DO YOU:

PREACH TO THE "MULTITUDE PERSON" IN AT LEAST ONE WEEKEND WORSHIP SERVICE? If not, who do you target? Just believers?

PREACH TO THE "DISCIPLE" IN THE MIDWEEK WORSHIP SERVICE?

If you have a midweek service, who do you target? If you don't have a midweek service, when do you preach to the "disciple"? Do you have a worship service where you can consistently preach expository sermons (as well as one where you touch the "multitude person")?

PREACH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR CONGREGATION?

Does the congregation have a dynamic sense that they are "partners" with you in preaching, by frequently bringing guest visitors? How long are your sermons on Sunday morning? Are your sermon topics relevant, interesting and biblically based? Are you sure? Would guests hear the Word of God clearly preached in your sermon? Without embarrassing anyone, do you consistently present guest visitors with opportunities to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior? Do you always pray for the sick to be healed?

PREPARE FOR SERMONS WITH INTENSE PRAYER?

Is prayer a primary part of your sermon preparation, as well as the study of God's Word? Do you make a regular practice of "ministering to God" in lengthy, intense prayer before "ministering to the people" in sermon preparation and preaching?

CHOOSE A RELEVANT, NEED-MEETING SERMON TOPIC?

How do you choose a sermon topic? Do you prayerfully ask God to guide you to a sermon topic that will relate God's Word to the daily lives of those who will hear you preach?

STUDY GOD'S WORD?

Are you an avid student of God's Word, both in sermon preparation and in private devotions? Once you choose a sermon topic, do you then prayerfully read and study all the applicable Bible passages you can find? Do you read different versions of the Bible, concordances, commentaries, and Christian books by renowned men and women of faith?

PREPARE A SIMPLE SERMON OUTLINE WITH KEY POINTS?

Do you prayerfully make a simple outline with three to five main points? Does each point on this outline help one know how to better apply God's Word in daily life? Do you then continue in prayer, meditation on each point in that outline until the Holy Spirit gives you fresh understanding on how each truth can best be taught and illustrated to meet the needs of those who will hear? Do people take notes during your sermon? Are they quick to ask for a copy of the sermon tape?

LET THE HOLY SPIRIT BE YOUR SENIOR PARTNER?

Do you continuously recognize and acknowledge the Holy Spirit? Do you welcome Him in the process of preparing sermons and preaching? Do you appreciate Him? Do you consciously depend upon Him? Do you have the sense that He leads while you follow in obedience?

RECEIVE THE PRAYER SUPPORT OF OTHERS?

Do members of the congregation pray daily for you? Are there some strong "prayer warriors" in your church who daily intercede on behalf of you and your family? (If not, how are you going to encourage others to pray for you?) Does the congregation as a whole publicly pray for you before you preach? (This is another form of partnership needed in a local church.)

PREPARE HEARTS TO RECEIVE GOD'S WORD?

What do you do to prepare the hearts of the congregation to receive God's Word? Do you lead the congregation in a time of prayer? (Dr. Cho consistently leads the congregation, among other things, in a prayer for the nation of Korea. Do you lead the congregation in a prayer for our land of America?) Do you sing an anthem that reflects your church's beliefs? Do you lead the congregation in spontaneous song before the sermon? Do you invite the congregation to greet one another?

PREACH WITH AUTHORITY? Do you clearly know that you have heard God's direction in what to preach? Do you then boldly preach a relevant message, with a sense of "thus saith the Lord" (and yet are not condescending or condemning)? Do the people of the congregation often say, "God used your sermon to speak to me?"

FILL YOUR SERMONS WITH HOPE?

Do you preach from the pulpit of Mt. Sinai, with a focus on what people "must" do, often picturing God as angry and displeased? Or do you preach from the pulpit of Mt. Calvary, giving people faith and hope in the Cross and in the finished work of Jesus Christ? If you were to ask the people of the congregation what sermon approach you usually took, which of the four men in the story about the stubborn donkey would they say you are?

HELP PEOPLE SUCCEED IN LIFE?

What are your goals in preaching? Through the truths you present in preaching, are you helping people succeed in life--that includes family life, work life, spiritual life, and leisure? Are there many stories in your congregation of people who have been positively impacted by your sermons?

USE MEMORABLE ILLUSTRATIONS?

Are your sermons both simple and memorable, laced with illustrations from Scripture and from everyday life? (Remember that we live in a visual, TV nurtured generation. Word pictures carry much more power than a spoken principle alone.)

USE ILLUSTRATIONS CURRENT TO YOUR CULTURE THAT REFLECT BIBLICAL VALUES? Do you strive to use illustrations that are current to our American culture, yet reflect biblical values? Do you consciously attempt to keep current with the news and trends, and preach relevant sermons?

CONCLUDE WITH A PRAYER OF APPLICATION?

Do you abruptly end your sermon? Or do you conclude by giving a clear invitation to salvation? Do you lead the congregation in a time of prayer, to begin applying the truths of that sermon to their hearts? If repentance and soul-searching is appropriate, do you allow time for the congregation to do this? Do you then pray for the sick? Do you ever lead the congregation in repeating key phrases or thoughts from your sermon, to help them further apply the truths they heard to their hearts and minds?
 
 

DO YOU:

TEACH LIFE-TRANSFORMING DOCTRINE?

Have people ever been healed, and their lives dramatically impacted, by what you teach or preach? Do you teach people to exercise faith in God's Word and promises?

TEACH BIBLE-BASED DOCTRINE TO ALL AGES?

