International Graduate School of Leadership

Steve Hobson

Church Health
*Session 3 & 4

BEING AND DOING CHURCH

Identity, Function and Form
Overview:
The church is often defined by what it does. Yet biblically, the church is defined by who it is. What the
church does should come out of who it is. The biblical images of the church point to several essential core
functions that are the outward expressions of the churchs inner life in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Sources:

Bennett, David W. Metaphors of Ministry: Biblical Images for Leaders and Followers. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Baker Book House, 1993.
Fisher, David. The 21st Century Pastor: A Vision Based on the Ministry of Paul. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan, 1996.
Hobson, Steven. Rethinking the Church: Its Leadership and Mission unpublished paper, for Theology of
Mission class. Trinity Evangelixal Divinity School, 1996.
Kraemer, Hendrick. The Christian Message in A Non-Christian World. London: Edinburgh House Press,
1938; reprint 1947. Quoted in David J. Bosch. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology
of Mission. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1991.
Schaller, Lyle. 1983. Marks of a healthy church. In Parish Paper. New York: Reformed Church of America.
Quoted in Charles Van Engen. Gods missionary people: Rethinking the purpose of the local
church. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker, 1991.
*Schwarz, Christian. Natural Church Development: A Guide to 8 Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches.
Carol Stream, Illinois: ChurchSmart Resources, 1996. (NCD)
Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message and Mission.
Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1995.
Wells, David. No Place for Truth, Or, Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology? Grand Rapids, MI:
William B. Eerdmans, 1993

Introduction:
Much attention has been given to the study of church growth. This has provided us a record of the practices
and successes of the church over recent years and has, in effect, become the churchs ecclesiology (doctrine of the
church). Much of modern day thinking about the church has become pragmatically descriptive instead of biblically
prescriptive (Fisher 1996, 78). Too often we major on technique (Wells 1993, 100). But when the churchs technique
eventually fails, people tend to give up on the church and opt for parachurch substitutes with better technique.
Will the efforts to contextualize the church in cultures around the world merely focus on methodological
adaptation? True contextualization of the church requires an ecclesiology rich and lively enough to embrace the
creative new expressions of Gods work in His people world wide. It also requires an ecclesiology strong and deep
enough to provide guidance for the complex new questions rising from the churchs encounter with new and
changing cultures. A weak ecclesiology will allow the church to lose integrity either as it is pressed into the mold of
its worldly surroundings; or allow the church to retreat to forms and answers that are unrelated to the challenges
and questions at hand (Hobson 1996).

We Have Approached the Study of the Church from Three Directions. (Schaller 1983, 1)
Contemporary thinking about the church has developed from three major directions.
A. Model Church Approach - in which certain successful and widely known, contemporary
congregations are used as patterns or examples of ideal churches. We learn and imitate their forms.
B. Large Sampling Approach - in which statistical and sociological analyses are used to highlight
characteristics of healthy, functioning churches. These characteristics are then deemed desirable for all
churches. We dig deeper to identify effective church functions.
These first two approaches have established the emphasis on church function and form that has been carried
by the international church growth movement, modern missions thinking, and much of the discussion about the
church. Church leaders world- wide have benefited from these approaches.

C. Biblical/Theological Reflection - synthesizes biblical examples, biblical commands and biblical truths
about the Church. This approach is the work of biblical and systematic theology. This digs deepest into the
very identity of the Church given to it by God in Christ.
The biblical identity of the Church offers a sure foundation on which to build other insights emerging from
discussions/studies about the Churchs function and form.

We Need to Understand the Churchs Identity, Function and Form.

Identity - ______ we are.

Functions - _______ we do.

Form - ______ we do it.

Core Identity - is _______ we are, as defined by Gods design revealed in His Word.
This is not optional! (Mt 16:18; Eph 3:10-11; 20-21)
Core Functions - are ________ we are required to do by Gods design and His Word in the church.
These are not optional! (1 Cor 12:4-26)
Church Forms - are choices as to __________ we go about doing the Core Functions in our setting.
These are optional and flexible (Mt 9:16-17; 1 Cor 9:19-23)!
A. Core Identity Derived from the metaphors of the Church & other biblical/theological reflection.
The biblical vision, purposes, and timeless glory that comprise the local churchs essential nature and of
which each believer in local assembly is a part, must be recaptured in an age that has had its fill with carnal
failings, weaknesses and time bound disgraces that comprise the churchs empirical condition
(Kraemer 1947, 24f).
A. __________________ of God

B. ____________________ of God

A people gathered together by Gods love

. . . nurturing each other into maturity.

