Being myself: 2010/5/30

sharlin yang

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notes for all classes

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Nathan Rickuss 4 June 2010 12:34
To: Sharlin Yang

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/02 - 3:00pm Communication in Ministry

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 leadership (like brian) happens below the surface, out of view, personal leadership.

Ship analogy. A gash below the waterline of your life can destroy your leadership and influence.

Sinkhole analogy. Building a public ministry on the foundation of your personal life. When you cave in you will take other people with you.

We need to attend to these personal matters more than your average person.

He who would lead others must first lead himself.

Prov 16:32 (win the battle of patience with yourself, being able to control yourself)

You cannot lead people somewhere you have not been yourself.

1 tim 4:15

Sometimes you'll feel like you're only one page ahead... Don't stay there though, get further ahead.

-exercise-
In what area's does a leader need to lead themselves (personal lives)?
Discipline
Self Control
Self awareness
Thought life
Time management
Organisational
Cleanliness
Finances
Family
Patience with people and also with building long term
Relationships with people and God
Physical health
Decision making
Honesty & Integrity

-exercise-
Describe a situation where a leader is more fruitful because of strong personal self-leadership.

-exercise-
Situation where it failed?

What area of your public leadership could go forward and be strengthened by nailing some personal area's.

Identify and talk about an area.
Imagine what your leadership would look like if you nailed that area, get some vision about what you would release.

- typically christians get down on themselves for their weaknesses... More effective iis to imagine the positive destination you're heading towards... Aspire for the peak.
Also, more attractive and courageous leader.

---
Exemplify the life of a giver

---
Outline:
Private devotion
Living for the Cause - habits, lifestyle etc
A prayer life that works.
Your life's values, vision and mission
Setting life's goals
Optimising time
Financial leadership
Reflection: sharpening the axe
Reading the bible for all it's worth
Living healthy
Emotional strength
Relational health

---

Topic 1 - Private Devotion
Two broad things:

1. Your devotional life is seriously and honestly the core of all other area's of your life.
Engine room of faith, growth, change.
Dynamic, vital and continously needed.
Without it, you will end up destroyed.
The grounding for your entire life.

2. What's most important is not how you do it... But that you do it. Discover a way to do it that works for you. Don't get hung up on the mechanics of a devotional life as opposed to the results.. Am I close to God? Is there a vibrant connection with God.

The mechanics discussed are not the rules.. Always ask yourself is this working? Not am I ticking off the boxes each day.

"I see a generation that excels at public passion but fails in private devotion" - Robert Fergusson

Don't equate public passion with private devotion.

Have you ever said "I don't need to read my bible today or speak to God because I went to church?"

Don't mistake the buzz of doing so many great things as being the indicator of your relationship with God.

Benefits of a strong devotional life (as above).
When we try to change after having God speak to us we can approach it with life, faith, grace and power... In our own strength very difficult, striving.

The alterantive to striving is a thriving dynamic relationship with God.

-self-evaluation-
"You're as close to God as you want to be" - Rick Warren

How close to God are you at the moment?

Why? it's your choice, what are the choices you have made to get you there?

Barometer - air pressure and whether it's rising or falling.

Barometer test on your devotional life, is it rising or falling?

There are no requirements when it comes to method. The relationship is not about the things, it's about the relationship.

God is the same for all of us but all of us are different.

Word of God has to be in there, you talking to God and God communicating to you.

things you could try:
Journalling
As you're reading the scriptures you write down what comes to you and what's going on as you read.
Benefits:
Assist reflection
Record revelation - write down the vision so he may run who reads it.
Focus application - so what does that mean in my life?
Aid remembrance
Allow review - inspiring to go back through your past revelations, there's the altar, this is what God said to me at that moment. Source of inspiration.
Serve as a memorial - record of the journey with Jesus, create a moment to value in the future.

Duncan does a paper journal and a scanned book of the bible to write on. Found his method 10 years ago.

What is important is find a way that works for you.

It's about quality, not quantity, what matters is God speaking to you.

Don't be slaves to the method, the method should serve you... If it's not serving you then change it.

Scripture -> Observation -> Application -> Prayer

How do you decide what to read?

Scripture reading plan
Monday - gospels and early church, mat, mark, luke and acts
Tuesday - paul -romans to phil
Wednesday - torah, gen to deut
Thurs - john and NT letters - john, heb to rev
Fri - OT hist - josh to esth
Sat - prophets - isaiah to malachi
Sunday - poetry - job to song of songs, worship prayer, pouring out heart

Reading in every part at the same time, you will notice themes and idea's flow through the entire book.

Read as much as you need to, verse, chapter etc... Criteria is to hear from God *not* go through the motions.

5 minutes a day is better than 35 mins once a week.

Find the time and zone in your day to best hear from God.

On the scripture that you've got next step is observation. The notes we make are observations. Our response is usually "I know what that means, I've heard that before in a message, I know what that means"

don't rush towards what does it mean... Look at it. Look at it some more... Then look at it some more.

Allow your bible to be like when you read it for the first time, without pre-concieved idea's. Recipe for freshness.

Observe... And ask questions of the text. Whose talking? What is he talking about? What's going on here? What is the tone? Look at that, look at that!

If your bible has commentary don't read it until after you've done your own stuff... Use it to check your thoughts not start your thoughts.

Different versions help with the process, give different angles on the same word.

Application.. So what do I do with it?

Prayer "God help me"

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/16 - Chapel - Catrina

2 cor 9:10
Leaders in sowing
---
"Life, in Him"
Ephesians, it's about the church.

Outside of the body of Christ God has no plans for your life.
What course you choose, who you marry is what you choose.
We are called to be the church.
What you do should be the result of a healthy body of a healthy church, planted in good soil the other things you do will be good fruit.

Your life in Christ, in the church. Not just you as life as an individual.

A disconnected appendage has no life.

God let's you make a choice and he will steer you, start building momentum.

6 points on ephesians

1. Chapter 1 - in Him we are chosen to be
Before the creation of the world you were chosen to be holy and blameless, first and foremost, not to be a doctor or pastor or worship leader. Chosen before you were made, that he wanted you to live a certain life not have a certain job.
You're not chosen to be a preacher, you're chosen to be a child of God.

Being is first and foremost, out of that come the other things.

Weren't chosen to be something.

We *are* chosen to be someones, Gods.

2. Chapter 2. In Him, we are created to do...
Good works that were prepared in advance... You can choose to go with the flow with the body or fail and fall down.
They are destined to work, God doesn't make dumb plans that will burn you out.

He creates things that don't fail and makes plans that don't fail.

Comparing or competing or envious? What you're saying is what God created you for is rubbish and you want what was created for someone else.

It's awkward to function effectively when parts are swollen or bruised or cut. Even simple daily things are difficult.

3. Chapter 3. In Him we are confident to approach....
Approach God with freedom and confidence.
He chose us and created us to do stuff he already mapped out for us we are confident to approach God.

Human response to sin is shame, don't mix up shame/guilt with remorse or sorrow with what you did.

Go back to the one who made you... I'm sorry. Not naked and ashamed hiding... But you can't hide.

When you make a mistake go back to your manufacturer, misuse of the product, needs to be serviced.

4. Chapter 4 in Him we are called to unity.
Called to unite the body of Christ, not have a certain profession or title or family etc.

Can't just have a relationship with the hand of God (give, give) or finger (God judge them, speak to them) it has to be with the whole body.

Make every effort, go out of your way to make unity.

You'll never be 'ready' (i.e. Connect group leader), have a go.

5. Chapter 5 in Him we are cleansed to walk.
We can only walk because we are cleansed. We can only love because we are loved. Your understanding of your forgiveness allows you to walk in love.

