A fruitful pastor with an unfruitful church?

While I'm still in South Asia, I'm gonna roll some of my "Greatest Hits".  Here are some of my thoughts on church philosophy... 

I've been studying John 15 for this Organic series that we are in… Yesterday, this verse really stood out to me: "By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit." Jesus' concern then, and now, was that his disciples be fruitful, not just they stand amazed at his fruitfulness.

It appears to me that in the “church growth circles” in which I run there are two kinds of churches--the kind where the church is an audience gathered to share in the personal fruitfulness of the pastor, and the kind where members are equipped to be fruitful themselves. In the former, the PASTOR wins people to Christ each Sunday, his speaking is a strong manifestation of the Spirit, and he creates a buzz of excitement that draws people like crazy. He is the “hero” of the church.

In the latter kind, the CHURCH MEMBERS are equipped to see the power of God in and through their lives as they see God's kingdom brought into their workplaces. They, not just the pastor, are the “heroes” of the church.

I definitely want that latter kind. Jesus didn’t simply gather observers. Jesus called and trained leaders. He REPLICATED Himself in them.

Furthermore, Jesus wants us to transform the city, not just grow the church audience. Since the city lives outside the walls of the church, training up leaders to take Jesus to them is the most effective way to really transform the city. 39 of the 40 miracles in the book of Acts happened OUTSIDE of the church. We will transform our city when our members are believing in Jesus' power on behalf of their families, friends, and community, and when they are taking Him to them.

Don't get me wrong, I do want to preach the Word with such anointing that people come from far and wide to encounter God. I want to be like Solomon, whom another world leader came to hear preach because she had heard about the power of his words. That is a crucial part of our strategy, but it is only PART of the strategy.

I don't want a church that grows with people simply observing and riding on the coattails of, my fruitfulness. That is more like a spiritual circus than a genuine church.

God called me to lead a church, not put on a show. At the end of the day, I will answer to God not for the size of my crowd, but for what I did to make fruitful disciples out of them.

That means I need to be telling stories that the congregation can relate to about how I've seen God use me to share Christ in the community. They need to see me modeling the kind of "taking Jesus to the community" that I'm talking about. It also means I need to teach them to pray and believe God PERSONALLY for miracles in and through them, not just expect them from me.

Anything less cannot be called an "Acts" church. The story of the church did not stop in Acts 2 with 5000 being saved under Peter's preaching. It progressed into Acts 6-8, where the members went everywhere into the community and world preaching the word.

Summit Church, this is what I want for you! Don't be satisfied to simply sit and be awed by the fruitfulness of your leaders. Jesus has more for you. Let Him make you fruitful yourself!

Comments

[jared mathis]

J.D.,
Great post.... oddly enough you wouldn't believe how much I needed this post with some things I've been dealing with lately in an unrelated way.... I will forgive you for not emailing me back yet since you are actively obeying Gods command of The Great Commision..... if you would email me when you get home so I can talk to you about Dad wanting to book you in a revival and also I can quit stalking your staff for your personal email since I have lost it..... I will continue praying for you and the people of South Asia as you work hard to help put a dent in Hell.