Jump Start # 4016

Acts 2:47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

 

Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past

 

Rule of Thumb

 

Recently, I received a publication called, Ministry, which is published by the college of Biblical Studies at Oklahoma Christian University. This publication is devoted to church growth and finding ways to get congregations more active in the Lord’s work.

 

The summer issue of this paper contained an article called, “Rules of Thumb.” It was based upon  Win Arn’s The Church Growth Ratio Book. Listed in the article were several factors to see “How does your church measure up to these church growth ratios?”

 

Included in the list were:

 

Auditorium capacity rule of thumb: 80% occupancy is the point at which U.S. churches tend to plateau in growth.

 

Classroom space rule of thumb: 80% occupancy is the point at which classes tend to plateau in growth. Regarding classroom size, young children need 25 sq ft. per child. Youth needs 12 sq ft each and adults need 10 sq ft each.

 

Parking rule of thumb: 90% occupancy is the general maximum for U.S. churches.

 

Acreage rule of thumb: One acre of land for every 100 members.

 

Ministerial rule of thumb: One full time minister for every 150 members.

 

Elder ratio rule of thumb: One shepherd for every 40-50 adult members.

 

Deacon ration rule of thumb: One deacon for every 25 members.

 

Giving rule of thumb: for an urban church, $20.00 per member per week.

 

Conversion rule of thumb: For every 100 members, there should be 10 baptisms per year.

 

  Evangelism rule of thumb: For every baptism, 100 contacts must be made.

 

Now let me share a few of my own observations about: Rules of thumb.

 

1. The above list of rules are lacking Bible verses to support these claims. This is a serious matter.

 

2. These rules of thumbs smell of a denominational business model stench that is built upon the premise that Wall Street marketing is better than the old Jerusalem model. Rules of Thumb may work in business and school but not necessarily the kingdom of God.

 

3. Our only rules, whether thumbs or big toes, ought to be the word of God. We do not need rules, guidelines or creeds to set forth our direction or pattern. God’s word is able to provide all that we need (2 Tim 3:16-17).

 

4. Can you imagine the apostles in Acts 2 looking to buy 30 acres of real estate because 3,000 souls had been baptized? In Acts 4:4 when 5,000 more were baptized, the apostles would have to find another 50 acres of land. The Bible says they were devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word and not the acre/member ratio. They were in the preaching business not real estate business.

 

5. What if a church did not measure up to these rules of thumb? Would that mean the church was dead? Would a church be considered less than faithful for not having 25 sq ft. per child in a classroom? Rules like these would pronounce Noah a failure and Paul as ineffective because they did not produce great results.

 

These Rules of Thumb will not help us. Congregations that want to grow should follow the plans of the N.T. Ephesians 4;11-16 is God’s rule of thumb, and that is for every member to actively do his part. This, inspiration tells us, causes the growth of the body.

 

The early church turned the world upside down and that was without any real estate.

 

Roger

October, 1994

 

 

 

Jump Start # 4013

 

Acts 2:33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promises of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.”

 

American’s love winners. The Dodgers in baseball, IU in college football, gold medals in the Olympics, the Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500, we love our winners. Many of us have ribbons and trophies from victories in the past. We’ve kept those honors for decades. They were special times. The first to break the ribbon. Standing on the podium. Cameras flashing and crowds applauding, that’s the taste of victory.

 

Winning is hard. It takes long dedication, practice and commitment. And, as one wins, there are always many others who didn’t. They came in second, or third, on down to last place. The victor wins. Others didn’t.

 

Our verse today reminds us of the victory of the Christ. There was a time He seemed defeated. Dying on the cross. Closed up in a tomb. Days of silence. But, on that special first day of the week, the Lord came out of that tomb and later ascended, as our verse states, to the right hand of God. He was triumphant.

 

There are three powerful things that Jesus defeated.

 

First, He defeated temptation. He was tempted, not just in the wilderness, but constantly throughout His ministry. He was accused, questioned, denied, and scoffed at. He was challenged to do things that He didn’t want to do. His own apostles often got in the way by saying things that they did not understand.

 

And, the powerful way Jesus defeated temptation is the same way you and I can do it. He didn’t use a miracle. He didn’t call down angels. Consistently using the word of God, He countered every temptation that came His way. He was the sinless sacrifice. He was the chief cornerstone, chosen and proven to be true.

 

Second, He defeated death. Coming out of the grave, He arose never to die again. Everyone that had been resurrected, had to die again. Not Jesus. Death is our greatest fear and foe. There is no escaping it. When our divine appointment comes, we can’t reschedule it for another time. We can’t cancel that appointment. There is no getting around that divine appointment. And, when we leave this place, we are not coming back. The door of death swings only one way.

 

The resurrection of Jesus proved that death doesn’t have the final word. We will live on and on and on in eternity. There is no “The End,” to our story. Death is a moment. Death isn’t forever. Death is a passage way, a door to the next room in God’s house.  No legislation can stop death. No armies can stop death. One can’t buy their way around death. Death seems to conquer us, but it won’t. The resurrection of Jesus defeated death. Jesus is the victory.

 

Third, Jesus defeated Satan. Behind all temptations is Satan. Behind death is Satan. The crushing blow to the serpent’s head, was the resurrection of Jesus. That victory destroyed Satan. His doom is set. His future is certain. There are no prayers for the devil. There are not sweet words for the devil. Eternal punishment is what awaits him. He has lost the war and is defeated. There is no hope for the devil. Game over. Lights out.  Elvis has left the building. Ding, dong, the witch is dead. No matter how you express it, Satan has been crushed by the Christ. Defeated.

 

Now, with that being said, which side do I want to be on? We know the outcome. Satan loses. It’s not up for grabs. It’s not a contest that could go either way. It’s not a wait and see situation. Satan loses and Christ wins.

 

Our Lord is triumphant. The Corinthians were told, “thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

The triumphant Christ. The winning Jesus. The victor is the Lord. The battle belongs to the Lord!

 

Roger