The Purpose Driven Church

1. Build a Purpose-Driven Church: Focus on the Five New Testament Purposes

"A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will grow a Great Church."

The five purposes of the church are derived from the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20):

1. Worship: Love God with all your heart
2. Ministry: Love your neighbor as yourself
3. Evangelism: Go and make disciples
4. Fellowship: Baptize them
5. Discipleship: Teach them to obey

A purpose-driven church intentionally balances and emphasizes all five of these purposes. This approach ensures that the church is not just focusing on one aspect of its mission but is fulfilling its complete biblical mandate. By organizing around these purposes, churches can create a clear structure for growth and effectiveness in their ministry.

2. Define and Communicate Your Church's Purpose Clearly

"If you don't communicate your purposes, you can't possibly be purpose driven."

Crafting a clear purpose statement is crucial for any church. This statement should:

• Be based on Scripture
• Be specific and measurable
• Be simple enough for everyone to remember
• Explain what the church is committed to doing

Once defined, the purpose must be consistently communicated through various channels:

• Sermons and teachings
• Visual aids and symbols
• Slogans and catchphrases
• Stories and testimonies

Regular communication of the church's purpose helps to align the congregation, motivate members, and provide a clear direction for all church activities. It also helps to attract new members who resonate with the church's mission.

3. Organize Your Church Structure Around Its Purposes

"Your structure determines how much you can grow."

Purpose-driven organization involves restructuring the church to reflect its five core purposes. This includes:

• Assigning staff or volunteers to lead each purpose area
• Creating ministry teams focused on specific purposes
• Aligning budgets with purpose priorities
• Designing facilities to support purpose-driven activities

Benefits of purpose-driven organization:

• Clarity of roles and responsibilities
• Efficient use of resources
• Easier decision-making process
• Scalability for growth

By organizing around purposes, churches can ensure that no single area dominates while others are neglected. This balanced approach leads to healthier, more effective ministry and sustainable growth.

4. Understand Your Community and Target Audience

"To be effective evangelists, we must learn to think like unbelievers."

Knowing your community is essential for effective ministry. This involves:

• Conducting demographic research
• Surveying the unchurched in your area
• Identifying the felt needs of your target audience

Create a composite profile of your target:

• Age, education, occupation
• Family status
• Interests and values
• Spiritual background and objections to church

Understanding your target audience allows you to tailor your approach, messages, and programs to effectively reach and minister to them. It helps bridge the gap between the church and the unchurched, making your ministry more relevant and impactful.

5. Design Seeker-Sensitive Services to Attract the Unchurched

"The crowd does not determine whether or not you speak the truth: The truth is not optional. But your audience does determine which truths you choose to speak about."

Creating a welcoming atmosphere for seekers involves:

• Simplifying the service structure
• Using contemporary language and examples
• Addressing common questions and objections
• Providing clear explanations for unfamiliar elements

Key elements of a seeker-sensitive service:

• Upbeat, contemporary music
• Practical, relevant messages
• Drama or multimedia presentations
• Personal testimonies
• Clear next steps for visitors

The goal is to remove unnecessary barriers that might prevent unchurched people from hearing and responding to the Gospel. This approach doesn't compromise the message but adapts the method of presentation to be more accessible and engaging for those unfamiliar with church culture.

6. Use Contemporary Music to Connect with Your Target Audience

"The style of music you choose to use in your services will be one of the most critical (and controversial) decisions you make in the life of your church."

Selecting appropriate music for your church involves:

• Understanding your target audience's musical preferences
• Choosing styles that resonate with your community
• Balancing familiarity with innovation

Considerations for church music:

• Lyrics should be biblically sound and easy to understand
• Melodies should be singable for the congregation
• Instrumentation should reflect contemporary tastes
• Volume and energy should create an engaging atmosphere

Music plays a crucial role in creating an emotional connection and setting the tone for worship. By using contemporary styles, churches can remove a significant barrier for unchurched visitors and create a more engaging worship experience for all attendees.

7. Preach Practical, Relevant Messages for the Unchurched

"Preaching that changes lives brings the truth of God's Word and the real needs of people together through application."

Effective preaching for seekers involves:

• Starting with felt needs and common struggles
• Using clear, everyday language
• Providing practical application of biblical truths
• Addressing real-life issues and questions

Structure of seeker-sensitive messages:

1. Capture attention with a relatable problem or question
2. Present relevant biblical principles
3. Illustrate with contemporary examples and stories
4. Provide specific action steps for application

The goal is to demonstrate the relevance and power of God's Word in addressing the real-life challenges people face. This approach helps bridge the gap between ancient biblical truths and modern-day concerns, making the message more accessible and impactful for unchurched listeners.

8. Develop a Strategy to Move People from the Community to the Core

"The way you attract people to your church will determine what you can do with them once they're there."

The baseball diamond model illustrates the process of moving people from unchurched to committed disciples:

1. First base: Membership (committed to Christ and the church)
2. Second base: Maturity (committed to spiritual growth habits)
3. Third base: Ministry (committed to serving in the church)
4. Home plate: Mission (committed to sharing faith and fulfilling life purpose)

Key strategies for each base:

• Membership: Clear process and expectations for joining
• Maturity: Systematic teaching of spiritual disciplines
• Ministry: Helping members discover and use their gifts
• Mission: Equipping for evangelism and outreach

This intentional process helps ensure that people don't just attend church but grow into fully devoted followers of Christ who are actively engaged in the church's mission.

9. Establish a Membership Process and Covenant

"If you don't define what you expect from members, you can't ask for their commitment."

Creating a meaningful membership involves:

• Developing a comprehensive membership class
• Clearly communicating expectations and benefits
• Establishing a membership covenant

Elements of an effective membership process:

1. Teaching on the church's beliefs, values, and vision
2. Explaining the five purposes and how members can participate
3. Outlining specific commitments expected of members
4. Providing opportunities for questions and personal interaction

A well-defined membership process helps create a sense of belonging, clarifies expectations, and increases commitment to the church's mission. It also helps filter out those who may not be ready for the level of commitment required, ensuring a more engaged and aligned congregation.

10. Create a Balanced Strategy for Spiritual Growth and Maturity

"Genuine spiritual maturity includes having a heart that worships and praises God, building and enjoying loving relationships, using your gifts and talents in service to others, and sharing your faith with lost people."

Developing mature disciples requires a comprehensive approach:

1. Knowledge: Understanding biblical truths
2. Perspective: Seeing life from God's viewpoint
3. Conviction: Developing strong, biblical values
4. Skills: Learning practical abilities for Christian living
5. Character: Cultivating Christlike attitudes and behaviors

Strategies for promoting spiritual growth:

• Offer a variety of Bible studies and classes
• Provide small group experiences for accountability and support
• Create opportunities for practical ministry application
• Encourage personal spiritual disciplines
• Regularly assess and celebrate spiritual progress

A balanced approach to spiritual growth ensures that believers develop not just in knowledge but in all aspects of Christian maturity. This comprehensive strategy helps produce disciples who are equipped to live out their faith effectively in all areas of life.

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Last updated: September 7, 2024