1

“WE GATHER HERE...”

Reviving Our One Another Relationships

Journal and Guidebook

2

Our Mission Statement :

“We Gather Here to Know God and Make God Known”

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Copyright © Central Christian Church, 2005. http://www.seachurches.org

3

Contents

Introduction 4 Lesson One 5 Lesson Two 9

Journal

Day One 13 Day Two 14 Day Three 15 Day Four 18 Day Five 19 Day Six 21 Day Seven 23 Day Eight 25 Day Nine 27 Day Ten 29

References 30

Appendix A 31

4

We Gather Here Introduction

The past twelve months have been exciting and victorious for the Central Christian Church. Last November, history was made as we celebrated our first service in the new building in Punggol!!! A few weeks later we hosted three conferences in one week and put on the musical, “The Christmas Shoes”. After ringing in the New Year in January, we opened our Kids’ Kingdom Child Development and Learning Centre in February and soon we had our Open House for the Punggol community. After our Easter service in April, May brought our first Mission Statement Workshop, “To Know God”, followed by the setting up of Mission Groups in June. In July, we hosted the HOPE/MCYS Family Fun Festival, saw many teens be baptized and had our second Mission Statement Workshop, “To Make God Known”. August brought our first TGIS service and in September we had our historic first Flag Day! Wow! And now in the month of October, we are having our final Mission Statement Workshop, “We Gather Here”, to celebrate our relationships with one another, and to challenge ourselves to be more Christlike in our interactions with each other. Along the way, we have added hardware to facilitate better fellowship: patio furniture was placed on the rooftop, games equipment and facilities were provided on the Mezzanine floor and the church library is up and running. Now it’s time for the “heart-ware”, which is all of us digging deep and re-committing ourselves to one another, as we are truly “members of one another” (Romans 12:5). May God bless our effort, our prayers, our study and our hearts as we gather here…

With Love, John and Karen Louis & the Singapore Church Staff

5

Lesson One Introduction: Getting Honest Jesus was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” His reply: "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31) In his last words which were recorded in the gospels, Jesus commanded his apostles to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

(Matthew 28:19-20) These teachings have come to be known as The Greatest Commandments and The Great Commission. Christianity has its very foundation in these words. Our church’s mission statement is based on these two passages. Our relationships with God, each other and our mission to seek and save the lost are the most important things to Jesus, and should be the concerns we value most in our lives. However, so often, we only pay lip service to these principles. We treat them as ideals, rather than standards by which to live. The purpose of the Mission Statement Workshops of 2005 has been for us to recommit ourselves to living by God’s word in these areas. This final workshop, We Gather Here, will help us to focus on the kind of relationships we need to have with each other in order to truly be Jesus’ disciples. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

(John 13:34-35) If we are to successfully implement a way of discipling in our ministries we need to first know where we are and then map out where we need to go. For example if we are lost in a shopping mall, the first thing we do is to look at the floor directory and look for the red dot which says “You are here.” Once we know where we are we can then figure out our way to the destination. Where are we, really, as a church? It is so easy to think that the state of our ministry is the state of the entire church. Sometimes we may be part of a healthy small group, but the rest may not be so fortunate. On the other hand we may be in a group whose values may be divided, but many of the others may be in a much different spot. Before we can make our way forward it is so important to see where we are as a church right now. This was why recently we took an honest survey, answering questions about issues which we may not have talked about with anyone before. It is good for us as a church to take stock of where we are, to be bold and face the honest facts and to tackle them head on. We need to

6

build a church with not just numerical numbers, but a church with good depth in our relationships with one another. For too long we have not given enough focus to the depth of our relationships. As Ogden (2003) said, there is a disciple deficit in churches today, marked by superficial relationships, people who do not move beyond attending services during the week. They are passive members. The Scriptures teach us that the church is an every member ministry. In 1 Peter 2: 9, the scripture says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Every believer is called by God to act as a priest on behalf of fellow members of the body of Christ. However, the startling reality is that 80/20 rule seems to once again prevail, where 80% of the work is done by 20% of the members. What this translates down to is that there are many tired lay leaders and staff, and many spectators as well. Look at another Scripture, in II Co 9: 25, which says: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” If athletes put themselves through such rigorous training to get a “perishable crown”, how much more should Christians discipline themselves for an “imperishable one”! Look at the present result of the survey we did in Singapore (see Appendix A for sample). 1. The Discipling Deficit How do you feel about the results of the survey? As stated, this is where we are, based on our collective honest feedback. In the book of James 1: 22-25, the bible says: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” If the scriptures are our mirror then we have to admit that there is a lot of work to be done if the gap is to be closed. The goal is to produce self motivated, reproducing devoted disciples of Jesus. Only then are we fulfilling the Great commission to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28: 19). What chance of survival is there in an organization in which 20% do the work while 80% pick and choose what they would like to participate in?

