The five practices of a fruitful congregation are: (1) Radical Hospitality; (2) Passionate Worship; (3) Intentional Faith Development; (4) Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and (5) Extravagant Generosity.
These five practices naturally flow into one another: "These words capture the core process by which God uses congregations to make disciples--congregations offer the gracious invitation, welcome, and hospitality of Christ so that people experience a sense of belonging; God shapes souls and changes minds through worship, creating a desire to grow closer to Christ; God's Spirit nurtures people and matures faith through learning in community; with increased spiritual maturity, people discern God's call to help others through mission and service; and God inspires people to give generously of themselves so that others can receive the grace they have known" (7).
The adjectives in the five practices - radical, passionate, intentional, risk-taking, and extravagant - "intensify them toward the unexpected and the exemplary" (9). We are not just talking about "friendly" hospitality, "helpful" service and mission, or "prudent" generosity. These bland and safe adjectives do a poor job of describing the ministry of Jesus.
If these five practices are at the heart of a fruitful congregation - and they certainly seem to be - then the task of the church is to repeat, deepen, extend, teach, and improve these practices.
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