Ryan Burge on Gen Z Religiosity

Here are some sobering statistics from Ryan Burge, author of Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are and Where They Are Going. 

1. The reduction of protestant and increase of “nothing in particular” is clearly reflected in subsequent generations.

2. Gen Z is now majority “nothing in particular”, 79% non-protestant.

3. Gen Z “belief in God” is plummeting down to almost 30%. 

The Difference Between Growing and Declining Churches

Here's the new church Unstuck Church report by Tony Morgan. Here are his findings on the difference between growing and declining churches. 

Even though overall attendance at physical gatherings is down 30% year-over-year in the churches that were assessed, there are several churches that are starting to grow again on this side of the pandemic. Of the 102 churches that were surveyed, 35 churches have experienced attendance growth when compared to the previous year.

What’s telling, though, are some of the distinctions between the churches that are growing and those that are still experiencing attendance decline. Here are some of the key differences we identified from the data:

• The majority of growing churches were non-denominational. Declining churches are 40% more likely to be connected to a denomination than growing churches.
• Growing churches have smaller boards and fewer committees than declining churches. Churches that streamline governance also streamline decision-making. That makes it easier for these churches to make changes in ministry strategy when it’s necessary because of the changes happening in the world around us.
• Growing churches have less debt than declining churches. It appears that growing churches are more efficient in how they’re investing Kingdom resources to reach new people.
• Growing churches are baptizing a higher percentage of people than declining churches. In other words, the growth isn’t happening because churches are only swapping Christians. A portion of the growth is coming from more new faith conversions.
• Growing churches are reaching more younger families than declining churches. We know that because kids and students attendance is 28% of total attendance in growing churches and only 22% of total attendance in declining churches.
• Declining churches are more likely to offer multiple styles of worship services. Think combinations of traditional, contemporary, blended, modern and so on. In other words, the more worship styles a church offers, the more likely the church is experiencing a decline in attendance.
• Declining churches have significantly bigger staff teams than growing churches. Declining churches employ 56% more full-time equivalent employees than growing churches.

Requirements of Eldership

In this post Justin Taylor provides an excellent grid that that combines the requirements of eldership with descriptions written by John Piper. This is a helpful tool in detailing clearly what qualities are to be seen in the life of a qualified elder.

1 Timothy		Titus
3:1	one who has aspiration to the office			He aspires to the role of being an elder, bishop, overseer, pastor, shepherd. This does not exclude the possibility that he is sought out and urged to be an elder. But no pressure should be used that would result in an unwilling, half-hearted service.
3:2	above reproach	1:6, 7	above reproach	He lives in a way that gives no cause for others to think badly of the church or the faith or the Lord.
3:2	husband of one wife	1:6	husband of one wife	The question is probably one of notoriety. What is this man’s reputation with regard to whether he has had one wife or not?
3:2 3:3	sober-minded not a drunkard	1:8 1:7	disciplined not . . . a drunkard	He exercises self-control and mastery of his appetites. He prizes freedom from enslavements to such a degree that no bondage is yielded to.
3:2	self-controlled	1:8	self-controlled	He is sensible. He is prudent. He is reasonable. He has good judgment. He sees things as they really are. He knows himself well. He understands people and how they respond. He is in touch with reality, such that there are no great gaps between what he sees in himself and what others see in him.
3:2	respectable			He is honorable and dignified. He comports himself in situations so as not to step on toes unnecessarily. He does not offend against propriety.
3:2	hospitable	1:8	hospitable	He loves strangers. He is given to being kind to newcomers. He makes them feel at home. His home is open for ministry. He does not shrink back from having guests; he is not a secretive person.
3:2	able to teach	1:9	able to give instruction	He is an apt teacher, skilled in teaching. He knows biblical doctrine well and is able to explain it to people. He is astute enough theologically that he can spot serious error and show a person why it is wrong and harmful.
3:3	not violent	1:7	not . . . violent	He is not pugnacious or belligerent. His temper is under control. He is not given to quarreling or fighting. He has a conciliatory bent. His feelings are not worn on his sleeve. He does not carry resentments. He is not hypercritical.
3:3	gentle			He is not harsh or mean-spirited. He is inclined to tenderness. He resorts to toughness only when the circumstances commend this form of love. His words are not acid or divisive but helpful and encouraging.
3:3	not quarrelsome	1:7	not arrogant or quick-tempered	He is peaceable. He is lowly in his demeanor, not speaking much of himself or his achievements. He counts others better than himself and is quick to serve. He sincerely gives God the credit and honor for any accomplishments.
3:3	not a lover of money	1:7	not . . . greedy for gain	He puts the kingdom first in all he does. His lifestyle does not reflect a love of luxury. He is a generous giver. He is not anxious about his financial future. He is not so money-oriented that ministry decisions revolve around this issue.
3:4–5	a good manager of his own household; cares for God’s church; keeps his children submissive	1:6–7	a steward; his children are faithful, not insubordinate	He is the leader of a well-ordered household. If he has children, they are submissive (not perfect, but well-disciplined, so that they do not blatantly and regularly disregard the instructions of their parents). His children revere him. He is a loving and responsible spiritual leader in the home. He respects and tenderly loved his wife, if he is married. Their relationship is openly admirable.
3:6	not a recent convert			He is a mature believer. There are evidences in his life that humility is a fixed virtue and not easily overturned.
3:7	well thought of by outsiders			He meets the standards of the world for decency and respectability (as the standards of the church are higher).
		1:8	a lover of good	He loves to be involved in doing good. More than merely doing good, he has a bent and love to see goodness done. He is an expansive person.
		1:8	upright	He cares about whether people are treated fairly. He wants to see justice in the world at all levels.
		1:8	holy	He is a person of devotion to Christ with a life of prayer and meditation. He loves worship and has a deep personal relationship with the Lord.

