NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY

Transcription

1 NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY Graduate School of Christian Ministry DM 7075 Church Growth and Revitalization Spring 2016 Kenneth S. Hemphill, DMin, PhD Director for Church Planting and Revitalization Senior Professor of Christian Ministry Larry S. McDonald, DMin, PhD Dean and Director of Doctor of Ministry Studies Professor of Christian Spirituality 1. Course Description: A study of church growth and renewal dynamics from a biblical, theological, historical, and cultural perspective. Topics include church growth and renewal principles, typologies, and methodologies, with attention to the roles of prayer worship, preaching, teaching, fellowship, and evangelism in church growth and renewal. (4 semester hours) 2. Co-requisite Course: This course is a co-requisite with DM 7076 Applied Ministry Experience in Church Growth and Revitalization. 3. Course Objectives: The student who successfully completes this course will be able to: Discuss the history of the church growth movement and its impact on the modern day church. Analyze and discuss the spiritual components of church revitalization and church growth, such as prayer and worship. Appraise various techniques for mobilizing and organizing a church for effective evangelism. Identify the components for establishing an effective process of assimilation. Analyze and design a plan for an effective discipling program in the local church. Understand the various mechanical and structural barriers that can impede natural church growth. Demonstrate effective communication skills required in ministry today.

2 4. Course Texts Required Texts: All students must read the required books. Rainer, Thom S. The Book of Church Growth: History, Theology, and Principles. Nashville: Broadman, Hemphill, Ken. The Antioch Effect: 8 Characteristics of Highly Effective Churches. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, McNeal, Reggie. Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series, Additional Reading: Students should complete a total of 2,000 pages of reading, including the three required tests, by the beginning of the seminar. This total should include texts from each of the following categories. Read at Least One of the Following: Historical Arn, Win, Elmer Towns, and Peter Wagner. Church Growth: State of the Art. Wheaton: Tyndale, Barna, George. Successful Churches: What They Have in Common. Glendale, CA: Barna Research, Hadaway, C. Kirk. Church Growth Principles: Separating Fact from Fiction. Nashville: Broadman, McGavran, Donald A. and Win Arn. Back to Basics in Church Growth. Wheaton: Tyndale, McGavran, Donald A. Church Growth: Strategies that Work. Nashville: Abingdon, Miles, Delos. Church Growth: A Mighty River. Nashville: Broadman, Towns, Elmer L., John N. Vaughan, and David J. Seifert. The Complete Book of Church Growth. Wheaton: Tyndale, Wagner, C. Peter. Church Growth and the Whole Gospel: A Biblical Mandate. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1981.

3 Read at Least Two of the Following: Spiritual Blue, Lloyd C. Expository Preaching for Church Growth. Dallas: E.K. Bailey Ministries, Eby, David. Power Preaching for Church Growth: Role of Preaching in Growing Churches, rev. ed. Great Britain: Mentor, Freud, Howard, Jr. Renewing the Sacred Center: Church Revival from the Inside Out. Valley Forge, PA: Judson, *Frizzell, Gregory R. Biblical Patterns for Powerful Church Prayer Meetings. Fulton, KY: Master Design, Hemphill, Ken. EKG: The Heartbeat of God. Nashville: Broadman, Hemphill, Ken. Eternal Impact: The Passion of Kingdom Centered Communities. Nashville: Broadman, Kelley, Dean M. Why Conservative Churches are Growing. Reprint. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, Laney, J. Carl. A Guide to Church Discipline. Minneapolis: Bethany, McIntosh, Gary L. Biblical Church Growth: How You Can Work With God to Build a Faithful Church. Grand Rapids: Baker, Morgenthaler, Sally. Worship Evangelism: Inviting Unbelievers into the Presence of God. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, *Rainer, Thom S. Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive. Nashville: B&H, Read at Least Two of the Following: Revitalization *Baker, R. D. Reviving the Plateaued Church. Nashville: Convention Barna, George. Turn Around Churches: How to Overcome Barriers to Growth and Bring New Life to an Established Church. Ventura, CA: Regal, Buttry, Daniel. Bringing Your Church Back to Life: Beyond Survival Mentality. Valley Forge, PA: Judson, Cheney, Tom, and Terry Rials. Nuts and Bolts of Church Revitalization. Renovate, 2015.

