Wow! I think we've broken all the rules when it comes to blogs with this one! Sorry to all three people that read this!
Church models-what an interesting concept! This may sound a little strange, but I think church models sort of might be like Bruce Lee's idea about Kung Fu! I was watching a doc. about Bruce Lee and he made a comment to the effect of: "You can study Kung Fu for years, but it's not until you let go of the forms and methods and just go for it, concentrating on the goal and not your Kata or whatever."
There are so many methods that are working right now!
First Woodstock is very traditional in programming, but average six-ten thousand every weekend. I know that they are going to the simple church model, but all that is is cutting out all the business! Johnny Hunt said that the big killer at Woodstock is its calender-try going to the website and find your way.
Aside from business (that's done at the highest level possible-really top notch), Woodstock has a traditional Sunday School and weekly worship schedule. Their music is who they are as well. I went to their "contemporary" service over Easter-pretty cool! They rocked it out. Sure they had a line of singers on stage (80's) but the sound was pumping and the band was rockin! The place was packed!
Newspring church, in Anderson NC, is very contemporary with corporate worship (Modern praise and worship which includes secular music at time-love it!) and weekly home groups. They are as big if not bigger than Woodstock!
Granger Community Church, in Granger Indiana, is very contemporary in worship, but includes a midweek service dedicated to deeper Bible study.
All of these guys preach the same! No holds bared Bible teaching! I will say that the contemporary guys are usually always topical on Sundays-they will exposite during their sermons, but not through entire books. However, Mars Hill Church in Washington State offers a mixture of both-I love that!
How is this like Bruce Lee? Tho every church that was mentioned have a certain program (martial art form) it's all about the goal above all! When it comes down to it, these churches are energized for one common purpose-(as Mark Beeson says)-to "bring up there down here!" To reach the world for Christ! How 'bout the Karate Kid? He used the crane technique in the US and won-tried it again in Okinawa and got jacked up! These guys do whatever it takes and aren't afraid to change, or develop new strategies. The leaders lead and the people are equipped to follow! It's all about Jesus!
Above every model should be the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Power that's obvious and infiltrates the entire church! Models are great and needful! We can't do anything without them! Operating under the leadership of the Holy Spirit is what really breeds success!
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Sometimes I watch successful churches and wonder if they could be more successful. Take the traditional church down the road. THey are growing fast. Reaching the lost. All without doing any of the things that I think are necessary for making a big impact for Jesus. What do I know right? ON the other hand, what if they did start incorporating some better strategies into what they do. Would it make them even more effective? Less? This church could definitely benefit from some sort of geographically based neighborhood group system since most people drive 25-30 minutes to attend (yet they have services on campus all week). I guess, what I am asking is whether or not these churches can improve? leve 'em alone? is there growth really SPiritual power or is it personality based? Is the "power of the SPirit" thing just an excuse for "let's do it our own way?"
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