Ripe for Harvest

296 • R IPE FOR H ARVEST

Assemble: Establish the Church Exercise Guidelines

I. Definition: the third stage of cross-cultural church planting which seeks to disciple other through cell groups or Bible studies, leading to announcing the new church to the neighbors in the community II. Purpose of the exercise: to brainstorm and discuss how you might: A. Train others through cell groups or Bible studies to follow up and disciple new believers. B. Continue evangelism with oikos groups C. Identify and train emerging leaders, focusing on preparing leaders for Transition at a satellite campus of The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI). D. Assemble the groups where the Word is rightly preached, the sacraments are rightly administered, and discipline is rightly ordered. E. Announce to the neighborhood the beginning of public worship. IV. Question focus for your team’s dialogue in this exercise: A. Questions about follow-up and incorporation of new believers B. Questions about make-up of small group life C. Questions about the character of public worship D. Questions about initial church structures and procedures E. Questions about initial body life and growth F. Questions about how to make your church culturally welcoming and conducive III. Relationship to Parent-Child metaphor: Childbirth

V. Cardinal virtue for ASSEMBLE phase: wisdom to discern God’s timing

VI. Critical vices for ASSEMBLE phase: A. Creating rigid structures that don’t make disciples B. Waiting too long to establish functional structures which then cause confusion. VII. The bottom line: Create functional, adaptable structures that plants the assembly in order that it may know God and make him known in their community.

Context Values/Vision

Prepare Launch Assemble Nurture Transition Schedule/Charter