As many of you know, I've moved from Kingston in Tasmania to Blacktown in Sydney. That move was the result of the call of God from a church that needed gospel renewal. God is in the business of church planting, but also revitalisation. That's obvious from Revelation chapters 2 and 3. We need existing churches to be healthy and so continue playing their role in building God's Kingdom including planting new churches.

It's been a challenge to think through a thoroughly biblical approach to church renewal. Together with the elders we have been leading the congregation through the following:

1.  A time of repentance

     As a church we seek to 'remember from where we have fallen' (Rev 2:5). This includes confession of sin and repentance from all that has been and is wrong in the church, and must start with the leaders (2 Chron. 7:14). We pray for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to bring about repentance and faith, so that instead of fear and negativity in the church, there is joy and love towards each other. Repentance is of course a disposition for life (see the first of Martin Luther's 95 Theses)

2

2.  A new determination to put Jesus and the gospel at the very heart of the life of the church

    We seek to recover the priority of the gospel as the ‘beating heart’ of the church (Rom 1:16-17), through preaching, small group studies and discipleship. This will take time, as the gospel needs to be ‘caught’ as the Spirit presses the truth of the Word home to people over an extended time of such teaching, preaching and study. 

3.  A new commitment to regular corporate prayer for the church

     Establishing a regular time of corporate prayer for the church and its work (Acts 4:23-31; 1 Thess. 5:17, Col 4:2-4). Prayer is the work, because God acts when we pray. So any successes in ministry, any breakthroughs at work, any growth in faith or new conversions, any act of service is really an answer to prayer. In reality it is Christ alone who builds the church. Without his power at work we can do nothing. As Spurgeon once said, Without prayer what are the church’s agencies, but the stretching out of a dead man’s arm, or the lifting up of the lid of a blind man’s eye?  Only when the Holy Spirit comes is there any life and force and power. 

4.  A new direction for the church

   Setting a new biblical direction/mission for the church and inviting people to subscribe
   to this.

5.  Make a new start (symbolically, or actually if necessary), closing the existing church & opening the new church with a new vision and direction.

For those working at church renewal can I suggest some books well worth reading:
Outgrowing the Ingrown Church by C. John Miller
From Embers to a Flame by Harry L. Reeder III
Church Planting is for Wimps by Mike McKinley
Comeback Churches by Ed Stetzer

Vision 100 Leadership Stretch Cont.

Our vision is to see Tasmania reached for Christ through the planting of as many churches as possible, so that there is a gospel witness in every city and town in the State. We believe that the planting of new churches is the best way to reach people with the gospel. We’ve made a good start, but a slow and small start. In the past the key limiting factor has been the lack of trained men for the work. We have seen a good number of trained folk and a continuing number of apprentices coming into the network. There will always be a shortage (the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few), and we will continue to need people who can take on new church plants.

I believe that structurally, what our movement needs is the implementation of 'Pauline Teams', along the line of the model we find in the Scriptures, so that the work can progress faster & further, by God’s grace.

Why team?

We have come out of an era in which the minister was appointed to lead and run the church, and despite our heritage for a plurality of leaders in the church, because he was paid there was an expectation that he did the work, and it tended to be a lone and sometimes lonely role with some support by the elders.

When Jesus trained his disciples he didn’t train individuals, he trained the team. He even sent them out in pairs. Paul, likewise always worked in a team including apprentices. He appointed teams of elders to shepherd the church. Is seems to me that Paul established a model of open, flexible teams in order to quickly spread the gospel through church planting.  We see how this worked in the book of Acts, and we see the foundational theology for this in Ephesians 4.

In history, the Catholic church turned this into a hierarchy of ministry positions. This was not God’s design or purpose. The Reformation corrected this with its emphasis on every member ministry and a flatter organisation structure for the church, based on the pastoral epistles. However, we have yet to see this dynamic team approach to gospel ministry (apart from exceptions) generally used in the church.

The rise of church planting networks in Christian work recognises the need for like-minded Christians to be working together in different ways if we are to reach non-Christians with the gospel. Vision 100 network has in a way already in a limited way been operating in a type of Pauline Team.

