a model invented by N.T Wright english anglican bishop:
act1. creation
act2: fall (betrayal)
act3:israel
end of OT
act4: Jesus
act5: early church is simply scene1 of act5, the last scene is revelation..we are in the middle of scenes of act5
we are improving the final scenes of the final act
church history is all about God and His people
in church history we can learn:
learn from mistakes of the past
learn from the good
understand the present
appreciate the past
encouragement from triumphs
plan future directions
braoden understanding of people
Q: WHAT CAN WE KEEP AND WHAT CAN WE RECOGNIZE WAS ONLY SUITABLE FOR THAME?
Should church have power over the state?
timeline
creation->the fall (betrayal) -> noah -> abraham-> moses -> Joshua -> david -> exile (northern kingdom by assyria; southern kingdom by Babylon) -> persia -> greeks (alxander the great, split into Ptolemy and selueids; the greek culture , religion and language spread) -> Ptolemy appointed the high priest and it became a polotical thing instead of a spiritual thing from a family line -> heavey persecution (forced to eat pig, banned circumcision, scriptures, worship ects ) -> revolt by Maccadeus -> Hannukah and freedom established ( Pharisees and saducees who only concerned with political power) -> Romans ->Jesus
the mindset of Zealot who was inspired by Maccabes hero: if we overthrow Rome, God will come
the mindset of Pharisees : if we are holy enough, God will come
we are christian before we are part of a political party
Jesus founded the church but he did not organize it
Jesus only mentioned the church 3 times in gospels
early christians saw church as a servant of kingdom in a temporal world
early church service: breaking bread, apostles teaching, fellowship, prayer
some things were situational such as having to meet in homes
Background in Judaism
Jesus was a Jew - came as a "king of the jews"
His disciples were Jewish
Ministry was largely but not solely Jewish
Jews were apostles' first target with the Gospel
- Jews as target audience
Christians attended Jewish synagogues
68AD - Jewish revolt against the romans: destruction of the temple.
Christians did not fight with Jews; fled.
Re-organisation of Jewish life around the law.
Christianity moved to other cities.
Curses upon heretics added to Jewish liturgies
• Early church – players, environment, debates
o Players: Peter, Paul, John (Apostles), they died, all martyred except John
o Debates: circumcision, keeping the Law, Food allowed to eat, New Testament Canon because of heresies,
o Environment: Persecution, they met in people’s house, there was persecution because they didn’t go to festival, anti-social, thought to be incestuous, cannibals (drink the blood of Jesus, ate his body), Didn’t see Caesar as Lord, problem for the economy, persecuted by Jews because they were trying to change the Law. Anti-family, one wife. (Atheist, worshipped a God that doesn’t have an image)
o Heresy (debate): How and why did it began? Appeared after the apostle’s had died, people’s didn’t get the accurate definition of the gospel. i.e. Gnosticism( secret knowledge)
o Anything good came out of the heresy period? Yes, orthodoxy (Right beliefs) and the Canon. Also, questions and writings about Christ and the trinity.
the conversion of Constantine:
built numerous cathedrals
reimbursed church for damages
invited clergy to dine with him
sought to bring people into the church
active in church affairs
exempted clergy from taxation
called first ecumenical council-Nicea325
went from persecution -> toleration -> freedom -> obligation (under another emporer)
heresies; internal and external
internal heresies:
1. legalistic heresies( no salvation without circumcision);
2. philosophical heresies:
1)Gnosticism, from greek philosophy, matter is evil/spirit is good. Jesus only appeared to have a physical form, was more of a phantom. salvation is by secret knowledge gnosis. Gnostics produced gospels, considered heretical, did not meet criteria for canonicity ie. not written in the first century
2)Marcionism: child of satan, hated judaism and the OT and the God of the OT; believed God sent Jesus to deliver us from evil creation; setup his own criteria for scripture and church; got rid of OT and just used Luke and 10 of paul's letters; helped to cause the church to develope its canon
3. theological heresies:
1) Montanism: believed he was the spokesperson of the holy spirit / paraclete
2) Monarchianism: rejection of God as 3 personalities, jesus was man by righteous living
3) Sabelliunism: similar to above, there is one God who can manifest as one of three at any one time. one God, three masks
So... We have...
Council of Nicaea 325, presided over by constantine
apostles creed in the 2nd century
result of early heresises produced canon, according to certain criteria:
1. universal and consistently used by church
2. quoted by early fathers
3. of apostolic origin
4. communicate rule of faith
5. confirmeed by athanasius in 367
east has church and state combined
west was growing seperately with a leader growing in power
eastern council declared Bishop of constantinople equal to rome
Shift from theological interests to power interests, Pope Leo the 1st
452 Pope Leo comes to the aid of the Emporer and saved Rome from Attila the Hun
455 Pope Leo negotiates with invading Vandal army.
Assumed the title 'Pontifex Maximus' - high priest throughout the empire. Same as constantine and caesars of rome
Gregory the Great (590-604)
Not a bad pope
Cared for the poor, genuinely concerned for the spiritual condition of the people
Wrote 'pastoral rule'
Sent missionaries, including england.
Introduced penance, prayer to saints, relics, purgatory, eucharist not official till 1215, adoration of Mary, use of vestments.
Political and spiritual leader.
The pope politically on the level of kings
Monasticism
Scriptoriums, translating.
Withdrawal is a criticism.
Monks were missionaries
When we come up against something we don't like, we either fight or flee.
'White matyrs'
4th and 5th century monasticism movement swelled.
Important places of study, became educators and scholars. Became the first schools, hospitals, welfare system where societies didn't have one.
Benedictine, 529 - 'rule'
prons and corns: social justice, education, healing, scientific discoveries, preserve the scriptures but lifestyle was very difficult, tables given in class
• Charles Martel and what did he do?
o King of France
o If it wasn’t from him, he stopped the spread Islam
o Otherwise, Europe would be Islam
o Defeat infidels
o Grandson was Charlemagne
o He was called the ‘Hammer”.
o Stopping it
o Because of Charles Martel Europe isn’t Muslim and because of Charlemagne it is Christian.
• Charlemagne
o Grandson
o Cut off heads of 4000 people because they weren’t Christian.
o 768, King of France
o Killed thousands, enforced Christianity
o Spreading Christianity
o Crowned Roman emperor of Christian Europe by the Pope Leo 3rd
o Work with him to keep the Muslims out of Europe
o Set up a system of administration 'missi dominici' usually a bishop and a lay noble, church and state working together
o Set up schools in monastaries had to learn singing, arithmatic and grammar.
o Established currency and weights, brought europe out of the dark ages.
Eastern Orthodoxy
15 distinct churches mostly in eastern europe (eg russia, greece, macedonia, ukraine)
Icons - crucial
in churches and homes
Image is crucial: made is made in the image of God; he carries the icon of God withinhimself
Kind of like a portal.. A manifestation... It's not worshipped.
The Crusades
A series of wars across 200 years
1095-1291
Crusade - "taking the cross"
Shameful atrocities and suffering
Causes:
11th cent - seljuk turks / extreme muslims persecuting pilgrims; seized jerusalem from fellow peaceable muslims
* eastern emporer losing territory
Goals:
*win holy land back
*check the advance of islam and help eastern emporer
*ensure safety of christian pilgrims
*help breach the growing gap between east and west
*rescue jerusalem
Pope Urban II declared the first crusade
Possibly the most influential speech of the time
He inspired the crowd
"Take up their cross (sword)" because:
Alleged atrocities of the muslims
God wills it!
Rewards; spiritual and physical
Included nobles and peasants
1099 won back the holy city
The only 'successful' crusade
Atrocities againsts muslims and jews
70,000 muslims killed in the city, jews rounded up and burned in the synagogues
Rulership was also poor
- 2nd crusade
Difficult to defend from europe
*1147 called by Bernard of clairvaux, french mystic
*Led by king of france and germany
*No great victory
*2 years of fighting
- 3rd crusade
1187 Saladin retook jerusalem
1189 kings of germany, france and england, tried again.
Saladin - noble character... Tried to negotiate and avoid combat. Gave a horse to king richard when his horse fell in battle. Gave fruit and his doctor when richard was sick. Both tried to negotiate peace by offering their sisters in marriage.
Finally 3yr truce - access to Jerusalem for christian pilgrims
*not a victory though - cruasaders wanted to reconquer the whole land
- saladins deathbed quotes to his son.. Powerful and sounded very christian. Be a servant leader, don't shed blood, win the hearts of men with kindness and gentleness.
- 4th crusade
1202 by pope Innocent III
Mercenaries never reached Jerusalem
Ran out of money to pay for shipping costs
Attacked and sacked Zara
Pope excommunicated them
Attacked and plundered constantinople to pay for debts now owed dandelo in venice
No muslims died, only christians
Set up a latin empire
Plundered the church, wealth removed to venice
Didn't bother with Jerusalem
Lasted until 1261
Gap was further widened between east and west
- the childrens crusade
Thousands of children
1212 - 20,000-30,000 (led by Stephen of Cloyes).
En route they were betrayed and sold into slavery
Another 20,000 from germany (led by Nicholas) could not find transport in italy
- the fifth crusade
Hungarian king Andrew
Stalemate, 8yr truce signed
- sixth crusade
1229 frederick II, (emporer of germany anf italy) spoke six languages, excommunicated, secured jerusalem by diplomacy
- seventh crusade
Louis IX of france attacked Egypt in 1249, captured and ransomed
Edward of England - no lasting victory
1291 - islam took acre, last christian stronghold in the holy land
-----
Results:
Original goals never achieved.
Impact on trade, industry and culture
Architecture
Medicine
Education
Economy
Copied and learned new skills from the muslims, like glass making and combat. Cotton clothes, sugar in food.
The church - initially held with prestige but declined. Christian beliefs weakened by failures
Muslim attitude changed and became intolerant of diveristy
-
- Reformation
Background to the reformation
Pre-reformation reformers
Factors leading to the reformation
Immorality
Luxury
Political ambition (wanted wealth, power, titles and land)
Babylonian captivity of the papacy (1309-1377) (pope moved to france)., papal schism (1378-1417) (multiple popes in italy).
Renaissance and worldliness of the church
Other abuses of the clergy (buying and selling their positions)
Taxes
1517 Martin Luther protested
More books written on Luther than anyone else
Begin forwarded message:
Qualities of a reformer
5 qualities
Unshakeably strong convictions
Willing to discuss it
Resist intimidation
Be prepared for opposition
Wasn't afraid
Very articulate and calm, emotions under control yet passionate
Courage for justice and truth
Revelation about what you're reforming, what is the point or goal
The revelation is not just for yourself, can't be lazy
-
What would you be unwilling to recant in your vision of the church that you see.
The church that I see... Is like a warm hug. It's a family in the truest, purist sense, even though the people are broken, their Godly love takes relationship to a new level, where all are accepted and loved, where everyone knows someone and is loved by them, and no one is isolated.
Western theology
Legalistic style thinking
Salvation - payment/justification
Peter/papacy - jurisdictional law
Eastern theology
Incarnation of God and re-creation of man
Sin reduces man divine likeness
Salvation = restoration of full divine image
Rebirth, re-creation, trans-figuration
-
• Crusades – results
o Positive: weapons, trade, art, economy, we learn what not to do
o Negative:
• Reformation – who are the key people? What was accomplished?
o Key people: Mystics, Wycliff, Luther(justification by faith) , Calvin (sovereignity of God) , zginly – (What did they believe)?
o 90 out of the 95 thesis were adopted by catholic church
o protestant church is formed
o Bible translated into German
o Laws change
o Justification by faith
o Read to Bible for yourself
o Indulgences: buying favours in the church
o Corruption
o Why did the reformation began? Some of the teachings, trying to fund st-peter’s basilica.
o What causes it?
o What was the outcome?
2010年10月26日 星期二
2010年10月15日 星期五
romans
Focusing on his grace and unfailinng love.we are created to be the likeness of his son.we are created to bring praise to him.we are a small puzzle to bring out the umage of jesus.we are equally loved and valued.we all share the same calling to be united to bring him glory.to bring the kingdom of heaven on earth.the onky difference is we have bern.assigned for differentiation function in the body of christ.we are cleansed to approach him in christ.
His spirit dwell inside of me so sin has no place in me anymore. I am dead to sin but arised to life in jesus.However my minds still need to be renrwed as it is used to sun against god.by reading the word of god my mind will be gradually renewrd. In his strength i no longer reign by sins.focus on his grace
His spirit dwell inside of me so sin has no place in me anymore. I am dead to sin but arised to life in jesus.However my minds still need to be renrwed as it is used to sun against god.by reading the word of god my mind will be gradually renewrd. In his strength i no longer reign by sins.focus on his grace
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2010年9月11日 星期六
Dealing with conflict - by Joel & Julia A'Belle 11/09/2010
Dealing with conflict - by Joel & Julia A'Belle 11/09/2010
How do I deal with conflict in my relationships? Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional. We must avoid our conflicts becoming combat (hostile). We know we've reached combat zone when you become a 'fire hose' spraying words or a 'wall' with strong things to say then hide behind. - I am involved - It's about what I want - But I'm not getting what I want James 4:1-3 (TNIV) What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? [2] You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. [3] When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (1) Agree to disagree, accept that others may have a different way of seeing things. Don't let the sun go down on your anger (combat). Acts 15:36-40 (TNIV) Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." [37] Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, [38] but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. [39] They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, [40] but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. Paul was commended by the brothers by the grace of the Lord. We want God's blessing on both parties. Arguments aren't always about the topic, but about how we feel. (2) Think before you speak. Proverbs 10:19 (TNIV) Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. Proverbs 18:2 (TNIV) Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. (3) How do you confront the conflict? Confront just means to turn my face toward. Matthew 18:15-17 (TNIV) "If a brother or sister sins, go and point out the fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. [16] But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' [17] If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. In any kind of conflict the objective is to win back the relationship with the person. Go privately (one on one), go quietly (with a third perspective), go submissively (with a church leader), go cautiously (go back on journey of trust again). (4) Pursue peace Romans 14:19 (TNIV) Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Jesus shows us the example by laying down his pride, stepping down from Godhood to live and die in our place, on our behalf, in order that we be reconciled to relationship with God. There's no power in pride, but there is power in humility. Pursue peace with God and with one another.
2010年8月20日 星期五
bible study note
Lk 16:15 He said to them, ou are the ones who justify yourselves b in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. c What is highly valued among men is detestable in God sight. -->
don;t i constantly justify my mistakes by shifting the blame to someone or something else? isn;t it always a big temptation for me? God is the God who looks into our hearts, even by justifying ourselves we are highly valued by the world but become detestable in God's sight, what is the point then? are we serving God or the world?
Pr 9:10 he fear of the LORD d is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One e is understanding. f -->
seeing and responding to life's situations from God's frame of reference
Phil 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy b to you soon, c that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
Phil 2:20 I have no one else like him, d who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
Phil 2:21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, e not those of Jesus Christ.
Phil 2:22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father f he has served with me in the work of the gospel-->do we do what we are doing now for our own interest or interest of Jesus? devoting ourselves to sing beauitful worshiping songs, are we doing it to make us feel good or earnestly worship Him in our truth and spirit? do i constantly search my heart and clarify the motives of my deeds? are i really serving Jesus or in fact serving myself? how do i make sure that my motives are transparent and only for His cause??????
don;t i constantly justify my mistakes by shifting the blame to someone or something else? isn;t it always a big temptation for me? God is the God who looks into our hearts, even by justifying ourselves we are highly valued by the world but become detestable in God's sight, what is the point then? are we serving God or the world?
Pr 9:10 he fear of the LORD d is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One e is understanding. f -->
seeing and responding to life's situations from God's frame of reference
Phil 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy b to you soon, c that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
Phil 2:20 I have no one else like him, d who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
Phil 2:21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, e not those of Jesus Christ.
Phil 2:22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father f he has served with me in the work of the gospel-->do we do what we are doing now for our own interest or interest of Jesus? devoting ourselves to sing beauitful worshiping songs, are we doing it to make us feel good or earnestly worship Him in our truth and spirit? do i constantly search my heart and clarify the motives of my deeds? are i really serving Jesus or in fact serving myself? how do i make sure that my motives are transparent and only for His cause??????
2010年8月15日 星期日
Overcoming Discouragement
Overcoming Discouragement
Sermon OutlineOvercoming Discouragement |
Charles F. Stanley
Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-6
I. Introduction: Discouragement is a common response to the challenges of life. Even David, who experienced great spiritual triumphs, had tremendous emotional struggles. In Psalm 42:11, he wrote: “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him.” The king’s reaction must have been similar after Ziklag, his home at the time, was destroyed. David was able to find victory in that situation, in part because he knew how to overcome discouragement.
II. David’s Example: While David and his fellow warriors were away, the Amalekites raided their town, burned everything, and captured the women and children. In response, David “strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). In other words, he sought encouragement. He turned to God, who promised him victory if he would pursue the attackers (1 Sam. 30:8).
III. Discouragement is:
IV. The Causes of Discouragement
Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-6
I. Introduction: Discouragement is a common response to the challenges of life. Even David, who experienced great spiritual triumphs, had tremendous emotional struggles. In Psalm 42:11, he wrote: “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him.” The king’s reaction must have been similar after Ziklag, his home at the time, was destroyed. David was able to find victory in that situation, in part because he knew how to overcome discouragement.
II. David’s Example: While David and his fellow warriors were away, the Amalekites raided their town, burned everything, and captured the women and children. In response, David “strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). In other words, he sought encouragement. He turned to God, who promised him victory if he would pursue the attackers (1 Sam. 30:8).
III. Discouragement is:
A. Universal. Almost everyone has been dismayed at one time or another.
B. Recurring. You may overcome discouragement one week, only to face it again the next.
C. Contagious. Watch out for those who want to pull you down by indulging in negativity and self-pity.
D. Unpredictable. You never know when it will strike you or a loved one.
E. Temporary. It will pass if you respond correctly.
III. Discouragement differs from disappointment. When our expectations aren’t met, we feel disappointed. But discouragement, a feeling of despair and despondency, is a choice. We can choose to remain dejected or determine to work through our feelings and overcome them.IV. The Causes of Discouragement
A. Inability to please others
B. Physical or verbal abuse
C. Unanswered prayer
D. Lack of proper recognition
E. Strongholds
F. Financial pressure
G. Health problems
H. Unexplained adversity
I. Feelings of worthlessness
V. The Consequences of DiscouragementA. Divided attention—If you are discouraged, you may not be able to work wholeheartedly.
B. Placing blame—When you feel down, be careful not to dwell on the wrongs of others.
C. Anger and depression—Unless you address the inner roots of discouragement, you will never overcome negative feelings.
D. Estrangement—People push others away by constantly grumbling.
E. Loss of confidence—Every aspect of your life will suffer when you feel unsure of yourself.
F. Negative spirit—Don’t rehash painful events.
G. Unwise decisions—Discouragement can cloud your judgment. By working through your feelings first, you can then make a careful, godly decision.
H. Spiritual drift—Depression is fertile ground for seeds of doubt.
VI. The Cure for DiscouragementA. Pride. Some put their trust in themselves and pursue relationships, accomplishments, or possessions instead of a relationship with the Father.
1. Look within yourself. Ask, Why am I discouraged?
2. Look up. God has the ability to rescue you from harmful attitudes.
3. Look back. Don’t dwell on hurtful things in the past. Instead, think about God’s faithfulness to deliver you.
4. Look ahead. Focus on what the Lord is doing now in your life. Be encouraged by what He has planned for the future.
B. Have the right response. Responding correctly to discouragement involves several things.
1. Rest. Physical and emotional exhaustion often lead to discouragement.
2. Reorganize your life. In other words, evaluate your use of time, energy, and other resources. Make sure you’re doing the right things in the right way.
3. Resolve to trust God. Believe that He is in control (Ps. 103:19), loves you, and will never leave you (Heb. 13:5). He can turn adversity into something good.
4. Resist discouragement. Ask God to reveal the best response to difficulty. You will be amazed at the difference a positive attitude makes.
VII. Conclusion: Are you tired of being discouraged? You don’t have to stay that way. Whether or not the situation changes, you can experience joy, peace, and contentment. For the believer, circumstances don’t have to dictate emotions. Allow Scripture to permeate your mind and heart. Discouragement will lose its foothold, and you will become joyous and fruitful again.2010年8月13日 星期五
meaningless
Dear my Heavenly Father
in ecckesuastes the teacher shows that there is purpose and balance to all things even in this present life.just as there is time to die,there is a time to live. just as there is a time for sorrow,there is a time for joy. and everyday life takes on significance in the enjoyment of one's work and the happiness of human love. the message is aimed directly at the young people for whom much of the wisdom literature is intended. in conclusion the teacher urges that all things find their fulfillment in acknowledging the creator's purpose for mankind and in obeying his will.
it is the lesson you have taught Solomon. who is probably the wisest person in the history but still he found his life was meaningless after drifting away from His Lord, my God. i must confess i totally feel exactly the same, i don;t need to be as sucessful as he was to taste the dryness and deepest heartcry overwhlemingly coming out of my soul without invovling you in my daily life. from last night to this hour, i have not really communicated/prayed or read your words, somehow i find my joy disappeared and my heart is troubled by desperation. i really don;t want to live in world without you, you are everything i have and everything i need but i don;t understand how come i never learnt well to discipline myself despite the fact of knowing what is the best and most joyful, but still my deeds totally turn opposite to what i want to do. when can i stop being rebellious and knee down to worship you only , MY LORD MY SAVIOR. save me from this dead trap and help me to live a life only for you.
in ecckesuastes the teacher shows that there is purpose and balance to all things even in this present life.just as there is time to die,there is a time to live. just as there is a time for sorrow,there is a time for joy. and everyday life takes on significance in the enjoyment of one's work and the happiness of human love. the message is aimed directly at the young people for whom much of the wisdom literature is intended. in conclusion the teacher urges that all things find their fulfillment in acknowledging the creator's purpose for mankind and in obeying his will.
it is the lesson you have taught Solomon. who is probably the wisest person in the history but still he found his life was meaningless after drifting away from His Lord, my God. i must confess i totally feel exactly the same, i don;t need to be as sucessful as he was to taste the dryness and deepest heartcry overwhlemingly coming out of my soul without invovling you in my daily life. from last night to this hour, i have not really communicated/prayed or read your words, somehow i find my joy disappeared and my heart is troubled by desperation. i really don;t want to live in world without you, you are everything i have and everything i need but i don;t understand how come i never learnt well to discipline myself despite the fact of knowing what is the best and most joyful, but still my deeds totally turn opposite to what i want to do. when can i stop being rebellious and knee down to worship you only , MY LORD MY SAVIOR. save me from this dead trap and help me to live a life only for you.