Is Bible-based doctrine taught to all ages in your church? Would children growing up in your church become adults with strong theological and biblical foundation? Do you provide Bible classes to those who desire more Bible knowledge?

TEACH THE BLESSINGS OF SALVATION?

Do you repeatedly teach the prime importance of salvation and man's spiritual relationship with God? Do you teach the blessing of prosperity, salvation from poverty? Do you teach the blessing of physical health, salvation from sickness?

LIFT UP THE CROSS OF JESUS?

Is the Cross of Christ paramount in all your teaching? Is the goal of your teaching to draw men and women into deepening relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you provide opportunity for people to respond to your call to salvation?

TEACH THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Do you believe and teach that the Holy Spirit's role extends beyond regeneration? Do you believe and teach the fullness of the Holy Spirit? That the fullness of the Holy Spirit includes empowerment, as well as a new prayer language?

TEACH PROSPERITY AND BLESSING? Do you teach that God also desires to bless us materially? That God provides for those who seek first His Kingdom and righteousness? That financial giving is an act of faith in God's promises?

TEACH THE HOPE OF JESUS' SECOND COMING? Do you teach the hope the believer has in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? That one must focus now on building the Kingdom of God?

EXPECT CRITICISM? Do you expect criticism for teaching the full range of God's blessings through the Cross of Jesus? Do you react in a Christ-like manner to criticism?

BATHE ALL TEACHING IN PRAYER? Do you bathe all teaching in prayer? Do you pray intensely before and after teaching?
 
 

DO YOU:

PRAY WITH FAITH-FILLED REVERENCE?

Do you believe and teach others to be reverent when coming to God in prayer? Does the congregation consider the church building a holy place of prayer? Do people value prayer more than all the other practices of the church? Do you have concert prayer? Does the congregation see prayer as a vital act of faith in God's goodness? Is prayer practiced more than it is explained or discussed?

HAVE REGULAR PRAYER MEETINGS?

Do you encourage participation in prayer meetings as another action of faith? Do you have regular daily prayer meetings? Weekly? Do you personally attend and model this as important?

ADAPT TO CHANGING NEEDS AND SCHEDULES?

Are the times of the church's prayer meetings convenient to you or to the people of your congregation? Do you carefully and prayerfully change the schedule to meet the needs and schedules of participants? When people are in desperate need, are they quick to come to one of your church's prayer meetings, known even by people outside the church because of the many answers to prayer participants have received?

HAVE A VARIED FORMAT FOR PRAYER MEETINGS?

In your current prayer meetings, do you have a varied, interesting format, conducive to lengthy prayer meetings?

PREACH A FAITH-INSPIRING SERMON?

Do you consistently preach a faith-inspiring sermon near the beginning of every prayer meeting? Do you base you sermon on a faith-building Scripture text, using relevant pointed illustrations which provoke greater belief in God and His Word? Do you have congregational singing? Lead in concert prayer for personal needs?

SPEND TIME IN CONCERT PRAYER FOR IMPORTANT NEEDS?

Do you spend an appreciable amount of time leading concert prayer for specific local, national, and international needs and concerns?

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR TESTIMONIES OF ANSWERED PRAYER?

Do you have a time for faith-filled testimonies of answered prayer? In larger settings, do you take time to pre-select these testimonies, focusing on the ones that will build the most faith? In smaller settings, do you have a given period of time for people to spontaneously share answers to prayer?

ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO BRING UNBELIEVERS WITH NEEDS TO PRAYER MEETINGS?

Do members of your congregation bring unbelievers with unmet needs to prayer meetings, believing God will work on their behalf? Do people value the benefits of participating in prayer meetings more than the physical effort required? Do you?
 
 

DO YOU PRACTICE AND TEACH OTHERS TO:

PRAY WITH AWARENESS OF THE UNSEEN SPIRIT REALM?

Do you believe in the reality of an unseen spirit realm, with two unequal opposing sides? One ruled by Jesus Christ, filled with His angelic beings? The other ruled by Satan, filled with this demonic hoards? Does this awareness impact and lead to greater seriousness in prayer? Have you ever cast out a demon, or seen anyone else do this in prayer?

ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE AND EMPOWER PRAYER?

Do you highlight the importance of the working of the Holy Spirit guiding and empowering one's prayer life? Do you believe, practice and teach the fullness of the Holy Spirit, especially as He impacts one's prayer life? Do you have a separate weekly service or opportunity for people to pray for His fullness? Do you pray persistently with people until they receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit? Are people in your congregation quick to share with others how the Holy Spirit and His fullness has made a marked difference in their lives?

PRAY WITH A PURE HEART?

Do you highlight and apply the importance of praying with a pure heart, repenting of any known sin? Do you encourage and model beginning a time in prayer with repentance? Do you also highlight and apply the importance of having right motives? Do people in your congregation tell how their prayers were answered, once they prayed with a pure heart?

PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL?

Do you often encourage people to align their prayers with God's Word? Do you make an active effort to teach the Scriptural foundation of what God's will is? Do you sometimes give people "Scripture assignments" to aid them in their prayer times?

PRAY SPECIFICALLY?

Do you encourage people to pray specifically? Have you made a practice of praying specifically in your own life? Do you encourage others to pray with specific prayer-birthed goals in mind? Do you share stories of answered prayer in your own life?

PUT FEET TO YOUR PRAYERS?

Do you practice and encourage others to accompany their prayer with an action of faith, to "put feet to their prayers"? Do you give specific ideas or examples of what these actions of faith could be? Do you teach and encourage financial giving as an accompanying act of faith?

