Leadership comm. 8

In Leadership Comm 7. I spoke to you about being authentic that all that we would do would be the real deal and that we'd be true to who Jesus has called us to be. Let me share with you another ethos point that works alongside authentic:

excellent

   [ek-suh-luh nt] –adjective

1.possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.

2.Archaic. extraordinary; superior.

Excellent does not mean perfection, but it does mean doing what we do well and to the best of our ability. Paul writes to the church in Corinth: 2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. It is about doing the best we can with what we have been given by Jesus. We are called to glorify Jesus in everything – that is our mission and purpose of existence and when we do something less than excellently we do a disservice to him and his work in the world.

A synonym for excellent is diligent and the bible has these instructions: teach your children diligently about worshipping God (Deut 6), We're called to diligently discipline our children (Prov 14:24) We're called to work diligently so that God would bless us (Prov 10:4, 12:24, 13:4) and we're called to seek holiness diligently (2 Pet 3:14)

Jesus does everything excellently. In the Bible Jesus gets offered two kinds of wine on the cross: the first is mixed with myrrh which had a narcotic effect and would save him from some of the pain – yet he refuses so that he could endure it for us. The second was sour wine, a vinegar like substance that tired laborers would drink because it was refreshing and reviving. Jesus takes this so that he would be fully aware of what he was working out for us on the cross. Jesus is the kind of God who is worth doing everything to our utmost for, because that is how he has saved us.

If we do things well it says that we think Jesus is worth the effort of spending time and effort to serve with excellence. Sometimes an attitude of slackness can creep into the things we do: not just church things but everything – this quality should pervade all of life! Sure we'll make mistakes and mess things up and at points we'll let things slide because of tiredness. But we'll do the best we can because Jesus is worth our best. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Blessings,

Brent

Interesting post about mediocre churches and pastors

http://arbevere.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-about-mediocre-churches.html

 

Wow – love this...perhaps our denomination should wake up. Whist we don't guarantee appointments, a great deal of our pastors are mediocre and a great deal of our churches have lost any sense of mission.

Pick your Bible translation well...

There are a great many translations of Bibles out there some good, some not so good. It is worth having a number of translations when you are studying the Bible, and many are available for free online.  I regularly use the English Standard Version (ESV) the New International Version(NIV) the King James Version (KJV) the New Living Translation (NLT) and occasionally The Message wen I am studying.  Biblegateway has more than 12 different English translations available and you can use it to easily compare texts.

As I was studying today for Sunday's sermon I came across an unhelpful translation in the NLT which is a good and readable version, but is not a literal translation and it loses some of the original intended meaning. The ESV is a literal translation of the Greek as much as is possible with the variances of the English language. Compare the NLT below to the ESV:

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT   For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV   For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

But the key issue is not just that Jesus became a "sin offering" but that he became totally and completely sin for us – hence the Fathers forsaking him on the cross – that is how entirely Jesus takes our sin from us.

Again the NLT translates as "be made right with God" where the original is much more emphatic – we don't just become right, we become THE righteousness of God. And it is that in God's eyes we become entirely, completely, gloriously right with him in every way.. For those who want to delve a little deeper it's called imputed righteousness.

The point is pick your translations carefully. The NLT and The Message are good reading bibles but should never be used for study.

Leadership comm 7.

In Leadership Comm 6. I spoke a little about ethos – HOW we will disciple, reach and serve for Jesus. As I have been studying and reflecting on these things I want to share with you some of where God is pushing me to lead our church. So here is the first of the ethos values we all need to build into our personal life and witness as well as into anything we do as ministry within the church.

authentic

   [aw-then-tik] –adjective

1.not false or copied; genuine; real: an authentic antique.

2.having the origin supported by unquestionable evidence; authenticated; verified: an authentic document of the Middle Ages; an authentic work of the old master.

3.entitled to acceptance or belief because of agreement with known facts or experience; reliable; trustworthy: an authentic report on poverty in Africa.

  

I really believe that for us to be effective witnesses in this world as we follow Jesus that we must be authentic in everything that we do. But what does that mean? Well at its heart authentic is to be the real deal in everything that you do. In our community in Protea Valley it is all too easy to create a mask and to hide the real you. I believe that this value adds to the reality our witness as we live life for Jesus and it makes our ministry effective for his kingdom.