What is a Pauline team?

A Pauline team is a number (two or more) of biblically qualified leaders and apprentices who

·     Have a variety of spiritual gifts

·     Are commissioned and appointed by local churches

·     Have a clear vision of Christ’s mission through church planting and raising up leaders (including new elders)

·     Are prayerful & responsive to the Holy Spirit’s leading

·     Are willing to sacrifice all for the sake of Christ & the gospel (prepared to be tent-makers)

What would Pauline Team do?

·     Reaching/evangelising new areas of Hobart for Christ

·     Gathering converts and planting new churches

·     Discipling/training new converts to be fully mature disciples of Christ, going on to serve him to build the church

·     Identifying spiritually gifted people and raising them up to serve as elders / deacons and ministers of the gospel through training and accountable discipleship

·     Operate as a network of leaders supporting and encouraging each other in the work of the gospel

·    Celebrate in the local sending churches God’s grace in the winning of converts, establishing new churches and raising up new leaders.

So how do we move this forward in the Vision 100 movement?

Here are three Biblical precedents to ponder for action:

·       Elders & teaching elders of participating churches are to take greater responsibility & leadership of the local church (eg. Acts 20:17ff).

       This is a relatively easy step and the work of an elder is already well detailed in most church polities. In Vision 100 it is being practiced more and more with elders leading ministries and involved in teaching/preaching. Elders ought to continually consider the time they need to do the work of the Lord and look at changing their priorities (some elders in our network have reduced work hours to four days per week to give a day a week to their elders responsibilities).

·       Key leaders need to be set apart by elders of key (Antioch type) churches to, on their behalf, lead Pauline teams to reach new areas of Tasmania (eg. Acts 13:1-3).

        Increasingly the key leaders in the V100 network are providing support to local churches and church plants, but there is no mechanism in our respective church polities to enable this. We have yet to take the next step of setting apart and sending suitably gifted men and their teams to go and plant churches away from their churches. This will be needed if we are to reach more widely across Tasmania.

·       Some trainees, especially those with evangelistic skills are to be attached to Pauline teams (eg. Acts 16:1-3).

        Most trainees are connected to established churches. We need to be willing to release and support trainees to participate in ‘Pauline Teams’ that are actively engaged in planting.

Conclusion

Pauline teams drawn from a number of churches in the Network would be used to:

·      Speed up the work 

·      Break new ground where we do not currently have people 

·      Change the ethos of an existing work by closing down an old work  & opening up a new work 

The move towards effective using Pauline Teams in the work will not be achieved on paper, but by experience, because such teams are flexible, changing as need dictates, led by the Spirit, and dependent on the Lord for all success. It will be have to be pioneered.

It requires much prayer and a willingness to work sacrificially together.

Vision 100 Leadership Stretch Cont.

Another factor that Vision 100 leaders need to be aware of as the network grows is the development of an a growing independence in the Network. In the early stages of the movement, there was enthusiasm and a strong desire and necessity to work closely together.  But as we grow it is important that existing leaders do not drift apart and new leaders coming in are caught up in a a sense of spiritual movement. In order to encourage this, Vision 100 can do several things:
(1) Continually cast the vision and values for the movement.
(2) Call people to regular prayer for the movement.
(3) Ensure new and existing leaders attend the annual Vision 100 Leaders conference.
(4) Ensure the Vision 100 Committee is representative of the whole Network.
(5) Involve new leaders are involved in organising the different Vision 100 events.
(6) All leaders and apprentices across the Network meet together (not necessarily often, but) regularly socially and for prayer.
(7) Vision 100 needs to constantly review what it does to ensure that it is assisting leaders and contributing to the work of the local church, and not adding any unnecessary load in what is often already a very busy ministry.