2010年8月11日 星期三
marriage by Mrs Ferguson in sisterhood
1. take your time to listen to God and develope a habit of daily devotion.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
2. watch your language: how would you like to be spoken to
3. stay grateful" count your blessing every single day
4. remember you have choice: your feeling; your attitude; perspective; don;t have victim mentality
5. treat another with honor: fon;t wait to your husband become honorable
6. follow Jesus' example and sumbit: Jesus sumbit to Father, we are called to submit; i sumbit to my husband as i do to the Lord; there are limit to submission. *wives, submit yourselves to your husband as is fitting to the Lord* --> how can i best imitate Jesus
7. pick your battles-avoid the temptations to nag as love is not easily angered. make a goal that your home is the heaven of peace
8. forgiveness is hard but it is not optional: remember what you have been forgiven
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
9. enjoy the daily journey together. donlt miss out marriage is so daily; the present moment: live in the life of full together even in the ordinary day
10. make God the center of marriage:
1. see the bigger picture, marriage is not just two people but also the reflection of Christ and His church;
2. don;t make your husband an idol to fullfill everything you need;
3. give you hopebecause God is the inventor of marriage, the one who bless marriage is fighting for us
4. decide to involve God in every area of our lives
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
2. watch your language: how would you like to be spoken to
3. stay grateful" count your blessing every single day
4. remember you have choice: your feeling; your attitude; perspective; don;t have victim mentality
5. treat another with honor: fon;t wait to your husband become honorable
6. follow Jesus' example and sumbit: Jesus sumbit to Father, we are called to submit; i sumbit to my husband as i do to the Lord; there are limit to submission. *wives, submit yourselves to your husband as is fitting to the Lord* --> how can i best imitate Jesus
7. pick your battles-avoid the temptations to nag as love is not easily angered. make a goal that your home is the heaven of peace
8. forgiveness is hard but it is not optional: remember what you have been forgiven
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
9. enjoy the daily journey together. donlt miss out marriage is so daily; the present moment: live in the life of full together even in the ordinary day
10. make God the center of marriage:
1. see the bigger picture, marriage is not just two people but also the reflection of Christ and His church;
2. don;t make your husband an idol to fullfill everything you need;
3. give you hopebecause God is the inventor of marriage, the one who bless marriage is fighting for us
4. decide to involve God in every area of our lives
8/11-12 inspirations and revelations from school
1. overview in the bible and church history has clearly shown the unfailing love of God. after thousands of years humanity still makes the same mistakes, history keep repeating itself but God has never given up on us. He still insists in involving us in His redemption plan and bring us back to Him.
2. the freedom we have to worship Yaweh has came a long way, lots of people died and sacrificed for what we have taken for granted today. we are in the generation of repeating what other people sow in the past
3. in christian church history, we may get humiliated by the crusades but in the other hand we could also see some people stood up on the stake and gave it a shot despite the outcome. at least they did not stand back and pass on the judgement. at least they tried even they failed
4. we constantly look back the history with judgement based on our better understanding years after but have we taken the history out of its context? see things within its context other than out of context
5. what we have had today has came a long way. show our greatest respect and appreciation.
6. evangelism is to share the love of God, His loving character and faithfulness. shift the focus on yourself to His purpose. it is not about me but all about Him, the love of God in our heart is potent and powerful. love is the foundation of evangelism because its the foundation of our faith. it all begins and ends with Him. love springs from God. if i don;t know God, i don;t know love because God is love.
7. assertive communication. go into he confrontation without bringing in the emotion
8. God is our first love; He challenge our first love for Him. we have the potential of losing the crazy feeling of passion for Him
9. how to maintain the crazy love for Him: give your love to Jesus first place; commit to Him on every level; stir up zeal; repent quickly when spirit convicts you
10.have we asked the right questions? not what is truth but who is truth.
11. what people are gonna to touch when they touch you?
12. all you need is Jesus but am i really live daily in this belief in my heart?
13. count each of God's blessing
14. delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart- His desire for you
15. we are still in the midst of church history; the history has started from creation and it will end with revelation.
16. church concept started from the heart of God. Israel is considered to be *church*
17. have i been too much focused on God;'s vessels than God's spirit working inside of the vessels? such as John Baptist's disciples devoted themselves so much into this teaching that they cant accept even the deity of Jesus
18.
2. the freedom we have to worship Yaweh has came a long way, lots of people died and sacrificed for what we have taken for granted today. we are in the generation of repeating what other people sow in the past
3. in christian church history, we may get humiliated by the crusades but in the other hand we could also see some people stood up on the stake and gave it a shot despite the outcome. at least they did not stand back and pass on the judgement. at least they tried even they failed
4. we constantly look back the history with judgement based on our better understanding years after but have we taken the history out of its context? see things within its context other than out of context
5. what we have had today has came a long way. show our greatest respect and appreciation.
6. evangelism is to share the love of God, His loving character and faithfulness. shift the focus on yourself to His purpose. it is not about me but all about Him, the love of God in our heart is potent and powerful. love is the foundation of evangelism because its the foundation of our faith. it all begins and ends with Him. love springs from God. if i don;t know God, i don;t know love because God is love.
7. assertive communication. go into he confrontation without bringing in the emotion
8. God is our first love; He challenge our first love for Him. we have the potential of losing the crazy feeling of passion for Him
9. how to maintain the crazy love for Him: give your love to Jesus first place; commit to Him on every level; stir up zeal; repent quickly when spirit convicts you
10.have we asked the right questions? not what is truth but who is truth.
11. what people are gonna to touch when they touch you?
12. all you need is Jesus but am i really live daily in this belief in my heart?
13. count each of God's blessing
14. delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart- His desire for you
15. we are still in the midst of church history; the history has started from creation and it will end with revelation.
16. church concept started from the heart of God. Israel is considered to be *church*
17. have i been too much focused on God;'s vessels than God's spirit working inside of the vessels? such as John Baptist's disciples devoted themselves so much into this teaching that they cant accept even the deity of Jesus
18.
Jesus
Dear my Jesus-my savior, my father, my best friend, my bridegroom
thank you for loving me when i am still a sinner, without your grace and unfailing love, i am just nothing but the object of God's wrath but your high majesty chooses to humble yourself and love me unconditionally.
thank you for giving me Bible, and all the revelations through my study, i finally get to have a glimpse of the riches of your love. history keeps repeating itself, we repeat to sin against you but you have never changed your mind to love us. thank you...thank you for everything. bible is the most romantic story i have ever experienced in my life.
Jesus, when i claim that you are everything i need,please help me to live truely and based on this truth-you are everything i need. the world will fade away but only You will everlast. you are my God, Yaweh. i want to forever worship you and fully surrender myself to you. you love me therfore i love you. all i want in this world is You so please hold my hand tight and never allow me to drift away from you. i pray that you will strictly discipline me when i slip away from your righteous path.
i love you ..therefore i surrender all myself to you. thou will be done, your name be forever glorified.
thank you for loving me when i am still a sinner, without your grace and unfailing love, i am just nothing but the object of God's wrath but your high majesty chooses to humble yourself and love me unconditionally.
thank you for giving me Bible, and all the revelations through my study, i finally get to have a glimpse of the riches of your love. history keeps repeating itself, we repeat to sin against you but you have never changed your mind to love us. thank you...thank you for everything. bible is the most romantic story i have ever experienced in my life.
Jesus, when i claim that you are everything i need,please help me to live truely and based on this truth-you are everything i need. the world will fade away but only You will everlast. you are my God, Yaweh. i want to forever worship you and fully surrender myself to you. you love me therfore i love you. all i want in this world is You so please hold my hand tight and never allow me to drift away from you. i pray that you will strictly discipline me when i slip away from your righteous path.
i love you ..therefore i surrender all myself to you. thou will be done, your name be forever glorified.
2010年8月1日 星期日
2010年7月20日 星期二
white flag by andy stanley
the story of Jonab
1. how often do we flee away from God? dont we always choose to do the strangest things to run away from God? ( in order to run away from God, Jonab choosed to travel to spain, where was pretty much the furthest place in planet in ancient time)
2. we always only call out to God when we are in despair (Jonab called out to God when he waas in the stomache of the big fish and God answered his distress call)
3.why did Jonab run away from God's call
Jonab perhaps knew more much about God's character *slow to anger, abounding in love *
maybe he had submitted himself to the will of God but not the purpose of God to the world. being a good Christian, we may become judgemental and forget that we need equal amount of grace from God each single day.the danger of becoming a good christian, moral person, we gradually become so self-absorb that religion becomes all about us. become like Jonab-the obstacle of God's grace
=> sumbit to God to become the extention of God's compassion, love and grace
God wants everyone to be inside to experience His love and grace
personal applications:
1. bring self-righteous to the cross as the righteous is from our faith in christ
2.without God's grace we are only the object of His wrath. maybe there is not such a thing of one person is better than another??? it is God's role to judge others, why will i intend to play in God;s role?
3. with God's grace, we become the extention of His love, compassion and grace
4. love can melt down the heart of stones, God works through us
1. how often do we flee away from God? dont we always choose to do the strangest things to run away from God? ( in order to run away from God, Jonab choosed to travel to spain, where was pretty much the furthest place in planet in ancient time)
2. we always only call out to God when we are in despair (Jonab called out to God when he waas in the stomache of the big fish and God answered his distress call)
3.why did Jonab run away from God's call
Jonab perhaps knew more much about God's character *slow to anger, abounding in love *
maybe he had submitted himself to the will of God but not the purpose of God to the world. being a good Christian, we may become judgemental and forget that we need equal amount of grace from God each single day.the danger of becoming a good christian, moral person, we gradually become so self-absorb that religion becomes all about us. become like Jonab-the obstacle of God's grace
=> sumbit to God to become the extention of God's compassion, love and grace
God wants everyone to be inside to experience His love and grace
personal applications:
1. bring self-righteous to the cross as the righteous is from our faith in christ
2.without God's grace we are only the object of His wrath. maybe there is not such a thing of one person is better than another??? it is God's role to judge others, why will i intend to play in God;s role?
3. with God's grace, we become the extention of His love, compassion and grace
4. love can melt down the heart of stones, God works through us
2010年7月19日 星期一
the book of esther
Esther saved the Jews. Her life teaches us these vital lessons
1. There is a preparation time.
She allowed herself to be prepared for the task. God's preparation time can sometimes be long and uneventful. Moses spent 40 years in the desert looking after sheep before coming to deliver the Israelites. The refining of our characters is very essential to God's plan for our life. God cannot use a proud woman (or man).
2. We need the favour of God.
Esther found favour with the King and so did Mordecai. Even Jesus grew in favour with God and man (Luke 2:52). When you live a life pleasing to God, by obeying His will you will find favour with Him. God will also give you favour with people.
3. God works in His own time and season.
Esther also got her timing right. Maybe God has put it on your heart to do something for Him. Don't just jump into it but wait for his time. Joseph was in jail until it was God's time for him to be released. God will move in His time when we remain faithful and alert to His leading.
4. Your background does not hinder your future with God.
Esther was an orphan. God still exalted her and used her. Some of Jesus' disciples were fishermen, tax collectors and one was a doctor. Your background does not determine what God can do with you. Your faith does.
1. There is a preparation time.
She allowed herself to be prepared for the task. God's preparation time can sometimes be long and uneventful. Moses spent 40 years in the desert looking after sheep before coming to deliver the Israelites. The refining of our characters is very essential to God's plan for our life. God cannot use a proud woman (or man).
2. We need the favour of God.
Esther found favour with the King and so did Mordecai. Even Jesus grew in favour with God and man (Luke 2:52). When you live a life pleasing to God, by obeying His will you will find favour with Him. God will also give you favour with people.
3. God works in His own time and season.
Esther also got her timing right. Maybe God has put it on your heart to do something for Him. Don't just jump into it but wait for his time. Joseph was in jail until it was God's time for him to be released. God will move in His time when we remain faithful and alert to His leading.
4. Your background does not hinder your future with God.
Esther was an orphan. God still exalted her and used her. Some of Jesus' disciples were fishermen, tax collectors and one was a doctor. Your background does not determine what God can do with you. Your faith does.
2010年7月16日 星期五
andy stanley leadership
Andy Stanley is the Pastor at North Point Community Church in Atlanta, GA. He often speaks on leadership and has a passion to prepare the next generations of leaders. Here are his 5 concepts for next generation leaders:
1. Competence
Leaders must channel their energies toward those arenas of leadership in which they are most likely to excel.
2. CourageThe leader of an enterprise isn't always the smartest or most creative person on the team. He isn't necessarily the first to identify an opportunity. the leader is the one who has the courage to initiate, to set things in motion, to move ahead.
3. ClarityUncertain times require clear directives from those in leadership. Yet the temptation for young leaders is to allow uncertainty to leave them paralyzed. A next generation leader must learn to be clear even when he is not certain.
4. Coaching
You may be good. You may even be better than everyone esle. But without a coach you will never be as good as you could be.
5. CharacterYou can lead without character, but you won't be a leader worth following. Character provides next generation leaders with the moral authority necessary to bring together the people and resources needed to further and enterprise.
1. Competence
Leaders must channel their energies toward those arenas of leadership in which they are most likely to excel.
2. CourageThe leader of an enterprise isn't always the smartest or most creative person on the team. He isn't necessarily the first to identify an opportunity. the leader is the one who has the courage to initiate, to set things in motion, to move ahead.
3. ClarityUncertain times require clear directives from those in leadership. Yet the temptation for young leaders is to allow uncertainty to leave them paralyzed. A next generation leader must learn to be clear even when he is not certain.
4. Coaching
You may be good. You may even be better than everyone esle. But without a coach you will never be as good as you could be.
5. CharacterYou can lead without character, but you won't be a leader worth following. Character provides next generation leaders with the moral authority necessary to bring together the people and resources needed to further and enterprise.
2010年7月14日 星期三
dealing with temptation-andy stanley
1. temptation has something to do with our confidence in God
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (matthew3:16)
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]"-jesus realized behind the temptation was nothing to do with his hunger neither self-control , but if he trust God in providing our daily needs.
(2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.;11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. ) 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[b]"
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[b]"
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[c]"- force God to be our servant , bail us out from all defile decisions; the difference between faith and presumption. faith is to respond the promises of God. we are to cooperate with God, not to manipulate with God.
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]"
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
2. God loves Jesus->Holy spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by devil
3. temptation usually fall into 3 categories: use God to use our own needs;to cut the short cut to do right things;
4.if Jesus had failed into the temptations , He would have never been able to pay for our sin and free us frm the power of sin. behind the temptations lots of other states of others' and future states are also invovled
5.sins break our confidence in God and our relationships with God. we leave church mainly because we *behave* to leave God instead of *think*to leave God
6. Jesus was tempted to do thing on his own
the result of being a Mormon
44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John8:44
1. a)God has selected me to be His witness
10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me. (isaiah43:10)
b). false witness-not honest to God
a). his works are perfect
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.(deuteronomy32:4)
b.)His ways is perfect
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
Look in the scroll of the LORD and read:
None of these will be missing,
not one will lack her mate.
For it is his mouth that has given the order,
and his Spirit will gather them together.(isaiah34:16)
10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?(ACTS13:10)
3. God's commandments
2 a). Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.
b).2 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
c).4 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
4.God's rebuke
a)6 Do not add to his words,
b). You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John8:44
are you the child of devil?
10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
he was a murderer from the beginning, not by the sword, not by shedding the blood
His speech is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.
10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me. (isaiah43:10)
b). false witness-not honest to God
Do not call conspiracy
2. the word of the LORD is flawless. a). his works are perfect
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.(deuteronomy32:4)
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
Look in the scroll of the LORD and read:
None of these will be missing,
not one will lack her mate.
For it is his mouth that has given the order,
and his Spirit will gather them together.(isaiah34:16)
10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?(ACTS13:10)
3. God's commandments
2 a). Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.
b).2 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
c).4 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
4.God's rebuke
a)6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
b). You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John8:44
are you the child of devil?
10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
he was a murderer from the beginning, not by the sword, not by shedding the blood
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.
5. how does the Satan lie?
2010年7月12日 星期一
learn from affliction from derek prince
Learning from Affliction
Here is a word for you from the Word.
Psalm 119:67,72,75
This is Derek Prince with a word for you from the Word.
It’s a word about affliction and the purpose of affliction and why affliction comes in our lives and how we should respond to affliction. After all, there’s nobody who won’t encounter affliction at some time or another in his life. Listen to what the psalmist says about affliction and what he learned from it:
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. NIV
You see, the psalmist didn’t view affliction as a disaster. He saw it as a kind of corrective medicine. It was something that he needed to adjust his life. He says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray and I paid for it, but now,” he said, “I obey Your word. I’ve learned my lesson. It pays to obey.”
And then he says at the end, “O LORD... in faithfulness you have afflicted me.” You didn’t do it because You were cruel or because You were angry with me. You did it to straighten me out, to bring me back from my own evil way into Your way, to find the way of peace.
Are you in the midst of affliction? Don’t fight. Don’t argue with God. Ask Him the reason. God is afflicting you in His faithfulness. He has a reason. He’s trying to turn you back from something, to bring you out of the wrong and bring you into the right - a life of obedience to His statutes. - Derek Prince
Here is a word for you from the Word.
Psalm 119:67,72,75
This is Derek Prince with a word for you from the Word.
It’s a word about affliction and the purpose of affliction and why affliction comes in our lives and how we should respond to affliction. After all, there’s nobody who won’t encounter affliction at some time or another in his life. Listen to what the psalmist says about affliction and what he learned from it:
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. NIV
You see, the psalmist didn’t view affliction as a disaster. He saw it as a kind of corrective medicine. It was something that he needed to adjust his life. He says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray and I paid for it, but now,” he said, “I obey Your word. I’ve learned my lesson. It pays to obey.”
And then he says at the end, “O LORD... in faithfulness you have afflicted me.” You didn’t do it because You were cruel or because You were angry with me. You did it to straighten me out, to bring me back from my own evil way into Your way, to find the way of peace.
Are you in the midst of affliction? Don’t fight. Don’t argue with God. Ask Him the reason. God is afflicting you in His faithfulness. He has a reason. He’s trying to turn you back from something, to bring you out of the wrong and bring you into the right - a life of obedience to His statutes. - Derek Prince
in my weakness----found in internet
His strength in my weakness
"He said to me,
"'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'
"Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Our weakness
"For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you." 2 Corinthians 13:4
"Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26
"... we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God..." 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
"...not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'" 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
"I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
His strength in us
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca [weeping],
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion." Psalm 84:5-7
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
"As your days, so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25
"Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills." Habakkuk 3:17-19
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever." Philippians 4:19-20
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3
"The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Therefore we honor God, not ourselves
"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:1-3
"... we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
The victory is God's, not ours
"...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
"He said to me,
"'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'
"Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Our weakness
"For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you." 2 Corinthians 13:4
"Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26
"... we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God..." 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
"...not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'" 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
"I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
His strength in us
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca [weeping],
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion." Psalm 84:5-7
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
"As your days, so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25
"Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills." Habakkuk 3:17-19
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever." Philippians 4:19-20
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3
"The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Therefore we honor God, not ourselves
"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:1-3
"... we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
The victory is God's, not ours
"...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
hillsong conference review
1. the words came out of my mouth was destructive other than constructive. i have spoken more than i shall say, complain about my work other than appreciating the previlige to e invovled in Kingdom's work.
there are thousands of people who traveled a long way to attend hillsong conference with an appreciating heart while God was so kind to me to invovle me in it, why did i complain about how tiring the job was? why did not i simply praise the Lord for His amazing work and revelations He has granted me in conference?
Solution: i am not working for hillsong ut for God's kingdom. i am a living sacrifice so i shall not live for myself, care about what i feel but it is all about His glory and His kingdom. it is never about me but all about Him.
For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you." 2 Corinthians 13:4
2.T.D Jackes' preaching:
1) the book of Ruth and hebrew: sometimes in hardships we have allowed our self-pitty blind us from what we still have left over, which is Jesus. He is everything we need and everything we have in this life. He is more than enough.
2)
there are thousands of people who traveled a long way to attend hillsong conference with an appreciating heart while God was so kind to me to invovle me in it, why did i complain about how tiring the job was? why did not i simply praise the Lord for His amazing work and revelations He has granted me in conference?
Solution: i am not working for hillsong ut for God's kingdom. i am a living sacrifice so i shall not live for myself, care about what i feel but it is all about His glory and His kingdom. it is never about me but all about Him.
For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you." 2 Corinthians 13:4
2.T.D Jackes' preaching:
1) the book of Ruth and hebrew: sometimes in hardships we have allowed our self-pitty blind us from what we still have left over, which is Jesus. He is everything we need and everything we have in this life. He is more than enough.
2)
2010年7月2日 星期五
note for the book of Daniel
1.the background of the book of daniel
to Babylon
606 daniel-first deportation (youth)
597 ezekiel-second deportation (10.000)
586 rest - third deportation(the city and temple were destroyed)
return from babylon
536 ezrubbabel -babylon fall to persia (539), cyrus allowed return
458 ezra -temple rebuilt (516) ; esther in susa
445 nehemiah -city walls rebuilt
2.
to Babylon
606 daniel-first deportation (youth)
597 ezekiel-second deportation (10.000)
586 rest - third deportation(the city and temple were destroyed)
return from babylon
536 ezrubbabel -babylon fall to persia (539), cyrus allowed return
458 ezra -temple rebuilt (516) ; esther in susa
445 nehemiah -city walls rebuilt
2.
2010年7月1日 星期四
note for Joshua
1.the risk of removing the miracles from narrative stories in bible to make the Bible more accessible for scientific age. apart from Jesus' parables, all were historical facts
2. Torah- God's promises
Joshua-Kings- promises fulfillment by obedience and curses by disobedience
3. archaeology cant prove miracles but the result of the miracles
4. bible is not the history of Israel but the history of God of Israel
5. without God's behalf intervene, it was impossible for Israel to conquer the promise land
6. the outline of the book of Joshua- sandwish(his commission which was proved by both of God and God's people; his command and his commitment before his death-loyalty of death) (Joshua's 80-120. 40 years)
Moses was a law giver as well as a leader;Joshua was only a leader
the day they crossed over the river jordan, mana stopped
read through the whole chapter other than reading out of the context
entering the land-> conquering the land->divide the land
7. prosper= to achieve what you are set out to do for the Lord
8. victory depends on the morale(courage) and morality (keep God's commandment)
9. faith is not full hearty; faith is to looks at the situation and count the cost
10. the prostitute's faith in God to save the two spies
11. the repetition of the miracles for the new generations
12. the defeat in AI was due to their self-confidence; without asking God which occured internal misunderstanding and tricked by the enemy; and disobedience (one family stole gold and clothes from jericho, which was the first fruit and commited to God)
13. lessons to learn in the book of Joshua: without Him, they could not have done them;without them ,He would not have done them.->without Him, we could not do it; without us, He would not do it.=>God's divine intervention. human's cooperation
14. immanuel: God is with us-He is on our side
15. promised land= the victory of battle, take holiday from yourself and rest , holiness
2. Torah- God's promises
Joshua-Kings- promises fulfillment by obedience and curses by disobedience
3. archaeology cant prove miracles but the result of the miracles
4. bible is not the history of Israel but the history of God of Israel
5. without God's behalf intervene, it was impossible for Israel to conquer the promise land
6. the outline of the book of Joshua- sandwish(his commission which was proved by both of God and God's people; his command and his commitment before his death-loyalty of death) (Joshua's 80-120. 40 years)
Moses was a law giver as well as a leader;Joshua was only a leader
the day they crossed over the river jordan, mana stopped
read through the whole chapter other than reading out of the context
entering the land-> conquering the land->divide the land
7. prosper= to achieve what you are set out to do for the Lord
8. victory depends on the morale(courage) and morality (keep God's commandment)
9. faith is not full hearty; faith is to looks at the situation and count the cost
10. the prostitute's faith in God to save the two spies
11. the repetition of the miracles for the new generations
12. the defeat in AI was due to their self-confidence; without asking God which occured internal misunderstanding and tricked by the enemy; and disobedience (one family stole gold and clothes from jericho, which was the first fruit and commited to God)
13. lessons to learn in the book of Joshua: without Him, they could not have done them;without them ,He would not have done them.->without Him, we could not do it; without us, He would not do it.=>God's divine intervention. human's cooperation
14. immanuel: God is with us-He is on our side
15. promised land= the victory of battle, take holiday from yourself and rest , holiness
2010年6月23日 星期三
Ecclesiastes by david pawson
Solomon's tunnel vision:wrote in his old age
only see things under the sun
only focus on this life
===>need God's perspective
our life is on God's hand=> God decrees (chapter 3 time for everything)
in God's willing........
in all Ecclesiastes, we can only find 2 chapters with optimistic views, in which God is involved. chapter 3 and chapter 11:7-12
fear of God: we hold account for our lives; how we use our resource; every single word we say is recorded(in chapter 5)
the meaning of Ecclesiastes in the bible: meaning of life from heaven's angle
Solomon's conclusion:remember God; fear God and obey His commandments
Ecclesiastes teaches us not to live a life forgetting God, not fearing Him neither obeying Him.
only see things under the sun
only focus on this life
===>need God's perspective
our life is on God's hand=> God decrees (chapter 3 time for everything)
in God's willing........
in all Ecclesiastes, we can only find 2 chapters with optimistic views, in which God is involved. chapter 3 and chapter 11:7-12
fear of God: we hold account for our lives; how we use our resource; every single word we say is recorded(in chapter 5)
the meaning of Ecclesiastes in the bible: meaning of life from heaven's angle
Solomon's conclusion:remember God; fear God and obey His commandments
Ecclesiastes teaches us not to live a life forgetting God, not fearing Him neither obeying Him.
