Comments on: Why bother with crowds? http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/21/why-bother-with-the-crowds.html Steve Addison's blog about movements for the renewal and expansion of the church. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:57:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Steve http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/21/why-bother-with-the-crowds.html#comment-50357 Steve Wed, 23 May 2007 22:24:21 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/21/why-bother-with-the-crowds.html#comment-50357 Thanks for your input Chet. The Masterplan is a classic. Steve Thanks for your input Chet. The Masterplan is a classic.

Steve

]]> By: Why Bother With Crowds « Chet Swearingen’s Blog http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/21/why-bother-with-the-crowds.html#comment-50332 Why Bother With Crowds « Chet Swearingen’s Blog Wed, 23 May 2007 08:18:11 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/21/why-bother-with-the-crowds.html#comment-50332 [...] Why Bother With Crowds May 23, 2007 Posted by chetswearingen in Church Growth. trackback Steve Addison has a great blog about the current trend to increase attendance numbers but forego the making of disciples. He is an excellent writer and does a far better job than myself in presenting this tragic trend. You can read about it at “Why Bother With Crowds.“ [...] [...] Why Bother With Crowds May 23, 2007 Posted by chetswearingen in Church Growth. trackback Steve Addison has a great blog about the current trend to increase attendance numbers but forego the making of disciples. He is an excellent writer and does a far better job than myself in presenting this tragic trend. You can read about it at “Why Bother With Crowds.“ [...]

]]> By: Chet Swearingen http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/21/why-bother-with-the-crowds.html#comment-50233 Chet Swearingen Mon, 21 May 2007 12:09:22 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/21/why-bother-with-the-crowds.html#comment-50233 Steve, Great thoughts. I have always been impressed with Robert E. Coleman's classic book, "The Master Plan of Evangelism." Coleman explains that Jesus' strategy wasn't focused on numbers, or the crowds, it was on the development of leaders. Jesus knew that if he developed leaders the crowds would then be taken care of. I had a popular blog that was posted on March 14, 2007 titled: "How to Measure the Health of a Church." The blog is the result of my extensive research into how to measure health. I think it will help your readers: 1. What percent of the congregation attend the regular prayer meetings? 2. Do the leaders of the church attend the prayer meetings? 3. Is there a new convert’s class? 4. Is there a baptism class? 5. What is the percentage of attendees that are trained to evangelize, and how many are engaged in evangelism in the community, outside of the interior church’s ministries? 6. Is the congregation penetrating their worlds for Christ? 7. What is the percentage of attendees who have gone through the structured discipleship process? 8. What is the percentage of attendees that are active in a ministry, and are volunteer levels increasing? 9. What is the percentage of attendees that have been sent out as cross-cultural evangelists (missionaries)? 10. What is the commitment level to mono-culture and cross-cultural evangelization? 11. Are those gathered becoming more like Jesus (holy lifestyles)? 12. What is the percentage of attendees that are active in small-groups? 13. What are the families like? Is divorce pandemic? 14. Is the congregation putting God first financially? 15. Is the number of leaders increasing, as well as their abilities? What is the leadership development structure like? 16 What kind of values, priorities, and pursuits are controlling the lives of its people (worldview)? Steve,
Great thoughts. I have always been impressed with Robert E. Coleman’s classic book, “The Master Plan of Evangelism.” Coleman explains that Jesus’ strategy wasn’t focused on numbers, or the crowds, it was on the development of leaders. Jesus knew that if he developed leaders the crowds would then be taken care of.

I had a popular blog that was posted on March 14, 2007 titled: “How to Measure the Health of a Church.” The blog is the result of my extensive research into how to measure health. I think it will help your readers:

1. What percent of the congregation attend the regular prayer meetings?
2. Do the leaders of the church attend the prayer meetings?
3. Is there a new convert’s class?
4. Is there a baptism class?
5. What is the percentage of attendees that are trained to evangelize, and how many are engaged in evangelism in the community, outside of the interior church’s ministries?
6. Is the congregation penetrating their worlds for Christ?
7. What is the percentage of attendees who have gone through the structured discipleship process?
8. What is the percentage of attendees that are active in a ministry, and are volunteer levels increasing?
9. What is the percentage of attendees that have been sent out as cross-cultural evangelists (missionaries)?
10. What is the commitment level to mono-culture and cross-cultural evangelization?
11. Are those gathered becoming more like Jesus (holy lifestyles)?
12. What is the percentage of attendees that are active in small-groups?
13. What are the families like? Is divorce pandemic?
14. Is the congregation putting God first financially?
15. Is the number of leaders increasing, as well as their abilities? What is the leadership development structure like?
16 What kind of values, priorities, and pursuits are controlling the lives of its people (worldview)?

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