Welcome Austin, Texas Church Planting Rally February 29- March 1, 2008

4 Truths I Know Recline, Decline or Incline… Where’s your church at? If your church isn’t headed the right direction– These Truths Will Make a Difference.

1.God’s greatest passion is lost people!

“FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.” Luke 19:10

4 Truths I Know At your table, come up with 3 Biblical stories that demonstrate God’s passion for the lost…

4 Truths I Know 2. God gives spiritual gifts to EVERY member for the purpose of growing His Church.

“But speaking the truth in love, may we grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ– from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies (spiritual gifts), according to the effective working by which every part does its share (use of gifts), causes growth of the body…” Ephesians 4:15-16

4 Truths I Know 3. The harvest is plentiful. People are ready to receive our message!

Matthew 9:37-38 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, BUT the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

“Lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for harvest!” John 4:35

Table question: What evidence do you see in YOUR community that the harvest is ripe?

4 Truths I Know 4. Most Adventist churches have reached plateau or are declining. 80% of churches in NA plateau/decline 15% are growing from transfer 5% are growing by conversion

God’s Truths Become Ours 1. Our heart beats in unison with the heart of God! Passion for the lost! NOW IS OUR OPPORTUNITY!

LUKE 15:7, “I SAY TO YOU THAT LIKEWISE THERE WILL BE MORE JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS THAN OVER NINETY-NINE JUST PERSONS WHO NEED NO REPENTANCE.”

THE CHURCH EXISTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET PART OF IT!

God’s Truths Become Ours 2. We begin to exercise! We actively use our spiritual gifts.

Were our numbers half as large, and all of these devoted workers, we should have a power that would make the world tremble! 3 Testimonies p.405

EGW, Review & Herald 1/14/1868 “The greatest cause of our spiritual feebleness as a people is the lack of real faith in spiritual gifts. If they all received this kind of testimony in full faith, they would put from them those things which displease God, and would everywhere stand in union and strength…

Cont. “…And three-fourths of the ministerial labor now expended to help the churches could then be spared to the work of raising up churches in new fields.”

God’s Truths Become Ours 3. We get eye surgery! We open our eyes and see with 20/20 vision the harvest field. John 4

A new 4 th truth becomes reality! God’s Church Grows!

“It has been presented to me that all through America there are barren fields…What is the matter? The ministers are hovering over churches, which know the truth, while thousands are perishing out of Christ. GCB

If the proper instruction were given, if the proper methods were followed, every church member would do his work as a member of the body…They should be taught that unless they can stand alone, without a minister, they need to be converted anew, and baptized anew. They need to be born again.” GCB

Job Description for Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-12 Job Description for Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-12

Biblical Counsel Multiplication “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” II Timothy 2:2 Multiplication “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” II Timothy 2:2

Legacy Leadership Biblical Foundation (JOSES). –What insights do the following passages share on the importance of developing new leaders? Acts 4:36-37 Acts 9:26-27 Acts 11:22-26 Acts 12:25 Acts 15:36-41 Biblical Foundation (JOSES). –What insights do the following passages share on the importance of developing new leaders? Acts 4:36-37 Acts 9:26-27 Acts 11:22-26 Acts 12:25 Acts 15:36-41

Leadership Multiplication Steps: Model I do, you watch I do, you help You do, I help You do, I watch You do, someone else watches I do, you watch I do, you help You do, I help You do, I watch You do, someone else watches

It is natural for living organisms to reproduce : Believers reproducing themselves in new believers. Leaders reproducing themselves in other leaders. Churches reproducing themselves in other churches.