Sample Sabbatical Policy

The following is a sample sabbatical policy that can serve as a reference for churches working to implement a sabbatical policy for the overall health and flourishing of pastors and their families. 

RATIONALE

Thom Rainer gives a helpful explanation as to why sabbaticals are important for pastors. 

The word “sabbatical” has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. It has one meaning in the academic community, another meaning in its biblical usage, and still another in many secular settings.

For the purpose of this article, I define sabbatical in simple terms. It simply means time off for rest and/or study. The time can be a few days, a few weeks or, on rare occasions, a few months. The pastor is given paid leave for rest, rejuvenation and, perhaps, deeper study. I would love to see churches of all sizes provide this requirement of their pastor, even if it’s only for a few days.

I have the opportunity to work with lay leaders and pastors. I have a pretty good view of both perspectives. And I am convinced that more lay leaders need to insist their pastors take regular breaks even beyond vacations. Allow me to provide five reasons for my rationale.

1. A pastor has emotional highs and lows unlike most other vocations. In the course of a day, a pastor can deal with death, deep spiritual issues, great encouragement, petty criticisms, tragedies, illnesses, and celebrations of birth. The emotional roller coaster is draining. Your pastor needs a break—many times a break with no distractions.
2. A pastor is on 24-hour call. Most pastors don’t have an “off” switch. They go to sleep with the knowledge they could be awakened by a phone call at anytime of the day. Vacations are rarely uninterrupted. It can be an exhausting vocation, and a sabbatical can be a welcome time to slow down.
3. Pastors need time of uninterrupted study. It doesn’t usually happen in the study at church or home. There is always the crisis or need of the moment. Church members expect sermons that reflect much prayer and study. The pastor’s schedule often works against that ideal. The sabbatical can offer much needed, and uninterrupted, study time.
4. Pastors who have sabbaticals have longer tenure at churches. Though my information is anecdotal, I do see the trend. And while I cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship, I feel confident that pastors who have sabbaticals are much more likely to stay at a church because they are less likely to experience burnout.
5. Pastors who have sabbaticals view the time off as an affirmation from their churches. I have heard from many pastors who share with me a sentence similar to this one: “I know my church loves me because they give me a sabbatical.” Pastors need affirmation. Sabbaticals can accomplish that goal.

I estimate that only about five percent of churches offer sabbaticals. In almost every case where I am familiar, the relationship between pastor and congregation is very healthy. I do think at least one of the reasons is the sabbatical.

PROCEDURE

The pastor requesting a sabbatical should complete a written request to be submitted to the elder board for discussion and approval at least six months prior to the intended start date of the sabbatical.

1. The written request should include the goal(s), plan, and time period for the sabbatical.  Generally speaking, sabbaticals should last around six weeks.  Exceptions to this (shorter or longer) can be considered with written explanation in the request document. 
2. The pastor taking sabbatical will work with the elder board in identifying responsibilities that will need to be filled by other leaders in the church for the period of the sabbatical.
3. The pastor taking sabbatical will agree with the board of elders on a peer who will provide accountability. They will also agree on the frequency of the peer accountability meetings.  (See Bob Thune’s comments on “spiritual director” below.)
4. The elder board shall announce and explain the sabbatical to the church including the reason(s), goal(s) and guidelines for the sabbatical. It should also be communicated to the church the time period for the sabbatical and the temporary change in the pastor’s role(s) in the church.
5. Upon re-entry, the pastor returning from sabbatical shall address the church and summarize the results of their time of rest including: goals accomplished, value of the time away from regular duties and any personal or professional development.
6. The sabbatical will not take away from the pastor’s normal pay or vacation time during the year. 
7. Pastors are eligible for sabbatical after every five years of service at The Vine. 

PLAN

We would recommend the following “best practices” from Pastor Bob Thune. 

Stay in one place. A sabbatical is not a vacation. The goal isn’t to pack as much “fun” as possible into the allotted time. Rather, the goal of a sabbatical is whole-person rest. And for you to really rest deeply, you need to be in one place for as long as possible. Every time you have to travel or prepare for a new experience, your mind, body, and soul go back into action and activity. Only the settled, serene passivity of being somewhere can facilitate the kind of rest you need.