Paul is being authentic when he writes this: Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. That's authentic, a kind of: "here is the answer on how we should live life for Jesus, but I struggle alongside you as I try to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling". Too often we paint a fake picture of Christian faith: that following Jesus is easy, that understanding the scriptures is straightforward and that to believe like a child is all we need to do.

Let me tell you story and I do so not to blow my own trumpet, but to show you what authentic looks like as I am trying to live it out by God's grace: Just this week I sat with a person who I will call Hope who has come to PVFC from time to time. I say 'come' instead of 'worship' because Hope does not believe in Jesus, yet. She is engaging with me to answer some very tough questions that she has about the reality of God. She wants authentic answers to deep and genuine questions that are keeping her from faith at this time. What has drawn her to PVFC and, by God's grace, to me is authenticity. I am normal and not weird, I ride bikes and climb mountains, I accept Hope with her questions and I too wrestle to find the truth. I have engaged my brain and don't gloss over the difficult answers to the evil that pervades this world. In short as I try to be authentic she has responded to it and I pray that in time she will find faith.

In a world of fake, people are looking for authentic. And we have the only authentic savior, Jesus who, according to those who knew him and wrote about him, died and rose again so that we might be forgiven of our sin. Let's present Jesus in an authentic way as much as possible. Practically this will look different for different people and for different ministries, so think and engage with Jesus. Pray lots, live by the Spirit, let God's word abide in you and then be authentic for Jesus glory!

Blessings,

Brent

Church Membership

We've tried quite hard at PVFC to make membership importance because the bible has many implicit and explicit instructions around membership. Hence we expect our new members to attend two information evenings and to be interviewed by an elder.

 

Whilst everyone is free to worship and even participate in many ways in the community, there is something profoundly important to belonging, to committing and to fellowshipping with the community. It's important at some levels to know who has committed to the team and who has not. If we're tackling issues like ministry to the wider community, following Jesus in a relevant yet biblical way and if we're intended to leap out in faith and start building, then we've got to have people who are committed to being part of the team and who will have our backs when things get tough.

 

John Piper is one of the great Christian pastors and thinkers at the moment and in this video he makes some really worthwhile comments around membership.

 

PVFC proposed new church building fly through video

PVFC proposed new church building

OK so we're heading towards a new building God willing. On Sunday at Pentecost we'll show the video fly-through...but here are some still shots of the building...man this exiting times and we're praying that God would help us to raise the money! He got us the land and I am convinced that he will deliver according to his great mercy.

Community: Icing or Cake?

By Brad House

 

Perspective is often limited by experience. Have you ever had an experience that opened your eyes to what you have been missing? For me, it was sushi. I can't believe I went over thirty years before discovering this perfection of Japanese fast food. Sushi, however, is not a necessity of life; it is simply "icing on the cake." But that begs the question, what then is the cake? In our lives we often settle for lesser things because we are unaware that there is more to life. Sometimes we settle for cake without icing; sometimes we even settle for less than cake.

 

C.S. Lewis observes our propensity to settling for the false promises of sin because we have never experienced the joys of Jesus. In his book The Weight of Glory he says:

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

 

What struck me about Lewis' point was that he was not suggesting that making mud pies was normal and that going to the beach was icing on the cake. Life through Jesus is the baseline for normal. Life with Jesus is the cake! In other words, when we choose not to follow Jesus, we choose less than life. In  Ephesians 2:5 Paul makes it clear that apart from Jesus, we were dead–not simply missing out on some icing.

 

This was bouncing around my head as I was thinking about the 40% of people at our church  who choose not to attend a Community Group. I have been offered many explanations on why someone is making this decision during this point in their life. Most of these point to an understanding of community as icing on the Christianity cake–seeing it as a bonus to the Christian life rather than essential to it.

 

This is a fundamental mistake. Life in community is essential to being a Christian. We are created in the image of God who himself exists in community. We are relational beings intended for community. Through community we are sanctified and image the Trinitarian nature of God. This isn't icing. This is the eggs and sugar that combine with the salvation through Jesus to make up the cake of Christian life. Normal is life in Jesus lived out in the community of the church. When we choose to go it alone, we are choosing to subtract from the Christian life.

 

Don't subtract from your walk with Jesus. Community is a gift of God for your joy and His glory. I want you to experience the fullness of life in Jesus. Join a Community Group today and have your cake and eat it, too.