6. Chapter 6 we are clothed in victory.
Not clothed in our past mistakes, or our work etc.
It's God wardrobe... Not your wardrobe of pastors hat, worship leaders cloak etc.
He has already dressed us.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/17 - 09:00am Personal Leadership Tutorial

The outcome of tute depends on what you bring.

Come and bring your experience to the table.

No comment is invalid.

This is a place of encouragement

---

Private devotion

Assessment, start journaling

Reflect on the disciplines of prayer, journaling, bible reading

Reflect on devotion through the week.

Week 3 - Tutorial 1.
What did pray look like, how did it benefit etc. Not the details of what you prayed.

Disciplines-
Journalling
Praying
Bible reading

Reflecting on the process of journalling
How effective is your prayers and how well your bible reading is.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/17 - 10:30am Communication in Ministry Tutorial

Assessment outline
Job Profiles
Emails and phone calls
Conflict resolution case studies
Passport pg 10

Personal Leadership
Assessments
Journal
Goal Setting
Passport

-
Fieldwork
-
Reading
'Dialogue with God'
-

Katie.peters@hillsong.com

Job profiles by 1st March

Look at all the assessment guides
Check your readings

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/17 - 11:45am Mission & Culture - Anita Schmied

Produce the fruit of salvation in your life.

More than anything, have stories about cross-culturally connecting with people and tell them about Jesus.

Understanding cultures so we can appropriate the mission.

Come on time, phone off.

Student guide with you

Banner of "Encouragement"

Student assessment guide.

Intercultural ministry

Mission
Culture
Strategically
And what does that mean to me?

Mission Workbook
Cross cultural interview

What's kingdom culture and what's just the country culture? Etc.

5 things you want to learn about

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/17 - 12:45pm Old Testament Intro Tutorial

Exegesis - what the text meant for *them* at the time. Who, what, where, when, how etc.

Hermeneutics - applying, what the message is for you.

Context questions

Study tools next week.

Study bible.

Think about; "Them, us & me"
What did it mean for them, for us and for me.

Hebrew thinking is "us" first. Community.

Ownership of things... If you're losing so am I, if you're winning, I win too, it's not comparitive.

Create an idea for a new version of the bible.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/18 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

Why mission & culture?
We are all on a mission to the world and the world has a culture.

Jesus did the same, into a culture that was very resistant.

Acts 17:16-34
Paul, speaking to greeks ad jews, the philosophers epicureans and stoics.

Day in day out his lifestyle.
Preachs
Reasons

Helenistic educated, to reason with the greeks and a jew among jews to preach to the jews.
Finds a pathway, he doesn't rebuke.
Has a different way for a different people group.

Mission strategy plan in the acts of the apostles, they were the first to do it.

Positioned himself, ie marketplace.

He knew they liked to discuss idea's.

He didn't just know stuff about them, he knew how they discussed idea's in their culture.

Some mocked and jeered, others wanted to know more, some accepted.

Don't just sit down for coffee with those who put their hand up also sit with the ones who are still curious.

No matter how many days, months, years. It could just be their culture.

He saw their spirituality as an opportunity.

What is a mission?
A calling
A goal, something to be achieved
Assignment to be completed.
Venture
Setting out on something
Forward movement
Strategy
Out of your comfort zone
Risk
Often can't be done alone
Large scale
Small scale
Purposeful
Expertise or special abilities.
Defineable / Measureable
Advancement
Sacrifice
Service
There is an enemy or opposition
Part of a bigger picture
Someone gives you the assignment from the higher authority and you go with their authority.

military examples:
Combat mission
Search mission
Search & destroy mission
Search & rescue mission
Direct support mission

Clip from the gaurdian

God wants to seek and save the lost, we have to search out those left behind.

God made a good world, people messed it up; God sent Jesus to put it and people back together.

bringing fullness and completeness.

-notes will be up on portal-

Mission -> to send
Apostle -> sent one

The whole bible teaches mission
1. Mission is what God is doing
- God's plan included sending Jesus
2. Jesus sends
Matt 10:5
John 20:21 - the same way God sent Jesus, Jesus sends us!
Matt 28:18-20 - authorisation from heaven, He will be with us until it's done. He has commanded us.
John 14:15 - loving Jesus looks like obeying his commands.
Acts 1:8 - His power will come upon you yo be witnesses to the end of the earth, do not worry about your strength.
Romans 10:15 - beautiful feet, quoting from Is 52:7

Gen 3-12
God sets about remedying the fall.
Calls Abram to partner with Him to rescure the world.

Israel: a missionary people
God's people
Inviting others to be part of the family.
Identity - "I belong to God, you can too"

Prescriptive, prescribing what we should do.
Descriptive, a lesson not to.

Old Testament
Israel were supposed to:
Be witnesses to His love and righteousness
To be a light to the gentiles. Is 42:6, Is 49:6
Is 43:23
Messengers

New testament
Missionary acts and endeavours of the early church.

Church becomes the new community of God, no longer a racial group.

Acts 13, Rom 9 "Light of the world"

----

NT

Churches of NT in missionary settings
Commended for evangelising their communities and beyond.
Faith reported all over the world

1 pet 2:10 - Kingdom People
1 pet 2:9 - so we can delcare the wonderful deeds of Him

If we belong to God we automatically represent him to the world.

Mission is...
Being sent and identity showing ourselves as God's people so people might see God.

God calls, commissions and authorizes.
God..
Called Abram
Created israel
Redeemed His people
To testify to him (created to testify to him)
His servant - Is 49:1-7
Is 42:1

Mat 28:18-20 - great commission

Sending of disciples
Authorisation
See also acts
Acts 1:6-8
Acts 4:18-20
Acts 8:27-42

-Motivation
What motivates me to share Jesus Christ? I want to try and save them, share the amazing thing I have discovered.

What prevents you from speaking about Jesus? Fearful at times of people's responses, like the way my father reacts to things, the close-mindedness of people.

Acts 4:18-20 - they couldn't stop thrmselves.

Pentecost commissioned the disciples for the ongoing work.
Acts 2:17

By the holy spirit given many things, God promised to pour His power out on them and went with them.

Sent by the spirit through the church.

Their missionary acts were not lone ranger, secret ninja acts... It was part of the church.

The church is God's plan
Acts 29
Reconciling agent/medium

Called the church to be:
His chosen generation
Royal priesthood
Holy nation
Household of God

You cannot be a christian outside of church.

Eph 3:10-11 *through the church*

"The Church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning" Emil Brunner (swiss)

John 17, Jesus prays for the world.

God is a sending God, working with and through people since Abram.

We are a mission people with a mission mandate

"Unless and until the future of the world is more important than the future of the church, the church has no future"

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/19 - 02:15pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Kind of like a lecture and tutorial.

Safe place to make mistakes, fall down and have a go.

3 presentations
Business presentations
Business concept, creative and your own.
3 resources that you used for the presentation

Community presentation
Something to bless the community
With a powerpoint presentation

5 minute sermon

Hand in a resource file that lists 10 websites that have helped you with public speaking. Due 19th April

Speaking due:
9th april business
7th may community
11th june sermon

---

Fear of public speaking

For any fear that you have....

4 points for public speaking
1. Ask yourself what are you afraid of? That people will laugh? Judge you? That you will mess up?.. Is mine a confidence in not knowing what to say?

2. Why are you afraid of it?
-we're going to start building a new tower

3. Why shouldn't you be afraid?

4. Positive thought about yourself. "I can do this"

--

Worried about what to say.

Confidence about the things makes it ok.
Don't know what to say get worried.
Afraid of saying the wrong thing or afraid of misunderstanding

Have to know in detail the topic. Confidence in the subject.

worried about saying the right thing, don't make a mistake.

