Instructions: The triangle and square diagram was apparently created by Floyd McClung and posted on YouTube. This diagram demonstrates how the Kingdom DNA of the “three great commands” relates to traditional churches. Modern-day churches tend to add four additional requirements to create a successful church environment: buildings, programs, staff, and money.
It is interesting that the four “alls” of the Great Commission provide a meaningful response to these supposed requirements for being a church:
- Buildings vs. everyday places. “make disciples of ALL nations”
- Programs vs. disciple practices. “teaching them to obey ALL things”
- Staff vs. catalytic, permission-giving leaders. “ALL authority” which suggests that Jesus is handing much of that authority over to us as His disciples
- Money vs. complete dependence on God's provision. “I am with you at ALL times”
Ways to Break Free (ideas provided by training participants at Second Baptist Church, Moscow):
- Put the triangle on the top. Bad values will be crushed
- Practice love for God and people openly. Others will notice.
- Add missing values of the Kingdom
- Go outside the borders to create a new group. Ensure each of the 3 commands is carried out.
- Small groups during the week outside the church building
- People don't want to change if they like church as it is. Help people see the long term effects of staying the same.
- Define what it means to love God and to love neighbours (agape)
- Share the Father's Heart continually
- 2 Tim 2.1-2 -- be strong and pass it on
- 2 Thess 3.6 -- avoid the disobedient brother, that is, don't focus on the resistant ones.
- Before you multiply, you must shrink first!
15 min
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