Discipleship

Ways to Serve

From Lynne Flaugher in the church office: One of the greatest joys of being a Gospel centered church is to be able to show hospitality to others. We will be having such an opportunity on October 8-10 as students from Covenant Theological Seminary once again visit NPC and the Chicago area for a church planting workshop. We have hosted them in the past and have heard many stories about how important this trip has been in the lives of the young men and women who have come.
 
Final numbers are not yet available, but past trips have included 50 students, so I am looking for 20-30 host homes, assuming many can accommodate two guests. Would you be willing to host students from the group? As a host you will be asked to provide lodging on Friday and Saturday nights, (October 8 & 9), as well as feed the students breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. In addition to offering food and lodging, we would also like to see if you would be willing to pick the students up at NPC on Friday night and bring them back here on Saturday and Sunday mornings. If you can’t offer to provide transportation but are willing to host, we would have spots for people who serve as hosts only.
 
If you are interested in helping serve these students by having them in your home for the week-end, please drop me an e-mail containing the following information:
 
Name:
Address:
Phone:
E-Mail:
Pets:
Beds Available (number and size):
Willing to drive?:
Comments:
 
If I could hear back from you before Sept. 17, it would allow me plenty of time to plan their accommodations.

Babysitters!?

Need a babysitter for the coming year for your small group, for you, or for one of your small group members? Check the blog here for a form you can download (under "Group Ideas") and bring to the church. The HSM staff will post the opportunity in the HS room where students can see the form. 

 
 

Click here, print the form bring to the church office!

Missional: An Example

The ministry plan you have seen is a bit thin on real-life examples for how to engage in missional living. This in one sense is intentional--we will be providing teaching and encouragement in these areas, but the plan is intentionally not specific in order to give individuals, couples and groups the freedom to create their own ways of extending into their communities/relationships. 

For example, some may make a concerted effort to welcome new people, inviting neighbors into their home, serving their neighbor or co-workers in some way, or sharing the good news of Jesus to a coworker. 

Others might pursue engaging in serving opportunities like Feed my Starving Children, or Rebuild Together Aurora, taking meals to those that need it in the congregation, providing financial assistance for a family that is struggling, or any number of other tangible ways to extend the life-transforming power of the gospel.

Take a look at this example from a friend who chose to open his home to neighbors:

Download Wednesdays at the Wilsons

 

Small Group Curricula: Missional

Looking for book ideas for your small group this fall? 

Along the theme of being a missional church, it makes sense to look at small groups as smaller missional communities. To understand this more and to engage in the ministry focus of being missional and incarnational, take a look at these resources. Consider these resources with the lens and back drop of biblical teaching. What do they say about the church, about discipleship, about leadership, about pursuing God? Do you agree, disagree? How do these resources challenge your thinking about life in the church and what it means to be a member, a follower of Jesus, a missional Christian?

 

 

We always encourage groups to study scripture using supplemental resources shown on the church website and in the library at church. However, we know that a topical approach to Christian living is a great way to provide solid teaching on an particular subject such as "missional living". Please contact Nate Conrad for more information on these resources for studying scripture.

Themelios | A Journal

If you are interested in solid reading on a number of subjects theologically and practically, consider Themelios from The Gospel Coalition.

Themelios is an international evangelical theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith. Its primary audience is theological students and pastors, though scholars read it as well. It was formerly a print journal operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008.

The First Objective: Definitions

Over the next several weeks and months we will be exploring here on the blog what it means to be "missional". The word is one that has a loaded meaning, sort of trendy in Christian circles and might even be understood differently depending on your experience in the church.

As disciples (Christ-followers), we are men and women actively pursuing God and his work in the church, or neighborhood, or workplace, or home, or wherever you understand God's call on your life. That's an exciting prospect, but can be confusing at times to know where to start living "missionally".

We must first think of missionary when we read the word missional. We need to see that the Christian life is one of movement outward. In the same way that Jesus told the disciples to "go" and make disciples, we need to also see the call to extend the ministry outward from the walls of NPC to the world around us. This means that we are essentially ambassadors, workers in a foreign land, establishing outposts of care and provision, encouragement, good news, and redeeming that which is damaged, weak, or wounded.

As you consider your life this week, consider the call to not just be a Christian in your quiet time, around the dinner table, or in the church as you serve, but consider ways that you might bring the gospel into your workplace or neighborhood (as a start). How do you see your participation in this missional work?

From our ministry plan:

The first objective of this year’s emphasis will be to encourage intentional and systematic discipleship in the area of missional Christian living. To be missional is to understand that mission is not an option in the Christian life but an integrated component in the Christian life. Matthew 5:13-16 gives the summary;

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

This year we want to find more creative methods in every ministry area to aide our people in seeing, understanding, and living out their God given design to be part of His plan to redeem this world. This will necessarily include generating ideas and opportunities for our people to see this part of their faith blossom with the cooperation and support of their church family.

Ministry Plans for 2010-2011

Below you will find linked our church's Annual Ministry Plan for the 2010-2011 year. This document will guide our purposes, preaching, ministry efforts and vocabulary for the coming year.

I hope you will take the time to click through, download and review the document as a small group leader and as a member of the church. Please take this document to your small group in the coming weeks and encourage your members to prayerfully work through the scripture, the ideas for ministry, and consider their/your participation this season in the life of the church.

We are excited what this year will bring, we always are at the beginning of a new year. There are many opportunities and possible relationships that await each of us.

Download Ministry Plan 2010-2011

 

Fall 2010 Education Classes

UPDATED: If you are interested in seeing what classes will be offered this fall, click the link below for a one-age printout of the classes. More information will be posted shortly, so watch here and on the main website for more details!

Download AE Fall 2010 Classes

Download AE Fall 2010 Classes Detail NEW