2010年6月13日 星期日
notes for *covenent* by david pawson
1. whole bible is our creed
2. read bible->think about bible ->do something about bible
3. keyword to understand bible- covenant-5 covenants(Noaic,Abrahamic,mosaic,davic,Messianic)- only 4 concerning about us (excl Mosaic)
4. covenant:strong party make covenant with a weaker party and strong party makes all the conditions , weaker party cant bargain but only can say yes or reject
5. covenant VS contract( it would be invalid if one party breaks it; we have nothing God wants from us since everything belongs to Him so does not give us any right to make contract with Him)
6.rainbows-wedding ring to remind God to keep promise
7. Noaic covenant: unconditional covenant- expect us to respect human and animal lives; God will keep humans alive
8. the purpose of life: seek and find God
9. Abrahamic covenant: God *I will....*;national and international; He expects Faith and obey. circumcision was added; bless Jewish as it is God's promise to bless whoever bless Jewish ; the whole purpose is to give God's people who will demonstrate God's blessings and cursing to the whole world
10. Mosaic Covenant(old covenant) : national temporary covenant; promise was security; conditional covenant; if Jewish want to occupy the promise land, they must obey the commandments(ex. give land rest every 7 years) (they own the land but occupation depend on their obedient to God) ( http://www.gotquestions.org/Mosaic-covenant.html )
11. Davidic Covenant: an unconditional covenant made between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:10-13). The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of the promises made rests solely on God’s faithfulness and does not depend at all on David or Israel’s obedience.
12. Messianic Covenant(NEW Covenant) : announced by Jeremiah(what), Isaiah(WHO), Ezekiel(how); written inside so we want to incline to keep it(the heart wants to live in God's way); promise-forgiving; involve God, Jesus and holy spirit; fulfilling Noahic(humans), Abrahamic(land), Davidic (king)covenants at the same time; freedom not to......
13. Mosaic covenant -we are no longer under the law( eg. tithing, sabbath )
2010年6月12日 星期六
how small are the human creations?
how small are the human creations?
it is always one of my prayer to ask God to show me what He has seen, and see things from his angel. He took me up to the galaxy to see earth but it was in vain as the earth was nowhere to be seen , not to mention human creation. what kind of love is it to love someone who can hardly bee seen and even send His one and begotten son to die on the cross so we can live a fulfilled life with Him again? He does not need us at all but He loves us so much that He is willing to give up everything He has for us so human creations can be restored to fellowship with Him again. His love is deep, which far beyond our imagination. His love is so detailed, He even looks after every person's individual needs.
image how massive and enormous is the galaxy? we are even much smaller than dust comparing to galaxy. it is God's perspective? He is out of time , He see things from eternal perspective other than temporary perspective. maybe sometimes we would complain to God for not answering our prayers but maybe it is only because He loves us so much that He would rather choose to do what is good for us eternally. He is God, who loves us so much and gave his one and only son for us so we can enjoy fellowshipping with Him again.
random thought
Maybe life would look totally different if we see it from eternal perspective other than just focusing on this life. Maybe we can never get all the answers from God right now but as long as we have fixed our gaze in eternal life and have faith on Him, we will surely know that He is in full control of His redemption plan.
when Hagai fled from Sarai bearing Ishmael, God still blessed her even knowing that Ishmael will be the ancestor of Muslim, whose hand against his own brother. i have been thinking why God allow this to happen even knowing Ishmael's descendants will worship false gods. why did Gd allow his disciples to be executed and put into death for his name sake? maybe we are meant to rationalize the reasons as we can never see things through from His perspective. but if we can switch our perspective and see things from eternal life perspective, maybe we will realize it is not so important what happen to this life but what we are doing in this life is the preparation for our eternality. Maybe like what Catrina has said in old testament class that sometimes it is better and show humility to say * I don’t know* as we are not meant to know everything anyway.
Fire of suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, character hope, hope will never disappoint us. when we are complaining about why God bless wicked people and allow righteous people to suffer, we might be able to understand it better if we see it from eternal life. Wicked people might look prosperous this life but in next life they would end up in eternal fire. Righteous people may suffer in this life but in next life they will be rewarded with eternal glory. We are not home yet !!!
Why would I ever need to worry about what to eat, what to dress, where to live tomorrow? While comparing to eternal life, this passing life is rather short. Maybe the whole purpose of life is to glorify His name, prepare myself for the coming eternal life. I am prosperous and my cup is overflowing His blessing as He has given me the glimpse of eternality.
when Hagai fled from Sarai bearing Ishmael, God still blessed her even knowing that Ishmael will be the ancestor of Muslim, whose hand against his own brother. i have been thinking why God allow this to happen even knowing Ishmael's descendants will worship false gods. why did Gd allow his disciples to be executed and put into death for his name sake? maybe we are meant to rationalize the reasons as we can never see things through from His perspective. but if we can switch our perspective and see things from eternal life perspective, maybe we will realize it is not so important what happen to this life but what we are doing in this life is the preparation for our eternality. Maybe like what Catrina has said in old testament class that sometimes it is better and show humility to say * I don’t know* as we are not meant to know everything anyway.
Fire of suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, character hope, hope will never disappoint us. when we are complaining about why God bless wicked people and allow righteous people to suffer, we might be able to understand it better if we see it from eternal life. Wicked people might look prosperous this life but in next life they would end up in eternal fire. Righteous people may suffer in this life but in next life they will be rewarded with eternal glory. We are not home yet !!!
Why would I ever need to worry about what to eat, what to dress, where to live tomorrow? While comparing to eternal life, this passing life is rather short. Maybe the whole purpose of life is to glorify His name, prepare myself for the coming eternal life. I am prosperous and my cup is overflowing His blessing as He has given me the glimpse of eternality.
2010年6月8日 星期二
college notebook part 1
> 2010/02/02 - 3:00pm
> Mat 12:34-35
>
> Your face, posture, tone etc will give away more than the words.
>
> 3 area's of interpersonal communication.
>
> God is a renovator
>
> The choice (who we listen to)
> The challenge (self disclosure)
> The change
>
> Ultimately you're listening to God or the enemy.
>
> Gen 3:1-3 "did God really say?"
>
> Sin only leads to death, it can't lead anywhere else, God said so and hasn't changed.
>
> Not qualified to judge ourselves.
>
> Hiding naked and afraid when we sin.
>
> Why would we listen to Satan?
>
> Self-centredness
> When we sin we hurt ourselves.
>
> Self-protection
> When we hurt ourselves we defend ourselves.. If anyone tries to save their own life, they will lose it. If you surrender it to God you are more protected than anything. You don't have to stay hurt. The spirit is gentle and won't force it's way through your protective barriers.
>
> Self-justification
> When we defend ourselves we justify ourselves by attacking others. "If you were there you would know, you would do the same", "if you knew what they said". Tearing others down, maligns others. "If they weren't such an idiot"
>
> Self-deception
> When we justify ourselves we deceive ourselves. They don't that they don't know. Unconscious incompetance thinking they are competant.
>
> The enemy can't hurt God but he can have a go at us.
>
> Self deception results in:
> Hiding - we hide and inhibit intimacy
> Copying - inhibit creativity
> Pretending
> Lying
>
> 2. How do we listen to God?
> Submission - when we listen and obey, we live.
> Forgiveness - when we turn to God we are forgiven, if you have unforgiveness you won't be able to hear God clearly. Forgiveness allows your ears to be clean your heart to be undivided.
> Grace - when we are forgiven we forgive. You're able to do what you do because of grace. You are able to live life.
> Freedom - when we forgive we are free
>
> People go through massive trauma's and they don't want to be free, it can be scary and unfamiliar and requires a transformation from slave to worshipper/warrior.
>
> Freedom results in:
> Intimacy - free to be close
> Creativity - to be different
> Authenticity - to be ourselves
> Honesty - to speak the truth
>
> B. The Challenge - self disclosure
> Your testimony should have more about Jesus than the enemy.
>
> It takes a really wise person to look in the mirror and see what's really there. The bible is our mirror. Sometimes it can feel like that massive magnifier in a hotel room. Sometimes the image is distorted because of past life experiences etc.
> Intrapersonal, let's pull it apart and let God rebuild it.
>
> The necessity for correct self-discolsure.
>
> You are His body, make it a good body so He can walk tall.
>
> Self-knowledge is necessary for ministry
> Self-disclosure is necessary for intimacy
> Self-denial is necessary for oratory
>
> You can only give to God what you own up to.
>
> Maybe it was their fault but now I will take responsibility for it.
>
> Christ was a successful communicator is because he confidently says "I am..."
>
> And then be able to lay it down when you need to.
>
> Write down five "I am" statements about yourself.
>
> I am friendly
> I am patient
> I am creative
> I am compassionate
> I a
>
>
> 2010/02/02 - 1:45pm
> Father, Son & Holy Spirit
>
> Our Father the communicator
>
> By His Son - Heb 1:1-3, Jn 1:14
> By His Word - Gen 1:3, Jn 1:1
> By His Works - Ps 19:1-4
> By His Spirit - Jn 14:16-17
>
> Jesus - God's message
> Showed us God - Jn 10:30
> Showed us the Word - Jn 1:14
> Showed us how to communicate with the Father - Lk 5:16, 11:1-13
> Communicated whatever the Father told him - Jn 12:49-50
>
> Theology demands application, it's not like other 'ologies, you can't have knowledge of God and not act it out.
>
> Hearing and doing.
>
> Holy spirit helps us to bring to memory what has been said by God.
>
> Things learnt by doing rather than cramming stay with us. So, the Word, *through use* we learn it.
>
> Holy Spirit - God's Voice
> Testifies about Jesus - Jn 15:26
> Teaches us all things - Jn 14:26
> Reminds us of what Jesus said - Jn 14:26
> Guides us in all truth - Jn 16:13
> Speaks only what he hears - Jn 16:13
> Reveals what God has prepared for us - 1 cor 2:9-10
>
> Will only tell you things that will glorify Christ
>
> Spirit of God is Emmanuel, God with us.
>
> Spirit doesn't nag, it prompts, reminds, prompts etc.
>
> When you start to doubt and think "did God really say" check with the spirit.
>
> God is not holding back on the plan, he is a communicator.
>
> God said it, it is. You can trust it. Analogy of a man made chair.
>
> He has prepared good works for you, to champion you.
>
> My doubt and insecurities will only hinder me, not the rest of the world.
>
> ---
>
> Intrapersonal Communication - (intra meaning within itself)
>
> More tuned to hear our own name than anything else.
>
> How to communicate within yourself.
>
> Within the individual self or mind.
>
> Intrapersonal communication determines our success at other forms of communication.
>
> Eg self awareness, processing, thought life, self talk, self image.
>
> Old testament 'heart' is about thinking not emotional life, it's the essence of who you are and what you think.
>
> Intrapersonal communication skills can impact on our communication with God
>
> Think about it, how it impacts your communication.
>
> If you understand who you are
>
> Communication involves inner communication.
>
> Write down 3 things negative you regularly say to yourself
> I don't understand how to do that
> Do they like me?
>
> Write down 3 positive things you regularly say to yourself
> Patient/calm
> Attractive
> Grateful
>
>
> Being a bit predictable means we can understand each other a little bit better. To do real life together.
>
> The gift and call is irrevocable
>
> Matthew 12:34-35
>
> 2010/02/02 - 11:00am
> For a nation to be wiped out, the language had to be wiped out
>
> Language-
>
> Language as a weapon
> Prov 18:21
> Esther 1:22
>
> Establishes kingdoms/cultures
> Dan 1:3-4, Isa 59:21
>
> Destroys kingdoms
> Neh 13:23-24
>
> Scatters people
> Gen 11:6-7
>
> Transmits a message
> Acts 2
>
> Revives a people eg Israel
>
> Father, Son, Holy Spirit - what language does God speak? Your language, a language of praise, life, worship, creation.
>
> 2010/02/02 - 9:45am
> Gen 11:6-7 (NIV)
>
> If people do something with one language their plans will not fail.
>
> Difference between management and leadership is communication.
>
> The art of communication is the language of leadership.
>
> Communicate effectively.
>
> Not even two way communication it's multi-dimensional.
>
> Interpreting communication cues.
>
> No matter no backed into a corner if you can communicate clearly you can still build relationships, lead people, etc.
>
> Why communicate?
> 9 reasons.
> God formed the world using communication.
>
> God communications through special revelation (God's Word) and general revelation (eg. creation, a tree)
>
> Because of the incarnation Jn 1:1 and 14
>
> Because of the life of Christ - Jn 12:49-50
>
> It's how we survive (physically, emotionally, spirituality, practically etc)
>
> It's our mandate - message of reconciliation
>
> It's how we transmit information
>
> It's how we lead/influence effectively
>
> It's how we build and grow relationships Eph 4:29
>
> -
>
> Communicating one message Jesus is Lord.
>
> We choose daily to bridle our words and let only life come out.
>
> You can't do life on your own, you and Jesus on an island. You can't do life in isolation.
>
> Comes from latin "communicare" meaning to share. From the root word "communis" meaning "common"
>
> Greek "Koinonia" translated in Phil 6 meaning 'to share'
>
> Less is more. What is the bottom line. What are you really saying. Sum it up.
>
> Messages distorted by external, physiological and psychological noise
>
> Eg what do you think of with the word, "used car salesmen", "brain surgeon".
> Or the word 'trunk' four different meanings.
>
> It is impossible not to communicate.
>
> We communicate intentionally and unintentionally.
>
> Communication is;
>
> Irreversible
> Unrepeatable, entirely unique, it means it matters to get it right first time.
>
> What's most important is what they heard (what they think you said) not what you meant to say.
>
> Think before you speak. Learn to process before you speak as well.
>
> Words have the power to:
> Many good and bad things.
>
> Pre-redemption my words were destructive.
>
> When you've experienced something at it's worst you're more inclined to be using God's redemptive power in that area.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/02 - 4:15pm Communication Ministry
>
> 2010/02/02 - 4:15pm
> Communicating with God can be that simple:
> Relax, listen, respond
>
> Communicating on behalf of God, you don't have to change while prophesying, you're the same, don't change accents. God doesn't speak in king james. The people at that time needed it in their own language.
>
> Speaking through you using your voice in a way *they* understand.
>
> Goals of correct self disclosure:
> 1 Jn 1:5-7
> Reconciliation - Illumination leads to reconciliation
> Repentance - light exposes our sinful nature
> Revelation - light reveals who we are in Christ
>
> Once you know you, you won't hesitate to show others. Doesn't have to be all your stuff on a clothesline type style.
>
> We are all of equal value.
>
> Principals of self-disclosure
> The Depth of Self-Disclosure
> related to the depth/nature of the relationship
>
> The Difficulties of self-disclosure
> Depends on the nature of the emotion and the audience
>
> The dynamics of self disclosure
> Dynamics of our disclosure depends on the nature of the information known.
>
> Secrets are not cool, they are deceptive.
> Don't say "promise me you won't tell anyone". Secrets are about hiding. Controlling the level of detail shared etc is wisdom.
>
> Activity in self disclosure
> 2 statements.
>
> I often envy... People with many friends or in a relationship.
>
> One thing I really like about myself is... My looks and my heart for people.
>
> I dislike it when.. People are dishonest.
>
> Just mention the elephant. "This is awkward"
>
> Imagine whose dreams you're going to help fulfill.
>
> C. The Change - heart, mind and speech.
> Joshua 1:8
>
> Meditate on the words. Talk to yourself.
>
> Verses. Chew on it, swallow it, regurgitate, like a cow.
>
> Don't just chant the verse, amplify it. Don't just repeat the adjectives thing about what those things are things.
>
> Emphasizes different words in the verse.
>
> 1. A change of heart
> Prov 4:23 - guard your heart (ability to think etc)
>
> Mark 7:20-21
>
> 2. A Change of mind.
> Rom 12:1-2 - offering your body as a living sacrifice. Paul had to get on the altar daily.. For us could be multiple times per day.
>
> Be transformed by your intrapersonal relationship skills (renewing of your mind).
>
> You can't offer what you don't understand.
>
> 3. A change of speech
> Lamentations 3:24
> Ps 42:5-6
>
> - Personality & Temperament
> Knowing it helps:
> Self awareness, acceptance, development. Understanding and accepting others.
>
> Studying temperament is not for making excuses, diagnosing/boxing people, judgment, stereotyping.
>
> There's a way to be honest that brings life, that brings solution.. You don't have to be negative.
>
> You're negative by choice (melancholy by nature if that is your type).
>
> Hippocrates 470-377 BC categorized people:
>
> Sanguine - lively
> Choleric - active
> Melancholy - black, creative geniuses, analytical, bent on the edge, profound thinkers, can argue in and out of any situation.
> Phlegmatic - slow, "no worries", it's happened, can't change it.
>
> If you can understand yourself and others God can use you. Allow God to bring life to your temperament.
>
> 2010/02/02 - 3:00pm
> Mat 12:34-35
>
> Your face, posture, tone etc will give away more than the words.
>
> 3 area's of interpersonal communication.
>
> God is a renovator
>
> The choice (who we listen to)
> The challenge (self disclosure)
> The change
>
> Ultimately you're listening to God or the enemy.
>
> Gen 3:1-3 "did God really say?"
>
> Sin only leads to death, it can't lead anywhere else, God said so and hasn't changed.
>
> Not qualified to judge ourselves.
>
> Hiding naked and afraid when we sin.
>
> Why would we listen to Satan?
>
> Self-centredness
> When we sin we hurt ourselves.
>
> Self-protection
> When we hurt ourselves we defend ourselves.. If anyone tries to save their own life, they will lose it. If you surrender it to God you are more protected than anything. You don't have to stay hurt. The spirit is gentle and won't force it's way through your protective barriers.
>
> Self-justification
> When we defend ourselves we justify ourselves by attacking others. "If you were there you would know, you would do the same", "if you knew what they said". Tearing others down, maligns others. "If they weren't such an idiot"
>
> Self-deception
> When we justify ourselves we deceive ourselves. They don't that they don't know. Unconscious incompetance thinking they are competant.
>
> The enemy can't hurt God but he can have a go at us.
>
> Self deception results in:
> Hiding - we hide and inhibit intimacy
> Copying - inhibit creativity
> Pretending
> Lying
>
> 2. How do we listen to God?
> Submission - when we listen and obey, we live.
> Forgiveness - when we turn to God we are forgiven, if you have unforgiveness you won't be able to hear God clearly. Forgiveness allows your ears to be clean your heart to be undivided.
> Grace - when we are forgiven we forgive. You're able to do what you do because of grace. You are able to live life.
> Freedom - when we forgive we are free
>
> People go through massive trauma's and they don't want to be free, it can be scary and unfamiliar and requires a transformation from slave to worshipper/warrior.
>
> Freedom results in:
> Intimacy - free to be close
> Creativity - to be different
> Authenticity - to be ourselves
> Honesty - to speak the truth
>
> B. The Challenge - self disclosure
> Your testimony should have more about Jesus than the enemy.
>
> It takes a really wise person to look in the mirror and see what's really there. The bible is our mirror. Sometimes it can feel like that massive magnifier in a hotel room. Sometimes the image is distorted because of past life experiences etc.
> Intrapersonal, let's pull it apart and let God rebuild it.
>
> The necessity for correct self-discolsure.
>
> You are His body, make it a good body so He can walk tall.
>
> Self-knowledge is necessary for ministry
> Self-disclosure is necessary for intimacy
> Self-denial is necessary for oratory
>
> You can only give to God what you own up to.
>
> Maybe it was their fault but now I will take responsibility for it.
>
> Christ was a successful communicator is because he confidently says "I am..."
>
> And then be able to lay it down when you need to.
>
> Write down five "I am" statements about yourself.
>
> I am friendly
> I am patient
> I am creative
> I am compassionate
> I am sacrificial
>
> Without communication how will you write songs, sermons etc
>
> We are in it for His glory, not our glory or for money.
>
> If you can't communicate they will remain blind. Articulate truth clearly, authentic.
>
> Catrina prays as much about the altar call as the sermon.
>
> You don't want to be trying to prove anything to anyone when you do these things eg sermon, lead worship etc.
>
> Mindset shift from wanting people saying to you "I wish I could be like you" to... "That makes me (someone else) believe I can do that"
>
> You're either called or your not, if you make a mistake it's ok.
>
> Love people just a little bit than you are afraid and you'll be ok.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/04 - 10:30am Communication in Ministry
>
> Three ways of relating
>
> 1. Non assertive
> 2. Aggressive
> 3. Assertive
>
> We need Assertive skills.
>
> Each person has a particular style but only one of these can help, the others will tear down.
>
> Eph 4:25 - speak truthfully, don't use manipulation.
>
> Col 3:9-13
>
> Assert - declare strongly, insist upon
>
> Aggressive - unprovoked attacking hostile manner
>
> Passive - what we say and mean can be different, or say different to what we feel.
>
> Passive is lose - lose
> You don't communicate what you want and lose for them because you're lying to them. You hide feelings and thoughts. It's superficial.
>
> Self limiting beliefs can cause non-assertive. I.e. Insecurity, inferiority, comparing, low self-esteem, envy.
>
> Or things like attractive people are better looking than other people... It's got nothing to do with the outside.
>
> Your confidence comes from who you know you are in Christ, not external stuff like clothes and money.
>
> You're not competing against anyone.
>
> Payoffs
> Apparent Rewards avoid conflict, keep the peace, things fester under the surface. To be liked (on the inside you're convinced that people don't like you). To avoid blame and responsibility because you didn't make a choice. Constant undermining of self.
>
> Harsh inner critic
>
> Non-assertive characteristics:
> Gunny-sacking (contains ammunition), how full is my gunny-sack?
>
> There is a physical consequence to the baggage we carry around
>
> Puts self last
>
> Lack confidence
>
> Low self esteem
>
> Lack self respect
>
> Speaks for no one
>
> - Agressive
> Win - Lose
> Relating:
> Verbal "you should know better" "you never listen" "you make me feel so angry" "you always make"
> There's a never and an always and a you.
>
> Non-verbal, no response, silent treatment.
>
> Passive behaviour, intentional that has a message. Very vicious, feeds on itself.
>
>
> Eph 4:2-3
>
> Aggressive makes the other feel bad.
>
> -Assertive
> Win - win
> Rom 12:1
>
> Expresses thoughts, feelings, wants, don't wants. Full awareness of them.
>
> Respect for the other and yourself.
>
> Expresses in an honest way, builds self esteem and real self, stand without anxiety. Builds strong marriages.
>
> Know who you are in Christ, God's love covers all *BUT* you must speak in truth or it won't cover it.
>
> Friendship is about disclosure, communicating.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/04 - 2:00pm Communication Robert Ferguson
>
> - Speaking
> Verbal
> Non-verbal
> Public speaking
>
> No phones
> No sleeping
> Front row mentality
> This class and college isn't about you it's about the people you will influence.
> Make a decision that you need to hear this.
> Your life and others are depending on you to listen.
>
> The expectation of leadership
>
> Communication
>
> Start with the general and move to the specific.
>
> When there is a lack of communication there is a miscommunication
>
> L block exercise
>
> Sender, reciever, noise, encoding, decoding into minds
>
> To clarify we have feedback
>
> Noise is anything that prevents communication, eg distraction.
>
> Moving away from the distraction while on stage.
>
> Essential ingrediants
> Sender - principle: focus on what is heard, not sent. Concerned with that they are hearing. Problems we are selfish and blame shift, misinterpretation.
>
> Prov 13:17 (living)
>
> Encoding, translation
> The message itself, coded (words, pictures etc) - principal, must learn two 'languages'. Problem: a gulf seperates sender and reciever. Different cultures, generations etc.
> Listened to talk back radio for 6 months to learn the culture. Change your interests and passions
>
> Decoding, interpreted (pre-judgment can occur, decoded inappropriately and not listening) connotations - what you think the word means. Eg decode the word "father", "policeman"
>
> The message
> Non-verbal communication carries more weight than we think. Truth must include love.
>
> Verbal 7%
> Vocal 38%
> Visual 55%
>
> Decoding - principal, the decoder is faulty. Problems: we read through our past hurt, circumstances, prejudice, connotation, rejection, preception. Misread, misjudged.
>
> Hurt, protected, justified himself, aggressive to other people.
>
> Self protective hand on heart blocking. Other hand in a fist.
> Solution, go to God as a human ask to be forgiven, changed.
>
> Stop the blame shifting
>
> Remove the barriers
>
> Arms open wide. Vulnerable and where there is intimacy is the possibility for hurt.
>
> The reciever, principal, more to listening than hearing. Problem: It takes effort to listen. Inappropriate mindset, internal distraction, self centredness "that's nothing, I..."
>
> Jesus knows you best and loves you most.
>
> Noise - noise is more than noise.
> Most senders are unware, flawed sender, clouded message, distracted reciever.
>
> Feedback - essential for accuracy
> Problem: much of our communication is one-way. Lack of ability, lack of opportunity, lack of honesty.
>
> Each has principals and problems associated with it
>
> Have to establish what these words mean.. Eg add adjectives "Good father"
>
> Difference between sight and vision is perception.
>
> ---
> -- Verbal Communication
> The Power of the Word
> Jer 1:9-10
>
> 1 pet 4:11 - speak as though speaking the very words of God
>
> The power to change
> Mat 12:34 - describes the position of our heart.
>
> Robert had filthy language.
>
> If you're saying the wrong things you need a heart change.
>
> Rom 10:9 the tongue decides the condition of our soul.
>
> Blood shed but not applied doesn't work.
> You apply the blood with your tongue, confess with your mouth.
>
> Justified
> Redeemed
> Sanctified
> Cleansed
>
> All by the blood. Confessed with your mouth.
>
> James 3:4, Num 14:28 - the tongue directs the course of our life.
>
> Eph 3:8-11 - the tongue delcares the purposes of God.
>
> Mat 8:16 - tongue destroys the kingdom of darkness
>
> Mat 12:36-37 - the tongue determines our eternal destiny... Have you confessed your faith in Christ? Make it a greater confession than ever before.
>
> Josh 1:8 - tongue dictates the extent of our victory
>
> Robert as a new christian wrote down all his problems, rejection, fear anxiety, pages and pages... And wrote the scripture that answers it. 50 sins, 50 scriptures. Read them all the time.
>
> Velvet worker, 4 hours scriptures, pastor in america. Mended his mind by confession... His mind was destroyed by drugs initially.
>
> Ps 45:1, Prov 3:3 - tongue defines the language of our heart
>
> Writing on your own heart with the pen of your tongue.
>
> You need a revelation that God is your father. Start thanking God for who He is and what you are to Him.
>
> Words have power to harm
>
> The reality of curses josh 6:26, 1 kings 16:34
>
> Power of curses prov 12:18, prov 18:21
>
> Appropriation of curses, prov 26:2, numbers 23:18
>
> Acts 5
>
> - the power to heal
> Reality of blessing deut 28:1-14
>
> Gen 12:1-3
> You are blessed, you don't need someone to speak it over you. It doesn't matter what your parents are like.
>
> The power of blessing gen 27:27-41, num 28:18, Isa 59:21
>
> The appropriation of blessing, Gal 3:1-14, Eph 4:29
>
> Robert read every scripture about blessing, get a revelation about it.
>
> Heb 6
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/04 - 5:00pm Communication Robert Ferguson
>
> Public Speaking
> Imprompteu speaking
> Learn to speak off the cuff
>
> Techniques
> Story about the thing, with details.
>
> Prepare.
> Subject.
> Anyone here can speak on any subject, you know something about it. You have a memory.
>
> Start telling a story about that memory.
> Past memory.
>
> Start thinking, what did I learn from that memory.
>
> You come up with a present message.
>
> Then give a future mission.
>
> Don't panic, walk confidently and start thinking.
>
> Starts with a date.
>
> Book: "The language of leadership" - James Humes
>
> One of the most significant speeches was read by Lincoln, Gettysburg. Followed that structure.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/04 - 9:00am Communication in Ministry
>
> Georg Pingel
>
> Conflict Resolution skills
>
> 1. The importance of confrontation
>
> 2. Assertive communication
>
> Group exercise
>
> What happens when confrontations don't go well? - ends relationships,
>
> Were you the confronter or being confronted, what went wrong?
>
> What did it do the relationship?
>
> Come up with 3 reasons why we need to confront well
> -
>
> 5 keys to confronting well.
> - private
> - motive
> - staying calm
> - wisdom
> - go to God first
> - ask questions, ask what's going on in their life
> - confront specifically (the person) not the group.
> - the love sandwhich
> - open heart, teachable
> - not being offensive or defensive
> - at the end of the confrontation there has to be solutions, action steps, speaking life, you can change, it can be different.
>
> ------
>
> You're ripping people off if you don't confront them as a leader or friend, you deny them the opportunity to grow.
>
> Every confrontation is an opportunity for both people.
>
> Communication skills
>
> Guidelines:
>
> -Stop talking
> Most people don't keep quiet long enough, stay calm and give them enough time to talk.
>
> - if you are doing more than half the talking, you're talking too much.
>
> - put the other person at ease, if they are tense they will be pre-occupied and it will be hard to communicate with them.
>
> - be yourself
>
> - avoid crossed arms, fidgeting, leaning away, clenched teeth. Short answers might indicate they are not at ease, if you get them talking
>
> - be friendly and smile, offer food, comfortable place to sit, talk about things that they like, build repore
>
> - look and act interested in what someone has to say. Focus in on the person and pay attention. If they feel you're not listening it creates damage in that situation. Genuine desire to be attentive.
>
> - ask them things about what they are saying. Even practical things, gets you attentive and shows you are listening, "what town was that?"
>
> - ask questions to direct
>
> - remove distractions, eg iphone etc.
>
> - be patient
> Respect that everyone communicates their own way at their own pace, don't interupt. Be patient.
>
> - empathise
> Empathise rather than criticize
>
> - don't try to communicate while angry
> Anger changes the meaning of words sometimes, blocks the ability to listen
>
> - avoid arguing and criticizing
>
> - always answer a question directly *first* then explain.
>
> - poor communicators answer a simple question with a complicated answer.
> Concise and correct.
>
> - precede questions with necessary information.
>
> - make your point early, if you have 45 minutes don't spend 30 minutes putting them at ease.
>
> - repeat yourself to get the point accross.
>
> - try to get a response from the listener, also can be non-verbal
>
> - when you sense disagreement, especially non-verbally.. Ask for their opinion, get them involved.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 1:00pm Communication that builds culture - Katie
>
> Stir up the gift of God within you.
>
> Language & Culture
> Leaders speak culture
> Mission statement and 'empowering people'
> 5 star church
> Speaking into maturity
> Communicating culture "everything about you says something about you"
> Selah (the book by Brian Houston)
>
> Language: the power of what we speak.
> Gen 1:1 - creative power of our God.
> John 1:1-16 - words can become flesh
>
> Our words in God have creative power.
>
> Day to day living your words have creative power.
>
> What kind of words are fleshing their way out around our life?
>
> What we say, *creates*
> Remove a language, destroy a people.
>
> Language creates culture
>
> What kind of culture is around your life?
>
> What is your language?
>
> Leaders shape culture with the words we speak.
>
> Think of a time a leader has spoken into your life.
>
> Shapes people
>
> Culture is people, they create and carry culture.
>
> Words shape people.
>
> What culture do you see from the communication of our leaders.
>
> It has to be in you first before you can shape the outside.
>
> Shaping people and culture takes time.
>
> What do you observe in Christ-Centered culture?
> *Positivity
> *Encouragement
> *Ps 100:2 - "serve the Lord with Gladness" Church is to be enjoyed not endured.
> *Life-giving - are people being given life when you speak to me?
> *Love - authenticity and action. If people feel loved around you they will be around you.
>
> Hillsong mission statement
>
> Our culture:
> *Empowerment - to enable people
> *Influential - everyone has a sphere of influence
> *Focused on Jesus Christ
> *Based on the Word of God.
> *Impacting
> *Touching every area/sphere of an individual's life & every part/sphere of society. - every part of your life is impacting.
>
> 5 star Church
> Like 5 star service, you feel looked after and feel like the most important person there. Because people are worth it.
>
> The reasons:
> - God is excellent in nature.
> - God is excellent in power.
> - Jesus demonstrated *excellence in everything*
> - God promises to give us a spirit of excellence.
> - Excellence is a spirit affecting every area of life.
> - Excellence defines our attitude to the House of God.
>
>
> Speaking into Maturity
> Eph 4:14-16, 29-30
> Your speaking is testifying to your maturity in Christ. A sign of maturing to be like Christ, and is essential to building the body.
>
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 10:00am Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> What is church? - the people of God.
>
> Church = ekklesia (called out of the midst of the world)
> Community of God's people
> Called out from the world to be God's special people.
> The community gathered.
>
> Israel at Sinai, same word.
> Called out from egypt
> Gathered together
> Gathered before God.
>
> Greek city gatherings
> Citizens gathered together.
>
> Church and the Trinity.
> Very important to your christian faith.
>
> Why would a fundamentally single entity create except to rule over, power. I.e. Muslim islam.
>
> Why would a relational trinity God create? To expand the circle and share. The fundamental thing we are created for is to be together, it's a reflection of who God is.
> Church is to be the place where people can get a picture of God.
>
> He is a relating, fellowshipping intimate God. God is love. The trinity.
>
> God's original plan for human society. It's meant to reflect the trinity of God.
>
> Relationship with God, with self and with others. Trinity.
>
> This plan starts being realized through the church now that the fall has happened.
>
> Something profoundly wrong with secular society, the cruelness, selfishness etc.
>
> Church is family.
> The church has organization and structure but it's not an organization or structure. It's a network of relationships coming together to reflect the trinitarian nature of God.
> Eph 3:14-15 - God Father, head of the family.
> Gal 6:10 - family of believers
> Eph 2:19 - members of God's household.
> 1 tim 3:15 - God's household, the church
>
> So what should we do?
> 1. Value and dignity placed on people. Respected. You relate to the people on your team as people, not tool or resources. They are family before they are people doing a job.
>
> 2. Relationship, family relationship. Have relationships with people.
>
> 3. Love, acceptance and inclusion. We are all equal in Christ. The world operates by dividing up people. In Church those barriers are to be removed. One large family, not a divided family. Barriers of all kinds.
>
> 4. Play, eat and laugh. That's what families do. Doing life together. Gives, exudes life. You are family before you are an army. Do what families do. Coffee is a social activity.
>
> 5 healed, healthy and growing people. Raises people. Healthy, happy, confident, secure at ease people. Dsyfunctional families produce the opposite.
>
> 6. Do the seasons together. As a family. Some benefits you only get from going through seasons.
>
> 7. Unity. You get it by dealing with your own issues and then going out and helping others with their stuff.
>
> (Watched an offering testimony) x 3
> God changed their life through the church
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 11:00am Chapel - Duncan Corby
>
> Phil 3:1, 10-11
> First and foremost I want to know Jesus.
>
> Retain a core of knowing Christ while being crazily active in church.
>
> Verse 2, warning about Jewish christians trying to turn gentile christians into jews. They don't boast in Jesus they boast in their flesh, in their jewishness.
>
> His problem is that they focus on the flesh, the things about themselves.
>
> We fall into this trap all the time.
>
> When have you felt insecure, inferior, superior? You're looking at your accomplishments or lack of them. Wishing you had things in the flesh or marvelling in the things you have in the flesh.
>
> Looking internally at your accomplishments, nationality, fashion sense, social group, opportunities to reach a conclusion about your worth and identity.
>
> Paul has stopped playing that game, it's a waste of time.
>
> The surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
>
> You can either play the game of ticking off the boxes of self or receive the gift of Jesus and getting your acceptance in that area, value and identity.
>
> To play the game is to be in denial about who you are.
>
> Two coffee cups, one clean and dirty (crud).
>
> You can't attract Jesus by the how clean a cup you are. Jesus will clean the cup, what's important is that it's His cup, nothing you can do can make you more His.
>
> The value is from who owns the coffee cup. President left his cup at your house analogy.
>
> And it's for the purpose of drinking coffee.
>
> Your value is in who you belong to and your purpose is to be filled with coffee to be shared with those who need to have a drink
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 2:15pm Connect Groups - Jason Lessels
>
> What we do is a privelage.
> Seeing different seasons of life in pastoral care.
>
> Small church with lots of people, because of connect groups.
>
> Acts 2:46
> Acts 5:42
> Acts 20:20
>
> Through consistancy and regularity.
>
> Connected into groups, into family.
>
> Make a decision that while you're here, you are here... Don't get wound up by past stuff etc.
>
> Input/output model.
>
> Attend and lead a connect group.
>
> 3 keys to cg's
> Connect people to a biblical community (who can I connect this person with?)
>
> Equip - have others speak into you, speaking into others. You start to see the gifting and start to speak life.
>
> Serve - every person is created with a God given potential.
>
> What is a balanced cg?
> Core is connection, being in relationship with each other, with equip and serve on each side.
> Stands in the middle of the see-saw and keeps it balanced.
> Whatever stage of God they're at the person can flourish and grow.
>
> Learn to be a leader of 10, same principals will apply to leading 1000's.
>
> 16th feb cg leaders training night.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 8:30am Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> To give you a good grounding in what church is.
>
> If you're going to be building the church you want a solid biblical foundation of what the church is.
>
> If you can really grasp what the bible is really saying about the church it will change your understanding and your love for church will grow.
>
> Your experiences up to this point are shaping your thoughts about church.
>
> - What is the Church? House of God, family of God, body of christ.
> Mission statement of Hillsong church.
> What makes church "church".
> Leadership in the new testament.
> Weekend services that work.
>
> (Notes on portal)
>
> - the House of God
>
> What do you believe about Heaven?
>
> Define heaven as: the throne room of God, surrounded by his heavenly court of angels. Ruling the universe
>
> How does heaven and earth relate to us? Where is heaven?
>
> 3 possible answers.
> Heaven and earth never connect, never relate (God has been on holiday since created) - Deism theory.
>
> Heaven and earth coincide, surrounded by heaven - Pantheism, occupying the same time and space, not christianity.
>
> Heaven and earth connect in certain places and at certain times. This is what we understand as Christians. Every now and then God dramatically intersects.
>
> Gen 3:8 - certain times of day that God would come and fellowship with them.
>
> Gen 28:17 - connection between heaven and earth, portal between heaven and earth.
>
> Moses
> Ex 25:8 - make a sanctuary I will dwell. There in that tent not everywhere.
> Num 9:15
>
> Solomens temple
> 1 kings 8:10-11
>
> Jewish idea was God is in the temple, the connection between heaven and earth is in the temple, it's where God chose to dwell.
>
> God's presence departs
> Ezek 10:4-19
>
> God present in Jesus
> John 1:1, 14
>
> In the same way God's presence was in the tabernacle is now in Jesus. Jesus is now the perpetual connection between heaven and earth.
>
> The believer is a new temple
> 1 cor 6:19
>
> Temple is the presence of God dwells, where heaven and earth meet.
>
> The church is the new temple
> 1 cor 3:16-17
> This scripture is talking about the church, you collectively are God's temple. The you is plural.
>
> The presence of God dwells amongst us as his body.
>
> Eph 2:22 another plural you. Being built together.
>
> Heb 3:6 we are his house
>
> 1 pet 2:5 you are being built into a spiritual house, tabernacle.
>
> Church and Kingdom
> Mat 6:9-10
> Relatuonship between kingdom and church
>
> Eph 1:22-23 Jesus is appointed king over everything for the church which is his body. He exercises his kingdom authority and rule through the church. He does it through us.
>
> Through his church that Jesus is reigning, a dimension of experiencing the fullness of God only through the collective gathering.
>
> The church is the house that's built together, not just on your own.
>
> Eph 1:20 (msg)
>
> NT attitudes to church
> Luke 4:16 "as was his custom" value the gathering of God's people. Regular and frequent custom.
>
> Heb 10:25 - let's not give up meeting together
>
> Mat 16:18 - on this rock I will build my church. Jesus is building his church. Only one thing Jesus said he would build is his church.
>
> Eph 5:25 - Jesus' love for the church. Love the church, give myself up for her so she can be all she can be.
>
> Eph 4:3 - make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Issues of the heart most commonly cause disunity not doctrinal differences. Decide to be uncluttered on the inside, uncluttered with your agenda.
>
> Responses:
> *Go regularly, gathering is something communities do often.
> *Primary thing, build what Jesus is building. If following, go where he goes, he's building his church.
> *Love the church. Give yourself for it
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - 1pm - Communication - Robert Ferguson
>
> 2 languages you need to learn or re-learn. Absolutely vital.
>
> Language is not something you learn and leave, it's something you learn and speak.
>
> Never come to college or church without a bible. At any time someone may ask you to say something.
>
> John 8:43-44 (niv)
>
> Declaration of truth and overtaking lies.
>
> Replace the lies and deception with truth.
>
> 1. The power of language
> Gen 11:6
>
> Every successful military campaign has been accompanied by language.
>
> 2. Potential for language death. Languages can die and with it the languages culture.
>
> 9 languages by 100 million
> 181 languages by 1-9 people
>
> Very cautious about the language of Truth.
>
> Neh 13:23-24
>
> Loss of language through exile.
>
> Maintain purity of language, children will only speak half of what you speak.
>
> Destroyed through a process of mixture.
>
> Add a lie to the truth to water it down until you no longer speak kingdom.
>
> Ps 137:1-6 - I will speak the truth, I will not let my language die.
>
> 3. The revival of language.
> Language can be revived.
>
> Is 59:21
>
> Story of daughter and carpet story praying for it.
>
> If you don't speak the language it will dissappear
>
> ---
>
> Two languages we need.
>
> The language of blood.
>
> The language of the Spirit.
>
> -
>
> Blood.
>
> Heb 9:16-22
>
> You have to have blood.
>
> Christ died, you already have blood for the offense.
>
> 1. The blood is for propisiation (a turning away of wrath)
> 1 john 4:10 - atoning sacrifice in nkj
>
> Quote from John Stock.
>
> 2. Purification
> Heb 9:7
>
> If Christ wasn't here you would be dirty and would have been killed.
>
> 3. Participation
> 1 cor 10:16
> Fellowship, sharing, relationship.
>
> Jer - the heart of man is desperately wicked.. If you don't get it, you'll never be grateful.
>
> The people a long way from God don't see a big difference. Floor and ceiling analogy, further away it seems smaller.
>
> What does the blood say?
>
> Heb 12:22-24
>
> 3 types of blood and what they say.
>
> A. Abel
> B. Bulls
> C. Christ
>
> A. Blood of Abel
> Gen 4:9-10. Innocent blood cries out from the ground "you are guilty". The world is guilty, humanity is guilty.
>
> Mat 23:35
>
> Rom 3:9-12 - we are all sinners.
>
> You can try and sweeten your life but the blood of Abel still screams out guilty.
>
> B. Blood of bulls. Cover the blood with blood.
> Is 1:11
> Heb 10:1-4
> Blood of bulls cannot take away sins.
> It says nothing. Silent.
> The blood of Abel still screams out guilty.
>
> C. Christ
> Justification. Not guilty.
>
> One of the ways to learn language is repetition.
>
> Heb 13:5-6 - because God has said, we say woth confidence.
>
> 13 things the blood says
>
> 1. You belong to God.
> Acts 20:28
> Rev 5:9
> The Father has bought you with the blood of Jesus.
> 1 cor 6:20
> Rom 10:9 - start with a confession that he is in charge.
> I belong to God. The enemy has no rights to your wellbeing.
> It's your house God, I'm a guest.
>
> Give him the keys, he has bought you, you are not your own.
>
> 2. You are no longer a slave.
> Eph 1:7
> Heb 9:12 - redemption, bought back with a price. No habit will have a hold.
>
> Anything that masters you is sinful. Like ciggarettes.
>
> The only way to get free is to learn the language, not point the finger.
>
> 3. Clear conscience
> Heb 9:14
>
> 4. You are near to God.
> Eph 2:13
>
> Forget your past, learn blood, it will tell you truth.
>
> If you have to repent, repent
>
> 5. Reconciled with God. Peace with God.
> Col 1:20
> I have peace now. Give thanks for the peace that you have. Anxiety is living outside of grace. Anxiety lives in tomorrow. You have been given grace for *today*. Who knows
>
> 6 I am holy
> Heb 13:12
>
> 7. I am free
> Rom 1:5
>
> 8. I am forgiven
> Heb 9:22
>
> 9. A living saviour
> Heb 13:20
>
> 10. I have confidence
> Heb 10:19
>
> 11. We are clean
> 1 Jn 1:7
> The blood cleanses us.
>
> 12. You have victory over the devil.
> Rev 12:11 - by the blood of the lamb
>
> 13. You are not guilty (justified)
> Rom 5:9
>
> Hear it, believe it, apply it.
>
> Rom 10:17
>
> Believe it. Put faith in what God has done.
> Rom 3:25
>
> Apply it.
> Blood that was shed but not applied does not work.
>
> Apply it through your tongue
> Rev 12:11
>
> Heb 13:5-6
>
> Blood AB - universal recipient (all of us)
> Blood O - universal donor (Jesus)
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - 3pm - Joel Houston
>
> Don't quit.
>
> Prov 16:9
>
> The journey.
>
> Walking in your own shoes.
>
> Shoe story, shoes too big.
>
> Don't strive to be someone else. Robbing yourself of who God calls you to be. Cut ourselves short.
>
> Story about getting rolled at 2am in the morning at 14.
>
> Take your shoes off on holy ground.
>
> Spiritually speaking we don't need to wear shoes (i.e. Position etc).
>
> God has put you there for a reason.
>
> Story about being asked to speak at conference.
>
> Little opportunities that will be the making of what God wants to do with you.
>
> See every moment as an opportunity, be consistant. It's not about you, take your shoes off.
>
> -
>
> Called to be in the world without being of it. Being anchored. Our agenda. The further out the stronger your anchor is needed. Relationships, Word, discipline, responsibility.
>
> Communicate love to them, not going to judge them.
>
> Commit the time to make that anchor strong.
>
> God has the greatest ways of pulling you down.
>
> If you think you don't have time now, you'll have less in the future.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - 4:30m - Joel A'Bell
>
> Content Session
>
> A lot of us look to Jesus as Lord, saviour, healing, pastoral care.... How about leadership?
>
> Leadership is the ability to shift/alter the state of someone else.
>
> Leading like Jesus.
>
> 1. Am I leader? It's your choice.
>
> Two types.
> Organic - life role, father, husband, friendships etc
> Organisational - functional, job specs, position, title, structure.
>
> Problems when not adding in organic to organisational. Or being organisational at home with no warmth, foundation of love.
>
> While waiting for your organisational leadership build your organic leadership, you will need it.
>
> Let the natural flow of organic leadership saturate our functional.
>
> 2. Am I willing to follow Jesus as my role model?
> Confrontation is a leadership skill and should not have negative connotations. It means to turn your face towards someone.
>
> 3. How do I lead like Jesus
> Luke 9:18-21
>
> Cyclical transformational journey
>
> A.
> It's personal. Personal leadership. If you can't govern and build self.. What good will you be to others. Personal leadership must be critiqued first.
>
> Jesus was so secure in himself he could ask, who do you say I am?
>
> Personal leadership is about perspective. Gaining perspective. Who am I?
>
> What are you good at, what are you bad at? What's holding you back?
>
> Grow me, know me, show me.
>
> Jump in a mental helicopter.
>
> Outcome: perspective
>
> B.
> One on One Leadership.
> Ability to connect with one person.
> Your ability to meet with another person and bring them across the line.
>
> Outcome, objective: trust
>
> Building trust. Work on building trust. The relationship as a bridge. Type of bridge is what you can bring across.
>
> Luke 9:28-36 trust being built. One on one interaction.
>
> Any good leader won't say everything. You give a bit, if trust is there a bit more. So on and so forth.
>
> Acceptance and love always there. But trust grows and the information becomes more personal.
>
> Can God trust you? It's your choice.
> You're as close to God as you want to be.
>
> There's no shortcuts to trust. You need to put the time, you've got to put the hour in to the person. Strategically, most key people to what you're accountable for and sow into them.
>
> C.
> Team Leadership
>
> Outcome: community
> Create a sense of community, family.
>
> Luke 9:46 - sense of community, love each other not just the leader.
>
> Secure, ok with with your voice not being heard. Hats between when am I the boss, when am I the friend.
>
> Love people, committed to them, they should know it without telling them.
>
> D.
> Organisational Leadership
>
> Outcome: effectiveness
>
> ---
>
> Confront asap, love asap.
> "1 minute manager" book
>
> Management by wondering around. Encourage right away, confront right away. Don't wait till next week.
>
> Life balance. Never perfect is what balances itz it's not static, it's dynamic. Ebb and flow. Dynamic. Look ahead in your calender.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - citycare meeting
>
> Not here to rescue.
> Come alongside people.
>
> Respectful, honouring.
>
> Be light in conversation. Not "oh what group are you in, how is it".
>
> Lime green colour theme this term.
>
> Dress and present appropriately.
>
> Leaders meeting at 5:00pm monday.
>
> Write a mini job description that someone could pick up and take over.
>
> Usually 6:45pm leaders meeting.
>
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - combined meeting at hills
>
> Most Represented
> Usa
> Aus
> Can
> Uk
> Norway (37)
>
> -----
>
> Sanga, grant thompson, karoya, julia a'bell, ian woods, lee burns, rueban morgan.
>
> Leadership
>
> Sanga - most trouble from a church leader. Allowed the use of fire, burnt the baptismal pool. Running late services. Drew on the walls of the old office.
>
> Karoya -
>
> Woods - you only get one shot, make sure you have fun on the journey. Atmosphere of joy and comradery... Otherwise you get burnt out.
>
> Brian - intimidated by a leader. Difference between respecting and being intimidated by leadership, how to overcome?
>
> Woods - when intimidated you lose the joy. Realise that Jesus paid the same price for me as anybody else.
>
> Julia - doesn't think about the front row, things about the people in need.
>
> Brian - sometimes approached people and they seemed unfriendly... But actually they were intimidated.
>
> Sanga - be totally confident and happy. Walk in my own shoes, be who I've been called to be. Be myself.
> Romans - God's call is irrevocable
>
> What do you do to grow as a leader?
>
> Burns - constantly reading, look for area's that need growth... Confidence... Communication.. Focus on it for 12 weeks etc.
> Don't worry about trying to be all of that all at once.
>
> Rueban - reading. Finding things that inspire you. Going after things that flick the switch. Don't stop being a fan, even as a professional musician, composer etc... Keep being a fan. Be open to feedback.
>
> Julia - embrace all the trials and obsticles
> Enlarge capacity by overcoming things.
>
> Thompson - job 42. It's a lot about heart. When your heart is right it just happens. When thinking or heart issues things can slow down.
>
> Some other thing to describe leadership.
>
> Sanga - purpose driven, not personality driven. Embrace change. Not driven by who the leader (personality) is, it's the purpose behind them.
>
> Karoya - caring for the people, growing your people under you. Not focused on the area at the expense of the people.
>
> Leader vs non leader?
>
> Thompson - difference is the fruit that is produced. What is God blessing.
>
> Lee - as a leader there is something in you that people want to draw from. Submission, drawing from the one above you.
>
> Julia - the leader has the influence, title doesn't make a leader.
>
> Brian - consistancy. Church life has seasons. Fruit. Attitude. Over a long period of time. Depth to go with the charisma.
>
> Woods - here to help people. Lead with a servant heart. Love people. God loves them, we should do the same. Help them be all they can be.
>
> Sanga - disciplined prayer life. When you go to the Word you need it for you. Things will only increase
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/11 12pm Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> We need to know what it is to build it.
>
> House of God
>
> The Church as the Body of Christ
> 1 cor 12, Eph 3,4
>
> Eph 1:20 (msg)
>
> Rom 12:3-8
> 1 Cor 12:12-30
> Eph 4:11-16
> Col 2:19
>
> What do you learn about the church as a body from these passages?
>
> Principle
> Practices
> Attitudes
> Things to guard against
>
> 1. Don't place yourselves above others. One body. Each person connected. Each person has skills and different abilities.
>
> ----
>
> Why does it talk about the church as a body?
>
> - different skills coming together to form a unified body
>
> - each part has a purpose
>
> - Christ is the head of the body, directs it, tells it how to move.
>
> - new testament is trying to say Jesus is us, his head remains, we *are* the body.
> "When you see me you see the Father"
> - when you see *us* you see the father.
>
> You are his body.
>
> I'm more than my body. Who I really am is expressable through my body.
>
> Let the head decide
>
> Unity - not at war with itself
> Connected
> Function - part of an overall function to do something
>
> Every part is significant and God placed.
> Each part relies on each other part.
> Every part must submit to the head.
> Care for one another.
>
> The part you play has a soveriegn plan, soveriegn aspect to it. Both valued equally by God.
>
> Only as strong as the weakest part.
>
> Connected to each other as strong as you are connected to Jesus. You can't be connected to God and treat other connections as less important.
>
> We all draw life from the same thing, the head.
>
> When there is pain in a part of the body, it must effect me. If your shoulder hurts you put your hand on it.
>
> It takes the entire the body to get the fullness of Christ, to express the fullness.
>
> - break-
>
> Watched mission video
>
> Dazzles with reflective glory
>
> Be an agent for unity, connectedness
>
> - Hillsong Church's Mission Statement
>
> To reach and influence the world by building a large, Christ-centred, bible-based church, changing mindsets, and empowering people to lead and impact in every sphere of life.
>
> Why altar call at every service? Reaching people.
>
> A church will not grow if the people in it don't want it to grow?
>
> Are you willing to identify, stretch, grow, sacrifice to grow.
>
> Commit to personal ongoing growth and change.
>
> If you want to reach more people that what you're reaching now you need to change into someone who can reach more people.
>
> Influencing the world to become a different place. How to be a better country etc.
>
> All through building the church. Does this thing help build the church? Some things can be awesome but don't build the church.
>
> Large means successful in reaching and more likely to influence. You can have a large impact.
>
> The biggest thing restcricting growth and potential is mindsets that don't change. Renewing of the mind. Most of us are ignorant of the way we think.
>
> If you focus on sin, you end up structuring around the avoidance of sin, which does not empower.
>
> Instead speak about life and pursuing life.
>
> If you focus on the pothole you will hit it because you're focused on it.
>
> Instead, there's a pothole, where will I go to avoid it? I'll go that way.
>
> Positive, upbeat practical. To take a persons life forward, it moves you away from the negative.
>
> Repentance, doing it without the words. Repent is to turn around and go a different direction.
>
> An empowering environment being encouraged.
>
> Jesus is a message of life. Word of the Lord is meant to lift you, not cut you.
>
> Embracing life, not avoiding it.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/11 2:30pm Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> What makes church "church".
>
> Is it possible to have church online?
>
> Exercise.
>
> What do you have to have in the life of church to have church.
>
> Gathering of people. For a specific purpose. Teaching, praising/worship, fellowship. Preaching the gospel. Meeting point. Community. Love. Prayer. Diversity. Care for each other. Doctrinal system. Shephard. Growth and change.
>
> Some things are just there as Christians. i.e. Holy spirit, Jesus.
>
> Some things you just need to have an effective church.
>
> Acts 2:46
>
> 1. Worship (prayer, fasting, individual, corporate, engaging towards God)
> 2. Evangelism
> 3. Serving - Jesus characterised himself as a servant.. If you aren't serving, are you christian?
> 4. Discipleship
> 5. Fellowship
> 6. Teaching (communication of the word of God)
> 7. Baptism (Jesus said to go out and baptise)
> 8. Communion (perfectly fine to do communion in connect groups)
> 9. Mission (sense of purpose)
> 10. Leadership
>
> Online church discussion. Only what you type is communicated. How can we have community and relationship without touch. Don't recieve it to the degree you need to call it fellowship.
>
> Overcome the limitations of geography doing whatever you can in an online way.. But *only* because of the limitations.
>
> We do the hard yards to sort out the problems, we won't always be happy with each other.
>
> Online is a tool you use, resource, it's not enough on it's own.
>
> "I've been hurt by church so I'm going to change my theology" - if you got hurt, get back in there and sort it out. Confront the issues so we can be the body, don't disconnect from it. Christ said he will build the church.
>
> Church is not created in *your* image. It's going to confront your issues.
>
> If someone is experiencing isolation the church should try harder, it's not good enough.
>
> Reverse the process with those hurt, build a bridge... Don't go straight to the area hurt. Start talking about their theology and work backwards.
>
> ---
>
> 3:40pm
>
> What makes an effective church.
>
> Where did your list come from?
> *Examples in acts - Biblical precedent
> *Own experience of church, own church.
> *Biblical instructions -> biblical principles
> *what I've been taught
> *experience of a bad/good church
> *example of successful churches
>
> Be aware of how you reached your conclusion.
>
> If you went solely on precedent, you are saying 21st century church should operate like 1st century church.
>
> Principle is they gathered and what they did, not the place.
>
> When you read a verse in context you get a feel for it.
>
> Some things are just historical record. Eg. Paul walked a lot and went on boats, does that mean you can't use a plane?
>
> - What makes it effective
> 3. Ways to evaluate
> 1. Conformity to Biblical pattern?
> 2. Biblical principle and method?
> 3. Biblical principle and Effective method
>
> When you read the bible you discern there's more to it. God loves people, who wants to save people, people full of life, joy, faith, church having an impact. More important than the question of method.
>
> Word of God does not change so the principles do not change but the methods change.
>
> Eg Paul used the method of going into synagogues and preached. They were effective methods in their time, culture and context.
>
> People saying big churches have compromised, watered down etc... If you have quality it will produce quantity... It doesn't have to be either or. Healthy church will produce quantity.
>
> Pursue quality with the expecation it will produce quantity.
>
> ---
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/11 4:30pm Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> Leadership in the bible
>
> What to look for, for theological foundation
>
> 1. Old testament
> 2. New testament
> - transition from OT to NT (what changed, what stayed the same, why?)
> - NT Examples
> - NT Principle
> 3. Modern Applications
>
> (Notes on portal)
>
> Leadership:
> (Old testament)
> a. All authority from God. Ownership gives authority.
>
> b. God rules the Earth through delegated authority.
>
> If we're made in the image, we rule over something because God rules. Accountable to God.
>
> c. God establishes Hierarchy
> Gen 2
> God made Adam first, gave him rulership
> Eve came after, from and for Adam
> Adam instructed Eve (re; the fruit)
>
> Gen 3
> God dealt with Adam first then "drilled down"
> The curses delivered "up" the hierarchy. (From the snake, to eve, to Adam)
> vv 14-19.
>
> Adam got the harshest.
>
> (Not getting into men and women)
>
> d. The fall corrupted leadership
> Gen 3
> Ruled over yet desire him.
> Man now consumed with his own pain and problems.
>
> Typical key problems of failed leadership.
>
> e. Though fallen, in OT, God still worked through leaders.
> Moses, josh, kings, prophets, foreign rulers. Just because it's broken or corrupted he can use it.
>
> New testament differences
>
> Church is not a nation, like israel.
> Model of "king" does not auto apply.
> Priesthood of all believers (used to be king, priest and prophet)
> Membership is voluntary
> Leader / follower dynamics change, e.g. The types of punishment.
>
> Similarities
> Still through delegated authority
> Still pursues the mission
> Some leader / follower dynamics the same eg. Obedience
>
> 3. New testament examples.
>
> a. Jesus was a leader
> Leadership functions:
> Messiah
> Teacher
> Preacher
> Judge
> Leader of disciples
> Leader of the movement
>
> Mat 7:28-29
>
> Jesus appointed people as leaders, gave them authority.
> Mat 10:1
> Mark 3:14
>
> Peter given a lot of authority.
> Mat 16:18-19
>
> c. The apostles appointed leaders
> Matthias to replace judas
> Seven deacons acts 6
> Paul and Barnabas acts 13
> Appointed elders acts 14:23
> Paul appoints timothy to lead ephesian church
> Apostles leadership Acts 2:42
> Jerusalem council acts 15
> Gentile churches obeyed the council acts 16:4
> Ephesian elders acknowledged pauls role as their leader
>
> e. Paul was a leader
> Paul's roles:
> Apostle
> Teacher and preacher
> Father
> Mentor
> Chief elder
> Appointer and delegator of leaders
> Rebuker, problem-solver, reconciler, defender, fund-raiser.
>
> So how is Christian leadership different to other organizations.
>
> 4. New Testament Principles
> a. Jesus has all authority
> Mat 28:18
>
> b. All human authority is delegated authority
> Mat 8:8-10
>
> Because it's delegated authority, you don't have freedom to do what you want.
> Authority in direct proportion to submission.
> Eg Duncan to Brian to God.
>
> Rom 13:1-2 - rebelling is going against God's authority.
> In submission you can bring something up.
>
> c. NT Leadership is not democratic or a committee
>
> 1. Collective decisions is inviting people without a leadership gift into the leadership process.
>
> Need to look at decisions through leaders eyes.
>
> 2. Understand why they democratic to begin with. Maybe.. protect against abuse of strong leadership. Setups a system to protect from leaderships power by limiting leaderships power. Reduces effectiveness of leadership.
>
> d. Submission and obedience are expected of followers
> Heb 13:17 - obey leaders and submit
> 2 thes 3:14-15
> Rom 13:1
> 1 cor 16:15-16 - submitting to leadership of others.
>
> What about Eph 5:21? Respect and value others.
>
> Be faithful and supportive.
>
> Why do we resist submission? From the fall our demand to have things our way, self centredness. Me-centric.
> Submission to leadership cuts right accross that.
>
> Pursue submission, it will release you from human demandingness to have things your way.
>
> As leaders they must give an account of the other persons life.
>
> e. NT Leadership is Servant - leadership
> Mark 10:42-45
>
> When you lead, it is for the service of others.
>
> - duncan drew a picture
> Pyramid with leader at the top, church is inverted pyramid, senior pastor at the bottom with the lines going up in brackets. Service up, obedience down.
>
> f. Leadership is for the health of the body.
> Heb 13:17
> It is not for the grandisement of the leaders.
>
> g. NT leadership seeks counsel
> Prov 15:22
> Many NT examples.
>
> Eg If elders disagree, pauses and thinks about it seriously. Strong inner security.
>
> h. NT Leadership requires Godly character
> 1 tim 3 qualities of an overseer
> Healthy leaders
> Absolutely essential
>
> i. Leadership is both divine and human
> Rom 12:6-8 - gifted it
> 1 tim 3:1 - inside desiring it
>
> Leadership is always the problem, and leadership is always the solution. - Brian Houston
>
> Some people are not gifted with leadership to run something like a church etc.
>
> You'll end up with a sized church equal to the leadership.
>
> God operates through leadership.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/12 - 01:00pm Church in Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> What happens during a service?
>
> Even from before it starts, things happening.
>
> Door greeter, Individual conversation. Giving value to the person.
>
> Create a space for connecting.
>
> Music to fill the silence, allows people to talk.
>
> Doors open 15 mins before, to build critical mass.
>
> Pre-roll to get focus.
>
> ---
>
> Stage is wide, not deep.
>
> Leadership exerted by the bv's even though you can't hear them. Presence yourself onstage.
>
> Let your exterior reflect the eternally true instead of your internal temporary feelings based on how much sleep you had or last nights pizza.
>
> Asking you to be you but turned up a bit to influence those around you. Not from 0 to 100 but 0 to 15. I have an opportunity to influence people.
>
> Excellence for the sake of no distractions.
>
> Up on screen instead of book to engage and look up.
>
> Mc creates sense of feeling and good times.
>
> Offering to be reminded why.
>
> What is it going to take to build the church? To get them to come back next week and bring their friends.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/12 - 03:00 pm Church in Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> Find someone who speaks a different language
>
> "I am hungry, Where can I get a pizza?"
>
> Onaka sueta, pizza wa doko de, kaimasu ka?
>
> ---
>
> It's better to stop while people want more than going to long and people wishing it finished 5-10 minutes ago.
>
> ---
>
> Assessment
> 'What makes a church'?
>
> Due 1st of march
>
> Part 3 find someone from another church if you're from hillsong.
>
> I.E. Potential weakness of hillsong, large group can get lost.
>
> References that justify why to do it in a church environment.
>
> ---
>
> Serving
>
> Biblical principles:
>
> 1. Human Potential is Fulfilled in Serving
> Mark 10:43-45 - anyone who wants to be great, let me tell you how. He wants you to be great.
>
> Lived for the sake of others.
>
> A greatness of character and beyond not of proficiency.
>
> 2. Serving Others is Serving the Lord
> Rom 12:11
>
> Serving the Lord looks like serving others and nothing else.
>
> People don't always notice, not always thankful and may slam you if you get it wrong but it's ok. You've done it for Him
>
> 3. Serving *IS* Freedom
> Gal 5:13-14
> Doing whatever you want is not freedom, you're consumed with your own agenda trying to shape things to what you want, when you want it, locked into a slave to trying to get what you want.
>
> 4. We Are All Equipped to Serve
> 1 Cor 12:7 - for the *common* good.
>
> 5. Move from Receiving to Giving
> Acts 20:35
>
> Get to the point where you are self-sustaining and being able to give to others.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/12 - 08:30 am pastoral care meeting
>
> Wendy Kelly - funerals, sicknesses
> Judith McGhie- baby dedications, weddings
>
> But they both do both.
>
> Pastoral care students:
> Charlene
> Aaron - cali
> Nadine - switz
> Mana
> Nathan
> Danilla - switz
> Tyson - qld coast
> Demaris
>
> -
> Katie
> Magdalene
>
> ----
> Pastoral Care should reflect a strong functional family. I.e. If that was your child or mother what would you do?
>
> Not leave any gaps
>
> Where is pastoral
>
> Case Management - a person with needs, don't think of them as a case.
>
> Evaluate how to care for that person. Wholistic, not just counselling, coming to church, worship, a meal.
>
> How best to care for them, either individual or as a family.
>
> Homecare. We are family to them.
>
> Practical care, spiritual help, social connection. Working through that persons cg or cg leader.
>
> People may need external professional help. Citycare is part of the pastoral care.
>
> Jo White @ citycare organizes the counselling.
>
> Replicating care across different levels won't help.
>
> Prayer requests through church as a pastoral tool.
>
> Praying for people just before they go into surgery.
>
> Pastoral care is 24/7
>
> If they don't have any family support we try to be there after the surgery as well. (Fill the gaps).
>
> If it's the key family member in hospital what does the rest of the family need? Help there as well.
>
> Monthly healing meeting - thurs 25th feb 7:30pm
>
> Crisis situations, death, accidents, mostly bereavements.
>
> *grief*
>
> Grief is an ongoing process and can go on for years. We are with them until that sense of crisis is gone. Some take longer than others.
>
> Even if you don't have any answers, biblical or theological answers to why.. They need love, someone alongside them.. Not a bible study at that time.
>
> Accompany people to the morgue etc and not be shocked.
>
> All you have to do is love them and accept them where they are at.
>
> Grief is more like chaos theory than seven stages.
>
> Deaths. We go there straight away.
>
> To absolutely always be there.
>
> Being in contact with a funeral director is very good and helpful.
>
> Good to be with the family when the funeral director is there. Make the director aware that you're not charging a fee otherwise they'll include it. Help manage the flow of people.
>
> Don't be afraid to ask the story of how, where were they? It can help them to normalize. Gives them a chance to share. Don't have to have answers but questions are good.
>
> When the funeral is over stay in contact with the family.
>
> ----
>
> Births - kind of involved mixed kids ministry "Miracle 139" - from conception to birth. Building community and educating.
>
> Supporting people.
>
> Pregnant Nights, pamper the girls. Guys connect with other guys in similar situations.
>
> Some withdraw from church during pregnancy but we have lots of support, parents room etc.
>
> Training days after birth for the mothers during like sisterhood.
>
> Check up on the mums.
>
> We can not be judgmental at all. Where they are at is where they are at. Acknowledge what they are thinking, we don't dictate how to live their lives.
>
> Baby gifts. Flowers, cards etc.
>
> You become unshockable but not lose your heart.
>
> Dating and engagements.
>
> Delay the physical side for as long as possible. You're giving away part of yourself that you want to give to your future married partner.
>
> Physical also changes the focus of it.
>
> "Preparing for Marriage"
>
> "101 questions to ask before you get engaged"
>
> Dating/engagement period is a period of discovery.
>
> Pre-marriage course the sooner the better. "Making marriage better" 8 week sessions + 5 session one on one "prepare".
>
> There's 50 years of marriage after the wedding day that is all very important.
>
> --
>
> Not everyone will like you. They may criticize you
>
> Adv. Dip counselling.
>
> Confrontation
>
> "How to be a people helper" chapman
>
> Be aware of people's body language and reactions.
> ---
>
> Weddings, legal doc 1 month and a day before the wedding "intent to get married"... An ordained minister needs to apply for a marriage license. Any pastor can marry but but not officially.
>
> 3 grounds for divorce
> Abondonment
> Sexual immorality
> Severe physical abuse
>
> ACC marriage divorce policy.
>
> ----
>
> Normal week (no such thing)
> Tuesday staff meeting
> Pastoral care meeting
> Dept. Meetings.
>
> Weds
> Compile report to brian
> Appointments
>
> Thurs
> Sisterhood
> Appointments
>
> Fri
> Appointments
> Visits
>
> Sat
> Weddings
>
> "Service active" come to church, not connected.
>
> "Ministry active"
>
> How do we evaluate if effective? Seeing them grow, working ourselves out of a job.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/12 - 11:00am - chapel - steve?
>
> Burwood extension pastor
> Phil 3 - I press on to reach the end of the race.
>
> Lifting people up. Upwards. Go forward and upward.
>
> Bring up to a higher level.
>
> Engage with God and he will lift you.
>
> If human nature without God is left alone, it will gravitate you down. Settle, sit back.
>
> You need to activate God's lift by faith.
>
> God instructs us to do something.
>
> To be lifted up there's things you'll have to give up.
>
> Continue to let God have control.
>
> 1. God wants to lift your voice.
> Draw a "v" on your thumb.
> Are you raising your voice to raise other people's life?
> Set your course by your words.
> Think of your words in the last week, month, year... What has been the pattern? Where you are at now is because of your words.
> Prov 2:3, prov 8:1
>
> 2. Lift your head. Your thought life.
> Is 55
> Let the mind of the Master, be the master of your mind.
> Are your thoughts healthy? Positive, hopeful.
> Lift up your chin, walk with confidence.
>
> 3. lift up your heart.
> Eph 3:20
> Your heart is full of courage and boldness.
>
> 4. Hands
> Ps 63:4 - lift up my hands in your name.
> Increase in your productivity.
> Lion King monkey holding up the baby lion, like God lifting you up. Don't lift up your hands in anger or wrath.
>
> 5. Lift up your eyes.
> What do you see for 2010.
> The difference is focus, what you're focusing on you will see everywhere.
> Our eyes effect what we see and what we're looking for and where we are heading.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/16 - 09:45am Personal Leadership - Duncan Corby
>
> Foundation for your other subjects.
>
> Invest into it.
>
> As leaders live lives that are above average.
>
> Burj dubai tower almost twice as big as the other tall towers.
>
> Good foundations to build something that tall.
>
> The strength of your foundations will determine your strength and resilience.
>
> Iceberg analogy. 80% of their l
> Mat 12:34-35
>
> Your face, posture, tone etc will give away more than the words.
>
> 3 area's of interpersonal communication.
>
> God is a renovator
>
> The choice (who we listen to)
> The challenge (self disclosure)
> The change
>
> Ultimately you're listening to God or the enemy.
>
> Gen 3:1-3 "did God really say?"
>
> Sin only leads to death, it can't lead anywhere else, God said so and hasn't changed.
>
> Not qualified to judge ourselves.
>
> Hiding naked and afraid when we sin.
>
> Why would we listen to Satan?
>
> Self-centredness
> When we sin we hurt ourselves.
>
> Self-protection
> When we hurt ourselves we defend ourselves.. If anyone tries to save their own life, they will lose it. If you surrender it to God you are more protected than anything. You don't have to stay hurt. The spirit is gentle and won't force it's way through your protective barriers.
>
> Self-justification
> When we defend ourselves we justify ourselves by attacking others. "If you were there you would know, you would do the same", "if you knew what they said". Tearing others down, maligns others. "If they weren't such an idiot"
>
> Self-deception
> When we justify ourselves we deceive ourselves. They don't that they don't know. Unconscious incompetance thinking they are competant.
>
> The enemy can't hurt God but he can have a go at us.
>
> Self deception results in:
> Hiding - we hide and inhibit intimacy
> Copying - inhibit creativity
> Pretending
> Lying
>
> 2. How do we listen to God?
> Submission - when we listen and obey, we live.
> Forgiveness - when we turn to God we are forgiven, if you have unforgiveness you won't be able to hear God clearly. Forgiveness allows your ears to be clean your heart to be undivided.
> Grace - when we are forgiven we forgive. You're able to do what you do because of grace. You are able to live life.
> Freedom - when we forgive we are free
>
> People go through massive trauma's and they don't want to be free, it can be scary and unfamiliar and requires a transformation from slave to worshipper/warrior.
>
> Freedom results in:
> Intimacy - free to be close
> Creativity - to be different
> Authenticity - to be ourselves
> Honesty - to speak the truth
>
> B. The Challenge - self disclosure
> Your testimony should have more about Jesus than the enemy.
>
> It takes a really wise person to look in the mirror and see what's really there. The bible is our mirror. Sometimes it can feel like that massive magnifier in a hotel room. Sometimes the image is distorted because of past life experiences etc.
> Intrapersonal, let's pull it apart and let God rebuild it.
>
> The necessity for correct self-discolsure.
>
> You are His body, make it a good body so He can walk tall.
>
> Self-knowledge is necessary for ministry
> Self-disclosure is necessary for intimacy
> Self-denial is necessary for oratory
>
> You can only give to God what you own up to.
>
> Maybe it was their fault but now I will take responsibility for it.
>
> Christ was a successful communicator is because he confidently says "I am..."
>
> And then be able to lay it down when you need to.
>
> Write down five "I am" statements about yourself.
>
> I am friendly
> I am patient
> I am creative
> I am compassionate
> I a
>
>
> 2010/02/02 - 1:45pm
> Father, Son & Holy Spirit
>
> Our Father the communicator
>
> By His Son - Heb 1:1-3, Jn 1:14
> By His Word - Gen 1:3, Jn 1:1
> By His Works - Ps 19:1-4
> By His Spirit - Jn 14:16-17
>
> Jesus - God's message
> Showed us God - Jn 10:30
> Showed us the Word - Jn 1:14
> Showed us how to communicate with the Father - Lk 5:16, 11:1-13
> Communicated whatever the Father told him - Jn 12:49-50
>
> Theology demands application, it's not like other 'ologies, you can't have knowledge of God and not act it out.
>
> Hearing and doing.
>
> Holy spirit helps us to bring to memory what has been said by God.
>
> Things learnt by doing rather than cramming stay with us. So, the Word, *through use* we learn it.
>
> Holy Spirit - God's Voice
> Testifies about Jesus - Jn 15:26
> Teaches us all things - Jn 14:26
> Reminds us of what Jesus said - Jn 14:26
> Guides us in all truth - Jn 16:13
> Speaks only what he hears - Jn 16:13
> Reveals what God has prepared for us - 1 cor 2:9-10
>
> Will only tell you things that will glorify Christ
>
> Spirit of God is Emmanuel, God with us.
>
> Spirit doesn't nag, it prompts, reminds, prompts etc.
>
> When you start to doubt and think "did God really say" check with the spirit.
>
> God is not holding back on the plan, he is a communicator.
>
> God said it, it is. You can trust it. Analogy of a man made chair.
>
> He has prepared good works for you, to champion you.
>
> My doubt and insecurities will only hinder me, not the rest of the world.
>
> ---
>
> Intrapersonal Communication - (intra meaning within itself)
>
> More tuned to hear our own name than anything else.
>
> How to communicate within yourself.
>
> Within the individual self or mind.
>
> Intrapersonal communication determines our success at other forms of communication.
>
> Eg self awareness, processing, thought life, self talk, self image.
>
> Old testament 'heart' is about thinking not emotional life, it's the essence of who you are and what you think.
>
> Intrapersonal communication skills can impact on our communication with God
>
> Think about it, how it impacts your communication.
>
> If you understand who you are
>
> Communication involves inner communication.
>
> Write down 3 things negative you regularly say to yourself
> I don't understand how to do that
> Do they like me?
>
> Write down 3 positive things you regularly say to yourself
> Patient/calm
> Attractive
> Grateful
>
>
> Being a bit predictable means we can understand each other a little bit better. To do real life together.
>
> The gift and call is irrevocable
>
> Matthew 12:34-35
>
> 2010/02/02 - 11:00am
> For a nation to be wiped out, the language had to be wiped out
>
> Language-
>
> Language as a weapon
> Prov 18:21
> Esther 1:22
>
> Establishes kingdoms/cultures
> Dan 1:3-4, Isa 59:21
>
> Destroys kingdoms
> Neh 13:23-24
>
> Scatters people
> Gen 11:6-7
>
> Transmits a message
> Acts 2
>
> Revives a people eg Israel
>
> Father, Son, Holy Spirit - what language does God speak? Your language, a language of praise, life, worship, creation.
>
> 2010/02/02 - 9:45am
> Gen 11:6-7 (NIV)
>
> If people do something with one language their plans will not fail.
>
> Difference between management and leadership is communication.
>
> The art of communication is the language of leadership.
>
> Communicate effectively.
>
> Not even two way communication it's multi-dimensional.
>
> Interpreting communication cues.
>
> No matter no backed into a corner if you can communicate clearly you can still build relationships, lead people, etc.
>
> Why communicate?
> 9 reasons.
> God formed the world using communication.
>
> God communications through special revelation (God's Word) and general revelation (eg. creation, a tree)
>
> Because of the incarnation Jn 1:1 and 14
>
> Because of the life of Christ - Jn 12:49-50
>
> It's how we survive (physically, emotionally, spirituality, practically etc)
>
> It's our mandate - message of reconciliation
>
> It's how we transmit information
>
> It's how we lead/influence effectively
>
> It's how we build and grow relationships Eph 4:29
>
> -
>
> Communicating one message Jesus is Lord.
>
> We choose daily to bridle our words and let only life come out.
>
> You can't do life on your own, you and Jesus on an island. You can't do life in isolation.
>
> Comes from latin "communicare" meaning to share. From the root word "communis" meaning "common"
>
> Greek "Koinonia" translated in Phil 6 meaning 'to share'
>
> Less is more. What is the bottom line. What are you really saying. Sum it up.
>
> Messages distorted by external, physiological and psychological noise
>
> Eg what do you think of with the word, "used car salesmen", "brain surgeon".
> Or the word 'trunk' four different meanings.
>
> It is impossible not to communicate.
>
> We communicate intentionally and unintentionally.
>
> Communication is;
>
> Irreversible
> Unrepeatable, entirely unique, it means it matters to get it right first time.
>
> What's most important is what they heard (what they think you said) not what you meant to say.
>
> Think before you speak. Learn to process before you speak as well.
>
> Words have the power to:
> Many good and bad things.
>
> Pre-redemption my words were destructive.
>
> When you've experienced something at it's worst you're more inclined to be using God's redemptive power in that area.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/02 - 4:15pm Communication Ministry
>
> 2010/02/02 - 4:15pm
> Communicating with God can be that simple:
> Relax, listen, respond
>
> Communicating on behalf of God, you don't have to change while prophesying, you're the same, don't change accents. God doesn't speak in king james. The people at that time needed it in their own language.
>
> Speaking through you using your voice in a way *they* understand.
>
> Goals of correct self disclosure:
> 1 Jn 1:5-7
> Reconciliation - Illumination leads to reconciliation
> Repentance - light exposes our sinful nature
> Revelation - light reveals who we are in Christ
>
> Once you know you, you won't hesitate to show others. Doesn't have to be all your stuff on a clothesline type style.
>
> We are all of equal value.
>
> Principals of self-disclosure
> The Depth of Self-Disclosure
> related to the depth/nature of the relationship
>
> The Difficulties of self-disclosure
> Depends on the nature of the emotion and the audience
>
> The dynamics of self disclosure
> Dynamics of our disclosure depends on the nature of the information known.
>
> Secrets are not cool, they are deceptive.
> Don't say "promise me you won't tell anyone". Secrets are about hiding. Controlling the level of detail shared etc is wisdom.
>
> Activity in self disclosure
> 2 statements.
>
> I often envy... People with many friends or in a relationship.
>
> One thing I really like about myself is... My looks and my heart for people.
>
> I dislike it when.. People are dishonest.
>
> Just mention the elephant. "This is awkward"
>
> Imagine whose dreams you're going to help fulfill.
>
> C. The Change - heart, mind and speech.
> Joshua 1:8
>
> Meditate on the words. Talk to yourself.
>
> Verses. Chew on it, swallow it, regurgitate, like a cow.
>
> Don't just chant the verse, amplify it. Don't just repeat the adjectives thing about what those things are things.
>
> Emphasizes different words in the verse.
>
> 1. A change of heart
> Prov 4:23 - guard your heart (ability to think etc)
>
> Mark 7:20-21
>
> 2. A Change of mind.
> Rom 12:1-2 - offering your body as a living sacrifice. Paul had to get on the altar daily.. For us could be multiple times per day.
>
> Be transformed by your intrapersonal relationship skills (renewing of your mind).
>
> You can't offer what you don't understand.
>
> 3. A change of speech
> Lamentations 3:24
> Ps 42:5-6
>
> - Personality & Temperament
> Knowing it helps:
> Self awareness, acceptance, development. Understanding and accepting others.
>
> Studying temperament is not for making excuses, diagnosing/boxing people, judgment, stereotyping.
>
> There's a way to be honest that brings life, that brings solution.. You don't have to be negative.
>
> You're negative by choice (melancholy by nature if that is your type).
>
> Hippocrates 470-377 BC categorized people:
>
> Sanguine - lively
> Choleric - active
> Melancholy - black, creative geniuses, analytical, bent on the edge, profound thinkers, can argue in and out of any situation.
> Phlegmatic - slow, "no worries", it's happened, can't change it.
>
> If you can understand yourself and others God can use you. Allow God to bring life to your temperament.
>
> 2010/02/02 - 3:00pm
> Mat 12:34-35
>
> Your face, posture, tone etc will give away more than the words.
>
> 3 area's of interpersonal communication.
>
> God is a renovator
>
> The choice (who we listen to)
> The challenge (self disclosure)
> The change
>
> Ultimately you're listening to God or the enemy.
>
> Gen 3:1-3 "did God really say?"
>
> Sin only leads to death, it can't lead anywhere else, God said so and hasn't changed.
>
> Not qualified to judge ourselves.
>
> Hiding naked and afraid when we sin.
>
> Why would we listen to Satan?
>
> Self-centredness
> When we sin we hurt ourselves.
>
> Self-protection
> When we hurt ourselves we defend ourselves.. If anyone tries to save their own life, they will lose it. If you surrender it to God you are more protected than anything. You don't have to stay hurt. The spirit is gentle and won't force it's way through your protective barriers.
>
> Self-justification
> When we defend ourselves we justify ourselves by attacking others. "If you were there you would know, you would do the same", "if you knew what they said". Tearing others down, maligns others. "If they weren't such an idiot"
>
> Self-deception
> When we justify ourselves we deceive ourselves. They don't that they don't know. Unconscious incompetance thinking they are competant.
>
> The enemy can't hurt God but he can have a go at us.
>
> Self deception results in:
> Hiding - we hide and inhibit intimacy
> Copying - inhibit creativity
> Pretending
> Lying
>
> 2. How do we listen to God?
> Submission - when we listen and obey, we live.
> Forgiveness - when we turn to God we are forgiven, if you have unforgiveness you won't be able to hear God clearly. Forgiveness allows your ears to be clean your heart to be undivided.
> Grace - when we are forgiven we forgive. You're able to do what you do because of grace. You are able to live life.
> Freedom - when we forgive we are free
>
> People go through massive trauma's and they don't want to be free, it can be scary and unfamiliar and requires a transformation from slave to worshipper/warrior.
>
> Freedom results in:
> Intimacy - free to be close
> Creativity - to be different
> Authenticity - to be ourselves
> Honesty - to speak the truth
>
> B. The Challenge - self disclosure
> Your testimony should have more about Jesus than the enemy.
>
> It takes a really wise person to look in the mirror and see what's really there. The bible is our mirror. Sometimes it can feel like that massive magnifier in a hotel room. Sometimes the image is distorted because of past life experiences etc.
> Intrapersonal, let's pull it apart and let God rebuild it.
>
> The necessity for correct self-discolsure.
>
> You are His body, make it a good body so He can walk tall.
>
> Self-knowledge is necessary for ministry
> Self-disclosure is necessary for intimacy
> Self-denial is necessary for oratory
>
> You can only give to God what you own up to.
>
> Maybe it was their fault but now I will take responsibility for it.
>
> Christ was a successful communicator is because he confidently says "I am..."
>
> And then be able to lay it down when you need to.
>
> Write down five "I am" statements about yourself.
>
> I am friendly
> I am patient
> I am creative
> I am compassionate
> I am sacrificial
>
> Without communication how will you write songs, sermons etc
>
> We are in it for His glory, not our glory or for money.
>
> If you can't communicate they will remain blind. Articulate truth clearly, authentic.
>
> Catrina prays as much about the altar call as the sermon.
>
> You don't want to be trying to prove anything to anyone when you do these things eg sermon, lead worship etc.
>
> Mindset shift from wanting people saying to you "I wish I could be like you" to... "That makes me (someone else) believe I can do that"
>
> You're either called or your not, if you make a mistake it's ok.
>
> Love people just a little bit than you are afraid and you'll be ok.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/04 - 10:30am Communication in Ministry
>
> Three ways of relating
>
> 1. Non assertive
> 2. Aggressive
> 3. Assertive
>
> We need Assertive skills.
>
> Each person has a particular style but only one of these can help, the others will tear down.
>
> Eph 4:25 - speak truthfully, don't use manipulation.
>
> Col 3:9-13
>
> Assert - declare strongly, insist upon
>
> Aggressive - unprovoked attacking hostile manner
>
> Passive - what we say and mean can be different, or say different to what we feel.
>
> Passive is lose - lose
> You don't communicate what you want and lose for them because you're lying to them. You hide feelings and thoughts. It's superficial.
>
> Self limiting beliefs can cause non-assertive. I.e. Insecurity, inferiority, comparing, low self-esteem, envy.
>
> Or things like attractive people are better looking than other people... It's got nothing to do with the outside.
>
> Your confidence comes from who you know you are in Christ, not external stuff like clothes and money.
>
> You're not competing against anyone.
>
> Payoffs
> Apparent Rewards avoid conflict, keep the peace, things fester under the surface. To be liked (on the inside you're convinced that people don't like you). To avoid blame and responsibility because you didn't make a choice. Constant undermining of self.
>
> Harsh inner critic
>
> Non-assertive characteristics:
> Gunny-sacking (contains ammunition), how full is my gunny-sack?
>
> There is a physical consequence to the baggage we carry around
>
> Puts self last
>
> Lack confidence
>
> Low self esteem
>
> Lack self respect
>
> Speaks for no one
>
> - Agressive
> Win - Lose
> Relating:
> Verbal "you should know better" "you never listen" "you make me feel so angry" "you always make"
> There's a never and an always and a you.
>
> Non-verbal, no response, silent treatment.
>
> Passive behaviour, intentional that has a message. Very vicious, feeds on itself.
>
>
> Eph 4:2-3
>
> Aggressive makes the other feel bad.
>
> -Assertive
> Win - win
> Rom 12:1
>
> Expresses thoughts, feelings, wants, don't wants. Full awareness of them.
>
> Respect for the other and yourself.
>
> Expresses in an honest way, builds self esteem and real self, stand without anxiety. Builds strong marriages.
>
> Know who you are in Christ, God's love covers all *BUT* you must speak in truth or it won't cover it.
>
> Friendship is about disclosure, communicating.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/04 - 2:00pm Communication Robert Ferguson
>
> - Speaking
> Verbal
> Non-verbal
> Public speaking
>
> No phones
> No sleeping
> Front row mentality
> This class and college isn't about you it's about the people you will influence.
> Make a decision that you need to hear this.
> Your life and others are depending on you to listen.
>
> The expectation of leadership
>
> Communication
>
> Start with the general and move to the specific.
>
> When there is a lack of communication there is a miscommunication
>
> L block exercise
>
> Sender, reciever, noise, encoding, decoding into minds
>
> To clarify we have feedback
>
> Noise is anything that prevents communication, eg distraction.
>
> Moving away from the distraction while on stage.
>
> Essential ingrediants
> Sender - principle: focus on what is heard, not sent. Concerned with that they are hearing. Problems we are selfish and blame shift, misinterpretation.
>
> Prov 13:17 (living)
>
> Encoding, translation
> The message itself, coded (words, pictures etc) - principal, must learn two 'languages'. Problem: a gulf seperates sender and reciever. Different cultures, generations etc.
> Listened to talk back radio for 6 months to learn the culture. Change your interests and passions
>
> Decoding, interpreted (pre-judgment can occur, decoded inappropriately and not listening) connotations - what you think the word means. Eg decode the word "father", "policeman"
>
> The message
> Non-verbal communication carries more weight than we think. Truth must include love.
>
> Verbal 7%
> Vocal 38%
> Visual 55%
>
> Decoding - principal, the decoder is faulty. Problems: we read through our past hurt, circumstances, prejudice, connotation, rejection, preception. Misread, misjudged.
>
> Hurt, protected, justified himself, aggressive to other people.
>
> Self protective hand on heart blocking. Other hand in a fist.
> Solution, go to God as a human ask to be forgiven, changed.
>
> Stop the blame shifting
>
> Remove the barriers
>
> Arms open wide. Vulnerable and where there is intimacy is the possibility for hurt.
>
> The reciever, principal, more to listening than hearing. Problem: It takes effort to listen. Inappropriate mindset, internal distraction, self centredness "that's nothing, I..."
>
> Jesus knows you best and loves you most.
>
> Noise - noise is more than noise.
> Most senders are unware, flawed sender, clouded message, distracted reciever.
>
> Feedback - essential for accuracy
> Problem: much of our communication is one-way. Lack of ability, lack of opportunity, lack of honesty.
>
> Each has principals and problems associated with it
>
> Have to establish what these words mean.. Eg add adjectives "Good father"
>
> Difference between sight and vision is perception.
>
> ---
> -- Verbal Communication
> The Power of the Word
> Jer 1:9-10
>
> 1 pet 4:11 - speak as though speaking the very words of God
>
> The power to change
> Mat 12:34 - describes the position of our heart.
