LUMC – We’re Working On It
Learning to grow vital congregations through
effective small groups, vital personal faith in
lay leaders, a mixture of traditional and
contemporary worship styles, and the
presence of the Holy Spirit.
By: Alethea Billigslea, Arlin Hodges, Alan
Coleman, Daniel Morgan, Bev Hombroek,
Steve Ketcham and Tera Ertz.
Special assistance from Hattie Jackson
4/25/2014
Introduction
We have been studying these last month the new direction of the United Methodist Church to
redirect the resources of the church toward creating more vital congregations. The literature on the
subject is vast, and makes for interesting reading. The statistics in the Towers Watson report and the
Vital Congregations database are enticing. However, as we seek to grow God’s kingdom, we must be
mindful of what powers this vitality.
Before we look at some of the Key Drivers of Vitality, we’ll examine what enlivens our efforts to grow
vital congregations. We’ll look at the conflict that rises in our minds between intentionality and
accountability, and the answer in Scripture for balancing the two.
In previous years, the UMC has focused its efforts on intentionality. As I understand it, this approach
to vitality was best summed up by Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians in chapter 2:8-9 “8 For by grace
you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result
of works, so that no one may boast.” The church focused on catchphrases like “walking by faith,”
“Open hearts, open minds, open doors,” and teaching the word intentionality. This focus on
intentionality, or faith, left us with membership numbers continuing to decline and struggling
churches.
Introduction continued
The Call to Action Steering Team and the Towers Watson reports helped us develop a
new focus on accountability. The current literature teaches us to measure numbers
and build accountability for clergy and leadership to help grow those numbers. This
approach is best summed up by James’ admonition in chapter 2:14-17 “What good is it,
my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save
him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you
says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things
needed for the body, what good[b] is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have
works, is dead.”
The tension between these two factors: faith and works, is present throughout the
New Testament. It is inherent in our nature to desire either accountability or
intentionality, Faith Or Works. In examining the results of polls in the GBOD
workshops for Developing Your Ministry Plan, this tension is once again swinging the
church away from teaching faith toward a focus only on works.
Introduction Continued
Scripture teaches that there is another way. Wesley summed up the Scriptural
answer to human forces that are in seeming conflict with the idea expressed today as
not “either or” but “both and.” We must have both faith and works if we are to
succeed in growing vital congregations. Christ promised us that if we seek the Holy
Spirit, He will show us how to balance the two.
Today we will explore the need for a variety of small groups, we will investigate the
need for deep personal faith in our lay leaders, and we will discover the need for
diversity in our styles of worship. As we examine these areas, the other key drivers
and vital congregation statistics, let us seek the balance of God in our work.
Vital churches have more small groups for all ages
Why have small groups?
The very nature of Methodism calls us to have small groups within our churches. The Book of
Discipline of the United Methodist Church – 2012 states:
P 255-256 “The ministries of the local church are offered so that people encounter God’s
redeeming love for the world and respond by participating in God’s action in the world. To
achieve this people need to be involved in a variety of small-group settings.”
The Wesleyan movement began as a small group, grew through small groups, and exploded across
the globe one small group at a time. The founder of the Methodist Church/Wesleyan movement, John
Wesley believed that living a holy life required that believers share their lives in intimate fellowship
on a regular basis and that these small groups should provide support, encouragement, and spiritual
maturation as Methodists strived to live holy lives. Mr. Wesley also advocated another type of small
group, Bands. Bands were a voluntary group of people that were in groupings by gender, age, and
marital status. These groups professed a clear Christian faith and a desire to grow in love, holiness
and purity of intention. He felt that there is “no holiness without social holiness.”
A congregation is a collection of groups…these and many more possibilities!
Church committees
UMM
UMW
Chancel choir
Praise band
Youth Choir
Youth Band
Children’s Choir
Drama/puppet ministry
Ladies’ Prayer Group
Sunday School
Run/walk groups
Young Adult groups
Teachers
Bible Study groups
Pioneer Club
Senior Groups (Bethesda’s Best)
Joyseekers (visit homebound)
Workout groups
Softball teams
Basketball teams
Craft groups
VBS
Accountability Groups
Of these small groups some may be formed by the church council, some are historical and relate to the
ministries of the church, and some are started by members. Each vital church should have a variety of small
groups that support the formation of Christian disciples and keep the core of the group focused on God. In doing
this they may concentrate on:
•teaching and learning,
•fellowship
•support
•community ministries
•accountability
The nature of Methodism calls us to have small
groups within our churches.
“The ministries of the local church are offered so that
people encounter God’s redeeming love for the world
and respond by participating in God’s action in the world.
To achieve this people need to be involved in a
variety of small-group settings.”
Book of Discipline 2012 ¶ 255-256
Small Groups Must:
 Support the formation of Christian disciples.
 Small groups must have structure and organization.
This can be done around many commonalities.
o Age groups (20-somethings, 30-somethings)
o Family background (single, married, divorced),
o With/without children
o Location of home
o Hobbies and interests
o Spiritual Gifts
 Each group must have solid leadership.
o Recognize, develop and train potential leaders for
success.
 Teaching
 Learning
 Fellowship
 Support
 Community ministries
 Accountability
 Spiritual growth
 Empowering lay ministry
Church committees
UMW
Men’s Prayer Group
UMM
Chancel choir
Ladies’ Prayer Group
Accountability Groups
Young Adult groups
Senior Groups
Pioneer Club
Children’s choir
Youth band
Praise band
Youth choir
Bible Study groups
Sunday School
Run/walk groups
Teachers
Workout groups
Drama/puppet ministry
Joyseekers (visit homebound)
Softball teams
Craft groups
Basketball teams
VBS
Active, Christ-focused
small groups:
 Help the individual grow in
holiness of heart and life
 Increase the vitality of the
church body
 Nurture and equip church
leadership and laity for
ministry
 10% of visitors will become
new members of a church.
 Engaging people in small
groups provides relationships
with God and people.
 50% of visitors who connect
with a small group will
become new members.
Vital churches have spiritually engaged lay leaders who understand that God desires a
personal relationship with each of us. Lay leaders that understand this demonstrate
personal practices of deliberate faith disciplines. We participate in disciplines that help
us grow in faith outside of our normal weekly worship service. We understand that
growing spiritually does not just come from hearing the message in the weekly worship
service, but there must be other opportunities for spiritual growth. These disciplines
include regular prayer, Bible studies, Sunday school classes, attending worship
regularly, proportional giving, and sharing our faith with others among others. These
disciplines allow us to grow our relationships with God and each other.
 Family
 Work
 School
 Community
 Church
 Ministry
• Faith
 First impressions
 Volunteer in the community
 Lead by example
Eighty seven percent (87%) of people between the ages of 16 and 29 who do not attend
church say they view the church as hypocritical. They have formed this opinion from
watching Christians interact in the world.
 Attitudes
 Actions
Vital congregation lay leaders display continuous personal growth,
help develop disciples, attend and/or lead bible studies, are members of church
council, and are workers of the church.
The fruits of the Spirit are evident in laity who demonstrates a vital and faithful
relationship with Jesus Christ. The fruits are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:21-23).
 Worship attendance
 Bible Study
 Mission Experience
 Discussing faith & testimony
with other believers
 Time in prayer
 Salvation – develop a relationship with Christ and accept him as your





