MIN 171 A Spirit-Empowered Acts 2 Ministry Model

Acts 2 Model:

a blueprint for a healthy church

A Spirit-

Empowered Church

by Alton Garrison

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ISBN: 978-1-68154-001-6

Holy Spirit

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Strategic Plan for

BDA

Know our mission

Know our vision

Know our core values

Develop a strategic plan to

reach the vision

Getting to where we are (our

values) to where we want to

go (our vision)

A healthy church is

the one that…

Engages and maintains loving

relationships (connect)

Develops and mobilizes the

people (grow)

Acts with clear direction and

outward focus (serve)

Reproduces and multiplies His

mission in other peoples and

places (go)

Pursues and obeys God

passionately (worship)

Without the anointing of the

Holy Spirit, the above 5 are just

programs

Acts 2:4

Jesus kick-

started the

church with His

Holy Spirit

And they were all filled

with the Holy Spirit and

began to speak in other

tongues as the Spirit

gave them utterance.

Acts 2:14-41

Peter preaches

the message of

the church

37 Now when they heard this

they were cut to the heart, and

said to Peter and the rest of

the apostles, “Brothers, what

shall we do?” 38 And Peter said

to them, “Repent and be

baptized every one of you in

the name of Jesus Christ for

the forgiveness of your sins,

and you will receive the gift of

the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:42-47

5 functions of

the church

42 And they devoted themselves to the

apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the

breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And

awe came upon every soul, and many

wonders and signs were being done through

the apostles. 44 And all who believed were

together and had all things in

common. 45 And they were selling their

possessions and belongings and distributing

the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And

day by day, attending the temple together

and breaking bread in their homes, they

received their food with glad and generous

hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with

all the people. And the Lord added to their

number day by day those who were being

saved.

Acts 2:42-47

5 functions of

the church

42 And they devoted themselves to the

apostles' teaching and the fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and the

prayers.43 And awe came upon every soul,

and many wonders and signs were being

done through the apostles. 44 And all who

believed were together and had all things

in common.45 And they were selling their

possessions and belongings and

distributing the proceeds to all, as any

had need.46 And day by day, attending the

temple together and breaking bread in

their homes, they received their food with

glad and generous hearts,47 praising God

and having favor with all the people. And

the Lord added to their number day by

day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

functions of the

church

Fellowship (connect)

Discipleship (grow)

Ministry (serve)

Evangelism (go)

Worship

Acts 2 Model

Missing Process

(chapter 1)

Change is possible

(chapter 2)

Royal Priesthood

(chapter 3)

But you are a chosen

race, a royal priesthood, a

holy nation, a people for his

own possession, that you

may proclaim the

excellencies of him who

called you out of darkness

into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

Hope

(chapter 4)

Engages and maintains loving

relationships (connect)

Develops and mobilizes the

people (grow)

Acts with clear direction and

outward focus (serve)

Reproduces and multiplies His

mission in other peoples and

places (go)

Pursues and obeys God

passionately (worship)

Without the anointing of the

Holy Spirit, the above 5 are just

programs

Empowered

(chapter 5)

Creating Spirit-

empowered

disciples

(chapter 6)

Unbelievers –have yet to receive

Jesus as their Lord and Savior,

don’t follow the Great Commission

or Great Commandment

Believers –who have received

Jesus as their Lord but have not

yet become learners who obey

God’s Word (behavior) – focus on

Great Commission, but not Great

Commandment

Disciples –people who adhere to

the teachings and practices of

growing in Christ and demonstrate

a lifestyle corresponding to God’s

word, follows both the Great

Commission and Great

Commandment

What are you

in the Kingdom

of God?

Servant Leaders –people who

have grown in the direction,

ways, and timing of the Lord

and share their knowledge of

Christ with others so they, too,

can learn His direction, ways,

and timing… involved in

different aspects of church life

(bus drivers, altar workers,

greeters, deacons, Sunday

school teachers, etc.)

Reproducers –people who

mentor others through

relationship to the point where

they become servant-leaders

What are you

in the Kingdom

of God?