Set simple rhythms. The simpler your life rhythms, the deeper your rest and renewal. For instance, we set a 7-day meal schedule for the entire six weeks, so we didn’t have to plan for what we were going to eat (every week was the same). In addition, we set rhythms our kids could look forward to: Wednesday was “field trip day.” Saturday morning was “walk to Dunkin Donuts” morning. Sunday night was pizza at the pizza parlor, where we became “regulars” with Nick the bartender and Megan the waitress. If setting predictable rhythms sounds too boring and routine… might I submit that you may be so frenzied with activity that you’ve never experienced Sabbath?

Get a spiritual director. I stole this from Eugene Peterson’s fantastic little book “Working the Angles.” He said every pastor should have a spiritual director. I took his advice. And I’m a better man for it. A spiritual director is someone who directs you spiritually – not in an authoritarian way, but in a “coming alongside” way. He or she helps you pay attention to what God is doing in your soul. A wise director listens well, asks good questions, and looks for traces of God’s work that you might be missing. My spiritual director on sabbatical was my friend Gardner, who graciously gave two unhurried hours every week to serve as my pastor/adviser/counselor/friend. Make it a high priority in your sabbatical planning to find a spiritual director – ideally one who can sit with you face-to-face. If you still need convincing, read Peterson’s book and then consider the number of pastors you know who are long on ministry skill and short on heart renewal. Ask yourself if you want to be one of them.

Go to church (but not yours). I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to just GO to church. With no expectations: no one asking you who’s preaching today, no one seeking out your wife for on-the-spot counseling, no one running to you about the crisis in the nursery. Give yourself and your family this gift – you’ll be grateful. We attended a church of about 100 people that met in an elementary school within walking distance from our house. It was entirely different from Coram Deo – refreshingly. It wasn’t the way I would have led things. But it didn’t matter. It was the people of God gathering to worship God and live on mission in their city, and that was enough. The Lord humbled me, taught me, encouraged me, and graced me through that local church in ways I never could have experienced in my own context.

5 Things to Do Before Leaving Your Church

Here is a helpful article by Thabiti Anyabwile on "5 Things Every Christian Should Do Before Leaving Their Church". In our church we had numerous opportunities to share this article with those considering leaving. It was one of the better resources we used to shepherd people considering this difficult decision. The main points follow, to read the full article click here. 

1. Share Your Thinking/Reasons with the Leaders

2. Resolve Any Outstanding Conflicts

3. Express Your Appreciation for the Church’s Ministry in Your Life

4. Say “Goodbye” to Friends and Family

5. Be Honest with Yourself about Your Own Efforts, Motives and Failings

Africa, the New Center for Global Christianity?

In the August 18, 2020 email update from the Gospel Coalition, editor Colin Hanson wrote, citing historian Philip Jenkins...

If a country has a fertility rate of 2.1 or fewer children per woman, the population will age and contract. And those contracting societies around the world, despite many differences, all tend to be secularizing rapidly. That includes the United States, with a rate of 1.7, which mirrors secular Scandinavia.

You don’t need to debate causation or correlation in order to recognize Jenkins’s point. If trends continue, Western leadership in global Christainity will continue to diminish, at an even more rapid pace than Jenkins had first predicted back in 2002 with his seminal book, The Next Christendom. Current trends suggest that Africa will be home to more than 1 billion Christians within the next 30 years.

Bottom line, the US is becoming increasingly secular and Africa is quickly becoming Christianity's global center. When you add in the rapid growth of Christianity in Asia and South and Central America, it proves the point that, far from a western religion, Christianity is the most diverse religion in the world.

Redeeming Retail Space

Here's a great little guide from the Brown Church Development Group on how churches can redeem abandoned retail space for church use. Brian Connor writes, "The decline of "bricks and mortar" retail presents an opportunity for many churches to redeem space for God's Kingdom." You can download the entire document at this link.

Does Your Online Reputation Matter?

Social media and online communication has transformed how we connect with others. It allows us to better share information and leverage influence for good, but it also magnifies controversy and normalizes the outrageous, often in the form of viral conspiracy theories or the vilification of those with an opposing view. In recent years many of us have observed the intensification of online conflict over politics, theological controversies and, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic.

As an active user in numerous online communities, I find myself often asking the question, “How can Christian leaders avoid some of the pitfalls of social media and how should we be leveraging these mediums for good and for God’s glory?” For some of you the answer is to avoid social media entirely and yet others, like me, see it as an opportunity to build and maintain relationships and to share information that influences others for good. These mediums are particularly helpful for Christian leaders as they seek to build missional relationships and connect with a broader audience in the community where they are hoping to be a light for the Gospel. This leads to three questions I would like to answer in this post, mostly focusing on the role of a Christian leader.

