The Relational Church

Relational Church Seminar

   A Relational Church Seminar  is designed to build a new concept of the church that is centered upon the principles of Biblical relationships instead of institutional organization.
   God’s plan for a church with:

• Clear Vision

• Effective Ministries

• Spiritual Power
  
•  Proper Growth

  THIS IS A DYNAMIC AND EFFECTIVE    POWER-POINT PRESENTATION

 Relational Church Seminar

 

  PURPOSE…

  There is a booklet created for use as a workbook during the Relational Church Seminar.  The author attempted to include enough material such that the reader can be guided through an intensive study of the Church becoming relational; as opposed to being institutional.  (You can request a copy of this booklet.)

  Oh, that we might see ourselves as the Body of Christ, first, related to God the Father and Jesus as our Lord and Elder Brother; then, that we would see ourselves truly related to each other, brothers and sisters in Christ.  The Church will become more than fellowship, we will live in genuine relationship.

 

TESTIMONY…

  I’m thankful for my education within the denominational college and seminary, also for my experiences serving as a pastor within the denominational church.  However, I have also observed the institutionalization of the church.  When  people identify themselves with a system and a building, rather than relating to Jesus as Lord and the Church as His Body, then we have become an organization instead of an organism.

  My study of the Scriptures showed vast differences between the church of today and the New Testament Church.  I discovered how immersed we have become in the “traditions of men.”  Jesus said, “You invalidated the Word of God for the sake of your tradition.” (Matthew 15:6 NAS)  Many leaders within our churches do things, not because they see it in the Bible, nor because they hear the Holy Spirit speaking within, but they simply follow the traditions of what has been done before.

  Paul, the apostle wrote to the Church at Philippi, declaring that the Lord Jesus, “emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant…” (Philippians 2:7 NAS)  Thus, I urge you to empty yourself of the traditions that have come down to us through hundreds of years and look afresh at the Church as shown us in the New Testament.

 

THE CONCEPT…

  It is not my intent to present “new truth,” rather, to bring together basic truths so as to give a fresh understanding.  I ask you to work at seeing the concept which is presented, rather than a collection of individual truths.

  The root of the word “concept” is to “conceive.”  It is my hope that you will conceive, such that you receive a new insight of the Church, and that the Spirit of God from within you will birth a powerful revelation of the Body of Christ.

 

FAMILY…

  In more than 40 years of ministry, I have perhaps counseled with more than 1,000 fathers.  In all that time, I cannot remember even one father saying to me, “I wish I had more children.”  Oh, how many times I heard them lament about not having a good relationship with their children.  Yes, and many wept because their children lacked a loving relationship with each other.

  Knowing that God has created us in His own image, it is difficult for me to picture our Father God sitting in heaven with a great burden for more children.  Rather I believe He desires that we would have a better relationship with Him, and that we would live in better relationship with our brothers and sisters.  Thus, I see the Church with a greater focus on an intimate relationship with the Lord and more loving and committed relationships with each other.

 

LASTING RESULTS…

  I make no promises of rapid church growth.  In fact, rapid growth seems cancerous and unhealthy to me.  Families are not instant.  Relationships often grow very slowly.  Not even birth is instant.  We are given nine months to get ready and then it is pain before the joy.  So also in the Church we should look for solid, lasting relationships.  Like all healthy families, we will increase with God given reproduction when we live in covenant relationships.

 

NUMBERS…

  It is my observation that faith for bigness overpowers faith for relationship.  Success in the Church seems always to be measured by numbers:  How many on the role; what’s the attendance; the size of the budget; etc.  Size may be good, yet the true success of the Church is measured by relationships, not numbers.  Jesus said that He would build His Church.

  The Scripture is very explicit, telling us that it is sinful to count the people.  Look at King David’s sin as related in I Chronicles 21:1-3.  Also note his cry of repentance: “David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people.  So David said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done.  But now, Oh Lord, please take away the iniquity of Thy servant, I have acted very foolishly.’”  (II Samuel 24:10)

  Many seem to apply “The Jethro Principle” where Moses father-in-law tells how to build a big organization for God.  When this happens there is always a departure from basic recognition of the priesthood of believers.  This is tragic, as it causes believers to serve the vision of the leaders, rather than the leaders serving the people, encouraging them to see vision.

 

PERSECUTION…

  When persecution comes… “and indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (II Timothy 3:12)  Non-biblical things will fall when the enemy attacks.  Religious buildings, religious appearance, and religious titles will all fall during times of persecution.  Only true relationships withstand the onslaught of persecution.

  The American church knows so very little about suffering for the sake of the Gospel.  In other nations of the world the Church has been attacked.  In places like China, the institutional church failed, but believers living in true relationship continued to meet in homes as the “underground” Church.

  Oh to be free of the trappings and traditions of institutionalism, to live in loving covenantal relationship. 

 Bruce A. Mitchell

Coming Soon:  Download the e-booklet, The Relational Church Seminar