MODULE THREE: FIVE TYPES OF AMERICAN CHURCHES
Section 1. The Discipleship System
OBSERVATIONS, QUOTES AND ASSUMPTIONS: Agree or disagree?
A. Churches can be identified and categorized by the relationship between the worship service and the Discipleship System and by the priority a church gives to each.
B. Traditional churches based on a proclamation model emphasize the worship aspect of a faith community and minimize the role of the Discipleship System. Biblical support for the proclamation model is found in Mark 16:15: And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” The proclamation model focuses on worship and preaching to meet the spiritual needs of people. Its greatest success was on the day of Pentecost when three thousand people got saved after Peter preached one sermon. Preachers have been trying to repeat these results for centuries.
C. Proclamation based churches emphasize these tasks: Draw a crowd to an event, fill the building, preach the gospel, make disciples. The Proclamation Model is a basic paradigm of evangelism since Wesley’s day and the basis for the current homeostasis.
QUOTE [1]
NOTE
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
RESOURCES
[1] The quote is a selection from David O. Kueker’s Fuller Seminary Doctor of Ministry project submitted in September, 2007, entitled Diagnosis, Dialogue, and Decision: A Threefold Process of Revitalization For the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
It is shared here in recognition of its 12th Anniversary along with comments to update and provide perspective on the material. The original project was a Training Manual/Study Guide of three Seminars supported by three chapters of research and an Introduction. The material is available for download at www.disciplewalk.com/Resources.html. In 2009 it was provided for purchase as a softcover book entitled Designing Discipleship Systems: Christian Disciple Making For Any Size Church, Any Theology through CreateSpace.com.
[2][3] [4][5] [6][7] [8]
All Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Please review the page How and Why We Use Quotes.