A non-transformation/non-multiplying church

Good afternoon everyone. I trust that you have all had a good week and that the Lord is bringing blessing into your life. Today I want to share with you what it is like to be a non-transformational church. Keep in mind and compare to last weeks blog what the transformational church is doing right and where the other goes off track.

1. The church is dis unified or shares a casual commonality. I'm not even sure that "dis unified" is a word but anyway, the author is trying to point out that in a church more of the obvious things to outsiders is how unified the church is and how well they are able to assimilate into the lives of their congregation.

2. The people of the church have a fondness or appreciation for each other and others. In other words they/we could do a better job of demonstrating of love for one another in the family of God.

3. When it comes to sharing their faith people find it hard to do. It's difficult to love, share or give to others.

4. A transformation church practices the one anothers of scripture. A non-transformational church practices some of the one anothers. IE., love one another, forgive one another, be kind to one another. I think you get the idea. To truly become a transformational church we need to put those one another sayings of scripture to work as quickly as is possible.

5. They/we are characterized as being a civil and/or friendly and polite community.
This alone is not anything bad, however when we can't move beyond this is when we get into trouble. The people who visit our church are looking for transparency and authenticity. Are we that?

6. The inside ministry is what looks to be the most important and is promoted as the most important. In others words, what others see as important to us is that we take care of our own first and everyone else second.

7. When we gather for prayer or pray for others we do so by "targeting" them. IE., we tell them that we will be praying for them rather than praying with them that very moment. If someone has come to you with a need that they needed prayer, more than likely they won't want to "wait" for someone to pray for them but to pray "with" them.

8. Generally we have been taught that in order to have a time of prayer it must take place in an appropriate place at an appropriate time. Prayer is planned. Often times needs cannot wait to be prayed for, they must be prayed for then.

9. I'm guilty of this, spending a lot of time with the prayer requests, gathering them, talking about them, explaining them. And then in reality little time is spent praying about those needs.

10. The leader's of the church are primarily focused on the church. I'm sure you're asking yourself what's wrong with that? Isn't that what the leader's are supposed to be doing? Well the answer is somewhat ambiguous. Yes they should be focused on the church. However, they should be more engaged in the church and bringing others into it.

11. The leaders of the church seem to be doing their own thing, individually, and working independent of the overall vision of the church.

12. For many years the church had one function, to serve as the place where people gathered together for worship. For many congregations today, their "church" building is used primarily for church and outside groups aren't necessarily allowed to use the facility for anything else.

13. In a non-transformational church Bible Study is stressed. Nothing really wrong with Bible study per say, but acquiring knowledge and information isn't the point with the Bible. The point is to put into practice what the Bible teaches.

14. Our passion is the highest for our vision or program.

15. Few people can answer the question, "Who are we reaching?"

16. In a non-transformational church "Faith" activity is rare.

17. When it comes to ministry only a few people are included in significant ministry.

18. Generally speaking, academic based training teaches the "how to think and do".

19. Obedience is a means to an end.

20. Preaching and teaching is correct but tends to be cliche, manipulative or uninspired.

Okay, there you have it. I would suggest you print off both pages and then do a comparison of what you believe that our Church is doing. Are we a transformational or non-transformational church? You may ask yourself if it makes any difference? I believe it does. You might also say that all this stuff on here is the job of the pastor. That's what we pay him to do. Oh but it isn't just the pastor's job, the church is for all of us. And the call He has placed on our life is one that can help us place our trust and faith in Him and trust His guidance. James 1:22 tells us not to be listeners only but doers as well. What do you say? I say let's do something!