Motivating Church Health with Theology

2006·1.4 MB·English

by  David Meckley

MOTIVATING CHURCH HEALTH

WITH THEOLOGY

VOLUME 1

A THESIS

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF

GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY

DAVID MARK MECKLEY

DECEMBER 6, 2006
CONTENTS
VOLUME 1

LIST OF CHARTS AND GRAPHS ………………………………….. vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS …………………………………..……… vii

DEDICATION ……………………………………………………..….. x

ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………...…. xi

Chapter

1. THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING …………………………….…1
Purpose of Study ………………………………………………....… 1
Importance of Study ………………………………………………... 1
Statement of the Problem ………………………………………….... 4
Research and Hypothesis ………………………………………….... 4
Definitions ……………………………………………………….... 10
Assumptions ………………………………………………………. 13
Scope and Limitations of the Study ……………………………….. 14
Summary …………………………………………………………... 15

2. THEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK ………………………………...…16
Introduction ………………………………………………………... 16
God’s Special Revelation ……..…………………………………... 17
Applying God’s Special Revelation to Motivate Change …………. 23
Literary Devices …………………………………………………… 30
Biblical Instances of Change ……………………………………… 32
Divinely Ordained Change ………………………………………... 35
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Coping with Resistance as a Leader ……..………………………... 40
God Motivates Change Using Theology ………………………….. 41
Jesus Motivates Change Using Theology …………………………. 45
People Motivate Change Using Theology ……………………….... 56
For Repentance …………………………………………................. 62
For Knowing God …………………………………………............. 68
For Salvation …………………………………………..................... 69
For Appropriate Worship ………………………………………….. 69
For Bringing an Offering to God …………………………………. 73
For Restoring Church Unity ………………………………………. 74
For Equipping Leaders …………………………………………..... 75
For Godly Living ………………………………………….............. 78
For Sound Doctrine …………………………………………........... 89
The Angel of the Lord …………………………………………...... 97
People Motivate God to Change Using Theology ………………… 97
God Motivates People to Resist Change Using Theology …..…… 100
Summary …………………………………………......................... 100

3. LITERATURE REVIEW ……..…………………………………………… 102
Introduction …………………………………………..................... 102
The Phenomena of Change ………………………………………. 103
Theory of Motivation …………………………………………...... 108
Ecclesiastical Change …………………………………………..... 160
Historical Approaches to Ecclesiastical Change ………………… 167
Contemporary Approaches to Ecclesiastical Change ……………. 171
Summary …………………………………………......................... 193

4. RESEARCH QUESTION AND DESIGN …………………………….……194
Introduction …………………………………………..................... 194
Purpose of the Project …………………………………………..... 194
Project Setting …………………………………………................. 196
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Implementation of the Project ………………………………….... 198
Preparation for the Project ……………………………………….. 199
Application of the Project ………………………………………... 206
Measurement Design …………………………………………..... 218
Purpose of the Measurement …………………………………….. 219
Design of the Measurement …...…………………………………. 219
Summary …………………………………….………………….... 225

5. RESULTS …………...……………………………………........................... 226
Introduction …………………………………………..................... 226
Implementation of the Project …...……………………………..... 226
Means of Measurement …………………………………………... 227
Summary of Results …………………………………………........ 228
Summary …...…………………………………….......................... 243

6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS …….……………………………..…. 244
Introduction ………………………………..……………………... 244
Review of the Problem and Applied Treatment …………………. 244
Summary of Thesis Chapters …………………………………….. 247
Conclusions and Recommendations …………………………...… 258

Appendices

1. NEWSLETTER ARTICLE AND ANNOUNCEMENT ……….. 270

2. SURVEY INSTRUMENTS AND RESULTS ………………….. 273

BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………... 283

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CONTENTS
VOLUME 2

Appendix 3

A CHURCH AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART ……………………….… 301

