Every church is directed (driven) by some force:
By tradition
By personalities
By finances
By buildings
By programs
By events
By the unchurched
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
Jesus said, “. . . I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it!” Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
“By the grace of God, I laid a foundation a foundation as an expert builder . . . But each one should be careful how he builds . . . for his work will be shown for what it is. The fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-14
Four things this verse tells us:
1. God uses skilled people to build his church “an expert builder.”
2. Your ministry will be tested by God.
WHAT MAKES A CHURCH PURPOSE DRIVEN?
WHAT A PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH IS NOT:
IT IS NOT ABOUT YOUR DOCTRINE OR DENOMINATION
There are now Purpose Driven Churches in practically every Christian denomination and association around the world - including Pentecostal, Reformed, Catholic, Evangelical, Protestant, Orthodox, Fundamental, Charismatic, Mainline, and others.
We work WITH denominations to strengthen their churches, encouraging congregations to maintain their heritage, uniqueness, and convictions. Instead of focusing on our differences we focus on helping churches do what Jesus called every church to do: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. Everyone agrees with that.
IT IS NOT ABOUT YOUR WORSHIP STYLE
Purpose Driven churches worship in thousands of different styles around the world – using liturgical, charismatic, traditional, contemporary, country, multi-sensory, casual, and other formats. What matters is that worship is offered to God “in spirit and truth” (authentically and accurately).
IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING CONTEMPORARY OR RELEVANT
What matters is being biblical & being effective. Everything man-made eventually goes out of style. The only way to always be relevant is to focus on what’s eternal. Don’t focus on what’s in style. Any church that fails to fulfill the purposes Jesus established for it is not really a church!
IT IS NOT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE TRYING TO REACH
There are Purpose Driven churches reaching different age group: (Builders, Boomers, GenXers, and Millennials) ministering to all kinds of lifestyle group: (such as cowboys, bikers, professionals, singles, artists, surfers, academics, boat people, post-moderns), and using hundreds of different languages.
IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING “SEEKER-SENSITIVE”
Purpose Driven churches are committed to the purpose of evangelism, not any particular method of evangelism.
IT IS NOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR CHURCH
Purpose Driven churches come in all sizes and shapes. The Purpose Driven strategy focuses on balance, health and strength, not size. There is no correlation between the size and strength of a church. Purpose Driven is a church health strategy, not a mega-church strategy.
IT IS NOT ABOUT YOUR LOCATION!
Purpose Driven churches are found all around the world, with more outside of the United States than here. Purpose Driven is not an American strategy – it’s a biblical strategy, so it has proven to work everywhere.