STAFF WORSHIP 10/31/2006storage.cloversites.com/journeychurchoffolsom/...for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

Journey church

Mission & Vision

Training

Changing our DNA in Jesus’ Name

We Ride!!

Journey Church Mission/Vision Training ©2013 Journey Church Page 2

A Note from Journey Church Leadership

Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to experience the heart and direction of Journey Church. It is a joy to invite you to participate in the Journey church mission and vision. However, the true joys of this mission and vision are in the results - seeing others come to Jesus; helping others cultivate their desires for the Lord; helping others find their purpose and calling in this life; meeting needs and touching lives.

You will find in this material several lessons taking you through the Journey Church vision and mission step-by-step. As you venture into the details, we encourage you to spend time in quiet prayer, reflecting on your relationship with Christ, His calling on your life and how it relates to our vision and mission. May we all come to a better understand God’s calling on this church and on our lives as followers of Jesus. May we come to realize the importance of whose we are and may we be transformed forever in Christ Jesus. Blessings. Respectfully Submitted by The Session and Staff of Journey Church

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in 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.

- Matthew 28:19-20

Table of Contents Page

Introduction 3

Lesson 1 – Seeking the Lost 7

Lesson 2 – Seeking the Kingdom 14

Lesson 3 – Teaching: Proclaiming the Gospel 21

Lesson 4 – Teaching: Equipping Believers 28

Lesson 5 – Serving with Compassion 34

Lesson 6 – Serving with Sacrifice 41

Lesson 7 – The Cross 47

Lesson 8 – The Mission Itself 53

A Challenge 60 (Back Cover) Illustrations by Len Jones © 2013 all rights reserved


Journey Church Mission & Vision Introduction

Mission

To Develop Mature Disciples of Jesus Christ.

Vision

In Christ We Journey Together through Seeking, Teaching and Serving.

INTRODUCTION The Journey Church vision and mission are first and foremost based in the scriptures and reflect how we are called to live as individual followers of Jesus and as a community of faith. Our mission and vision reflect our desire to introduce others to Jesus, our heart for knowing Him, and how we hope to serve each other and the community. You see, it doesn’t matter what is printed on a page or spoken in a gathering, it is our behavior and heart that creates a picture of our true vision and what we deeply value most.

Proverbs 29:18a reads, “Where there is no vision, the people perish:…” We need direction from God to thrive. We cannot go it alone. Jeremiah 29:11-13 reads, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” We are promised the abundant life and wisdom from God if we will seek Him with our whole heart. It is only natural, as passionate followers of Jesus, that we seek God’s mission and vision - His heart and His purpose for both ourselves and this community of faith.

OUR MISSION Our mission is really nothing new. It lives in scripture and recounts the very words of Jesus

to His followers. Our mission becomes the outcome of our efforts, our goal and our purpose. It defines why we exist at 450 Blue Ravine Rd. in Folsom, California. Our mission reads:

“To develop mature disciples of Jesus Christ.”

This is based in the great commission found in Matthew 28, verses 18-20, where Jesus tells His disciples -

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

OUR VISION

Our vision then becomes how Journey Church will uniquely fulfill our mission. Our vision statement reads:

“In Christ, we journey together through SEEKING, TEACHING and SERVING.”


Introduction

There is a duality built into this vision which calls us to respond to those without Christ AND

those who have already received Jesus as Lord and Savior (followers of Jesus - believers). The vision calls us to be accountable and calls us to action. We see our vision illustrated in the following diagram. Each aspect of the vision is briefly addressed along with supporting scripture:

Coming to Christ (Bringing others to Christ)

Maturing as Disciples (Growing as Followers of Jesus)

SEEKING the Lost SEEKING the Kingdom (We purposefully try to reach those who do not have a relationship with

Jesus Christ) Matthew 18:13-15, 28:18-20; Luke 15

(parables); John 3:16-18; Acts 4:10-12; 1 Corinthians 9:20-22

( We intentionally seek God, His purpose for our lives, His heart and His passion)

1 Chronicles 16:8-12, 24-26; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 6:33, 13 (parables), 28:18-20; Jude

1:19-21; 2 Peter 1:5-11; James 4:8;

TEACHING by Sharing the Good News

TEACHING by Equipping the Saints

(We proclaim the Gospel to those without Jesus in their lives)

1 Chronicles 16:8, 24; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 13:10; John 17:3, 26; Acts 4:10-12, 8:25,

16:30-32; Romans 1:14-17, 15:15-20; Colossians 4:2-4

(We learn and grow as believers/followers of Jesus)

Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:15-16; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Jude 1:19-21;

Hebrews 13:7, 20-22

SERVING with Compassion SERVING with Sacrifice (We serve the lost and the community

with sincere compassion) Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34; Ephesians 4:32;

Philippians 2:1-3

(We serve the church, each other and in ministry with commitment and Sacrifice)

Romans 12:1, 3-8; Ephesians 4:1-7,11-16; 1 Philippians 2:1-3; Peter 2:4-6, 4:10-11; 5:5-6

The cross, which dominates the above diagram, represents that pivotal point of

transformation in a person’s life. Responding to the Cross and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, His love, mercy and grace, accepting Him as Lord and Savior, is an eternal, life changing event. People move from being “lost” to being found; from being “blind” to having sight; from being eternally separated from God to being eternally “at one” with the Father. We believe it is the single most important decision a person will ever make.

Although there are individuals who are certainly more gifted and equipped to excel in specific areas of our vision, we can all still contribute to each part of the vision in some way. The


Don’t wait until

you feel trained

enough or smart

enough... Don’t

wait to be asked!

Just start!

Introduction

wonderful thing about being the church is that we all come together to create the body of Christ, one community of faith at Journey Church, all seeking, teaching, and serving to fulfill His mission. GETTING STARTED

“How do I get started,” you ask? Here are a few immediate ways to get started with the Mission and Vision here at Journey Church, (this is not an exhaustive list...):

Continue with this training material. By spending time in prayer, asking God to reveal to you what

He is doing in your life, and to show you the next step in your spiritual journey.

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord – are you a follower? If the answer is yes, then continue on your journey. If the answer is no, then we encourage you find someone at the church to help answer any questions you may have and to help you move forward in your own spiritual journey and relationship with Jesus.

Baptism – If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, and have never been baptized, prayerfully consider being baptized.

Check out the web site: http://www.multiplymovement.com/ - contains a great bible study about making disciples of Jesus Christ and sharing with others. This is also featured under resources on our Journey Church web site (http://www.JourneyChurchHome.org ).

Take the Spiritual Gifts test – You may be surprised at what you discover about yourself. (Contact the church office for a test.)

Join a Journey Church Life Group to grow spiritually and develop relationships.

Find a ministry and begin serving. What are you passionate about? Where are you gifted? At Journey Church, many ministries exist to serve in many different ways – inside the church, outside the church, out in the community, out on the mission field, etc…. (Your spiritual gifts test can also help give you direction.)

Attend worship regularly – scripture tells us that it is important to gather together (Hebrews 10:24-25). It is a privilege and a joy to gather and worship our Lord together.

Begin (or continue) building meaningful relationships within and without the church.

Stop a church elder or staff person and say “Hey! How do I get started?”

Don’t wait until you feel trained enough

or smart enough. Don’t wait until it becomes more convenient or for when you may have “more time.” Don’t wait to be asked! Just start! You will be glad you did.

http://www.multiplymovement.com/

http://www.journeychurchhome.org/


Introduction

CONCLUSION Ultimately, this is where our journey begins as we study each aspect of our new vision and

mission. We will see how each element builds to create a synergy – where all the elements together, are much greater than the simple sum of their parts. We will see how all of us, working together, can accomplish great things in the name and power of Jesus. And we will see how each element of our vision to supports and helps complete our mission.

