Sermon:  Alignment for Mission

Summary:  In order to move people more effectively from salvation, to spiritual maturity, 
to meaningful ministry, all ministries and ministry leaders need to be aligned with and 
committed to the same simple process.  This means that not only to leaders need to 
have theological agreement on core beliefs, they also need to have agreement on 
ministry philosophy (which is usually where disagreements in congregational settings 
stem from).  For this to happen, there needs to be accountability to the process (goal 
setting, feedback, etc.), and implementing the same process in ALL ministries.  This 
will aid in "functional" unity as well as theological unity.

Know:  In order for a congregation to have an effective discipleship process, the 
leaders need to be on the same page concerning the process so that all ministries 
are working in the same direction.  Leaders who "do their own thing" dilute rather 
than maximize effectiveness in discipleship

Feel:  A desire not only for theological unity, but also functional unity

Do:  Starting with the process (not with the current ministries), reflect on how current 
ministries can be tweaked, shaped, or overhauled in order to fit into the overall 
discipleship process, and what type of ministries may be lacking in the process.

Text:  Jn 17:20-23; Eph 4:1-16; Num 13-14

Scripture Reading:  1 Cor 12:4-7

Intro:
1.  Idea of alignment - what happens when not aligned
	a.  Alignment of a car - not run, tires wear out
	b.  Alignment of onboard airplane systems - Get lost, can crash
	c.  Alignment of a broken bone - Not set right, not be able to walk
	d.  We do alignments in so many areas of life
2.  Alignment is very, very important
	a.  Bible uses another word - Unity
	b.  Unity is important
3.  Passages on unity
	a.  Num 13-14 - Spies to Canaan
		1) 13:1-2 - Each tribe to send a leader, and Moses sent Joshua
 		2)  Purpose to survey the land
			a) Purpose was not to decide whether to take the land
			b) God already told them they would have this land
		3)  They rebelled and gave a bad report about the land
			a) Said land devours inhabitants and full of giants
			b) Wanted to appoint leader and return
			c) When Caleb and Joshua encouraged them, they got
 			     ready to stone them
			d) God appeared and wanted to destroy the nation, but
 			     Moses intervened, so God didn't destroy them, but also 
			     didn't allow them to enter the land
		4)  Sad, all died in wilderness except Joshua, Caleb and children
			a) Problem - Did not "unite" around God's plan for them
			b) Refused to trust and follow, wanted to be cared for but did 
			    not want to be led
			c) They united around negativity, criticism, dissension 
			d) God took it very, very seriously - Unity around God's plan 
			     is very important
	b.  Eph 4:1-16 - Unity a main point in this letter about the church
		1) Preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
		2) There is one Lord, faith, baptism, etc.
		3) God have various leadership roles for the building up of the body
		4) Isn't it important for all, especially the leaders to be together?
	c.  (Jn 17:20-23) - Jesus' prayer was for unity
		1) So that the world may know…
		2) Unity is essential in carrying on God's mission
		3) God is not a God of disorder/confusion, but of peace
			- Unity goes hand in hand with God's character
			- Ridiculous thought - Jesus and Holy Spirit want to do their
 			   own things, conflict with the Father - Mission couldn't be
 			   accomplished
			- No, Jesus said he does only what the Father does
			- Father sent Son who sent Spirit - All in perfect unity
		4) This unity needs to be reflected in the church whom the Spirit
 		     empowers and sends to further God's mission.
4.  What is this unity?
	a.  Goes deeper than theological agreement
	b.  Goes deeper than merely agreement on purpose
	c.  Has to be a functional unity - alignment
		- Unity on the ministry process
		- Unity on the "how" we carry out ministry
	d.  All ministries and leaders need to be united on the process.  How?

