It's fun to be able to debate (My word) argue (her word) the methods of closing the back door to the church. If you have spent any time in the lobby during the crush, I'm certain you've seen a bunch of new people each week, or at least people you don't know. About 1100 -1300 adults are attending 242 each weekend. We have between 300-400 people in small groups. Larry Osborne (http://larryosbornelive.com/) premise is that small groups are the key to closing the back door. The more effective the groups the tighter the door. If you get an opportunity to read it - let me know - I'd love to hear what you think of it. Closing The Back Door
Kim and I are both reading this book right now.
It's fun to be able to debate (My word) argue (her word) the methods of closing the back door to the church. If you have spent any time in the lobby during the crush, I'm certain you've seen a bunch of new people each week, or at least people you don't know. About 1100 -1300 adults are attending 242 each weekend. We have between 300-400 people in small groups. Larry Osborne (http://larryosbornelive.com/) premise is that small groups are the key to closing the back door. The more effective the groups the tighter the door. If you get an opportunity to read it - let me know - I'd love to hear what you think of it.
It's fun to be able to debate (My word) argue (her word) the methods of closing the back door to the church. If you have spent any time in the lobby during the crush, I'm certain you've seen a bunch of new people each week, or at least people you don't know. About 1100 -1300 adults are attending 242 each weekend. We have between 300-400 people in small groups. Larry Osborne (http://larryosbornelive.com/) premise is that small groups are the key to closing the back door. The more effective the groups the tighter the door. If you get an opportunity to read it - let me know - I'd love to hear what you think of it. 
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4 comments:
I want to know what Kim says.
Seems like Jesus had a lot of people going out the back door. I guess he should have consulted with Larry.
Rick
Rick - Interesting that you say that - I thought the same thing. Jesus allowed those who were interested in serving only themselves to walk away. I struggle with the idea that people on the fringe need to find there own way (My observation of many churches)until they look "like us". It seems that Osborne talks about allowing a community to be built around the idea of serving together and following Jesus together. Granted he is deliberate in his methhod of gathering people - but that could also be because of scale of ministry he deals with.
Did you have a chance to read the book?
I think Jesus let people walk like the Rich Young Ruler. But that is not the same as leaving the back door open or letting people fall through the cracks. People who "walk away" are people who make a deliberate conscious decision in most cases to do so. People that fall through the cracks are ones that many times that have come and enjoyed what they experienced but fail to make a relational connection beyond Sunday morning. If they don't connect on a personal level in the first couple months chances are they will quietly slip out the back door. They may not even be able to articulate their reason for walking away. We can't connect for these people but we need to make sure that we are doing all we can to encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities we have for them to connect.
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