 

HomeGroup lifestages

Hi Team,

Thanks to all those who made last nights meeting, again I think we had some good discussion and hopefully there was some material that helped you in being a blessing to your groups. I think it would be good if once a quarter we had one evening together to discuss and learn together about leading groups, a time to touch down and be encouraged by what God is doing and is going to do with us.

Here is a list of some of the good core value points raised last night. It's worth distilling these into a smaller clear list so that when new leaders come in or older leaders take time to reflect we can see whether we are meeting these things (Ask yourself and your group some questions "How fun has our group been the last while?" or "How transparent are we in our discussions?" or "How much have we grown in our faith?")

1.       Christ centred. (Not just the Food!)

2.       Bible Based. (Fellowship)

3.       Spirit Filled gatherings.

4.     Confidential

5.     Encouraging

6.     Committed

7.     Fellowshipping

8.       Natural

9.     Authentic (Transparent)

10.   Fun

11.   Relevant (The here and now.)

12.   Participative (Attendance, Committed to Jesus) 

13.   Growing (sharing with others how you are being changed and your experiences)

We spoke a little last night about multiplying groups, here is a good article on group life stages. Every group (not just a homegroup) goes through life stages and it's important to recognize where you are.

Blessings,

Brent

Charting the journey

By Joel Comiskey

Appeared on the Small Group Network, April 2000.

My mother is a college professor in the discipline called Child Development. When our daughter Sarah was young, we would often call my mom with urgency in our voice, "Is it natural for Sarah to act like this?" "Yes, dear," my mother responded.  "In fact, you can expect her to manifest these characteristics." Almost mystically, she would predict Sarah's tendencies for her age period. My mother's advice was founded in the scientifically based patterns of children that age. Certainly, there are exceptions, but the general rule is that children who are Sarah's age will consistently act a certain way.

As a cell leader, you'll benefit by knowing how small groups operate, the various stages. The experts in small group dynamics have analyzed these stages (called by a variety of names), and you can find reams of material on this subject.  This condensed article will provide a starting point.  

Getting-to-Know-Each-Other Stage  

"Is this the type of group I want to get involved with?"  Tom asks himself during the first few weeks of Jim's cell group. Most of the members in Jim's group are asking the same questions. Roberta Hestenes writes, "When a group first meets, each member tends to experience conflicting feelings of attraction and repulsion. While having chosen to be there, they are still testing the group to see if it can be a satisfying and worthwhile experience for them. Each wonders whether or not he will be accepted." [i]

People really want to know if this group is the right fit for them. A young couple will be seeking like-minded fellowship. Take John and Mary. They are a yuppie couple looking for fellowship with other such couples. Yet, they notice that the cell group mainly consists of older couples and even a few older single divorcees who talk a lot. Even though John and Mary feel lots of love, they will have to weigh their options. Will they stay? Or is it better to look for another group?

During this first stage, the group members are looking to the leader for all direction and vision. The leaders must be outgoing, open, transparent, and provide non-threatening group building/relational activities. Effective leaders clarify purpose, direction, and goals of the group. Above all, leaders must model ministry and transparency.During the first stage, the group should focus on ice-breakers, testimonies, and close social times.  The goal is relationship building, not Bible study, mission, or worship.

Transparency Stage  

If stage one was characterized by getting to know each other, stage two is characterized by shock, patience, and grace. Conflict among group members often occurs during this stage, Conflict is a natural and healthy part of the group building process (within limits), especially as members become more comfortable with each other and risk sharing their own views.It's during this stage that the group members take off the masks and their real personalities shine through. Doug Whallon writes,  "They [group members] know they are accepted and therefore do not need to wear masks. . .  Free to talk openly because they know they have been forgiven by God and come with the others as needy yet expectant people." [ii] Members are more willing to test out their real opinions in front of the group to see how the group will react.

The leader, therefore, must displays empathy, understanding, openness, and flexibility. She must model ministry, while preparing members for greater involvement.

The end of this stage marks the beginning of group ownership. "The" group becomes "our" group. In short, the group is now ready for more serious commitment — to nurture, to community, to worship, and to mission. Those who are more committed will be your core group.

Ministry Stage  

During the first two stages, members desire to explore each other's personality, and communion is a high priority. Yet, this emphasis can easily wear thin, if the group doesn't fully enter into the ministry stage. The danger is that group members will engage in "navel-gazing," and fail to reach out to include new people in the group. When a cell group has been together for too long, it can become ingrown. Newcomers are viewed as intruders and seldom return.