Assessment

(chapter 7)

1. Why do we exist?

(Mission—chapter 8)

2. Where are we going?

(Vision—chapter 9)

3. How should we behave?

(Values—chapter 10)

4. How will we get there?

(Strategic Plan—chapter 11,

17)

5. How will we engage new

people? (Connect—chapter12,

Go—chapter 15)

Questions to

ponder

6. How will we treat them when

they arrive? (Connect—chapter

12)

7. How will we disciple them?

(Grow—chapter 13)

8. How will we train them to

serve? (Serve—chapter 14)

9. How will we involve them in

missions, both locally and

globally? (Go—chapter 15)

10. How will we help them

encounter God? (Connect—

chapter 12, Worship—chapter

16)

Questions to

ponder

Mission is the same from the

time of Jesus:

Great Commission

Great Commandment

Love is how we carry out the

mission, but relationship is

what makes the mission

human

Mission

(chapter 8)

Mason jar story –

power of one

Where are we going?

Why are we doing it?

1) Unites us

2) Helps us focus on a

destination

3) Dares us to push up against

the status quo

Risk and criticism involved

Without it, we are lost

Vision

(chapter 9)

Amanda game

Help determine when a

person will buy into the vision

and get involved

We can cast a vision, but if

the core values can’t support

the vision or aren’t being

lived, the vision will fail

Core values

(chapter 10)

Holy Spirit

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Core values are fundamental to

all that the organization does.

They are what distinguishes one

ministry from another, and they

explain why some people are

attracted to your church while

others are repelled. They

dictate personal involvement. If

an individual’s core values

align with the ministry’s core

values, that individual is more

likely to invest his or her life

in that ministry. Values

communicate what is essential—

the organization’s bottom line.

Thus, core values define what

you believe is God’s heart for

your ministry or church.

Core values

Core values are the DNA of

the church.

Core values influence

behavior. They direct how the

congregation acts based on

what it believes about itself,

the world, and its role as part

of God’s mission in and to the

world.

Core values determine

attitudes and actions on a

daily basis and in times of

celebration and conflict.

Core values

Core values determine

attitudes and actions on a

daily basis and in times of

celebration and conflict

Core values are the priorities

in the ministry programming

for the future vision

Core values are to be shared

and modeled to new members

Core values are protected by

the staff and key leaders

Core values

Core values are used to measure

all ministry programs for

spiritual effectiveness, financial

commitment, and achievement

of purpose

Core values are to be lived out

in the daily lives of the

congregation

Core values represent the core

identity of the church and

reflect how the congregation

will live into its preferred

future. They create boundaries

for church life and must be

identified and communicated

for the church to reach its full

Kingdom potential.

Core values

Passionately proclaim, at home

and abroad, by word and deed

Jesus as Savior, Baptizer in the

Holy Spirit, Healer, and Soon

Coming King.

Strategically invest in the next

generation.

Vigorously plant new churches

and revitalize existing ones.

Skillfully resource our

Fellowship.

Fervently pray for God’s favor

and help as we serve Him with

pure hearts and noble purpose.

AG Core values

We must stick to core biblical

principles where some values

are nonnegotiable

Be doers of the Word

Relationships are CRUCIAL!

Spirit of agreement present

among us?

Core values

(chapter 10)

List 4-5 beliefs/principles we

strongly embrace

List our strengths of our church

Let’s list what related behaviors

are produced by our

strengths/beliefs/principles

Let’s list what behaviors are

hindering us from goals

List what behaviors we would

like to embrace in the future

Core values

(chapter 10)

What makes a ministry model

valuable? (e.g. Men’s ministry,

Women’s ministry, etc.)

Periodically re-assess our

ministry models or traditions to

have a understanding of our

core values

We should make adjustments to

ministry to FIT our core values

Core values focus on WHY we

do what we do

Core values

(chapter 10)

Personal preferences (and some

convictions) are NOT core

values

Without core values, personal

preferences can easily creep in

What we are passionate about is

not usually what other people

SEE

Can usually be in conflict with

the church’s vision because the

person’s personal preference

was established/ingrained all

their life without being

questioned and become an

“unwritten” rule for them

Core values

(chapter 10)

Personal

preferences

Balancing the

spiritual with the

strategic

(chapter 11)

Connect

(chapter 12)

Grow

(chapter 13)

Serve

(chapter 14)

(chapter 15)

Worship

(chapter 16)

Putting it all

together

(chapter 17)

1. Practicing thanksgiving in all things

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4).