This study is separated into eight sections - one for each concept or discipline contained in the Journey vision and mission. This study can be completed as an individual study or in a group discussion setting. This study will include:

Defining: “Seeking the Lost,” “Seeking the Kingdom,” “Proclaiming the Gospel,” “Equipping the Saints,” “Serving with Compassion,” “Serving with Sacrifice,” “The Mission Itself,” and “The Cross of Transformation.”

The Scriptural references behind each section of the vision and mission.

What does application of the vision and mission look like?

Discussion questions or “food for thought.”.

We will begin with the duality of the Vision, move onto the Cross and finish with our Mission itself.

As the Character in the Walt Disney movie “Rango” told those who would be joining him on

an adventure, “We Ride!!!” This is our adventure, let’s begin.

* Our Vision – Introduction Notes *


* Our Vision - Lesson 1 *

seeking: the “lost”

In Christ We Journey Together through Seeking, Teaching and Serving. Seeking the Lost + Seeking the Kingdom

Proclaiming the Gospel + Equipping believers Serving with Compassion + Serving with Sacrifice

What does it

Mean to …..

seek…… The “LOST?

Seeking the lost… We hear about seeking the lost in sermons, books, articles and

discipleship conferences. We talk about wanting to be a church that “seeks the lost.” Yet, at times we find this phrase very challenging. We get nervous and we wonder, “how can we ever go out and seek the lost.” We have questions: Who are the lost? What makes them lost in the first place? What does it mean to seek anything? In this lesson, we will briefly explore these questions and discover what it means to “seek the lost.”

In this lesson we will:

Look at definitions of the words in the phrase “seek the lost”

Explore scriptural references related to seeking the lost

Look at what we can do to seek the lost

Work through a few discussion questions and thoughts

Pray together

Definitions We need to look at two key definitions.1 Our phrase is “seek the lost.” Two words

immediately need to be unpacked: “seek” and “lost.” First we explore the word “seek.” What does it mean to “seek?” The word “seek” is a verb and is defined as:

to go in search or quest of…

to try to find or discover by searching or questioning…

to try to obtain…

to try or attempt (usually followed by an infinitive); to seek to convince a person. Synonyms– pursue, follow, go after

To seek means we commit to the intentional act of “going.” We “go,” we “discover;” we even “pursue.” It becomes an action that we all aspire to do.

1 www.dictionary.com

http://www.dictionary.com/


Lesson 1 – Seeking the Lost

Next, we unpack the word “lost.” What does it mean to be “lost?” The word “lost” is an adjective and is defined as:

having gone astray or missed the way; bewildered as to place, direction, etc...

distracted; distraught; desperate; hopeless

destroyed or ruined

no longer possessed or retained Synonyms – forfeited, gone, missing, confused, perplexed, squandered

The word “lost” describes a person that does not know their way, or direction; does not know where they are truly going or even where they currently are. They can be distracted or may even be living a desperate life without hope.

In the context of our Christian faith, we identify the lost as those that are missing Jesus in their lives; those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior; those that have never heard, or have chosen not to follow Jesus. They have missed “the way;” they may not even know the way to Christ or they are simply missing a relationship with Jesus. They are not living the abundant life, and they are headed towards spending eternity separated from God the Father. Simply put, we go and look for those who have never committed to following Jesus Christ. We seek the “lost.”

Scripture References There are many scriptures that speak to active evangelism or seeking the lost. We include

the following scriptures for your reference and further study. (All scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation.) This is by no means an exhaustive list. We encourage you to dig deeper into scriptures related to Seeking the lost.

Matthew 18:13-15: Jesus speaks to the Disciples… 13 And if he [the shepherd] finds it [the missing sheep], I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus gives His Disciples (and us) a directive for seeking the lost and spreading the Gospel; a command to bring others to Jesus. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

John 3:16-18: A very familiar verse communicating the importance of people coming to Jesus; an invitation to all people. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.


Simply put, we go and look for those who have

never committed to

following Jesus Christ. We

seek the “lost.”


Acts 4:10-12: The Apostle Paul speaks to the Jews about Jesus as the only source of salvation. 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11

He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

1 Corinthians 9:20-22: The Apostle Paul communicates how important it is for him to spread the Gospel; to seek the lost to bring others to Jesus. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

Luke 15 (parables): We see in these parables the value that God places on our hearts. Through various illustrations, Jesus communicates His mission and God’s passion for the “lost.”

The Parable of the Lost Sheep 1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. The Parable of the Lost Coin 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The Parable of the Lost Son 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.



21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

What Can We Do?

So what does it look like to seek the lost? What are some things that we as individuals and as a church can do to intentionally seek the lost? We seek the lost both on and off the church campus – as individuals, groups and as a gathering of people. Off campus we seek the lost by:

Getting to know our neighbors, friends and families better. This moves us past simply saying “Hello” or common small–talk. We build relationships with those we see on a regular basis and discern opportunities to share our story and the hope we have in Jesus. We offer to pray for them and to simply be there. We invite people to come share in our worship experience.

Conversations with strangers. How often do we strike up a conversation with a person we do not know? Standing in a line, on a plane, on a bus, etc… We become good listeners and alert to opportunities to share our story and the hope we have in Jesus. We offer to pray for them. If they are local, we invite them to come and share in our worship experience.


The key is that we are

intentional in how we go and seek the lost.


Serving in the community through special projects or by helping our neighbors in even the smallest of ways. As a church, we go out into our surrounding community and let people know we care and invite people to come share in God’s story, our worship experiences and/or special events. The “community” can be next door or even in another country.

We pray! We pray for God to bring into our path those He would bring to Himself. We pray for the lost, even when we do not know who they are, knowing that God will bring them into our lives giving us the privilege of helping them find Jesus.

Etc… On campus we seek the lost through:

Our regular worship services and seasonal events. We become sensitive to the evangelistic nature of worship, offering people the hope we find in Christ and the opportunity to respond to the presence of God in that moment. We offer people the chance to accept Christ through corporate response or one-on-one prayer.

Special on campus community events. We offer events that would attract the community of un-churched individuals to our campus. Concerts, festivals, classes, BBQs, etc…

Making our campus available to different organizations. AA, OA, NA, etc… Welcoming these people who may not know Christ onto our church campus could be the first step in their faith journey.

Getting to know those who attend our church better. The lost can be found in our church just as easily as off our campus. We talk about our faith with each other. We share our story in Jesus. We listen.

Online and in-Print church publications. Our publications become both informative and inviting, allowing people to feel important, loved and wanted.

Prayer. As a church we pray for God to bring into our path those He would bring to Himself. We pray for the lost, even when we do not know who they are, knowing that God will bring them into our lives.

Etc…

As you can see, there are many ways to “GO” and seek the lost. The above list is not exhaustive. The key is that we are intentional in how we go and seek the lost. For those who are not physically able to “go,” you can pray. You can pray for the lost and for those who are able to get up and “Go.” This becomes huge as God promises to go before us and prepare a way. (Deuteronomy 31:7-8; Isaiah 45:2) Prayer prepares both those who go and those they will encounter.

Discussion Questions and Thoughts:

Which of the above scriptures speaks to you about seeking the lost? What does it

say to you?

Have the above definitions shed new light on seeking the lost in your eyes? What struck you the most?

What are the ways that you can personally seek the lost? What do you need to do to make it happen?



Is there a sense of urgency for us to seek the lost? Why or why not?

Think about someone right now that you know does not have Christ in their life. Begin praying about how God can open the doors for you to share Christ with them. Write their name down and share it with the group.

Think of someone you can invite to worship with you. Write their name down and share it with the group.

What are ways that we as Journey Church Seek the Lost?

In one sentence, express what seeking the lost means to you.

What motivates us to even try to seek the lost? ... Shouldn’t Jesus be enough? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30

Conclusion Our new mission and vision place a high value on this “great commission” (Matthew

28:18020). Journey Church places a high value on you and your growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is important that we all take ownership of our mission & vision. Many of us are comfortable right this moment with the idea of “seeking the lost,” others not so much. God gives each of us gifts in different areas and at different times in our journey. To use a familiar farming metaphor: Some may be good at striking up the initial conversation or “planting.” Others are good at continuing the conversation or “cultivating.” Yet others are good at calling people to a decision for Christ or “harvesting.” Together we make up the body of Journey Church; we are the body of Christ. Together in Christ, we seek the lost and invite them to be part of God’s story.

