Introduction to Natural Church Development

01/24/08 | Mark Sanders

The Essence of NCD

  • NCD focuses on increasing the quality of church rather than on numerical growth goals. This emphasis on Church Health has proven to be the key to ongoing growth and multiplication.
  • The center of NCD is the ‘All By Itself Principle'. All NCD principles are answers to the question: How can this God-given growth potential be released?
  • NCD encourages creativity, authenticity, and diversity. Rather than selling a specific church model, NCD helps Christians and churches to discover and develop their individuality.
  • NCD assists believers in rediscovering central Biblical concepts and relating them to their everyday lives. Only success factors that pass the "Bible Check" are incorporated into the NCD tools.
  • It Works! Churches that have done 3 or more NCD survey cycles have increased their average growth rate by 51% between the first and third survey.

We plant
We water
God gives the increase

 

Eight Quality Characteristics

  • Empowering leadership
  • Gift-oriented ministry
  • Passionate spirituality
  • Functional structures
  • Inspiring worship service
  • Holistic small groups
  • Need-oriented evangelism
  • Loving relationship

Passionate Spirituality

  • Spiritual enthusiasm influences others to deepen their spiritual walk. (interdependence)
  • The church finds ways to allow individuals with spiritual passion to express it publicly so others are challenged to grow in their faith. (multiplication)
  • The church capitalizes on a fresh move of the Spirit and looks for new avenues for expression. (energy transformation)
  • People engaging in spiritual disciplines find ways to encourage others to be involved. (multi-usage)
  • Spiritual disciplines practiced on a personal level impact corporate spiritual disciplines and vice versa. (symbiosis)
  • The ministries of the church result in people falling more deeply in love with Jesus. (functionality)