Welcome
What is Church DNA?
DNA is best described as the basic genetic building blocks that determine who we are and ultimately what we will become.
Many in church leadership and consulting are using this concept of DNA as a benchmark for assessing church health and direction. Every church has building blocks that determine its current practices and its plans for the future.
This purpose of this blog is to help church leaders discover and evaluate the DNA that drives their values and priorities and to champion evangelism in every conversation.
Guest Blogger: Dr. Larry Moyer - Are Evangelical Church Attendees Right or Wrong?
July 10, 2008
The Associated Press on Monday, June 23, 2008, released a statement that caught the attention of millions, Christians and non-Christians alike. The statement read, “Among the most startling numbers in the survey conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57% of evangelical church attendees said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.”
Once again, the issue comes back to a very simple question. Is Jesus Christ the One He said He was? If He was, the evangelical church attendees could not be more wrong. If He wasn’t, anything evangelical church attendees say has as much authority and credibility as what He said.
He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:26). If He was indeed the Son of God and the only one who can extend eternal life, then there is no other way to God except through Him. If He wasn’t the Son of God, what He said about being the only way to God is of no value whatsoever.
How do we know if He was who He said He was? The issue is bigger than the Bible. It’s the resurrection and the empty tomb the third day. That is the issue on which everything Christ said stand or falls. The Bible declares itself ot be the Word of God, without error or mistake (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20, 21). But the proof behind the empty tomb is far wider than the Bible. In fact the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most attested fact of history. Thomas Arnold, who was author of a three volume history of Rome and appointed to the Chair of Modern History of Oxford said, “I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by letter and fuller evidence of every sort to the understanding of a fair inquirer than that Christ died and rose again from the dead.”
Therefore, before anyone, anywhere can say, “There are many religions that can lead to eternal life,” they must disprove the empty tomb of Christ. So far, nobody has. In fact, I personally do know of one person who objectively studied the evidence behind the empty tomb that did not become a believer. That means they came to God as sinners, recognized Jesus Christ paid for their sins on a cross and rose again, and trusted Christ alone as their only way to heaven.
Guest Blogger: David Souther on the Gospel
June 30, 2008
A Response by David Souther to the following statement by Andy Stanley regarding the gospel:
“If we were able to rewrite the script for the reputation of Christianity, I think we would put the emphasis on developing relationships with nonbelievers, serving them, loving them, and making them feel accepted. Only then would we earn the right to share the gospel.”
While I agree with Pastor Stanley’s emphasis on developing relationships with non-believers, I don’t believe it is necessarily a prerequisite to sharing the gospel. As believers, we are called to be “salt and light” in our dark world. This involves both loving people and sharing the gospel. The two go hand in hand and balance is key. As we love and build relationships with people, God may give us the opportunity to share Christ at any time. It could be in the first five minutes or it might take months to get to that point.
In addition, the gospel itself is the “power of God unto salvation.” Anytime we share the gospel, it alone is enough to lead someone to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. I have seen people come to Christ by hearing an evangelistic message, reading a tract, or watching an evangelistic film. In all of these situations, the question was not whether or not someone earned the right to share. The message alone was enough. “Faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17), and anytime we communicate the gospel, it has the potential of changing someone’s life and eternal destiny forever.
Read more from David on his blog: Worldwide Hope
Emerging, Missional, Mosaic, Monastic - Next Generation Church DNA?
June 23, 2008
In a June 2008 issue of The Mennonite Magazine, author Tom Sine provides a glimpse inside the cover of his latest book release, The New Conspirators. Sine is convinced that God is doing something new through the next generation of leaders who are creating new ways to make a difference in both the world and the church. In The New Conspirators, he points out that these young activists and innovators can be best understood and articulated in at least four streams: Emerging, Missional, Mosaic and Monastic.
Even though I do not endorse all of the viewpoints embraced by Tom Sine or of the Mennonite Church USA, I had to make you aware of an article that makes great strides towards defining the various movements of God around the world among the next generation of church leaders. The fact that there is no hidden agenda or bias on the truth about the movements, alone, makes this article worth reading (Click Here to Read).
After reading the article give me your thoughts on this particular section:
“…many of these young activists have turned away from the influences of the religious right to embrace a more biblically progressive agenda for social transformation. They are consistently much more committed to working for social justice, racial reconciliation and caring for God’s good creation than many of the churches from which they come.”
Signs of the Times - WiFi and Multi-Site Churches
June 18, 2008
On my about page I mention that my favorite item on the menu at Starbucks is WiFi, technology that gives you wireless access to the internet while you sip your coffee. In the last eight years or more churches have been adding coffee shops to their church atrium. The new thing now is to add wireless internet access and comfortable chairs and sofas. But even more valuable than WiFi is churches that are using satellite broadcasting to expand their church to multiple locations.
