the vicar's blog                                    Bible    Church    Christian life    Theory    World     Healing     Answers      Books

Mega-city Churches 10: Multiplying

July 8, 2007

The problem that faces the larger meeting also faces the small meeting. Fellowship relations in the group tend to close the group to new people. And in fact although new people can be drawn in, there is a numerical limit. More than about 12 people in a small group means that some will become non-participants, and will gradually drop out. 

The solution to this brings us back to one of the main issues for disciples in the church. The multiplying of disciples implies the multiplying of churches. And just as the making of disciples is an intentional activity, directed by the Spirit of Jesus. So is the multiplying of churches.

Some churches have multiplied by dividing. Disputes, power struggles, bad teaching have regularly led to church splits. This is not a good way to multiply churches. However some evidence suggests that new disciples find it easier to enter new churches than ones that are long established.

So one of the challenges for small and large church meetings is whether in the process of making disciples we can commission a starter core of a new meeting that can more easily draw in new disciples. In my experience this is an effective strategy. But it has to overcome the unwillingness of people to leave behind some relationships in order to make new ones.

This is one of the difficulties of the mega-city. It is fluid. People come and go. Relationships are temporary. So we want to hang on to whatever relationships we have.

But the world and life is temporary. By contrast the fellowship of God’s people is eternal. We are part of a heavenly church that includes all those who belong to Jesus. Wherever we go we find we are part of the same fellowship. A fellowship that is being continually renewed and increased.

So although close friendships are very helpful in a city that is always changing (especially if you are temporary expat), the desire to multiply disciples and churches does not mean the death of friendships, but rather offers the promise of increasing them. Furthermore the Christian fellowship ought to be allowing each of us to care for  the other, and to be cared for, rather than dividing the group into the carers and the cared-for.

But the call of disciples is not to live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. And his primary call is still to make disciples from among all the nations. And to build them up into unity in his body.

Ah, but as we have been discussing the church, have we been assuming an adults only group?

Dale

Comments

Post a comment

Comments are submitted on the understanding that they may be edited. Comments that are off topic, offensive or contain errors of fact will be rejected. All posts are moderated. The *necessary fields are for verification - not for publication. Include your screen name in your Comment.