“In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

“As sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians

6:10).

2. Listening to God for direction and discernment

“Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1

Samuel 3:9). “She had a sister called Mary, who was

seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word”

(Luke 10:39). “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am

about to do?” (Genesis 18:17). “His anointing

teaches you about all things” (1 John 2:27).

3. Experiencing God as He really is through

deepened intimacy with Him

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is

one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your

heart and with all your soul and with all your

might” (Deuteronomy 6:4–5). “The Lord longs to be

gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to

have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of

justice” (Isaiah 30:18). See also John 14:9.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Lord through...

3. Experiencing God as He really is through

deepened intimacy with Him

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is

one. You shall love the Lord your God with all

your heart and with all your soul and with all

your might” (Deuteronomy 6:4–5). “The Lord

longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He

waits on high to have compassion on you. For

the Lord is a God of justice” (Isaiah 30:18). See

also John 14:9.

4. Rejoicing regularly in His identity as “His

Beloved”

“His banner over me is love” (Song of Solomon

2:4). “To the praise of the glory of His grace,

which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved”

(Ephesians 1:6). “He gives to His beloved even

in his sleep” (Psalm 127:2).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Lord through...

5. Living with a passionate longing for purity

and to please God in all things

“Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? . . . He

who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm

24:3–4). “Let us cleanse ourselves from all

defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting

holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

“I always do the things that are pleasing to

Him” (John 8:29). “Though He slay me, I will

hope in Him” (Job 13:15).

6. Consistent practice of self-denial, fasting,

and solitude rest

“He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me,

Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you

are not setting your mind on God’s interests,

but man’s’” (Matthew 16:23). “But you, when

you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.”

(Matthew 6:17). “Cease striving and know that I

am God” (Psalm 46:10).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Lord through...

7. Entering often into Spirit-led praise and

worship

“Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is

within me, bless His holy name.” (Psalm

103:1). “Worship the Lord with reverence

and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11).

“I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and

earth” (Matthew 11:25).

8. Disciplined, bold, and believing prayer

“Pray at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians

6:18). “Call to Me and I will answer you”

(Jeremiah 33:3). “If we ask anything

according to His will, He hears us. . . . We

know that we have the requests which we

have asked from Him” (1 John 5:14–15).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Lord through...

9. Yielding to the Spirit’s fullness as life in the

Spirit brings supernatural intimacy with the

Lord, manifestation of divine gifts, and

witness of the fruit of the Spirit

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one

body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves

or free, and we were all made to drink of one

Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). “You will receive

power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”

(Acts 1:8). “But to each one is given the

manifestation of the Spirit for the common

good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). See also 1 Peter

4:10; Romans 12:6.

10. Practicing the presence of the Lord;

yielding to the Spirit’s work of Christ-likeness

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in

a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being

transformed into the same image from glory to

glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2

Corinthians 3:18). “As the deer pants for the

water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God”

(Psalm 42:1).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Lord through...

1. Frequently being led by the Spirit into

deeper love for the One who wrote the Word

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your

heart, and with all your soul, and with all your

mind. . . . You shall love your neighbor as

yourself. On these two commandments depend

the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37,

39–40). “I shall delight in Your commands, which I

love.” (Psalm 119:47). “The judgments of the

Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They

are more desirable than gold . . . sweeter also

than honey” (Psalm 19:9–10).

2. Being a “living epistle” in reverence and

awe as His Word becomes real in my life,

vocation, and calling

“You are our letter, written in our hearts,

known and read by all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2).

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among

us” (John 1:14). “Christ loved the church and

gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify

her, having cleansed her by the washing of

water with the Word” (Ephesians 5:25–26).

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for

the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). See also Titus 2:5.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Word through…

3. Yielding to the Scripture’s protective

cautions and transforming power to bring

life change in myself

“From Your precepts I get understanding;

therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm

119:104). “May it be done to me according

to your word” (Luke 1:38). “How can a

young man keep his way pure? By keeping

it according to Your word” (Psalm 119:9).

See also Colossians 3:16–17.