PRAY WITH PERSISTENT AGGRESSIVENESS?

Do you practice and teach others the importance of being both aggressive and persistent in prayer? Have you seen the impact of those persistent prayers on the local level? National level? International level? Have you been persistent and aggressive enough in your prayer life?
 
 

DO YOU:

HAVE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN RETREAT FROM DAILY DISTRACTIONS TO CONCENTRATE ON PRAYER?

Is this place removed enough from the nearby city, yet close enough to be a convenient hour's drive by car or bus? Do you provide rooms or dormitory space where visitors can spend several days in prayer and fasting? Do you have prayer grottos or their equivalent, where individuals can go for private times of prayer?

HAVE NEEDED STAFFING?

Do you have needed administrative staff who help visitors register, and also manage and maintain the grounds, housing and chapel(s)? Do you have a multiple pastoral staff who focus solely on ministry, with set times for prayer counseling?

HAVE MULTIPLE WORSHIP SERVICES?

Daily do you have one or more worship services, each with a faith-inspiring sermon, spirited congregational singing, and a longer than usual time given to prayer? Do you have one worship service each day that is just for those who desire to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit? Is the pastoral staff present at each worship service, at some point going among visitors to lay hands on them, and pray for them? Do you actively encourage all visitors to participate in every worship service?

ENCOURAGE FASTING AS WELL AS PRAYER?

Do you constantly teach and give literature showing the Scriptural basis for fasting and prayer? Do you teach the benefits of prayer and fasting? Do you teach and give literature about the basic principles important in fasting (such as how to begin and end a fast, the importance of repentance, what to do during a fast)? Do you explain or give literature showing various approaches that can be used in an effective fast?

EXPECT THAT PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? Do you continually point people to the Holy Spirit as Jesus' promised Comforter? Do you provide opportunity for visitors to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, even to the point of having one service each day just for that purpose? Have many of the visitors to your retreat received the fullness of the Holy Spirit?

EXPECT ANSWERS TO FAMILY AND BUSINESS PROBLEMS?

Do you believe and teach that God is concerned with every aspect of our daily lives--including family and business problems--and that prayer and fasting can help bring solution? Have many of the visitors to your retreat received answers to their family and business problems?

EXPECT PHYSICAL HEALINGS? Do you believe and teach that Jesus heals today, and that prayer and fasting can help to bring God's healing touch? Do you encourage people with sicknesses and diseases, even those doctors have given no hope, to come to your prayer retreat? Have many of the visitors to your retreat received physical healings?

EXPECT HEALING OF EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS? Do you also encourage people with emotional problems to come to your prayer retreat, sometimes repeatedly? Have many of those visitors received healing of emotional problems after prayer and fasting?
 
 

DID YOU:

HAVE A CRISIS THAT BROUGHT A TURNING POINT IN GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR CHURCH? Did you, like Moses and Dr. Cho, come to a point of crisis when you realized that you needed to share leadership with others if you were to continue pastoring effectively? Did you make rather "untraditional" adjustments as a result of this crisis, putting more leadership into the hands of others?

REALIZE THAT "CHURCH IN THE HOME" IS GOD'S BIBLICAL PLAN?

Did you study Scripture--including such passages as Acts 2:42-46 and Exodus 18:13-27--and become firmly convinced that "church in the home" is God's biblical plan for your church? Did you clearly communicate the biblical basis for groups to those in leadership?

FIND THAT TRADITIONAL THINKING CAUSES PROBLEMS?

When you tried to begin having home groups/small groups, did you find your plan rebuffed, mainly by traditionally thinking people who wanted to "do things the way we always did before"?

USE WOMEN AS LEADERS? Did you then turn and use women--or people not generally considered leadership potential--as leaders?

PERSIST PAST THE PROBLEMS? Did you become discouraged by the problems that developed, and then drop the groups? Or did you then make adjustments, realizing that groups were God's will for your church, and persist past the problems?

SET CLEAR GUIDELINES? Did you set clear guidelines for the groups, touching on such areas as: length of meetings, format, whether outside guest speakers would be allowed, whether personal loans would be allowed in the group, how any offering would be handled, written reporting, how the group should multiply (or divide)? (Note: One potential guideline in our American culture is that no one should use the group or group members in any multi-marketing scheme, or use the group or group members as "customers" in their business; that would confuse the purpose of the groups.)

FIND THAT PERSISTENCE LEADS TO GROWTH? Did you give up on the groups when they didn't grow as quickly as you expected? Or did you continue with the groups, but stopped being so enthusiastic and focused on the groups after a period of time? Or did you consistently persist with the groups, and find that growth resulted?
 
 

DO YOU:

LET THE GROUPS BE VEHICLES FOR GOD'S MIRACLE POWER?

Do your worship services teach members to expect God to move on their behalf when they come to Him in genuine faith? What about your church's prayer life? Do your church's groups have a reputation as places where miracles occur and problems are solved? Have your groups become the fabric of your church, where "church" is more than an event to which one goes, but also a community to which one belongs?

LET PRAYER PERMEATE EACH MEETING? Would the members of your church's groups feel they are already applying the concept: Find a need and meet it; find a problem and solve it; find a sick person and pray in faith for his healing? Do those groups commit to pray for a person until God's miracle power is released on his behalf? Does each group meeting have several occasions for prayer?

FOCUS ON RELEVANT LESSONS FROM GOD'S WORD? Do group leaders use relevant, user friendly curriculum developed by your church, supportive of your church's theology? Is your groups' curriculum firmly based on Bible passages? Does it consistently end with an application focus?

