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A Training Manual for Maximizing Ministry Capacity through Spiritual Renewal with Strategic Initiative

Dr. Kenneth E. Priddy
with J. Patrick Bragg, Jr.

Digital Manual

Visit Riverside’s website to see a slide show of the service.

Welcome to this four lesson series on evangelism that draws on our evangelistic heritage in the ARP Church. Do you realize that freely offering the gospel to sinners is one of the leading characteristics of our founders? As Stephen Myers writes, “In its earliest days, the group that would become the ARP Church was known nation-wide as the evangelistic wing of the Church!”

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“Commending What We Cherish was a helpful four-week elective class that we at Greenville ARP Church used during our Summer Sunday School.  With each of the four lessons, the historical background and Scripture study provided a good foundation for the thought-provoking questions that followed.  The background helped us see “what was”; the Scriptures helped see “what should be”; and the questions helped us see “what is”.  In addition to a small-group setting like Sunday School, this course would be a very beneficial study for a Session to undertake, enabling the elders and pastors to evaluate how well their churches cherish the gospel of Christ.”  Rev. David Griffin

As Jesus called his disciples, he trained them and mobilized them as a group to become fishers of men. How can we mobilize our congregations to be actively involved in fishing expeditions?   I have loosely adapted the four phases below from an approach presented by Dr. Bruce Finn to the Carolinas New Church Community of the ARP Church. Bruce is church planting coordinator for the Metro Philadelphia Church Planting Partnership

1. Theological Preparation Phase. Reflect deeply on the gospel and on the work of the Holy Spirit in bring people to Christ.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8 (ESV)

• Make sure that people in the church understand and are grounded in the gospel.
• Teach on the work of the Holy Spirit in leading people to Christ.
• Equip people in your church to listen, to learn, and to look for the work of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives.

2. Prayer Foundation Phase. Have people individually use a focused prayer list, and then gather corporately for prayer summits.

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. John 17:20 (ESV)

• Give each person a copy of the Ten Most Wanted list and explain how and why to use it. Ask each person to pray regularly for    people on their list.
• Have people circle or highlight the name of the person on the list that they would most want to see believe and receive Christ. Ask for a commitment to pray diligently for this person.
• Have one or more prayer summits where each person brings their prayer lists. Pray together and specifically by name for the people on these lists, and pray for the work of the Holy Spirit in your community as a whole.

3. Team Orchestration Phase. Find ways for many people to be involved in a coordinated effort.

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. Mark 1:16-20 (ESV)

• Fishing in the New Testament was not an individual pursuit. Whole families gathered together in fishing partnerships, or fishing teams. There was a place for everyone on the team, whether the support crew back on shore, or the boat crew casting nets.
• Boat crews would go out on fishing expeditions repeatedly.
• In calling men with a background in these kinds of family fishing partnerships, Jesus conceived of fishing for men as a family or community partnership through which men are reached for Christ.
• Orchestrate your outreach and evangelistic efforts so that there is a way for all kinds of people to be involved, no matter what their personality or spiritual gifting. Think of different ways people can be involved, and then prepare them, organize them, and get them involved.
• Plan fishing expeditions (outreach and evangelism strategies) repeatedly throughout the year.

4. Individual Conversation Phase. Prepare everyone for the individual conversations they will have in the course of this fishing endeavor.

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV)

• Prepare a list of four or five topics that ought to be included in any gospel conversation or series of conversations.
• Give people examples of gospel conversations. Model it as leaders.

Repeat these phases several times throughout the year in coordination with planned fishing expeditions (outreach and evangelism strategies).

• Make church planting more visible and attractive
• Develop the very best candidates for church planting
• Explore and communicate best models for church planting
• Plant Kingdom advancing churches that will set the example for other churches
• Evaluate proposed church plants using Elements of a Well Planted ARP Church

This is a quote from Erskine’s Whole Works, the 2001 reprint: “Now, believe this, that Christ is given, offered, and presented in the Gospel, even to you who are rotting in the grave of sin, that [he] may, through the faith of God’s operation, be the resurrection and the life to your souls in particular.”  (II. 504-505)

This theological understanding drove the Erskines to offer the Gospel to all who would hear. This was revolutionary in Scotland where few ministers would freely offer salvation in Christ to anyone who would believe in Jesus. But the Erskines maintained a strict covenant theology, which was the impetus for a system that compelled them to do evangelism.

The Erskines understood the Scriptures to teach that the Gospel (the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, via the Covenant of Grace) confronted all people as sinners. They shared the Gospel wherever sinners were found because all sinners are “qualified” to hear the Gospel because they need to hear it. They often used Acts 2:39 to show Peter’s boldness in sharing the Gospel “to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off.”

John 6:32 was also a favorite where John declared, “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” This true bread is understood as the offer of salvation in Christ.

There was a great concern from the Erskine brothers about churches being planted that could mature people who had come to know Christ through their evangelistic work. They desired churches that were Gospel-driven and had a heart for worship and good teaching from the Word of God. Church planting was seen as an essential part of their work to promote sound doctrine among those who were coming to faith in Jesus.

How can we promote the sharing of the Gospel among our pastors and those seeking to plant new churches?  How do we as pastors teach in such a way the Scriptures so that our people will desire to share the Gospel with others?  How can we have a lasting impact like the Erskines through our church planting efforts?

1.  Prayer: Personal and Organizational.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Placing a high value on personal prayer.
2.    Mobilizing and encouraging others in prayer.
3.    Identifying and celebrating answers to prayer.
4.    Teaching and preaching on the importance of prayer.