• Does the Bible have anything to say about how we use online communication? 
• Should we be concerned about our online reputation and what it communicates to others? 
• How can we best leverage social media to advance the Gospel and build relationships?

To answer these questions, I’d like us to explore Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 3:7. In this verse Paul is writing to his apprentice Timothy about the qualifications for church leadership. After listing numerous other qualifications he writes, "Moreover, he (an elder) must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” The outsiders to whom Paul is referring are literally those outside the church, in the broader unbelieving community. Amazingly, what Paul is saying here is that what those outside the church think of you can actually disqualify you from leadership and lead you into disgrace, which is a snare of the devil. So, how others perceive us really does matter. This should sober us and make us think twice about how we communicate, especially in the digital realm which, in many ways, magnifies the power and influence of our words.

This leads to the question, "How do we build the kind of online reputation which honors the Lord and strengthens our influence for good?” Paul’s answer is found in the qualifications for prospective elders in verses 1-6. According to these verses a "good reputation” strengthens your witness as it highlights the character of Christ being formed within you. If we apply this to the broader audience of all Christian leaders, these character qualities include being a loving and faithful spouse and parent, being self-controlled, hospitable, gentle, not quarrelsome and not greedy. Based on this list, here are some sample questions you can ask in the context of your online reputation.

1. Does my online presence communicate my love for spouse, family, friends and the broader community in which I live?
2. Am I measured in the things I say, stewarding my words with gentleness and self-control, with the hopes of communicating in a way that is loving and welcoming to others?
3. Do I avoid topics that ignite conflict and controversy with others? In other words, do my words make people feel hurt, angry, belittled or misunderstood? Paul makes clear that there are controversies that can easily consume people but are not profitable for Christian unity and witness (Titus 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:23)
4. Do my pictures and words communicate greed? Is there a tone of selfishness as I seek to impress others with my words, abilities or possessions? 
5. What is my overall online witness? If someone knew me, only through my online presence, what would they say mattered to me most? If anything but the Gospel and godly character rises to the top, then we need to reconsider how we are stewarding our reputation.

This is, of course, not an exhaustive list of questions but it is a good place to start. As you reflect on these questions, don’t hesitate to invite a few trusted friends or family members to provide accountability in this area. According to the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 4:16, it is the responsibility of leaders to watch themselves and their teaching closely. When we do, we not only save ourselves from promoting a false gospel, but we also communicate a clearer picture of God’s saving grace to the watching world around us.

How An Established Church Can Start Planting

I was recently reminded from a friend about the helpful nature of Aaron Morrow's article on how established churches can start planting churches. It's a really helpful resource for churches who would benefit from a step-by-step guide on how to grow their church toward church planting. I can't recommend enough. Here is a link to the full article and the steps Aaron walks through to create a multiplying church.

1. Educate yourself about church planting
2. Educate your elders and missions team about church planting
3. Educate your church about church planting
4. Model principals of church planting in your existing ministries
5. Allocate a percentage of your budget for church planting
6. Partner with like-minded churches to support church planting
7. Adopt and support an existing church planter
8. Create a church planting residency for a future church planter
9. Hire staff with the aim of sending them out to plant after 3-5 years

Read the important resources listed with each step here.

Membership Covenant Examples

It is common in some churches to ask members to sign a membership covenant. This allows the church to clarify the expectations it has for each of its members. Many who take the responsibilities of membership very seriously may even have an annual "covenant renewal Sunday" where members are asked to re-sign the covenant as a reminder of the commitment they are making to their faith community. I have created this post in order to pool a variety of covenant examples from different churches of different sizes and denominations. Feel free to send me other examples to add to the list.

Sample 1 - Expectations of members and the church.

Sample 2 - Built around values.

Sample 3 - Peacemakers version.

Sample 4 - Membership and code of ethics.

Sample 5 - The qualities of a member.

Sample 6 - Gospel Coalition Blog Sample

Samples 7-9 - NAMB provides a series of examples here.

Sample 10 - 9 Marks shares their covenant here.

New EFCA Assessment Pipeline

Here is a short overview for the first two steps of our new assessment system for church planters that is being developed by the Church Multiplication Team of the EFCA.

PHASE 1: INTAKE

Planter Interest Form

This form is the first step for those interested in entering our assessment pipeline or simply learning more about opportunities for planting in the EFCA. After filling out this interest survey a district leader will contact the planter candidate to schedule an intake interview (this may not be required if the candidate is already known by district leadership). Following the interview the planter may be cleared to enter the second phase.

PHASE 2: PRE-ASSESSMENT

The pre-assessment phase involves surveys and tests that will be used to develop a comprehensive profile of the potential planter. This profile will provide content for the pre-assessment interview performed by the district leader and will also be useful as the planter who is approved moves on to phase 3, the assessment center retreat.