4. Humbly and vulnerably sharing of the

Spirit’s transforming work through the

Word

“I will speak of your testimonies before

kings and shall not be ashamed” (Psalm

119:46). “Preach the word; be ready in

season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Word through…

5. Meditating consistently on more and

more of the Word hidden in the heart

“Your Word I have treasured in my heart,

that I may not sin against You” (Psalm

119:11). “Let the words of my mouth and

the meditation of my heart be acceptable

in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my

Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

6. Encountering Jesus in the Word for

deepened transformation in Christ-

likeness

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding

as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are

being transformed into the same image

from glory to glory, just as from the Lord,

the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). “If you

abide in Me, and My words abide in you,

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done

for you” (John 15:7). See also Luke 24:32;

Psalm 119:136; 2 Corinthians 1:20.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Word through…

7. A life explained as one of “experiencing

Scripture”

“This is what was spoken of by the prophet

Joel” (Acts 2:16). “This is my comfort in

my affliction, that Your word has revived

me” (Psalm 119:50). “My soul is crushed

with longing after Your ordinances at all

times” (Psalm 119:20).

8. Living “naturally supernatural” in all of

life as His Spirit makes the written Word

(logos) the living Word (Rhema)

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by

the word [Rhema] of Christ” (Romans

10:17). “Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Word through…

9. Living abundantly “in the present” as His

Word brings healing to hurt, anger, guilt, fear,

and condemnation—which are heart

hindrances to life abundant

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and

destroy; I came that they may have life, and

have it abundantly” (John 10:10). “I shall run

the way of Your commandments, for You will

enlarge my heart” (Psalm 119:32). “You will

know the truth, and the truth will make you

free” (John 8:32). “It was for freedom that

Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm

and do not be subject again to a yoke of

slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

10. Implicit, unwavering trust that His Word

will never fail

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the

word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

“So will My word be which goes forth from My

mouth, it will not return to Me empty” (Isaiah

55:11).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves the

Word through…

1. Living a Spirit-led life of doing good in all of

life: relationships and vocation, community

and calling

“He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). “Let

your light shine before men in such a way that

they may see your good works, and glorify your

Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). “But

love your enemies, and do good, and lend,

expecting nothing in return; and your reward

will be great, and you will be sons of the Most

High; for He himself is kind to ungrateful and

evil men” (Luke 6:35). See also Romans 15:2.

2. “Startling people” with loving initiatives to

“give first”

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will

pour into your lap a good measure—pressed

down, shaken together, and running over. For by

your standard of measure it will be measured to

you in return” (Luke 6:38). “But Jesus was

saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not

know what they are doing’” (Luke 23:34). See

also Luke 23:43 and John 19:27.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

people through…

3. Discerning the relational needs of others

with a heart to give of His love

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your

mouth, but only such a word as is good for

edification according to the need of the

moment, so that it will give grace to those who

hear” (Ephesians 4:29). “And my God will supply

all your needs according to His riches in glory in

Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). See also Luke

6:30.

4. Seeing people as needing both redemption

from sin and intimacy in relationships,

addressing both human fallenness and

aloneness

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died

for us” (Romans 5:8). “When Jesus came to the

place, He looked up and said to him,

‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I

must stay at your house’” (Luke 19:5). See also

Mark 8:24; Genesis 2:18.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

people through…

5. Ministering His life and love to our nearest

ones at home and with family as well as

faithful engagement in His body, the church

“Submit to one another out of reverence for

Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own

husbands as you do to the Lord…. Husbands,

love your wives, just as Christ loved the church

and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:21,

22, 25 NIV). “Now you are the body of Christ,

and each one of you is a part of it” (1

Corinthians 12:27 NIV) See also 1 Corinthians

12:12-27; Psalm 127:3.

6. Expressing the fruit of the Spirit as a

lifestyle and identity

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).

“With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach

will be satisfied; he will be satisfied with the

product of his lips” (Proverbs 18:20).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

people through…

7. Expecting and demonstrating the

supernatural as His spiritual gifts are made

manifest and His grace is at work by His Spirit

“In the power of signs and wonders, in the

power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and

round about as far as Illyricum I have fully

preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in

Me, the works that I do, he will do also” (John

14:12). See also 1 Corinthians 14:1.