As mentioned previously, prayer is vital to the work of Vision 100, and it must start with the leaders. There is nothing that will create a sense of independence in the work more, than a lack of praying together. Prayer is the work, and does more to strengthen the Network, and align it to God's vision, than any other activity.
(1) As we pray together we acknowledge this is God’s work
Christ said “I will build my church.” Christ rules the church as it’s head and leads the work.
(2) As we pray together we express our dependence on God
We live in a resistant, hardened, secular culture.  Only God has the power to change people’s heart. We need the Spirit of God be powerfully at work in the movement.
(3) As we pray together we make ourselves available to Christ for his mission
We express our desire to serve, and acknowledge that it is a singular privilege to serve. Our service to the King is the best work there is.
(4) As we pray together we demonstrate our love for the lost
God seeks lost sinners and we are his representatives. We want to align ourselves with God’s heart.
(5) As we pray together we take the opportunity to confess our sin
We need to confess our fear & lack of boldness, and our lack of willingness to step out of our comfortable risk-adverse lives. We need to confess our self-reliance when we do thing in our own strength.
(6) As we pray together we express our need of each other for the work
The whole body of Christ is needed for the work. Unity is Christ is essential for the work.
(7) As we pray together we praise and thank God for his wonderful grace to us in Christ
In saving us, in growing his church, in strengthening the work, in raising up new workers, and for the joy we have in all this.

May God help us to work closely together across the Vision 100 Network, expressing our unity in the Gospel, in order that the church planting work is strengthened, and more Tasmanians are won for Christ as our Gospel witness spreads to new communities.

Vision 100 Leadership Stretch Cont.

One of the factors that Vision 10o leaders need to constantly address and check is the subtle power of denominational competitiveness.

As a movement Vision 100, because of it's clear values, has been, by God’s grace, reasonably successful in resisting denominational competitiveness and replacing it with gospel generosity towards each other. We have achieved this by joining together through the Vision 100 organisation as follows:

(1)  Sharing resources – preaching, training, Ministry Challenge and other conferences, ideas

(2)  Raising and disseminating funds through Vision 100 Resources

(3)  One joint church plant – Cornerstone (now a Presbyterian work)

(4)  Supporting the University work (AFES & FOCUS) across all participating denominations

(5) Vision 100 leadership and prayer meetings

At present we have several churches from two denominations (Presbyterian and Christian Reformed) and two independent churches (Crowded House in Spreyton and the Evangelical Reformed Church in Launceston) in the network. These churches all share the values of the Vision 100 movement, which are critical to a genuine working together under Christ and in the gospel.

Several other churches have been encouraged to participate, but because they do not share the Vision 100 values, have other priorities, or lack of gospel leadership, have not participated in or joined the Network (St Johns, Anglican and Baptist churches, CRC Hobart and the CRC Launceston). Some of these churches suffer from an unhealthy commitment, either to the denomination, or to liberal theology.

Vision 100 is against independentism, and sees great value in it’s member churches being part of a denomination. Through a radical commitment to the gospel, we want member churches to have a reforming effect in the denominations. At the same time we recognise the dangers of being infected by ‘denominational malaise.’ How are we to guard against the subtle power of denominationalism infecting the movement?

(1)  The Vision 100 leaders continuing to set and example of gospel generosity across the network in practical ways (giving, preaching, training, practical help).

(2) To seek to make Vision 100 networking activities a priority, especially where they are more singularly focussed on the spread of the gospel through local churches. (ie. Tea and Talk has ‘died’ and we are encouraging elders and church leaders to attend the Vision 100 Leadership and Prayer meetings)

(3) Network leaders meeting and working together for the sake of the gospel to support each other, to encourage stepping out in faith and to keep each other accountable.

(4) Promote the denominations working together through joint church planting and other activities through 'Pauline' teams, made up of leaders from various denominations.

(5)  To, as much as possible, direct non-local church financial resources to Vision 100 for distribution even if it is ear marked for a particular work. We need to enlist the wealthy gospel-hearted folk in our churches to regular giving to Vision 100.

Vision 100 Leadership Stretch cont.

Only a living, responsive faith in Christ, persistent pleading prayer, a preparedness to sacrifice comfort, and a humble dependence on the grace of God will lead to the break-throughs necessary for genuine Kingdom growth.