Survey 1: Biographical and Faith - upload resume
Survey 2: Ministry Experience and Preparation - upload vision for planting
Survey 3: Church and Theology - upload credentialing paper (if relevant)

Once the initial surveys are completed, the planter candidate will complete the "Bundle Package" at Church Planter Profiles which will cost the planter candidate $114. The planter and his wife (if applicable) will also be asked to complete a Prepare Enrich profile for $35. To complete this profile you will register for a new account and follow the directions.

Church Planter Profile Assessment
Couple Checkup Assessment

The pre-assessment phase will conclude with a pre-assessment interview performed by an EFCA district leader. If approved following the interview, the planter candidate and spouse (if applicable) will move into the final two phases, which include the assessment retreat center and a results meeting with the candidate couple, district leadership and a sending church representative.

4 Reasons Church Attendance Matters

Post by Contributing Author, David Parks

1. Church attendance strengthens vital relationships.

Social media is sort of great and sort of awful. Endlessly scrolling news feeds allow me to keep at least a little up to date with all the random people I meet in life. But nothing online can ever take the place of in-person relationships. We weren't made for curated bits of people's lives—in fact, studies are starting to show that this often leads to loneliness and depression. We were made to do life together with real people. And for real relationships with real people, you need to be with them, have time to talk with them, give them a handshake/hug, pray with them, share a meal, and more. If you see someone once every month or two, how deep will that relationship be? Regular church attendance strengthens your relationships with other people who are also learning to follow Jesus. These relationships are vital.

2. Church attendance reminds us of what's true.

God has given us one means by which people come to faith and grow in their faith: hearing and believing the gospel. This isn't a one-and-done kind of deal. We're frail creatures, and in the sin and struggle of life, we need repeated reminders of what's true. There are many voices in our culture preaching many messages—some of which are true. If we as a church are not preaching the truth from God's word, that's on us. But if we as a church are preaching the gospel and seeking to apply it in all its myriad ways, and you regularly miss it, what else is going to give you the stability at hope you need to live in this crazy world?

3. Church attendance provides opportunities for ministry.

There are two forms of ministry in the church: formal and informal. Formal ministry is organized by church leadership and takes place in ministry teams (e.g., Worship team, Welcome team, Gospel Kids team, etc.). Informal ministry is encouraged, but not organized, by church leadership and takes place when individual believers are prompted by the Holy Spirit (e.g., to pray for someone, bring over a meal, share resources or encouragement, etc.). In both formal/informal ministry, the purpose is to provide loving service that meets needs and builds up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). When you attend church, you have way more opportunities to do ministry and be ministered to. We need you! And you need us! That's what being a member of a church family is all about.

4. Church attendance is the primary marker of spiritual growth.

It's true that you can attend worship faithfully, give generously, sing worship songs loudly, etc. without ever being a Christian (which is scary). However, I don't know of a single Christian who has experienced life-transforming spiritual growth who didn't attend church regularly. Of course, there are Christians who are homebound due to illness, but they are the exceptions, not the norm. And they should have fellow believers visiting them, ministering to them, and trying to include them as much as possible. Weekly worship may not be the most "mountain-top" type of spiritual experience every week. But it's like having a regular family dinner together. The little things, done consistently over time, will have a far greater impact than any "mountain-top" experience ever could. If you want your faith to have an impact on this world, if you want your faith to be a legacy for your kids and grandkids, come to church. Church attendance is not the sum total of following Jesus. But it's definitely the place to start.

Elder Training: Gospel Eldership

Post by contributing author, Aaron Morrow.

The following is a short book review for Gospel Eldership by Bob Thune. If you have a minimal attention span, here’s what you need to know: if you want to train & unify your Elders, using this book should be a non-negotiable!

In the industry of Christian publishing, if your book is targeted towards a narrow audience then it’s often challenging to get published by a large publisher. Such is true for a short book like this on training and unifying Elders. That is why there are not 20 books published annually on this subject, even though it is such a vital topic! So don’t let the small publisher of this book fool you because Gospel Eldership is filled with sharp thinking, penetrating questions, and concise writing.

Here’s how the book is organized:

• Introduction: What is an Elder? 
• Lesson #1 - Servant Leadership / Exercise: “Know Thyself” 
• Lesson #2 - A Biblical Approach to Church Leadership / Exercise: False Righteousness
• Lesson #3 - The Primacy of Character / Exercise: Identifying Idols
• Lesson #4 - The Leadership Triangle / Exercise:Leadership Triangle Self-Assessment
• Interlude: The Duties of Elders
• Lesson #5 - Elders Feed the Church / Exercise: The Gospel and Spiritual Disciplines
• Lesson #6 - Elders Lead the Church / Exercise: Examining Your Character
• Lesson #7 - Elders Protect the Church / Exercise: The Gospel and Conflict Resolution
• Lesson #8 - Elders Care for the Church / Exercise: Identifying Pride 
• Lesson #9 - Missional Eldership / Exercise: Mission and Your Heart 
• Lesson #10 - The Temptations of Leadership / Exercise: Identifying Your Temptations

Below are a few of the many strengths of the book.