Invite the holy spirit.

---

Don't take yourself too seriously, things can go wrong

Confidence from knowing God has called you to do this.. It's no accident.

Focus on and trust God

Know your audience.

Find specific people in the audience and focus on them for a couple of seconds.

Focus on the love God has for you.

Practice praying to God.. If you're confident talking to God why be afraid of talking to people.

--

Steve munstein acts out all the characters in the bible, he doesn't speak.

--

try and look at what makes that public speaker so effective, what makes them so influential? Bring it to every class.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:21 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/19 - 08:30am Old Testament Introduction

The first (old) testament is not some old, outdated, irrelevant.

Ordinary is very easy to do without getting tired.

The new is hidden in the old.. And without the old the new doesn't make sense.

-
It is the word of God
It is written by God - eternally relevant
It is written by men - historically relevant
Many literary forms, it's good literature.
2 tim 4:13, 2 tim 3:15-16
All scripture is God breathed, NT writers only had OT.
They fully understood and only had the OT.

(The bible shows us...) -notes will be on the portal-

Your story only exists because he wrote it into His story, right from the beginning.

We don't really understand salvation if we don't understand the OT.

The bible still means what it means 'then and there' - Exegesis

The bible also means something 'here and now' - hermeneutics

Don't let the skills you learn take away from your personal devotion time.

Dump our greek brains and become hebrews.

Exegesis, allow it to speak in it's original context.

When it was written, who was it written to, what was going on, what did it mean to the people... What's going in the whole chapter, the whole book. Literary context. Structure.

You can't study a paraphrase, you can enjoy it.

Scriptures are not chronological, ie job is somewhere near genesis

What you think should only create a funnel or platform for people to receive and understand what *God* says in His word, not what you think it means.

After exegesis is application, hermenuetics.

Free to do whatever you want would be anarchy

2 old testament concepts of freedom.

Free from oppression, suppression, unjust slavery etc.

Free to obey, to lay your life down willingingly, to serve.

-

Make your application practical, it's a practical book, not a theoretical book.

So practical the Bible that God put flesh on it and walked it around the world.

-

9:30am
-
Old testament is Jesus bible

If you don't understand the OT stuff, many examples the NT stuff won't make sense and will be out of context.

OT
39 books
30 Authors (we think)
Written over 1-2000 years
Covers some major peoples/empires/history in ANE

Have to read on all 3 levels, universally, historically and personally.

Law, prophets and writing.

Major and minor prophets is just because of the length.

Law (??) - not an accurate word.
Historical narrative
Poetry
Wisdom literature
Prophecy

Goal has to be lives changed, kingdom advanced.

If you're interested in the knowledge great and pursuit but don't make knowledge the goal.

The subheadings are not God breathed, the content is. The chapters are not, the numbers are not... Some chapters don't fit where they are.

Read the whole text in context have to take the numbers.

Timeline:
Creation
The fall
The flood
The patriarchs, abraham, isaac etc
The exodus
Sianie desert
The wilderness
Conquest
Promised land
Judges
Kings & prophets
Solomins temple
North exiled
South exiled Juda
(Esther)
Restoration, ezra neh etc

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 20 February 2010 9:44:27 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/19 - 11:00 Chapel - Duncan

1 cor 16:8
The Lord having opened a great door for effective work.

Phases or steps
1. You haven't walked through the door yet, you're standing at the door and you don't realise it.
"That doesn't look like what I was expecting" don't write it off. It may not be immediately obvious but you are involved in effective work.

2. Some of you recognize there is a door in front of you but you're reluctant to go through it.
The reward for great work is more work. Serving the Lord involved work.
Sometimes reluctant to go through the door because of what's going on at home. Paul stayed where he was, the timing, the great door for effective work was opened for him.

3. Difficulty comes with the territory.

You can tell the greatness of a person by what discourages them. (Ian Woods)

Don't let things sway you.

4. Consider staying longer because of what you're involved in, an effective door. A work that you're involved in here for the timing and purposes of God.

5. End of 15 - therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing move you, always give yourselvews fully to the Lord because your labour in the Lord has not been in vain. It is recognized and makes a difference.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/23 - 11:45 Chapel Ben

Doing the bradberry, from the winter olympics gold medal skater.

In the end he stood standing.

'Standing Strong'

Ecc 9:11... Time and chance happen to us all. Everyone has an opportunity.

Don't just skid over the line, finish strong.

1. Stand in faith.
2 tim 4:7 - fought the good fight, kept the faith.

Move the faith finishline further ahead.

Heb 11:11 - consider him faithful who has promised.

What has God promised over your life for today? This week?

Keep on stepping forward, we're not called to stay in our comfort zone.

Step out.

What are the boundaries of your comfort zone?

Heb - heroes of the faith, by faith, by faith.

2. Hope. Hold on to hope
Prov 13:12 - hope deffered makes the heart sick

Deffering hope gets mixed in with the complications of life. Practicalities of life build up and can suffocate life.

Lead in every area, barrell analogy and the smallest slat (area of life)

If you can't manage your own household how will you manage the church. Manage our personal life.

3. Love.
1 cor 13:13
Mat 22:36 love God, love people. God cares about your personal situation.

1 cor 15:58 - stand firm

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/23 - 9:45 Personal Leadership - Duncan

Our own academy awards

Youtube clips
duncan.corby@hillsong.com

Categories
Hilarious
"Oh my gosh" amazing

Length 2 minutes or less

----

-The Cause-

What does it take for someone to fulfill their potential?

Training, discipline, hardwork, opportunities, passion, mentor/wise council, patience, experience, commitment/dedication, equipment, coach, confidence, talent, goal, competition, discipline, motivation, sponsorship (resources), team mates / community, christian character.

(Think of an athlete)

Replace athlete with life.

Are you living like a world class athlete?

Identify organisations that are cause driven.

CURE, Compassion, Toms (provide shoes), Red Cross, the wilderness society, int'l justice mission, world vision, charity water, us marines, taliban, salvo's, invisible children, terrorist organisations, greenpeace, world wildlife fund.

Within a group they are:
Passionate
United
Organised
Committed
Prepared to pay the price
Non-negotiable principles
Leader

Formiddable agents of change.

---

John 18:37

The cause of Jesus.

Cause-driven people change the world we live in, the causes are bigger than themselves.

God's cause for saving humanity.

Dedication and commitment of our lives to the cause of Christ.

John 3:16-17
Saving people, individuals, familys, communities, countries, the world.

God is committed to that cause, giving His Son.

Mat 6:33 - seek first his kingdom, the cause of his kingdom. Gained by pursuing the kingdom.

Mark 16:15 - go into all the world and preach the good news all creation.

Any vision we can come up with for life.. If it's not attached to Jesus cause then it's pretty useless.

What would a church that's dedicated to the cause, genuinely and authentically, look like?

Filled with life
Change the world
Self sacrifice
Constantly growing
Great influence
Unified under one vision
Vision would be lived out
Not confined to the "church" building
Focus on discipleship

Week by week... What would it look like?

Inviting
People involved
People focussed
"On"
Motivated by love
Others focused
High cost of involvement
Interaction with God
Challenging
Positive and encouraging culture (grows and includes people)
Busy
Bearing fruit
Tithes and offerings, culture of generosity
Discipling, generational focus, passing it on to the new generations
Miracles
Doers not just hearers
Excellence
Flexible, it's not about the systems it's about the cause.
Faith to move forward
Practical answers for real need.

Build a culture for the cause.

What would a person dedicated to the cause look like?

Read the book, for this cause I was born.