It is being called the “Multi-Site Revolution“. Many of the most successful churches have become too large to have any real connection among the congregation. Many of these churches are successful because they have found a niche, a ministry to a particular demographic that facilitates church growth. What many churches are doing is building new churches in different areas of their metropolitan areas to reach different communities. What is interesting is the fact that many of these churches are doing a satellite broadcast that is being shown live at the multiple locations. The pastor will preach at the main campus and there are community pastors and a worship band that handle announcements and lead worship live at the multi-sites of the church.
One church that has implemented this successfully is Ed Young and Fellowship Church. The main campus is in Grapevine, Texas and they now have additional sites in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and even Miami. They have over 40,000 people in attendance every week at the multiple locations. The congregation is content to watch Ed Young on a big screen live from Grapevine or sometimes one of the other locations. Other churches that are doing this are Saddleback, Northpoint, and Willow Creek.
Saddleback saw over 100 people trust Christ on the first weekend at their new sites. Each campus creates buzz and the unchurched and often unbelievers check the church out and hear the gospel presented and trust Christ. Saddleback’s vision is to have 10 sites by 2010. The thing I like about the multi-site church movement is that it focuses on people and not new buildings. Because most of these sites start small, it is not about a building campaign, it is about inviting people to something that members and regular attenders are truly excited about. It forces the congregation to be outward-focused and community-minded.
Make it all about the people and the gospel - no strings attached. How? Look for opportunities to share the clear and simple gospel message motivated by grace and love, not guilt. When we go about the great commission in context of living the great commandment then we have effectively removed any strings that are attached. Take the next exit - Go wireless!
Mark Batterson on Evangelism
June 11, 2008
Pastor, author, and blogger Mark Batterson wrote briefly on his blog today about his personal and corporate perspectives on evangelism. First of all personally - he authentically shares:
“To be perfectly honest, over the last several months, the Lord has really convicted me about my lack of urgency…And it’s not about sharing our faith out of guilt. It’s about being so excited about who God is and what God has done that I can’t not talk about it.” (read more)
I love his passion. I have been given numerous opportunities lately to share what I believe about evangelism both in witnessing and in casual conversation. I think the biggest thing that Batterson points out is something that we teach in our evangelism training at EvanTell…that we should share the gospel out of grace and not guilt. Guilt has so often been associated with evangelism that it has given evangelism a fearful, negative connotation. I pray that outlook is overcome. That is my dream for the church.
Batterson closes explaining his dream for the church:
“Can I share a dream? I’ve always dreamed of being part of a church that was experiencing the reality of Acts 2:47. It says people were added daily. Don’t you want to be part of a church that is experiencing life changing transformation on a daily basis?”
Just like I do - he desires to see a church with Acts 2 Church DNA.
Guest Blogger: A.J. Rinaldi on Worship
June 4, 2008
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting a church in a small community in Texas as part of a project I was working on for EvanTell. This is a rare opportunity because of my family’s involvement in our own church in our own small corner of the Dallas area.
So what? People visit churches every Sunday across the country-nothing remarkable about that, right? Well, that’s my point—there are so many churches across the country in small (or maybe not-so-small) communities that we don’t hear of everyday, we tend to forget that great ministry happens everywhere! What comes to mind when you think of a small church in a small town? One thing I always have to remind myself of is that talent and giftedness is not unique to the “Mega-church” crowd.
Now, I do not attend a “Mega-church”, in fact, comparably our church is modest in size, so I do not judge by attendance numbers or budget—or do I? It’s easy, isn’t it, for us to assume that smaller churches in out of the way places are probably doing the “best they can” with what they have; creatively speaking? I was reminded this past weekend how foolish that assumption is. What a great band! The instrumentalists were highly competent in their art and did a very effective job in leading the congregation to worship.
Occasionally I experience churches that have exorbitant budgets allowing for the hiring of multiple staff members to fill every conceivable position within the worship staff. From musicians to technicians and all points of leadership, these folks are employed and given all kinds of time (not to mention equipment, money, etc.) to prepare for the Sunday (or Friday or Saturday) service each week. What a contrast to those on a more modest budget who have to work with volunteers and squeeze in hours late at night or whenever they can.
I am not suggesting that either is wrong. If they are truly using the resources God has blessed them with as wise stewards then there is no problem at all. What I am suggesting is that you don’t necessarily need to look outside of your own congregation and hire “artistic talent”. Often these roles can be filled by volunteers who can contribute significantly to the quality of worship that your church brings before God! He has placed amazing talent in every corner—just look around!