>
> Robert had filthy language.
>
> If you're saying the wrong things you need a heart change.
>
> Rom 10:9 the tongue decides the condition of our soul.
>
> Blood shed but not applied doesn't work.
> You apply the blood with your tongue, confess with your mouth.
>
> Justified
> Redeemed
> Sanctified
> Cleansed
>
> All by the blood. Confessed with your mouth.
>
> James 3:4, Num 14:28 - the tongue directs the course of our life.
>
> Eph 3:8-11 - the tongue delcares the purposes of God.
>
> Mat 8:16 - tongue destroys the kingdom of darkness
>
> Mat 12:36-37 - the tongue determines our eternal destiny... Have you confessed your faith in Christ? Make it a greater confession than ever before.
>
> Josh 1:8 - tongue dictates the extent of our victory
>
> Robert as a new christian wrote down all his problems, rejection, fear anxiety, pages and pages... And wrote the scripture that answers it. 50 sins, 50 scriptures. Read them all the time.
>
> Velvet worker, 4 hours scriptures, pastor in america. Mended his mind by confession... His mind was destroyed by drugs initially.
>
> Ps 45:1, Prov 3:3 - tongue defines the language of our heart
>
> Writing on your own heart with the pen of your tongue.
>
> You need a revelation that God is your father. Start thanking God for who He is and what you are to Him.
>
> Words have power to harm
>
> The reality of curses josh 6:26, 1 kings 16:34
>
> Power of curses prov 12:18, prov 18:21
>
> Appropriation of curses, prov 26:2, numbers 23:18
>
> Acts 5
>
> - the power to heal
> Reality of blessing deut 28:1-14
>
> Gen 12:1-3
> You are blessed, you don't need someone to speak it over you. It doesn't matter what your parents are like.
>
> The power of blessing gen 27:27-41, num 28:18, Isa 59:21
>
> The appropriation of blessing, Gal 3:1-14, Eph 4:29
>
> Robert read every scripture about blessing, get a revelation about it.
>
> Heb 6
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/04 - 5:00pm Communication Robert Ferguson
>
> Public Speaking
> Imprompteu speaking
> Learn to speak off the cuff
>
> Techniques
> Story about the thing, with details.
>
> Prepare.
> Subject.
> Anyone here can speak on any subject, you know something about it. You have a memory.
>
> Start telling a story about that memory.
> Past memory.
>
> Start thinking, what did I learn from that memory.
>
> You come up with a present message.
>
> Then give a future mission.
>
> Don't panic, walk confidently and start thinking.
>
> Starts with a date.
>
> Book: "The language of leadership" - James Humes
>
> One of the most significant speeches was read by Lincoln, Gettysburg. Followed that structure.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/04 - 9:00am Communication in Ministry
>
> Georg Pingel
>
> Conflict Resolution skills
>
> 1. The importance of confrontation
>
> 2. Assertive communication
>
> Group exercise
>
> What happens when confrontations don't go well? - ends relationships,
>
> Were you the confronter or being confronted, what went wrong?
>
> What did it do the relationship?
>
> Come up with 3 reasons why we need to confront well
> -
>
> 5 keys to confronting well.
> - private
> - motive
> - staying calm
> - wisdom
> - go to God first
> - ask questions, ask what's going on in their life
> - confront specifically (the person) not the group.
> - the love sandwhich
> - open heart, teachable
> - not being offensive or defensive
> - at the end of the confrontation there has to be solutions, action steps, speaking life, you can change, it can be different.
>
> ------
>
> You're ripping people off if you don't confront them as a leader or friend, you deny them the opportunity to grow.
>
> Every confrontation is an opportunity for both people.
>
> Communication skills
>
> Guidelines:
>
> -Stop talking
> Most people don't keep quiet long enough, stay calm and give them enough time to talk.
>
> - if you are doing more than half the talking, you're talking too much.
>
> - put the other person at ease, if they are tense they will be pre-occupied and it will be hard to communicate with them.
>
> - be yourself
>
> - avoid crossed arms, fidgeting, leaning away, clenched teeth. Short answers might indicate they are not at ease, if you get them talking
>
> - be friendly and smile, offer food, comfortable place to sit, talk about things that they like, build repore
>
> - look and act interested in what someone has to say. Focus in on the person and pay attention. If they feel you're not listening it creates damage in that situation. Genuine desire to be attentive.
>
> - ask them things about what they are saying. Even practical things, gets you attentive and shows you are listening, "what town was that?"
>
> - ask questions to direct
>
> - remove distractions, eg iphone etc.
>
> - be patient
> Respect that everyone communicates their own way at their own pace, don't interupt. Be patient.
>
> - empathise
> Empathise rather than criticize
>
> - don't try to communicate while angry
> Anger changes the meaning of words sometimes, blocks the ability to listen
>
> - avoid arguing and criticizing
>
> - always answer a question directly *first* then explain.
>
> - poor communicators answer a simple question with a complicated answer.
> Concise and correct.
>
> - precede questions with necessary information.
>
> - make your point early, if you have 45 minutes don't spend 30 minutes putting them at ease.
>
> - repeat yourself to get the point accross.
>
> - try to get a response from the listener, also can be non-verbal
>
> - when you sense disagreement, especially non-verbally.. Ask for their opinion, get them involved.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 1:00pm Communication that builds culture - Katie
>
> Stir up the gift of God within you.
>
> Language & Culture
> Leaders speak culture
> Mission statement and 'empowering people'
> 5 star church
> Speaking into maturity
> Communicating culture "everything about you says something about you"
> Selah (the book by Brian Houston)
>
> Language: the power of what we speak.
> Gen 1:1 - creative power of our God.
> John 1:1-16 - words can become flesh
>
> Our words in God have creative power.
>
> Day to day living your words have creative power.
>
> What kind of words are fleshing their way out around our life?
>
> What we say, *creates*
> Remove a language, destroy a people.
>
> Language creates culture
>
> What kind of culture is around your life?
>
> What is your language?
>
> Leaders shape culture with the words we speak.
>
> Think of a time a leader has spoken into your life.
>
> Shapes people
>
> Culture is people, they create and carry culture.
>
> Words shape people.
>
> What culture do you see from the communication of our leaders.
>
> It has to be in you first before you can shape the outside.
>
> Shaping people and culture takes time.
>
> What do you observe in Christ-Centered culture?
> *Positivity
> *Encouragement
> *Ps 100:2 - "serve the Lord with Gladness" Church is to be enjoyed not endured.
> *Life-giving - are people being given life when you speak to me?
> *Love - authenticity and action. If people feel loved around you they will be around you.
>
> Hillsong mission statement
>
> Our culture:
> *Empowerment - to enable people
> *Influential - everyone has a sphere of influence
> *Focused on Jesus Christ
> *Based on the Word of God.
> *Impacting
> *Touching every area/sphere of an individual's life & every part/sphere of society. - every part of your life is impacting.
>
> 5 star Church
> Like 5 star service, you feel looked after and feel like the most important person there. Because people are worth it.
>
> The reasons:
> - God is excellent in nature.
> - God is excellent in power.
> - Jesus demonstrated *excellence in everything*
> - God promises to give us a spirit of excellence.
> - Excellence is a spirit affecting every area of life.
> - Excellence defines our attitude to the House of God.
>
>
> Speaking into Maturity
> Eph 4:14-16, 29-30
> Your speaking is testifying to your maturity in Christ. A sign of maturing to be like Christ, and is essential to building the body.
>
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 10:00am Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> What is church? - the people of God.
>
> Church = ekklesia (called out of the midst of the world)
> Community of God's people
> Called out from the world to be God's special people.
> The community gathered.
>
> Israel at Sinai, same word.
> Called out from egypt
> Gathered together
> Gathered before God.
>
> Greek city gatherings
> Citizens gathered together.
>
> Church and the Trinity.
> Very important to your christian faith.
>
> Why would a fundamentally single entity create except to rule over, power. I.e. Muslim islam.
>
> Why would a relational trinity God create? To expand the circle and share. The fundamental thing we are created for is to be together, it's a reflection of who God is.
> Church is to be the place where people can get a picture of God.
>
> He is a relating, fellowshipping intimate God. God is love. The trinity.
>
> God's original plan for human society. It's meant to reflect the trinity of God.
>
> Relationship with God, with self and with others. Trinity.
>
> This plan starts being realized through the church now that the fall has happened.
>
> Something profoundly wrong with secular society, the cruelness, selfishness etc.
>
> Church is family.
> The church has organization and structure but it's not an organization or structure. It's a network of relationships coming together to reflect the trinitarian nature of God.
> Eph 3:14-15 - God Father, head of the family.
> Gal 6:10 - family of believers
> Eph 2:19 - members of God's household.
> 1 tim 3:15 - God's household, the church
>
> So what should we do?
> 1. Value and dignity placed on people. Respected. You relate to the people on your team as people, not tool or resources. They are family before they are people doing a job.
>
> 2. Relationship, family relationship. Have relationships with people.
>
> 3. Love, acceptance and inclusion. We are all equal in Christ. The world operates by dividing up people. In Church those barriers are to be removed. One large family, not a divided family. Barriers of all kinds.
>
> 4. Play, eat and laugh. That's what families do. Doing life together. Gives, exudes life. You are family before you are an army. Do what families do. Coffee is a social activity.
>
> 5 healed, healthy and growing people. Raises people. Healthy, happy, confident, secure at ease people. Dsyfunctional families produce the opposite.
>
> 6. Do the seasons together. As a family. Some benefits you only get from going through seasons.
>
> 7. Unity. You get it by dealing with your own issues and then going out and helping others with their stuff.
>
> (Watched an offering testimony) x 3
> God changed their life through the church
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 11:00am Chapel - Duncan Corby
>
> Phil 3:1, 10-11
> First and foremost I want to know Jesus.
>
> Retain a core of knowing Christ while being crazily active in church.
>
> Verse 2, warning about Jewish christians trying to turn gentile christians into jews. They don't boast in Jesus they boast in their flesh, in their jewishness.
>
> His problem is that they focus on the flesh, the things about themselves.
>
> We fall into this trap all the time.
>
> When have you felt insecure, inferior, superior? You're looking at your accomplishments or lack of them. Wishing you had things in the flesh or marvelling in the things you have in the flesh.
>
> Looking internally at your accomplishments, nationality, fashion sense, social group, opportunities to reach a conclusion about your worth and identity.
>
> Paul has stopped playing that game, it's a waste of time.
>
> The surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
>
> You can either play the game of ticking off the boxes of self or receive the gift of Jesus and getting your acceptance in that area, value and identity.
>
> To play the game is to be in denial about who you are.
>
> Two coffee cups, one clean and dirty (crud).
>
> You can't attract Jesus by the how clean a cup you are. Jesus will clean the cup, what's important is that it's His cup, nothing you can do can make you more His.
>
> The value is from who owns the coffee cup. President left his cup at your house analogy.
>
> And it's for the purpose of drinking coffee.
>
> Your value is in who you belong to and your purpose is to be filled with coffee to be shared with those who need to have a drink
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 2:15pm Connect Groups - Jason Lessels
>
> What we do is a privelage.
> Seeing different seasons of life in pastoral care.
>
> Small church with lots of people, because of connect groups.
>
> Acts 2:46
> Acts 5:42
> Acts 20:20
>
> Through consistancy and regularity.
>
> Connected into groups, into family.
>
> Make a decision that while you're here, you are here... Don't get wound up by past stuff etc.
>
> Input/output model.
>
> Attend and lead a connect group.
>
> 3 keys to cg's
> Connect people to a biblical community (who can I connect this person with?)
>
> Equip - have others speak into you, speaking into others. You start to see the gifting and start to speak life.
>
> Serve - every person is created with a God given potential.
>
> What is a balanced cg?
> Core is connection, being in relationship with each other, with equip and serve on each side.
> Stands in the middle of the see-saw and keeps it balanced.
> Whatever stage of God they're at the person can flourish and grow.
>
> Learn to be a leader of 10, same principals will apply to leading 1000's.
>
> 16th feb cg leaders training night.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 5 February 2010 7:54:26 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/05 8:30am Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> To give you a good grounding in what church is.
>
> If you're going to be building the church you want a solid biblical foundation of what the church is.
>
> If you can really grasp what the bible is really saying about the church it will change your understanding and your love for church will grow.
>
> Your experiences up to this point are shaping your thoughts about church.
>
> - What is the Church? House of God, family of God, body of christ.
> Mission statement of Hillsong church.
> What makes church "church".
> Leadership in the new testament.
> Weekend services that work.
>
> (Notes on portal)
>
> - the House of God
>
> What do you believe about Heaven?
>
> Define heaven as: the throne room of God, surrounded by his heavenly court of angels. Ruling the universe
>
> How does heaven and earth relate to us? Where is heaven?
>
> 3 possible answers.
> Heaven and earth never connect, never relate (God has been on holiday since created) - Deism theory.
>
> Heaven and earth coincide, surrounded by heaven - Pantheism, occupying the same time and space, not christianity.
>
> Heaven and earth connect in certain places and at certain times. This is what we understand as Christians. Every now and then God dramatically intersects.
>
> Gen 3:8 - certain times of day that God would come and fellowship with them.
>
> Gen 28:17 - connection between heaven and earth, portal between heaven and earth.
>
> Moses
> Ex 25:8 - make a sanctuary I will dwell. There in that tent not everywhere.
> Num 9:15
>
> Solomens temple
> 1 kings 8:10-11
>
> Jewish idea was God is in the temple, the connection between heaven and earth is in the temple, it's where God chose to dwell.
>
> God's presence departs
> Ezek 10:4-19
>
> God present in Jesus
> John 1:1, 14
>
> In the same way God's presence was in the tabernacle is now in Jesus. Jesus is now the perpetual connection between heaven and earth.
>
> The believer is a new temple
> 1 cor 6:19
>
> Temple is the presence of God dwells, where heaven and earth meet.
>
> The church is the new temple
> 1 cor 3:16-17
> This scripture is talking about the church, you collectively are God's temple. The you is plural.
>
> The presence of God dwells amongst us as his body.
>
> Eph 2:22 another plural you. Being built together.
>
> Heb 3:6 we are his house
>
> 1 pet 2:5 you are being built into a spiritual house, tabernacle.
>
> Church and Kingdom
> Mat 6:9-10
> Relatuonship between kingdom and church
>
> Eph 1:22-23 Jesus is appointed king over everything for the church which is his body. He exercises his kingdom authority and rule through the church. He does it through us.
>
> Through his church that Jesus is reigning, a dimension of experiencing the fullness of God only through the collective gathering.
>
> The church is the house that's built together, not just on your own.
>
> Eph 1:20 (msg)
>
> NT attitudes to church
> Luke 4:16 "as was his custom" value the gathering of God's people. Regular and frequent custom.
>
> Heb 10:25 - let's not give up meeting together
>
> Mat 16:18 - on this rock I will build my church. Jesus is building his church. Only one thing Jesus said he would build is his church.
>
> Eph 5:25 - Jesus' love for the church. Love the church, give myself up for her so she can be all she can be.
>
> Eph 4:3 - make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Issues of the heart most commonly cause disunity not doctrinal differences. Decide to be uncluttered on the inside, uncluttered with your agenda.
>
> Responses:
> *Go regularly, gathering is something communities do often.
> *Primary thing, build what Jesus is building. If following, go where he goes, he's building his church.
> *Love the church. Give yourself for it
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - 1pm - Communication - Robert Ferguson
>
> 2 languages you need to learn or re-learn. Absolutely vital.
>
> Language is not something you learn and leave, it's something you learn and speak.
>
> Never come to college or church without a bible. At any time someone may ask you to say something.
>
> John 8:43-44 (niv)
>
> Declaration of truth and overtaking lies.
>
> Replace the lies and deception with truth.
>
> 1. The power of language
> Gen 11:6
>
> Every successful military campaign has been accompanied by language.
>
> 2. Potential for language death. Languages can die and with it the languages culture.
>
> 9 languages by 100 million
> 181 languages by 1-9 people
>
> Very cautious about the language of Truth.
>
> Neh 13:23-24
>
> Loss of language through exile.
>
> Maintain purity of language, children will only speak half of what you speak.
>
> Destroyed through a process of mixture.
>
> Add a lie to the truth to water it down until you no longer speak kingdom.
>
> Ps 137:1-6 - I will speak the truth, I will not let my language die.
>
> 3. The revival of language.
> Language can be revived.
>
> Is 59:21
>
> Story of daughter and carpet story praying for it.
>
> If you don't speak the language it will dissappear
>
> ---
>
> Two languages we need.
>
> The language of blood.
>
> The language of the Spirit.
>
> -
>
> Blood.
>
> Heb 9:16-22
>
> You have to have blood.
>
> Christ died, you already have blood for the offense.
>
> 1. The blood is for propisiation (a turning away of wrath)
> 1 john 4:10 - atoning sacrifice in nkj
>
> Quote from John Stock.
>
> 2. Purification
> Heb 9:7
>
> If Christ wasn't here you would be dirty and would have been killed.
>
> 3. Participation
> 1 cor 10:16
> Fellowship, sharing, relationship.
>
> Jer - the heart of man is desperately wicked.. If you don't get it, you'll never be grateful.
>
> The people a long way from God don't see a big difference. Floor and ceiling analogy, further away it seems smaller.
>
> What does the blood say?
>
> Heb 12:22-24
>
> 3 types of blood and what they say.
>
> A. Abel
> B. Bulls
> C. Christ
>
> A. Blood of Abel
> Gen 4:9-10. Innocent blood cries out from the ground "you are guilty". The world is guilty, humanity is guilty.
>
> Mat 23:35
>
> Rom 3:9-12 - we are all sinners.
>
> You can try and sweeten your life but the blood of Abel still screams out guilty.
>
> B. Blood of bulls. Cover the blood with blood.
> Is 1:11
> Heb 10:1-4
> Blood of bulls cannot take away sins.
> It says nothing. Silent.
> The blood of Abel still screams out guilty.
>
> C. Christ
> Justification. Not guilty.
>
> One of the ways to learn language is repetition.
>
> Heb 13:5-6 - because God has said, we say woth confidence.
>
> 13 things the blood says
>
> 1. You belong to God.
> Acts 20:28
> Rev 5:9
> The Father has bought you with the blood of Jesus.
> 1 cor 6:20
> Rom 10:9 - start with a confession that he is in charge.
> I belong to God. The enemy has no rights to your wellbeing.
> It's your house God, I'm a guest.
>
> Give him the keys, he has bought you, you are not your own.
>
> 2. You are no longer a slave.
> Eph 1:7
> Heb 9:12 - redemption, bought back with a price. No habit will have a hold.
>
> Anything that masters you is sinful. Like ciggarettes.
>
> The only way to get free is to learn the language, not point the finger.
>
> 3. Clear conscience
> Heb 9:14
>
> 4. You are near to God.
> Eph 2:13
>
> Forget your past, learn blood, it will tell you truth.
>
> If you have to repent, repent
>
> 5. Reconciled with God. Peace with God.
> Col 1:20
> I have peace now. Give thanks for the peace that you have. Anxiety is living outside of grace. Anxiety lives in tomorrow. You have been given grace for *today*. Who knows
>
> 6 I am holy
> Heb 13:12
>
> 7. I am free
> Rom 1:5
>
> 8. I am forgiven
> Heb 9:22
>
> 9. A living saviour
> Heb 13:20
>
> 10. I have confidence
> Heb 10:19
>
> 11. We are clean
> 1 Jn 1:7
> The blood cleanses us.
>
> 12. You have victory over the devil.
> Rev 12:11 - by the blood of the lamb
>
> 13. You are not guilty (justified)
> Rom 5:9
>
> Hear it, believe it, apply it.
>
> Rom 10:17
>
> Believe it. Put faith in what God has done.
> Rom 3:25
>
> Apply it.
> Blood that was shed but not applied does not work.
>
> Apply it through your tongue
> Rev 12:11
>
> Heb 13:5-6
>
> Blood AB - universal recipient (all of us)
> Blood O - universal donor (Jesus)
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - 3pm - Joel Houston
>
> Don't quit.
>
> Prov 16:9
>
> The journey.
>
> Walking in your own shoes.
>
> Shoe story, shoes too big.
>
> Don't strive to be someone else. Robbing yourself of who God calls you to be. Cut ourselves short.
>
> Story about getting rolled at 2am in the morning at 14.
>
> Take your shoes off on holy ground.
>
> Spiritually speaking we don't need to wear shoes (i.e. Position etc).
>
> God has put you there for a reason.
>
> Story about being asked to speak at conference.
>
> Little opportunities that will be the making of what God wants to do with you.
>
> See every moment as an opportunity, be consistant. It's not about you, take your shoes off.
>
> -
>
> Called to be in the world without being of it. Being anchored. Our agenda. The further out the stronger your anchor is needed. Relationships, Word, discipline, responsibility.
>
> Communicate love to them, not going to judge them.
>
> Commit the time to make that anchor strong.
>
> God has the greatest ways of pulling you down.
>
> If you think you don't have time now, you'll have less in the future.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - 4:30m - Joel A'Bell
>
> Content Session
>
> A lot of us look to Jesus as Lord, saviour, healing, pastoral care.... How about leadership?
>
> Leadership is the ability to shift/alter the state of someone else.
>
> Leading like Jesus.
>
> 1. Am I leader? It's your choice.
>
> Two types.
> Organic - life role, father, husband, friendships etc
> Organisational - functional, job specs, position, title, structure.
>
> Problems when not adding in organic to organisational. Or being organisational at home with no warmth, foundation of love.
>
> While waiting for your organisational leadership build your organic leadership, you will need it.
>
> Let the natural flow of organic leadership saturate our functional.
>
> 2. Am I willing to follow Jesus as my role model?
> Confrontation is a leadership skill and should not have negative connotations. It means to turn your face towards someone.
>
> 3. How do I lead like Jesus
> Luke 9:18-21
>
> Cyclical transformational journey
>
> A.
> It's personal. Personal leadership. If you can't govern and build self.. What good will you be to others. Personal leadership must be critiqued first.
>
> Jesus was so secure in himself he could ask, who do you say I am?
>
> Personal leadership is about perspective. Gaining perspective. Who am I?
>
> What are you good at, what are you bad at? What's holding you back?
>
> Grow me, know me, show me.
>
> Jump in a mental helicopter.
>
> Outcome: perspective
>
> B.
> One on One Leadership.
> Ability to connect with one person.
> Your ability to meet with another person and bring them across the line.
>
> Outcome, objective: trust
>
> Building trust. Work on building trust. The relationship as a bridge. Type of bridge is what you can bring across.
>
> Luke 9:28-36 trust being built. One on one interaction.
>
> Any good leader won't say everything. You give a bit, if trust is there a bit more. So on and so forth.
>
> Acceptance and love always there. But trust grows and the information becomes more personal.
>
> Can God trust you? It's your choice.
> You're as close to God as you want to be.
>
> There's no shortcuts to trust. You need to put the time, you've got to put the hour in to the person. Strategically, most key people to what you're accountable for and sow into them.
>
> C.
> Team Leadership
>
> Outcome: community
> Create a sense of community, family.
>
> Luke 9:46 - sense of community, love each other not just the leader.
>
> Secure, ok with with your voice not being heard. Hats between when am I the boss, when am I the friend.
