Old Church Model Core Values 1950-1960 Era | New Church Model Core Values 2010-2020 Era |
- Faith
- Fellowship
- Family
| - Biblical Instruction (Faith)
- Prayer (Faith)
- Relational (Fellowship/Family)
- Caring Ministry (Family)
- Transformation (evangelism, spiritual formation)
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Old Cultural Setting | New Cultural Setting |
External Culture - External culture (society) supported Christian principles.
- “Build it and they will come.”
- Church affiliation was socially acceptable.
- Denominationally driven; hierarchical.
- Centralized forms of governance.
| External Culture - External culture (society) is anti-Christian and apostate; apathetic, desires censure of Christians and persecution.
- “Why should I go?” It’s not necessary to go.
- It is socially acceptable NOT to be affiliated with a church. Generally, people are frustrated by religion or “religious” semantics.
- No longer relevant to individual / communal needs.
- Post-denominational era. A call for decentralized forms of governance.
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Economic Indicators - Rising household income.
- Mass production & labor intensive.
- Collective sense of peace, security and prosperity.
| Economic Indicators - Rising unemployment, layoffs and debts.
- Consumer driven economy; increased imports.
- Government takeover and seizures.
- Collective sense of being physically & emotionally unhealthy, in insecurity and poverty.
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Modern Worldview (Christendom) - Science & Reason
- Logic & Rational
- Absolute truth exists; must be obeyed.
- Follow a prescribed manner or pattern; there is only one “absolute” manner/way it can be achieve; A high value placed on rules and these prescribed manners; defiance from the norm is socially prohibited.
| Postmodern Worldview (Post-Christendom) - Relativism; truth is based on the individual.
- High value placed on community / relationships.
- Materialistic & Individual freedom with no boundaries or personal responsibility.
- Reality is based on experience; experimental demonstration.
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Technology - Transistor radios & commercial televisions were introduced in 1939.
- Telegraphs & Rotary telephones.
- Jukeboxes, record players & 8-track tapes.
- Cassette tapes.
| Technology - Computers, scanners & USB-port.
- High-Def, Plasma screens, Blue-Ray, Cable & Satellite-televisions, 3-D movies, Pay-per-view, PVR, TiVo, DVD & Web-Cams.
- Smart-Phones, text-message, Instant Message, E-Mail, MP3 Players, IPods & Droids.
- Internet, chat-rooms, Web-communities: (i.e. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter & Plaxo)
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Ministry Goals - Increase membership
- Increase Sunday school classes.
| Ministry Goals - Must be relational to approach and entry point.
- Primary focus must be placed on discipleship. Must be decentralized & address a increasing level of biblical and spiritual immaturity; a generation unfamiliar and/or inexperienced with worship or biblical standards.
- Must serve in an environment of persecution and government intervention/oppression to Christian faith.
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Approach/Model - Sunday-School is model for education.
- Congregations establish programs.
| Approach/Model - Missional
- Cell groups (a home-church mindset) Each cell group will focus on all 5-core values.
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Entry Point to the Gospel - The unchurched or non-believers were invited to church and children invited to Sunday school class (catechism).
- The unchurched or non-believers were invited to various programs to entice participation.
| Entry Point to the Gospel - The cell group.
- Visitors to worship will no longer encouraged to become members immediately; instead, they are encouraged to become an active participant in a cell group.
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