What if?

What if intense persecution broke out in the USA today?  How would the church handle it?  Would we still meet at the building? Rely on programs?  What would change?  How would we maintain our vertical relationship w/ God, our relationship with other believers and continue to witness to those outside the faith?

I would argue that Life Transformation Groups (LTGs) or groups of 2-3 individuals meeting for accountability, scripture study and prayer would be the answer.  When they hit 4 individuals they are divided into two groups of 2.  They are easy to do covertly (if that is what is necessary), but keep an element of witness/outreach at the forefront.

Now lets ask "What if revival broke out and 3,000 people showed up at your church on Sunday?  Most churches wouldn't meet in the building or have programs that could sustain that kind of influx, so what would have to happen or change?  Here I argue that the natural solution would be a cell church model with LTGs being a key component to disciplining that many individuals.

These two scenarios provide some of the reason why we at Faith Baptist Church have started moving in this direction.  LTGs are up and running and this fall Community Groups (CGs) or cell groups will launch.  I can also add that if neither of these two scenarios happen I believe that this model is what will eventually produce reproducing disciples.  If we continue to rely on programs all we will continue to produce is faithful attenders/consumers and quite honestly I do not have time for that.

Blessings,
PT