7

Eph 4: 12 reads: “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” Leaders have been assigned the task of preparing ordinary believers for service in the church. Today when Christians are in trouble, they always ask “Where is the staff to get me through all this?” The 20 percent that is involved have become so fatigued that many of them over the years have decided to take a break. Sadly, for many of them they have never recovered. To put it in another way, we have an undiscipled church because its leaders have not made discipling their primary focus. However, since this is the Lord’s church, power is available for us to make a turn around. 2. Discipling Through Personal Relationships One good definition of discipling by Ogden (2003) is: ”A process that takes place within accountable relationships over a period of time for the purpose of bringing believers to spiritual maturity in Christ and to reproduce themselves.” The motivation and discipline will not ultimately occur through just listening to sermons or attending workshops, but in the context of highly accountable relational transparent small (three to four people) discipleship units. Bruce (1971) says that the training of the twelve took place in three simple stages. a. The first stage was recorded in John 1, which preceded what was recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. In Jn 1: 36, the apostle John, upon seeing Jesus, said, “Look, the Lamb of God”. During this time Andrew and John took it upon themselves to follow Jesus, and Jesus invited them to “come and see”. (John 1: 39). This also included Peter (John 1: 41) and Philip (John 1: 45). b. The second stage was picked up in Luke 6. Here he calls them to “follow me”. (Mark 1: 20, 2: 14, Matthew 8: 21). c. The third stage was one where Jesus moved to the role of leader within an “inner circle” (Mark 3:13-17). Here they were designated to be apostles. In this stage he essentially calls them to “come and be with me.” He wanted them to be with him in closer proximity than the rest of the crowd. Why did Jesus choose this method rather than reaching to the crowds? The very nature of a crowd is the ability to be lost in it. It costs nothing to be part of the masses. A person can be anything from a curious believer to a skeptic to a bored individual. However, by focussing on a few he was able to help them internalize the message and by doing so he would be able to reproduce himself much more quickly than through a crowd of thousands. Nothing will help issues to take root in a person better than good deep relationships. Discipleship is fundamentally a relational process. Zehr and Egli (1992) said that in their study of the gospel

8

of Mark, Jesus spent 49 percent of his time with his disciples. Why so much time with only a few? This is because internalization cannot happen through mass production, but in an interpersonal environment. This takes a huge investment of time and energy. Paul himself says in Galatians 4: 19, 9My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. Paul felt that the process of maturing people in Christ is analogous to that of the labour of childbirth. In 1 Thess 2: 7-11, Paul says: “but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,” But these days, how many of us have anyone to hold us accountable to our obedience to Jesus Christ? Preaching, programs, workshops and even quiet time series are not able to do that. At best they lay the foundation. They are able to convict people’s hearts. However, for transformation to take place, we need much more than that. Just like in the world where companies are privatising, disciples are also falling into the same trap and are “privatising” their faith. However, we know that our hearts are deceitful (Jer 17:9) and we need input from others to help us stay on the straight and narrow path. Many people today are more comfortable in identifying themselves as true Christians, but not true disciples of Jesus? For many being true Christians is accepting the unconditional love of God, but being true disciples means surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, which is a much more difficult and different issue. In Luke 9: 23, Jesus says: “Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” His starting point was If anyone. This was something that applied to everybody, not just the super Christians. We need to be honest about our “discipling deficit” and be grateful for others who have not stopped calling us to discipleship and to having biblical discipling relationships with one another.