A group that doesn't reach out  tends to die a painful death. Just as Jesus said, ". . unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (12:24).

A pastor friend recently took on a new small group assignment in a church. After a few months he wrote, "I am here trying to solve the North American cell riddle. The biggest challenge for groups here in the U.S. is getting evangelistic momentum. If they don't get evangelism working they stagnate and then the pastors give up on cells." 

Fresh blood makes a cell group exciting, and the leader should encourage pro-active outreach during this stage. The leader must plan with the group the various outreach events. The leader must direct the group to pray for non-Christians, plan harvest events, and to invite new people to the group. In this stage, outreach is the priority. The leader must release others to minister, recruits leaders for training and deployment, and challenge others to risk for Jesus. The leader is less directive during this stage, encouraging others to lead parts of the group (e.g., icebreaker, worship, etc.).  

Birthing Stage  

Birthing---that is, multiplying---a new small group can be one of the most exciting events in the group. At the end of the Ministry phase, the successful group will multiply by sending out designated leaders to form a new group (or groups).Birthing should be seen as a celebration, not a separation. Remember, the Lord "added to their number daily" (Acts 2:47). The Lord has caused the growth we must respond by keeping his work going and starting new groups. Like cells in the  human body, home cell groups must multiply or face stagnation, or a slow death.

Giving birth to new groups needs to be a core value. I believe that in the first meeting, the leader should say, "We hope the Lord adds to our group, and our goal is to celebrate the birth of a new group later on as well." Groups that multiply must be rewarded and the leaders should be recognized.

However, some groups will never send out leaders and multiply. Many small group researchers refer to a termination stage. The prevailing wisdom is that small groups will close. I advise you to think in terms of multiplication. Small groups are born to multiply rather than born to die.

Small group stages should never slow down the leadership training process. Preparing the next leader should start at the very beginning of your cell group. It's also wise to multiply when you have a trained leader, rather than waiting for a certain number of people in your cell group... When the new leader is ready, he or she can begin thinking about taking 1-3 people from the mother cell to form the new group.  

Conclusion 

On several occasions, my wife and I have felt like "empty nesters" after we've multiplied our Thursday night cell group. We longed for the former members, but realized that we needed to begin again. The knowledge of small group cycles helped guide us to the next step.

This is my prayer for you as you work your way through each stage in your present group. Knowing these stages and applying the leadership principles for each one, will fine tune your cell leadership and give you more confidence to hang tough for the long ride.  

Leadership Comm. 6

Hey Leaders,

It's been an amazing period in the life of the church, there are so many places where I am seeing God at work and so many lives that I am seeing changed, challenged and renewed by God through his Holy Spirit – there is a great excitement in me and I hope you are sensing this move of God as well.

I am energized about what God is doing through all of you in our ministries – our church has a great team of you that makes all of this happen for Jesus glory. Sunday was a great example: Worship was excellently led and spirit filled with a great team of muso's and singers, a bunch of people made a whole lot of things happen behind the scenes. Our kids church is flourishing under good leadership and strong teaching and there was fellowship and community afterwards around tea. Add to that three homegroups that are starting up and people who are praying for the church and all of this just really gets my blood pumping! Thanks to Jesus!

By now you should all know our vision/mission statement:

'Inside, outside and all around'

Discipling the faithful INSIDE the church to be and to act like Jesus

Reaching the lost OUTSIDE the church with the message of Jesus

Serving the community AROUND the church with the love of Jesus

 

This is from Matthew 28 and Acts 1:8 and reminds us of WHAT we need to do, whenever you are doing some ministry you need to ask yourself am I aiming for one of these three goals? If it's not meeting one of those three goals, why are you doing it?

I'd like to add to this a set of core values that tells us HOW we would do this, let me tell you why: When I was training for the ministry a friend and mentor who is much wiser and brighter than me said when he was young he believed content was everything as long as he preached good theology people would believe and be changed by Jesus. As he got older he realized more and more than form is as important – if you are not accessible people will never hear the good content. He realized that there is always the danger of heading too far and being very funny or easy to listen to but not having any content (think TV preachers here).