8. Taking courageous initiative as a

peacemaker, reconciling relationships along

life’s journey

“Live in peace with one another” (1

Thessalonians 5:13). “For He himself is our

peace, who made both groups into one and

broke down the barrier of the dividing wall”

(Ephesians. 2:14). “Therefore, confess your sins

to one another, and pray for one another so that

you may be healed” (James 5:16). See also

Ephesians 4:31–32.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

people through…

9. Demonstrating His love to an ever growing

network of “others” as He continues to

challenge us to love “beyond our comfort

zone”

“The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’

and does not keep His commandments, is a liar,

and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). “If

someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his

brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not

love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love

God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

10. Humbly acknowledging to the Lord,

ourselves, and others that it is Jesus in and

through us who is loving others at their point

of need

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for

I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will

find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). “If I

then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your

feet, you also ought to wash one another’s

feet” (John 13:14).

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

people through…

1. Imparting the gospel and

our very lives in daily

activities and relationships,

vocation, and community

“Having so fond an affection for

you, we were well-pleased to

impart to you not only the

gospel of God but also our own

lives, because you had become

very dear to us” (1

Thessalonians 2:8–9). See also

Ephesians 6:19

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

Jesus’ mission

through...

2. Expressing and extending the

kingdom of God as compassion,

justice, love, and forgiveness are

shared

“I must preach the kingdom of God to

the other cities also, for I was sent for

this purpose” (Luke 4:43). “As You

sent Me into the world, I also have

sent them into the world” (John

17:18). “Restore to me the joy of Your

salvation and sustain me with a willing

spirit. Then I will teach transgressors

Your ways, and sinners will be

converted to You” (Psalm 51:12–13).

See also Romans 8:28 and Psalm

146:5.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

Jesus’ mission

through...

7. Faithfully sharing of time,

talents, gifts, and resources in

furthering His mission

“Of this church I was made a minister

according to the stewardship from God

bestowed on me for your benefit, so

that I might fully carry out the

preaching of the word of God”

(Colossians 1:25). “From everyone who

has been given much, much will be

required; and to whom they entrusted

much, of him they will ask all the

more” (Luke 12:48). See also 1

Corinthians 4:1–2.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

Jesus’ mission

through...

8. Attentive listening to others’

stories, vulnerably sharing of our

story, and a sensitive witness of

Jesus’ story as life’s ultimate hope

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your

hearts, always being ready to make a

defense to everyone who asks you to

give an account for the hope that is in

you, yet with gentleness and

reverence” (1 Peter 3:15). “This son of

mine was dead and has come to life

again” (Luke 15:24). See also Mark

5:21–42 and John 9:1–41.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

Jesus’ mission

through...

9. Pouring our life into others

and making disciples who in

turn make disciples of others

“Go therefore and make

disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of

the Father and the Son and the

Holy Spirit, teaching them to

observe all that I commanded

you; and lo, I am with you

always, even to the end of the

age” (Matthew 28:19–20). See

also 2 Timothy 2:2.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

Jesus’ mission

through...

10. Living submissively within His

body the church as instruction,

encouragement, reproof, and

correction are graciously received

from faithful disciples

“Be subject to one another in the fear

of Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). “Brethren,

even if anyone is caught in any

trespass, you who are spiritual,

restore such a one in a spirit of

gentleness; each one looking to

yourself, so that you too will not be

tempted” (Galatians 6:1). See also

Galatians 6:2.

A Spirit-

empowered

disciple loves

Jesus’ mission

through...

The Sunday Morning Experience

Most churches gear their ministries,

resources, and outcomes based on the

Sunday morning experience. However,

many churches lose track of the

importance of real connection, and

Sundays can easily become times of

ritual and lost reason-for-being. The

church should direct its full spiritual

focus into the Sunday morning

experience. During worship services,

people from all levels of faith should

have an opportunity to express their

worship, receive knowledge from the

Word, and participate with the Holy

Spirit in ministering to others.

Sunday morning

experience

Be Friendly

The Sunday morning experience

begins when each person attending

enters the church parking lot. Do

not mistakenly think that the

experience begins when the music

starts. People need to feel

welcomed at every moment if they

will fully engage the ministry

inside.