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR FELLOWSHIP AND SHARING? Is the format of each meeting contained within a limited time, such as 60-90 minutes? Does the group then provide opportunity for fellowship, complete with light refreshments? Do you provide opportunity for sharing, where believers can share their testimonies with others?

HAVE HOMOGENOUS GROUPS? Do you have homogenous groups, where participants reach out to others like those in their group? Do you have women's groups? Men's groups? Young single's groups? Children's groups? Is evangelism a primary purpose of your groups?

LET EACH GROUP DETERMINE WHEN AND WHERE IT WILL MEET?

Do you let your groups take the initiative in deciding when they will meet? Where they will meet?

ROTATE LOCATION OF MOST CELL GROUP MEETINGS? Do your groups (with the exception of the children's groups) meet in a different home or place every week? When a group meets in a different home, do they focus their prayers on the host or hostess of that home?

MAKE HOME MINISTRY VISITS BETWEEN GROUP MEETINGS?

Do you group leaders make home ministry visits between group meetings? When they make these visits, do they read Scripture and pray with the person, believing that God will work on their behalf?

ORGANIZE GROUPS FOR GREATEST CONVENIENCE? Have you organized the groups in keeping with your church's values? Have you provided multiple pastoral staff to oversee the groups? Lay "middle management" like section leaders?

SELECT GOOD POTENTIAL LEADERS? What qualities do you look for in good potential leaders? Contagious enthusiasm as a result of a person personally experiencing the power of God? A clear personal testimony easily shared? Dedication to God, God's Word, and those in positions of authority? Consistent tithers? People with access to needed time and money? Leading a Spirit-led life, sensitive to God's guidance in daily life? Do you watch potential leaders, and first appoint them as assistant leaders?

GIVE PROPER RECOGNITION TO NEW LEADERS? Do potential leaders go through an approval process involving others? Do you then recognize them by giving a certificate of appointment, a pocket handbook, a study guide and/or an official attache? Do you show new leaders they are valued, a significant part of the congregation's leadership?

PROVIDE BOTH INITIAL AND ONGOING LEADERSHIP TRAINING?

Do you provide systematic, practical initial leadership training to all potential leaders? Do you provide formal ongoing training, at least on a semi-annual basis? Do you recognize leaders who evangelize (or do whatever is valued in your church)?

DEVELOP THE VITALLY IMPORTANT "MIDDLE MANAGEMENT" SECTION LEADERS? Do you have more experienced lay leaders who provide ongoing "hands on" training to cell leaders? Do these more experienced lay leaders spend weekly time with the cell leaders they oversee? Do they frequently pray together? Talk about problems, and discuss how they can be solved? Visit the cell meetings of the leaders they oversee?

TRAIN MOST OFTEN MY MODELING? Is most of your leaders' ongoing training a "hands on" process of learning by observing more experienced "middle management" lay leaders? By observing staff pastors ministering to others?

DO YOUR GROUPS:

MAKE EVANGELISM THE MOST OUTSTANDING FEATURE?

Do your small group leaders feel that evangelism is like breathing, done whenever and wherever they can? Do your groups intentionally and actively focus on the unchurched in their target area (or target group)? Do you encourage each group to win at least one person to the Lord every six months? Do they not consider the evangelistic process complete until the new convert has also applied for membership in your church (implying that person is active in your church)? Do you, in turn, have an annual occasion when you recognize and pray for the leaders who have won the most people to the Lord that previous year?

ALLOW FOR DIFFERENCES? Do you demand that each group be equally evangelistic, or do you challenge all groups to be evangelistic, making allowances for differences? Do you divide (or multiply) groups on the basis of natural networks (such as people already in close spiritual relationship)?

IDENTIFY TARGET UNBELIEVERS AND SET GOALS? Does each group in your church identify a target area or list of target people they feel God has called them to reach? Does each group then set specific goals with specific time frames?

CONSISTENTLY PRAY FOR TARGET UNBELIEVERS? Do you teach and guide each group to then pray consistently for target unbelievers, both during and between group meetings? Do you provide an intense prayer opportunity--such as all-night prayer and Prayer Mountain--during which group leaders and members can concentrate on prayer for those target unbelievers? Do you also encourage leaders and group members to sometimes pray and fast for target unbelievers?

VISIT AND GIVE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE TO TARGET UNBELIEVERS?

Do your group leaders take at least two hours each week to visit target unbelievers, often leaving them a piece of appropriate Christian literature? Does your group provide multiple copies of interesting, reader-friendly Christian literature that can be used in this process?

ESTABLISH CARING RELATIONSHIPS WITH TARGET UNBELIEVERS?

Do your group leaders and members make effort to establish consistently caring relationships with target unbelievers, showing them the love of Christ?
 
 

DISCOVER AND MINISTER TO NEEDS AND PROBLEMS? Are your group leaders and members sensitive to the circumstances of target unbelievers, actively looking for people with problems? Have your group leaders and members had personal experiences with the power of God themselves, and appropriately share their own stories with those in need of God's transformation? Do any have a practice similar to "holy eavesdropping"? Do they frequently pray for the healing or solution of target unbelievers, believing in faith for God to break through on their behalf?

INVITE TARGET UNBELIEVERS TO GROUP AND TO CHURCH? Do your group leaders and members make an ongoing practice of inviting target unbelievers to group meetings? To worship services at your church? Are they sensitive as to what will be the best entry point for each person? When they invite them to worship services, do they make the extra effort to accompany them? After service, to introduce them to a pastoral staff member? When pastoral staff are introduced to guest visitors, do they take time to talk with them and minister to them? Do your groups see themselves as responsible to "romance" people for Jesus? Even when someone makes a decision for Jesus Christ in a group, are they then sure to bring that person to church to make that decision publicly?

