If some of you have followed through with "Engage in The Story" training, please share your thoughts, ideas, struggles, etc...
I would love to have us all learn together from this exercise.
Jeff
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thoughts From Surge Phoenix
I spoke at Surge Phoenix a few weeks back and Chris Gonzalez ask some of those who attended to share what stuck with them. This is what he collected...
1. We must "make" disciples - How many times do we look around and want to get mad at people who aren't doing "it" right? What we seem to forget, is that we seldom figured out anything on our own - rather we had people teach us. Yet, we want others to just "get it". I was so humbled/convicted with Jeff's call for us to intentionally teach others how to live out the gospel in all aspects of life (not just "model" it!).
2. "Christians bring the best wine" - I don't drink...whatever, get over it. BUT, this comment really rocked my world. Not just with actually bringing the best wine (although that was a definitely a radical(ly cool) concept for me) but with the larger point...how do we as Christians make this world/party/sporting event/school/job/meeting/fundraiser/etc a better place? Sometimes it is as simple as bringing the best wine.
3. 1 Peter 3:15 - "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" - Jeff's point: This is not about apologetics as much as it is about the question, "How can we live in such a way that the only explanation is the gospel?" Wow.
4. Discipleship begins at the point of relationship, not conversion.
5. Discipleship is a never ending process.
6. "Most of us have created another world to live within because we don't know how to live within the world. We're called to redeem culture, not replace it."
7. Everyone lives under a dominant story - we need to determine what story they are living under and where/how the gospel applies to it.
8. Lots of people showing up on Sunday does not make a church. Disciples creating more disciples creates a church
9. The reason you try to pack everything into one night in your mc, is that you
are not discipling along the way.
10. "You don't know if someone (or you) believes the gospel until they
are presented with something that cannot be done with out it."
11. You can't just sit around and wait for the "ministers" and
"ministry" of the church to equip you. You have a responsibility to
equip yourself and others. Find people who know what you don't know
and learn from them. Find people who need to grow and disciple them.
It has to be done "along the way." This is not speaking to someone and
having them say it back to you to prove that they learned it. You need
to see it lived out with them to see that they learned how the
implications transform their lives!
12. Being able to articulate what I'm learning.
13. Kneeling down asking "what's next? how do you want me to serve?" and listening with the mindset of acting upon what I hear
14. I'm going to fail, a lot, and I need to be OK with that. Failure is an opportunity for my self desires to die. An opportunity for my heart to be softened and God to bring restoration.
15. When your life has integrity your words have more power.
16. If you are talking "for God", or leading others in following God, you
need to be spending time listening to God.
17. If you aren't reproducing disciples you aren't living as the church.
18. You are responsible for stewarding not just your time, money, and family, but also the influence that God has given you
19. "Say the same thing, over and over and over and over.. I could have told you what passages Jeff would use (2 Tim, Eph 4, 1 Peter) and what he would have written on the board (Identities and Rhythms). But we were all zoned in. And there wasn't "something else" we needed to hear. We needed the gospel.
20. Is the church really equipped? Every church would say, 'Everyone is a minister'. Few actually structure and live that out. Will we do that?
21. People you disciple need to see you living the gospel out in your real life.
22. Every Missional Community sees themselves as the core of a potential church plant.
23. If you teach people the Word but do not train and equip them to obey it, you have not made a disciple.
24.. The power is not in your status or stature, but in your life. Jeff's church is around a 1000. Not a megachurch by any means. He is 5 foot nothing. And he does not have a great preaching voice. But I'd listen to him all day because he says what is true, and his life backs it up. Did you hear how he told stories from "last week". And they were names of people on his street? This isn't "once upon a time I led this random guy to Christ."
1. We must "make" disciples - How many times do we look around and want to get mad at people who aren't doing "it" right? What we seem to forget, is that we seldom figured out anything on our own - rather we had people teach us. Yet, we want others to just "get it". I was so humbled/convicted with Jeff's call for us to intentionally teach others how to live out the gospel in all aspects of life (not just "model" it!).