Gospel-centered 

The center of this book is the gospel and its premise is that believing and applying the truths of the gospel to our hearts is ultimately where all of our spiritual growth emanates from. If this is what you believe, it can often be daunting to think about training and unifying Elders with clarity and precision about what gospel-centeredness means and looks like. That’s where Gospel Eldership comes into play.

This book gently but deeply drills down into the character of an Elder. And at every turn, Thune makes sure that all of an Elder’s character growth flows through the lens of the gospel. It’s really powerful! If your potential or existing Elders don’t understand the value or practicality of the gospel being at the center of their spiritual growth then this is the book to the set the tone for your team.

One more little note, some of us have reservations about reformed theology due to the tone, posture, and emphasis of some guys who are reformed. But even though Thune is reformed in his doctrine, there isn’t a strong whiff of it in this book. Granted, there are reformed underpinnings to many of the things he says, but rest assured that your Elders won’t come away from reading this book talking about reformed theology, and that’s because the gospel is clearly the center of this book.

Practical

There are questions throughout this book for readers to process that are nuanced and inviting. These questions make it quite easy for facilitators to navigate discussions. This is helpful because this book should surely be read in the midst of a small group or one-on-one.  Furthermore, each chapter has a corresponding exercise that helps the gospel penetrate with deepening practicality.

It’s fair to say that each chapter successfully avoids dappling only in the realm of theory. However, it’s important to note that even though this book is largely practical, it certainly isn’t comprehensive. This is why supplementing this book with reading Sticky Teams by Larry Osborne would likely be helpful for your team. For what it’s worth, Sticky Teams is incredibly practical but its primary limitation is its lack of gospel-centeredness.

Short & Readable

Many of the Elders we want to develop and unify are hesitant to read thick books. Some might argue that if someone can’t commit to reading chunky books then how can they have the requisite commitment to be an Elder? But this type of outlook doesn’t seem to leave room for Elder candidates who have different personalities and giftings than the ones that vocational pastors often bring to the table. That’s why a short and readable book like Gospel Eldership is a good middle ground resource that should meet almost everyone where they’re at. The author puts the cookies on the bottom shelf, which is commendable.

You should definitely buy a copy of this book and check it out for yourself!

Gospel + Safety + Time

Post by contributing author, Aaron Morrow.

Pastors should have a framework for helping their church understand how people grow in their spiritual maturity. There are certainly many good and biblical options to use. At our church, the framework we use to help our people understand this is Gospel + Safety + Time.

In order for someone to grow in their spiritual maturity, they need Gospel + Safety + Time. Just like a plant needs water + soil + sunlight in order to grow, what we need is Gospel + Safety + Time.

• If you’re meeting one-on-one with someone to help them grow in their spiritual maturity, you need to be thinking, "What does Gospel + Safety + Time need to look like for this person?"
• If you’re meeting with a small group of women to help them grow in their spiritual maturity, you should be thinking, "What does Gospel + Safety + Time look like for this group? And, how do I create a culture of Gospel + Safety + Time in this particular group?" 
• When it comes to leading your small group, you need to be thinking, "What does it look like to create a culture of Gospel + Safety + Time in the fabric of this particular group?"

Let me briefly explain each one...

GOSPEL

100% of someone’s growth in spiritual maturity ultimately happens by repenting and believing the truths of the gospel.

Some people tend to believe that the gospel only gets you in the front door of salvation and then the rest of your spiritual growth happens through some combination of “tips & tricks,” exhortations to “do better try harder,” becoming more “passionate and committed,” pursuing spiritual disciplines, or getting involved and serving.

However, we know from studying scripture that the way that we grow in our spiritual maturity is by always coming back to the person and work of Jesus and applying the truths of the gospel to all parts of our thinking, feeling, and relating. In this way, the gospel isn’t the first step in a staircase, but rather the hub of a wheel where all the other spokes of our life are connected to it.

When someone says they are “gospel-centered” they are largely trying to make a statement about how the process of sanctification happens. The answer? It happens in the same way that justification happens, through repentance and faith in Christ and orbiting our heart and life around the person and work of Jesus. In this way, both Christians and non-Christians need the same thing.

SAFETY

Safety is about kind of culture and environment that we create in our social relationships. Safety is about having a culture of non-accusation, where no one is pressured or cornered into spiritual maturity, and we pursue spiritual maturity not out of fear of being shamed by others

Instead, we have safety with others so that we can relax and admit what’s truly going on in our lives and hearts. That’s because we are characterized by treating one another with gentleness, respect, and restraint.

Having a culture of safety in our relationships not only helps people relax and open up, but having a culture of safety is also helps point people to the greater reality that safety and refuge are ultimately found in Christ himself. In this way, having a culture of safety in our church is very gospel-centered!

Some of us grew up in spiritual environments that believed, in one way or another, that having an unsafe environment was both spiritual and mature. But this isn’t reflective of the gospel, and common sense tells us that this isn’t how people grow into maturity.

