Comments on: The Purpose Driven Church Doesn’t Necessarily Produce True Disciples of Christ? http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:28:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: admin http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42988 admin Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:54:36 +0000 http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42988 Dean, you are right. Such a mindset is not only indicative of Willow Creek, but much of the church, and admittedly, I have definitely been prone to such a stance personally. It's every reason why I need to go back to the work of Christ and remind myself that my righteous deeds are truly filthy rags before a perfect and holy God. I just hope that Willow Creek and Bill Hybels doesn't turn to a program as the next great thing to get people saved, but he turns to Christ himself and his finished work on the cross. Now that we would absolutely spectacular. Dean, you are right. Such a mindset is not only indicative of Willow Creek, but much of the church, and admittedly, I have definitely been prone to such a stance personally. It’s every reason why I need to go back to the work of Christ and remind myself that my righteous deeds are truly filthy rags before a perfect and holy God.

I just hope that Willow Creek and Bill Hybels doesn’t turn to a program as the next great thing to get people saved, but he turns to Christ himself and his finished work on the cross. Now that we would absolutely spectacular.

]]> By: Dean http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42987 Dean Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:47:02 +0000 http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42987 But if we were all honest wouldn't we admit to a similar but subtle mindset in our own lives? How often have you thought, "If that guy would only get in a small group/Sunday School class/Men's Bible Study then surely he would become a more godly man." As a pastor I fall into that mindset at times, thinking that if someone will just get into the right group/program/study then transformation will automatically follow. I don't agree with everything about WCCC, but if you watch the video you'll hear that Hybels is saying that they've come to the realization that the programs weren't teaching people to feed themselves but were making them dependent upon others to feed them. We should all examine the churches we are part of and see if there are ways the teaching and preaching leads to people being more dependent on the preacher/teacher instead of being better equipped to feed themselves. I say this not to downplay the role of preachers and teachers, but to point out that all too often our teaching/preaching is 99% exhortation and 1% equipping. But if we were all honest wouldn’t we admit to a similar but subtle mindset in our own lives? How often have you thought, “If that guy would only get in a small group/Sunday School class/Men’s Bible Study then surely he would become a more godly man.” As a pastor I fall into that mindset at times, thinking that if someone will just get into the right group/program/study then transformation will automatically follow. I don’t agree with everything about WCCC, but if you watch the video you’ll hear that Hybels is saying that they’ve come to the realization that the programs weren’t teaching people to feed themselves but were making them dependent upon others to feed them. We should all examine the churches we are part of and see if there are ways the teaching and preaching leads to people being more dependent on the preacher/teacher instead of being better equipped to feed themselves. I say this not to downplay the role of preachers and teachers, but to point out that all too often our teaching/preaching is 99% exhortation and 1% equipping.

]]> By: TimK http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42879 TimK Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:34:23 +0000 http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42879 Wow! WillowSaddleCreek! The megachurch becomes the Borg. We will NOT be assimilated ... Wow! WillowSaddleCreek! The megachurch becomes the Borg. We will NOT be assimilated …

]]> By: admin http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42873 admin Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:54:03 +0000 http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42873 Interestingly Tim, the article says: "Having put all of their eggs into the program-driven church basket you can understand their shock when the research revealed that “Increasing levels of participation in these sets of activities does NOT predict whether someone’s becoming more of a disciple of Christ. It does NOT predict whether they love God more or they love people more.” Rick Warren has frequently spoken at Willow Creek Leadership conferences. I think the two churches share many similar philosophies on church growth. Interestingly Tim, the article says:

“Having put all of their eggs into the program-driven church basket you can understand their shock when the research revealed that “Increasing levels of participation in these sets of activities does NOT predict whether someone’s becoming more of a disciple of Christ. It does NOT predict whether they love God more or they love people more.”

Rick Warren has frequently spoken at Willow Creek Leadership conferences. I think the two churches share many similar philosophies on church growth.

]]> By: TimK http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42871 TimK Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:10:16 +0000 http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/10/22/the-purpose-driven-church-doesnt-necessarily-produce-true-disciples-of-christ/#comment-42871 Hey Sam, aren't you mixing metaphors here? Isn't PD more of a Saddleback/Rick Warren thing? ; ) Plus, if you look at the vid that Hybels did it seems that the "evaluation" is a plug for yet another program ... I'm with you - let's follow Paul's words in 1Cor! Hey Sam, aren’t you mixing metaphors here? Isn’t PD more of a Saddleback/Rick Warren thing? ; )

Plus, if you look at the vid that Hybels did it seems that the “evaluation” is a plug for yet another program …

I’m with you - let’s follow Paul’s words in 1Cor!

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