Sunday morning

experience

Start on Time

From the time people step out of

their cars, they allow themselves

(and the church) approximately

twelve minutes to connect in a

meaningful way. If the service

begins late and starts with casual

conversation, announcements for

the church family, or with lack of

energy in worship focus, the first

impression will not be strong.

When a service does not begin on

time, people will see the church as

disorganized and careless of

their time.

Sunday morning

experience

Begin by Praising God

Psalms 22:3 states that God

inhabits the praises of His

people. Knowing this, we

should have instant

engagement of praise in our

churches. God can only move

in conviction, comfort, and

strength in a service to the

level that the people of God

welcome Him with praise.

Sunday morning

experience

Be a Praying Church

A church that prays demonstrates

where they have placed their

hope. Times of prayer and altar

response both during and at the

conclusion of a service

demonstrate that we understand

how life change really takes place.

When we demonstrate our trust in

God to help us through prayer, we

also help people build the habit of

praying in their daily lives.

Sunday morning

experience

Be a Spirit-led Church

Leaders demonstrate their own trust in God by

their openness to the move of the Holy Spirit

and their readiness to follow His leading.

Churches that are truly Spirit-led are aware of

God’s purposes at every moment of the

worship experience, not just during times of

singing or preaching. Often God uses a

greeting time to open the hearts of individuals

to His love.

If congregations will begin to focus on how

behaviors in the service make a serious

difference in people’s response to the Spirit,

then those attending will have a greater desire

to participate. The Holy Spirit is ready to bring

amazing life-change to each individual. We get

to participate by demonstrating love and

following His leading.

Sunday morning

experience

Be a Spirit-led Church

The Sunday morning experience

does not conclude with the final

“amen,” but continues until each

person returns to his or her car to

leave. Knowing this, we can

extend a final welcome to our

guests at the exit doors or in the

parking lot.

Sunday morning

experience

Use the following questions to discuss how

your church can make the Sunday morning

experience more meaningful for everyone

and honor the Lord throughout the

service.

What can you do now to make the Sunday

morning experience more effective?

How does the Sunday morning experience

enhance opportunities for people to find

God?

How does the Sunday morning experience

connect the congregation to the first-

century church?

Sunday morning

experience

How can you use positive elements

of the Sunday morning experience

as an on-ramp to accomplishing

your vision?

How could your church better help

guests understand your worship

practices?

How does your Sunday morning

service demonstrate the

importance of compassion, prayer,

relationships, worship, and

instruction?

Sunday morning

experience

Guest Assimilation

Guest assimilation is much more

than having front-door greeters.

Assimilation is the process of

moving new attendees to higher

levels of Christian discipleship,

from unbeliever to reproducer.

Guest assimilation is the process of

moving new attendees to the level

of Christian discipleship.

Sunday morning

experience

Guest Assimilation

Most surveys indicate an effective guest-

assimilation effort will take people from

first visit to strong relational connections

in six weeks and to active discipleship

through ministry involvement and small-

group participation by eighteen weeks.

This process starts when we connect with

people at their first visit and provide an

opportunity for new friends to hear about

the church. The church has a

responsibility to communicate its desire

and activities to meet the needs of the

new people, engage in intentional acts of

love and service throughout the week,

and assist them in finding their place in

ministry within this eighteen-week

window.

Sunday morning

experience

Guest Assimilation

How do you connect people from

their first visit and assimilate them

into the full life of the church in

fewer than eighteen weeks? Make

sure one of your focus points is

discipleship, not just converting

the lost. This process allows

people to explore belonging before

becoming. People want to belong

before they become. Oftentimes,

the church’s actions demonstrate

that people should become before

they belong.

Sunday morning

experience

The Ministry of Greeters

When churches are asked if they are

friendly, they almost always say yes.

However, too often, “friendly” means we

are friendly to each other. The real

question should be, Does your church

make friends with the unchurched and

new people easily? To help address this,

every church should have greeters. The

number of different types of greeters that

a church has and the role that each type

plays will depend on its size and the

number of guests the church welcomes.

Each role is important, has unique

qualifications, and requires an investment

of training. Below are examples of

greeting roles. Remember, your church

may only get one chance to make a

lasting impression.

Sunday morning

experience

Parking lot greeters know that it is never too

early to welcome guests.