TIME

I don’t meet many people who grow in spiritual maturity quickly or rapidly. If they do, that’s great! But just think about how much time it’s taken you to grow in maturity, and how much growing you still need to do!

When I was in my 20’s I think I believed that some people are complicated, and some people aren’t. But the older I’ve become, the more I think that everyone is complicated. The more I get to know myself the more I know how complicated I am! Complicated people like us need time and space to evaluate our lives and apply the truths of the gospel to the deep levels of our heart. Gospel-centered growth takes time.

And this kind of deep change often happens in non-linear ways. That’s because we’re all complicated. We all need time to change, because spiritual maturity doesn’t happen by setting deadlines for people.

ARE YOU FLEXIBLE?

In saying all this, I hope you’re catching the drift that I’m encouraging you to think about Gospel + Safety + Time from the perspective of a leader. Because Gospel + Safety + Time is the kind of stuff that a leader always needs to be thinking about! Furthermore, leaders who think about Gospel + Safety + Time need to be flexible and adaptable.

For example:

• What does it look like for the truths of the gospel come to bear on this particular person’s life or this particular group of people? 
• What does it look like to communicate and model the truths of the gospel to this particular person or group of people?
• What does it look like to create an environment of safety for this particular person or group of people? Because some people are more straight-forward than others, so safety doesn’t look the same for everyone.
• What does it look like to create an environment where this particular person or group is given amble time and space to apply the truths of the gospel to their lives? This looks different for various types of people, too.

QUESTIONS

Here are some questions for you and your leaders to think about:

• In what ways have you seen the principles of Gospel + Safety + Time play a role in your spiritual growth? 
• When it comes to Gospel + Safety + Time, which one do you tend to struggle with the most as a leader? Why? 
• What truths of the gospel do you need to believe in regards to your struggles in the previous question? 

One objection that sometimes arrises is that the principles of safety and time don’t always apply to situations that require warnings, hard conversations, or even church discipline. This is where 1Thessalonians 5:14 is instructive for us. In this passage, Paul urges the church in Thessalonica to “warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” Warning someone is about having hard and difficult conversations with people. And Paul says that even in the midst of warning those who are idle and disruptive, we are to be patient with them. At its core, this is Paul’s way of urging them to apply the principles of safety and time even when hard conversations are needed. In other words, Gospel + Safety + Time should always characterize our relationships. 

The State of the Gospel in Rural America

Linked here are my notes from today's webinar with Ed Stetzer on the state of the Gospel in rural America. Highlights include...

• Why rural planting matters.
• The problems facing rural America.
• How to contextualize the Gospel for rural America.
• Networks doing rural well. This is a great resource for learning from others.
• Stetzer closed inviting rural leaders to join the Rural Matters Institute. 

All in all it was a helpful webinar with some good insights on mission to rural America.

Elder Training: The New Elder's Handbook

Training prospective elders for leadership is an essential, but often overlooked, step in creating a healthy church community. A structured training mechanism is especially important for a church plant where leaders don't have the advantage of walking with potential elders over an extended period of time. In this post, I am reviewing the new training resource, "The New Elder's Handbook" by Greg R. Scharf and Arthur Kok.

OVERVIEW: This handbook is intended to provide leaders a method by which to biblically develop faithful leaders. The authors, Greg Scharf and Arthur Kok, both bring a wealth of experience to this resource. Greg is a seasoned pastor and professor emeritus of homiletics and pastoral theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Arthur is director of training for the Orchard Network in the greater Chicago area.

INTRODUCTION: In the introduction Scharf and Kok share that this training pathway will:

• Supply steps of obedience you can take toward qualification
• Help you discern if you have biblical qualifications
• Help you to be the kind of person who could serve as an elder
• Drive you to your knees in humility and prayer
• Foster intentional fellowship in the Gospel
• Slow you down (i.e. Keep leaders from being too “hasty” in appointing elders - 1 Tim 5:22)

This handbook is intended to be used while prospective elders are also serving in some area of ministry, be it small group leader or teaching a Sunday school class.

PART 1: This section lays out the vision for the book which includes chapters on the following topics:

• The qualities that characterize biblical eldership
• Understanding the power behind leadership as observed in the life of Ezra
• Understanding the pathways for spiritual growth 
• The importance of community in the development of leaders
• Tips for identifying potential elders

PART 2: This section features 75 questions written by Dr. Scharf based on ordination topics and principals from the book of Ezra. In this section each question is stated and then followed by biblical passages and additional resources that provide answers to the stated question. Questions include topics like:

• What does the Bible claim concerning itself?
• What is the gospel? How do you explain the gospel to unbelievers?
• What do we know about Jesus's second coming? 
• How are individuals initiated into the church? How does baptism relate to a persons salvation?

Dr. Scharf gives an example of how a meeting could function using these questions.

