Developing a Discipleship Plan
How Can We Save Our Church?
by Ralph E. Bauserman, Evangelism Consultant, General Board of Discipleship

As I travel through our United Methodist connection, I am surprised by how often I hear the question — in some form or another — "How can we save our church?" Those who usualy ask the question are long-time church members who believe in God and care about the future of their beloved church. For years now, they have watched the steady, relentless decline of the church. They have noted that the active membership has been growing smaller and older. The vision that once kept the church in focus and filled the people with energy, excitement and enthusiasm is no longer present. The church is still in existence; but it is now, for the most part, out of touch with the community and the world. Without any strategy for the future, the church has moved from mission to maintenance, and finally to survival. It is little wonder that long-time members, with sad faces and heavy hearts, are asking, "How can we save our church?"

The answer to this question, although not what folks want to hear, is clear: "You cannot save your church! When saving the church becomes the agenda, it simply cannot (and indeed, should not) be accomplished!" When saving the church becomes the goal of the church, that church is doomed for failure! Churches struggling for survival are fighting a battle that simply cannot be won.

If I understand the Sscriptures at all, it seems clear to me that the church does not exist for self-preservation; it does not exist to be saved, but to be spent! The church, at its best, is always giving itself away. The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Philippians (2:6-11), urges his readers to take on the mind of Christ, who "emptied himself, taking the form of a slave . . . humbled himself . . . obedient to the point of death . . . on the cross."

The church, with this Christ as its Lord, understands that to pick up our cross, we must be willing to lay down our lives. Mission-minded churches spend precious little time with budgets, bank accounts, and investments. They understand that the church exists not be saved, but to be spent!

Ironically, the churches that are laying down their lives and picking up the cross of Jesus are discovering a whole new future. In laying down their lives, they are finding new life! In giving themselves away, they are receiving new energy, excitement, and enthusiasm. In living out the mission of the church (as opposed to giving to missions), they are beginning to see new visions of God's kingdom. With their focus on service, they have no need to consider survival!

These alive, exciting, and growing churches almost always have a discipleship system that is up and running, and they are effectively reaching the disconnected people in their communities. As new people come to share in the life of these churches, they are helped to understand the price we pay to follow Jesus and to live faithfully as his church. They understand that they are not there to "save" the church; rather, they are nurtured to take their places in the company of the committed, who are willing to be "spent."

At the next meeting of your leadership team, take a serious look at your agenda. Will you be dealing with matters of survival or service? Will you be talking about "saving your church" or about being "spent" for the cause of Christ? How you answer these questions just might determine the future of your church!

posted 3-20-03