Closing Prayer “Lord, show us your heart and passion when it comes to seeking the lost. We pray for those who do

not know You. We ask that you bring people into our lives that need You in their hearts and pray that You would prepare them to receive your message of love, mercy, grace and hope. May we be sensitive to those around us, friend or stranger. Give us the words to say and let us know when to be quiet and listen. Fill us with Your Spirit Lord and allow us as a church and as individual followers to realize the joy of others coming to You. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”

* Our Vision - Lesson 1 Notes*





seeking: the “Kingdom”


Proclaiming the Gospel + Equipping believers Serving with Compassion + Serving with Sacrifice

What does it

Mean to …..

seek……

The “Kingdom of God”?

Seeking the Kingdom of God… We often wonder about this mysterious Kingdom that we

just don’t fully understand. We read about it in scripture. We talk about wanting to be followers of Jesus that can say we “seek the Kingdom.” Yet, at times, it feels as if we are seeking something that cannot be seen or realized. We have questions: Where is this “Kingdom?” What does it look like to “seek the Kingdom?” In this lesson, we will briefly explore these questions and discover what it can mean to “seek the Kingdom of God.”


Look at definitions of the words in the phrase “seek the Kingdom”

Explore scriptural references related to “seeking the Kingdom”

Look at what we can do to seek the Kingdom


Pray together

Definitions First let’s look at two key definitions.2 Our phrase is “seek the Kingdom.” Two words

need to be unpacked: “seek” and “Kingdom.” Let’s review what it means to seek. The word “seek” is a verb and is defined as:

to go in search or quest of…

to try to find or discover by searching or questioning…

to try to obtain…

to try or attempt (usually followed by an infinitive); to seek to convince a person. Synonyms– pursue, follow, go after

To seek means we commit to the intentional act of “going.” We “go,” we “discover;” we even “pursue.” It becomes an action that we all aspire to do. In the context of seeking the Kingdom, it becomes an active pursuit.




Lesson 2 – Seeking the Kingdom

Now, we look at the word “Kingdom.” What is this “Kingdom?” The word “Kingdom” is a noun and is defined as:

the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ

the domain over which the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ extends, whether in heaven or on earth

a state or government having a king or queen as its head

The word “Kingdom of God” describes a context for our lives; a direction and world-view in which we aspire to live. It describes the life that we are created to live through Jesus Christ – a quest and journey to be Christ-like. It also describes the spiritual environment in which we live and how the presence of Jesus impacts everything in us, through us and around us. And it describes our future eternity with Jesus and the Father.

Putting this all together, we actively pursue learning and experiencing all we can in regard to the one we follow and how He wants us to live and serve; we do all we can to follow His Word and teaching. We seek to learn and experience what it means to live in His Kingdom now and throughout eternity. It is a never-ending quest as we actively seek the Kingdom of God. We intentionally pursue our Lord.

Scripture References

There are many scriptures that speak to us seeking the Kingdom of God. We include the following scriptures for your reference and further study. (All scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation.) This is by no means an exhaustive list. We encourage you to dig deeper into scriptures related to Seeking the Kingdom.

1 Chronicles 16:8-12 8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the

nations what he has done. 9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

1 Chronicles Chapters 24-26 (Please look up and review.) Jeremiah 29:11-13 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper

you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Matthew 6:33 33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you

as well.

Matthew 13 (parables) Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God, and its value and place. Parable of the Sower 1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/which

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/king


...we actively pursue learning

and experiencing all

we can in regard to the one we follow and how He

wants us to live and serve; we do all we can to

follow His words and teaching.


soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” 10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have,

even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received

the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The Parable of the Weeds 24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” The Parable of the Weeds Explained 36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the



Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. The Parable of the Net 47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. 52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Jude 1:20-21 20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the

Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

2 Peter 1:3-11 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through

our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

James 4:8 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and

purify your hearts, you double-minded. Revelation 5:9-11 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to

open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”


The key is that we actively

pursue seeking the Kingdom.


Revelation 11:15-16 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in

heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,

What Can We Do? So what does it look like to seek the Kingdom? What are some ways that we as individuals

and as a church can intentionally seek the Kingdom of God? We seek the Kingdom both as a gathering of people and on an individual level. As a gathering of people we seek the Kingdom through:

Worship services and events and all the elements involved

Structured group Bible Study

Group Prayer

Theological training in a class or gathering

Life Groups

DVD and other media training in a class or gathering

Serving in ministry in the community and in our church

The Sacraments of Communion and Baptism

In other people

Etc… On an individual level we can:

Spend time in the Word

Spend time in prayer

Spend time in personal worship

Do structured personal Bible Studies

Attend seminars and conventions

Pursue personal theological training

Read books, periodical, blogs, podcasts, etc...

Watch DVD and other media training

Explore web based training and tools

Serve within and outside our church

Etc…

As you can see, there are many ways to seek the Kingdom of God. The above list is not exhaustive. The key is that we actively pursue seeking the Kingdom. There are no physical limitations to seeking the Kingdom. As long as we can mentally, emotionally and spiritually connect with our Lord, we can seek the Kingdom. This is freeing as it implies that we are on a life journey, always growing, always moving deeper in our relationship with our Lord. We are always learning what it means to live in the Kingdom now, and can look forward to spending eternity in the Kingdom with our Lord.




Which of the above scriptures speaks to you about seeking the Kingdom?

How do the parables in Matthew 13 reflect God’s passion for seeking His Kingdom?

What does this say to you?

Have the above definitions shed new light on seeking the Kingdom in your eyes? What struck you the most?

What are the ways that you can personally seek the Kingdom? What do you need to do or change in your life or group, to make it happen?

Think of a way for you to gather with others on a regular basis to seek the Kingdom of God. Make a list of who and invite them to join you.

Determine to spend daily time in His Word and in prayer. Then simply begin. Don’t think of failure, just take it a day at a time.

What are ways that we as Journey Church Seek the Kingdom?

In one sentence, express what seeking the Kingdom means to you.

What motivates us to seek the Kingdom of God? ... Shouldn’t Jesus be enough? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30

Conclusion We hope you have a better idea of what it means to seek the Kingdom of God. Our new

mission and vision place a high value on becoming mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Seeking the Kingdom is a critical part of this journey. Journey Church places a high value on you and your growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ and we place a high value on how we grow together as a community of faith. We need each other on this journey! In the context of Seeking the Kingdom, this all means we daily pursue God, His Word and calling on our lives and we pursue our Lord and His truth as a body of believers. We aspire to having no separation between what we believe and who we are.

Closing Prayer

“Lord, show us your heart and passion when it comes to seeking Your Kingdom. We pray that our hearts would be open to Your Word and truth. We ask that You will speak to us through Your Word and in our prayers; that we will grow in You through our authentic worship and service. We thank you for the opportunity to know You more and that we can be an ever-growing part of Your story. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”


* Our Vision - Lesson 2 Notes *



Teaching: Proclaiming the Gospel


Proclaiming the Gospel + Equipping believers

Serving with Compassion + Serving with Sacrifice

What does it

Mean to …..

PROCLAIM…… The Gospel…..

Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.… When we think about “proclaiming the Gospel,”

we often see images of church revival meetings, missionaries in Africa, our own annual Mexico Mission Trip or people handing out tracks on the street corner. However, proclaiming the Gospel goes beyond the obvious and opens up a new world of sharing with others. Proclaiming the Gospel can at times make us anxious, because as with “seeking the lost”, the act of proclaiming the Gospel puts us at risk of rejection and ridicule. It pushes us to interact with others. In this lesson, we will briefly explore what it can mean to “proclaim the Gospel.”