CONTINUE IN CONSISTENT VISITATION AND CARE? Even after a target unbeliever is born again, do group leaders and members see their continuing responsibility to nurture him? Does a staff pastor, accompanied by a lay leader, then visit that new convert? If that new convert is not already active in a group, do you have the equivalent of "section leaders" who can help place that new convert in an appropriate group? Is follow-up and follow through considered important in your groups?
 
 

DO MEMBERS OF YOUR CHURCH SEE GROUP PARTICIPATION INTEGRATED AS A REGULAR PART OF THEIR WEEKLY SCHEDULE? CENTRAL TO ALL THE CHURCH'S MINISTRIES? What is the typical member's perspective about the groups in your church? Does he or she see groups as central to all the church's ministries, or as just another important program? Is 80-90% of your congregation now involved in your church's groups?

WERE YOUR CHURCH'S GROUPS BEGUN AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SENIOR PASTOR'S EFFORTS? Did the senior pastor initiate your church's vision for groups? Did he clearly sense that he was following God's directive in starting groups, or did he begin groups simply because it seemed a good idea?

DOES THE SENIOR PASTOR STAFF IN CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF THE GROUPS AND PASTORAL STAFF? Does he continue to communicate the vision for groups to church leadership and the congregation? Does he talk about testimonies of what God has done in the groups and frequently use them in sermon illustrations? Does he frequently and consistently meet and minister to his pastoral staff? Is he a model of ministry to the staff and group leaders, even going with them to make home and business ministry visits?

DOES 80% OF YOUR PASTORAL STAFF MINISTER SOLELY TO GROUP LEADERS AND PARTICIPANTS? Do they spend their time in personal ministry and training by modeling with a "hands-on" approach, or instead find their time drained by administration? Do they spend the bulk of their daily time making home and business ministry visits, always sure to take at least one accompanying lay leader? Are those on pastoral staff dedicated spiritual people who spend time in daily prayer?

DOES PASTORAL STAFF SELECT AND TRAIN LEADERS FROM THE CURRENT ASSISTANTS/APPRENTICES OF THE GROUPS? Do they actively observe and encourage assistant group leaders, helping group leaders better nurture emerging leadership? Do they provide initial training that is followed by continual "learning-by-watching-and-doing" training?

IS THERE A DEVELOPED AND WORKING ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP OF "MIDDLE MANAGERS" IN YOUR GROUP SYSTEM? Are there "leaders of group leaders" in your system? Are these "middle managers" more experienced leaders who know how to motivate, encourage and direct group leaders to be more effective? Do they stay in continual contact with group leaders, as well as helping leaders minister more effectively to others? Do they take a personal "hands-on" approach in all this?

DOES THE PASTORAL STAFF ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE LEADERS AND GROUPS TO EVANGELIZE AND BRANCH OR MULTIPLY GROUPS?

Do the staff and "middle managers" place high value on evangelism, continually talking, teaching, and praying about reaching out with the group leaders? Do they help the group leaders in this process, encouraging them, and making specific suggestions? When the "middle managers" were group leaders, did they evangelize and multiply their own groups, and now communicate that experience to the group leaders they help develop?

DO YOUR CHURCH'S GROUPS HAVE A VARIETY OF PURPOSES, AND PLACE HIGH VALUE ON WORSHIP? Do participants see worshipping God as a primary aim of group meetings? Do the groups have a variety of purposes, including such elements as singing, Bible study, prayer, ministry to one another, and outreach?

DO YOUR CHURCH'S GROUPS STUDY THE SAME CURRICULUM DEVELOPED BY YOUR CHURCH? Has your church developed curriculum used in the groups and adapted to its own theological distinctives? Is it user-friendly, so that even a novice leader could follow the format and lead an effective group meeting? Does it evolve around relevant subjects that show practical biblical principle?

HAS YOUR CHURCH HAD GROUPS FOR AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS?

(Remember, it takes time, persistence, and patience to develop an integrated system. YFGC has had groups since 1964.)

DID YOUR PASTORAL STAFF:

BEGIN BY SPENDING THE BULK OF THEIR DAYS IN MINISTRY VISITATION? Did you begin with staff pastors (including the senior pastor) visiting homes in your community? Did they pray for the sick and minister to those with needs? Did they include laypeople in this process, also going out in teams?

CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MINISTRY VISITS EVEN AS THE CHURCH GREW? Was the first new person you added to pastoral staff focused on visitation? Even as the church grew, did you continue to focus on visitation, involving even a larger number of laypeople?

SHIFT THE TARGET OF STAFF PASTOR VISITS TO MEMBERS? As numbers grew, did staff pastor visits shift their target to church members, with continual encouragement to laypersons to then do evangelistic visitation? When staff pastors made ministry visits to members, did they take lay leaders with them? Did staff pastors help lay leaders know how to do evangelistic visitation?

VISIT ALL CHURCH FAMILIES AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR? Did the pastoral staff make a concerted effort to make ministry visits to all church families within a certain period of time each year? Twice a year?

PRIORITIZE MINISTRY VISITS? Did staff pastors make a complete listing of the various types of ministry visits? Did they then prioritize these visits, with the most important being ministry visitation to the new convert--until he or she was established in the faith? Did they also visit the sick, the poor, those with financial problems or other difficulties, the weak in faith, those who dropped out of church and cell groups, those desired a prayer of blessing over business or family, as well as those who simply requested a home visit from a pastor?