Entrance greeters help people feel welcome.

These greeters should have clear gifts of

hospitality and be some of the friendliest

people in the church.

Sanctuary greeters realize that the Sunday

morning auditorium experience can be

unfamiliar and uncomfortable for some

people, so sanctuary greeters must

demonstrate the ability to help people feel

comfortable.

Exit greeters make sure each person feels

loved as they leave the church. A guest’s final

experience should underscore the welcome

you have been showing all morning.

Use the following questions to discuss, in

detail, your church’s process for guest

assimilation.

Sunday morning

experience

Do you treat new people at your

church as guests or as visitors?

What steps might you take to treat

these new friends more as guests?

Would you describe your church as

guest-friendly? What changes could

you make that would make a

guest’s first day in your church a

little easier?

What are some of your memories

of your first experience as a guest

at your church?

Sunday morning

experience

In what areas are your church

greeters most effective? Where are

they least effective?

Are people with clear hospitality

giftings the first people a guest

might meet at your church? If not,

who are your most friendly people,

and how might you put them in

such roles?

Sunday morning

experience

Would you describe your

church’s approach to a guest

as more information-focused

or friendship-focused? What

steps can you take to become

even more friendship-

focused?

What are the first things a

guest sees when entering your

church?

What steps has your church

taken to help guests find their

way in your church building?

Sunday morning

experience

What will guests most likely

experience in their first

twelve minutes at our church?

What could we add to those

twelve minutes that might

make a stronger first

impression?

Are you currently providing

ways for your guests to

integrate into church life?

Sunday morning

experience

How do you track those moving

through the guest-assimilation

process? (In other words, how do

you track first- and second-time

visitors as well as those who

recently have become part of the

church?)

What steps can your church take

to make its hospitality center more

effective?

How could your church better help

its guests understand your worship

practices?

Sunday morning

experience

How does your church’s worship

service demonstrate the

importance of compassion, prayer,

relationships, worship, and

instruction?

Do you ask guests for information

before making a strong effort to

welcome them?

What would be the most important

steps you would want a new

person in your church to take first?

Sunday morning

experience

A strategic plan should be built

around the five functions of the

church listed in Acts 2:42–47, which

have been summarized as connect,

grow, serve, go, and worship.

Vision should incorporate the

mission of the church, the church’s

strengths, and its core values. Vision

should be Spirit-directed and fulfill

the five functions of the first-

century church in our twenty-first

century setting. Growth steps should

be constructed to fulfill the vision

for each of the five functions in your

specific setting.

Strategic plan and

vision

Connect: welcome, connections,

community, compassion,

hospitable, kind, warm, greeters,

friendship

Grow: teaching, growth track,

intentional, challenging,

accountability, resource, training

Serve: servant-hearted,

empowered, trained, equipping

others to serve, gifts and talents,

teams

Go: marketplace evangelism,

compassion, generous,

relationships, life-changing,

Worship: alive, vibrant, life-

changing, permeating,

transformation, all-encompassing

Examples of 5

functions

“Love God; Love People; Pass

It On”

“Honor God; Live the Faith;

Reach the World”

“Love God; Live the Life;

Share Christ”

“Connect with God; Use your

Gifts; Love People”

“Loving God, Loving People,

Serving the Community”

Sample concise

vision statements

Does it encompass the biblical

functions from Acts 2?

Is it clear and

understandable?

Can your congregation put it

into practice?

Is it vital and urgent to your

church?

Is it future focused?

Does it require faith to fulfill?

Does it matter?

Will it take you to the next

level?

Concise statement

questions

Why do you come

to church?

Place – “that’s my church

because I’ve experienced the

most significant

moments/events there!”

Personality – “that’s my

pastor!”

Programs – “love that kids’

ministry!”

People – “my friends are

there!”

Position – “I’m a leader at the

church!”

Why do you come

to church?

Purpose –a sense of

belonging because the

church has a purpose for

everyone to get involved

and be part of what God

is doing in the

church/community

Culture of service

and ownership

Ephesians 4:11-12

And he gave

the apostles, the

prophets,

the evangelists,

the shepherds and

teachers,12 to equip

the saints for the work

of ministry,

for building up the

body of Christ…

Holy Spirit

fff