Look at definitions of the words in the phrase “proclaim the Gospel”

Explore scriptural references related to “proclaim the Gospel”

Look at what we can do to “proclaim the Gospel”


Pray together

Definitions We need to look at three key definitions.3 Our phrase within the context of teaching is

“proclaiming the Gospel.” Three words immediately need to be unpacked: “teach,” “proclaim” and “Gospel.” First we unpack the word “teach.” What does it mean to “teach?” The word “teach” is a verb and is defined as:

to impart knowledge of or skill in; give instruction

to help to learn; tell or show (how)

to cause to learn or understand Synonyms – inform, enlighten, discipline, drill, school, indoctrinate

When we teach, we have a goal of passing on something of value: A lesson learned, information, a heartfelt belief, an experience. We make sure that the person being taught




Lesson 3 – Teaching: Proclaiming the Gospel

understands and can connect with what is being taught; that they can retain and apply within their own lives what is being communicated.

Next, we unpack the word “proclaim.” What does it mean to “proclaim?” The word “proclaim” is another verb and is defined as:

to announce or declare in an official or formal manner

to announce or declare in an open or ostentatious way

to indicate or make known publicly or openly

to show or indicate plainly Synonyms – advertise, announce

We proclaim by openly and unashamedly communicating with other people through our words and actions. It is an intentional act; something we do on purpose. Now, we look at the word “Gospel.” What is the “Gospel?” The word “Gospel” is a noun and is defined as:

the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation

Also called: gospel truth an unquestionable truth

the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ

something regarded as true and implicitly believed

glad tidings, especially concerning salvation and the kingdom of God as announced to the world by Christ.

Synonyms – no synonyms listed.

The Gospel is uniquely the message, teachings, person, story and Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is the “good news” of forgiveness, acceptance and salvation. This salvation is offered to all through faith in Jesus Christ. This truly is “good news” as written in the Bible, the authoritative Word of God.

To proclaim the Gospel or to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to openly, intentionally, communicate the love, mercy, grace and story of Jesus Christ to others. We use the scriptures as our basis for what we proclaim and what we teach. We communicate both verbally and in our actions. The Gospel is what we communicate to the “lost” in hopes that they will come to Christ, making Him Lord of their lives. We “proclaim the Gospel.”


There are many scriptures that speak to active evangelism or proclaiming the Gospel. We include the following scriptures for your reference and further study. (All scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation.) This is by no means an exhaustive list. We encourage you to dig deeper into scriptures related to “proclaiming the Gospel.”

1 Chronicles 16:8, 24: 8 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the

nations what he has done… 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.


To proclaim the Gospel or to teach and preach the

Gospel of Jesus Christ is to

openly, intentionally, communicate

the love, mercy, grace and story of Jesus Christ

to others.




Mark 13:10: 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Acts 4:10-12: 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 8:25: 25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the

Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. Acts 16:30-32: 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what

must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.

Romans 1:14-17: 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks,

both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 10:12-15: 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord

of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Romans 15:15-20: 15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23: 19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to

everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win



those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Colossians 4:2-4: 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us,

too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

What Can We Do? So what does it look like to proclaim the Gospel? What are some ways that we as

individuals and as a church can intentionally proclaim the Gospel? We proclaim the Gospel both on and off the church campus – as individuals, groups and as a gathering of people. Off campus we proclaim the Gospel by:

Sharing your story in Christ (our testimony) with others. Can you tell how you came to believe in Christ? What Jesus means to you? How He daily changes your life? In answering these questions, we can formulate our own story in Jesus; how we were made part of His story. We proclaim the Gospel by telling others how Jesus changed our lives.

Evangelistic conversation, sharing Jesus’ story with others through scripture and our story.

Calling others to choose the transformed life in Jesus…

Openly being Jesus to others. Loving others... Reacting to others in a Christ-like manner… Helping others… serving others.

Conversations with neighbors, friends and strangers. We strike up a conversation with others in various settings and situations. We become good listeners and alert to opportunities to share our story and the hope we have in Jesus; we share His story of salvation. We offer to pray for them. We invite them to come and share in His story and in our worship experience.

Serving in the community through special projects or by helping our neighbors in even the smallest of ways. As a church, we go out into our surrounding community and let people know we care and invite people to come share in our worship experiences and/or special events.

Sharing scripture in times of need, in times of joy, to share the salvation of Jesus…

How we live.

Etc… On campus we proclaim the Gospel through:

The sermon, the teaching, the life group lesson, etc…

A song, a hymn, an instrumental or other arts related activity.

A prayer: out loud, in private, with another, for the church, for each other, for the lost, etc…


Proclaiming the Gospel is not the job of any one person or

group. We need to all take

ownership of telling the story of Jesus Christ. We all have the responsibility of

sharing the good news of

salvation through faith in Jesus Christ...


Sharing scripture in times of need, in times of joy, to share the salvation of Jesus.

Special events and holiday seasons.

Serving in the community through special projects or by helping our neighbors in even the smallest of ways. As a church, we go out into our surrounding community and let people know we care and invite people to come and share in our worship experiences and/or special events.

How we respond when the community comes on our campus.

Online and in-Print church publications. Our publications become both informative and inviting, allowing people to feel important, loved and wanted.

Etc…

There are many ways we can proclaim the Gospel. As with other elements of our vision, the key is that we are intentional about what, where and how we proclaim our Lord. As we earlier read in Romans 10 “...And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” It is up to God’s people to intentionally proclaim His good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. We openly “proclaim the Gospel.”


Which of the above scriptures speaks to you about

proclaiming the Gospel? What does it lead you to do?

Have the above definitions shed new light on proclaiming the Gospel in your eyes? How?

What are the ways that you can personally proclaim the Gospel? What do you need to do to make it happen?

What stands in the way of us as a church, to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

How does proclaiming the Gospel relate to seeking the lost?

Think about someone right now that you know does not have Christ in their life. Begin praying about how God can open the doors for you to share Christ with them – proclaim the Gospel. Write their name down and share it with the group.

What are ways that we as Journey Church Proclaims the Gospel?

In one sentence, express what proclaiming the Gospel means to you.

What motivates us to even try to proclaim the Gospel? ... Shouldn’t Jesus be enough?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30



Conclusion Proclaiming the Gospel is not the job of any one person or group. We need to all take

ownership of telling the story of Jesus Christ, as individual followers and as His church. We all have the responsibility of sharing the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ; to share His love, mercy and grace through both our actions and our words. Together we make up the body of Journey Church; we are the body of Christ. Together in Christ, we proclaim the Gospel and invite them to live a transformed life in Jesus Christ; to be part of God’s story.

Closing Prayer “Lord, we thank you for the opportunity and privilege to be called to share Your story. We

pray for your strength and courage that we may openly proclaim your Gospel to others. We ask that You bring into our paths, those who need to experience the love and forgiveness only you can provide. We ask that You bring those that need to hear Your story of Salvation and grace. Lord, give us the words to say and the wisdom to know when to be quiet and listen. Fill us with Your Spirit Lord and allow us as a church and as individual followers to realize the joy of others coming to You. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”






Teaching: Equipping Believers




What does it

Mean to …..

equip……

The body of believers (the “Saints”)…..

Equipping the body of believers.… When we hear the word equip, we may think of a list of what is needed to go on a trip or what it may take to accomplish a given task. However, we also have questions: “equip believers for what?” “What will I personally need?” “What will the group need?” “How will we get what we need?” In this lesson we will attempt to answer these questions and briefly explore what it can mean to “equip believers.”


Look at definitions of the words in the phrase “proclaim the Gospel”

Explore scriptural references related to “proclaim the Gospel”

Look at what we can do to “proclaim the Gospel”


Pray together

Definitions Again, we need to look at a few key definitions.4 Our phrase within the context of

teaching is “equipping believers” or “equip believers.” Some long-time believers will have heard this as “equipping the saints.” Two words need to be unpacked: “teach” and “equip.” We make an assumption that a “believer” is anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They are already a follower of Jesus Christ. First, let’s review the word “teach.” The word “teach” is a verb and is defined as:

to impart knowledge of or skill in; give instruction

to help to learn; tell or show (how)

to cause to learn or understand Synonyms – inform, enlighten, discipline, drill, school, indoctrinate

When we teach, we have a goal of passing on something of value: A lesson learned, information, a heartfelt belief. We make sure that the person being taught understands and can




Lesson 4 – Teaching: Equipping Believers

connect with what is being taught; that they can retain and apply within their own lives what is being communicated.

