Recently I was asked to be a part of the Blog Tour for Larry Osborne’s Sticky Church. Needless to say, I was really honored. A few days later I found out that I was being asked to kick off the tour by reviewing the first chapter. I was blown away. Then I got the book in the mail and read back cover right away. I was a little afraid of what I’d gotten myself into.
Why was I nervous? Larry uses the phrase “closing the back door of the church” a lot, and honestly I’m not a big fan of that phrase. To be fair, the reason for my dislike of the phrase is not a logical one but an emotional one. As a friend to many small group pastors and as a consultant, I’ve heard that phrase used (and abused) a lot. Some pastors treat small group ministries like the “brass ring” that’s going to fix all their church growth problems and keep people from leaving. Sadly, just as often as lack-of-group-connection, the cause for the open back door is a pastoral, organizational, leadership, or systematic problem. Many times church leaders turn a blind eye to these other problems and simply blame small groups for the open back door. So, because I’ve seen the “back door” phrase misused I was wondering what I might find when I opened Larry’s book.
Thankfully, I was relieved when I started reading! Sticky Church is not about maintaining attendance, it’s not about filling the auditorium, it’s not about finding a cure all for your church growth woes. Sticky Church is about making disciples.
In chapter one we are challenged to rethink the harvest. Often we think that a great harvest is when masses make a decision for Christ, but Osborne challenges that mindset. Farmers don’t celebrate and call it “harvest” when seeds sprout tiny green buds for the first time. It’s not “harvest” until the plants have grown to maturity and produce fruit. A Sticky Church is a true “harvest” Church that keeps the majority of their new converts by helping them grow to maturity. It’s time everyone, let’s get “Sticky!”
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Please read the other blogs on the blog tour here. You can pick up a copy of Sticy Church here.
Related Post Harvest Aug17 17 August 2009, by Steve Corn I read a blog by Alan Danielson this morning that brings home a concept that’s been rolling around in my head […]
I was the same way Alan. My years of small group leadership and everything I thought I know about pastoring them was certainly challenged by the book. We have made some changes and are loving it! Looking forward to reading your blog tour entries.
Thanks, Lisa, for letting me know how some of the Sticky concepts are working for you! I’d love to hear more.
Thanks also to Steve for quoting me in your blog!
I love that perspective that you shared here about the harvest not happening until the plants grow and produce fruit! That certainly is a shift in thinking for most of the church! Good stuff dude…
Thanks Dan. Love your picture! It made me laugh!!!