The point is that there needs to be a WAY in which we do things – an ethos or a code if you like. And I'd like to hear some suggestions from you as to what you would think is important. So let me throw my two into the pot to get you thinking:

1.       Relevant – to meet people where they are at so that they might meet the living savior Jesus

2.       Authentic – no plastic, cheesy or fake people here – just a bunch of real Christians working together in all of life for Jesus fame!

3.       ????

My aim is a short list of core values that we can use to give a specific flavour when we do any ministry in the church, let me give you some examples of how this would flavour things using only the two I have given:

·         I'm preparing a home group lesson how do I make it relevant for my group and how can I be authentic in how this truth about Jesus has affected my own life? Instead of presenting material that I don't really care about in a way that will not connect with the people in my group with Jesus

·         I'm counselling somebody – how do I give them a real and relevant answer and not a "out-of-the-book" pithy statement and how might I be authentic and share my own struggles with this issue, to Jesus'  glory

·         I'm leading worship – how do I pray in a way that is authentic and relevant and not use out-of-date language so that people would see the reality of my relationship with Jesus and worship him because of it instead of a prayer that is complicated to follow and is meaningless to the church

·         I'm leading a group of children – what things are they facing to which Jesus is the answer and how do I teach them without hiding some of the awkward paradoxes of the way that God works instead of preparing some irrelevant and corny material that presents a bogus view of God.

I'd like you to throw some ideas out there. When you post replies do a reply to all and add your item in at the bottom of the list – let's see what God is saying to the church. So give this some thought!

Let me remind you that all of this is on a blog. I'd love for you to drop comments and replies there.  Our new website is getting up to speed and the blog will link off there. Let's use this online tool to create discussion around these things.

A reminder of Ascension day service on Thursday 7:00pm – I hope to see you there.

Finally here is a brilliant and I meant BRILLIANT sermon by Francis Chan – very challenging for all of us

Grace and peace!

Brent

HomeGroups Comms. 4

Hi Team,

Thanks for attending last night's meeting, I thought it went really well. It was great seeing some new faces and having two groups start up is brilliant – thanks Adele & Norman Pope and Belinda & Bruce Durham for taking up those roles...you'll do well!

Here is a great article about leading homegroups that fits in closely with much of what we discussed last night. There is a book that you can get from Kalahari (click on the title) and a downloadable questionnaire that you can use to assess spiritual growth of yourself and the members of the group.

Keep up the good work!

Blessings,

Brent

Learn to Shepherd Your Small Group
Three important relationships that will help you watch over God's flock.
By Michael Mack

God's Word is rich in its discussion about shepherding. Moses, David, and Amos served as shepherds, and all were influenced by that role in their leadership. The title of shepherd is applied to God, Jesus, kings and other leaders, local church leaders, and ministers (not necessarily paid staff members).

What is a small group shepherd?
For you to fully understand your calling as your group's shepherd, I need to distinguish between your role as a shepherd of the flock under your care and Jesus' role as the Chief Shepherd. It's essential for you to understand that you are not the real shepherd, the Chief Shepherd, of your group. That role belongs exclusively to Jesus.

Your responsibility as a small group leader is primarily to shepherd the sheep that God puts into your care and to go out and bring more sheep into the fold. Therefore:

• Do not view yourself merely as a Bible study teacher or the equivalent of a Sunday school teacher who presents lessons to the group.

• Do not limit your role to that of a meeting facilitator who plans and conducts discussions.

• Do not think of yourself as only a disc-jockey whose job is to put the DVD into the player and press play.

Small group pioneer Randall Neighbor put it this way: "The shepherd never says, 'I will tend the flock on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.' No! The shepherd lives with the flock, sleeps in the fields with the flock, goes into treacherous situations to find a lost sheep, and carries the lambs in his arms. The shepherd is the first one to go into the 'valley of the shadow of death' in order to lead sheep to 'green pastures.'"

As a small group leader, you can divide your shepherding role into three vital relationships: connecting your group into authentic community with one another, discipling them to grow in their relationships with God, and encouraging them to make an impact by serving others.

#1—Establish relationships.
As a small group leader, one of your primary tasks—if you can call it that—is to build relationships with group members.

As you begin, always start with a core group. One of the essential values of leading a small group is Don't start alone! Meet together over meals, building your team by getting to know one another. Begin planning the group together, getting ownership and involvement. Divide group tasks based on individuals' spiritual gifts and interests. Then, as a team, begin inviting others to your new group.

