offer accountability.

• Individual ministry goals should be aligned to
  the overall church direction and ministry process
  .

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3. Implement the same process everywhere.
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3. Implement the same process everywhere.

• Understanding is increased.

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3. Implement the same process everywhere.

• Unity is promoted as silos are eliminated.

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3. Implement the same process everywhere.

• Families experience the same process.

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4. Unite people around the process.
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4. Unite people around the process.

• Remind people of the process.

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4. Unite people around the process.

• Highlight contributions to the fulfillment of the
  process.

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5. Align new ministries
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Focus in a Simple Church
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Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the
Lord. He removed the high places, smashed the
sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He
broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had
made, for up to that time the Israelites had been
burning incense to it.
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Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel.
There was no one like him among all the kings of
Judah, either before him or after him. II Kings
181-5
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• 1) The tools for worship can become the objects
  of worship.

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• 2) God applauds the removal of anything that
  hinders spiritual transformation.

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• 3) Programs can become an end in themselves
  instead of a means to an end.

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• 4) I must focus our energy, resources, and
  attention on the process God has given our
  church.

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Five essentials to Focus
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1. Eliminate non-essential programs.
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Be very careful how you live, not as unwise but
as wise, making the most of the time because the
days are evil. Ephesians 515
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1. Eliminate non-essential programs.

• Elimination is a matter of stewardship of money.
  

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1. Eliminate non-essential programs.

• Elimination is a matter of stewardship of time.

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2. Limit adding programs.
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2. Limit adding programs.

• Use existing essential programs for special
  emphases.

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2. Limit adding programs.

• Less really is more.

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2. Limit adding programs.

• Limit adding programs, not options.

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3. Reduce special events.
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3. Reduce special events.

• Funnel the event into an existing program.

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3. Reduce special events.

• Combine the event with an existing program.

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3. Reduce special events.

• Use the event strategically.

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4. Ensure the process is easily communicated.
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5. Ensure the process is simple to understand.
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5. Ensure the process is simple to understand.

• Choose simple language.

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5. Ensure the process is simple to understand.

• Be brief.