Training Leaders Exercise

This post is the assignment I ask our Missional Community leaders to fulfill prior to our training this Sunday. We will post this training the following week. So, if you want to join us in some training or use this with your leaders, feel free...

MC Leaders,

We are beginning a new format for training this year. Each month on the second Sunday we will have training, 5:30-7:30 pm. The week prior to that training you will receive an assignment that you are required to complete prior to the class. Then, you will worked through your assignment in tangent with the training. After the training you will be given another assignment to work on for the 1-2 weeks following.

Our desire is to effectively equip, not just dump info your way. However, this form of training requires your participation. So, please read and begin working on this week’s assignment…

Gospel Engagement in Story…

Every person and culture has a storyline that includes…Creation, Fall Redemption and Restoration. They don’t all have the same stories within these movements, but they all have these movements in some form:

CREATION: Everyone has a fundamental belief about their Origin – who or what gave them their existence, made them who they are. For some this is another being, god, process, etc… for others, they believe each person is really a self-made person.

The Key Question here is: Who or What do you credit for who you are?

We believe God is our Creator and we are made in His Image.

FALL: There is a reason for why people, community and the world is broken. Each person has a fundamental belief about the cause of brokenness. Some blame their parents, family, friends, boss, government etc… Others blame evil forces, demons, etc…

The Key Question here is: Why are things and people not the way they are supposed to be?

We believe it is because of our sinful rebellion against the Creator God

REDEMPTION: Everyone has a solution they believe in, a remedy they look to or savior they believe in to redeem the brokenness in their life and world. Many are looking to a philosophy. Others look to a plan for self-improvement. Many believe some kind of reform in education or politics will change things. Everyone believes in a Redeemer.

The Key Question is: Who or what will rescue me and redeem what is broken?

We believe only God can rescue us from our sin and redeem our lives from brokenness. We believe Jesus is THE REDEEMER who came to save us through his life, death, resurrection and ascension.

RESTORATION: Every person has a picture of the future when everything is as it should be. Some see a utopia with humans all living at peace with one another. Others believe Mother Earth and humanity will be one. Still others see another world they will go to where they will be at the center. Some people’s future hope is to be married…have children…get a job…be rich…etc…

The Key Question here is: What will the world or your world look like when all is as it should be AND Who or what will be the focus of this world?

We believe Jesus will return and make all things new – a New Heaven and a New Earth – and He will be at the center of everything with us worshiping Him.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Ask another believer to share their story with you. As they share their story listen for CREATION, FALL, REDEMPTION and RESTORATION making mental notes along the way. You will need to listen carefully and ask key questions along the way, like…

Tell me about yourself…how did you become who you are today?
What has most significantly impacted you? How? What kind of impact did that have on you?
What are your hopes, dreams, etc…?
What do you think must take place in order for those hopes or dreams to be realized?
If everything we’re as it should be, what would your life be like…the world be like?
(You get the idea…)

After you have listened well, take some time later to journal what you believe their story line is.

2. Repeat this same exercise with someone who doesn’t believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ yet.