4 Crandall, Randall K. Turn Around Strategies for the Small Church. Nashville: Abingdon, Frazee, Randy. The Come Back Congregation: New Life for a Troubled Ministry. Nashville: Abingdon, Hemphill, Ken. Revitalizing the Sunday Morning Dinosaur: A Sunday School Growth Strategy for the 21st Century. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, Malphurs, Aubrey. A New Kind of Church: Understanding Models of Ministry for the 21st Century. Grand Rapids: Baker, McCutcheon, Mike. Rebuilding God s People: Strategies for Revitalizing Declining Churches. Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, McLaren, Brian. Reinventing Your Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Mohler, Al. A Guide to Church Revitalization. SBTS Press, Ott, E. Stanley ed. Twelve Dynamic Shifts for Transforming Your Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Schaller, Lyle E. 44 Steps Up Off the Plateau. Nashville: Abingdon, Simson, Wolfgang. Houses That Change the World: The Return of the House Churches. Cornwall, UK: Authentic, Stetzer, Ed and David Putman. Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, Stetzer, Ed., and Mike Dodson. Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned around and Yours Can Too. Nashville: B & H, Read at Least One of the Following: Evangelism Atkinson, Donald A., and Charles L. Roesel. Meeting Needs, Sharing Christ: Ministry Evangelism in Today s New Testament Church. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, Beougher, Sharon, and Mary Dorsett. Women and Evangelism: An Evangelistic Lifestyle from a Woman s Perspective. Wheaton: Billy Graham Center, Beougher, Timothy and Alvin Reid, eds. Evangelism for a Changing World. Wheaton: Harold Shaw, 1995.

5 *Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism. Westwood, NJ: Revell, Drummond, Lewis A. and Calvin Miller. Reaching Generation Next: Effective Evangelism in Today s Culture. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, Ferrazzi, Keith, and Tahl Raz. Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time. Expanded and Updated [edition]. ed. Crown Business, Hamilton, Adam and Lyle E. Schaller. Leading Beyond the Walls: Developing Congregations With a Heart for the Unchurched. Nashville: Abingdon, *Hemphill, Ken and Paula. Splash: Show People Love and Share Him. Tigerville, SC: Auxano Press, Hunter, George G. III. The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West... Again, 10 th anniv. ed. Nashville: Abingdon, Miles, Delos. Evangelism and Social Involvement. Nashville: Broadman, Miller, Paul E. Love Walked among Us: Learning to Love like Jesus. NavPress, Newman, Randy. Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People's Hearts the Way Jesus Did. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, Read At Least One of the Following: Assimilation *Brown, Truman and James E. Hightower, comp. After They Join: 10 Ways to Assimilate New Members. Nashville: Convention Press, Galloway, Dale E. The Small Group Book: The Practical Guide for Nurturing Christians and Building Churches. Grand Rapids: Revell, Hendricks, William D. Exit Interviews: Revealing Stories of Why People are Leaving the Church. Chicago: Moody, Lane, Timothy S., and Paul David Tripp. Relationships: A Mess worth Making. Greensboro, NC: New Growth, Schaller, Lyle E. Assimilating New Members. Nashville: Abingdon, Searcy, Nelson. Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2007.

6 Stutzman, Ervin R. Welcome! A Biblical and Practical Guide to Welcoming New Members. Scottdale, PA: Herald, Read At Least One of the Following: Discipleship/Teaching Arn, Win. The Master s Plan for Making Disciples: Every Christian an Effective Witness through an Enabling Church. Grand Rapids: Baker, Coleman, Robert et al, eds. Disciple Making: Training Leaders to Make Disciples. Wheaton: Billy Graham Center, Gladen, Steve. Small Groups with Purpose: How to Create Healthy Communities. Baker, Hanks, Billie, and William A. Shell, eds. Discipleship: Great Insights from the Most Experienced Disciple Makers. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Hull, Bill. The Disciple-Making Church: Leading a Body of Believers on the Journey of Faith, updated edition. Grand Rapids: Baker, Moore, Waylon B. Multiplying Disciples: The New Testament Method for Church Growth. Tampa, FL: Missions Unlimited, Ogden, Greg. Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, Ogden, Greg, and Greg Ogden. Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the People of God. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, Read At Least One of the Following: Miscellaneous Dudley, Carl S. Developing Your Small Church s Potential. Valley Forge, PA: Judson, George, Carl F. How to Break Growth Barriers: Capturing Overlooked Opportunities for Church Growth. Grand Rapids: Baker, *Hemphill, Ken. The Bonsai Theory of Church Growth (Revised and Expanded). Tigerville, SC: Auxano Press, *Hemphill, Ken. Making Change: A Transformational Guide to Christian Money Management. Nashville, Broadman and Holman, 2006.