You have probably figured out by now that the power of community increased the more people are together. Once-a-week or every-other-week meetings do not bring the kind of close-knit community you often see in the New Testament. But how do you make this happen, short of incarcerating your whole group?

It takes time together, spontaneous and planned. It may take proximity meeting—meeting with people where you live or work, for instance. It may take forming your group around people who have things in common. Instead of trying to find another brand-new group of friends, ask yourself, Who is already in my life?

A big part of your role as a leader is to 1) live this kind of interdependent life yourself, and 2) to do everything you can to help develop this kind of authentic, groundbreaking community! But as a shepherd, what can you do to make this happen?

Here are a few practical suggestions:

1. Pray regularly for, and with, the members of your group.

2. Keep in touch between meetings. Call, e-mail, visit.

3. Accept everyone, regardless of personality differences.

4. Deal with conflicts upfront. Don't try to wish them away or pretend they aren't there.

5. Stay positive. Group members tend to become negative—about other people, the church, you name it. Turn the tide as soon as you can.

6. Focus on people, not the program. As Ralph Neighbor says, "The people in your group are the agenda!"

#2—Guide them to grow spiritually.
As a small group shepherd, you are in the most strategic position in the church to effect real, lasting life change and spiritual growth. The church's best method for caring, shepherding, loving, and growing people is you! But you may be wondering, How do I make this happen?

First, as a shepherd leader, be concerned for where people are in their spiritual journeys. You need to know where people are in order to shepherd them to where they ought to be. Accept group members where they are on their spiritual journeys. Treat each person with grace, not judgment. At the same time, help group members grow. Encourage. Spur each other on. Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom.

Second, model a disciple's lifestyle. Spiritual growth must be happening in your life as a leader. You are a model for what life change looks like to others.

Third, keep providing the context. Continue to draw the group into increasing levels of authentic community. Don't give up meeting together, and people will grow.

Fourth, assess where group members are on their spiritual journeys. A number of useful tools are available to help group members know where they are spiritually, and will help you develop a strategy for helping them grow. Here are a few options::

• The Christian Life Profile, by Randy Frazee, which assesses spiritual growth along thirty core competencies.

• "Purpose Driven Spiritual Health Assessment and Spiritual Health Planner"

Fifth, provide a process for growth to happen. Do application-oriented Bible study as a group. Don't just study the Bible. Do what it says! What do you study? The answer comes from knowing your group and what they need most to grow. Ask a small group coach or minister from your church for more help.

Sixth, be a spiritual parent to the group. Mentor some of the members one-on-one. Ask group members who are relatively strong in one spiritual area to disciple a person who would like to grow in the same area. This gets everyone involved in the spiritual growth process.

Spiritual parenting means that you don't see all the group members the same. You shepherd them individually, because they are at different places in their spiritual journeys. Some are infants, some are adolescents or teens, while others are maturing adults.

Finally, develop leaders. Continually identifying, developing, and deploying new leaders is a part of every group member's spiritual growth process.

#3—Guide them to where the Chief Shepherd wants them to go.
Here's a fact borne by years of experience: Group members do not always want to go where they need to go. They resist growing spiritually, being open to new people, stepping out to serve others, stepping up to become leaders, and sending out members to birth new groups. Group members sometimes prefer comfort to counting the cost.

Your role as a small group subordinate shepherd is to take group members to the places the Chief Shepherd commands. That may not always be easy or comfortable, but it's one of your most important responsibilities. I've seen many groups—even entire churches—cow-tow to members who prefer comfort rather than following God's commands. I've heard small group ministers say something like, "Well, our members won't open up their groups to new members or send out members to start new groups, so we've changed our methodology to make it work with what we can reasonably expect our groups to do."

May I implore you? Don't do this! Hold high the values that the Greatest Small Group Leader Ever (Jesus) gave us. His commission is to go and make disciples—so go and make disciples! And don't ever forget that your sheep have an enemy out there who is ready to deceive, diminish, and even devour them. As your group goes into the world, your job is to help guard them against attacks. Of course, you can do this on your own, but only with God's mighty power (1 Samuel 17:34–37).

The Greatest Small Group Leader Ever said, "I'm here to invite outsiders, not to coddle insiders" (Matthew 9:13, The Message). That's what he's put you here for, too.

