5 STAR YOUTH CHURCH (The Style & Rhythm of an excellent church)...
This was what I was asked to speak on today to people looking forward to pastoring youth churches and the Lord inspired me on Lessons from the fisherman...in Luke 5
Having established that the bulk of Jesus' Disciples were fishermen converted to fishers of men, we can pick up lessons from their lives on church planting.
My emphasis is on the story of Peter in Luke chapter 5, his attempt to catch fishes at the River can be likened to trying to plant a vibrant church, the following things are important
1. Character of the Pastor-Peter like many other fishermen had a great attitude. Those who understand the dynamics of fishing will know that fishermen are strategists, they set their traps for fishes and patiently await their catch. You will see hard work in their lifestyle, the discipline with time was evident in the time they went out to fish. fish over the night, a lazy person can't be a successful Pastor. Despite toiling without result, he stayed and toiled all night. Peter also exhibited a good/cheerful attitude to Jesus despite his failure. Great Pastors don't give up, they have a large heart, they are accommodating, and well able to connect with people. A great character with little anointing is better than a great anointing with a bad character. We all must work on ourselves and yield more to God. Your anointing can attract people to you but your character is what keeps them with you
2. Right environment- Peter went to the river to fish not a well. An excellent environment is key to building a perfect church. To catch a multitude of fishes, you don't go to a small river or a well.
The geography of this river shows that it lies on the ancient Via Maris, which linked Egypt with the northern empires. The Greeks, Hasmoneans, and Romans founded flourishing towns and settlements on the land-locked lake including Hippos and Tiberias. The first-century historian Flavius Josephus was so impressed by the area that he wrote, "One may call this place the ambition of Nature." Josephus also reported a thriving fishing industry at this time, with 230 boats regularly working in the lake. Archaeologists discovered one such boat, nicknamed the Jesus Boat, in 1986. Jesus came to this area because there was a cluster of people around the river who could be preached to. The church is not a hidden place, it's meant to be a city upon the hill where the light can shine.
Create a standard environment to attract your target audience.
3. Peter had the right tool-you cannot pastor a 21st-century church with the rod of Moses, you need contemporary wisdom and direction under God. When God called Joshua after the death of Moses, he didnt ask him to take the rod of Moses. Many old generation churches are folding up today because they are still fishing with hook when others have moved up to nets. Yesterday's wisdom won't suffice for today's problems. The internet particularly has become a smart kingdom tool to reach the younger generation who seem to live on the net more than they live on land. Hence every pastor must become amphibious to get this generation out of the waters into the church. Break every cultural bondage, God lived in the box(Ark) in the old testament but He now lives in men to the end that he can use our dynamic nature in meeting the needs of the last days.
Excellence must show in Language, sound system, music, Packagings etc
4. He had the right team (fellow fishermen)/Amos 3:3...you must build yourself a great team that shares the vision, knowing exactly what you want to get done. David built a company of ordinary men into warriors. Gone are the days when anybody comes to church and works, people now need to be trained, immersed into God's vision, to keep the boat of a church afloat. When Peter eventually caught a multitude of fishes, the team was relevant to his life. There are assignments and results that God will give you in life, if you don't have the right team, the boat will sink. Moses needed Aaron & Urr. A Gehazi at the back of Elisha is a deficit to the church. Invest in the men that God brings to you, raise a great team from them. As a matter of fact, God will wait for you to raise a team that can handle the kind of harvest that he wants to give you before he brings the harvest. He doesn't want you to sink.
5. He gave Jesus a platform (He exalted Jesus) All of the above is the package necessary for the 21st century but despite all of that ....all PACKAGE without his PRESENCE makes no DIFFERENCE. Peter still failed at his task with the right character, tool, team, and environment until he yielded his platform to Jesus. A well-tailored suit without the anointing of God makes you a model in clothing, not a Pastor. A fantastic grammar without the unction of God makes you a motivational speaker, not a preacher. I have seen churches where it looks like systems have replaced the Spirit. Packaging has replaced power. I have seen all forms of 21st-century Paparazzi, beautiful packing, but we can't lay hold on the presence of God. I had rather preferred sitting upon a holy ghost bench than a padded chair.
21st-century churches must be careful not to package Jesus out of the church. Without the power of God, it is nothing but a social gathering, it is the presence of God's spirit that makes it a church.
You need to give Jesus a space ...Peter gave Jesus a platform...we must also exhort Jesus in His church. There are times you prepare a well-researched message and the Lord gives you fresh, spontaneous inspiration, it may not make sense but it will make spirit if you give Him his place.
Do packaging but pursue power, set up systems but give the Spirit His pride of place. Speak grammar but speak in tongues, sing contemporary songs but sing Hymns and spiritual songs, welcome all and sundry but preach the truth. Encourage sinners but rebuke sin. For as long as Jesus has his place, the church will remain excellent.
Thanks & God bless
#ThePurposePreacher