I.  Same process in all ministries
	A.  One process in all ministries
		1.  The Bible is full of "ones"
		2.  One faith, one Lord, One baptism, One way to God
		3.  There should also be "one simple process" for spiritual growth 
		     and discipleship 
		4.  If not, you get congestion and confusion, and God is not a God 
		     of confusion
	B.  So, out Motto applies in all ministries, - same process
		1.  We are a Christ centered family, learning, sharing and caring
		2.  This should be congregation wide in every ministry
		3.  Only difference would be age appropriate adaptations or life 
	      	     stage adaptations, but the process would still be the same
			a.  Example:  Worship and Junior Worship
				- Children can hardly worship as adults do
				- Part of this is to help them learn how to worship on 
				  their level
			b.  Example:  Graded Bible Classes
			c.  Example:  Ministry teams for adults, LTC for kids
		4.  Why is it important?….
	C.  ILL:  Hypothetical situation - Four people to build a hotel
		1.  Five people to design it and come up with blueprints
		2.  Each person has a different part, they go off and do own thing
			a.  One designed the power plant
			b.  Another designs the lobby
			c.  Another designs the rooms
			d.  Another designs the restraints
			e.  Another designs the grounds and parking lot
		3.  Do you see the problem - Five blueprints that will not fit together
		4.  For this to work, there needs to be an overall plan that fits it all 
		     together into a unified plan 
	D.  This is why the same process needs to fit all ministries together
		1.  If not, things will not fit together, confusion and loss of 
		     effectiveness
		2.  Benefits of the same process in all ministries
			a.  Increased understanding
				- Everyone automatically knows the purpose and 
				  process of each ministry and how it fits
				- Will be greater buy in if you understand
			b.  Increased Unity
				- Many have doctrinal and theological unity
				- Problem is usually with philosophical unity, how to 
				  do get things done, this is where most 
				  disagreements come from
			c.  Families will do the same process
				- Parents and children will go through same process 
				  on their level
				- Parents know what children doing and can reinforce 
				   it
 
II.  Evaluate potential ministries in light of the process
	A.  The natural flow is a move to complexity rather than simplicity
	B.  Each potential ministry needs to be evaluated carefully
		1.  If it doesn't fit into the process it needs to not be implemented
		2.  Needs to happen BEFORE implementation
			a.  If not, and you find a ministry doesn't fit, it is much harder 
			     to phase it out
			b.  Feelings can get hurt, especially from those who have 
			     invested a great deal into a ministry
			c.  Important to evaluate it before implementation
		3.  Often times, can just use existing ministry structure rather than 
	    	      add a new one.
			a.  Examples
				- Most obvious is the addition of a new class for a 
				  baby boom (this is really a ministry expansion, not a 
				  new ministry)
				- Summer series - Used existing structure for period 
				  of introspection, examination, and feedback.
				- VBS on Wednesday evenings, using regular class 
				  times
				- Parenting Class using regular class times rather 
				  than an additional one
			b.  Advantage - Stewardship of resources for mission
				- Will not have to compete for resources (people, 
				  time, money)
				- Will not burn out our people
				- Will have the time to connect with outsiders
					-- If calendar filled with church every night, 
					    hard to connect with outsiders
					-- Avoids the problem of not being "in the 
					    world" and of the world
					-- Need to be "in the world" and not "of the 
					    world"
	C.  ILL:  Mr Potato Head - Know what he is supposed to look like 
		1.  Evaluate each piece and figure out where it fits
		2.  If you don't, could wind up having a strange looking potato
		3.  If you have a strange piece, it wont fit, you don't use it
	D.  Don't want church to be deformed and mismatched
		1.  Each part needs to contribute to the overall picture
		2.  Each part needs to be a part of the process