• Participants will bring a bible and notebook to each meeting.
• In preparation for the meeting, they will have answered the question of the week through scripture and resources, and summarized their thoughts in writing.
• Participants will meet in triplets for prayer and accountability and then come together as a larger group.
• In the training hour, individuals will be invited to share what they had written with discussion guided by a facilitator.
• Before ending, the question for the following week is introduced and then the meeting concludes. 

As is obvious, the entire plan will require 75 weeks of meetings, which could easily cycle over the course of 1 1/2 to 2 years.

CONCLUSION: I appreciate this resource for the following reasons.

• It will slow you down in appointing elders, improving the quality and preparation of elder candidates
• It is centered on the Word, so it teaches future leaders to explore, understand, and communicate the scriptures to others
• It provides a comprehensive basis by which future elders can grow to become full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another (Rom 15:14)
• It will work with any orthodox Evangelical church, no matter the philosophy of ministry or theological leanings
• It is easy to use

I close with a quote from the president of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Dr. David S. Dockery, who states in an endorsement of the handbook:

A skillfully designed resource for pastors and church leaders who are serious about developing the next generation of church leaders for their congregations. With its focus on vision, training, discipling, and selection, this thoughtful handbook provides and invaluable guidance for the formation of faithful leaders.

Early Planting Leadership Models

1 Timothy 5:22 makes it clear that we should never be hasty to appoint elders in the church. This is especially true in a church planting context where a planter has not had the benefit of knowing or ministering alongside people over an extended period of time. In light of this, in the FLD, we expect planters to establish one of the following three forms of transitional leadership (a.k.a. provisional elders) in the early years of planting.

The Elder Loan Model

This model involves appointing a small group of leaders from inside the plant and from established like-minded evangelical churches in the region. The established church elders are “on loan” for this early phase of planting. This model works best with plants that have little to no ties to a regional parent church.

• The advantages of the elder loan model is that it connects the church plant to other healthy evangelical churches in the community.
• The vulnerability of the elder loan model is that there is a risk that the “loaned elders” don’t share the chemistry or culture of the church plant. 

The Parent Church Model

This model involves appointing a small group of leaders from inside the plant and from the parent church. The only difference between this and the “elder loan” model is that leaders are coming from the planting church.

• The advantages of the parent church model is that the church plant is very connected to the resources and influence of the parent church.
• The disadvantage of the parent church model is when the plant is ministering in a different context or with a different philosophy than that of the parent church. 

The Veteran Team Model 

This model involves a church plant where three or more elder-qualified leaders are guiding the church from its inception. Though these elders should have a close connection to outside advisors and district leaders, they have the advantage of providing tested and trained leadership from day one in the planting process.

• The advantages of the veteran team model is that all the leaders are equally invested in the church from day one. An established elder team also protects the church plant from being hijacked by core-team members who may try to steer the church away from its core values.
• The disadvantage of the veteran team model is that there is, at times, a hesitancy to train and appoint new elders in a timely manner. In this situation a veteran team can risk growing too inward in their sense of control and community.

The Art of Divine Contentment

Thanks to Pastor Roger Knolton at Edgewood Community Church for the recommendation of the book, "The Art of Divine Contentment" by the puritan Thomas Watson. I was deeply encouraged today by this beautiful portrait of contentment in the life of the Christian.

I infer that outward troubles cannot hinder this blessed contentment; it is a spiritual thing and arises from spiritual grounds, namely the apprehension of God's love. When there is a tempest outside, there can be music within. A bee sting may sting the skin, but it cannot sting to the heart; outward afflictions cannot sting to a Christian's heart, where contentment lies. Thieves may plunder our money and possessions but not this pearl of contentment, unless we are willing to part with it, for it is locked up in the cabinet of the heart. The soul which possesses this rich treasure of contentment is like Noah in the ark, who can sing in the midst of deluge. 

Church Planting Eldership Series

One of the most important steps in transitioning your church plant into a healthy established church involves the identifying, training and appointing of elder leadership. In Acts 14:23 we learn that Paul and Barnabas went from church to church appointing elders and commissioning them with prayer and fasting. The question is, how do we translate this process into today’s modern context? Depending on your tradition, this path may be predetermined; however, for many in the evangelical "free-church” tradition, planters have a degree of freedom to shape this process based on the involvement of a planting church, the size and maturity of the planting team, and the model of the church being established. In an ongoing series of blog posts I will be organizing thoughts and resources based on various topics related to the appointing of elder leadership in a church plant. The topics will include subjects like:

• Elder Planting Leadership Models
• Elder Training: The New Elder's Handbook
• Identifying Future Elders
• Elder Training Curriculums
• The Role of Members in Appointing Elders
• The Value of Elder Candidacy 

This list may grow and change throughout this series but I will organize all of these resources by linking the posts from this eldership series post.

Vision Frame Explained

Here is a 3 minute video explaining the new vision frame for the Forest Lakes District multiplication ministry. The vision frame incorporates the mission, values, strategy and marks of success into one clear visual representation. This frame will guide the Church Multiplication team as we seek to grow and develop our district ministry for the future.