Ripe for Harvest

402 • R IPE FOR H ARVEST

Nurture: Mature the Church Exercise Guidelines

I. Definition: the fourth stage of cross-cultural church planting which concentrates on nurturing member and leadership discipleship, enables members to function in their spiritual gifts, and establishes solid infrastructure in the Christian assembly II. Purpose of the exercise: to brainstorm and discuss how you might: A. Establish relationships and structures to disciple individuals, groups, and church leaders. B. Help growing, faithful members identify and fulfill key roles in the new church based on their burden and gifting. C. Create infrastructure and processes which give clear governance to the body. IV. Question focus for your team’s dialogue in this exercise: A. Questions about discipling individuals (members) and leaders (emerging pastoral staff and overseers) B. Questions about helping members identify gifts and burdens C. Questions about enabling members to form ministry teams or home fellowships D. Questions about establishing credentials for leadership E. Questions about church order, government, and discipline III. Relationship to Parent-Child metaphor: Growth and Parenting

V. Cardinal virtue for NURTURE phase: spiritual parenthood for the faithful core

VI. Critical vices for NURTURE phase: A. Spiritual child abandonment and neglect of follow-up of new believers B. The smothering, micro-managing parent, not allowing members to experiment with God’s wild and wonderful grace

Context Values/Vision

Prepare Launch Assemble Nurture Transition Schedule/Charter

VII. The bottom line: Concentrate on providing excellent pastoral nurture and equipping in the faithful members of the body.