ChurchPlanting.com

Any church launcher who hopes to connect with the community is in need of becoming a great communicator as soon as possible if not sooner!  When I first began launching, five plants ago, I didn’t understand this simple truth.  None of my coaches understood this I now realize because none of them were able to coach others in the art and skill of connecting with a crowd in weekend settings.  The good news – we can do better now!
 
The best stats indicate that 98% of U.S. churches have either leveled off or are (even more likely) are in decline numerically.  Why so?  That’s a huge discussion.  Someday let’s go away to Gilligan’s Island and talk for a few weeks to focus on this vital topic.
 
For today, suffice it to tackle the top of the list.  No matter how you see yourself, what you’ve been told (cursed or blessed), it is up to you to consistently offer up a killer message consistently… and to do what it takes to get to that point very soon to stop the people leaking you are experiencing.  You want to turn the tide?  It’s not that complicated.  There are two inexcusable things people will not tolerate for more than two weeks – guaranteed – and you can make that worldwide assuming we are referring to healthy attendees…
A.    A healthy and safe nursery (you knew that already)

B.    A kick a%$ message at least 80% of the time.  There are more elements to this message then what I share today, but let me give you one point that is easy to put into play THIS WEEKEND…

 
PASSION! 
Communicate from your heart AND your head, but if it comes down to it, more from your heart.  The U.S. church has been “headed” to death, but we have eviscerated (look that up – it’s a powerful word that is somewhat gross – avoid that at all costs).  We lack heart nearly completely.  It is an exaggeration to state this, but not far off – we could nearly all take a break from information impartation for 6 months to a year… get together each weekend to share stories of how we have been “doing the do’s” Jesus called us to, rejoicing in one another’s growth, spur one another forward, pray for more of God’s visitation upon us as we go out for yet another week, then do it one more week.
 
RETURN TO WHERE YOU WERE…
Personally we were all at one point crazy in love with Jesus.  We may have lacked training, information that has proved to be most helpful along the way.  But with more information, are we really better for it – honestly?  OR… have we lost humility… have we lost the dependence upon God’s Spirit we desperately need in order to be highly effective in his bidding?
 
ASK JESUS
… to bring you back to where you started, in the best sense of the word / idea.  “Make me simple Lord…”
Some extremists will make that into “simplistic” – spell it right please.
Child-like, not childish.
 
Speak from your heart above all.  Challenge your people.  Call them to change.  They are begging to be called!
 
If you can’t do that, shorten your messages until you can give a full length (20-28 minutes) message that is filled to overflowing with the passion of Jesus himself.  Without it, you are sunk.
If necessary, go back to a 10-minute message and build forward.  You will bear MORE fruit in that 10 minutes of passion than an hour of lackluster-ness. 

Steve Sjogren

A friend of mine has written several books in the so-called “Dummies” series.  He was fortunate enough to get involved early on in this and has done very well financially for just this:  Helping those unfamiliar with his expertise learn how to become skilled very quickly.  That is the idea behind the Dummies series usually – taking a “Dummie” and making them smart.
 
When I use the word “Dummie” in this article, I mean something quite different.
 
It’s Not About Hooks
I’ve seen plenty of “hook” imagery in Christian “stores” over the years.  God bless the artists who put those together, but each of them were taught very poorly.  When Jesus used the metaphor of fishing the idea of a hook was not in his mind whatsoever.  Hooks didn’t come into existence until centuries later!  As well, a hook is a deceptive trick one pulls on an unsuspecting fish.  Bait and switch.  Sure, many use the bait and switch and call that “outreach.”  It is difficult to imagine Jesus inviting people to a free lunch then locking the doors while a thirty minute talk is forced upon the group as a hard sell message is forced upon the group.
 
“Use The Nets Norman!”
Every fishing story in the gospels is connected with Jesus instructing fisher people to toss out their nets.  In short, when there is a crowd of fish, the net draws them in.  It’s that simple.  Draw them in.
 
It’s Never About One Kind Of Fish
Many pastors have been fed a line of malarkey that churches grow best when a strategy is employed by leadership of seeking “homogenous social units.”  That is, when we go after people like us, a church will grow.  This point is not only utterly 180 degrees the opposite of every biblical story of God’s visitation upon a people group, it is just plain boring! When God shows up in power amazing diversity naturally occurs (c.f. Acts 2, Acts 4 – moving from one people group to thirteen people groups in a matter of minutes).
Remember this:  When you serve the city, when you love the city in practical ways, the city shows up at your door – as they are, tattoos, piercings, Armani suits, Porche 911s, rusted 20 year old station wagons – all sitting next to one another.
THOUGHT:  If you are stuck in sameness, start scattering seeds of generosity across the city.  Be sure you are not too strategic in your sowing or you will kill the work of the Spirit.  Spiritual strategies are absolutely fine and good, but more often than not what we call a strategy in today’s church is a synonym for “We are in absolute control – no one makes a move without our permission!”  You want to see God move in your midst?  As odd as it sounds, be fairly non-strategic to begin with in order to fall in love with the power of God’s Spirit to move as only he can.  You see amazing results.  I’m dead serious.  (Read and re-read Matt. 13)
 
It’s Not About Carp
No offense intended to those who value carp as a game fish, but let’s face it.  Carp may easily be considered the most boring,  predictable fish on the planet.
Of the tiny percentage of those who make an effort to “fish” (do evangelism), there is typically but one kind of “fish” Church leaders seek after – carp!  If you aren’t familiar with these bottom feeders, they are passive, watchers not doers, lethargic and they have no teeth.  Why do church leaders value the acquisition of carp as new believers versus a more daring catch such as big mouth bass sorts of believers, for example?  Bass have a mind of their own.  They are independent fish.  They are fighters with lots of life to them, but they require far more energy than the totally predictable carp. 
 
Turn From Easy To Jesus’ Way
When Jesus shows up in your midst in a profound way there is no need to lean on cuteness, no need to look for the magic bullet strategy the new book by the brilliant author of the moment is going to publish.
Yes, you will have a lot of creativity going on as God is powerfully present in your midst.  That is his nature – he moves and his creativity follows.  Thoughts will flow like a new vocabulary of a language you are speaking for the first time.
The fish will gather.
Cast the net.
The adventure begins…