>
> Love people, committed to them, they should know it without telling them.
>
> D.
> Organisational Leadership
>
> Outcome: effectiveness
>
> ---
>
> Confront asap, love asap.
> "1 minute manager" book
>
> Management by wondering around. Encourage right away, confront right away. Don't wait till next week.
>
> Life balance. Never perfect is what balances itz it's not static, it's dynamic. Ebb and flow. Dynamic. Look ahead in your calender.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - citycare meeting
>
> Not here to rescue.
> Come alongside people.
>
> Respectful, honouring.
>
> Be light in conversation. Not "oh what group are you in, how is it".
>
> Lime green colour theme this term.
>
> Dress and present appropriately.
>
> Leaders meeting at 5:00pm monday.
>
> Write a mini job description that someone could pick up and take over.
>
> Usually 6:45pm leaders meeting.
>
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/09 - combined meeting at hills
>
> Most Represented
> Usa
> Aus
> Can
> Uk
> Norway (37)
>
> -----
>
> Sanga, grant thompson, karoya, julia a'bell, ian woods, lee burns, rueban morgan.
>
> Leadership
>
> Sanga - most trouble from a church leader. Allowed the use of fire, burnt the baptismal pool. Running late services. Drew on the walls of the old office.
>
> Karoya -
>
> Woods - you only get one shot, make sure you have fun on the journey. Atmosphere of joy and comradery... Otherwise you get burnt out.
>
> Brian - intimidated by a leader. Difference between respecting and being intimidated by leadership, how to overcome?
>
> Woods - when intimidated you lose the joy. Realise that Jesus paid the same price for me as anybody else.
>
> Julia - doesn't think about the front row, things about the people in need.
>
> Brian - sometimes approached people and they seemed unfriendly... But actually they were intimidated.
>
> Sanga - be totally confident and happy. Walk in my own shoes, be who I've been called to be. Be myself.
> Romans - God's call is irrevocable
>
> What do you do to grow as a leader?
>
> Burns - constantly reading, look for area's that need growth... Confidence... Communication.. Focus on it for 12 weeks etc.
> Don't worry about trying to be all of that all at once.
>
> Rueban - reading. Finding things that inspire you. Going after things that flick the switch. Don't stop being a fan, even as a professional musician, composer etc... Keep being a fan. Be open to feedback.
>
> Julia - embrace all the trials and obsticles
> Enlarge capacity by overcoming things.
>
> Thompson - job 42. It's a lot about heart. When your heart is right it just happens. When thinking or heart issues things can slow down.
>
> Some other thing to describe leadership.
>
> Sanga - purpose driven, not personality driven. Embrace change. Not driven by who the leader (personality) is, it's the purpose behind them.
>
> Karoya - caring for the people, growing your people under you. Not focused on the area at the expense of the people.
>
> Leader vs non leader?
>
> Thompson - difference is the fruit that is produced. What is God blessing.
>
> Lee - as a leader there is something in you that people want to draw from. Submission, drawing from the one above you.
>
> Julia - the leader has the influence, title doesn't make a leader.
>
> Brian - consistancy. Church life has seasons. Fruit. Attitude. Over a long period of time. Depth to go with the charisma.
>
> Woods - here to help people. Lead with a servant heart. Love people. God loves them, we should do the same. Help them be all they can be.
>
> Sanga - disciplined prayer life. When you go to the Word you need it for you. Things will only increase
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/11 12pm Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> We need to know what it is to build it.
>
> House of God
>
> The Church as the Body of Christ
> 1 cor 12, Eph 3,4
>
> Eph 1:20 (msg)
>
> Rom 12:3-8
> 1 Cor 12:12-30
> Eph 4:11-16
> Col 2:19
>
> What do you learn about the church as a body from these passages?
>
> Principle
> Practices
> Attitudes
> Things to guard against
>
> 1. Don't place yourselves above others. One body. Each person connected. Each person has skills and different abilities.
>
> ----
>
> Why does it talk about the church as a body?
>
> - different skills coming together to form a unified body
>
> - each part has a purpose
>
> - Christ is the head of the body, directs it, tells it how to move.
>
> - new testament is trying to say Jesus is us, his head remains, we *are* the body.
> "When you see me you see the Father"
> - when you see *us* you see the father.
>
> You are his body.
>
> I'm more than my body. Who I really am is expressable through my body.
>
> Let the head decide
>
> Unity - not at war with itself
> Connected
> Function - part of an overall function to do something
>
> Every part is significant and God placed.
> Each part relies on each other part.
> Every part must submit to the head.
> Care for one another.
>
> The part you play has a soveriegn plan, soveriegn aspect to it. Both valued equally by God.
>
> Only as strong as the weakest part.
>
> Connected to each other as strong as you are connected to Jesus. You can't be connected to God and treat other connections as less important.
>
> We all draw life from the same thing, the head.
>
> When there is pain in a part of the body, it must effect me. If your shoulder hurts you put your hand on it.
>
> It takes the entire the body to get the fullness of Christ, to express the fullness.
>
> - break-
>
> Watched mission video
>
> Dazzles with reflective glory
>
> Be an agent for unity, connectedness
>
> - Hillsong Church's Mission Statement
>
> To reach and influence the world by building a large, Christ-centred, bible-based church, changing mindsets, and empowering people to lead and impact in every sphere of life.
>
> Why altar call at every service? Reaching people.
>
> A church will not grow if the people in it don't want it to grow?
>
> Are you willing to identify, stretch, grow, sacrifice to grow.
>
> Commit to personal ongoing growth and change.
>
> If you want to reach more people that what you're reaching now you need to change into someone who can reach more people.
>
> Influencing the world to become a different place. How to be a better country etc.
>
> All through building the church. Does this thing help build the church? Some things can be awesome but don't build the church.
>
> Large means successful in reaching and more likely to influence. You can have a large impact.
>
> The biggest thing restcricting growth and potential is mindsets that don't change. Renewing of the mind. Most of us are ignorant of the way we think.
>
> If you focus on sin, you end up structuring around the avoidance of sin, which does not empower.
>
> Instead speak about life and pursuing life.
>
> If you focus on the pothole you will hit it because you're focused on it.
>
> Instead, there's a pothole, where will I go to avoid it? I'll go that way.
>
> Positive, upbeat practical. To take a persons life forward, it moves you away from the negative.
>
> Repentance, doing it without the words. Repent is to turn around and go a different direction.
>
> An empowering environment being encouraged.
>
> Jesus is a message of life. Word of the Lord is meant to lift you, not cut you.
>
> Embracing life, not avoiding it.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/11 2:30pm Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> What makes church "church".
>
> Is it possible to have church online?
>
> Exercise.
>
> What do you have to have in the life of church to have church.
>
> Gathering of people. For a specific purpose. Teaching, praising/worship, fellowship. Preaching the gospel. Meeting point. Community. Love. Prayer. Diversity. Care for each other. Doctrinal system. Shephard. Growth and change.
>
> Some things are just there as Christians. i.e. Holy spirit, Jesus.
>
> Some things you just need to have an effective church.
>
> Acts 2:46
>
> 1. Worship (prayer, fasting, individual, corporate, engaging towards God)
> 2. Evangelism
> 3. Serving - Jesus characterised himself as a servant.. If you aren't serving, are you christian?
> 4. Discipleship
> 5. Fellowship
> 6. Teaching (communication of the word of God)
> 7. Baptism (Jesus said to go out and baptise)
> 8. Communion (perfectly fine to do communion in connect groups)
> 9. Mission (sense of purpose)
> 10. Leadership
>
> Online church discussion. Only what you type is communicated. How can we have community and relationship without touch. Don't recieve it to the degree you need to call it fellowship.
>
> Overcome the limitations of geography doing whatever you can in an online way.. But *only* because of the limitations.
>
> We do the hard yards to sort out the problems, we won't always be happy with each other.
>
> Online is a tool you use, resource, it's not enough on it's own.
>
> "I've been hurt by church so I'm going to change my theology" - if you got hurt, get back in there and sort it out. Confront the issues so we can be the body, don't disconnect from it. Christ said he will build the church.
>
> Church is not created in *your* image. It's going to confront your issues.
>
> If someone is experiencing isolation the church should try harder, it's not good enough.
>
> Reverse the process with those hurt, build a bridge... Don't go straight to the area hurt. Start talking about their theology and work backwards.
>
> ---
>
> 3:40pm
>
> What makes an effective church.
>
> Where did your list come from?
> *Examples in acts - Biblical precedent
> *Own experience of church, own church.
> *Biblical instructions -> biblical principles
> *what I've been taught
> *experience of a bad/good church
> *example of successful churches
>
> Be aware of how you reached your conclusion.
>
> If you went solely on precedent, you are saying 21st century church should operate like 1st century church.
>
> Principle is they gathered and what they did, not the place.
>
> When you read a verse in context you get a feel for it.
>
> Some things are just historical record. Eg. Paul walked a lot and went on boats, does that mean you can't use a plane?
>
> - What makes it effective
> 3. Ways to evaluate
> 1. Conformity to Biblical pattern?
> 2. Biblical principle and method?
> 3. Biblical principle and Effective method
>
> When you read the bible you discern there's more to it. God loves people, who wants to save people, people full of life, joy, faith, church having an impact. More important than the question of method.
>
> Word of God does not change so the principles do not change but the methods change.
>
> Eg Paul used the method of going into synagogues and preached. They were effective methods in their time, culture and context.
>
> People saying big churches have compromised, watered down etc... If you have quality it will produce quantity... It doesn't have to be either or. Healthy church will produce quantity.
>
> Pursue quality with the expecation it will produce quantity.
>
> ---
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 11 February 2010 11:10:59 PM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/11 4:30pm Church & Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> Leadership in the bible
>
> What to look for, for theological foundation
>
> 1. Old testament
> 2. New testament
> - transition from OT to NT (what changed, what stayed the same, why?)
> - NT Examples
> - NT Principle
> 3. Modern Applications
>
> (Notes on portal)
>
> Leadership:
> (Old testament)
> a. All authority from God. Ownership gives authority.
>
> b. God rules the Earth through delegated authority.
>
> If we're made in the image, we rule over something because God rules. Accountable to God.
>
> c. God establishes Hierarchy
> Gen 2
> God made Adam first, gave him rulership
> Eve came after, from and for Adam
> Adam instructed Eve (re; the fruit)
>
> Gen 3
> God dealt with Adam first then "drilled down"
> The curses delivered "up" the hierarchy. (From the snake, to eve, to Adam)
> vv 14-19.
>
> Adam got the harshest.
>
> (Not getting into men and women)
>
> d. The fall corrupted leadership
> Gen 3
> Ruled over yet desire him.
> Man now consumed with his own pain and problems.
>
> Typical key problems of failed leadership.
>
> e. Though fallen, in OT, God still worked through leaders.
> Moses, josh, kings, prophets, foreign rulers. Just because it's broken or corrupted he can use it.
>
> New testament differences
>
> Church is not a nation, like israel.
> Model of "king" does not auto apply.
> Priesthood of all believers (used to be king, priest and prophet)
> Membership is voluntary
> Leader / follower dynamics change, e.g. The types of punishment.
>
> Similarities
> Still through delegated authority
> Still pursues the mission
> Some leader / follower dynamics the same eg. Obedience
>
> 3. New testament examples.
>
> a. Jesus was a leader
> Leadership functions:
> Messiah
> Teacher
> Preacher
> Judge
> Leader of disciples
> Leader of the movement
>
> Mat 7:28-29
>
> Jesus appointed people as leaders, gave them authority.
> Mat 10:1
> Mark 3:14
>
> Peter given a lot of authority.
> Mat 16:18-19
>
> c. The apostles appointed leaders
> Matthias to replace judas
> Seven deacons acts 6
> Paul and Barnabas acts 13
> Appointed elders acts 14:23
> Paul appoints timothy to lead ephesian church
> Apostles leadership Acts 2:42
> Jerusalem council acts 15
> Gentile churches obeyed the council acts 16:4
> Ephesian elders acknowledged pauls role as their leader
>
> e. Paul was a leader
> Paul's roles:
> Apostle
> Teacher and preacher
> Father
> Mentor
> Chief elder
> Appointer and delegator of leaders
> Rebuker, problem-solver, reconciler, defender, fund-raiser.
>
> So how is Christian leadership different to other organizations.
>
> 4. New Testament Principles
> a. Jesus has all authority
> Mat 28:18
>
> b. All human authority is delegated authority
> Mat 8:8-10
>
> Because it's delegated authority, you don't have freedom to do what you want.
> Authority in direct proportion to submission.
> Eg Duncan to Brian to God.
>
> Rom 13:1-2 - rebelling is going against God's authority.
> In submission you can bring something up.
>
> c. NT Leadership is not democratic or a committee
>
> 1. Collective decisions is inviting people without a leadership gift into the leadership process.
>
> Need to look at decisions through leaders eyes.
>
> 2. Understand why they democratic to begin with. Maybe.. protect against abuse of strong leadership. Setups a system to protect from leaderships power by limiting leaderships power. Reduces effectiveness of leadership.
>
> d. Submission and obedience are expected of followers
> Heb 13:17 - obey leaders and submit
> 2 thes 3:14-15
> Rom 13:1
> 1 cor 16:15-16 - submitting to leadership of others.
>
> What about Eph 5:21? Respect and value others.
>
> Be faithful and supportive.
>
> Why do we resist submission? From the fall our demand to have things our way, self centredness. Me-centric.
> Submission to leadership cuts right accross that.
>
> Pursue submission, it will release you from human demandingness to have things your way.
>
> As leaders they must give an account of the other persons life.
>
> e. NT Leadership is Servant - leadership
> Mark 10:42-45
>
> When you lead, it is for the service of others.
>
> - duncan drew a picture
> Pyramid with leader at the top, church is inverted pyramid, senior pastor at the bottom with the lines going up in brackets. Service up, obedience down.
>
> f. Leadership is for the health of the body.
> Heb 13:17
> It is not for the grandisement of the leaders.
>
> g. NT leadership seeks counsel
> Prov 15:22
> Many NT examples.
>
> Eg If elders disagree, pauses and thinks about it seriously. Strong inner security.
>
> h. NT Leadership requires Godly character
> 1 tim 3 qualities of an overseer
> Healthy leaders
> Absolutely essential
>
> i. Leadership is both divine and human
> Rom 12:6-8 - gifted it
> 1 tim 3:1 - inside desiring it
>
> Leadership is always the problem, and leadership is always the solution. - Brian Houston
>
> Some people are not gifted with leadership to run something like a church etc.
>
> You'll end up with a sized church equal to the leadership.
>
> God operates through leadership.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/12 - 01:00pm Church in Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> What happens during a service?
>
> Even from before it starts, things happening.
>
> Door greeter, Individual conversation. Giving value to the person.
>
> Create a space for connecting.
>
> Music to fill the silence, allows people to talk.
>
> Doors open 15 mins before, to build critical mass.
>
> Pre-roll to get focus.
>
> ---
>
> Stage is wide, not deep.
>
> Leadership exerted by the bv's even though you can't hear them. Presence yourself onstage.
>
> Let your exterior reflect the eternally true instead of your internal temporary feelings based on how much sleep you had or last nights pizza.
>
> Asking you to be you but turned up a bit to influence those around you. Not from 0 to 100 but 0 to 15. I have an opportunity to influence people.
>
> Excellence for the sake of no distractions.
>
> Up on screen instead of book to engage and look up.
>
> Mc creates sense of feeling and good times.
>
> Offering to be reminded why.
>
> What is it going to take to build the church? To get them to come back next week and bring their friends.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/12 - 03:00 pm Church in Ministry - Duncan Corby
>
> Find someone who speaks a different language
>
> "I am hungry, Where can I get a pizza?"
>
> Onaka sueta, pizza wa doko de, kaimasu ka?
>
> ---
>
> It's better to stop while people want more than going to long and people wishing it finished 5-10 minutes ago.
>
> ---
>
> Assessment
> 'What makes a church'?
>
> Due 1st of march
>
> Part 3 find someone from another church if you're from hillsong.
>
> I.E. Potential weakness of hillsong, large group can get lost.
>
> References that justify why to do it in a church environment.
>
> ---
>
> Serving
>
> Biblical principles:
>
> 1. Human Potential is Fulfilled in Serving
> Mark 10:43-45 - anyone who wants to be great, let me tell you how. He wants you to be great.
>
> Lived for the sake of others.
>
> A greatness of character and beyond not of proficiency.
>
> 2. Serving Others is Serving the Lord
> Rom 12:11
>
> Serving the Lord looks like serving others and nothing else.
>
> People don't always notice, not always thankful and may slam you if you get it wrong but it's ok. You've done it for Him
>
> 3. Serving *IS* Freedom
> Gal 5:13-14
> Doing whatever you want is not freedom, you're consumed with your own agenda trying to shape things to what you want, when you want it, locked into a slave to trying to get what you want.
>
> 4. We Are All Equipped to Serve
> 1 Cor 12:7 - for the *common* good.
>
> 5. Move from Receiving to Giving
> Acts 20:35
>
> Get to the point where you are self-sustaining and being able to give to others.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/12 - 08:30 am pastoral care meeting
>
> Wendy Kelly - funerals, sicknesses
> Judith McGhie- baby dedications, weddings
>
> But they both do both.
>
> Pastoral care students:
> Charlene
> Aaron - cali
> Nadine - switz
> Mana
> Nathan
> Danilla - switz
> Tyson - qld coast
> Demaris
>
> -
> Katie
> Magdalene
>
> ----
> Pastoral Care should reflect a strong functional family. I.e. If that was your child or mother what would you do?
>
> Not leave any gaps
>
> Where is pastoral
>
> Case Management - a person with needs, don't think of them as a case.
>
> Evaluate how to care for that person. Wholistic, not just counselling, coming to church, worship, a meal.
>
> How best to care for them, either individual or as a family.
>
> Homecare. We are family to them.
>
> Practical care, spiritual help, social connection. Working through that persons cg or cg leader.
>
> People may need external professional help. Citycare is part of the pastoral care.
>
> Jo White @ citycare organizes the counselling.
>
> Replicating care across different levels won't help.
>
> Prayer requests through church as a pastoral tool.
>
> Praying for people just before they go into surgery.
>
> Pastoral care is 24/7
>
> If they don't have any family support we try to be there after the surgery as well. (Fill the gaps).
>
> If it's the key family member in hospital what does the rest of the family need? Help there as well.
>
> Monthly healing meeting - thurs 25th feb 7:30pm
>
> Crisis situations, death, accidents, mostly bereavements.
>
> *grief*
>
> Grief is an ongoing process and can go on for years. We are with them until that sense of crisis is gone. Some take longer than others.
>
> Even if you don't have any answers, biblical or theological answers to why.. They need love, someone alongside them.. Not a bible study at that time.
>
> Accompany people to the morgue etc and not be shocked.
>
> All you have to do is love them and accept them where they are at.
>
> Grief is more like chaos theory than seven stages.
>
> Deaths. We go there straight away.
>
> To absolutely always be there.
>
> Being in contact with a funeral director is very good and helpful.
>
> Good to be with the family when the funeral director is there. Make the director aware that you're not charging a fee otherwise they'll include it. Help manage the flow of people.
>
> Don't be afraid to ask the story of how, where were they? It can help them to normalize. Gives them a chance to share. Don't have to have answers but questions are good.
>
> When the funeral is over stay in contact with the family.
>
> ----
>
> Births - kind of involved mixed kids ministry "Miracle 139" - from conception to birth. Building community and educating.
>
> Supporting people.
>
> Pregnant Nights, pamper the girls. Guys connect with other guys in similar situations.
>
> Some withdraw from church during pregnancy but we have lots of support, parents room etc.
>
> Training days after birth for the mothers during like sisterhood.
>
> Check up on the mums.
>
> We can not be judgmental at all. Where they are at is where they are at. Acknowledge what they are thinking, we don't dictate how to live their lives.
>
> Baby gifts. Flowers, cards etc.
>
> You become unshockable but not lose your heart.
>
> Dating and engagements.
>
> Delay the physical side for as long as possible. You're giving away part of yourself that you want to give to your future married partner.
>
> Physical also changes the focus of it.
>
> "Preparing for Marriage"
>
> "101 questions to ask before you get engaged"
>
> Dating/engagement period is a period of discovery.
>
> Pre-marriage course the sooner the better. "Making marriage better" 8 week sessions + 5 session one on one "prepare".
>
> There's 50 years of marriage after the wedding day that is all very important.
>
> --
>
> Not everyone will like you. They may criticize you
>
> Adv. Dip counselling.
>
> Confrontation
>
> "How to be a people helper" chapman
>
> Be aware of people's body language and reactions.
> ---
>
> Weddings, legal doc 1 month and a day before the wedding "intent to get married"... An ordained minister needs to apply for a marriage license. Any pastor can marry but but not officially.
>
> 3 grounds for divorce
> Abondonment
> Sexual immorality
> Severe physical abuse
>
> ACC marriage divorce policy.
>
> ----
>
> Normal week (no such thing)
> Tuesday staff meeting
> Pastoral care meeting
> Dept. Meetings.
>
> Weds
> Compile report to brian
> Appointments
>
> Thurs
> Sisterhood
> Appointments
>
> Fri
> Appointments
> Visits
>
> Sat
> Weddings
>
> "Service active" come to church, not connected.
>
> "Ministry active"
>
> How do we evaluate if effective? Seeing them grow, working ourselves out of a job.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/12 - 11:00am - chapel - steve?
>
> Burwood extension pastor
> Phil 3 - I press on to reach the end of the race.
>
> Lifting people up. Upwards. Go forward and upward.
>
> Bring up to a higher level.
>
> Engage with God and he will lift you.
>
> If human nature without God is left alone, it will gravitate you down. Settle, sit back.
>
> You need to activate God's lift by faith.
>
> God instructs us to do something.
>
> To be lifted up there's things you'll have to give up.
>
> Continue to let God have control.
>
> 1. God wants to lift your voice.
> Draw a "v" on your thumb.
> Are you raising your voice to raise other people's life?
> Set your course by your words.
> Think of your words in the last week, month, year... What has been the pattern? Where you are at now is because of your words.
> Prov 2:3, prov 8:1
>
> 2. Lift your head. Your thought life.
> Is 55
> Let the mind of the Master, be the master of your mind.
> Are your thoughts healthy? Positive, hopeful.
> Lift up your chin, walk with confidence.
>
> 3. lift up your heart.
> Eph 3:20
> Your heart is full of courage and boldness.
>
> 4. Hands
> Ps 63:4 - lift up my hands in your name.
> Increase in your productivity.
> Lion King monkey holding up the baby lion, like God lifting you up. Don't lift up your hands in anger or wrath.
>
> 5. Lift up your eyes.
> What do you see for 2010.
> The difference is focus, what you're focusing on you will see everywhere.
> Our eyes effect what we see and what we're looking for and where we are heading.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Nathan Rickuss
> Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
> Subject: 00 - 2010/02/16 - 09:45am Personal Leadership - Duncan Corby
>
> Foundation for your other subjects.
>
> Invest into it.
>
> As leaders live lives that are above average.
>
> Burj dubai tower almost twice as big as the other tall towers.
>
> Good foundations to build something that tall.
>
> The strength of your foundations will determine your strength and resilience.
>
> Iceberg analogy. 80% of their l
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