9

Lesson Two Here we will examine the three foundational principles upon which to build a process to the development and maturing of solid disciples. Like in the life of Jesus and Paul, disciples are made through life investment. 1. It is All About Relationships Disciple making is not a six week or a ten week program. Rather it takes an investment of consistent time to build the right type of relationships. As deep relationships are built, discipling will begin. We need to take time to carefully decide who we would like to be in a discipling relationship with us. Jesus spent the night praying before he selected his twelve to be with him. Many times we make decisions like this without praying. This is an important decision. Ask advice, think about who you would like to be in a group with and pray about it. By comparing with the characteristics of programs, discipling relationships are marked with the following: a. Intimacy – Transforming another life is not a result of a program. Transformation of a life is the result of the investment of another life. We need to pour our time into one another and really be great friends with one another. b. Mutual Responsibility – Unlike programs, where there are a few who do things on behalf of the many, in discipling relationships, the responsibility is on all the people involved to help one another. c. Discipling relationships are based on the unique growth of individuals who all take different time to mature. This is not to say that it should become an excuse that people can use to not surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. What we are talking about here is maturing and people mature in Christ at different rates and in different areas. d. Discipling relationships are centred around accountability. A program focuses accountability around content, whereas discipling relationships focus around accountability based on life change or on obeying the commandments of Jesus. In the real estate business, the repeated criterion is “location, location, location.” The core ingredient in discipling is “relationships, relationships, relationships.” 2. Mutual Responsibility - The non-Hierarchy Model There are examples in the bible of the teacher-student model of discipling - when Paul first picked up on Timothy in Acts 16, it was a teacher-student relationship. In the OT, Elijah demonstrated this with Elisha, as Moses did with Joshua, and there are others. In today’s context, we can see a similarity with the need for a person training in the ministry to walk with an older staff member. This also is true for those who have just been baptized in Christ – they need direct guidance while learning to drink pure spiritual milk. This was spelled out in our Discipling Working Group presentation back in 2003. However, as we also said then, for the

10

vast majority of us who have been around for a while, we have matured and should now make the transition to be in adult-adult relationships which call for mutual responsibility. We see this adult-adult model in the bible in Paul and Barnabas. While Barnabas may have been over Paul in the beginning (and that is unclear), it surely changed over time. This is indicated by noting the order of names (Paul and Barnabas, Barnabas and Paul) and how the order changed with time and situations. Sometimes it was Barnabas and Paul (Acts 13: 2, 7, 14: 12, 14, 15: 12, 25) and at other times it was the other way around (Acts 13: 42, 46, 50, 14: 1; 15: 2, 22, 35). In adult-adult discipling relationships, the authority is placed on all those involved in the small group. We are recommending that discipling be done in groups of three and four. When this is done right, the following will take place: a.. A Shift From Unnatural Pressure to Natural Participation. If all of the participants make a decision to be each other’s keepers, then this shift will be seen. The leader of the group, though still the leader, must allow himself also to be held accountable by the others. As everyone journeys towards maturing in Christ, the shift will be evident. Groups where all are feeling the responsibility to want to change themselves and who want to help others change will naturally grow. It is guaranteed. b. A Shift from Hierarchical to Relational. A small group of three or four will create a great journey together. Leaders must be allowed to be real people themselves, rather than having to always give. Many have fallen into the trap of trying to look good and to come across without faults and the end result after years of faking has been devastating for some. However, this is not an excuse for disrespect. Leaders must still be respected, but the onus is equally on the leader to be a real person. Others will then follow his or her example of openness. c. A Shift From Dialogue to Interchange. Whereas before when a leader led a small group, there may have been too much monologue, in this case there will be a healthy interchange. d. A Shift From Addition to Multiplication – Can you imagine if the entire church were to engage in this type of setting; small groups of three and four where all members are each other’s keeper? The result would be dynamic. The church will grow and the 80-20 pattern will soon disappear. We would bring glory to God and become more like the Lord’s church. Metamorphosis… 3. Essential Conditions for Transformation a. Transparent Trust – Why is trust so important? Ogden (2003) has this to say:

“The extent that we are willing to reveal to others those areas of our life that need God’s transforming touch is the extent to which we are inviting the Holy Spirit to make us new. Our willingness to enter into horizontal or relational intimacy is a statement of our true desire to invite the Lord to make over our lives.” (p. 154).

11

We all have a dark side to us. The question is do we want others to see this dark side? Sometimes in our prayers we ask God to help us to deal with all this, but when the help comes through people, we resist. (Remember the story of God sending two boats and a helicopter?) Powell (1995), in his book, Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am, says that the reason why is: “Because if I tell you who I am, you may not like who I am, and it’s all that I have.” We need to realize also that the major part of helping people to grow does not come through correction or rebuke - it comes through encouraging, through walking with each other during the difficult times, through being a great listener and through confessing sins and addictions. Many of our hearts are addicted to certain sins, but we are not willing to use this word. We are too ashamed, yet without confession and humility there is little hope for change. Confession is so liberating. When sin is admitted before others, it will lose its power over us. Getting into all this is a scary, like learning to do something for the first time, say swimming. However, most of us have been in deep discipling relationships in our earlier days as Christians. We’ve just “gotten rusty”. Once we get used to it again, it will again become enjoyable. James 5: 16 says: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” The healing comes after the confession! a. The Truth of God’s Word – An old familiar scripture in 2 Tim 3: 16-17 says: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Here Paul talks about the need to teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness. We all need all of these modes, using God’s word to help one another change. c. Mutual Accountability – For growth to take place there needs to be a covenant made by all parties involved. What is a covenant? A covenant is a written, mutual agreement between two or more parties that clearly states the expectations and commitments in the relationship. People hate accountability because they want freedom. This type of Western freedom is not the biblical type that is taught. The freedom of the world is a radical independence, and one that rebels against mutual submission. We want to be our own counsel. Great examples of accountability: The Promise Keepers and the African-American congregation in Cleveland. Why have a covenant? A covenant, complete with clear standards of mutual submission, empowers the leader of the small group to carry out his or her primary role: to be the keeper of the covenant. This will help us to get serious about following Jesus on his terms.

12

Having a covenant will also help us to keep each other accountable. Positive peer pressure helps us to follow through. Once a covenant is established, there is a standard or baseline which can be reviewed from time to time to check progress. An Example of A Disciple’s Covenant • Complete all assignments on a weekly basis prior to my discipleship appointment in order

to contribute fully. Tasks may include things like memorizing scriptures. This may take up to two hours per week to do so.

• Meet weekly/two weeks for about two hours to dialogue over the content of the assignments.

• Contribute to a climate of honesty, trust and openness that will help in mutual upbuilding. • Let the others know about the state of spirituality in a consistent manner and the progress

that you want to make. However, be open to others giving valuable input. Being teachable is an important quality. Jesus taught that we should be like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Review your covenant from time to time. For more in-depth teaching on this topic, the next series of mid-week lessons will focus on practicals of discipling in light of biblical one another passages.

4. How To Start a. Take time to put together this kind of a group. Maximum 3-4 people. Pray about your decision the way Jesus did. Ask advice from those you respect in the Lord. For the purposes of discipling, it is best to avoid including people in your small group who have a different agenda in being with you other than helping each other to become perfect in Christ. It is great to pick your friends, but make sure the majority are not the spiritually lazy kind. b. Make a joint covenant – Talk about expectations in the areas of G.E.M. (relationship with God, relationship with Each other and relationship with the lost, otherwise known as “the Mission”). Although the “each other” category is partially being fulfilled by the starting of this small group, our relationships with our spouse and our children are actually the most important one another relationships that God has given to us, so those relationships will be the focus for much of our discipling. c. Set the time for the first gathering. Have a signing ceremony. d. The leaders should set the pace, but all must have the same attitude. What you get out is what you put in. e. Keep a record of how people are changing. This will make for a great bulletin one day!

The above materials have been adapted from: 1. Ogden, G., (2003). Transforming Discipleship. IL: InterVarsity Press

13

Journal Day One Re-read Mark 12:29-31; Matthew 28:18-20. 1) Why is the first passage labelled “The Two Greatest Commandments?” 2) Why is the second passage called “The Great Commission”? 3) Why do you think these aspects of the Christian faith, or G.E.M. (our relationships with God, Each other and the lost, which is the Mission), are so important? 4) These values are reflected in our church’s mission statement. How seriously do you think we as a church are supposed to take these commandments? 5) How seriously have you been taking them? 6) How seriously do you want to take them? 7) Can you do it alone? Are you convinced of the need to have others in your life (people you have chosen) who will help you and hold you accountable in these areas? 8) Do you think leaders have a harder time these days calling people to be disciples, and if so, why? 9) What does the term “Discipling Deficit” mean to you? 10) What decisions do you need to make today to get yourself and the church “out of the deficit” and up to the level of discipleship and discipling you/we need to be? Daily Challenge #1 Arrange with a someone from your discipling group to pray together at least once a fortnight for the development of righteous qualities and deeds in your lives and in the lives of others in your congregation.

14

Day Two Read Matthew 28: 18-20 again. 1. Why is it important to “teach people to obey” as opposed to just “teach people”? 2. Do you think that a person can truly know Christ and His teachings if he fails to obey those teachings? Why or why not? 3. What other verses support your answer for question number 3? 4. Read Mark 3:13-17 and Acts 4:13. If even the apostles were changed by spending time with Jesus, why do we think we will change ourselves unless we (a) spend time with Jesus through deep personal prayer and bible study and (b) spend time with people who can help point us to him? Of course the obvious answer is “No”, but look at your life – do your priorities reflect that answer? How or how not? 5. What do the terms “intimacy” and “mutual responsibility” have to do with discipling each other to become more like Jesus? 6. What is the difference between the student – teacher model of discipling and the adult – adult model? 7. With whom can you see yourself making a discipling covenant and why?

Daily Challenge #2 Obtain a membership list of your zone or region. Daily pray for three families or individuals on the list until you have prayed for all of the members. Pray specifically that they will support the leadership of the church in the ministry of discip ling themselves, discipling others, and making new disciples. Note: People’s motives and reasons for choosing or not choosing certain people to be in an adult – adult discipling relationship are private and personal. If someone doesn’t choose you or approach you, please don’t take it personally – this isn’t a popularity contest or an ego-stroking exercise but rather a way to help us all get to heaven!!! If you have extreme concerns, get advice from a staff member.

15

Day Three

Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples the responsibility of making disciples of all nations.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

He also instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit empowered them for the work of making disciples. Disciple-making is a spiritual pursuit that cannot succeed without the power of the Holy Spirit. Obedient to Jesus' instructions, the disciples returned to Jerusalem. Read Acts 1:12-14 and answer the following questions: Acts 1:12-14 “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk[a] from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

1. How much courage and faith did the disciples show by returning to the city where Jesus had

been crucified 40 days earlier? 2. What was their main activity in the room where they were staying? 3. What special qualities, if any, do you believe female followers of Jesus bring to prayer? 4. What do you think the group of disciples was praying about? 5. List below what you believe are the top matters our church congregation should pray about. Read Acts 2:36-42 and answer these questions: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

16

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” 6) The 3,000 new disciples devoted themselves to prayer. What do you think that means? 7) What do you see as our congregation’s present level of devotion to prayer? Check one of the following. _______very little devotion to prayer _______an increasing devotion to prayer _______a decreasing devotion to prayer ________a moderate devotion to prayer _______a strong devotion to prayer 8) What do you see as your present level of devotion to prayer? Check one of the following. _______very little devotion to prayer _______an increasing devotion to prayer _______a decreasing devotion to prayer ________a moderate devotion to prayer _______a strong devotion to prayer 9) How did prayer and the other spiritual disciplines mentioned in v42 affect the early disciples’ fellowship? The fellowship of the community at large? 10) Speaking hypothetically, how effective do you think the early church’s discipling efforts would have been if that church had not united together in prayer? 11) What progress in making new disciples and in helping strengthen older disciples would our church make if we all devoted ourselves to prayer?

17

Daily Challenge #3 Make an appointment with your staff so you can talk about ways to deepen your congregations commitment to prayer. Offer your home as place where you and several other members of your congregation can meet occasionally for prayer.

18

Day Four Read I Thessalonians 1:5-10 and answer the following questions: “because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

1. Describe the way Paul had discipled the Thessalonians (verse 5).

2. Ultimately, who makes our discipling mission effective (verse 5)?

3. What emotion is most likely to accompany a congregation’s warm reception of the message

about Jesus Christ (verse 6)?

4. According to v 6-7, what discipling cycle can take place in a congregation that welcomes

Jesus’ teachings?

5. Take inventory of your life. What idols do you need to abandon in order to give yourself

fully to the Lord for the mission of making disciples? Cross out any idols listed below that you

"worship" but choose now to abandon.

materialism popularity fame immorality ego drugs alcohol food

others (Identify)

Daily Challenge #4 Confess the above with your discipling partner or triad or group when you are ready.

19

Day Five S. W. O. T. TEAM Think about it. If Jesus were to write a letter to your congregation, what do you think its central message would be? About 2,000 years ago, He wrote letters to seven churches located in Asia Minor (modem Turkey). The letters followed a similar format, but each contained a different message. In this session, you will read the first four of these letters and discover the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOTs) they high- lighted. Then you will begin a SWOT analysis of your own congregation, comparing it with these four congregations.

Each letter was dictated by our risen Lord when He appeared to John, "the Beloved Disciple," on the island of Patmos (see Revelation 1). Slip into each congregation and listen carefully to the reading of the letter it received from Jesus. Resist the tendency to think that congregations in New Testament times were perfect or nearly perfect. Like congregations of modern times, they had good points and bad points. Discipling opportunities existed then as they do today. Also, threats to discipling others loomed as large then as they do today. Read Jesus' first letter recorded in Revelation 2:1-7, and answer these questions about the congregation at Ephesus: Revelation 2:1-7 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” 1. How is a congregation similar to a lampstand ? 2. Why is it significant that the apostle John described Jesus as walking among the seven golden lampstands? 3. If you were to converting candlelight power to modern day wattage, what do you believe your congregation's discipleship wattage is? Circle one of the following: 15 40 60 75 100 150 250 250+ 4. Read v 2-7, then list the Ephesian congregation’s (a) STRENGTH

20

(b) WEAKNESSES (c) OPPORTUNITIES (d) THREATS 5. What promise did Jesus make to them? 6. What does our congregation need to overcome in order for us to disciple each other effectively?

Daily Challenge #5 Jesus rebuked the Ephesian church because it had left its first love. List the ways you will show Jesus that you love him.

21

Day Six Read Jesus' second letter recorded in Revelation 2:8-11, and answer these questions about the congregation at Smyrna: Revelation 2:8-11 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” 1. How does Jesus’ self-description in verse 8 inspire you to work with the congregation to complete the task of making disciples, at the very least in the Punggol area? 2. Meditate upon verses 9-11 and list the Smyrna congregation’s … (a) STRENGTH (b) WEAKNESSES (c) OPPORTUNITIES (d) THREATS 3. Encourage your leader to help to conduct a SWOT analysis of your ministry. 4. Analyze your personal commitment to giving to God in light of all you’ve read the past few days.

22

Daily Challenge #6

Identify two people that you know need to be exposed to the light. Invite them to a church service or bible study. Then ask them to tell you honestly what they learned about Jesus from their time with you.

23

Day Seven Read Jesus' third letter recorded in Revelation 2:12-17, and answer these questions about the congregation at Pergamum: Revelation 2:12-17 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” 1. What two-edged sword does Jesus brandish? 2. How close have you or anyone in our congregation come to being martyred? 3. Opinion – why doesn’t the church in the first world experience martyrdoms? 4. Do you know of any Christian martys? 5. Meditate upon verses 12-17 and list the Pergamum congregation’s … (a) STRENGTH (b) WEAKNESSES (c) OPPORTUNITIES (d) THREATS

24

Daily Challenge #7 Agree with two or three friends to take notes on Sunday sermons and underscore the biblical commands that you need to obey. Get together and compare your notes, and help each other to obey them.

Extra for end of Week One Check out your nearest library and find a book about those who have been martyred for the Christian faith.

25

Day Eight Read Jesus' fourth letter recorded in Revelation 2:18-29, and answer these questions about the congregation at Thyatira: Revelation 2:18-29 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' — just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 1. Does Jesus’ self-description in v 18 give you a sense of urgency about obeying his commands? How? 2. Meditate upon verses 18-29 and list the Thyatira congregation’s … (a) STRENGTH (b) WEAKNESSES (c) OPPORTUNITIES (d) THREATS

26

3. Jezebel, a corrupt queen in Israel, influenced the Israelites to turn away from Jehovah. Identify influences that might derail our church from pursuing and fulfilling our mission statement. 4. According to verse 23, Jesus searches hearts and minds. If Jesus displayed on a giant screen the emotions and thoughts your congregation has regarding disciple-making, what emotions and thoughts do you think would appear there? 5. Read verse 11. How can a church demonstrate that it listens well to Jesus' words?

