Ep. 025 | Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement

Written By Bart Blair

10 Necessary Elements in Church Revitalization

Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Biblical Foundations for Church Transformation: More Than Church Potlucks and Fun Times

July 1, 2025

Episode 25: Show Notes

Episode Overview

In this milestone episode marking one year of the Revitalize My Church podcast, hosts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant continue their series on the 10 essentials for church revitalization, based on insights from Terry Long of the North Carolina Baptist Association. They explore two critical elements that struggling churches need: gospel-centered fellowship and missional engagement. This episode reveals why surface-level community isn't enough and how churches can become truly missionary-minded in their local context.

How to Create Gospel-Centered Fellowship in Churches That Need Revitalization

Gospel-centered fellowship goes far beyond potluck dinners and social gatherings. Nathan Bryant explains that many revitalizing churches function primarily around Sunday morning experiences and may have meaningful relationships, but lack the "deeper fellowship of interconnectedness that allows for true deep community where real discipleship takes place."

Key Characteristics of Gospel-Centered Fellowship:

  • Vulnerable community: Creating safe spaces for confession, accountability, and real spiritual conversations

  • Life-on-life ministry: Moving beyond listening to teaching toward discussing application together

  • Biblical accountability: Where people confess what God is telling them to do and follow up on obedience

  • Transformative engagement: Relationships that actually change how people live out their faith

The Problem with Traditional Church Community:

Most churches focus on large group experiences (Sunday worship, Sunday school) where relationships remain surface-level. While these relationships may be meaningful and long-term, they don't provide the intimate context needed for true spiritual transformation.

What Steps Can Pastors Take to Move Churches Beyond Surface Level Relationships

Creating gospel-centered fellowship requires intentional steps and cultural change, especially in churches where people have known each other for decades but haven't experienced deeper spiritual community.

Practical Steps for Pastors and Church Leaders:

  1. Visit and participate in churches that are successfully doing gospel-centered fellowship

  2. Create an incubator group with 4-5 solid families rather than trying to implement church-wide immediately

  3. Experience it yourself first - leaders need to understand the value before asking others to participate

  4. Teach the biblical foundation through preaching before launching programs

  5. Start slow but intentional - focus on quality relationships over quick expansion

Essential Elements for Success:

  • Smaller group contexts where vulnerability is possible

  • Regular spiritual conversations about how God's Word applies to daily life

  • Accountability structures that encourage obedience to Scripture

  • Prayer and confession as normal parts of community life

What Does Missional Engagement Look Like for Struggling Churches

Missional engagement focuses on what churches do outside their building to connect with their community. Nathan defines it as "what we're doing with our lives in the corporate nature of the church, the group nature of the church, and the individual lives of the members of the church to actually connect and engage that community we're trying to reach for Jesus."

The M0 to M5 Cultural Distance Framework:

  • M0: People already like you (current church members)

  • M1: People similar to you who might naturally fit your church

  • M2-M3: People in your community who don't think/believe like you but are reachable

  • M4-M5: Cross-cultural mission requiring significant adaptation

Most churches can effectively reach M1 and M2 people in their community, but must intentionally focus outward rather than hoping people will simply find them.

How Churches Can Think Like Missionaries in Their Own Community

The cultural landscape has shifted dramatically. As Pastor Jeff Bogue noted, "We're no longer the home team, the church is the visiting team now." This means churches must adapt their approach to engagement.

Three Levels of Missional Engagement:

  1. Corporate Level: Church-wide events and initiatives focused on community connection

  2. Group Level: Small groups and ministries engaging together in outreach

  3. Individual Level: Church members being intentional in their existing relationships and networks

Key Principles for Effective Missional Engagement:

  • Focus on existing connections rather than creating entirely new programs

  • Think process, not events - building relationships takes time and multiple touchpoints

  • Coordinate efforts across all three levels for maximum impact

  • Define your target - who is God specifically calling your church to reach?

How to Build Relationships That Lead to Gospel Conversations in Your Community

Missional engagement isn't about immediately sharing the gospel with everyone you meet. It's about building the trust necessary to eventually gain permission for gospel conversations.

The Relationship-Building Process:

  1. Connect with people where they are in your community

  2. Build relationships through consistent, authentic interaction

  3. Create spiritual thirst through genuine care and godly character

  4. Move toward church involvement when appropriate

  5. Share the gospel when God opens hearts and opportunities

Important Cautions About Events and Outreach:

Large-scale events can introduce your church to the community and build awareness, but they rarely result in immediate church attendance. The most effective path to new people visiting church is through trustworthy personal relationships built over time.

Why Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement Work Together for Church Growth

These two elements create a powerful synergy for church revitalization:

Fellowship Fuels Mission:

  • Authentic spiritual community creates overflow that attracts outsiders

  • Deep relationships within the church prepare members to love difficult neighbors

  • Gospel-centered fellowship provides the support system needed for effective outreach

Mission Strengthens Fellowship:

  • Serving together in evangelism creates deeper spiritual bonds

  • Shared stories of God's work in mission build stronger community

  • Team-based approaches prevent isolation and build accountability

Preparing for Growth:

Churches engaging in missional efforts must be ready to receive the people God brings. This means creating welcoming environments where newcomers feel comfortable without compromising biblical truth.

What Bible Verses Support Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement

What Resources Help Churches Implement Small Group Ministry and Outreach Strategies

  • Episode 12: Adam Ehrlichman on Build Groups - small group ministry training and resources

  • Episode 17: Six Principles of Evangelism - team-based evangelism strategies

  • Hugh Halter: Author of "The Tangible Kingdom" and advocate for "missionary-ish" thinking

  • Terry Long: North Carolina Baptist Association - 10 essentials for church revitalization

What Practical Steps Can Church Leaders Take to Implement These Strategies

For Pastors:

  • Visit churches successfully doing gospel-centered fellowship

  • Start with an incubator group of committed families

  • Teach biblical foundations before implementing programs

  • Define your community target and develop coordinated outreach strategies

For Church Leaders:

  • Focus on creating smaller contexts for deeper spiritual conversations

  • Develop accountability structures that encourage biblical obedience

  • Think "missionary-ish" in all community engagement efforts

  • Prepare your church culture to welcome newcomers effectively

For Congregation Members:

  • Seek opportunities for vulnerable, gospel-centered community

  • Examine existing relationships for missional opportunities

  • Make space in your life for new relationships with non-believers

  • Think process rather than event when building relationships with neighbors

What Topics Will Be Covered in Future Church Revitalization Episodes

The hosts will continue their series on the 10 essentials for church revitalization, covering additional vital elements from Terry Long's research with the North Carolina Baptist Association.

Podcast Information:

If this episode was helpful, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share with other church leaders who could benefit from these insights.

Bart Blair
Next

Ep. 024 | Implement the DREAM Church Strategy