Church Models

Introduction

Ecclesiology is the nature or the study of the church. It is important that people understand the church and her purpose. For example, one of the major figures in the church, the Apostle Paul, is without a doubt one of the first and most important church planters during the New Testament period. His approach was to, “Take cultic language out of its context of sacred place and sacred person and used it of ordinary individuals in their daily obligations in service of the gospel.”[1] This paper will discuss the traditional, attractional, organic, and hybrid models of churches.

Quick Overview

The traditional churches have a single pastor and are deacon or congregation led. They are not focused on small groups and rarely conduct evangelism, limited staff, and there is a consensus that the people need the minister to and for them.[2] In this model discipleship is not a focal point and Christian growth is mostly done from the pulpit. Other than the discipleship making practices, other downfalls of this model is that spiritual formation, worship, and prayer are done at the church. Overall, the congregation in this model depend a lot on the church and the minister. This model can be simplified.

The next model is the attractional churches. When people think of church they usually think of buildings and the idea is usually a traditional or attractional churches. Attractional churches are different from traditional models because they are more complex. The complexity comes from various programs. This model is discipleship focused with several classes geared for that purpose especially toward growing new disciples. Unlike the traditional church model they are also focused on evangelism and attracting new members. The attenders are encouraged to study and grow outside of the church. In this model prayer is also encouraged outside of the church for believers.[3]

The third model is much different than the first two models described. This model is the organic church and does not worship in "traditional" buildings. The organic model is primarily focused on small group gatherings and all of the believers are encouraged to use their gifts. Organic churches are missional and discipleship focused. A major plus for the organic model is that it is the most simple of all of the models.[4]

The final model is the hybrid church. This church model is very complex and change is not very well received. Other than being very complex they are "with" and "of" small groups which can be formed at the church and outside of the church. Spiritual formation is both personal and community is involved. While the organic church worship is focused through the people in the community, the hybrid model is much like the traditional and the attractional models by worshipping on Sunday.[5]

The Traditional Church Simplified

To discuss the traditional it is easier to discuss a few chapters of Simple Church. The typical traditional church is represented as First Church. In chapters five through eight of Simple Church it is worthy first to discuss what Rainier and Geiger has defined as a simple church. After giving their details of evaluating two different churches, First Church and Cross Church, they came to the conclusion that each church had different processes and ideas of how the church was to be operated. First Church didn’t have one specific clear purpose and it was demonstrated throughout various programs, meetings, and the total process of the church. The leaders all had different ideas of what the church’s purpose was if they had a good answer at all.

Cross Church on the other hand had a clear purpose statement. All of the processes (mechanics) of the church was based upon that simple purpose statement. In speaking of the processes at Cross Church, there were far fewer than what was at First Church. It was simple. Everyone at the church from the leaders to the people of the church were all on track with the purpose statement. Cross Church took all of the complexity out of the church and they seemed to be thriving.

Rainier and Geiger define a simple church as, “A congregation designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth.”[6] This definition cuts through all of the processes and gets to the purpose of the church. R.G Clouse says that the whole purpose of the church is to, “Obey his (Christ) will, to proclaim not her own but his reign.”[7] The church is to point others to Christ and to help them grow to be true disciples of Him. If the church is not doing this and just going through processes to have processes then she has missed her whole purpose for existing.

Chapter Five: Clarity

The first step in the four step process of becoming a traditional simple church is outlined in chapter five of Simple Church as clarity. Rainier and Geiger point out that the first step is to have, “Some clear blueprints.”[8] It is important that the purpose statement and the process of the church is clear to everyone from the leaders to those in the church. Therefore, for the process of the church to be clear the church must, “Define it, illustrate it, discuss it, and measure it.”[9] The definition of the processes is explained to every one of the church. It must be illustrated to all and it is best to have a visual of the processes. Discussion about the process cannot be done just once, it must be discussed constantly by everyone. The last step that should be done is to measure the progress of the processes.

Chapter Six: Movement

In chapter six Rainier and Geiger discuss the second step of becoming a simple church as movement. Transformation is a defining mark of a vibrant simple church. Simple churches create simple processes that, “Moves people through the process of spiritual transformation.”[10] It is the business of the church not to exalt herself, but the Lord. People will be transformed by what is exalted in their church. If the church is exalting the Lord with its people they will be transformed to the image of the Lord rather than the programs they are following. That is why the processes must be, “Strategic, sequential, intentionally, and provide a new members class.”[11]

The programs of the church should be designed around the process. The leaders should agree that the programs offered are focused solely on the process of the stages of the growth of the people. That means that each program offered is to lead the believer into a deeper relationship with Christ. This means that the programs are to be sequential. Being intentional about each process is to be focused on the spiritual growth of the believer. New members classes are an essential element for a church as it not only gives a new member an orientation of the process of the church, but it also gives new believers an orientation in this new belief that they have placed their faith in.

Chapter Seven: Alignment

The seventh chapter of Simple Church defines the third step in becoming a simple church as movement. Rainier and Geiger explain that leaders must align with the same ministry philosophy and are made accountable. Each leader of the various processes should agree with the simple process. This means that the senior pastor, youth leader, the children’s minister, etc. are all agreeable with the same philosophy and process to engage the people to have a deeper relationship with Christ. Rainier and Geiger state that, “Integrating the same process in each ministry department makes a profound impact.”[12]

Chapter Eight: Focus

The final step in becoming a simple church is described in chapter eight as being focused. Being focused means to be a wise steward of time and of money.[13] This means that elimination may have to occur and this can be difficult for some churches. Leaders may see this as part of a solution to become a simple church because they have become a pack rat of programs that really isn’t focused on the purpose of the church. Rainier and Geiger also state that, “It means saying no a lot” to become a simple church.[14] Saying no is difficult as well especially when people want to add programs to the simple process. Nonetheless, the church, the leaders, and the people must remain focused on the simple processes of the simple church.