April newsletter

Dear Friends here is some news about what is happening inside, outside and around our congregation here in Protea Valley. We've sharpened our mission statement wording to make it even more clear what we are about as we follow Jesus:

'Inside, outside and all around'

Discipling the faithful INSIDE the church to be and to act like Jesus

Reaching the lost OUTSIDE the church with the message of Jesus

Serving the community AROUND the church with the love of Jesus

Our aim as a church is to impact our community and this happens when those inside the church are becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus and then taking that message out to save and serve the lost and the community around our church. Church is not something you do or something you go to, it's something you are.

This is your mission.

Home groups

One of the ways that mission plays itself out is in the homegroups.

Hein and Patty are heading up our homegroup ministry and they are already doing a great job. We want all our members to be part of and to attend a homegroup. Whilst we do understand that there are some good reasons for not attending for a season, like kids or a sudden stage of travelling there are many people who work long hours, are single parents and still regularly make their midweek recharge sessions with others in the church. We want you to be part of this for your health – its part of growing towards Christian maturity.

Our groups are running well and we will be having a leadership training seminar over three evenings from the 4^th – 18^th May and we've invited a bunch of folk but there may be others who are not yet leaders who would like to join – please come with and see what this opportunity of leading is about.

Membership

It's been great meeting some of the new members and talking with a lot of the long term worshippers, there is a lot of growth in faith and a deeper desire to follow Jesus in many areas of life. Nothing makes the pastor of a church happier than when the flock under his care are growing and when those outside the church anre being brought to Jesus. Let me remind you what we all as individuals are aiming for:

We believe that a fully devoted follower of Jesus...

... repents of their sin, makes public confession of a Trinitarian belief and would be baptized

... regularly worships Jesus both privately and publically

... studies the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments

... Is faithful in prayer

... lives a holy and moral life by the Spirit

... loves the church through fellowship and community

... serves in ministry using their spiritual gifts

... shares their material resources with the church and the world

... witnesses to the world in word and action

…knows that in grace, Jesus forgives them when they do not live up to these biblical instructions

Project Volcano

Project Volcano has been very busy putting a lot of things together as we work toward fundraising for the new building. Many of you are wondering why things have been happening so slowly and we understand those questions and some of the disappointment you may be feeling. There is a lot of ground work that needs to be done and we are using he services of a consulting organization who specialize in fundraising for NGO's. We want to do this process properly as we have one shot and in the near future you will become much more aware of what is a happening.

As mentioned in previous newsletters we're always willing to hear ideas and there have been a great many already in terms of strategy, ideas and contacts. Please send a mail to volcano@pvfc.co.za and let us know some of the ideas that you may have.

Please keep the team in your prayers!

Want to serve?

We're looking for help in a number of areas. Please contact me that we can get you serving!

Sound desk – we need people who have an ear for music and are not afraid to learn some of the technicalities of operating the sound desk.

Worship team – With Grant having moved to Fishhoek we're in need of team members. We're also planning to start an evening service in September and we'll need more hands on deck. Please step up and serve if you have the giftedness. Obviously we'll need to interview and audition you!

KidsChurch – We need extra teachers, with the massive turnout of children we need manpower to help teach and lead our children. We would really like some men on the team!

If you are keen to get involved in any of these ministries, get hold of me brent@pvfc.org.za or 072 585 4294

Things to pray for

Let me be honest, I'm really disappointed at the lack of support for any form of corporate prayer, we've had prayer meetings at the church for the last 2 years now and we've tried different mornings and times and we never have more than a handful of faithful people who come to commit the life and work of the church before God. I keep asking myself the reasons why there is not more support: Is it because of busyness - but all of us who come and pray are busy, is it because of the children – those who come are all parents and we all bring our kids with. So I ask myself is it a lack of commitment – yet I see a lot of commitment in other areas, is it a lack of faith that prayer accomplishes anything or a lack of care for the work God is doing....I don't believe those things are true, but ultimately only you can answer those questions. If you are unable to join us, here are some of the things we've been praying for and we'd like you to add your agreement with us as we take these things to God:

• Project volcano as we continue in the fundraising process: Please pray for guidance and energy for the team and pray for willing and generous hearts for those who will help realize this God given dream.
• Leaders in the church: that we'd be committed, spirit-filled and Jesus centred in all that we do. That we would lead diligently and boldly. Pray especially for Brent and the elders as the responsibility for running the church is an onerous task and we want to do it well.
• Marriages: many marriages are taking a lot of strain and I'm asking you to keep on your knees for them, as well as for your own marriage.
• Plans towards an evening service in spring time: There are logistical implications of this and first on that list is the worship team as we'll need more members to help with the extra load. Please also pray for those win the valley who do not yet have a home and who will come to this new service
• Those in the area who do not know Jesus: There are hundreds of people in the area who do not know Jesus, or know him by name only. We are God's means to reach them and we start by praying for them. You can pray in broad for all those in the area, but I would like you also to pray for specific individuals too. Pray that they would repent of sin, and find grace and forgiveness through Jesus.