Next, we explore the word “equip.” What does it mean to “equip” The word “equip” is another verb and is defined as:

to furnish or provide with whatever is needed for use or for any undertaking

to furnish with intellectual or emotional resources; prepare

Synonyms – outfit, rig, furnish

To equip is make sure that all involved have whatever they need to complete their journey or task successfully. The synonyms “outfit” or “rig” infer that the person is going on a long journey – in our case a life-long journey. We make sure that all are prepared to live in the Kingdom now and into eternity; that they are prepared to meet head on this world and all that it entails.

To equip believers then is to make available all the resources needed to help them be successful in their journey with Christ. Again, this is an intentional act as a church, a ministry team, and as individuals. We equip believers to “seek the lost” AND “seek the Kingdom.” We equip believers to “proclaim the Gospel” of Jesus Christ to others, and as we will see later, to serve each other and the community. We make sure believers have all they need as followers of Jesus Christ to live the transformed life and find their purpose and calling. We “equip believers (“the saints”).

Scripture References There are many scriptures that speak to discipleship or equipping believers. We include

the following scriptures for your reference and further study. (All scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation.) This is by no means an exhaustive list. We encourage you to dig deeper into scriptures related to “equipping believers.”



Ephesians 4:15-16: 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him

who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 6:10-18: 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full

armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the


To equip believers then

is to make available all the

resources needed to help

them be successful in their journey with Christ.

Again, this is an intentional act as a church, a ministry team,

and as individuals.


sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

2 Timothy 3:14-17: 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become

convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in

righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1 Peter 4:10-11: 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to

serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Jude 1:19-21: 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere

natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for

teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 13:7: 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to

you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:20-21: 20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of

the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What Can We Do? So what does it look like for our church to equip believers? What are some ways that we as

individuals and as a church can do to intentionally equip believers?

Provide intentional, Biblical, Christ-centered teaching and teaching materials/methodologies:

o Study techniques – how to study the bible, our theology, etc... o How to Pray - a life of prayer o How to worship and live a lifestyle of worship o What does it mean to live in the Kingdom now and throughout eternity o What does it mean to be “born again,” “saved,” “a believer,” and live the abundant,

transformed life. o The Word and Truth of God o How to share your faith o How to serve in the community



Call people to spiritual commitment

Offer believer’s baptism – initial or reaffirment

Worship services and events

Group Bible Study and study guides

Opportunities for group Prayer

Life Groups

Opportunities to attend area Seminars and conventions

Theological training - child, student and adult levels

Provide recommendations for suggested reading

DVD and other media training in areas pertinent to the demographics and life situations of the church congregation.

Family oriented studies

Topical Studies (i.e. “The Truth Project,” “Financial Peace,” Marriage, Spiritual Disciplines, etc...)

Develop individual or group gifting or talents and pair with ministries and events.

Provide opportunities for serving within the church and out in the community.

Etc…

There are many ways we can equip believers, however our efforts must be focused. Again, as with other elements of our vision, we must be intentional about what and how we provide, educate, outfit, or prepare our people and ourselves for the abundant Christ-centered life. We are arming the body for battle in and at times with the world. In Ephesians 6 we read, “ 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God...” May we provide a complete set of armor for our people as we “equip” them for service and everyday life.


Which of the above scriptures speaks to you about equipping believers? What does it lead you to do?

Have the above definitions shed new light on proclaiming the Gospel in your eyes?

How?

Think of how you could be better equipped. What would you need to be involved in to be better prepared as a follower of Jesus?

What can we as a church do to better outfit our people? What needs to stay the same?


It is not only our responsibility to equip others for the abundant life in Jesus

Christ, but for us to see to it

that we as individuals are equipped and

prepared ourselves.


What stands in the way of our efforts to equip each other for service and spiritual growth in Christ?

How does equipping believers relate to seeking the Kingdom?

What are ways that we as Journey Church equip believers?

Again, it all comes back to the depth of our relationship with Christ. What motivates us to even try to be better prepared; better equipped? ... shouldn’t Jesus be enough?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30

Conclusion It is not only our responsibility to equip others for the abundant life in

Jesus Christ, but for us to see to it that we as individuals are equipped and prepared ourselves. We take ownership of teaching and being taught. As we have said before, together we make up the body of Journey Church; we are the body of Christ. As a community of equipped believers, we can be better prepared to live in a chaotic world and can become a light in the darkness where others may come to find hope, strength and peace. Together in Christ, we equip believers and invite them to live a confident, abundant life in Jesus Christ and to be an ever growing part of God’s story.

Closing Prayer

“Lord, we ask that you would show us where we need to equip and be equipped. May we respond to Your leading and seek to put on Your full armor. We pray that we would cultivate desires to know You and be better disciples and followers. We thank you for Your leading and discernment. Fill us with Your Spirit Lord and allow us as a church and as individual followers to realize the joy of the abundant life and others coming to You. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”






Serving: Serving with Compassion




What does it

Mean to …..

SERVE…… The “Lost”…..

with. . . . compassion?

Serving the lost with compassion.… At one or more times in our lives, most of us will feel

compassion for others. We see the life situation of another and our heart goes out to them. We want to help. We may even have been in their shoes at one time ourselves. But when it comes to “serving those without Christ,” we may wonder what that really means. How is it different from serving in other ways? In this lesson, we will briefly explore what it can mean to “serve with compassion.”


Look at definitions of the words in the phrase “serve with compassion”

Explore scriptural references related to “serve with compassion”

Look at what we can do to “serve with compassion”


Pray together

Definitions

First we need to look at two key definitions.5 Our phrase is “serve with compassion.” Two words immediately need to be unpacked: serve and compassion. First we look at the word “serve.” What does it mean to serve? The word “serve” is a verb and is defined as:

To act as a servant

To render assistance; be of use; help.

To be in the service of; work for.

To be useful or of service to; help.

To render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.)

To provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.




Lesson 5 – Serving With Compassion

Synonyms – attend

The word “serve” leads us to explore a couple of related terms that will help us in our understanding. The word “serve” leads us to the terms “servant” and “service.”

The word “servant” is a noun and is defined as:

a person in the service of another.

The word “service” is also a noun and is defined as

an act of helpful activity

The supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.

The providing or a provider of accommodation and activities required by the public, as maintenance, repair, etc.

Often, services. The performance of any duties or work for another;

The serving of God by obedience, piety, etc. Service as a Verb - to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services. Service as an Adjective - supplying aids or services rather than products or goods.

When we serve, we are intentionally working to help or meet the needs of another. We are

supplying what others need within a given context. They may have asked for the help or we may simply serve the person on our own. To serve is an action.

Next, we look at the word “compassion.” What does it mean to be “compassionate?” The word “compassion” is another noun and is defined as:

a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Synonyms - commiseration, mercy, tenderness, heart, clemency Antonyms - mercilessness, indifference As a Verb – Compassionate – having or showing compassion Synonyms - pitying, sympathizing, sympathetic, tender

The word compassion leads us to explore a couple of related terms that will again help us in

our lesson. The word compassion leads us to the terms sympathy and sorrow.

The word sympathy is a noun and is defined as:

Harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another.

The harmony of feeling naturally existing between persons of like tastes or opinion or of congenial dispositions.

The fact or power of sharing the feelings of another, especially in sorrow or trouble; fellow feeling, compassion, or commiseration.

Sympathy as a Verb – to show sympathy



The word sorrow is a noun and is defined as:

Distress caused by loss, affliction, disappointment, etc.; grief, sadness, or regret.

