Dave Ferguson on the Future of the Micro-Church
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- Dave Ferguson on the Future of the Micro-Church, Red Light, Green Light and Yellow Light People, and the Future of Networking
Dave Ferguson peers into the future to talk about the future of the micro-church, networks and how red light, green light and yellow light thinking will change the future. Plus, he talks about how to be resilient in the face of constant change and instability.
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My name is Don Hardy and I am an member of a dying church. I watch and listen. It is so great to be among such smart people. I am the little engine who gasps I wish I could. I am speaking in a forest. God please give me the strength to go forth with these concepts and bear much fruit.
Saying a prayer for you right now, Don: "Lord, give him strength!"
Thank you. Our leadership team at Two Cities Church is going through a lot of these conversations right now. The RYG light people conversation and the question of which to cater to is probably the most important question for us right now. We're entering a season focusing on weekly digital service, watch parties (micro) and monthly community gatherings as well as community service opportunities.
Keep experimenting and sharing the learnings. We need to discover 'what's next' together!
@@daveferguson2647 I appreciate the encouragement Dave.
Thank You for these leadership interviews, I am getting exposed to Christian leaders that I would have never heard of otherwise. For all the negatives raised about social media there are so many positives. In my experience young adults are leaving the church in record numbers. That seems to be the biggest crisis in the church. Leaders like this fella are obviously very capable and effective motivational speakers. Are they working to attract and retain 20 and 30 somethings to church? If so how? It looks like this fella lives in Chicago area, I hear so much bad information in news about this part of country, I am glad there are Christians working to improve this part of country.
Absolute GOLD right here! Thanks guys
Thanks Joe!
What I heard here about 3C churches speaks to my vision for household ecclesias. Where do I get more information?
How do we reconcile this model with Paul's instruction to "not be hasty to lay hands" or ordain elders. It's good that they provide coaching to the leaders of these microchurches but I'm not sure if that's going to be enough to ensure healthy church plants and qualified leaders. One possible solution is to have some form of "confirming" the church plants like paul did in Acts 15.
Thanks for the feedback Ziggy. What do you suggest when you quote, "'confirming' the church plants"?
@@daveferguson2647 Well part of paul's apostolic mission was to not only plant churches but to oversee the growth of those church plants. Sometimes he did that by writing letters, but in acts 15 he revisited church plants and "confirmed" them or, as I understand it, checked up on them and strengthened them by making sure they were remaining on the right foundation. The apostles also appointed elders in acts 14, they didn't merely ask for volunteers.
@@cosmic_order Good thoughts. Thanks! In our model we will have coaches (staff) who will visit our 3C Communities and hold them accountable. The leaders and coaches while they may not have the title of elders, they will function in that manner. We do have elders, but they oversee the whole of Community Christian Church.
I am a pastor and have leaned heavily into digital during the pandemic for evangelism and discipleship and have been amazed at the good fruit it has born. However, I am still concerned that doing too much with digital can detract from the worship of the church. I was really blessed by your discussion and agree with so much of it, but I think it was largely about discipleship and evangelism rather than worship. I believe that worship is a central if not the central work of the church (see "Let the Nations Be Glad" by John Piper) and I worry about a future where the people of God do not gather together as families of faith to worship the the Lord for who He is and what He has done. Ultimately, a lack of worship leads to a lack of missional faithfulness. What do you guys think?
John, is it possible that the worship gathering could be smaller than what you are familiar with? And could the worship gathering happen online and not just in person? Thoughts?
@@daveferguson2647 Hi Dave, thanks so much for responding! I have many thoughts, too many to be expressed in a youtube comment, but here are a few. Yes, I totally agree worship could be smaller than I am used to. We see small home-style worship services throughout the New Testament and throughout the history of the church. So I have no problem with size per-say. I have three big concerns about a group of people gathering to worship at someone's home as they watch an online service. First, it seems like an environment where folks could be easily distracted and not engaged. Second, I think it could fragment the body and detract from a tangible connection to a larger church family. Third, I serve in a sacramental tradition so this approach raises all sorts of question surrounding sacramental theology.
With regards to online worship, I think online worship is ok and can fill the gap in extenuating circumstances, but nothing can take the place of in-person worship either with a few people in a home or a large gathering at a church building. So I think the goal should always be to move people toward a worship gathering of some kind rather than watching online at home by themselves.
What do you think?
Thanks again for responding and for all you do for the Lord.
@@johniseman686 Love your thoughtfulness on this topic. My response to your 3 concerns: 1) I think people are also distracted inside church buildings. So the challenge as teachers and worship leaders is the same whether in person or digital -- how do we engage people? 2) Again, I think unity, not size is important in both environments. 3) You will have to figure this out. :)
I think the focal point is getting people in relationship. If we can get people in relationship around teaching and worship then transformation will happen.
Carey you must read the TOV book David mentioned. I am finishing it now and it’s crucial.
Agree!
@@daveferguson2647 as someone who’s experienced a lot of narcissist pastor church abuse, I cried reading the book. Gave language to the type of church I’ve longed for. Was surprised when you mentioned it!
@@thedrewwitt as someone who knows a lot of the people in the book on both sides of the story, I feel like it was important that I read it. And as someone who God has allowed to lead I felt like it was important that I apply it personally. I had all our Leadership Commission (elders) read it and then we debriefed with Scot McKnight.
@@daveferguson2647 great! I’m taking our board through it this summer and fall.
@@thedrewwitt After talking with Scot I encouraged him to come up with an assessment tool for churches. I know he is pursuing that and maybe that will be available for you. Keep up the GOOD work!
Hello Carey, what's the book Dave mentioned please?
"A Church Called Tov" by Scot McKnight -- it's a must read.
@@daveferguson2647 Thank you.