FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 204 Odessa Avenue - Pittsburg, CA 94565 Rev. Henry L. Perkins, Senior Pastor/Teacher BIBLE STUDY - SPRING 2012 SUBJECT: TEXTBOOKS: CONTEXT: OBJECTIVE: GOAL: The Irresistible Church 1) The Irresistible Church, Wayne Cordeiro 2) Doing Church as a Team, Wayne Cordeiro 3) The Holistic Approach, Rev. Henry L. Perkins The Holy Spirit For students to embrace the concept of 12 traits that lead to being an irresistible church; developing characteristics that please God. For students to develop a personal action plan that leads to their contribution of influencing change that heaven applauds. 1
SCHEDULE PART I Jan. 4 Jan. 11 Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 1 Feb. 8 Feb. 15 Feb. 22 Feb. 29 Mar. 7 Mar. 14 Mar. 21 Mar. 28 Apr. 4 Class Overview Introduction Hunger for the Presence of God Remembering Who We Are Living by our Hearts Practicing Gratefulness Promoting Healthy Relationships Promoting Learning as a Priority Promoting the Spiritual Man Connecting Everything to a Soul! Choosing to Love Taking Risk(s) Humility Planning for Success Reading or Worship Week PART II DOING CHURCH AS A TEAM Apr. 11 Apr. 18 Apr. 25 May 2 May 9 May 16 May 23 May 30 Developing Servant-Leaders Building a Team Alignment: The Power of Moving Together Transitioning a Church Culture Part I Transitioning a Church Culture Part II Nurturing the Team The Church A Moving Target Post Evaluation Doing Church as a Team 2
DEFINITIONS CHURCH: 1) a building for public Christian worship; 2) public worship of God or a religious service in such a building: to attend church regularly; 3) the whole body of Christian believers; 4) any division of this body professing the same creed and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; 5) that part of the whole Christian body, or of a particular denomination, belonging to the same city, country, nation, etc.; 6) a band of baptized believers in Christ Jesus. IRRESISTIBLE: Alluring, magnetic, relentless in it s persuasion, can t be refused, irresistibly inviting. GOAL: To become a church that is irresistible to heaven which becomes a profit to the world. IT S ORIGIN: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18 KJV) IT S FUNCTIONS: And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 2:46 KJV) IT S GOAL: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) 3
REALITY: Success for a church may include marketing, facilities, and programs, but that is not what exclusively determines success. It is credited more to what I call the Hand of God factor. For more than thirty-six years (the time I ve been in pastoral ministry), I ve been an avid student of the Hand of God. Over the years, I ve seen the Hand of God bless a church so that there is a favored season that lasts for decades. I ve also witnessed other times when God s hand was on a ministry for the first several years and then lifted. I ve observed this with church after church. During this process, I ve collected principles to keep us postured for His grace and to rectify things when His hand seems to be lifting. CHARACTERISTICS: Needs Improvement Adequate Good 1 2 3 You grow spiritually You witness to a sense of mission You long to be present You want to invest in the church for the long haul Needs Improvement Adequate Good 1 2 3 You tell others about your church You relax at your church; confident, it s a model of growth, not perfect! You are challenged at your church You have the power to help create the irresistible church you long to be a part of. 4
The focus of this study is to develop an attitude of contributing vs. receiving with the goal in mind of "pleasing God." CREATING AN IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH THROUGH: Influence Information Inspiration OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR CREATION: Promoting the Principles Encouraging the People CREATING THE TRAITS FOR AN IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH REQUIRES HONEST SELF-EVALUATION: (Define) Honesty Change Cooperation When an idea enters our head, it's called information...when it touches our heart, it's called inspiration...when it bleeds out our toes, fingernails, it's called... 5
CHANGE THAT FITS IS BASED ON OUR: Assignment Gifting Faithfulness CHANGE THAT STICKS IS BASED ON OUR: Stewardship unto God Stewardship for God Stewardship by God RESULTS OF AN IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH: Needs Improvement Adequate Good 1 2 3 Irresistible churches are champions at leading people closer to God, being conduits for the Holy Spirit to change lives for the better and impact society for good. 6
RESULTS OF AN IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH: 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2) NEXT WEEK'S LESSON "Hunger for the Presence of God" Scripture to Review: Galatians 5:22-23 "Fruit of God" Matthew 18:20 "People of God" Jeremiah 23:24 "Passion of God" 7