Important Dates

4^th, 11^th and 18^th May – Homegroup leadership training, if you are interested in being part of this please come and join us for all three nights. All home group leaders are expected to attend this training and to bring an assistant leader with them to be trained up.

13^th May – Ascension Day service at PVFC 7:00pm

31^st May – Pentecost! The Holy Spirit gets poured out on the church

Thanks for being such an awesome church! Thanks for being a committed, plugged in, growing and serving Jesus church. There are a great many things that God has got planned for us, and my prayer is that we might

Blessings to you and your loved ones,

Brent

Excellent article on interpreting the Bible!

Check out this outstanding post on interpreting the bible by C Michael Patton - it's REALLY worth a read!

BIBLE INTERPRETATION IN A NUTSHELL

Leadership comm 5.

Hey Team!

I write this from my sickbed...children + playschool = sick dad...grrrrrr

As I have said before if you are getting this it is because you are or are potentially going to be part of our leadership team at PVFC and I see these regular communications as a way to keep in touch, to encourage and to develop you into the Godly, Jesus centred leaders our church needs. These posts are also mirrored on a blog and this will be directly accessible from our new website that is under development.

There is so much happening in and around the church these days and as we move towards a new building one of the key areas we need to address is leadership. With a new building and the visibility of it, our membership is going to swell by a huge number possibly as much as double within a short period of time. This is great, and it presents us with a huge number of opportunities to serve our community and be part of Jesus saving people to faith in him.

But it also means we need leaders in all the ministries to serve these people.

Good leaders are not always going to drop out of the sky. They have to be have natural ability and that ability needs to be trained up. Great athletes must have some natural talent or ability and then the rest is hard work. Of course some of this responsibility lies with the church and senior leadership. We need leaders and they are not going to appear out of nowhere, we have to develop them from within. A lot of the responsibility lies with you as leaders and up and coming leaders because self leadership is profoundly important and you need to be readying yourself and others for what God is doing and is going to in our midst.

To this end you need to be growing in your faith and your biblical knowledge, so:

1.       Keep plugged into the scriptures – read lots and read widely that you would understand God's heart for this world and that you would know how he works so that you work with him towards his ideals

2.       Keep praying – it is the source of life for those who belong to Jesus and it's the means by which Jesus moulds and shapes us to be like him

3.       Keep living holy lives-Ephesians tells us not to give the devil a foothold...repent and confess your sin to Jesus and get someone to hold you accountable for godly behaviour. It is tough to do this on your own and you need others to help keep you on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life

4.       Read Christian material – here are some books that I think you would do well to have on your shelves (click on the title to go to a site selling the book):

a.       Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears

b.      Axiom by Bill Hybels

c.       Desiring God by John Piper

d.      Keeping in step with the Spirit – JI Packer

5.       Another option that I have found very worthwhile is listening to podcasts of other Christian teachers  

a.       Desiring God – there are literally hundreds of outstanding sermons here that will challenge you

b.      Mark Driscoll's sermons are really helpful too

c.       Wayne Grudem's lectures on Systematic Theology are really helpful too (you better have a high bandwidth ADSL line or come and copy them from me onto memory stick/DVD)

We live in an age of technology, some of it not helpful but a  lot of it means we have access to information like never before so use it to grow in Jesus so that you can be of greater use to his kingdom. So let's get cracking and lets prepare ourselves for the great ministry that lies before us.

Grace and peace,

Brent

Leadership comm. 4

Hi Team

Here is a web link to the talks of the conference on Church and Culture I was at three weeks back about church engaging culture in our congregations. Have a listen as I believe it is really worthwhile stuff, some of it very challenging and thought provoking, and some hilariously funny!

http://www.jubilee.org.za/urbanforce.html

Blessings,

Brent