I Can't Stop Thinking About This Quote!

In an earlier post, I wrote a few thoughts about Dave & Jon Ferguson's book, Exponential. If you read my review, you can tell that I really like this book! (Click here to read my review)

There is one line that I have not been able to forget, though.  It is just so good!  In the process of welcoming new people to church, they try to (Are you ready, now?  Here comes a great quote!) "Treat everyone like a Christian until they realize they are not."  This has occupied my mind for weeks!

Dave and Jon Ferguson rightly describe following Jesus (being a Christian) as a lifestyle more than a label.  In chapter 3, they talk about the word discipleship and they talk about how they prefer to use the word apprentice instead, as it helps to give Jesus-followers an active sense of what it means to follow and obey Jesus.

When they describe the process of bringing others to faith in Jesus, they talk in terms of a process, or a series of steps taken over time, rather than a one-time decision.

As evangelicals, we have often called people to a decision - to that moment in which they repent from their sins and trust in Jesus.  Psychologically, we know that it is helpful to be able to remember a specific moment when we experienced something, so that we can mentally revisit the decision associated with the experience, and in a sense, re-experience our decision.  We often liken it to a wedding ceremony.  I know I am married because I remember my wedding.  But what about the person who knows they are following Jesus with everything in them, but who cannot identify a moment in which they decided to do so?  Can  conversion be a gradual process or a series of small steps taken over time?  The Ferguson's think so.

Whether they are right or not, their guidance is still good advice.  Even if we believe and insist on that remembered/datable "born again" experience, we can still admit that people rarely listen when we tell them (especially in a personal conversation) that they are not really Christians.  What if we just treated people like they were already Christians and allowed God to show them that they are not?  They Dave and Jon recognize that so many Americans believe that since they are good people they must be okay with God, and that if they attend a Christian church, then they must be Christians.  If it is the Holy Spirit's job to convict people of sin, they will recognize their non-Christian state only as much as they listen to him!  At that point, they will be ready to really hear the good news of Jesus and salvation by grace through faith!

What does this mean practically?  It means we invite everyone to join us on the journey of discipleship/apprenticeship of Jesus.  And when we see sinful behavior, we confront it as sinful behavior.  When we see immaturity, we confront it with a call to maturity.  When we see hurt and pain, we console.  When we see discouragement, we encourage!  And when the time is right, conversion will happen as our friends allow God to convert them.

Let's try it!  Let's treat everyone like Christians until they realize they are not.

"Exponential" has pushed me into high gear!

The corners of the book are bent, the cover is scuffed, and the page edges are green and brown.  You would think that I dragged this book through the woods or something!  Well, I did.  While this is not a post about deer hunting, I have found that I just cannot sit in a tree stand for more than an hour without something to do.  So as I packed up for this season's two day bowhunting camping trip, I grabbed my fresh copy of Dave & Jon Ferguson's book, Exponential.  I believe I received the book from my friend Dale Schaeffer who planted Bridgeway Community Church in Pekin, Illinois.  I attended a workshop where he shared the leadership development principles outlined in this book.  After hearing him, I was hooked. 

While sitting in a tree stand for two days, I was mostly glued to this story of how to do church.  Incidentally, five minutes after I finished the book and put it away, and one hour before heading home, a nice deer walked down the trail.  I will spare you the details, but just know that my family has meat in the freezer!

Dave & Jon Ferguson planted Community Christian Church in Chicago and have experienced explosive growth and an amazing move of God resulting in thousands of changed lives. Exponential: how you and your friends can start a missional movement is their story.  The idea is simple:  focus on reproducing leaders and a church will grow exponentially.  Like many ideas, it sounds so simple, but in practice is difficult!

I noticed three concepts that stood out as consistent cultural practices in the life of their church.  First, their church is built on a theology and strategy of reproduction.  Rightly so, the Fergusons began with the end in mind - following the example of Moses, Jesus, Paul, and the implicit history of Christianity, they realized that a great and godly church must reproduce!  Christians must reproduce Christians; groups must reproduce groups; churches must reproduce churches, and movements must reproduce movements!  Beginning with that end in mind, Dave and Jon built their programs and structures around the idea of effective reproduction!  Genius!