A cause or occasion of grief or regret, as an affliction, a misfortune, or trouble… “sorrow” as a verb - to feel sorrow; grieve. Compassion moves us to care for and share in the feelings or needs of others. We are

sensitive to the life-situation that the other person is going through. Compassion is a heart-felt emotion that moves us to act.

In the context of the Christian faith, serving the lost with compassion means that we do what we can to help them come to Christ and meet their needs physically, emotionally and spiritually. We hope to cultivate their desires toward Christ and the abundant transformed life that only comes through faith in Jesus. We grieve and feel sorrow for their separation from God; We have compassion and intentionally serve them in different ways. Our serving is an outpouring of our love for our Lord.


There are many scriptures that speak to the act of serving with compassion. We include the following scriptures for your reference and further study. (All scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation.) This is by no means an exhaustive list. The scriptures are filled with acts of compassion. We encourage you to dig deeper into scriptures related to “serving with compassion.”

Matthew 9:36: 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were

harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Mark 6:34: 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because

they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Ephesians 4:32: 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in

Christ God forgave you. Philippians 2:1-3: 1If you have any

encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

What Can We Do? So what does it look like to serve

others with compassion? What are some ways that we as individuals and as a church can intentionally serve with


In the context of the Christian faith, serving the lost with compassion

means that we do what we can

to help them come to Christ and meet their

needs physically,

emotionally and spiritually.


compassion? We can serve with compassion both on and off the church campus. Off campus we serve with compassion by:

Openly being Jesus to others. Loving others... Reacting to others in a Christ-like manner… Helping others… serving others.

Helping neighbors with simple tasks – bring in their garbage containers, help them bring their groceries, etc…

Conversations with neighbors, friends and strangers. We get to know the spiritual condition of people through observation and conversation. We can become good listeners and alert to opportunities to serve, offering the hope we find only in Jesus through word and action.

Offering to pray for the lost. We simply ask if there is any way we can pray them, whatever that request may be. We become intercessors for their needs.

Inviting others to simply “come and see.” We invite them to come and share in our worship experience.

Serving in the community through special projects and organizations – Power House, Twin Lakes, etc….

Going out of our way to serve those around us – we feed the hungry, visit the sick and proclaim the Gospel.

Etc… On campus we serve the lost with compassion:

We as a church can be sensitive to the lives of others. We meet them where they are in life and extend a hand of hope, mercy and grace, offering new life found only in Jesus Christ.

We do our job as a church – we proclaim the Gospel, organize and teach other believers to serve with compassion.

As a church, we pray for the lost.

As a church we provide a an environment for the lost to witness heart-felt worship and experience the presence of the Spirit in our lives as a body of believers.

As a church we open our campus to groups that may need space for their meetings and we do what we can to serve them.

Etc…

There are many ways we can serve the lost with compassion. This far into studying our vision, you can see that the different elements of our vision work hand in hand with each other. Seeking, proclaiming and serving with compassion all work together to bring others to Christ, offering them hope and an abundant future as followers of Jesus. Again, as with other elements of our vision, the key is that we are intentional about what, where and how we serve with compassion.


What do the above scriptures say about the attitude of Jesus toward others?



What idea regarding compassion meant the most to you? Does it change the way you see other...the lost?

What are the ways that you can personally serve with compassion? What do you need to do to make it happen?

What stands in the way of serving the lost with compassion? What can we do to remove this obstacle?

How does serving with compassion relate to seeking the lost?

Think about someone right now that you know does not have Christ in their life. Begin praying about how God can open the doors for you to share Christ with them – proclaim the Gospel. Write their name down and share it with the group.

How do we “leverage” people’s gifts when it comes to collectively serving with

compassion?

What are ways that we as Journey Church serve the lost with compassion?

We often are moved to compassion when there is a physical or emotional need: hunger, poverty…. this can limit our compassion to those less fortunate than we are – the poor, needy, etc… When will we be moved to compassion simply because people are without Jesus? This crosses the boundaries of class, including all people… poor, rich, etc… we then serve all the lost with compassion.

What motivates us to even try to serve with compassion? ... Shouldn’t Jesus be

enough? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30

Conclusion Compassion is a “heart condition.” We see others through the eyes of Jesus and move

beyond our own comfort zones because of His transforming love. We are able to share in, and have sympathy for the life and spiritual condition of others and we are moved to act. As individuals and together as the body of Christ, we serve the lost with compassion and invite them live a transformed life in Jesus Christ; to be part of God’s story.

Closing Prayer “Lord, we thank you for this time together. We ask your forgiveness for the times we are

hardened to the spiritual-life of others. We ask for the opportunity to serve the lost with compassion; that we may be a reflection of Your love, mercy and grace. As a church may we equip our people to accomplish Your mission. It is through Your eyes that we see; it is with Your heart that we reach out. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”







Serving: Serving with Sacrifice




What does it

Mean to …..

SERVE……

The Body…..

with. . . . sacrifice?

Serving with sacrifice.… Sacrifice is often a scary word. It brings up images of giving up

something that we value… time, money, etc… What does it mean to sacrifice? How much do we need to sacrifice? In this lesson, we will briefly explore what it can mean to “serve with sacrifice.”


Look at definitions of the words in the phrase “serve with compassion”

Explore scriptural references related to “serve with compassion”

Look at what we can do to “serve with compassion”


Pray together

Definitions

First we need to look at two key definitions.6 Our phrase is “serve with sacrifice.” Two words immediately need to be unpacked: serve and compassion. First we review the word serve. What does it mean to serve? The word serve is a verb and is defined as:

To act as a servant

To render assistance; be of use; help.

To be in the service of; work for.

To be useful or of service to; help.

To render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.)

To provide with a regular or continuous supply of something. Synonyms – attend




Lesson 6 – Serving With Sacrifice

The word serve leads us to explore a couple of related terms that will help us in our understanding. The word serve leads us to the terms servant and service.

The word servant is a noun and is defined as:

a person in the service of another.

The word service is also a noun and is defined as

an act of helpful activity

The supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.

The providing or a provider of accommodation and activities required by the public, as maintenance, repair, etc.

Often, services. The performance of any duties or work for another;

The serving of God by obedience, piety, etc. Service as a Verb - to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services. Service as an Adjective - supplying aids or services rather than products or goods.

When we serve, we are intentionally working to help or meet the needs of another. We are

supplying what others need within a given context. They may have asked for the help or we may simply serve the person on our own. To serve is an action. Next, we look at the word sacrifice. The word sacrifice is a noun and is defined as:

The surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

a surrender of something of value as a means of gaining something more desirable or of preventing some evil

a symbolic offering of something to a deity

As a verb, sacrifice is defined as:

To surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else. Synonym – Relinquish, Forgo, Renounce.

In the context of the Christian faith, sacrificially serving means, that whenever possible, we go above and beyond our own selves for “the greater good.” In most cases, “the greater good” is whatever will help others in seeking the kingdom – going deeper in their faith - and equipping believers to serve the Lord, each other and those outside our walls. We find greater value in His work and direction than we find in our own sometimes tedious schedules, tasks and resources. Our sacrifice becomes an outpouring of our love for our Lord and a response to His sacrifice for us.

Scripture References There are many scriptures that speak to the act of sacrifice. We include the following

scriptures for your reference and further study. (All scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation.) This is by no means an exhaustive list. The scriptures are filled with acts of sacrifice. We encourage you to dig deeper into scriptures related to “serving with compassion.”


Sacrifice moves us to place our

own preferences, desires and

resources on hold in order to

serve others and to

accomplish whatever it may be for the sake of something bigger than ourselves.


Romans 12:1, 3-8: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer

your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship...... 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to

each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Ephesians 4:1-7,11-16: 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it...... 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is

the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Philippians 2:1-3: 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort

from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

1 Peter 2:4-6; 10-11: 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by

God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”..... 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:5-6: 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of

you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.



