**Now let’s talk about how to lead a church.**

Eight characteristics of a BFAM Church:
1. It treats church members like family, not like attendees.
2. It focuses on God’s word instead of a gifted teacher/leader.
3. It relies on the power of the Holy Spirit more than human energy.
4. It equips saints to do the work of ministry, not to sit in church.
5. It prioritizes obedience above knowledge.
6. It decentralized leadership instead of centralizing it.
7. It prioritizes the development of individuals, not building crowds.
8. It encourages people to go make disciples, not just to come be one.

Once a Discover Group is fully transitioned into a New Testament church, it should generally include:

**Exhortation** – a time when we engage in specific conversation about how each of us are doing, and how well we’re obeying what Jesus commissioned us to do. Here are five questions we ask each person:

1. **Thanksgiving:** What are you thankful for, or concerned about?
2. **Walks With God:** Are you on a “Walk” with God? How many steps did you take this week? What did you hear and what will you do differently?
3. **Prayer Walking:** Did go Prayer Walking, meet a Person of Peace or start a Discover Group this week?
4. **Prayer & Help:** How can we pray for or help you or someone you know?

**Prayer and Ministry** – a time to pray for the needs of one another, to pray for needs outside the church, and to pray for direction, power and more laborers to be sent into the harvest. Allow various members to minister as the Holy Spirit leads them.

**Worship** – a time to give thanks, worship and speak praise to God. This can happen through speaking, singing and other scriptural expressions.

**Communion** – a time (at least monthly) to share the Lord’s Supper and focus on Jesus and what He has done for us. Along with thanksgiving, we receive the purchased benefits by faith and commit ourselves to love others as Jesus loved us.

**Offering** – a time to worship the Lord with our tithes and offerings. A brief introduction and scriptural exhortation is shared followed by prayer and giving. No physical offerings are collected in church. Giving can be done electronically or by mail (or when close enough by dropping it off to a campus or ministry office). All general fund giving, such as tithes and general offerings, will be used to advance Operation BFAM through whatever branch your church is a part of. 100% of all designated giving (i.e. missions giving) will be used toward the specific ministry stated.

**Teaching** – a time to focus on God’s Word to allow Him to speak to us, both as individuals and as a church. We study verse-by-verse through books of the Bible beginning with John, Acts and Romans. Among other things, John teaches us about the Person of Jesus Christ, Acts teaches us about the Holy Spirit and the Church, and Romans teaches us the doctrines of salvation through Jesus. The teaching time is designed to begin with insightful, well-studied teaching about what the verses say and mean, and then to use the collaborative approach of Discover Groups to discuss how they apply to our lives.
-**Preparation** – the teacher will prepare to teach by studying and answering three questions about the verse(s) being studied (see “How to Teach Verse by Verse” on the BFAM App under #5 “PLANT”):

1. What does it say?
2. What does it mean?
3. What does it mean to me?

-**Live Teaching** – After announcing the book and chapter being studied, the teacher will lead the group in prayer and use the following four-question format:

1. What does it say? (taught by teacher)
2. What does it mean? (taught by teacher)
3. What does it mean to us? (group discussion + teacher’s application)
4. How will I respond in faith to this truth? (encourage each person to discern what the Holy Spirit is leading them to do, and if possible, to share it with the group)

1. Make one main point.
2. Watch for the truth or promise that moves your heart. This is likely the truth that will move their heart as well.
3. As people are responding, guide the flow of discussion. Sometimes one person will be caught up in what they are saying and take too much time. Watch for them to take a breath, and kindly take back the discussion.

**Response** – a time for us to discuss and respond to what God taught us, and to commit ourselves to obey.

**Fellowship** – a time for meaningful conversation with one another to be encouraged and strengthened as believers.

**Sample Church Gathering**
-Exhortation, Prayer and Ministry – 25 minutes
-Worship (Communion) – 20 minutes
-Giving – 3 minutes
-Teaching and Response – 30 minutes
-Fellowship (after service)

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