1. A person living for the cause is not limited by the past.

If you are won and sake for the cause, determined to fulfill our potential, our potential is for the kingdom of God, seeing people saved, discipled, fight against injustice etc

Your past does not determine your potential or future. Your potential is God given for His cause.

Committed to fulfilling their potential.

Our most negative experiences create limitations in our life.

What's possible in your life is larger than you think.

2. Not ruled by their inadequacies. We all have our weaknesses, they don't rule or govern our life. Our God given potential

Pushing beyond what our insecurities and inadequacies say we should settle for or our sense of inferiority says we can do.

3. Not swayed by circumstances. You will all go through tough times. It's the cause that we are on this planet for.
Circumstances are just bumps in the road, they don't rule our lives, we are not constrained by it.
A cause driven person says "I have this going on in my life, this is how I manage it so I can keep going for the cause"

4. Gaurd their heart. Offense from others, percieved offenses, ignored, real hurts. The cause is a good enough reason to not get offended, there's too much at stake to take yourself out of the game and be offended. The results are only negative if you give in to offense. The cause is bigger than me and me wanting to feel justified in my offense.

5. Committed to growth and change.
Cannot settle with where you are and your current level of fruit, influence, growth etc

"You have to give up, in order to go up" - John Maxwell

Why do people stop growing and changing? The cost is too much.

Committed to making the sacrifices they need to, to make the greatest impact with their lives.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/24 - 1:15pm OT intro

Groups of 4
Come up with a
Short video, magazine, pamphlet, song

5 tips someone can interpret correctly

Know the context! Who was it, when was it

Be open heart and mind

Collaboration

References, OT Dictionary

Pray

----

Judges 4:21

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/24 - 11:45am Mission and Culture tutorial

What do you think of with the word "christian mission"

Perceptions developed, paradigm shift

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/24 - 9:00 Core Tutorial

The Cause

Does it compel you? Not your call... The cause.

What causes you to run? What puts you on that track to run the race?

What is one thing you will do today for the cause.

--

Communication in ministry
Intrapersonal communication

If you value yourself the way God does you will be able to live properly.

Who are you listening to? Listening to Satan, Self protection and self justification etc

When free, free to be close

Listening to God or listening to lies.

I am statements:

I am patient
I am awesome
I am hard-working
I am quite content
I am creative

Five lies you often succumb to:

The thing is too difficult/complicated, I can't do it.

That person doesn't accept you, you have been rejected. (By even the smallest rejection). There is something wrong with me, it's my fault.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/25 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

"Be the change" morning
Mobilising and making a difference, that is mission in culture

Stir up my faith to encourage someone else.

Mission:
To make disciples of all the world
God has always been about mission and sending people, from genesis and Abraham.

Israel - his people, witnesses, servants, ***a light to the nations***

God's people are to be a light to the nations... Very important.

Mission is something you are sent on, authorised.

Purposeful

We are "acts 29"

---

God is above and active/involved in History.

God is transcendant (holy, before creation, creator, eternal, outside time) and immanent... A God that wants to be close to you.

Christian Doctrine (from last week)
God made a good world and people messed it up; and God sent Jesus to put it and people back together.

Features of the fallen world (gen 3-12)
People start living at odd's, blaming one another, not taking responsibility. Cain and abel, jealousy etc, wickedness in the world, tower of babel, thinking they know better than God. Evil, rebellion, disconnectedness, etc shame, guilt, selfishness, death, lack of trust, harm and destroy things, despair, regret, hatred, slavery, false prophets and idols, anxieties, seperation and lonliness, disorder and confusion, lust.... They all find expression in our society today. Distortedness, addiction, self-loathing, greed, stealing, jealousy/covetness, injustice, racism, physical and mental sickness, tyrants.

"The kingdom strikes back" book. From gen 12 to the end, it's one unfolding drama.

Bringing redemption to the world and lifting people up.

History from a Christian perspective.

3 condistant themes in our bible
God is graciously intervening in a world that lays in the power of the evil one,
Incredibly active
He is on mission, there is nowhere His hand connect stretch out to.

3. He is sovereign. He is the head of the whole thing, not even the fall dethrones him of his position

Ps 24:1
Ps 47:9
Ps 89:11
Job 41:11
Daniel 4:34-35

God is our primary reality. Brother was made redundant, accept what is real of the fallenness but the primary reality God is still soveriegn, yes he has a mortgage and 3 kids but God has them in His hands. Reality hits us but it's not the full stop, it's the comma, God finishes the sentences.

Ps 36:5

blessing is more than favours from God. Blessed with obligations and responsibilities, to be a blessing, to make a difference. For the praise of His glory.

Ten Epochs of redepmtive history
Five before christ
Patriarchs 2000-1600bc
Captivity 1600-1200bc
Judges 1200-800bc
Kings 800-400bc
Post-Exilic 400bc-0bc

Eg Joseph, God is beginning to turn things around. Jonah, redemptive mission, naomi... Even before Jesus we can detect God working out his redemptive power.

---

Five epochs after christ
God is still sovereign
Acts 4:23-31
God is still able to work out His redemptive purposes.

Because he is sovereign we can appeal to him.

Romans 0-400 ad
Barbarians 400-800ad
Vikings 800-1200
Saracens 1200-1600
The ends of the earth 1600-

Uses the roman built roads etc.

Deliberate and purposeful in communion, not religious.

Important to remember Acts 7

History - greek historia = knowing

Romans 0-400ad
Paul
Persecution
Jewish infrastructure
Accepted by rome
Later adopted by other people group.

Empire adopting a religion caps things

400-800
Goths
Celtic christianity
Monastic movemement
Charlemagne
Containment in western europe

Church becoming a big monolithic structure. Forgot we're supposed to go out, made big churches

Bible.ca/maps

1200-1600

Into foreign territory
The crusades
Printing press
Protestant reformation
Catholic response
.. Began to focus outward

Current
Reaching out
Mixed motives
Colonisation
Orient
India
New england
William carey - "father of modern missions" argued for missions.

If the secular world of coca cola and nike can make it into the backstreets of asia so can the missionaries.

Baptist missionary statement.
1. Enabling to know christ
2. Alleviating suffering and injustice
3. Raising quality of life

Redemption plan, lifting people.. More than just Jesus is your passport... The full gospel.

19th and 20th century saw large increase.

Make it our business to understand them.

Spread of christianity map. Christians, evangelised non-christians, and those that don't know.

Understanding the times

1 chron 12:32

Acts 1:6-8

It's not jobs for later.. It's for now. Being the change in someone's life and bringing the redemption plan to their life, local and global.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/26 - 02:15pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Who is your audience?

Factors:
Age
Relationship
Culture
Gender
Experience / Knowledge
Content
Learning styles (3 types)
Socio-economic status
Expectations
Size
Room / setting
Bias / motives

Large crowd is like a big ship.

(I'm in group 2)

Topic: Parents

Present your thoughts on parents

2 min presentation.

Group 1 speaking to 7yr olds
Group 2 speaking to teenagers
Group 3 speaking to older audience frontline

Teenagers. Egocentric. Skit.

-

Purpose statement for your speech to keep yourself on track while writing.

Topic:
Purpose statement:
Audience:

Poor example: "just to explain my coffee shops"

Good: "to present the name and marketing of a new coffee shop and explain the details to inspire potential buyers".

Topic: ice
Purpose statement: to discuss the benefits and advantages of my ice versus regular ice and the disadvantages of regular ice.
Audience: Eskimo's

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:21 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/26 - 08:30am Old Testament Introduction

The ancient near east

Some ancient music singing from Ps 121

Geography of the bible

Setting is important because:
*It makes sense in contexts
*God did things in specific locations on purpose
*the people of ANE (ancient near east)were very familiar with geography
*location often had great significance
*israelites had a location-based covenant " I will give you this land"

The fertile crescent
Mesopotamia (modern iraq, parts of iran, syria and lebanon) - birthplace of civilisation
Egypt (upper and lower)
Syria-palestine
Israel's strategic position

Mesoptamia

Story based culture.. They start in the middle... Not a beginning and an end. (Epic of gilgamesh)

Polytheistic, had many conflicting gods, rites and rituals.

