The REVEAL conference came about after Willowcreek took a deep look at whether they were really helping people grow closer to Christ. They created a survey that helped measure people’s hearts instead of gauging their spiritual growth by their outward involvement.
Over 500 churches took the survey and it has helped hundreds of churches make course corrections in how they disciple adults. We went to learn how this tool might help Stillwater improve our structures & systems.
Our goal is to catalyze how people truly grow closer to Christ
It’s all about love. Love of God and love of people
How do you measure someone’s heart?
It would be nice to scan people’s hearts as they enter sanctuary, but we can’t. So we create services, teach classes, do small groups, extend care and serve. We tend to think if we get people participating in those activities, then we’ve produced more disciples.
We think through the lens of activity
But people who are minimally involved can have huge hearts for people while those very involved can have a small heart for God
It’s about intimacy, not activity
There are four kinds of people in our churches…
Exploring Christ – I believe in God but I’m not sure about Jesus
Growing in Christ – I’m working on what this all means
Close to Christ – I depend on Jesus daily for guidance
Christ-Centered – Jesus is the most important relationship in my life
Bill Hybels
Most people go to conference so they’ll have affirmed what they’re already doing. This conference will encourage you to overturn the apple cart at your church. Are people truly growing closer to Christ?
They found that engagement with the Bible most often helped people move forward
What do we do that helps people move from minimal engagement to maximum engagement with the Bible?
Serving opportunities for brand new explorers help immensely
The toughest chasm for people to move from is Close to Christ to Christ-Centered
Greg Hawkins
Top 5 Findings from REVEAL study:
Reading & reflecting on the Bible is the most powerful catalyst for individual spiritual growth
Developing core Christian beliefs is crucial for those in the early stages of spiritual growth
Personal spiritual practices are the building blocks for a Christ-centered life
Serving is the most catalytic experience offered by churches
Spiritual community is vital and migrates from Organized to Organic
What do people want from the church?
Help me understand the Bible in greater depth 87%
Help me develop a relationship with Christ 86%
Provide strong programs for children 85%
Challenge me to grow and take next steps 83%
Provide compelling worship services 80%
David Loveless from Discovery Church in Orlando
If you don’t reinvent your church every 3-5 years, you’ll be irrelevant in the 21st century
Help people evaluate where they are
Your people should be able to draw your discipleship map and explain it to others
Senior pastor must drive the survey – if they buy in, everyone else will too
Difference between Good & Great Reveal Churches
Get people moving – set high expectations – give obvious first steps
Embed the Bible in everything & everyone – accessible through classes, online
Create ownership – body of Christ – train people to lead & disciple others
Pastor the local community – figure out needs of community & meet those needs
Bottom line is a leader who is consumed with making disciples
Weekend Worship Experiences
Many people are bored with their current spiritual experiences when they walk in our doors
If we’re to get the weekends right, it starts with us getting in the authentic presence of God
Make it accessible to people, no matter where they are in their journey
How can we facilitate moments of cooperation with the Holy Spirit?
Worship is not about observing God, it’s about experiencing God
People will know if the leadership does worship just to do it or if it’s authentically who they are
In worship, we honor God, the Bible, and people
Worship is taking people from the front porch to the altar
Worship leaders are on a platform, not a stage. Stages are built for performance. Platforms are built for influence.
Are you providing an atmosphere where as many people as possible can have an experience with God?
Creating Ownership
(Front of Tshirt) I don’t go to church (Back) I am the church
Cancel worship services sometime and send people into community to be the church
Give the church away – give power away
Sometimes we think if we just meet people’s needs, they’ll become disciples
We can become enablers
John Ortberg
We admire Michael Phelps, but we’re not his disciples
An admirer approves, a follower obeys
Jesus taught to 2 groups in Matthew – one group was impressed with Jesus, the other group felt something deep in them awaken and say, “I could do that, I can help, I must do this”
We’re trying to move people from an admirer of Jesus to a follower – requires a cost many don’t want to pay
The process to knowing Jesus in the NT: Strangers to Jesus –> Admirers –> Users (use Jesus to get to heaven and that’s it) –> Followers
The New Testament uses the word Christian twice – uses disciple 268 times
It’s easier to make a Christian than a disciple
Three Kinds of Faith
Public convictions: Things I say because I want you to think I believe them
Private convictions: Things I actually say I believe, but when situation changes, I didn’t actually believe them
Core convictions: Things I believe by what I actually do
In Jesus, all three of these match
and done. 🙂