Attractional Model: Purpose Driven Church

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the Law, happy is he” (NKJV). There must be a vision for all aspects of ministry otherwise the ministry will fail especially in church ministry. L.R. DeKoster said, “The Head of the body requires such “guardianship” at the hands of church leaders (Acts 20:28) by whatever title designated; and the believer is required to pay heed to their admonition (Heb. 13:17).”[15] DeKoster explains this as the, “disciplinary supervision of members’ faith and life.”[16] It is the leader (or pastor) of the church that has the responsibility to “oversee” the spiritual growth of those that God has entrusted to him. Therefore, it is his burden to cast a vision that will help further the Kingdom in the church they “oversee”.

The article 12 Characteristics of a Purpose Driven Church is a mirror of chapters three through eight of the Purpose Driven Church. The first characteristic is that the purpose driven church is that it has a Purpose Statement.[17] This is the vision of the leader and the congregation for the church that is illustrated in Proverbs 29:18. Just as the Scripture suggests if there is no purpose or vision the people will perish. In this case the congregation of the church will leave in search of a church that will fulfill their “purpose”. The purpose of the church creates a Purpose Statement which guides the church and the people. Rainer and Geiger state that, “There is a highly significant relationship between church vitality and the clarity of the process.”[18]

Once the purpose of the church has been discovered all other activities of the church revolve around the purpose statement. The church uses a “Purpose-Driven Strategy” to fulfill their purpose statement.[19] All other activities by the church are then driven by the strategy. A purpose driven church organize around the purpose driven structure, program by purpose, staff by purpose, organize sermons that are preached by purpose, form small groups on purpose, calendar by purpose, budget by purpose, build by purpose, and evaluate by purpose.[20] Finally, purpose driven churches are built from the outside-in.[21] Traditional models try to build from the inside-out in which they have a church and try to build from what they already have as regular attendees.

Organic Churches

In his book Church 3.0 Neil Cole discusses the numerous benefits of planting “organic” churches. Organic churches are much smaller than the traditional churches that many think of when they think of what a church is. Organic churches are biblical in context which follow the example of Christ with His twelve disciples and the house churches throughout the New Testament. Not only does organic churches look different in numbers, but other defining factors of the organic church certainly set it apart. The three factors that set organic churches apart are that they are culturally relevant, they are missional, and success is defined differently than traditional and attractional churches. As Cole wrote, “The computer chip, telecommunications, satellites, and jet travel have shrunk the world.”^[22]

Organic churches are smaller in numbers than traditional and attractional churches. Not only are they cost effective, but they reach into the soul of those in the postmodern culture. Organic churches are organized to reach the lost based upon the culture, can shift, and move when needed to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandments. The Great Commission and the Great Commandments are the driving force of organic churches. Reshaping communities is the goal of organic churches therefore, success is determined on the transformation that takes place within the groups and in the community; the two areas that many attractional churches have difficulty reaching.

The Hybrid Church

In chapter One Browning describes the shrinking middle. This is the case in almost all aspects of the growing world. From research a graph called the bell graph was how those especially in business would determine “success”. Browning says that the bell curve has become a thing of the past. Rather, the extreme of the new culture is creating the “well curve”. The well curve looks exactly the opposite of the bell curve.  Browning writes, “The well curve describes a world that is getting bigger and smaller at the same time.”^[23] The middle ground and the mid-sized are now a thing of the past. People do not want to be in the middle anymore; they want to be either on the small side or the big side.

The Hybrid model church is a combination of what Browning calls the both/and environment. He states, “People want to reap the benefits of bigness and smallness simultaneously.”^[24] To be hybrid is to be both intimate and have an impact. There is a danger in choosing whether a church is going to be either an intimate community or having an impact in the community. In this mentality there is surely going to be future failure and will not be glorifying the One whom Christians are serving. In Matthew 22:36-40 Christ says to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. He then goes on to say that Christians are to love their neighbors as themselves. This is called the Great Commandments and if Christians truly desire this they will desire the both/and environment in a church.

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[1] James D. G. Dunn, The Theology of Paul the Apostle, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998), 545.

[2] Liberty University, Disciple Making Is: Church Models, Retrieved February 23, 2015 at: https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_128275_1&content_id=_5750243_1

 

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Thom S. Rainier and Eric Geiger, Simple Church, (Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing, 2011), 60.

[7] R. G Clouse, “The Mission of the Church” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2001), 248.

[8] Rainier and Geiger, Simple Church, 110.

[9] Ibid., 111.

[10] Ibid., 138.

[11] Ibid., 141.

[12] Ibid., 179.

[13] Ibid., 207-208.

[14] Ibid., 199.

[15] L.R. DeKoster, Church Disciple in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter A. Elwell, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2001), 255.

[16] Ibid., 255.

[17] Rick Warren, What Makes a Church Purpose Driven, http://roboam.com/purpose/CefaceobisericaPDC.htm (accessed February 03, 2015).

 

[18] Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger, Simple Church, (Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing, 2011), 110.

[19] Rick Warren, What Makes a Church Purpose Driven, http://roboam.com/purpose/CefaceobisericaPDC.htm, (accessed February 03, 2015).

 

[20] Ibid.

[21] Ibid.

[22] Neil Cole, Church 3.0, (San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass, 2010), 18.

[23] Dave Browning, Hybrid Church: The Fusing of Intimacy and Impact, (San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass, 2010), 17.

[24] Ibid., 59.