III.  Accountability to the process
	A.  Need to work as a team behind a common game plan
		1.  We are not a collection of lone rangers
		2.  We need to have a team plan and accountability to it
	B.  Idea of teamwork behind a common game plan is scriptural
		1.  Eph 4:11-12 - Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers
			a.  Various gifts and ministries all working together
			b.  As a team, they equip and build up the body for ministry
			c.  The very term "body" suggests team work
		2.  1 Cor 3:9 - Paul said we are God's "fellow-workers"
			a.  Talking about team work
			b.  Work together with others on the process of ministry
			c.  One plants another waters
			d.  They worked together for the same goals
		3.  3 Jn 9 - Diotrephes apparently had a control issue
			a.  John does not indicate that he was a false teacher
			b.  Diotrephes loves to be "first among them"
			c.  As a result, he did not accept other leaders
				- He would falsely accuse them
				- He forbid his followers to accept other leaders
				- Disfellowshipped those who accepted other leaders
			d.  Diotrephes' problem was personal
				- He was not a team player, he was divisive 
				- Not being a team play was destructive to mission
		4.  This demonstrates that unity goes beyond doctrinal agreement
			a.  Unity is also about team work
			b.  There are to be no lone rangers, but member of a team
			c.  Evangelists, pastors, teacher, etc. lead as a team
			d.  The body ministers, serves, evangelizes as a team
	C.  ILL:  1980 US Olympic Hockey team
		1.  Coach Herb Brooks had a challenge at the beginning
			a.  Group of players from all over the country
			b.  Different styles, different loyalties,
			c.  When he would ask, "who do you play for?" they would 
			    say the name of their team
		2.  Brooks said at one point - I am not interested in having the best 
	  	     players, but the right ones
			a.  One who is gifted but not a team player will not work
			b.  A team player is more important than a gifted player
			c.  This is especially true in leadership!!
		3.  Exhibition game - They did poorly, no team work
			a.  So he made them skate, and skate - (like doing laps)
			b.  Finally, a player yelled out, "I play for the USA!"
			c.  With that he dismissed them, they finally got it!
		4.  They went on to be a champion team and beat the undefeated 
	    	      Russian team
			a.  Wasn't about being the best player
			b.  It was about being a team
			c.  They needed to be accountable to the team
			d.  They needed to be accountable to the game plan
	D.  Ministry Action Plans promote accountability to team work
		1.  We did something similar in Vermont
		2.  It is rather simple:  All ministry leaders come together
			a.  They review the overall purpose and process
			b.  Will have set specific, measurable, realistic goals based 
		 	    on the purpose and process (annually)
				- Feedback, tweeking, and prayer
			c.  Shared with the rest of the congregation
				- Ministry Actions Plans printed and distributed
				- Each ministry leader explains the plans
				- Celebrate victories from previous year and plans 
				  and goals for upcoming year
				- Lots of prayer
			d.  Periodic review over the year
				- Check status of the plan
				- Celebrate progress and victories
				- Identify growth areas
		3.  It helps to go beyond doctrinal unity to "functional unity"
			a.  Helps everyone to see the big picture
			b.  Helps everyone to see where they might fit
			c.  Clear where we are headed
		4.  It helps with team work

Concl.
1.  Alignment behind God's plan is important
	a.  Need to have not just theological and doctrinal unity
	b.  Need a functional unity or we won't function very well
2.  Need to be like Caleb and Joshua
	a.  Unite around God's plan with faith and boldness
	b.  Not around criticism, negativity, and impossibility thinking
3.  A team player is more important than a gifted player
4.  Alignment of ministries AND leaders AND people
5.  Are you Aligned?
	a.  If you have not obeyed the Gospel, then you are not (invitation)
	b.  If you have obeyed, remember that you are now part of a team


================================

 
Small Group Questions:  Alignment For Mission

Summary:  In order to move people more effectively from salvation, to spiritual maturity, to 
meaningful ministry, all ministries and ministry leaders need to be aligned with and committed 
to the same simple process.  This means that not only to leaders need to have theological 
agreement on core beliefs, they also need to have agreement on ministry philosophy (which 
is usually where disagreements in congregational settings stem from).  For this to happen, 
there needs to be accountability to the process (goal setting, feedback, etc.), and implementing 
the same process in ALL ministries.  This will aid in "functional" unity as well as theological unity.


Open:
-  Describe the best team experience you ever had.


Explore:  Jn 17:20-23

1.  How does Jesus describe the unity he wants his followers to have?  What implications does 
this have for they way this unity is to look?

2.  What is one of the purposes of this unity Jesus desires for his people?  How is functional 
unity connected with the mission of God?

3.  Many disagreements are often more on the functional level (the how) rather than a doctrinal 
or theological (the what) level.  Paul reminds us that various leaders are given by God to equip 
and build up the body for ministry, maturity, and mission (Eph 4:11f).  What role do leaders and 
the congregation play in "functional" unity?


Apply:

4.  How have you seen disunity harm a church and its mission?

5.  Why is unity around a ministry approach important?

6.  On a scale of one to ten, how aligned are we around a simple ministry process?  One a scale 
of one to ten, how aligned are our leaders around a simple ministry process?

7.  How comfortable are we with accountability?

8.  What would having the same process in every ministry mean to our programming?


Prayer: