International Graduate School of Leadership

Steve Hobson

Church Health
*Session 5 & 6

THE CHURCH AS A SYSTEM:

An Organism
Overview:
A local church can be understood as a living/organic system several interconnected processes working
together to fulfill Gods purpose of manifesting His life and glory through the church. Each church is a living
organism, a system of processes that sustains its corporate life and changes individual lives!

Objectives:

By the end of this session you should be able to.....

1. Explain the pairing of the leadership roles of the church.

2. Explain the three levels of discipleship ministry.

Introduction:
The church of Jesus Christ is made up of God's called out people, born by the Holy Spirit into His new
family. It is designed by God to represent His manifold wisdom to the heavenly realms (Eph 3:10) and His
glory on earth for all generations (Eph 3:20,21)! God's people, through the church and its agencies, will
reach the world with the gospel of saving grace (Mt 24:14; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). This is the magnificent
calling for all those who trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
But this calling must be worked out amidst the disciple making process of people learning the ways of God,
leaving behind the old self and putting on the new self in Christ (Eph 4:22-24). The growing pains are real
and often difficult, as seen in the struggles of the churches represented in the New Testament. Thus the
need for godly, committed, disciple-making spiritual leadership is crucial.
The challenge for leaders of the church of Jesus Christ is clear. It is to keep their vision tuned to the high
calling of God for the church and, at the same time, to patiently disciple people, bringing the grace and
truth of Christ to His children. Who is equal to such a task? the apostle Paul rightly asks (II Cor 2:16).
We too should ask the same thing. Gratefully Paul answers his own question in II Cor 3:4-6:
"Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves...
but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent a ministers of a new covenant."
The major images used to picture the church in the New Testament give us help in understanding our role
as disciple making church leaders. Let's review them again quickly to get the overview and gather insights
about our responsibilities the Lord has made us competent to fulfill.
A. Household of God

B. Holy Nation of God

A people gathered together by Gods love

. . . nurturing each other into maturity.

C. Body of Christ

A people galvanized under Gods command

. . . moving together into enemy territory.

D. Bride Christ

A people united in a vital community

. . . ministering grace to each other.

A people betrothed in loving faithfulness

. . . seeking Christ in all things

E. Temple of the Holy Spirit

F. Vineyard of the Holy Spirit

A people in which God dwells

. . . obeying the truth & worshipping God.

A people dependent on the Holy Spirit

. . . learning to bear spiritual fruit.

CHURCH LEADERS ARE GIVEN A VARIETY OF INTERRELATED ROLES.

(

.................................................................
B. Ambassadors of the King
E. Pillars in the Temple
(

A. Elders in the family

D. Friends of the Bridegroom

nurturing God's people

toward maturity.

loving God's people

toward faithfulness.

leading/training God's people

for battle.

guiding/discipling God's people

into holy worship.

.................................................................
C. Equippers of the Saints
F. Assistants to the Gardener
(
preparing Gods people
for ministry.

cultivating/pruning God's people

for fruit bearing.

All for the purpose of glorifying God by

MAKING DISCIPLES
in obedience to God's purpose and Christ's command for the church.
(Mt 28:18-20; John 15:7,8,16; 2 Thess 1:11,12; Eph 3:20,21)
DISCUSSION:
Notice the pairing of leadership roles (A/D, B/E, and C/F).
1. How are each part of a pair similar in ministry emphasis? How are they different?
Similar
Different
A/D
B/E
C/F

2. Is there a sense of progression or flow as you move down the pairings?

(i.e. A/D ---> B/E ---> C/F)

3. How do these paired ministry roles relate to making disciples in the church?
(Mt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Tim 2:2)

The church is a system involving interrelated processes of life/growth (organism - relationships) as well
as processes of order/structure (organization - task). The metaphors hint at the blend of these processes:
Organism (life/growth) Body of Christ, Vineyard of the Holy Spirit
Organization (order/structure) Holy Nation of God, Temple of the Holy Spirit

LEADERSHIP ROLES SHOW THE LEVELS OF DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY.

Each level of disciple making ministry has a primary process at work. When the processes of each level are
interconnected they form a system a disciple making system! When the system is healthy, people are won
to Christ (Win), lives are being changed in Christ (Build), believers are being equipped to ministry (Train)
and then sent out to multiply (Send)! This process is the heart of a movement!
[Win]

A. First Process, discipling God's people through ______________________________. [Build]

Church leaders are called....

Elders in the Family

Friends of the Bridegroom

nurturing God's people

toward maturity.

loving God's people

toward faithfulness.

At this level of ministry the broken need to be healed, the unruly corrected, the weak
strengthened, the young nourished. Major blockages are removed and wounds healed. This
prepares them to be healthy, growing believers (disciples) prepared to do the work of service.
Each major aspect of their lives begins to be centered around Christ as they worship and walk
with Him. This is tender pastoral care ministering the milk of the word and the love of God.
HOW?

B. Second Process, discipling God's people through____________________________. [Train]

Church leaders are called....

Ambassadors of the King

Pillars in the Temple

leading/training God's people

for battle.

guiding/discipling God's people

into holy worship.

At this level of ministry healthy growing disciples are ready for the meat of the word. They
are taken through a training process so they can begin standing on their own, serving others in
the body in a variety of ways and practice the basics of evangelistic (reproductive) ministry.
Their disciplines & character grow. They stand strong in God's truth against the enemy's
attacks. They make a difference for the Kingdom of God! HOW?

C. Third Process, discipling God's people through ___________________________. [Multiply]

[Train Trainers or Send]

Church leaders are called....

Equippers of the Saints

Assistants to the Gardener

preparing people
for ministry.

pruning God's people

for fruit bearing.

At this level of ministry those disciples who have served in a variety of ministries and are
active in reproductive ministry are ready for the discovery and more focused use of their
spiritual gifts. Some are challenged to prune their lives of extraneous activity and focus their
training and growth toward becoming "multipliers" = trainers of reproducers. They will start
bearing more and more fruit. Others will serve in their areas of gifting for maximum impact.
HOW?
Interestingly, Scripture alludes to three broad stages of spiritual growth in a person that comes to Christ. John
speaks directly to his audience in these terms Children, Young Men, Fathers (1 John 2:12-14).
(Note: children also used to refer to all believers in 1 John 2:1,28; 3:7,18; 4:4; 5:21)
See also: Heb 5:11-6:3 Infant, Mature, Teachers and I Cor 14:20; Eph 4:13-14 (2 stages each)
Which of the three processes above are needed for each stage of development?
Should people from all stages be mixed in one process together? Why or why not?

1 John 2:12-14
C. Fathers need insightful equipping to become elder quality leaders, ready to
train/teach others and have oversight authority for believers.
MULTIPLY/SEND
B. Young men need practical strengthening to be equipped/exposed to ministry; strong,
overcoming sin/self/Satan; aware of spiritual gifts; moving into placement for service.

TRAIN

A. Children new believers need caring restoration to be established, confident in new

relationship with God, beginning basic witness, early service to God.

BUILD

THE CHURCH AS A SYSTEM USES DIFFERENT GROUP & PROCESSES.

A system is a set of interrelated processes designed to accomplish a unified purpose.
Group size:
SMALL, focused, open/closed group - offers ___________________ , good for Train/Send (insightful equipping).
(One-on-one training offers the same dynamics)

MEDIUM, affinity based, open group - offers _______________________ , good for Build (caring restoration).
(Training classes are often a combination of medium & small groups)
Train (practical strengthening)

LARGE, welcoming, open group - offers _____________________ , good for Win/Build (caring restoration).
SO link the Groups/Functions Into a progressive, multi-level system . . . organism style where life flourishes!
An organic environment, like a vineyard (greenhouse) or household. (Not a school where time runs everything!)
We are proposing a model of a unified growth environment a segmented, sequential system(Hull).
In this system, we make clear how each group/class is addressing a different commitment and maturity level.
We need to clarify the entry expectations for each group/class (who is the group designed to disciple and what
commitment and maturity level are needed to start in the group). Further we need to clarify the exit expectations
for each group (when is a person finished with that group, ready to move on).

High

5.

Commitment Level

4.

Small Group
or 1-1

3.

B
Classes, Affinity Grp
2.

A
Large Group - Worship
1.

I
more

WIN
4

Number of people

more

A COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LARGE CHURCHES (Not all parts are for every church!!)
(Note: the infrastructure is NOT the same as the organizational chart/structure! Dont confuse them!)

5.
Leadership Community

Pastor casts vision

Leaders are equipped
Leaders coordinate in subgrps

4.

Not direct part of

equipping system

Covenant
Group

Task,
Decisn or
AdmnGrp

High accountability
Ministry skill development
Character develpmnt environment

3.
Trainings:
Classes/Seminars
Retreats/Events

- More commitment
- Planned content study, cycled through calendar
- Equipping, practical need meeting study

Open
Cell
Special
Needs

Closed
Cell

- More commitment, smaller

- Intimacy & Accountability grow
- Moves to closed group

2.

Like Subcongreg, but more commitment to mutual ministry

Deeper need based affinity, yet open support group

A
Affinity Group or
"Sub congregation"

Bridging
Events

- Fellowship & Affinity around basics,

- Medium sized, low commitment, open

Transition (Evangelism, Entry to sub-congregation or special needs grp, or cell)

Short term events, Felt need meeting but casts vision for ongoing group life

1.

Celebration

Inspiration, warmth, joy

Unity & Godward focus
Open to all, seeker sensitive

Evangelistic Open!
Cell Grp
Warm welcome for seekers.

Outreaches events, community service, network of personal

relationships & witness, compassion & need-meeting ministries