MODEL MINISTRY FROM THE TOP DOWN? Was and is the modeling of ministry paramount in your church and pastoral staff? Does the senior pastor meet weekly with other staff pastors to minister to them, encourage them (sometimes reminding them of even more difficult days), and pray with them? Does the senior pastor often, sometimes, or at least occasionally go on ministry visits himself?

RESULT FROM A "HOMEGROWN" STAFF? Were staff pastors raised up from within the congregation? Either born again or healed under your church's ministry? Were formerly lay leaders with careers, who well understand the struggles of those to whom they minister? Did 3 out of 4 previously serve as a deacon or deaconess in your church? Did 4 out of 5 previously serve as a cell leader? Did more than half previously serve as a senior lay leader (like YFGC's section leader)?

SET ANNUAL GOALS? Do staff pastors model to their lay leaders not only in ministry visitation, but also in goal-setting? Does each staff pastor set annual goals for the number of new members to be added the upcoming year? The number of new groups? Is goal-setting closely tied to accountability? Are actual figures and goals reviewed monthly, with either commendation or suggestions prayerfully given?

ROTATE EVERY TWO YEARS? Does your church put each staff pastor in a place of ministry for two years, then rotate him to another place (either more or less difficult) for two years? Does your church make annual staff evaluation on the basis of how that staff pastor's area has grown or not grown? While staff pastors are rotated, do lay leaders stay in place (unless their family moves), knowing they will repartner with another staff pastor in two years?

GIVE PRIORITY TO PRAYER? How much daily time do your staff pastors given to prayer? Is the first hour of every working day given to prayer? Does your staff pastor mandate that each staff pastor is to pray for three hours? How have the staff pastors' prayer lives impacted the lay leaders with whom they work?

DOES YOUR CHURCH'S PASTORAL STAFF:

ESTABLISH REGULAR SCHEDULES FOR MINISTRY VISITATION?

Do staff pastors have a set time when they arrive in the office, starting with an hour of prayer? By a specific daily time do they then begin scheduled ministry visits? Do they have one full free day each week, when they can spend time with their spouses and families? Do they establish their regular overall schedule a month in advance? Does each staff pastor typically make 5-7 ministry visits each day (except during a systematic visitation drive, when 10 ministry visits are made daily)? At the end (or beginning) of a day, do they submit a written report to their more senior pastors?

UTILIZE THE IMPORTANT "MIDDLE MANAGEMENT" SECTION LEADER? When a staff pastor visits, does he take at least one lay leader--most often a "middle management" section leader from the area to be visited--with him? Does each "middle management" leader know that he will go on ministry visits with his staff pastor one day each month? Does this "middle management" leader then decide who in that area is most in need of a ministry visit, schedule those visits with those people, thus freeing the staff pastor from administration (with instead a focus on ministry)? Do "middle management" leaders then follow up the ministry visit spearheaded by the staff pastor?

SET A PATTERN OF MINISTRY IN EACH HOME AND BUSINESS VISITED? Do staff pastors have a set pattern of ministry in each visit? Does the staff pastor start with a word of prayer (whether silent or voiced), thus setting a spiritual tone to the visit? Does he ask questions, updating needed information, as well as finding one need or concern as a focus for ministry? Does he then turn to an appropriate Bible passage, and spend a few minutes exhorting that target person or family from God's Word? Does he pray intensely and directly about that one need or concern? Does he close that ministry visit with a prayer of blessing on that home and family? Does he allow his spiritually gifting to flow during this time?

LEAD MONTHLY SECTIONAL MEETINGS IN A LARGE HOME IN THAT SECTION'S COMMUNITY? Does each staff pastor meet with each cluster of group leaders (and desirous cell members)--in YFGC's case, this is done geographically--each month in a home? Is this monthly meeting similar to a worship service, with more focus put on personal ministry than on leadership tasks? Is there some informal time afterward--often over a meal--for leaders to share problems, challenges, and victories with the staff pastor, and receive his feedback? Does the staff pastor then take one or more of those lay leaders as he makes ministry visits to members in that section undergoing sickness, discouragement, and/or difficulty?

MAINTAIN A CONTINUAL POSTURE OF MINISTRY? Does each staff pastor take personal ministry seriously? In each visit, does the staff pastor quickly discern the heart of a situation? Does he seem to know the exact Scripture to turn to, and what word or piece of wisdom to give? Do some respond by nodding their heads, some by crying, while others sigh in relief? Do all seem to value his closing prayers of blessing? Do the lay leaders who go with him sometimes take notes, or ask him questions about ministry? Does he sometimes turn and give instruction about how they are to follow up in ministering to a specific person? Is the staff pastor quick to pray and give a ministering touch in each situation?
 
 

HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR PASTORAL STAFF IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS? Note: A "1" represents the stance of a typical staff pastor, and a "9" represents the stance of a YFGC staff pastor. On a scale from "1" to "9," plot where your staff is:

Orientation in weekday pastoral activities:

"1"--During the week, the staff administrates manages programs departments, and does limited amount counseling in the church office.

"9"-- This staff pastor, comparable to that of YFGC's, spends at four and one- half days a week making ministry visits, starting with prayer, exhorting from the Word of God.

Frequency of preaching/teaching:

"1"--If the senior pastor, will usually preach once twice on Sunday, possibly once in the midweek. If another role on staff, usually teach a Sunday school of Bible study class once or twice a week.

