Greg Nettle – Evaluate weekend

It’s key to determine the tipping point of a room, or the point at which a room will not feel empty. If it feels empty people won’t come back.

This weekend was a simple acoustic set. Reasons include it’s all the musicians that were available, and they try to simplify once every 4-6 weeks. They are trying to move away from a performance driven worship service.

Greg’s personal opinion: If the American church doesn’t shift dramatically it will shut down.

1980’s-present churches have used the attractional model to grow. However, Greg believes it’s outlived it’s usefulness as the area becomes more postmodern. We need to transition to a missional model. I agree.

So, RiverTree is trying to transition from a program driven church into a people development driven church. Three years ago they did away with membership, and now they ask people to partner with them.

This means you move from standardized to customized. You may need to write your own material or purchase customizable curriculum.
You move from scripted to Life Coaching.
You move from the goal being participation to Life Transformation.
You move from didactic teaching to debriefing life experiences.
You move from curriculum guided to life centric (relates to what is really going on in people’s lives)
You move from getting people “plugged in” to getting people “pushed out.” So , you run into challenges on keeping the organization going.
You move from growing into service to growing through service.
You move from generational segmentation to integrated. So, there may be a youth mission trip but grandparents go too. Youth are in worship bands. Children will lead prayers. They have moved away from “children’s or youth specials.”
You move from building the organization to changing people’s lives.

There are three ways people are transformed:
1. Information
2. Experiences
3. Relationships

The American church is heavy on Information yet only two people could in the room could come up with five sermons that have changed their life. Almost everybody came up with five relationships and experiences in half the time.

Relational and experience takes TIME.

Recommended Book: American Church in Crisis by David T. Olsen