personal savior.
Scripture – Transformation through reading and studying the Bible.
Sharing – with the Lord, a Christian friend, and unbelievers.
Suffering – one of the tools God uses to mature us (James 1:2-4).
Service – an essential part of spiritual growth is engaging in the good
works God has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Serious & focused prayer – to hear the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Wesleyan tradition states that we must organize and
invite laity to be engaged in the Wesleyan Means of Grace
Both
Works of Piety and Works of Mercy
 Prayer
 Fasting
 Reading
 Meditating and studying Scripture
 Regularly attending worship
 Healthy living
 Regularly receiving sacraments
 Christian conferencing (accountability)
 Bible study
 Doing good works
 Visiting the sick
 Visiting the imprisoned
 Sharing faith
 Feeding the hungry
 Giving generously to those in need
 Seeking justice
 Ending oppression & discrimination
 Serving with the poor
There is a wide variety of worship styles offered in today’s churches. Churches that
provide a mix of both traditional and more contemporary styles of service appeal to a
larger range of worshippers and show a higher level of vitality.
Wesley considered worship one of the Means of Grace
essential to Christian development and spiritual growth.
How we worship isn’t as important as why we worship.
 Praise God
 Thank God
 Confess our sins
 Testify to the Gospel of Christ
 Learn application of Biblical truth
to our present life
 Offer ourselves to God
 Prayers of intercession
 Unify us with one another and God
 Growth in overall attendance
 Engagement of the
congregation
 Spiritual growth of the
congregation
 Attract new members
 Foster movement of the Spirit
 Praise God
 Thank God
 Confess our sins
 Testify to the Gospel of Christ
 Unify us with one another and God
 Order of Worship provides a guide
 Call to worship
 Hymn
 Invocation
 Old Testament reading
 Lord’s Prayer & Apostle's Creed
 New Testament reading
 Sermon
 Hymn
 Testify to the Gospel of Christ
needs and issues in the life of the
congregation
to our present life
 Series sermons allow for ongoing
Offer ourselves to God
engagement over several weeks
Unify us with one another and God
 Typically incorporate a call to
action
 Learn application of Biblical truth


 Topical sermons address current
 Praise God
people into praise, thanksgiving
and repentance with relatable
Confess our sins
lyrics and easy to remember
Offer ourselves to God
music
Unify us with one another and God
 Multi-media engages the visual
and audio learning processes
allowing better retention and
engagement
 Thank God


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 Modern worship music draws
 Know the congregation’s needs
 Focus on the style that best
helps the congregation and
community worship with
purpose
 Know our limitations
 Find ways to make changes easy
for clergy and worship leaders