Discipleship

Need a Babysitter?

The church office, (630) 961-0579, often gets calls for babysitters to help small groups out. These sitters can help execute mission projects, have studies, or just to help the church members find young men and women that can help out in the home.

If you, or someone in your group, is looking for help, check the side bar of this blog for the babysitter forrm, or click here.

Finding Common Ground

One of the best books I have read on sowing the seeds of the gospel in our world, on how to engage culture in significant spiritual conversations, and moving from the sruface, to the real issues, to the gospel is this book from Tim Downs, Finding Common Ground. We have it here in the library at the church, but I woudl recommend you make space for it on your own shelves, very visible, and readily accessible for missional living and the conversations that result:

Take a look.

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

 

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.

Redeeming the Summer

The summer, as we all know, is a complete change of course for most people. Daily life changes significantly, especially for kids and stay at home moms. No more school, time at the pool, travel, spending hours outside in the sun. For some the days of summer are truly lazy, hazy and sometimes crazy.

 

So why this post? To redeem the summer spiritually. If you are like me, the summer has a way of rattling us from our disciplines of good eating, exercise and sleep patterns, worship attendance and small group participation. It happens, we all know it, so how to we keep from slipping in our attention to the things of God during these warmer days? I have a few suggestions:

1. Play outside with your kids and talk about creation and its Creator. Talk about the beauty, the differences, the variety, the magnitude, the creativity of God's world in which you play. Talk about our bodies and how God uniquely crafted them. Talk about how God made our bodies to experience the world, to serve others, to care for others. Spend time with your children in prayer thanking God for al these things.
2. Have evening devotions with your family. The summer can often be a time when families share more evening meals together. Right after dinner, talk about the day and what happened. Then read scripture, or from one of these books, then pray together around the table before heading back out into the neighborhood.
3. Go for a morning walk in a local park, or forest preserve, or where you are on vacation. Take the time to intentionally slow down, being quiet as you listen to God in prayer. Take in the world around you and listen to what God is saying about himself, about you, about the church, about relationships in your life.
4. Take an afternoon to serve in a local ministry. Perhaps at the church cleaning, picking up or sorting, perhaps in a ministry we support. Give your time and back to helping ministries this summer, a time when volunteerism drops off significantly.
5. Read a book with a close friend or spouse. There are several short books of the Bible you can read together, discuss and pray over. There are a list of recommended books here that you can check out from our library, or pick up your own copy from Amazon.
6. Entertain another family from church or your neighborhood. Welcome a neighbor to your home for a grilled meal and get to know them a little more. Ask about their family, their history, where they grew up, what they like to do, their hopes for their kids or their career. Listen more than talk, then pray for that person or family during the next week.

There are countless other ways that we can engage differently this summer and redeem our time, perhaps this has jogged your own memory. If you have an idea, post it below or email it. Email it to your group this week and encourage others in your circle of influence to do the same! Redeem this summer spiritually, don't let it slip away!

Ephesians Memorization

For the next several weeks we are going to be looking at the book of Ephesians in our sermon series. Posted here is a list of verses that we invite you to join with others in memorizing over the coming year. Print the sheet, cut out verses and carry them with you, looking at them throughout the day.

As we focus our attention on Paul's letter to the Ephesians we can commit these and other portions of scripture to memory. These are passages which can encourage us, remind us of God's grace, and remind us of our life together as a church, the bride of Christ.

Make an effort with your family, your small group, or personally to commit several (if not all!) these verses to memory over the coming months and find great joy in having God's word on your lips all day!

The Library

If you are looking for resources for your small group to study and are not sure about which resources to pick up, try browsing our church's library. The library has recently been moved to rooms 040 and 042 below the worship center.

The library has been maintained to provide good resources to our church's members and friends.If you are looking for resources, they have possibly been removed in order to offer the best, most helpful resources to you congregation.

Visit the library and review the books here on a Sunday, or during the week. It will help you save some money on books that maybe you have heard about, but are not sure you want to go out and buy a copy. Resources include books for small group studies, personal growth, reference, audio and video, and more.

Check this list of recommended books for your personal growth and/or group study.

Welcoming New People

Leaders often ask how they can get new people into their group, how they can help our church's mission to extent God's glory into our community: our workplaces, neighborhoods and community centers. Many leaders feel that the group is just too large, or too Christianese for men and women who may not know anything about the gospel.

Remember the same gospel proclaimed for salvation is the same gospel preached for life in Christ . Recall that Paul, writing to the churches in Galatia, reminded them:

Galatians 3:1-5 (NIV)
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

So, remember that even people that are not part of our church, or who may not know Christ at all, can still very much benefit from our regular weekly Bible study groups. We don't have to offer something different!

However, one idea that I have been sharing with a few small group leaders is a way we all can connect our neighbors with the gospel. Everyone has to eat, right? Challenge your group members to consider a neighbor, or two or three neighbors, they can invite over for a couple of meals this summer. Encourage your members to open their homes to share a meal with the family across the street, just to get to know each other a little more by asking questions, sharing stories, and doing activities together. This can be an easy way to get to know others and possibly a way to invite them into the small group that is already established.

New Studies

New small group studies have been posted in the left-hand column. These 6 week studies (some may be longer) can be a good launching point this spring for your group as you gear up for another quarter or semester together.

If you use one of the studies or guides, please consider writing a short review of the material and email it to me. We'll post it under a new category called "Reviews". This can help other leaders evaluate if that book or study is a good one to include in his or her small group.

Leadership Class Begins Soon

Perhaps you have been around for a while, or perhaps you are brand new to the small group leadership thing... regardless, the Leadership Class is a great way to extend your learning, network with other leaders, capture ideas and helps for how to be a more biblical leader.

The Leadership Class begins on Sunday, January 13, at 8:45 am.

You can register here: http://www.npchurch.org/adulted/schedule.html

More information: The Leadership Class is offered regularly to train and develop servant leaders, and is a pre-requisite for all elders and deacons in the church body.  Everyone is welcome to attend the 14-week class which covers the doctrinal distinctive of Reformed Theology, real-life application of the material, reading and in-class discussions.