We are to walk in wisdom towards them that are without!

We are to walk in wisdom towards them that are without!

We are to walk in wisdom towards them that are without!

The woman Wisdom is crying out to us but we have to open up our ears to learn

from her!

I have said that all of us are more urbanized than we easily admit.

I have said that all of us are more urbanized than we easily admit.

Is it hard to say that “I am colder, busier, more impersonal and

spend less time with old friends than my grandfather did”?

Is it hard to say that “I am running around like a chicken with its head

cut off most days”?

Maybe it is just that “cities” and “urban living” are the problem!

Unfortunately, there is very little “rural living” except in very remote

areas!

Unfortunately, there is very little “rural living” except in very remote

areas!

Good roads and great communications

have seen to that!

Are cities the “curse and doom” of mankind?

Tower of Babel

Are cities the “curse and doom” of mankind?

Tower of Babel and Babylon

Are cities the “curse and doom” of mankind?

Tower of Babel and Babylon

Nineveh

Jonah 3:2-4" 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. 4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" NKJV

But Nineveh Listened and Repented!

Jerusalem was a great city by God’s plan and design.

Jerusalem was a great city by God’s plan and design.

When it was godly, it excelled.

Jerusalem was a great city by God’s plan and design.

When it was godly, it excelled. When it was sinful, it was

humbled or even destroyed!

In Jesus’ and Paul’s timesRome

Antiochand Ephesus

were three of the largest cities in the ancient world –

In Jesus’ and Paul’s timesRome

Antiochand Ephesus

were three of the largest cities in the ancient world –

and the church did really wellin those three cities!

Yet cities are more complex and harder to adapt to in their

complexity than less populated rural society!

So it is much harder to understand urban churches and the Gospels interaction with the

urban life style

Churches have to understand how to comprehend and react

to urban patterns!

How do you make choices?

How do you make choices?

How do you communicate with urban dwellers?

How do you make choices?

How do you communicate with urban dwellers?

What reactions should you expect?

Wisdom says that you have to recognize the patterns, moods,

fears, values and unusual responses of people today

Wisdom says that you have to recognize the patterns, moods,

fears, values and unusual responses of people today

if you are going to reach them and move them!

You can see some of these when you understand the

changes that have to go on as a congregation grows and has to adjust itself to each new level!

Levels Of Churches

Levels Of Churches

Patriarch, Matriarch 40-50

Levels Of Churches

Patriarch, Matriarch 40-50One Group Church 60-80

Levels Of Churches

Patriarch, Matriarch 40-50One Group Church 60-80

Preacher Centered Church 125

Levels Of Churches

Patriarch, Matriarch 40-50One Group Church 60-80

Preacher Centered Church 125Program Centered Church 200

Levels Of Churches

Patriarch, Matriarch 40-50One Group Church 60-80

Preacher Centered Church 125Program Centered Church 200

Specialist Church 350 up

Key Numbers and Barriers

Key Numbers and Barriers

40-50 Patriarch, Matriarch

Key Numbers and Barriers

40-50 Patriarch, Matriarch75-80 “One Group”

Key Numbers and Barriers

40-50 Patriarch, Matriarch75-80 “One Group”200 “One Worker”

Key Numbers and Barriers

40-50 Patriarch, Matriarch75-80 “One Group”200 “One Worker”

400 “Limited Worker Team”

Key Numbers and Barriers

40-50 Patriarch, Matriarch75-80 “One Group”200 “One Worker”

400 “Limited Worker Team”Limited Skills, Knowledge

Seating Rules

Seating Rules

Seem Weird & Arbitrary

Seating Rules

Seem Weird & ArbitraryAre Extremely Valid & Accurate

Seating Rules

Seem Weird & ArbitraryAre Extremely Valid & AccurateCannot Grow Beyond 75-80%

Seating Rules

Seem Weird & ArbitraryAre Extremely Valid & AccurateCannot Grow Beyond 75-80%

Best Growth 50%-66%

Seating Rules

Seem Weird & ArbitraryAre Extremely Valid & AccurateCannot Grow Beyond 75-80%

Best Growth 50%-66%No Growth 40% Full

Seating Rules

Seem Weird & ArbitraryAre Extremely Valid & AccurateCannot Grow Beyond 75-80%

Best Growth 50%-66%No Growth 40% Full

Dying 30% Full

Would you have a service for this congregation in the BJCC if they let you use it one night

for free?

200 people on one side on the lower level on the center line?

Describe the singing! Your feeling!

Tomorrow Night

We will talk about the barriers and ceilings that we had introduced

tonight!

Start

Facing The Future

Forgetting the things that are behind

Pressing forward to the thingsthat are ahead

Phil 3:13-15 Think This Way

…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way,

ESV

In the Things That Are Ahead

PatternsEvents

TechniquesBarriers

Help

1. Patterns

Biblical Precedent – John 4

1. Patterns

Biblical Precedent – John 4

Warm Bridge

v. 7

1. Patterns

Biblical Precedent – John 4

Warm BridgeGradual Bond

v. 9-14

1. Patterns

Biblical Precedent – John 4

Warm BridgeGradual Bond

Stimulating Curiosityv. 10, 14

1. Patterns

Biblical Precedent – John 4

Warm BridgeGradual Bond

Stimulating CuriosityEstablished Messiah-ship

v.16-18

1. Patterns

Biblical Precedent – John 4

Warm BridgeGradual Bond

Stimulating CuriosityEstablished Messiah-ship

Result Was A Personal Worker

2. Events

2. Events

Regular Services & Bible Classes

2. Events

Regular Services & Bible ClassesMonth Long Bible Class Emphasis

2. Events

Regular Services & Bible ClassesMonth Long Bible Class Emphasis

Super Well Done Singing

2. Events

Regular Services & Bible ClassesMonth Long Bible Class Emphasis

Super Well Done SingingFriends & Family Time

2. Events

Regular Services & Bible ClassesMonth Long Bible Class Emphasis

Super Well Done SingingFriends & Family Time

Bible Reading W/ Coordinated BC

2. Events

Regular Services & Bible ClassesMonth Long Bible Class Emphasis

Super Well Done SingingFriends & Family Time

Bible Reading W/ Coordinated BCTraining Events

3. Techniques

3. Techniques

Early Planning

3. Techniques

Early PlanningEarly Motivation & Awareness

3. Techniques

Early PlanningEarly Motivation & Awareness

Training Sessions

3. Techniques

Early PlanningEarly Motivation & Awareness

Training SessionsEvangelism Teams

3. Techniques

Early PlanningEarly Motivation & Awareness

Training SessionsEvangelism Teams

New Scriptural Forms & Patterns

4. Barriers

Generally Unexpected

Numbers, Facilities, Work ForceBalanced Seating Rules

Work Force Rules

200 Barrier“One Worker Barrier”

It can be stretched and it has been but it will always get you!

5. Help In Evangelism

5. Help In Evangelism

Best Help Is God’s Help

5. Help In Evangelism

Best Help Is God’s HelpHe Wants Us To Work, Cooperating With Him

5. Help In Evangelism

Best Help Is God’s HelpHe Wants Us To Work, Cooperating With Him

That Great Help Is Triggered Through Prayer

5. Help In Evangelism

Best Help Is God’s HelpHe Wants Us To Work, Cooperating With Him

That Great Help Is Triggered Through Prayer

Praying Intently and Often