. What Can We Do? So what does it look like to serve others with sacrifice? What are some ways that we as

individuals and as a church can intentionally serve sacrificially? We can serve sacrificially both on and off the church campus – as individuals and as a gathering of God’s people.

Off campus we serve with Sacrifice by:

Discovering our gifts and finding a way to use them in serving outside the church walls.

We can place the needs of others above our own schedules and resources and simply be there to serve.

Seek out ministries that serve off campus and get involved. On campus we serve with sacrifice by:

Discovering our gifts and finding a way to use them in ministry.

We place the needs of ministry and others above our own schedules and resources and simply show up.

Help when asked (if at all possible).

Be proactive in searching out a need in ministry.

Be faithful in your worship attendance.

Keep your commitments.

Etc...

There are many ways we can sacrificially serve each other and in ministry. Again, you can see that the different elements of our vision work hand in hand with each other. Seeking, teaching and serving with sacrifice all work together to help build the Kingdom of God and move forward His great commission to make disciples. The key is that we are intentional about what, where and how we sacrificially serve even when it may be inconvenient.

Sacrifice moves us to place our own preferences, desires and resources on hold in

order to serve others and to accomplish whatever it may be for the sake of something bigger than ourselves. Sacrifice is a difficult, intentional effort on our part to place other events, people, needs, etc.. above our own in an effort to communally and personally serve our Lord..


Can we serve with sacrifice without a heartfelt passion for a cause, belief or person?

At what point is something else worth enough to surrender or give up what we value… regardless of what we get in return?

What do the above scriptures have to say about sacrifice? What stood out for you?

What stands in the way of our sacrifice?



What are ways we serve with sacrifice now?

What do we need to change to serve with true sacrifice? Not change?

How does this relate to serving in ministry and other believers?

What are ways that we see people or groups at Journey Church serve with sacrifice?

As with serving with compassion, it again all comes back to the depth of our relationship with Christ. What motivates us to even try... Shouldn’t Jesus be enough?

“love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – mark 12:30

Conclusion Serving with sacrifice is a matter of priority. We prioritize our time, gifting and resources and

strive to place Jesus first in our hearts. We even at times give up something of value in order to accomplish His mission and heart. It is not always easy and yet we can find joy in His calling and service. We can rest assured that He honors our humble sacrifice and is faithful to work through us. He will transform the lives of others through our service.

Closing Prayer

“Lord, we again thank you for this time together. We ask your forgiveness for the times we place our own convenience above Your mission. We ask for the opportunity to serve in ministry and make a difference in the lives of others; that we may be a consistent reflection of Your love, mercy and grace. As a church may we serve accomplish Your mission and Your vision for Journey Church. It is through Your hands that we reach out; it is with Your feet that we move forward and develop mature disciples of Jesus Christ. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”






The Cross

In Christ We Journey Together through Seeking, Teaching and Serving.

Seeking the Lost + Seeking the Kingdom



What does it

Mean to …..

be……

transformed…..

by. . . . the Cross?

Making a commitment to Jesus, being

transformed through the CROSS and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a pivotal, life changing event. It is at that moment that we become a follower of the one and only living God – a follower of Jesus Christ and it is here that we begin our journey as a disciple.


Look at definitions of the words in the phrase “transformed by the Cross”

Explore scriptural references related to this transformation

Look at what we do to be transformed


Pray together

Definitions We need to look at two key definitions.7 Our phrase is “transformed by the cross.” Two

words immediately need to be unpacked: transformed and cross.




Lesson 7 – The Cross

First we unpack the word transformed. What does it mean to be transformed? The word transform is a verb and is defined as:

To change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose.

To change in condition, nature, or character; convert.

To undergo a change in form, appearance, or character; become transformed. Synonym – transfigure, CONVERT The word transformed leads us to explore a related word that will help us in our understanding. This word is metamorphose.

The word metamorphose is also a verb and is defined as:

to change the form or nature of; transform. Synonym - mutate

To be transformed indicates that we are no longer in a form that we used to be. We are

changed into something else; hopefully something better. We are changed over time or we “mutate” in an instant. Next, we look at the word cross. The word cross is a noun and is defined as:

The Cross, the cross upon which Jesus died.

A structure consisting essentially of an upright and a transverse piece, used to execute persons in ancient times.

The crucifixion of Jesus as the culmination of His redemptive mission.

The teaching of redemption gained by Jesus' death.

The word cross is also a verb and defined as:

To move, pass, or extend from one side or place to another: Cross at the intersection.

The cross represents a place, an element of the sacrifice of Jesus for our own sins and a bridge to the Father. It is in and of itself, a symbol of transformation and change.

Scripture References There are many scriptures that speak to the idea of the cross and transformation. We

include the following scriptures for your reference and further study. (All scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation.) This is by no means an exhaustive list.

John 3:14-18: 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted

up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 14:6: 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through me.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nature

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nature

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/which


Making a commitment to Jesus, being transformed through the CROSS and

resurrection of Jesus Christ is a pivotal, life

changing event. It is at that

moment that we become a follower of

Jesus Christ


Romans 12:2-3: 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the

renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 10:9-10: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is

Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:12-14: 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Romans 6:23: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is

eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:17-19: 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but

to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Ephesians 2:8-9: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Titus 3:4-7: 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not

because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

2 Cor 5:17: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has

come!

Acts 4:12: 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of

Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Ephesians 2:12-18: 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from

citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16

and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death



their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Mark 16:15-16: 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Some Greek references Saved : Sozo (Sode-zo) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; to deliver from

the penalties of the Messianic judgment.

Salvation: Soteria (so-tay-ree'-ah) - salvation as the present possession of all true Christians; future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.

What Can We Do to be transformed? So what does it look like to be transformed? Our transformation is accomplished by:

Intentionally accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives. We then become followers of Jesus Christ and begin our journey as disciples of Jesus.

We are “saved” by God’s grace – we repent or turn away from sin and ask His forgiveness. We acknowledge who He is, who we are and what Christ has done for us. We accept Jesus Christ as Lord of all.

We journey together and move forward in our relationship with Jesus and learn, grow and apply his teachings and the truth of God’s word.

Our lives are continually changed by the experience of His forgiveness, love, mercy, grace and presence in our lives.


What do the above scriptures have to say about the cross and transformation?

What is the point of transformation in one’s life?

What must happen to move from one side (lost) of the cross to the “other” (saved) side of the cross? We are transformed by ___________ through _______________.

What is the significance of the cross in our vision statement?

How does the cross move us to action as believers?

Is there an urgency in people accepting Christ as Lord?

Conclusion Becoming a follower of Jesus, the Son of God, is an act of faith by grace. The cross is the

symbol of this transformation and choice. His sacrifice and gift of love, mercy and grace prompts us to respond; to make a decision. His resurrection compels us to a life of transformation and growth as we journey to become mature disciples. We journey as individuals and we journey together as a people.


Becoming a follower of

Jesus, the Son of God, is an act of faith by grace. The cross is the

symbol of this transformation

and choice.


Closing Prayer

“Lord, we thank you for Your gift of salvation. We thank you for Your forgiveness, love, mercy and grace in our lives. We pray that You will use us to share Your story; that You will use us to change the lives of others. If there are any in this group that have not accepted You as Lord, we pray that You would move in their hearts to do so now. Give them the courage to express their hearts and proclaim You as Lord of their lives. We give you our hearts this day. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”






The Mission Itself

“To Develop Mature Disciples of Jesus Christ”

What does it

Mean to …..

DEVELOP…… Mature…..

Disciples of…… Jesus Christ?

Developing disciples of Jesus Christ.... This is a mission for ALL of God’s people and His

Churches. This is a command straight from the lips of Jesus in what we call “the great commission” (Matt 28:18-20, see below). Yet it raises questions: How do we do “develop” disciples? What does a mature disciple even look like? Through this lesson we hope to uncover the answer these and other questions you may have regarding “Developing Mature Disciples.”


