A comparison of several different approaches to the form of the church, developed by Bethel and Grecia Reyes Manuel for TUL530

1. Shape of the Church
Grecia Reyes &
Bethel Margareta

2. Snyder’s 8 Principles
 Leadership Structures
 Work of Holy Spirit
 Preaching and Teaching
 Sacraments (Lord’s Supper, Baptism)
 Small Groups
 Large Groups
 Economic Sharing
 Evangelism

3. Organic Church
 Works equally well regardless of economic or ethnic status and
geographic location
 Works in community, naturally multiples by planting seeds,
highly contagious in nature
 Focus’s on personal relationships, targets a receptive network,
and uses individuals with the appropriate knowledge/experience
to provide leadership
 Practices “evangelism” through networking, engaging in the
local community and their needs, and ministering to the
spiritually and physically needy

4. Western Church
 Focused on specific demographic/location, maintained material
wealth (importance of building structure for example)
 Elects personable, influential leaders instead of those who may
be called by the Holy Spirit and in possession of spiritual gifts
 Evangelism based on numbers (people as numbers instead of
spiritual beings) versus being relational and focusing on
discipleship, physical and spiritual needs etc

5. Simple/House Church
 Love commitment to one another instead of membership based,
less structured more personal/intimate
 Theology bases on discipleship, creates a community of
followers who gather together to worship, love, and care for one
another through sharing
 Led solely by the Holy Spirit, their mission is to go out and share
in the name of Christ
 Often meets in homes, nurturing relationships through small
group ministry
 Three component: truth, relationship, mission

6. Cell Church
 Grassroots concept, personal ministry, considers themselves a
channel that allows others to participate and grow
 Minister is main leader but is assisted by a group of leaders who
help direct him/her
 The body ministers to the needs of the body, discipleship
through producing leaders, cell leaders, body participation, they
don’t see themselves as professional ministry
 The church is THE BODY, they care for one another as would
family, focuses on the needs of the people and their personal
challenges

7. Natural Growth Church
 Growth is not based on the skills and wisdom of men but rather
is a naturally occurring phenomenon, thus they leave behind
pragmatism and marketing methods
 Build spiritual momentum, determine minimum factors, identify
obstacles of growth and apply biotic tools to improve
 Principle oriented versus model oriented (doesn’t use other
churches as models but sticks to raw principles of growth)
 8 principles of growth (universal principles): empowering
leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate spirituality,
functional structures, inspiring worship services, holistic small
groups, need oriented evangelism, and loving relationships

8. Structural Elements Traditional (Western) Organic/Church DNA
Simple/House
Church
Church Ouside the
Walls
Cell Church Healthy Churches Post-Christendom
Defined Leadership
Very defined leadership roles:
Pastoral staff, Deacons, Elders,
Choir Director, Youth Director,
Sunday School teachers, etc.
Not as defined, builds
off strengths of
people. Necessary for
their to initially be the
church
planter(Apostle). Also
a good core group of
leaders is essential
led by
laypeople. Each
person brings
gift/talent.
against defined
leadership, speak
out against
hierarchy
There is a Pastor but
ministry responsibility
falls on lay people.
The people recognize
themselves as the
Church
empowering
leadership of those in
community/congrega
tion. Gift Oriented
Ministry
undefined. Open to
interpretation based
on cultural context
Birthed in Evangelism
and work of Holy
Spirit
Rarely evangelistic or seeking
the Holy Spirit. Maybe once or
twice a year at Christmas and
Easter reach out in an
evangelistic way to community
rooted in evangelism
and dependent on
the Holy Spirit. Core
group able to
combine spiritual
intensity with fun and
laughter
reaches
unchurched-
those
intimidated and
tired of
traditional
church. Holy
Spirit led.
reaches out to the
unchurched. Those
who have left the
church.
yes people at church
are responsible ot
evangelize. Strong
focus on outreach
and evangelism as cell
group responsibility
need-oriented
evangelism.
Passionate Spirituality
Incarnational. cross-
cultural evangelism
Preaching/Teaching
of word
Very structured. Only paid
staff or those chosen by paid
staff are able to preach/teach
the word. Taught once a week
on Sundays in a large
gathering and lasts no less
than 15 minutes and no more
than 45 minutes
There is preaching
and teaching but not
as structured. May
not happen initially. Is
not forced. Comes
naturally at the
leading of the Spirit
yes,
participatory
and discussion
oriented
done in
community. Not a
formal setting.
Doesn't want God
to be a part of life
but to Be Life!
happens in cell group
in unformal setting
and large group in a
formal setting
small and large group
Word important.
Creativity is
important for how
message
communicated.
Culture relevance.
Sacraments: Lord's
Supper/Baptism
Depending on what tradition.
Catholics receive communion
every Mass. Protestants
usually once or twice a month.
Baptisms as well may be
performed each service but
usually one Sunday a month or
every other month is set aside
for Baptism. Also depending
partake in
sacraments, but
conducted by lay
people
break bread
together
weekly and
spoke of the
community
aspect rather
not done in a
formal setting
stay in formal church
setting
formally done or
informally done. No
set structure