"9"--During most typical day, will visit 5-7 and/or businesses preaching a different mini-sermon or devotional at each place; adds to nearly 25 week.

Location of main function:

"1" - This staff pastor is in the church building teaching and preaching, or in the church office administrating and counseling.

"9" - This staff pastor is "in the field," usually with his lay leaders, ministering in homes and businesses.

Expectations:

"1" - To be an able administrator in the office: planning, teaching, preparing and overseeing programs and departments, which are assumed to result in ministry to participating individuals.

"9" - To be a ministering model, continually accompanied by lay leaders in ministry visitation. The assumption here is that ministry occurs one person or family at a time.

Prayer life:

"1" - Based on the individual staff pastor's preference. Prayer usually has an opening and closing function in most staff meetings; it is also more abstract to pray for programs and departments than it is to pray for people.

"9" - The first hour of each working day is given to prayer, with each staff pastor challenged to pray 3 hours daily. Twice a wee the entire staff meets for prayer and devotions. Longer prayer here is possible with focus on specific people.

Overall stance:

"1" - Fairly passive, for he is to plan and administrate attractive and need-meeting events and programs, usually in the church building, to which others are to come.

"9" - Aggressive, for he, accompanied by lay leaders, ministers in homes and businesses in communities, his main emphasis on ministry in the marketplace, where people live and work.

Result:

"1"--Sporadic growth and maintenance

"9"-Continual growth

DO YOUR LAY LEADERS:

CONSIDER THEIR APPOINTMENT AN "ASSIGNMENT FROM HEAVEN"?

Do they work from a sense of duty or do they realize they are serving God? Are they living examples who have formed a caring network in your church? Do you have one lay leader for an average of 10 to 16 church members? As you congregation has increased, have you also increased your numbers and levels of recognized lay leaders? Were most of your church's lay leaders born again as a result of the ministries of your church?

GIVE TOP PRIORITY TO EVANGELISM? Do your lay leaders actively evangelize through every avenue possible, particularly through their home groups? Are they watchful for receptive unbelievers, often accompanying them to church services?

MAINTAIN A POSTURE OF MINISTRY? Do they frequently make home ministry visits? Do more senior lay leaders consider it their responsibility to check and encourage other lay leaders? Are they persistent in caring for new converts? Do they see two channels of ministry--ministry to the church and ministry to the community--with most focusing on ministry to the community?

MAKE PRAYER VITAL? Do they consider prayer vital, and make a practice of daily private prayer, as well as pray with others when ministering? Do they pray daily for others, including the pastors and leadership of your church? Do lay leaders pray together whenever possible?

BECOME VISIBLE DURING WORSHIP SERVICES? Do select lay leaders serve as ushers, greeters, and parking lot attendants? Does your church use alternating lay leaders in worship services to pray or lead songs? Do lay leaders distribute decision cards, serve as altar workers, and count offerings?
 
 

DOES YOUR CHURCH:

HAVE A WORKABLE PROCESS TO APPOINT LAY LEADERS? Do you have an annual recommendation system, an approval system, and a review system before official appointment is made? Is there a public worship service where the newly appointed lay leaders receive prayer and recognition?

CONFRONT WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM? Is there a Biblical process of confrontation when there is a problem with a lay leader? Is the problem lay leader first dealt with individually, questioned by other lay leaders and even a staff pastor? Told to go on three days of prayer and fasting, if he desires to remain in leadership?

FOCUS ON FAITHFULNESS? Does your church recognize faithfulness in service by appointing lay leaders, and promoting leaders who have a proven record of faithfulness in all areas?

APPOINT DEACONS AND DEACONESSES FROM FAITHFUL MEMBERS? Does your church have a "ladder of leadership" by which faithful lay leaders can grow in responsibility and accompanying recognition? When a member has been faithful in your church for two years, is that person considered a potential deacon or deaconess?

APPOINT CELL LEADERS FROM DEACONS AND DEACONESSES? Are your church's cell leaders then selected from your church's deacons and deaconesses? Is a cell leader given needed training and resources? Do your cell leaders have a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

APPOINT SECTION LEADERS FROM FAITHFUL CELL LEADERS?

After serving effectively for two years as a cell leader, is a lay leader eligible to become a section leader? Do your section leaders oversee three to eight cell groups? Are your section leaders baptized in the Holy Spirit? Are your section leaders active and aggressive in making home ministry visits?

APPOINT SENIOR DEACONS FROM FAITHFUL DEACONS?

Is service as a senior deacon considered a sacred appointment? Is a senior deacon in preparation to become a lay elder?

APPOINT SENIOR DEACONESSES FROM FAITHFUL DEACONESSES? Is a key function of a senior deaconess to accompany a staff pastor on visitation? Is the senior deaconess a spiritual prayer warrior who supports pastors and lay elders in daily prayer and intercession?

APPOINT LAY ELDERS FROM FAITHFUL SENIOR DEACONS?

Have the lay elders in your church come up through a ladder of ministry? Do they make home ministry visits? Minister and pray with others? Form an advising body to the senior pastor through their service on task force committees?

CREATE CHECKS AND BALANCES? Is the annual projected church budget overseen by the lay elders, with each ministry area and department having an assigned lay elder working in tandem with a staff pastor? Does this assigned elder then act as a liaison between that ministry and the approval of that ministry's projected budget?
 
 

DOES YOUR CHURCH:

HAVE MORE PEOPLE AND HOURS INVOLVED IN OUTREACH "CLASS II" WORK THAN IN INREACH "CLASS I" WORK? Where do most of your church's lay workers focus their energies: on "inreach activities" that serve the existing church ("Class I" work), or on "outreach activities" that influence and affect unchurched persons ("Class II" work), in order to bring them to faith in Jesus Christ and to ongoing relationship with your local church? If you were to divide the hours your church's lay workers spend into inreach and outreach activities, what would your church's comparison be?

ORGANIZE INREACH THROUGH LAY LEADERS' FELLOWSHIPS? Do you encourage your female lay leaders to join a Women's Fellowship, responsible for activities ranging from the preparation of the communion elements, to ushering and greeting, to collection of food and goods for the poor and needy? Do you encourage your male lay leaders to join a Men's Fellowship, responsible for activities ranging from traffic control and ushering, to oversight of the men's cell groups, to the follow-up of new converts? Do you encourage the more senior female lay leaders to join an organization like the Senior Deaconesses' Fellowship, involved in daily prayer and intercession, ministry visitation, and the financing of such efforts as indigent Bible school students and church planting? Do you encourage your more senior male lay leaders to join an organization like the Senior Deacons' Fellowship, involved in activities that range from the counting of the church's offerings, to visiting and ministering to discouraged male cell group leaders? Are these organizations entirely lay run, without one staff pastor involved (if there is any official staff, is it paid lay staff)?

GIVE PRIORITY TO OUTREACH FELLOWSHIPS? Does your church give higher priority--that includes better visibility, better office space--to fellowships designed for outreach, or fellowships designed for inreach? Does your church have outreach oriented cell groups? Does your church also offer alternative forms of outreach to specific target groups? Can it be said that a catch-phrase in your church is, "To live is for evangelism; to die is for the Kingdom"? Are outreach and evangelism top priority in decisions, activity and attitude in your church?

OFFER DOMESTIC OUTREACH FELLOWSHIPS? Does your church have outreach fellowships that target diverse occupations and segments of your society? Do you have an outreach fellowship to help grow and finance struggling churches? To help support your church's media ministry? To reach police and military personnel for Jesus Christ? To provide entertainers an avenue of using their talents for the Gospel? To minister to the outcasts of society? To visit prisoners, and give them Christian literature?

OFFER INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH FELLOWSHIPS? Do you have international outreach fellowships which aid evangelism in their target areas? Do they send and support all types of Christian media to those areas? Do they also support missionaries either sent out by the church, or affiliated with your church? Do they send clothes, food and supplies to needy Christians in their target areas?

OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF INVOLVEMENTS IN INREACH AND OUTREACH, INVOLVEMENTS THAT ARE AT A TIME CONVENIENT TO THE CONGREGATION? Are these involvements meaningful and satisfying? Do they take place at a time most convenient to your church's members, even if that means staffing offices at non-traditional times? What is your church's attitude about Sunday? Is the entire Sunday regarded as the Lord's Day, to do His work and service?

ALLOW ROOM FOR INITIATIVE? Does your church have clear lines of communication and delegation of authority to and within each fellowship? Does your church allow much room for individual initiative? Do volunteer lay leaders run most of those fellowships, with only an occasional paid lay staff person in larger fellowships?

ENCOURAGE CHURCH MEMBERS TO GIVE EXTRA MONIES TO FUND YOUR FELLOWSHIPS? Do you fund these fellowships through the regular church budget, thus maintaining control and ensuring support? Or do you simply provide space for offices and activities in the church facilities, and encourage church members to give beyond regular giving to these fellowships, allowing each fellowship to survive on its own support and under its own control?

MAKE MINISTRY THE FOUNDATION OF RELATIONSHIPS FORMED IN THESE FELLOWSHIPS? Does each fellowship stress the social interaction of participants, or stress the importance of mutual ministry? Do participants pray, worship together, and join one another in study, outreach activities and volunteer work? What is the relationship dynamic present in these fellowships?
 
 

DOES YOUR CONGREGATION:

HAVE MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO AN ACTIVE MINISTRY DYNAMIC? Relevant sermons on the present miracle power of God? Persistent prayer in church services and at a prayer retreat? Cell groups in neighborhood communities? Modeling ministers on pastoral staff who spend most of their days in home and business ministry visits? Open encouragement of lay leaders? Outreach fellowships that touch diverse strata of society?

PRACTICE DAILY FAMILY ALTARS? Does your church provide written resources or guidelines for members' families to use in daily family devotions and prayer? During each worship service, does someone mention the importance of a daily family altar?

PRACTICE BURDEN-BEARER PRAYING? Does your church actively teach and model the importance of praying for others in need, becoming their burden bearers? Do your lay leaders make a practice of consistently praying for the needs of others?

PRAY AT SPECIAL EVENTS? Do your members have Scripture reading and prayer at special events, ranging from birthday parties to business dedications? Do they actively seek the blessings of God in all situations?

PRAY DURING HOME MINISTRY VISITS? Do your lay leaders frequently make home ministry visits to pray and comfort the sick, the poor, and those with problems? Do they search out people they can visit and pray with? Have they been making ministry visits long enough to see the fruit of physical healings and transformed lives?

PRACTICE JERICHO PRAYER? Do your members persistently pray for others, especially during times of urgent need? When a need is desperate, would they go to that person's home to pray with him/them every day for seven days in a row?

PRACTICE DANIEL PRAYER? Do members in a geographical area annually choose a home with a spacious living room where they meet 21 days in a row for worship and prayer? Do they prayerfully bring sick friends and neighbors to these meetings, believing that God will minister to all present?