2.  Worship
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Preaching and teaching about the importance of God-centered worship.
2.    Preaching, teaching and organizing relevant, biblical worship that transcends cultural barriers.
3.    Being himself a worshiper of God.

3.  Preaching.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Preaching with exegetical and doctrinal accuracy.
2.    Preaching that displays the centrality of Christ and the grace of God.
3.    Preaching with conviction and passion.
4.    Preaching with a cultural fit in vocabulary and presentation.
5.    Preaching sermons that are focused, structured (a recognizable beginning, middle, and end), and applicable.
6.    Preaching with an effective delivery that captures the attention, employs effective illustrations, and possesses memorable content.
7.    Preaching the gospel with clarity.

4.  Leadership.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Discerning God’s vision for his church at a particular place and time.
2.    Projecting this God discerned vision as a workable vision for the future.
3.    Having an ability to create ownership of the vision in others.
4.    Instilling motivation and enthusiastic commitment to achieve the vision.
5    Developing strategies and structures that empower people to achieve the vision.
6.    Mobilizing people according to their giftedness, abilities, and spiritual maturity.
7.    Honoring and recognizing people for their effort.

5.  Evangelism.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Personally possessing a passion for the gospel and for evangelism.
2.    Understanding the content of the gospel.
3.    Sharing the gospel regularly and clearly.
4.    Modeling/teaching others how to share the Good News.
5.    Developing, with his leaders, effective strategies to reach the community for Christ.
6.    Preaching the gospel clearly and contextually.

6.  Discipleship and Leadership Development.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Engaging in personal disciple making.
2.    Implementing strategies for moving people through increasing stages of spiritual growth.
3.    Organizing, implementing and replicating small group ministries.
4.    Incorporating newcomers into a growing network of relationships.
5.    Proactively identifying, developing, and equipping potential leaders.

7.  Administration.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Identifying and mobilizing Godly laypersons that possess organizational and administrative skills.
2.    Insuring that ethical and honest practices are in place and followed.
3.    Insuring that administration serves the vision.
4.    Insuring good communication with supporting churches, presbytery and denominational agencies, and individual supporters.

8.  Finance.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Conducting his personal finances with integrity.
2.    Teaching and promoting biblical stewardship.
3.    Identifying and mobilizing Godly laypersons with skills in finance.
4.    Insuring that fiscally responsible practices are followed.
5.    Insuring that the budget is consistent with the vision.

9.  Service to the Community.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Discerning the unique culture of the community.
2.    Demonstrating a redemptive vision for the community.
3.    Articulating a vision for how the church can minister to the needs of the hurting both within and outside of the church.
4.    Mobilizing resources and people to appropriately meet community needs.

10.  Call to Church Planting.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Affirming a strong belief and faith in the sovereign purposes of God.
2.    Articulating both an inner sense of call and a realistic motivation for church planting.
3.    Receiving several affirmations of his call to church planting from others.
4.    Projecting a realistic vision for reaching a community with the gospel through a growing, spiritually vibrant church.
5.    Having a commitment to Kingdom advancement through church multiplication.
6.    Articulating a desire to see God glorified through the ARP vision for church multiplication.
7.    Demonstrating strong intrinsic motivation.
8.    Having resiliency and perseverance in trials.

11.  Healthy and Supportive Family Life
Both partners in the church planting couple should have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Exhibiting a steadfast commitment to a growing marriage and healthy family life.
2.    Uniting as a couple and family in wholehearted agreement regarding God’s call to church planting.
3.    Being informed about the challenges and rewards, and yet willing to make the sacrifices that come with the call to church planting.
4.    Accepting the responsibility of serving as examples to the church and the community.
5.    Demonstrating a reliance on Christ building His family and His church.
6.    Exhibiting agreement regarding each partner’s role and involvement in the family and in ministry.

12.  Character and Growth.
The church planter should be known for/have a demonstrable record of:
1.    Possessing a personal life that reflects grace, integrity, ethics, transparency, and servant leadership.
2.    Being a listener and learner.
3.    Engaging regularly in personal, spiritual, and professional development.
4.    Taking difficult stands where others have been known to compromise.
5.    Being biblically principled and guided.
6.    Being compassionate, tender, and understanding, yet riveted to following the Lord’s way exclusively.
7.    Maintaining a good reputation in the community.
8.    Exhibiting good stewardship of the gifts that God provides.
9.    Fleeing temptation.

The Builder magazine article explained:

Housing economists have long held that the housing rebound, when it comes, will be uneven. The markets that benefit first will be the ones with the strongest core dynamics; places where house prices never got out of hand, cities where a diverse and progressive employment base drives job creation, towns that continue to draw population despite the economic recession.

The ARP is well placed geographically, as the article specifically highlights the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic region, along with Texas, as dominating the 20 healthiest markets list:

Lone Star markets were eclipsed this time around by some relatively hot markets in the Carolinas, which accounted for seven of the top 20 spots. Many of the major cities along the Mid-Atlantic seaboard continue to benefit from a strong influx of people drawn by a comfortable way of life, affordable housing, and growing employment prospects.

1. Austin-Round Rock, TX
2. Raleigh-Cary, NC
3. Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC
4. San Antonio, TX
5. Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC
6. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO
7. Huntsville, AL
8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
9. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
10. Eugene-Springfield, OR
11. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
12. Richmond, VA
13. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
14. Colorado Springs, CO
15. Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway
16. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton
17. Wilmington, NC
18. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX
19. Greenville-Mauldin-Easley
20. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA