Creating a Discipleship System. Seminar 1: Settings for Ministry

Creating a Discipleship System Seminar 1: Settings for Ministry

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TeamWorks Guidebooks and Tools TWS: Spiritual life of the Leader TWS: Connecting to Your Community TWS: Creating a Discipleship System Use the Spiritual Life Template to build your group Discover your group s Spiritual Gifts Discover your homeland and learn about displacement Use the NICHE Process to learn about your community Learn about the Lifecycle of the Church Discover your Setting for Ministry TWS: Futurecasting Learn to use the powerful VAPàIT Strategic Planning Tool Take the TeamWorks Church Assessment

What s in a TeamWorks Guidebook? Two 2-Hour Seminars Four MyWorks Devotions TeamWorks Two Tools for congregational life Support at

Instructions for Seminar Leaders TeamWorks Seminars are designed to encourage discussion. To prepare for each seminar do as follows: Setup a room with table and chairs for your seminar. You will need an LCD projector and a screen or a large TV that can be hooked up to a computer to show the presentations. Download the presentation slides for TW: Discipleship Seminar 1: Settings from. You may get them as a PDF or in PowerPoint. When using PowerPoint use it in presentation mode so you can view the notes for each slide. Download TW Discipleship Seminar 1: Settings with Notes PDF. Here you will find every slide with tips and ideas about its content. Before leading a seminar, go to and watch the Seminar Leaders Webinar for the seminar you are leading. The webinar will go through each slide and will offer tips and ideas for how to lead the seminar. Set dates for the seminars or for the one-day experience. Recruit a group of participants who will agree to attend both seminars and to do the MyWork devotions.

Schedule your Seminars Use the template below to schedule your sessions. TeamWorks Seminars are designed for 2-hours. You also can do a one day format, with participants using the MyWork devotions to follow-up their experience. Plan for 4-hours with a break for a meal or refreshments. Session Date Topic Seminar One Settings for Ministry MyWork 1 Disciple-Making MyWork 2 Settings for Ministry MyWork 3 Leader Development of Laity MyWork 4 Small Groups Seminar Two The Discipleship Process

How to lead the seminars TeamWorks Seminars are designed to foster discussions within the group. Your primary role as the seminar leader is to facilitate discussions. When you come to a discussion slide divide people into groups of three or four people. Have them share with one another. After they are finished, you can ask individuals to share with the wider group. Avoid starting with the larger group. Why? Because few people are willing to talk in front of larger groups. By dividing into smaller groups you help everyone have an opportunity to share their ideas. Spiritual Life Template: If you did TeamWorks: Spiritual Life of the Leaders and are doing the whole series, start each seminar with the Spiritual Life Template.

Spiritual Life Questions 1. In which spiritual discipline(s) do you want to grow? Weekly worship Daily Bible reading Daily prayer Frequency (Paragraph of communion: 62, p. 70 in the 1996 Book of Discipline) Weekly Monthly Other Service to others Fasting or abstinence Tithing/Giving Family prayer Other: Tip: How does your church teach & mentor people in these disciplines? Wesley s Means of Grace The public worship of God The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded The Lord s Supper Family and private prayer Searching the Scriptures Fasting or abstinence Christian conferencing

Spiritual Life Questions 2. What is your plan for your continued spiritual growth and development? How do you connect with God? Day apart Worship Meeting with a prayer partner or coach Family prayer Daily devotion Other: How are you connecting with others? Time alone with spouse or friend Focused time with your children Regular connection with extended family Prayer or accountability group Time with friends outside of church Other: What arts feed your soul? Playing a musical instrument or singing Writing Drawing Cooking Dance Gardening Acting Other: How are you taking care of your body? Walking/running Active in a sport Healthy diet Yoga/Pilates Other:

Creating a Discipleship System Seminar 1: Settings for Ministry

Today s Human Condition Feeling the changes in society have left you behind. Drifting through the world without a deep sense of connection. A feeling I have to make it on my own because I have lost trust in other people and in society as a whole. Rootlessness Self-seeking Brokenness Loneliness A feeling that the institutions of society have not kept their promises (work, government, education, church, family). A breakdown in relationships that leads to feelings of abandonment or loss. Source: Boomer Spirituality: Seven Values for the Second Half of Life Craig Kennet Miller

So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:41-42 Four Areas of Ministry

1. Apostle s Teaching The teaching of the apostles is based on the teaching of Jesus. The basic purpose of the apostles teaching is to equip believers for service to others.

2. Fellowship In their living together, the early Christians became witnesses to others of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Today our connections to each other is a reflection of the fellowship Jesus shared with the disciples.

3. Breaking Bread Through the breaking of bread, the first believers remembered Jesus sacrifice on their behalf. On the cross Jesus gave his life for our sins. Now we are called as believers to celebrate new life by breaking bread and sharing Christ s love with the world.

4. The Prayers Through prayer, a vision and passion for ministry unfolds as believers seek to follow God s will for their lives and their collective ministry. Acts of worship and devotion bring them close to God and to one another.

Four Areas of Ministry As people forgiven of their sins, they had followed the call to repent and be baptized. Through the Holy Spirit, they were now called to be in ministry together. Acts 2:38 As you go through the following slides, look to see how the ministry focus of the early church helps us meet the deepest needs of humanity.

Ministry priorities Results of ministry Human condition Repent & Be Baptized Acts 2:38

Ministry priorities Results of ministry Human condition Self-seeking Repent & Be Baptized Acts 2:38

Ministry priorities Results of ministry Human condition Self-seeking Repent & Be Baptized Acts 2:38 Loneliness

Ministry priorities Results of ministry Human condition Self-seeking Repent & Be Baptized Acts 2:38 Brokenness Loneliness

Ministry priorities Results of ministry Human condition Rootlessness Self-seeking Repent & Be Baptized Acts 2:38 Brokenness Loneliness

Ministry Priority Results of Ministry Human Condition Fellowship How are you including new people in yourfaith community? Where do you see loneliness in your community? Breaking Bread How are you offering the grace of Jesus Christ? Where do you see brokenness in your community? Prayers How are you helping people discover God s call for their lives? Where do you see rootlessness in your community? Apostles Teaching How are you equipping people for service to others? Where do you see selfseeking in your community?

What Do Churches Do? Local churches create the experience of grace where people gather to connect with God and with each other.

Settings for Ministry Informal Formal Individual actions Group actions Random occurrences Organized events Personal behaviors Planned experiences

Wesley s Means of Grace The public worship of God The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded The Lord s Supper Family and private prayer Searching the Scriptures Fasting or abstinence Christian conferencing Informal Daily devotions Reading the Bible Fasting or abstinence Individual acts of mercy Stand for justice Formal Worship experiences Small group Bible studies Sacraments Missional outreach Acts of justice

Formal Worship Experience Small Group Bible Study Sacraments Outreach Acts of justice Informal Daily Devotion Reading the Bible Fasting or Abstinence Individual Acts of Mercy Stand for justice

Formal Settings for Ministry Small Groups 5-15 Large Groups 120+ MIssional Groups 5-15 Fellowship/Instruction 50-80

Settings for Ministry Small Group Missional Group Fellowship/ Instruction Large Group 5-15 5-15 50-80 120+ Practicing spiritual disciplines Acts of compassion and justice Everyone knows your name Lost in the crowd Focus on personal growth Focus on improving lives United by single focus United by the experience Diversity found in multiple groups Diversity of people from inside and outside the church Homogeneous cultural perspective Diversity (there is room for everyone)

What about the numbers? 5-15 50-80 120+ The group size for accountability Trust creates deep sharing You can learn everyone s name Hard to join if you are not part of the group Feel like you are part of an experience You can try it out without standing out What s the difference between going to a movie theatre with 50 people scattered in the seats versus a full crowd? Why is it that large movements like the Methodist movement (The Holy Club) or Christianity (The 12 discipleships) started small? Have you ever showed up to group of around 50 where everyone knew each other already? How did you feel?

The issue is not numerical growth. It is spiritual growth. By offering multiple settings for ministry, you are giving people more opportunities for spiritual growth.