7 Jones, Mark S. Reclaiming Inactive Church Members. Nashville: Broadman, Liederbach, Mark and Alvin Reid. The Convergent Church: Missional Worshipers in an Emerging Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, *Lowry, Robert, comp. Designing Educational Buildings. Nashville: Convention, *Robinson, Darrell. Total Church Life: How to Be a First Century Church in a 21 st Century World. Nashville: Broadman, Stetzer, Ed and Warren Bird. Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers. San Francisco, CA, Jossey-Bass, Toler, Stan. Developing a Giving Church. Kansas City: Beacon Hill, *Books with an asterisk cannot be used for the Book Critique 5. Course Requirements: Pre-Seminar Assignments: 1. Write a five page essay on Thom Rainer s The Book of Church Growth: History, Theology and Principles. You must demonstrate that you understand the history, the theology, and the principles of the modern church growth movement. Site specific references from your reading with appropriate footnotes. 2. Select one of the books from the additional reading list and write a five page critique following Guidelines for a Book Critique under Content on Blackboard. Contact Dr. McDonald (larry.mcdonald@ngu.edu) with your top three choices. Only one student may review a book. You will be notified as to which book you may review from your list of three. Each student will present a 10-minute report on their book. 3. Prepare a twenty page paper on one of the topics listed below with a minimum of 20 sources which should include academic commentaries. Follow the NGU Graduate Style Guide for writing. Each student should be prepared to make a 20 minute presentation including a one page handout outlining the main ideas of the presentation. Contact Dr. McDonald (larry.mcdonald@ngu.edu) to give him your top three choices. He will notify you which topic has been assigned to you. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the church growth movement? Describe these both practically and theologically. What are the factors that can cause a church to stagnate and decline? This should include physical, programmatic, and spiritual factors.

8 What factors effect church revitalization? What are the stages and steps to leading a church to embark on a revitalization process? This paper relates to preparing a church to begin and not the process itself. What is church revitalization? What steps must be taken to lead a church through the revitalization process? What is the role of preaching in church growth or revitalization? Identify the biblical basis for your position. What is role of prayer and worship in church growth or revitalization? Identify the biblical basis for your position. How does one build an evangelism strategy for the local church? What is necessary for an effective evangelism strategy? How does one motivate, mobilize, and train laity to share their faith? What are the issues that cause people to drop out of church? Why do many churches have such a wide back door? What are the keys to keeping people connected and engaged? How can a church shut the back door? What is the role of Sunday school/small groups in church growth? Can the traditional Sunday school still be effective in contemporary culture? How does one organize and create new classes? How does one improve the teaching ministry in the local church? How does one enlist and train teachers for small groups? What are the dynamics involved in leading a good small group? When one speaks of discipleship, what does it mean? The great commission commands one to make disciples. How does one know when he has succeeded? What does a disciple look like and do? Strategy for an effective discipling strategy for the local church. What is involved in the discipleship process? How does one develop a missional mindset in the church? How does one turn his church from an inward to an outward focus? Once established, how does one maintain a missional focus? How does one implement strategies for an Acts 1:8 missional strategy? How does one involve his church in implementing missions in all four quadrants of Acts 1:8? What is the role of leadership in church growth? What is the role of the pastor and staff in motivating and equipping a church to experience growth?

9 Many churches stagnate and decline because of a lack of lay leadership. How does one enlist and develop growth minded leaders? The homogeneous principle has long been seen as a key to evangelism and church growth. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the homogeneous principle? How does one incorporate the strengths and avoid the weaknesses? The multi-site church has become one method of avoiding the issues raised by land and building constraints. What are its strengths and weaknesses? How would one lead a church to adopt a multi-site approach? There are a group of churches that are often referred to a contemporary churches. Which contemporary models appear to provide the greatest hope for the future? Why? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the contemporary models of church growth? What options are there for organizing small groups? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches to organization? Be prepared to participate in-class discussion and be ready to make your presentation following the schedule provided in Course Content on blackboard. Assignment Due Date: All assignments (except for the final exam) are due Friday, February 26 th by 11:59 p.m. Assignments submitted after this due date will receive a deduction in points. Exceptions to this are only granted due to extreme circumstances and must be approved by the professor. 4. Grading Essay on History, Theology, and Principles of Church Growth 200 Book Critique 200 Research Paper and Presentation 400 Final Exam 200 Total Points 1000

10 Grade Scale Grading Scale for this Course: 91 to 100 A 81 to 90 B 71 to 80 C 70 or Below F 6. Classroom Etiquette Cell phones, smart phones, and other devices should be turned off during class. Students are not to take calls during class or leave class to take a call. Calls should be taken and returned during breaks. When wireless internet access is available, students should not use their computers to surf the internet or check during class. Internet searches should only be conducted as part of the class discussion or process. Business casual is the appropriate dress for class.