Second, I heard loud and clear their plan for leadership development.  While this sounds like a very organizational term, we again see the example of Moses, Jesus and Paul as they developed future leaders.  If we need churchy language for it, we could call it "discipleship through mentoring, aimed at ministry and evangelism."  (Or we can just call it Leadership Development for Jesus)  At Community Christian, they are focused on developing godly, competent leaders, starting at the most basic level of small group life.  Potential leaders are identified and then asked to be small group apprentices.  Since this is the regular practice of the church, everyone knows that the apprentice is preparing to lead.  And they go from there, gradually promoting leaders in a system in which every leader is both mentoring and being mentored, developing both their skills and their devotion to Jesus.  This system is not only applied to fellowship/discipleship groups, but also to ministry teams.  I loved their description of a campus worship leader introducing an apprentice leader to the congregation, telling them that the apprentice is going to lead "the next song."

This idea inspires me!  It makes me want to push all of our church's LIFE group leaders to identify and begin training an apprentice.  We struggle so much in this area of identifying and developing group leaders. 

Interestingly, the books features the story of Troy McMahon, who started out as an apprentice small group leader, moved up to become a pastor on staff and then eventually moved to Kansas City to plant a church in the north suburbs.  And I know him!  He participated in the interdenominational church planting fellowship in which I participated!!!!  Small world!

The third recurring concept I discovered was that small group life is not only a leadership development system, but is also the connectional system for the church.  I know, I know, I should know this already, that growing churches help people to connect in small groups.  This just affirmed it once again that small groups are massively important.  It doesn't matter what we call them, but our people will only really connect with each other to the degree that they are active in a smaller group.  (This also helps to show the relational skills or lack thereof of potential leaders).  They believe in small groups so strongly that they state that, "small groups are the epicenter of community life in a church." (page 102)

Can you tell that I really liked this model?  Now I want to go to the annual Exponential Conference!

I am going to add two more of the Fergusons' books to my to-be-read pile.  First, I want to check out their Apprentice Field Guide in order to learn more about how to initiate a church-wide apprenticeship program.  Next, I want to read The Big Idea in order to learn how to craft worship services that really teach and connect well.

By the way - there is one more idea in this book that I just cannot forget!  Check out my next post for that idea.

Is "Radical" too Radical?

We have a love-hate relationship with radicals.  On the one hand, we admire their commitment to their cause (and are possibly secretly envious of their focused devotion).  On the other hand, sometimes we just want them to shut up and talk about something other than their cause.  We are okay with Muslims who practice their religion peacefully, but then label terrorists who attribute their to their faith as "radicals."  Politically, "radical" is the preferred adjective to malign those who differ from your views.  After all, how can you fight against a "moderate" without being viewed as the bully?  And yet, when we personally discover a cause worth giving our life to, we easily become radical.

A few years ago, Pastor David Platt released Radical: taking back your faith from the American Dream and it became an instant bestseller.  After all - we are both attracted and repelled by radical manifestos.  I finally read this book - and I have to say that I agree completely.  In the book, Platt argues that too many followers of Jesus have given their time, attention, energy and money to pursuing the so-called "American Dream" of status, success, comfort and wealth.  And he is right.  As the pastor of a wealthy, suburban mega-church, he speaks from a position of "been-there-done-that" and therefore is not a small-timer with questionable motives taking pot-shots at large churches.  He confesses and struggles with the reality that as American Christians, we spend too much our personal and church money and time creating comfortable Christianity.  Through a simple investigation of Jesus' teachings, Platt challenges Christians to be true, radical Jesus followers.

If you are a follower of Jesus who is tired of church programs, you need to read this book.  If you claim to be a Christian based on a prayer you prayed years ago, you need to read this book.  But be ready to be shaken.  You will feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor David Platt in India

One warning, though. As you read this book, you will wonder if you are really saved.  You will probably ask yourself if you are really good enough, or radical enough to be saved.  I counseled a friend who really struggle with this book.  Therefore, I would encourage you to not read this alone.  Remember that it is by grace you are saved, through faith in Jesus.  And David Platt would agree with that.  He is not advocating salvation by human obedience or good deeds!  But he does recognize that conversion and following Jesus necessarily results in good works and good fruit, and in the absence of both, one might want to seriously consider if they have truly repented of their sins.

In the end, David Platt casts a compelling vision for an experiment that will change you and will change the world.  There is no sense of manipulation or empty promises.  He is not an old-fashioned preacher who is just trying to guilt-trip his readers into a simple prayer.  He believes in the power and the promises of Jesus - that a life lived for Jesus alone is the best way to live!