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NCD combines empirical research, a more intuitive observation of nature, and the study of scripture to show that there is indeed a link between the quality of congregational life and church growth. Based on research from over 1,000 churches in 32 countries on six continents, NCD is both scholarly and practical.
Schwarz delineates the difference between our "technocratic" thinking which relies on human effort and what he calls a "biotic" or natural approach, which rediscovers God-given principles of growth and life. In five concisely written and helpfully illustrated sections, he lays out four building blocks and ten action steps toward church development which focuses on a quality of church life which naturally brings numerical growth as well. The book is organized as follows:
1. Building Block #1: What should we do? – Contents more»2. Building Block #2: When should we do it? – Timing more»3. Building Block #3: How should we do it? – Method more»4. Building Block #4: Why should we do it? – Background more»5. Ten Action Steps to implementation more»
Building Block #1: What should we do? – Contents
Schwarz recognizes early in the book that there are many models of church growth which churches are called upon to imitate. Many of these models are the so-called "megachurches" which have had outstanding success in church growth. Schwarz recognizes that while we have much to learn from these models, they do not fit all churches. His research project focuses on the principles inherent in successful churches, which he analyzes according to both quality and numerical growth patterns.
Schwarz identifies 8 quality characteristics which, when all present to a sufficient degree will practically guarantee numerical growth. These characteristics are as follows:
1. Empowering leadership
2. Gift-oriented ministry
3. Passionate spirituality
4. Functional structures
5. Inspiring worship service
6. Holistic small groups
7. Need-oriented evangelism
8. Loving relationships
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Building Block #2: When should we do it? – Timing
In Part 2, Schwarz anticipates the objection of many people that it is practically impossible to work on all of these areas at once. He explains what he calls the "minimum factor" which most limits church growth. The most fascinating illustration is to think of a church as a barrel of water made up of eight staves corresponding to the eight quality characteristics of Part 1. Most of the staves may be long, representing high quality, but the church won’t "hold water" or grow numerically if one stave is short. He then goes on to show how we can use the strengths of a congregation to address and improve the weaknesses.
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Building Block #3: How should we do it? – Method
In Part 3, Schwarz explains in much more detail the difference between the "technocratic" thinking that we have become accustomed to and the "biotic" principles, which he wants us to rediscover. He identifies six main biotic principles:
1. Interdependence
2. Multiplication
3. Energy transformation
4. Multi-usage
5. Symbiosis
6. Functionality
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Building Block #4: Why should we do it? – Background
In Part 4, the principles gleaned from nature are examined against the Bible. Schwarz identifies what he calls a "bipolar theology" throughout the New Testament in which a dynamic pole, emphasizing organic growth and freedom, must constantly interact with a static pole, emphasizing technical building and the human mandate to bring order to creation. He characterizes this interaction by saying that the dynamic pole produces the static pole, which in turn stimulates the dynamic again.
Schwarz identifies dangers to the right and left when one pole is missing. Too much emphasis on the static pole produces a monism, which looks only to a technocratic paradigm. He thinks that this has been the tendency of some of the church growth movement. On the other hand, however, he laments the overemphasis of the dynamic pole, which produces a dualism, or what he calls a spiritualistic paradigm. Those with a spiritualistic paradigm tend to think that a work is not really from God unless it is "supernatural," appearing to be in violation of the "normal" laws of nature that God has ordained. (NCD is both an art and a science!)
**Schwarz believes deeply that dependence on God means that we take seriously God’s "normal" or "natural" way of working while continuing to be open to God’s surprises. He goes on to make a powerful case for "bipolarity" and delineate how it is different from the dead end of pragmatism.
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Ten Action Steps to implementation
With so much to think about in the four building blocks, Part 5 is a welcome and very practical list of ten action steps toward natural church development...
1. Build spiritual momentum
2. Determine your minimum factors
3. Set qualitative goals
4. Identify obstacles
5. Apply biotic principles
6. Exercise your strengths
7. Utilize biotic tools
8. Monitor effectiveness
9. Address your new minimum factors
10. Multiply your church
(Adapted from material by Christian Schwarz)
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