Large Groups All Four Small Groups Missional Groups Fellowship/Instruction

Use this city map to identify places where small groups, missional groups, fellowship & instruction groups, and large groups can offer ministry. El Molino High School Third Second Bank 1 st Church Post Office Coffee Shop Ying s Bar & Grill Hill St. Grocery Fitness Center Estes Park

Dynamics of Group Settings and Settings for Ministry Survey Size of Group Setting Results 4 Personal Interaction 5-15 Small Group 5-15 Missional Groups Perfect for in-depth discussions and building relationships. (Jesus, John, James, & Peter) Perfect for discipleship and accountability. Large enough for continued interaction and support. (The Twelve Disciples) Great for short term project groups or long term missional efforts in the community. 16-49 Floundering 50-80 Fellowship/Instruction 81-120 Awkward 120 plus Large Group Group struggles for self-identity and longs for the former intimacy of the small group. Self-sustaining group that is homogeneous and single focused. Good for instruction and teaching. (70 Disciples) Size group where people long for the easy familiarity of the fellowship/instruction size group. A large-group dynamic takes place that enables people to focus on God. (The Temple Courtyard)

Identify groups in your church that match these groupings Size of Group Setting Do they fit the description? How could they be reconfigured to better match their best use? Do you have a good balance of small groups, missional groups, fellowship/instruction, and large groups? 4 5-15 5-15 16-49 Personal Interaction Small Group Missional Groups Floundering 50-80 81-120 120 plus Fellowship/ Instruction Awkward Large Group

Discussion What are the implications of the settings for ministry for your congregation? What is the mix of small groups, missional groups, fellowship groups, and large groups in your church?

Settings for Ministry Fellowship/Instruction - Everyone knows your name - Support of the faith community When everything a church does happens in the Fellowship/Instruction Group, this limits its growth. Why? Because people are limited in their spiritual life and it s hard for new people to join.

Settings for Ministry Small Groups - Devotion - Personal relationships Missional Groups - Acts of service - Contextual Fellowship/Instruction - Everyone knows your name - Support of the faith community Large Group - Celebration - Focus on the experience Churches can break this growth barrier by inviting its current members and new people to engage in small groups and missional groups. Once these groups are up and running, largegroup experiences can be offered.

Settings for Ministry Small Groups - Devotion - Personal relationships Missional Groups - Acts of service - Contextual Fellowship/Instruction - Everyone knows your name - Support of the faith community Large Group - Celebration - Focus on the experience Discussion Pick one ministry group and identify the ways it is engaging in all four of these settings. In you are in a church where everything happens in the fellowship/instruction group, talk about ways you can invite people to be part of small groups and missional groups. Ask how children and youth can benefit from being part of these four settings.

Pastor-Centered Less than 100 in worship Pastor as spiritual care-taker Team-Centered More than 120 in worship Pastor as team leader Pastor as Jack & Jill of all trades Focus on relationships Laity focuses on managing the assets Pastor equips laity and staff Focus on worship, outreach, and discipleship Laity freed to be in ministry as assets are managed by staff

Discussion How does the size of your church affect your expectations for the work of the pastor(s) and staff? What are the responsibilities of laity in your church? How do laity and staff take responsibility for the longterm vision of the church?

TYPES OF SMALL CHURCHES Small Town/ County Seat/Rural/Declining Big City LOW POPULATION Family size or heritage church Loss of influence & prestige ALWAYS SMALL Never had over 100 in worship Caters to a small subset of the larger community Inability to connect with recent arrivals ONCE LARGE Once a large church, it now worships under 100 HIGH POPULATION Growing suburb/vitalized downtown/ static area with lots of people

Discussion If you are worshiping with under 100 a week, identify your group and talk about the obstacles and opportunities your church has to connect with people in your community. If you are worshiping over 100, talk about implications you see for yourministry as you think about what is happening in yourcommunity. GROUPS OBSTACLES OPPORTUNITIES Low Population/ Always Small Low Population/ Once Large High Population/ Always Small High Population/ Once Large Note: Over 70% of UM Churches worship with under 100.

Assignments As part of the MyWork devotions read the four articles related to different aspects of the discipleship process. As a group set your time for your next meeting.

TeamWorks Series