Crucial Prelude to Multiplying New Testament type Churches
Guidelines to prepare to multiply churches, about 8 minutes
Participants
 Larry
 Conner
 Lillian
 Khichi
 Prompter:      Shout a brief line and Echoes repeat it.
 Echoes:         Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.
Larry |
My wife Lillian and I are frustrated. |
Conner |
I’ll try, Larry. |
Lillian |
We followed this church planting manual carefully, Conner. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Every detail! |
Conner |
That is the problem, Lillian. Too many details! |
Larry |
Now wait a minute, Conner! |
Conner |
You did your best, Larry, with what you knew at the time, |
Prompter & Echoes |
Needless baggage! |
Lillian |
You want to cut out details, Conner, |
Conner |
Don’t ask all the members to change; there’s an easier way. |
Larry |
That makes sense! What are the essential guidelines, Conner? |
Conner |
The first and most crucial is to obey. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Obey the King of Kings! |
Conner |
Seven general commands sum up all that Jesus ordered; |
Larry |
I remember them: |
Conner |
Very good! Another essential guideline is to simplify. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Nothing more! |
Lillian |
That goes against the modern current, Conner! |
Conner |
It does; all movements of God do, ever since the apostles. |
Larry |
This is helpful, Conner. |
Conner |
The third and last guideline is to model. |
Larry |
Obey, simplify and model! Yes! |
Lillian |
Where did you get these guidelines, Conner? |
Conner |
From Jesus and his apostles. |
Prompter & Echoes |
No better source! |
Larry |
Lillian, a few days have passed; look at what God has done. |
Conner |
Hello, Brother Khichi, now that you know Jesus, |
Prompter & Echoes |
Share your faith! |
Conner |
Do it just as Larry and Lillian did with you; |
Khichi |
Yes. I remember. Jesus died and rose from the dead |
Larry |
I’ll go with you at first if you want, Khichi, |
Lillian |
When should Khichi be baptized, Conner? |
Conner |
Right away. The apostles did only one thing before baptizing. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Go to the family! |
Larry |
Another day passes, and we meet again. |
Khichi |
Larry baptized me in our bathtub, Connor; |
Lillian |
It was not public? |
Larry |
Scripture does not require baptism to be public; |
Khichi |
Baptism left me really encouraged; |
Lillian |
Conner, did Larry do those things too rapidly? |
Conner |
No. It is impossible to obey Jesus too quickly. |
Khichi |
I am so glad you did not delay it! We are so happy! |
Larry |
We dipped them into one cup; |
Khichi |
Larry told us then that our own church had been born, |
Conner |
Khichi, God holds you responsible, as head of your family, |
Khichi |
Absolutely! However, I will need Larry’s coaching. |
Conner |
Yes, and you will need God’s power; |
Larry |
Two weeks go by, and we meet again; |
Khichi |
Larry had us plan to whom we would go and tell about Jesus. |
Conner |
You must start other churches in your social network, Khichi. |
Prompter & Echoes |
A regional church body! |
Lillian |
But that will take tons of work, Conner! |
Conner |
Yes, Lillian. That is why we let the new believers do it. |
Lillian |
How do we motivate them to go witness to others, Conner? |
Conner |
Lay hands on them, as you did for Khichi; let God empower them. |
Larry |
People received Jesus in one place; in another we wasted time. |
Conner |
Yes, but first make sure that the way you witness for Jesus |
Khichi |
Larry teaches us with Bible stories |
Lillian |
Now I see why we must cut out so many man-made customs |
Conner |
We are eager to do all the valuable activities |
Larry |
Yes! We see that now! |
Prompter & Echoes |
Thank you, Lord! |