1. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development “Radical Rediscovery” Developing Authentic Christian Communities in the Post-Christian West

2. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Present Reality in North America 15,000 Protestant pastors a year leave the ministry 3,000-10,000 churches close each year (net loss) 20% decrease in Christian population in the USA Boomer evangelism rate: 34% Gen-X evangelism rate: 14% (has grown from 4%) Gen-Y / Millennials evangelism rate: 4%

3. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development 21st Century America Post-modernity: Rejection of the meta narrative We are in a true post-Christian phase, moving towards paganism The Church in message is considered irrelevant The Church in its practice is culturally aberrant The Church is not even reaching its children We have the greatest potential harvest in American history People are spiritually hungry and crave community – they just don’t want the Church

4. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Biblical principles, not models Lack of biblical ecclesiology has lead to a entrepreneurial / business model driven church ministry process We propose a relationally / community driven organic church ministry process based in simple New Testament principles Compare & contrast

5. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Solution is Simple The focus of the Church needs to return to mandate of the New Testament: –Love God –Love others –As you go, make disciple This is the “Irreducible Core” of the Christian faith The solution today is what it has always been – the multiplication of disciples, leaders and churches.

6. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development What is a disciple? Someone who is –Devoted to Christ –Devoted to His Church –Devoted to His Mission

7. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development What is "Church?" Modality - Matthew 12:46-50, 22:37-39 –Relationships Sodality - Matthew 28:18-20 –Reason (mission) Community - Acts 2:42-47 –Koinonia - relationship with a reason –The Fellowship

8. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development What is "Community"? New Wine & Wineskin: Luke 5:37-39 We often focus on the wineskin We need to focus on the content Working definition of “community”: A shared life together in Christ

9. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Wine Acts 2:42-47 Devotion to –Apostle's teaching - love God Centrality of the Cross 1 Cor 2:2 Kerygma 1 Cor 15:3-4

10. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Wine –The Fellowship - love your neighbor Based in Christ Partnership in Christ Devoted the people and the mission – koinonia

11. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Wine –The Breaking of Bread - lifestyle of interdependence A shared life together in Christ As you go, make disciples

12. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Wine The Prayers - lifestyle of dependence on God

13. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Organizing Principles for Community Love God Love others As you go, make disciples –Do it all together

14. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Wineskin – The “3&12” Principle

15. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Who Jesus ministered to: Crowd – “The 5000” Unchurched Casual Christian - Rich young ruler Where are the other nine? Matthew 13:18-23, Luke 17:17 75-90% of the weekend service are casual, not disciples Where most pastor's focus their time

16. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Who Jesus ministered to: Core – “The 120” Start out Committed - Agenda Driven Become Devoted - Jesus Driven These are the disciples

17. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Who Jesus ministered to: His leaders: 3/12/70 The 70 – lay/emerging leaders The 12 – Strategic Transformers The 3 – Catalytic leaders This is where Jesus focused most of His time Discipleship of key persons should be your first priority Leadership development your second Large group ministry is third

18. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Pathway to Community Formation The Journey of Radical Rediscovery

19. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Pathway 1.Live Luke 10:1-9 Gather disciples - Come, follow me Form the community of disciples Live the way together - Model Jesus 2.Live Acts 2:42-47 Love God, Love others, make disciples Lifestyle of interdependence Lifestyle of dependence on God

20. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development The Pathway Person driven (John 10:10) vs. process driven Life to life - experiential Content of Jesus: Give away what you received Do the values with them, impart the values to them Genetic code of reproduction

21. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Community in Praxis Implementational Realities

22. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Community Identity and Values Values define who you are in relation to God and others Communal values form the identity of your church What about us reflects Jesus? Real values are supported by behaviors

23. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Community Identity and Values Passionate behaviors will surround values Values are the genetic code of the body T.E.R.M. test Look for consistent, repeated behaviors lived out by the core community

24. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Community Vision Vision is God's authority in the church. It allows leadership to say yes and no on ministry choices. God's preferred future - in both being and doing, not just task oriented. We are we becoming / Seek to become

25. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Community Vision What maturing into the fullness of Christ would look like for your body –The fruit of the Spirit –Godliness in relationships Includes the transformational component you desire to bring to the local social order.

26. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Community Giftedness How is His fullness reflected in the Church community? How is He expressed: His nature & work? What has He given in people and spiritual gifts (Eph 4, 1 Cor 12) “Foundation stones” for the community determine the way of doing ministry

27. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Community Giftedness The principle of self-organization of Body Church should not do ministry for which Jesus has not supplied giftedness. Gifting release mission

28. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Community Mission How will we love God? How will we love each other and have relationship? How will we make disciples? –Informed by cultural exegesis - tuning to the right key Mission determine structure All this lived out over time becomes your church culture

29. © 2006 The Praxis Center for Church Development Thank you! Tom Johnston The Praxis Center of Church Development PO Box 4878 Manchester, NH 03108 www.praxiscenter.org 603-821-1703