In order for Vision 100 to be like this the leadership needs to be stretched to address the following areas as previously noted:

1. The lack of praying together

2. The subtle power of denominational competitiveness

3. A growing independence in the network

4. The lack of a ‘Pauline team’ Biblical model of leadership

5. The limited flexibility in function and pay of existing and new leaders

6. The loss of urgency for one to one discipleship of all members

I'll address each one of these over the coming weeks.

The lack of praying together

Prayer is not some sort of ‘magic.’  It is essentially a vital expression of our relationship with our Heavenly Father through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of truth.

The spheres of prayer are the individual, the church, and the world.  As a child of God, I have been convicted by the Spirit, of my sin and of the great salvation extended to me through the finished work of Christ. That wonderful salvation has brought me into a fellowship of love with other believers (the church). It has also caught me up in the mission of Christ - the spontaneous joyful, Holy Spirit-directed expansion of the church bringing the gospel to a lost world. Each sphere needs my attention, first and foremost in my persistent, pleading prayer.

The key strengthening Agent of the Vision 100 movement is the Holy Spirit. There is nothing like urgent, honest, pleading prayer to quicken us to the Spirit’s power in us and working through us. We need to regularly and persistently call all Vision 100 partners to such prayer. What is it that stands in the way of such prayer? Here are some suggestions:

(1)  Leaders not meeting together solely for prayer. We need a regular gathering of all leaders for times of open, heart-felt, urgent prayer.

(2)  Leaders not communicating the need for prayer (the reason for this requires some soul searching).  We need to make a much greater effort in calling people within the movement to persistent, pleading prayer every Sunday. As leaders we should teach our people how to pray in these times especially by our example. Perhaps we could also produce/find some suitable set prayers for congregational use to help us in this.

(3)  A lack of penitence. We need to, by the Spirit’s conviction, give opportunity for times of confession and repentance from specific sins committed by those within the movement (ie. some dangers we regularly face & fall too include pride (in position, status, ability, influence), lack faith and true dependence on God, materialism and the lack of willingness to sacrifice, including half-heartedness, lack of love for the lost, and a low expectation that the gospel will save – there may be other that the Spirit will convict us of.) Such conviction will only come through the Word of God radically applied to the culture of our day. Where is this happening in our movement?

(4)  Loss of confidence in (& dependence on) the power of Christ & his gospel. We need a clearer vision of the Ascended Christ and of his mission. Christ has all authority and is the Head or Commander-in-chief of the church. The church (that’s us) is to be the Lord’s forward movement in a lost world Such a vision will drive us to pray. We should consider a focus on this in our preaching throughout the movement.

Vision 100's Leadership Stretch

Vision 100 Resources is a network of leaders from various denominations committed to working together for the spread of the Gospel in Tasmania through church planting. We've made a good start, but there is a need for 'leadership stretch' if we are going to break through our current limited impact (Lord willing).

We need leaders to break through the inhibiting forces (evils) that are stopping us from effectively serving our Lord & King, so that his Kingdom will come in power in Tasmania. There is an urgent need for courage to address the following:

(1) The lack of praying together

(2) The subtle power of denominational competitiveness

(3) A growing independence in the network

(4) The lack of a 'Pauline team' biblical model of leadership

(5) The limited flexibility in function and pay of existing & new leaders

(6) The loss of urgency for one-to-one discipleship of all members

These challenges need prayerful, thoughtful and bold responses. The solutions are likely to result in some opposition from the denominations. Only a living, responsive faith in the Ascended Christ, persistent pleading prayer, and a preparedness to sacrifice comfort will enable us to make the break-throughs necessary. May God help us.

What gospel ministry should look like

There are many books on what ministry is all about. If you are looking for one of the great books on ministry, Colin Marshall & Tony Pane's new book The Trellis and the Vine is a must read. Check out Tim Chester's blog for a review, including a video clip from Mark Dever recommending the book on (see http://timchester.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/thursday-review-the-trellis-and-the-vine/)