Look at definitions of the words in the phrase “To Develop Mature Disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Explore scriptural references related to this transformation

Look at what we do to accomplish this mission


Pray together

Definitions First we need to look at three key definitions.8 Our phrase is “To Develop Mature Disciples of Jesus Christ.” Three words immediately need to be explored: develop, mature and disciples. The word develop is a verb and is defined as:

to bring out the capabilities or possibilities of; bring to a more advanced or effective state: to develop natural resources; to develop one's musical talent.

to come or bring to a later or more advanced or expanded stage; grow or cause to grow gradually

to come or bring into existence; generate or be generated: he developed a new faith in God

to cause to grow or expand: to develop one's muscles.

to elaborate or expand in detail: to develop a theory.

to bring into being or activity; generate; evolve. .




Lesson 8 – The Mission Itself

Next, the word mature is an adjective and is defined as:

complete in natural growth or development, as plant and animal forms: a mature rose bush.

fully developed in body or mind, as a person Synonym – aged, grown, adult Antonym - childish, raw, green, young

Maturity is what we aspire to....a level of being and growth. It is an ongoing endeavor and is

an intentional action on our part to bring about a change in our lives. Whether it is our own maturity, the maturity of a group or the maturity of others, maturity is something that we must consistently seek and develop.

And finally, the word disciple is a noun and is defined as:

any follower of Christ

a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower

a follower of the doctrines of a teacher or a school of thought

Synonym – Pupil

The word disciple leads us to explore a couple of related terms that will help us in our understanding of the word disciple. The word disciple leads us also to the terms pupil and student.

The word pupil is a noun and is defined as a person, usually young, who is learning under the close supervision of a teacher at school, a private tutor, or the like; student. The word student is a noun and is defined as:

a person formally engaged in learning, especially one enrolled in a school or college; pupil

any person who studies, investigates, or examines thoughtfully a person who makes a thorough study of a subject

When we are a student, we intentionally learn about a subject, task or person. We

devote time and energy towards being versed and ever growing in the area of study. It takes work and it takes time. It is something we do personally and as a group of like-minded people. Pair that with being a student or disciple or follower of Jesus and we see that what we are learning, and even more importantly, what we are experiencing, is forever transforming us as believers and His disciples.

Scripture References There are many scriptures that speak to the idea of making disciples. We include the

following scriptures for your reference and further study. (All scriptures are from the NIV 1984 translation.) This is by no means an exhaustive list.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/study


Maturity is what we aspire to....a level of being.

It is an ongoing endeavor and is

an intentional action on our part to bring

about a change in our lives.


Matt 28:18-20: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has

been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 2 Timothy 4:1-3: In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage —with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. Romans 12:4-8: 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Colossians 1:28-29: 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

1 Corinthians 14:1-2: 1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:1-3: 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 9:21-23: 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Galatians 5:13-26: 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your

freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.


Lesson 8 – The Mission Itself 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

What Can We Do? So what does it look like to develop mature disciples? What does a mature disciple look

Like? What are some ways that we as individuals and as a church can do to intentionally, consistently move forward in our journey as disciples of Jesus Christ?

We “mature” ourselves and others through (Also “Seeking the Kingdom”):

Being intentional about our spiritual growth – a daily discipline

By Teaching AND being taught

Consistency in: o Studying God’s Word o Attending AND participating in worship services and events o Praying as an individual and together with other believers o Spending time in fellowship and building relationships with other believers o Serving in the church and the community o Sharing our faith with others

Spending time in Life groups and small group studies

Investing time in classes, reading, DVD, seminars, etc…

What does a mature disciple look like? Here are some thoughts:

To begin with a disciple is someone who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Over time, in our journey, our lives exhibit a Christ-centered heart and fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (See Galatians 5 below).

We exhibit a Christ like nature towards others and in what we do and say.

We become more and more focused on God and His will for our lives.

We desire to be with other believers, experiencing His transforming presence in both a communal and personal way – this is called worshiping together as the body of Christ.


Developing mature

disciples of Jesus Christ is

a choice we make daily. A choice as an individual and

as a community of Faith.


We seek the lost – going out into the community and inviting them to “Come and See.”

We seek the kingdom with a desire to go deeper in our relationship with Jesus

We proclaim the Gospel to the lost and share our faith, inviting them to come to Christ

We become equipped and equip others for service – we learn all we can about our Savior, His behavior, His words and teachings, His devotion to the Father, etc...

We serve the lost with compassion – we do our best to meet needs and be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We serve each other and in ministry with sacrifice by placing God’s mission and vision above our own.

Mmmmmm those things sound familiar... hey! That our vision!

It can be overwhelming when we look at what it looks like to be a mature disciple. Yet we must understand that this is a journey that we are all on and that we are each at different places in our journey. We cannot compare ourselves to others, because Jesus has called each one of us to follow Him. In the book of John (21:18-23), after Jesus tells Peter how he will die, Peter questions Jesus as to how another disciple would die. Jesus responded, “What is that to you?, I have called you to follow me.” So we follow, all at different stages in growth, all at our current place in life and age, all in our own gifting and desires - but we do follow – intentionally and consistently with our eyes focused on our Lord Jesus and His Word. And in our following we help others do the same. We cannot sit back and say that we do not know enough, or have not done enough. We simply follow our Lord as He moves us and we bring others along with us.


What do the scriptures say about making or developing disciples of Jesus?

Do you have to be “mature” to teach others?

Is it optional that we seek to make disciples of Jesus?

What is the difference between a follower and a student?

What is the key to our “maturity journey” as a disciple? Do

we ever truly “arrive?”

Should there be an urgency in bringing people to Christ and in developing them as mature followers of Jesus?

What are ways we make disciples now?

What do we need to change to consistently make disciples? Not change?

As with seeking, teaching and serving, it again all comes back to the depth of our relationship with Christ. What motivates us... Shouldn’t Jesus be enough?

“love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – mark 12:30



Conclusion

Developing mature disciples of Jesus Christ is a choice we make daily. A choice as an individual and as a community of Faith. We look to be obedient in answering the call of Jesus for us to make disciples of every nation. We must realize that it is not the job of a committee of single position within the church to accomplish this mission. It is a call to all those who follow Jesus as Lord. It is a call to each one of us. It is by participating in our vision that we can uniquely and continuously, in Christ, strive accomplish our mission:

We seek the lost AND we seek the Kingdom

We teach by proclaiming the Gospel AND by equipping believers

We serve the lost with compassion AND we serve each other and in ministry with sacrifice ... We develop mature disciples of Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer “Lord, we thank You for this time together. We ask Your forgiveness for the times we have

ignored Your commands and calling on our lives as followers. Guide us and direct us in our efforts as we seek Your path in developing mature disciples. Help us to each urgently pursue our own growth in You. And we pray that You will continue to bring others here into our path and use us to help others grow. We give You our hearts, minds and bodies. We give You our all. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”





A Challenge

This is only the beginning! It is with excitement and passion that the mission and

vision have been presented to you. This direction is where we believe God is calling Journey Church to go and who God is calling us to be. This mission and vision is a challenge to all of us. A challenge to be more intentional in our following; a challenge to make it a priority to:

Seek the Lost AND the Kingdom of God.... to Teach by Proclaiming the Gospel AND by Equipping believer.... to Serve the Lost with Compassion AND serve in Ministry with Sacrifice. To develop mature disciples of Jesus Christ It is our prayer that you will get excited and launch into a journey that promises to be

filled with the miracle of God’s Story. May others come to know Jesus, may we grow closer to Him, and may we all journey toward being and developing mature disciples of Jesus Christ!

SOLI DEO GLORIA

(God’s Glory Alone)

Journey Church 450 Blue Ravine Road

Folsom, Ca 95630 (916) 983-4648

http:\\www.JourneyChurchhome.org Office Hours: 9 a.m.— 5 p.m., Mon.— Thurs.

(Member Presbyterian Churches U.S.A.)

Documents

STAFF WORSHIP 10/31/2006storage.cloversites.com/journeychurchoffolsom/...for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future