2. "Christians bring the best wine" - I don't drink...whatever, get over it. BUT, this comment really rocked my world. Not just with actually bringing the best wine (although that was a definitely a radical(ly cool) concept for me) but with the larger point...how do we as Christians make this world/party/sporting event/school/job/meeting/fundraiser/etc a better place? Sometimes it is as simple as bringing the best wine.
3. 1 Peter 3:15 - "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" - Jeff's point: This is not about apologetics as much as it is about the question, "How can we live in such a way that the only explanation is the gospel?" Wow.
4. Discipleship begins at the point of relationship, not conversion.
5. Discipleship is a never ending process.
6. "Most of us have created another world to live within because we don't know how to live within the world. We're called to redeem culture, not replace it."
7. Everyone lives under a dominant story - we need to determine what story they are living under and where/how the gospel applies to it.
8. Lots of people showing up on Sunday does not make a church. Disciples creating more disciples creates a church
9. The reason you try to pack everything into one night in your mc, is that you
are not discipling along the way.
10. "You don't know if someone (or you) believes the gospel until they
are presented with something that cannot be done with out it."
11. You can't just sit around and wait for the "ministers" and
"ministry" of the church to equip you. You have a responsibility to
equip yourself and others. Find people who know what you don't know
and learn from them. Find people who need to grow and disciple them.
It has to be done "along the way." This is not speaking to someone and
having them say it back to you to prove that they learned it. You need
to see it lived out with them to see that they learned how the
implications transform their lives!
12. Being able to articulate what I'm learning.
13. Kneeling down asking "what's next? how do you want me to serve?" and listening with the mindset of acting upon what I hear
14. I'm going to fail, a lot, and I need to be OK with that. Failure is an opportunity for my self desires to die. An opportunity for my heart to be softened and God to bring restoration.
15. When your life has integrity your words have more power.
16. If you are talking "for God", or leading others in following God, you
need to be spending time listening to God.
17. If you aren't reproducing disciples you aren't living as the church.
18. You are responsible for stewarding not just your time, money, and family, but also the influence that God has given you
19. "Say the same thing, over and over and over and over.. I could have told you what passages Jeff would use (2 Tim, Eph 4, 1 Peter) and what he would have written on the board (Identities and Rhythms). But we were all zoned in. And there wasn't "something else" we needed to hear. We needed the gospel.
20. Is the church really equipped? Every church would say, 'Everyone is a minister'. Few actually structure and live that out. Will we do that?
21. People you disciple need to see you living the gospel out in your real life.
22. Every Missional Community sees themselves as the core of a potential church plant.
23. If you teach people the Word but do not train and equip them to obey it, you have not made a disciple.
24.. The power is not in your status or stature, but in your life. Jeff's church is around a 1000. Not a megachurch by any means. He is 5 foot nothing. And he does not have a great preaching voice. But I'd listen to him all day because he says what is true, and his life backs it up. Did you hear how he told stories from "last week". And they were names of people on his street? This isn't "once upon a time I led this random guy to Christ."
Monday, November 23, 2009
Training in Omaha
I'll be in Omaha, NE next week for training on Making disciples who make disciples with the CRC Home Missions. The training is open to all. For more info go here
I'll also be joining Bob Thune and other church leaders for an Acts 29 luncheon on Dec 1, 11:30-1 pm.
I'll also be joining Bob Thune and other church leaders for an Acts 29 luncheon on Dec 1, 11:30-1 pm.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Engaging in Story Teaching
We have posted the training I did with Soma MC leaders. If you are interested go here to check it out.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Engaging in Story Handout
If you are interested in the handout for the Training: "Engaging in Story" you can get it here.
I will post the link to the audio next week.
I will post the link to the audio next week.
Friday, November 6, 2009
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.
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.
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