The decline of evangelicalism is well noted. While it’s never as bleak as presented, and there is no reason to fear. God is always working and has His people working too. Concerning is the inability of churches and leaders to adjust to changing realities and embrace different strategies. Programmatic approaches are simply not having the impact they did 20 years ago. How must we adjust? Flip the script from church centric, preacher centered thinking, to disciple centric, equipping church thinking.

Our Current Script about Church:

• A Church has a preacher, who shares the Gospel, utilizing years of training and experience.
• Members invite friends to the church to hear the gospel and get involved in programs that help them grow.
• The church adds people to membership. New believers are baptized. Already believers are indoctrinated into the practices of this church.
• Members grow and are ENCOURAGED to invite their friends and family to church to hear the gospel from the preacher and respond during the events at the church.

Nothing wrong or sinful about this script. But consider this alternative way of thinking for a new day.

Flipping the Script:

• A disciple has a network of relationships.
• He/she shares the gospel utilizing simple tools.
• The disciple is encouraged, equipped, and held accountable by other disciples in a simple church that is focused on disciple making and fulfilling the Great Commission.
• New disciples are baptized and immediately equipped by a Disciple Maker and Disciple Making Community (i.e Church) to share the gospel with their network of relationships using simple tools.

Church is vital as an equipper and encourager of the Disciple’s walk and ministry. Every disciple is a gospel sharer, not just the preacher. Everything doesn’t hang on the preacher’s ability to present the gospel. The Gospel spreads through relationships, not just through church sponsored events.

How might this script affect your current church?