Tribe and clan orientated

It wasn't categories, lists and systems

Bible is only the beginning and end of time... Not eternity

Akkadians (Ur)

Abram came from this culture.

-Egypt
Rise and fall of 30+ dynasties
Dynasty orientated
OT patriarchs

Syria-palestine
Land bridge/trade route between 3 continents
Fought over by every major empire
Cultural melting pot

Becomes the promised land

ANE worldview
*Polytheism
*Rulers seen as dieties
*Harsh and temperamental rulers
*god's interaction with humans contrary to God's interaction with His people.
*People can be become gods not just godlike
*Gods fight amongst themselves

OT consciously were not aware of trinity.

-

Converting to hebrew thinking from greek thinking.

You can't read the OT like a greek.

Eg runsheets for church. Greek.

Hebrew would have a picture flowing into the other pictures.

Same in old and new testament is the same.

-
Hebrew:
Community focused
Paradox, irony etc
Supernatural
Experiential
Private and public integrated
Literary tools - metaphors, symbolism, imagery, repetition... Pictured things not lists.
Stories

Greek:
Individual focus
Rational, logical
Scientific
Propositional
Public and private seperated
Literary tools - themes, categories, linear plots
Doctrines

"Christian" is not an adjective.

The way we think is not wrong, it's just different.

-break-

In hebrew there is no word for tragedy... The hebrew thought is this; the story hasn't finished yet.... I'm a co-author with the Author and together we write the story.

Hebrew name for it:
Genesis - in the beginning
Exodus - and these are the names

Greek name means origins, source, beginnings.

Moses played a major role in the development of the torah and therefore Genesis

Moses used oral and written sources that were handed down to him from an earlier time.

Evidence of editing the Torah after Moses death is evident

It is impossible to pinpoint which sections are pre Mosaic, Mosaic, and post Mosaic texts.

Gen 1-11 primeval history

Gen 12-50 patriarchal history

Historial period covered: creation to Joseph's death in 1600bc

Bible gives the who and why but not where and when.

Albert einstein explaining theory of relativity to a 5 year old, analogy.

He breathed life into us.

The point of God's creation is to worship Him, not about having relationship. Worship means you reflect His glory.

Sabbath coming from the word "sitting" and "settling in to" Sabbath was not a day off. It's about the time you set aside to settle into his presence. The sabbath is in time what the temple is location.

So perhaps the sabbath is the pinnacle of creation.

ANE creation stories
The different groups all had them.

"The fall"
It's not called the fall in the actual scripture... It was a deliberate act of rebellion... Betrayal, We are not victims it was a choice.

"The fall" subconsciously says the devil is powerful and I didn't have any hope.

Becareful of the subheadings.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/02/26 - 11:00 Chapel - Mark

'Surviving storms'
Acts 27

Paul was not a prisoner stuck to the situation.

Prisoner of rome but not a prisoner, chose to submit to the purposes of God.

What do you say you're a prisoner of, what your limitations are etc... You have chosen to submit, to put constraints on your life because vision requires constraint. I'm not a victim of my circumstances.

Before buying a house refused to say "I cannot afford to buy a house" said.. "I choose not to buy a house right now"

Acts 27:21 (msg)

1. Sometimes we get into troubles and trials by our own stupidity.

There is going to be loss, stuff is going to happen, that's just life.

2. Sometimes stuff happens to you because the people connected to you make wrong choices and cause you loss, it's life.

Acts 27:23

3. When in a storm, get God's word in on in on it, stand on it and rise above it.

To stay alive:

- Keep your head, keep the right viewpoint. If speaking like a victim get someone to help you speak like an overcomer.

- don't jump ship, cut off the options, like the paul cutting the life boats... Options are great but you need to hear from God... You have to make decisions... Why do you put God into your decisions when it's you. "God said we shouldn't be together"... Or dating two people "if things don't work out with her/him I have this other option"

- 34, start doing the things you need to do during the tough times, sleep, eat, laugh.

- 38, start dealing with the issues, get rid of the excess baggage, get rid of that stuff... You are able to live on less.. Get rid of the stuff weighing you down stopping you from running.

--

You've got to have a mindset of not being a victim, every step ordered and guided by God.

When trouble comes, what's coming out of your life?

If you find yourself unable to get up... You need help from people and that's ok.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/02 - 11:45 Chapel Catrina

"To be continued"
What we are apart of is not about us, not about here and now.

No word in the hebrew for the word tragedy, because the story is not over, it's to be continued.

Ecc 3:11

To be continued is where we're living, eternity is in our hearts.

Paint a picture of people want to know what's next. This story isn't finished yet!

It's only a tragedy if you sign off and give up.

God has made your situation beautiful in it's time.

Everything in it's time can be redeemed.

You may have had devestation but it's not a tragedy, it's not over, it's to be continued.

Eventually. It will be beautiful in it's time.

Nothing is unredeemable. Nothing that will come your way and nothing from the past that is unredeemable and God will make it beautiful in it's time.

"It's not fair, it's tragic" - no! It's to be continued. Usually it's something he gave you anyway that he wants you to lay down.

It's about the story, to be continued.

It's not a fullstop, it's a comma.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/02 - 9:45 Personal Leadership - Duncan

Outline
Private devotion - done.
Living for the cause

- living for the cause
Attitudes for the cause

Warm up exercise
What things will a cause driven person tolerate that an average person wouldn't.

And

What things will a cause driven person not tolerate that an average person would.

From your two lists... How many of these things are you tolerant or intolerant of?

List:
*Tolerate:
Discomfort
Insults
Constructive criticism
Questioning by others
Sacrifice
Change
Discipline
Anonymity
Challenges
Patience for timing of God
Diversity

*Not tolerate:
Gossip
Failure*
Complacency
Laziness
Average
Injustice
Hypocrisy
Dissension
Defeat
Distractions

*failure is also tolerated because it's an opportunity to learn so also tolerates failure, learns from it because they don't want to fail again... Not afraid of it.

i-- the heart --

Prov 4:23 - gaurd your heart. With diligence. It is the wellspring of life, it flows out, the issues of life.

Prov 25:28 - no rule over your own spirit is like a city broken down without walls.

"Victim culture" things that have happened to me and what has been done to me, circumstances and actions of others has effected me so I'm not responsible.

Proverbs tell us differently, the issues come from within us, they are not imposed upon us.

Your heart may be the result of what has happened to you, that could be true.

Victor Frankl quote from the book "man's search for meaning (1946)"
To choose one's own attitude in any given set of circumstances. (He was in a nazi concentration camp)

People resist the idea because it makes us responsible.

Exercise:
In what scenarios have you had to gaurd your heart while pursuing the Cause this year?

--

How do you gaurd your heart?

-Think through consequences of my *reaction*.

-Manage your emotions, contain the offence.

-Plan a positive way forward.

-Ask yourself: Why did I react that way?.. An extremely important question to grow in your life, why are you responding that way?

-Ask yourself: Are there other ways of looking at it or responding to it?

-Ask yourself: Why might this have happened?

If something is extremely big and you can't do it, you need good people you can ask for support and perspective.

Gaurding your heart with an armor that can flex like medieval japanese armor not inflexible european armor straight protection.

You can't determine what confronts you but you can determine what follows you. - Brian Houston, selah.

ii-- Faith--
The list of things we will tolerate is because of faith.