Check out more from A.J. Rinaldi at his blog: Redeeming The Culture.
Joe Aldrich on Ineffective Forms of Evangelism
May 29, 2008
This post is for any pastor that has found a way to make every passage in the Bible evangelistic and worthy of an invitation. This post is for the preacher who needs all five stanzas of the invitation to convince someone in his congregation that he or she has doubts about their salvation and needs to be saved. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see churches grow by conversion, but I just don’t believe in the idea of a plateaued church, “adding to their numbers daily those who are being saved” (Acts 2) when they have no visitors and no desire to see the gospel go beyond the walls of their church.
Joe Aldrich further elaborates on ineffective forms of evangelism:
“Some churches fail to grow because they do not evangelize, others fail to grow because they do - but in outmoded, ineffective forms. For many, evangelism is what the pastor does on Sunday morning as he throws the lure over the pulpit, hoping some fish in the stain-glass aquarium will bite. The layman’s job is simply to herd fish within the reach of the big fisherman. Week after week the pastor evangelizes the evangelized. His people will grow weak on a diet of evangelistic sermons…” (from introduction to Aldrich’s Lifestyle Evangelism).
The word “Go” in the Great Commission phrase, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” is an imperative. If you have not been trained in personal evangelism, visit Evangelism.net and EvanTell.org for more information on how you can be connected to the life-changing Great Commission through proven evangelism tools and training.
Dr. Haddon W. Robinson on Relationships with Non-Christians
May 27, 2008
It has been said that it does not take new believers very long to distance themselves from their non-Christian friends and neighbors after their salvation experience. What a tremendous witnessing opportunity he or she is missing as a result of the misguided influence of self-righteous Christians. Are we supposed to be “set apart” and pursue holiness to the extreme that we miss the opportunity to tell of the same grace by which we were saved? No! By all means, convince a new believer that they are a missionary to those in their lives that are lost. Encourage them to take the Good News of their salvation to their friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Remind them to “make the most of every opportunity” (Col. 4:5). Realize that a new believer is instantly qualified for evangelism. He can share his testimony of the trust he is placing in Christ for his salvation. Or he can tell of the security he has of knowing that he will spend eternity in heaven.
Relationships with non-Christians should be maintained regardless of the amount of effort it may take. According to Dr. Haddon W. Robinson:
“Making a place in your life for non-Christian neighbors demands effort, thought, and at times risk. Bridges are harder to construct than walls. But that doesn’t alter this reality: Outsiders to faith are first drawn to Christians and then to Christ. Unfortunately, not all Christians attract. Like a turned magnet, some repel. Yet Christians, alive to God, loving, caring, laughing, sharing, involved at the point of people’s needs, present an undeniable witness for Christ in their society” (from the foreword of Aldrich’s “Lifestyle Evangelism”).
God may use your relationship with that person to draw your friend to Himself. God may use you to share the gospel with your friend. If He did provide that opportunity, would you be prepared? If not, visit Evangelism.net and EvanTell.org for resources and training to help you overcome any obstacles that would render you ineffective if an opportunity to share the gospel comes your way.
Acts 2 DNA: NewSpring Church - South Carolina
May 20, 2008
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is found in the Book of Acts, specifically the closing portion of chapter two that describes the beginning of the first church, just after Pentecost:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Very rarely do churches today enjoy the favor of all the people in their community. In fact, it is quite often the opposite of favor. High profile Christians have made certain that we are known more today for what we are against than what we are for and that is sad.
There are however churches today that I believe have Acts 2 DNA. They are committed to sound biblical teaching, fellowship, worship, prayer, meeting needs and evangelism.
One church in South Carolina provides inspiration to me that churches in 2008 can still “enjoy the favor of all the people.” Perry Noble, Tony Morgan, and the community-minded congregation of NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina, give testimony of a church that has returned to the first century church model to be relevant in the 21st century. Check out the following video giving glory to the God of This City (Tomlin):
How Will You Respond to the Myanmar Tragedy?
May 11, 2008
Join EvanTell and respond to the desperate situation in Myanmar. Reports confirm that the junta government of Myanmar is turning back aid workers in spite of the growing food, water and humanitarian crisis of its people. We are resolved to help our brothers and sisters on the ground in Myanmar who desperately want to bring relief and the gospel to those in need.
EvanTell has 67 indigenous partners that are certified evangelism trainers in Myanmar who we’ve worked with for the past six years. These trusted Christian partners need your financial support to get directly involved in relief efforts and to activate the 16,513 other believers they’ve already trained in evangelism. They are already engaged in relief efforts in their local areas. They are trusted partners who are sharing the gospel as part of the relief they provide.
Stay Informed at Myanmar Response
Get Involved at Gospel First Responder