Jump Start # 4016
Acts 2:47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past
Rule of Thumb
Recently, I received a publication called, Ministry, which is published by the college of Biblical Studies at Oklahoma Christian University. This publication is devoted to church growth and finding ways to get congregations more active in the Lord’s work.
The summer issue of this paper contained an article called, “Rules of Thumb.” It was based upon Win Arn’s The Church Growth Ratio Book. Listed in the article were several factors to see “How does your church measure up to these church growth ratios?”
Included in the list were:
Auditorium capacity rule of thumb: 80% occupancy is the point at which U.S. churches tend to plateau in growth.
Classroom space rule of thumb: 80% occupancy is the point at which classes tend to plateau in growth. Regarding classroom size, young children need 25 sq ft. per child. Youth needs 12 sq ft each and adults need 10 sq ft each.
Parking rule of thumb: 90% occupancy is the general maximum for U.S. churches.
Acreage rule of thumb: One acre of land for every 100 members.
Ministerial rule of thumb: One full time minister for every 150 members.
Elder ratio rule of thumb: One shepherd for every 40-50 adult members.
Deacon ration rule of thumb: One deacon for every 25 members.
Giving rule of thumb: for an urban church, $20.00 per member per week.
Conversion rule of thumb: For every 100 members, there should be 10 baptisms per year.
Evangelism rule of thumb: For every baptism, 100 contacts must be made.
Now let me share a few of my own observations about: Rules of thumb.
1. The above list of rules are lacking Bible verses to support these claims. This is a serious matter.
2. These rules of thumbs smell of a denominational business model stench that is built upon the premise that Wall Street marketing is better than the old Jerusalem model. Rules of Thumb may work in business and school but not necessarily the kingdom of God.
3. Our only rules, whether thumbs or big toes, ought to be the word of God. We do not need rules, guidelines or creeds to set forth our direction or pattern. God’s word is able to provide all that we need (2 Tim 3:16-17).
4. Can you imagine the apostles in Acts 2 looking to buy 30 acres of real estate because 3,000 souls had been baptized? In Acts 4:4 when 5,000 more were baptized, the apostles would have to find another 50 acres of land. The Bible says they were devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word and not the acre/member ratio. They were in the preaching business not real estate business.
5. What if a church did not measure up to these rules of thumb? Would that mean the church was dead? Would a church be considered less than faithful for not having 25 sq ft. per child in a classroom? Rules like these would pronounce Noah a failure and Paul as ineffective because they did not produce great results.
These Rules of Thumb will not help us. Congregations that want to grow should follow the plans of the N.T. Ephesians 4;11-16 is God’s rule of thumb, and that is for every member to actively do his part. This, inspiration tells us, causes the growth of the body.
The early church turned the world upside down and that was without any real estate.
Roger
October, 1994