If you have not yet read the 2009 book, The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshal and Tony Payne, I highly encourage you to do so. I referenced this book in my sermon last week, and many people commented on how the metaphor of the Trellis and the Vine was helpful to them.
If you are not familiar with the book, Marshall and Payne effectively use the Trellis and a Vine metaphor to describe the various ministries and functions of a local church. Some people are drawn to Trellis work, while others are drawn to Vine work. Both are important for a church to remain healthy and produce disciples. The problem is that we often focus on either Trellis work or Vine work to the neglect of the other.
If you have already read The Trellis and the Vine, let me suggest reading, The Vine Project by the same authors. I‘ve had the book for a while now but am just starting to read it (actually, restarting it…sound familiar?)
The following is from the back of the book:
In this much-anticipated book, Colin Marshall and Tony Payne answer the question they have been asked countless times by pastors and church leaders all around the world since the publication of The Trellis and the Vine. The question goes like this:
Look, I’ve read your book, and it expresses what I have always thought about Christian ministry. But as I kept reading, I had this sinking feeling that what actually happens in our church is still a long way from the kind of disciple-making ministry vision you outline and that I believe in. So my question is this: What can we do about it? How can we shape the whole culture of our church around disciple-making?
In the Vine Project, Marshall and Pay provide a roadmap and resources of this sort of church-wide culture change. The book guides your ministry leadership team through a five-phase process for growth and change, with biblical input, practical ideas, resources, case studies, exercises and projects along the way.
If you have not read The Trellis and the Vine, I highly encourage you to do so. If you have already read it, consider reading The Vine Project with me!