VITA …..…………………………………………………………..…. 475

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LIST OF CHARTS AND GRAPHS

1. Dynamic and Static Poles ………………………………………...... 25

2. The Individual’s Wheel of Change ……………………………..… 152

3. Worship Attendance 1984-2004 ………………………………..… 196

4. Survey Questions 3, 4 & 19 Related to the Primary Thesis …….… 230

5. Willing to Implement Changes: Small Group Participation …...…. 231

6. Willing to Implement Changes: Chapters Read in Book …………. 233

7. Secondary Survey Questions 18 & 20 Related to Thesis ……….... 234

8. Willing to Pray and Strategize Ways to Improve Church Health .... 235

9. Willingness to Become More Involved in Church: Male-Female ... 236

10. Willingness to Become More Involved: Member-Non-Member …. 238

11. Willing to Become More Involved: Serving-Not Serving ……....... 238

12. Cross-tabulation: Small Group Participation and Willingness to
Increase Involvement ……………………………………….......... 239

13. Cross-tabulation: Read Book and Willingness to Increase Involvement
…………………………………………………………………...... 240

14. Willingness to Become More Involved in Church: Read Book ….. 240

15. Survey Questions 3, 4 & 19 Related to the Primary Thesis … 255-256

16. Secondary Questions 18 & 20 Related to Thesis …………….…… 256
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project could never have been completed without the support of so
many wonderful people in my life. As coach John Wooden once said of
basketball, “It takes ten hands to score a basket.”1 First, I am grateful for the Hand
of God Almighty who sustained me throughout this process. To God be the glory.
Praise God for the praying people of Christ Church of Beaver Springs. Your
understanding, support, and patience as I labored through this project are
profoundly appreciated. Thanks to all who inquired of my progress along the way
and did your best to make sense of my rambling replies. Special thanks to my
colleague Pastor Matt Christ who rose to the challenges at Christ Church during
my sabbatical with poise, character, prayer and exemplary faith. Consider
yourself officially initiated. Special thanks to Phyllis Coleman and Kay Phillips
who do all my work for me week to week, our deacons, council and all of our
leadership team. Special thanks to Steve Kline, who could always relate, and
Carm Wright, whose support, probing and transparency testified to the value of
this research. I am indebted to Gwen Kline who generously loaned me her
excellent books on inspiring worship. Special thanks to all those who printed,
compiled, and bound those first 600 copies of A Church After God’s Own Heart

1 John Wooden and Steve Jamison, Wooden on Leadership (New York: McGraw Hill,
2005), 124.
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in our church fellowship hall. Thanks to all the members of Christ Church,
without you this project would not have been possible.
My deepest thanks to my mentor, Dr. Kent Edwards, whose continual
push for excellence and insightful direction enabled this project to be far more
helpful than otherwise possible. All the shortcomings contained herein are my
exclusive contribution. Dr. Steve Macchia provided much needed encouragement
at a crucial juncture when my resolve was flagging. I appreciate the opportunity to
interview with him on his work in church health. His focused insight helped me
personally and professionally. Dr. Gary McIntosh, who writes as an experienced
guide familiar with the terrain of church health, expanded my understanding with
his publications long before I was privileged to meet him in person. Thank you
for the gracious way you challenged me, helping me think more profoundly about
the issues examined in this paper. I so appreciate your taking the time to address
my many questions.
Thanks to Pastor Carl Shank, a premier Natural Church Development
Coach, who not only read my drafts, but responded with insight and precision.
Likewise to Pastor Lin Smalec who critiqued all the initial drafts of what I
thought was my thesis originally. Anyone reading A Church After God’s Own
Heart can thank Lin whose honest critiques pushed me to write more clearly.
I am so indebted to Dr. Bryan Auday at Gordon College for his guidance
in preparing the final survey and statistical analysis. I could not have done this
without you. My thanks to Jordan Fast and all the helpful staff at the Gordon-
Conwell libraries in South Hamilton, Charlotte, and Jacksonville for your tireless
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“search and rescue” of needed books. I am certain you are the second most
relieved people to see this project completed. I also appreciate the use of the
libraries at Susquehanna University, Evangelical School of Theology,
Westminster Seminary and Princeton Seminary. Thanks to Chiyi Chen, who was
most gracious in helping me secure so many valuable resources. Also, thanks to
Herb & Sharon, Sherry and Brian Anderson, for their hospitality and
encouragement.
I so appreciate the professionalism and sensitivity of Gordon-Conwell’s
Doctor of Ministry team, led by Dr. David Currie, Director of the Doctor of
Ministry Program, and Dr. Dave Horn, Director of the Ockenga Institute. Thanks
to Bridget Erickson who was forever a smiling face of encouragement. All the
staff are top drawer. Also thanks to Linda Trimstra who helped refine my writing
craft more than once.
I am especially grateful for my family: PeggyAnne, EllaMae, Hannah,
Charis and Mark. You are more precious to me than I can find words to express.
Thanks for your grace, patience, encouragement and understanding while I was so
consumed in my study.

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Sola Dei Gloria

(For God’s Glory Alone)

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