If you start believing the not tolerate list it's because you're lacking faith.

Mat 19:26 - with God all things are possible.

Do you genuinely believe it or do you say amen because it's habitual?

Mark 9:23 - all things possible for he who believes

Mat 9:29 - according to your faith will it be done to you.

"Anything could happen... and it probably will! Live with a positive expectation of the unexpected. Serving God is an adventure." - Brian Houston, selah.

Why Faith?
*The fulfillment of the Cause does not currently exist. - nations still need to be discipled etc

*The Cause requires supernatural intervention

*The cause requires us to step out.

*God is attracted to faith. - Jesus says your faith has saved, healed you. By your faith. Want more of God? Trust him more. Faith attracts God's attention.

*More happens with faith. Do you really want to live a life you can do in your own strength? So small compared to God's strength

*You are more positive and resilient with it.

*You are more creative and innovative with faith. In problem solving etc believing God wants you to succeed and believe there is an answer.

*You are more attractive as a leader with faith.

-

A deep confidence. Not some happy go lucky thing.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/03 - 1:15pm OT intro tutorial

Heb verb for create only used for divine things.

1:28 God blessed them and gave authority

Discuss what it meant to the israelites:
God is assumed, God created it, it's divine.

He didn't make a mistake.

Dominion over

Thinking as an image.

Everything was good.

- it's not meant to be a science book.

-
Prayer points each day:
*Bobbie
*unity, volunteers and staff
*finances for the conference that everything is covered
*more women sign up
*nothing will prevent women from coming, freedom (sunday)
*globally for colour (london, kiev etc)
*initiatives, compassion, watoto, women in Gulu
*expectation

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/03 - 11:45am Mission and Culture tutorial

Post apostolic reformation book peter wagner

---
Reading, 3 era's.
Read at least the first era.

Pg 255

259 big picture

Question sheet:
1. 1792 Coastal mission

2. William Carey was rebuked with "When God chooses to win the heathen, He will do it without your help or ours"

3. No it isn't a biblical response, because God said to go out to the world and tell them about Jesus (end of mat)

4. The moravian protestants had been sending people to greenland, america and africa for years.

5. In america, haystack prayer meeting

6. Development of high quality insight into mission strategy and student mission movement setup.

7. None left, they usually lasted 2 years.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/03 - 9:00 Core Tutorial

Personal Leadership
Values of our church

Gen 4:6
Mark 13:15
1 tim 6:10

Obediance comes out of covenant relationship.

---

What are the values of our church?

Unity

Humility, inclusion, acceptance

Excellence -

Freedom - prayer / altar calls

Love - care + concern

People - valued

Serving

----

What is the disposition of the church?

---

1 value you want to grow in

---

Who demonstrates a good attitude

Katie

10 questions

1. Have you always had this attitude?

2. How did you cultivate/grow it?

3. Was it easy?

4. Have there been times when you didn't feel like displaying this attitude, did you overcome that?

5. How do you maintain this attitude?

6. What attitudes essential during hard times

7. How has it effected your relationship with others

8. And with God

9. How do you handle people's rejection of this attitude

10. How would you advise others to cultivate this kind of attitude.

----
Conference assessment 29 march
Passpoert check in 7 april
Reflection journal check 7 april
emails phone calls 12 april
Readings 3, 4, 5

----

Communication in Ministry

Essential Ingrediants

The 7 things.

----

Phone etiquette

Who you are, where you're calling from, why you're calling.

Repeat back to confirm.

Wait until they finish, don't interupt.

Be confident and speak like you know what you're talking about.

Ask if they have time to talk

Smile

Stay on the purpose

Good courtesy

No eating on the phone.

Direct the conversation

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/04 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

What do you believe mission is? What do you believe about mission?

It's about improving people's lives and telling them about the life saving of Jesus.

The world is held captive by lies.

Love & compassion drives us.

Provides an opportunity to change people and change the world.

Have an expectation and conviction you can get a revelation about missions.

----

'The kingdom of God'

In terms of culture.

We're taking a whole new culture, kingdom culture (not church culture).

Kingdom culture confronts everything you think, your family's culture etc by asking 'who told you that? Is that true?'

Gospel, conversion & the kingdom of God.

Analogy, coming to a new country and converting currency, the old currency won't work in the new kingdom

Conversion is a complete change.

- The Nature of the Gospel

Luke 4:18-19

Invasive
Interruptive
Dynamic
Transformative
In-breaking of a new rule - "kingdom" (basileia - Gk)

John 13:3 -

Jesus' Authority
Jesus' Agenda - "life to the full" (john 10:10)
Jesus' Power
- power to change
- power to transform

"Conversion"

2 cor 5:16-17 - regard no one from a world point of view

Whatever you knew before, it's gone.

Radical confrontation with kingdom of God values
Revolutionises mind and attitude (rom 12:2)
Transcends cultural values and practices (eph 5:21) - turns them upside down.

Entire section is about christian relationships in households. Read the verses before it. Be filled with the spirit.

Turns things upside down, addresses wives, kids and slaves first.

---
"Paradigm"

Conversion should look like a paradigm shift.

A whole new reference frame and thought pattern.

Establish a whole new world view.

-Kingdom thinking, kingdom minded
Jesus teaching

Rich young man - mat 19:16-26
Zacchaeus - luke 19:1-10
Samaritan woman - john 4
The pharisees - matthew 23 - these are the ones I've come for
Martha & Mary - luke 10:38-42 and john 11:17
The Emmaus Road Disciples - Luke 24:13-35
The Disciples (after resurrection) - luke 24:36-49

What do we not see because we don't have our kingdom glasses on?

-Kingdom thinking
Acts of the Apostles

Paul - acts 9
Jailer - acts 16
The bereans - acts 17:10-12
Felix - acts 24:24-26
The ethiopian - acts 8:26-39

Lives turned upside down, christian conversion.

- Christian living
Culture cleansing (the unfolding rdemptive drama...)

The sanctifying work of the holy spirit
- 2 thes 2:13
- 1 pet 1:2

Jesus - mat 5-7 (beattitudes, sermon on the mount)
- peoposed new, counter-cultural perspective
- centred around love and the power of God
- nature of God - Father
- the spirit world
- faith
- leadership as servanthood

The why behind the what.. It's just showing what it would look like, you wouldn't murder etc if you understand the kingdom thought behind it, it's about the internal core beliefs, not the external behaviour. With God's spirit in me it's possible to keep the holy law.

---

1 cor 6:9-11

Reminding people of who you are *now* you were washed and sanctified by Jesus blood

Remind yourself of who you were but now you are this:

Write a list.

I was once this, I am now this:

I was once:
Often angry
Physically aggressive
Cynical
Feeling unloved
Bitter
Afraid
Insecure
Selfish
Greedy
Cruel

I am now:
Realise I am loved
I have value
Confidence
Patience
Compassion
Generosity
Heart for people
Friends
Amazing talents and gifts with music and composing
Secure
caring
Open
Willing
Others focused

I used to try and extinguish the light, revelling in the darkness... now I fight to ignite fires.

-------

An Irruptive force
Mat 5-7 "I tell you..."
Invaded jewish culture and ideology to introduce heaven's 'normalcy'

Acts 10:11

Phil chapters 2 and 3, phil 2:5

--
A definition:

The bible uses the term as the right to rule, not as royal estate. The kingdom of God is the dynamic exercise of *God's right to rule*

"God in action."

Spiritual reign of the king matt 12:28

Internal to believers luke 17:20-21

Extends to all people matt 8:11-12
- not to be kept from them matt 9:10-13

** therefore

-The kingdom of God = God rules
-The kingdom of God = About love mark 12;34
-World mission = God sends
-mat 28:18-19 - all authority has been given, therefore go...
-kingdom of god = not the church
-the church is announcing the Kingdom of God, church is an agent

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/05 - 02:15pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Ways of speaking

Different ways to use your voice.

1. Pace, slow down, speed up. Excitement speed increases like commentators in sports.

2. Tone of voice

3. Inflection

4. Volume

5. Articulation, clarity, don't mumble

6. Pauses - builds anticipation, focuses peoples attention, gets people mentally ready and gives weight to the words spoken after the pause.

7. Emotion

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/05 - 08:30am Old Testament Introduction

Info about colour.

---
Genesis 3 - the fall? "The betrayal"

How people handle sin, repentance and forgiveness.

Guilt is "I did something wrong, I made a mistake, that is a fact"

Shame says "I am bad" it personifies guilt and this is condemnation

(10 commandments, there's 316)

Genesis
3 players - humanity, serpent, God

Serpent:
Serpent featured in a lot of near east stories so it would not be unfamiliar to those people no surprise God draws on this character.

Serpent usually represented wisdom and fertility.

Satan questions God's Word
"did God really say?"

Satan lies about the consequences
"You won't surely die"

Satan makes counterfeit promises
"You'll become like God"

His lies are designed very close to the truth.

Eve was not there when God told Adam not to eat from the tree.

Adam's responsibility was to make sure Eve got the message.

Eve's responsibility was to make sure Eve got the message.

Eve misquotes God and gives the enemy a foothold.

The lies "You won't really die" "we're just living together in seperate rooms" etc

It's a lot harder for the enemy to question you and lie to you by knowing God's word.

Adam and eve:
Adam and Eve sinned
They had dominion but didn't exercise authority of this animal the serpent which rebelled against God.
Took the shortcut to Truth
Surrendered their dominion
Submitted to and trusted the serpent & their flesh.

God:
God responds
- paradise lost
- grace and atonement
- introduces the gospel

How do you know the ban was going to be permanent? Like Isaac

Even if He never allowed to let them eat the fruit... How do you know he wouldn't reveal in the fullness of time everything they needed to know about good and evil?

Adam and Eve took a shortcut

---

We are created in the image of God, nothing else has that privelage.

God wants you fruitful. Not when you think you need it or the devil tells you to take it.

The enemy lied about the timing of things.. You want what God has for you? You can have it right now if you do it the enemy's way.

The enemy's promises are false, shallow and empty.

God covered them, he clothed them. Don't run from Him, he loves you. He's not going to alienate or abandon you.

It's possible to resist temptation on every occassion.

If you're worried about the enemy... His head is crushed.

We make the biggest mistake available

Gen 4-11
This cycle 5 times:
Creation > sin > judgment > grace

We mess up and God intervenes.

Eden - adam and eve
Cain & Abel
Flood - all people
Noah & his sons
Babel - the nations

It's always all about 100% grace and %100 truth.

It can't just be one or the other.

Sin:
Cain - Gen 4
Lamech - Gen 4
Mankind - Gen 6:5

Flood
Noah/Ham - Gen 9:25
Nations - Gen 11
Babel

Hope:
Seth - Gen 4:26
Noah - Gen 6:8-9
Shem - Gen 9:26
Abram - Gen 12

It's always a man/women that wrecks and always a man/woman that fixes it.

----
Context first, big picture

----
Covenant

A binding agreement.

Fits into ANE culture, community focus no seperation between secular and sacred, music was just music, if you interacted with God it was a part of your whole life.
Israel's monotheism... The others were polytheism.

If these agreements were broken you would be executed.

ANE covenant:
Royal grant (unconditional, from the king)
Parity (between equals, friends, allies)
Suzerainty treaties (unequal & conditional)

ANE treaties were common and made perfect sense to them, He spoke to them in a way they understood.

-Vassal-suzerain treaty
Intro to parties
Historical prologue
Law
Blessings and curses
Witnesses
Review and succession

Major OT Covenants
Adamic/Edinic - first relationship
Noahic - re-established
Abrahamic - redemptive
Mosaic/Sinaitic - formalized
Palestinian - remembered
Davidic - lasting
New - eternal relationship

Redemption comes before restoration. Grace comes before obedience.

they believed they were right with God therefore I do these things. I don't do sacrifices etc to re-earn God, it's for their hearts.

God's unbreakable oath "I will..."

Covenant of grace is unbreakable.

Believe God instead of believing God for X

Abrahamic Covenant - promise of blessing

Gen 12: words of the covenant
Re-establishes what was lost, redemption.

They would exchange names, add to their own.

Abraham's asleep.

God's grace he walks through it and binds himself to it even if Abram stuffs up, Abram didn't have to do anything to be part of the blood covenant.

Anything I ask you I have to do myself.

Gen 17: seal/scarring of the covenant.

Gen 22: the test of the covenant sacrifice - to give your son

Gospel revealed in Gen 15

Gen 12-50 the patriarchs
Partial fulfillment of the covenant
Narrative of God's people
The story of one family that will change history
The faithful obediance of an individual = God's solution to sin.
God as a personal God - ie. The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel)

-
God is generational
God keeps his promises - even against all odd's
What would you sell your birthright for?
We need first hand faith - Jacob's dream
We need to understand the wrestle
The journey is preparing you for the promise.

Your limp and scars are not a big deal, it shows you need God.

Walk in the plan of God, don't try and take a shortcut.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 8 March 2010 10:58:05 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/05 - 11:00 Chapel - Mark Hopkins

John fills in the gaps. He gives you insight.

John 7:37

Rank yourself between 1-5 of daily devotion.

5 being the highest.

Probably a 2.

We need to be asking that question.

Who is asking you that question?

Are you spending the time you need to have that depth of relationship

What is the biggest hunger and thirst you have? What do you naturally go towards when you have free time. What are the patterns of behaviour you're building into your life?

Bring it under control, work within the confines of your life.

What you spend your money on will also show what you hunger for.

Idle hands are not good to have.

Person of integrity, prepared to live with the constraints as a person of vision.

Verse 38 - streams of living water flowing.

Daily routine ask for the holy spirit to fill you, so that others may drink.

Acting supernaturally natural.

What are you doing about the river that wants to flow from you?

Get something from God for somebody and build into their life.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 11 March 2010 2:28:08 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/09 - 8:30am staff meeting

Julia A'bell
"Colour is"

Colour is:
*A place where value will and is placed on women.

*gathering of women from all over the world with different walks of life and at different stages of life, situations.

*a humanitarian conference

Ps 116:16 - here I am, your servant.

"Live big"
2 cor 6:12 your life is not small, you're choosing to live small.

*Live big in showing who God is.
1 cor 12 - each person giving to show who God is.

*live big in showing a Christ-like attitude. Attitude is everything.

"Just be a Christian"

If all else fails, use one of the fruits of the spirit.

*live big in treating every encounter with grace.

Every individual is a VIP at this conference. Carpark team, children, delegates, speakers etc, everyone.

Mat 7:12 (msg)

Don't yell at people to get the job done.

Voice tone, speak clearly and kindly.

Don't treat people like sheep, no herding.

Honour your team leader and make their life easy.

"Whatever it takes" spirit.

Team is a keyword for conference.

Praying for Bobbie

Pray for the delegates, start naming them. God knows them. Mary, Grace, Janet etc.

Eat regularly

Drink lots of water, have a water bottle.

Get sleep so you're not sleepy and grumpy or a zombie.

---

Don't talk back, talk up (to the right people)

Gift moment

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 11 March 2010 2:28:08 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/09 - 9:45 Personal Leadership - Duncan

"Living for the Cause"
-Paying the price, counting the cost

Decides to travel the narrow road that most people avoid.

