Few things discourage a faithful follower of Jesus Christ more than the continuous promises of real changes in our way of living the Church to collide again and again with the reality that the leaders or the whole church do not encourage movements towards new forms of work that will guide us to growth.
It is not the intention to dwell on the reasons for this lack of daring on the part of the followers of Jesus since many are known, talked about and even adopted as valid.
Our desire is to shed light on the real changes that occur in the foundations of a church when it declares to work with cells.
3 real movements in the life of a Church that is seriously aimed at functioning.
1.- Movement of attitude: From «Believing Values» to «Practicing Values»
2.-Scenario movement: From operating in a building to operating in homes.
3. Focus Movement: From working with programs to working with people.
1.- Attitude Movement.
From «Believing values» to «Practicing Values»
All church members say they believe in evangelism.
But if you ask among a group of leaders "who shared the gospel with another person the week before?" You will know that this is just a good belief.
If you ask how many value personal discipleship, everyone will raise their hand.
But if you ask "who personally discipled the previous week?" You will learn that a person's values are not always what they declare.
If you ask how many value devotional life, no one will pass for spiritual.
But if you ask, "How many of you had a personal encounter each day with the Lord that included prayer and reading the Bible in the week that passed?" Be prepared to listen to a few excuses and reasons.
The fundamental change in the life of a Church occurs when a group of members simply begin to practice what they say they believe.
I believe that it is not necessary to dump biblical passages that show that what Jesus commanded is to be obeyed (if necessary it reaches with James 1.22)
While many use the commandments of Jesus only as a way of thinking, others to get excited and some to do theology God will continue to look for simple people to do with those commands what He expects: TO BE PRACTICE.
The churches can talk about renewal or not, we can include ourselves or exclude ourselves from it, the truth is that as long as each of us does not practice in a personal, natural and regular manner the simple commands that Jesus left us (Preach and make disciples) we can follow organizing events, worship services and mega meetings, but we will not escape the conclusion that Santiago gives.
If we do not practice his commandments we deceive ourselves. Santiago 1.22
The most difficult achievement to achieve in a church is for its members to practice the commandments of Jesus.
The real changes in a church begin when one, two or 20 members begin to live the values of "Devotional life", "Preach", "Make disciples", "Cell life", etc.
This alone without any structure that sustains it already brings growth to the church and allows to start seeing fruit (people).
In reality, this movement is the real background change that sustains the growth of a church.
When this movement is made concrete among the members of a church, there is no other horizon to begin to grow.
I invite you to look askance at the early church in Acts and you will discover that "without money", "without materials", "without our current resources", "without awarding any renovation" and "without having so many programs, events and meetings" they Even today they teach us the path of constant growth: Practicing the commandments of Jesus.
«Every day» (They did it regularly) «in the temple and in the houses» (They went where the people were) «did not stop» (They persevered in the same practice) «to teach of Jesus» (Personal discipleship in homes ) Matthew 28.18-20 «to preach about Jesus» (Personal evangelism in homes) Mark 16.15 Acts 5.42
These are some questions that always disturbed me:
What reasons prevent the Church from doing something so simple?
Why does the Church do "so many things" that Jesus did not command?
What prevents us from practicing what we say we value?
Today I still look for answers like many of you, but there is one that begins to assert itself in my heart.
It seems to me that all these "because" have the same and great response.
I think that the day the Church stops "inventing" ways to move forward and obeys the simple commands of Jesus will begin to grow.
I think that the day the church is encouraged to ask itself, is what we do what Jesus sent us? will reconsider.
Until perhaps he dares to put aside "so many things" that today occupy his time, money and energy and begin through his members to practice the values of Jesus, that day will begin to grow.
I think that the day a single member moves from "Believing values" to "Practicing values" the church will begin to grow.
The day the church does what Jesus commanded will simply grow.
Encourage yourself, move yourself from "believe" to "practice," challenge your people to move from "believe" to "practice," and you will discover the difference, for yourself and your church.
In the next message, we will analyze the other movements of the church.
