Sharpened to Serve Families

1. Keep an outward focus.

Luke 19:10 2 Peter 3:9

By October of this year the earths population will reach over 7 billion. That means in the next 100 years over 7 billion people will die and spend eternity somewhere.

Invest and invite.

2. Meet families where they are and love them to Jesus. We are called to be a hospital where spiritually sick families find help not a museum where perfect families are on display.

Matthew 9:9-13 Luke 19:5-10 Luke 7:34 Ephesians 4:15 Luke 14:15-24

3. Make sure the front door shines.

First 8 minutes. 5 questions new families are asking themselves when they walk through the door of your church. o Where do I go? o Will they be friendly?

o Will my kids like it? o Will my kids be safe? o Will there be anyone I can relate to?

4. Make childrens ministry a top priority.

Mark 10:13-16

Throughout the years, society offers the church just a certain number of entrance ramps into the non-church world. At times it has been sports. Then it was marriage enrichment. Today I believe the single remaining common interest or entrance point for non-churched people into the life of the church is children. No matter how lost a guy is, he still usually loves his son. And no matter how off track a woman is, she still has a soft place in her heart for her kids. This means we have a wide-open door to almost every family in every community worldwide when we love and serve their kids. -Bill Hybels When you take a child by the hand you take a parent by the heart.

5. Provide steps for families to get connected and grow spiritually. 6. Make room.

Mark 2:1-12 85% rule

7. Partner with parents. No one has more influence in a childs life than their parents. 1 vs. 167. Always think parents. Partner with families at key milestones in their lives. o Parent & child dedication o 1st Grade Bible presentation o Faith commitment & baptism

o Pre-teen passage o Purity pledge o High school graduation Discussion questions

We have an outward focus. Lookin Out - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lookin In We meet families where they are and love them to Christ. Steps Hospital - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Museum 1. Steps 2. 1. 3. 2. 3.

We make a good first impression with guests. Leavin Smiling - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Not Comin Back Steps 1. 2. 3.

 Childrens Ministry is a top priority at our church. Prime Time - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Basement Steps 1. 2. 3.

We provide clear, easy steps for families to get connected and grow spiritually. Yellow Brick Road - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Maze Steps 1. 2. 3.

We have room to reach families. o Average attendance ______ o Room capacity total ______ o Divide attendance by room capacity = _______% o Room to Grow - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At Capacity Steps 1. 2. 3.

 We partner with parents. Partnership - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Disconnected Steps 1. 2. 3.