C. __________________ of Christ

A people galvanized under Gods command

. . . moving together into enemy territory.

D. ____________________ of Christ

A people united in a vital community

. . . ministering grace to each other.

A people betrothed in loving faithfulness

. . . seeking Christ in all things

E. __________________ of the Holy Spirit F. ____________________ of the Holy Spirit

A people in which God dwells
. . . obeying the truth & worshipping God.

A people dependent on the Holy Spirit

. . . learning to bear spiritual fruit (life/ministry).

The choice to emphasize a given metaphor and to put aside another can set the direction of a community
and its leadership. Therefore, we must become aware of the images we use, and how we are using them.
(Bennett 1993, 199).

B. Core Functions Derived from Scripture & large sampling of churches. (IGSL observations, NCD study)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Empowering Leadership
Gift-oriented Ministry
Passionate Spirituality
Effective Structures

5.
6.
7.
8.

Inspiring Worship
Comprehensive Small Groups
Need-Oriented Evangelism
Loving Relationships

C. Church Forms Derived from effective model churches. (Like Warren 1995 and others)
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Core Functions of the Church

(WELCOMES)
These represent biblically defined core functions coordinated with NCD field research (in italics).

W orship

(God focused, inspiring celebration, ordinances,

adoration, prayer, singing . . . )

E quipping

(Gift-oriented ministry based on instruction, training,

leadership development, spiritual gift discovery for the
multiplication of ministering believers/leaders . . . )

L eadership

(Servant-steward & team leadership for the empowering

& enabling of all toward shared mission/values/vision . . . )

C ommunity

(Loving relationships of committed involvement,

intimacy, accountability, mutual support/ministry to
each other, intercession for one-another . . . )

O utreach

(Need-oriented local/oikos evangelism and church

planting, local social engagement; global evangelism and
church planting, global social engagement . . . )

M anagement

(Resource stewardship/coordination/tracking of: people,

materials, money, facilities, information, etc.; discipline;
Effective systems/structures to facilitate management . . . )

E nvironment

(Passionate spirituality, Holy Spirit sourced life change,

supernatural power and love expressed in intercessory
prayer, faith, and expectation; resulting in momentum . . . )

S mall groups

(Comprehensive use of linked, progressively more challenging small groups for nurturing, training, outreach . . . )

Developed by IGSL & FCL faculty, later coordinated with NCD research.
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God at Work - Core Functions of the Church

Core Functions - The church looking Godward
* = Correlates with results of international study.

* Worship (Mk 12:30-31; Jn 4:23-24)

Inspiring Worship

* Environment (Eph 5:15-20; 6:18-20;

Passionate Spirituality

2 Tim 3:16-17)

How are we doing?

(Strong areas & Weak areas)

(Spirit dependence)

Core Functions - The church looking Inward

* Community (1 Cor 13; Rom 12:9-21) Loving Relationships
* Equipping (Eph 4:11-16; Rom 12:3-8) Gift-Oriented Ministry
* Leadership (1 Pet 5:1-4; Col 1:28-29) Empowering Leadership
* Management (1Tim 3:1-15; Acts 6:1-7) Effective Structures
& Stewardship of all Resources

Core Functions - The church looking Outward

* Outreach (Mt 5:13-16, Acts 1:8;
Col 4:5-6)

* Small Groups (Heb 10:24,25)

(small groups carry on various
functions in the church)

Need-Meeting Evangelism and Church Planting

Local social engagement (community development, issues)
Global Evangelism and Church Planting
Comprehensive Small Groups
Evangelistic groups
Support groups
Task/Ministry groups such as evangelism, social action
Decision making/policy groups
Nurturing, Equipping, Training groups/classes
Leadership Development groups/classes