Daily Challenge #8 Think of some of the ungodly influences in your work place, school or neighbourhood. Brainstorm with friends about what you can do to make a difference (eg. Write a letter to the editor, challenge a radio station for certain music, bring up concern about lewd advertising, etc.)

27

Day Nine Read Jesus' fifth and sixth letters recorded in Revelation 3:1-13 about the congregations in Sardis and Philadelphia: Revelation 3:1-13 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Philadelphia

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

2. Meditate upon verses 1-6 and list the Sardis congregation’s … (a) STRENGTH (b) WEAKNESSES (c) OPPORTUNITIES

28

(d) THREATS 3. Now do the same with verses 7-13 and list the Philadelphian congregation’s … (a) STRENGTH (b) WEAKNESSES (c) OPPORTUNITIES (d) THREATS 4. Compare and contrast the two. 5. What similarities do you see in your own life? 6. How will being actively involved in discipling relationships help you to overcome these faults?

Daily Challenge #9 Search your heart for the subtle sins of hypocrisy, indifference and self-righteousness. Confess and forsake these sins.

29

Day Ten Read Jesus' last letter recorded in Revelation 3:14-22 and answer these questions about the congregation at Laodicea: Revelation 3:14-22 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." 2. Meditate upon verses 15-18 and list the Laodicean congregation’s … (a) STRENGTH (b) WEAKNESSES (c) OPPORTUNITIES (d) THREATS

Daily Challenge #10 Begin a SWOT analysis of our congregation by comparing and contrasting with the seven churches in Asia Minor. Fill in the columns marked “Similarities” and “Differences” with your ideas of how our church is similar to any of the seven churches in either good or bad areas

30

and also how we are different in both good and bad areas. Brainstorm with your small group about personal applications and ways that your group can help each other to move forward. References

1. Bruce, A., (1971). The training of the twelve. Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel. 2. Powell, J., (1995). Why Am I afraid to tell you who I am? Tex: Thomas More. 3. Russel, W. J., Dyet, J. T., Lyon, R., J., (2001) A discipled nation plan: Discipling my

congregation. Michigan: The Army Foundation 4. Zehr, P. M., Jim, E., (1992). Alternative models of Mennonite pastoral formation.

Elkhart: Ind: Institute of Mennonite Studies.

31

APPENDIX A Survey on the Measure of One Another Relationships in the Church Region:__________________ Parent/Married/Single/Student (circle one) To know which direction we have to go, we need to see where we are. The following survey will help us see where we are. Please answer the following questions as truthfully as possible by circling the number/answer that best describes your thoughts. 1. My closest relationships with those who are helping me to grow and be effective as a

Christian are

1 2 3 4 5 (superficial) (good and deep)

2. In your opinion, the church is mostly made up of people who are

Just attending services / sort of active in groups/ active in their Christian life/ very involved

3. What is the goal of your life?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________ 4. Please indicate if your discipling relationship has been more passive or active in the past

year. Active means that you got together with at least one other person to discuss your/their spiritual well being at least once a month.

1 2 3 4 5

(passive) (active)

5. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? A person who is successful materially is more blessed by God than someone who has less.

1 2 3 4 5

(disagree) (agree)

6. Can a person be committed to Jesus without being part of the church, i.e. coming to meetings, being part of BT programs and involved in relationships consistently?

1 2 3 4 5

(disagree) (agree)

32

7. God helps those who help themselves, so I just need to take care of myself. Do you agree

or disagree?

Disagree / Agree

8. Picture your relationship with God right now – To what extent would you be comfortable helping a non Christian to have that same relationship with God as you have?

1 2 3 4 5

(uncomfortable) (very comfortable)

9. Since becoming a Christian, do you feel that your life has improved or become worse?

1 2 3 4 5 (become worse) (improved a lot)

10. Have you built a personal relationship with someone with the hope of being able to lead the person to Christ in the past twelve months? Yes / No

11. How often do you share your faith?

More than once a week Less than once a week About once a month Less than once a month

12. How often do you follow up on people to bring them to a BT/church? More than once a week Less than once a week About once a month Less than once a month

13. How often do you have a QT? (This means prayer and bible study of least 15 minutes a day each; total 30 minutes)

More than once a week Less than once a week About once a month Less than once a month

33

NOTES

34

NOTES

35

NOTES

36

NOTES