Luke 14:25-35

Compared to your love and devotion to the kingdom it should be so much greater

Living for you is an every day thing, to die for it is a one off.

Stirred to pay the price after counting that cost, daily discipline. Pays the price at all times.

Excellence
Possessing oustanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.

Ps 150:2 - His excellent greatness

God is the origin and example of excellence.

Dan 5:12 - Daniel had an excellent spirit

There's a big difference between perfection and excellence

To excel, move forward, move beyond where you've been before, beyond what people choose to settle for.

Perfection is impossible.

To be excellent you just have to go beyond yesterday. Where was I yesterday? Let's move forward.

If the goal is perfection every day will be a frustration.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit" - Aristotle

To develop excellence in big thins, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is a prevailing attitude.

-Exercise
What does personal excellence look like? In a day.

Getting up earlier
Reading my bible more consistantly
Taking the narrow path, constantly
Being a well that is filled full of life that others can draw from

Compound interest

Excellence, every day live 1% more

Be excellent on your days of rest.

So what will it take to live excellently?

It's the every day things that builds family, church and marriage.

Decide to always "go beyond".

Give an extra 10%, an extra 5 minutes.

Don't settle for average.

---

Paying the price
- Hard work

Prov 14:23 - hard work brings profit, talk (of work) leads only to poverty.

Intelligent well directed, strategically planned hard work.

Prov 13:4 - sluggard craves and gets nothing, desires of the *diligent* are fully satisfied.

Persistance, energy, exertion.

Prov 18:9 slack in work is brother to one who destroys.

2 cor 11:23-28

"Don't want what others want if you aren't prepared to pay the price they have paid"

Increasing your capacity you can work harder and get more done.

- your capacity to carry a load and get things done.
- physical, mental, emotional and spiritual capacity

*what is the size of the thing that causes you to stop?

- responsibility, resilience, output, exellence and creativity

Why?

Your dreams are bigger than you
Fulfilled potential requires a larger capacity
There are more people to reach

How?

*Desire comes before self-discipline, if self-discipline is the goal it won't work.

It won't stir you enough, stir your desires. If you desire to have an impact, to know God it will produce self-discipline.

Enlarge your desires.

*Count the cost and resolve to pay the price, don't be naÔve.

*Take on more. Sign up to do more.

You won't change the world with 9-5

*Deal with your stuff

Don't live at the closing stages of tetris in panic mode.

Most of it is unresolved emotional stuff, soaks up a lot of energy and time trying to hold it all together.

Resolve it.

If something happens like an offense.. How much energy that does that take up for the rest of the day?

Resolve it and release the energy for other things.

*sow energy to reap energy
Exercise, physical health

*S-T-R-E-T-C-H

*enjoy the journey, enjoy yourself., joy of the Lord is your strength. The joy that God lives in has been deposited into your life.

joy is the serious business of heaven (cs lewis)

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/23 - 12:45pm Old Testament Intro Tutorial

Noah's flood... Was it real?

Watched a video

"The lost ship of noah" book.

Many ancient accounts of flood stories accross the globe and nations

"Gilgamesh epic" paralell noah story

12 months on the ark.

Mt. Arrarat was once underwater, 'pillow lava' and salt crystals only possible underwater.

-

Passage interpretation and application

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/23 - combined staff meeting - Ian Woods

"My tongue, friend or foe"

Power of life death in the tongue.

James 3:6

So important to speak out what is true.

Leaders are not to speak to those under us as if they are below us. Speak as we speak to anyone.

(Went fox hunting)

The words we speak over people and allow into our spirits is powerful.

Prov 10:11

Use the Word

Prov 12:13 - the fruit of his mouth

Prov 12:18 - speak health over ourselves.

Prov 13:3, 14:3, 15:2, 15:4

- imitators of God... What I'm doing and where I am, would God want to be there?

People to think I'm Godly, not God.

Declaring the scriptures in the first person.

The enemy is constantly at odds with the children of God trying to convince us we can't carry out the plans.

Eph 3:20 - God's word said you can

What you think, dream and can do is smaller than what the word of God can do.

It's how you live now, what Jesus has done for you... Not what you used to be.. Don't be listening to what you used to be.

Do not fall prey to the lies of the enemy.

I am...
Rom 8:16
Col 1:13-14
Eph 2:8
Cor 6:11
2 cor 9:17
2 pet 1:4

Col 1:13
Rom 8:14
Ps 91:11
Phil 4:19
Eph 6:10
Rom 8:17
Deut 28:6
Rom 8:37
1 john 4:4
1 cor 4:18

What we say goes for eternity.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/23/ - Personal Leadership - Duncan Corby

3. - A Leader's Prayer Life

How leader's approach prayer in their personal lives and leading others.

4. Topics
Prayer - Leading yourself
Prayer in leading others
Leading others into a vital prayer life
Leading others in prayer meetings

-
1. Leading yourself
Excellence is a habit, consistancy.
It does not look like a routine.

-

Exercise:
1. How have you gone with your prayer life?
Better / worse
Praying more / less
Navigating change successfully / not

2. Challenges in keeping your prayer life moving forward

3. What have you found works?

-

Why pray?
- commanded to
- relationship
- things change
Additional reasons for a leader:
- other people are influenced by the quality of your prayer life.
- keep God at the centre
- more obstacles
- greater wisdom / faith
- greater need to hear from God
- keeps you in the right posture, God is in charge and other people are making you good, keeps you humble, thinking straight
- creativity
- empowering takes place as you hear from God about the thing you are leading
- you want things different in a way you can't produce in the natural... Has to be supernatural results and supernatural power released.
- walk with God to build resilience, bounce back rapidly.
- people are looking to you to feed them, have to be receiving fresh food from God to be giving to others
- there is so much more at stake

-

How : Principles

Goal
Obstacles
Approaches

What is the Goal? Seeking intimacy with God, empowerment, two-way communication... Life.

For some prayer becomes a tick-a-box kind of thing.

The solution is change your paradigm.
Regularity, routine and discipline is the goal in tick-a-box instead of the above goals... We get these below things from having the above things as the goal, from desire.

How did you measure the better or worse.. By the quality or the regularity?

-
Obstacles
Challenges:
Not planning/making time (Lack of preparation)
Sleep / tiredness
Personal Space
"Listening"
Distraction
Don't feel like it
Other pressures
Spiritual attack
Form
Unresolved issues
Condemnation
Routine

-

Approaches

Focus on should or rules, obligation etc, will struggle with motivation. Instead ask.. How is the relationship going?

-

Under project and over perform, goal setting. Set the goals lower and over achieve. Exceeded your goals so you build momentum.

-

Approaches
How can you pray?
Stuck for what to pray?
*Praying the scriptures
e.g. Eph 1:17-18 (one of Paul's prayers), pray it for yourself or for others

*pray the Lord's prayer, the things it covers, the idea's.. Not word for word. Personalize it

*pray in the spirit

*spontaneous prayers

*writing prayers

-
Moods

Beyond forms, your prayer life needs to have a range of moods, to stay with you where you are at. Pray according to your mood. God is big enough to handle you whichever way you are.

Range of moods
Adoration
Request
Complaint
"Being".. Just being with God.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/24 - 09:00am Personal Leadership Tutorial

Colour testimonies

The blessing of hard work. (Readings).

Tools of hard work.

Work tied to a bigger cause removes the striving. Sustaining and feeding when it has an eternal purpose.

Work is a means to a beginning instead of the means to an end.

Personal Leadership
- blessing of hard work in my life + leadership
- tools for my regular prayer life

Communication
-awareness of impact of body language
-power of declaring the word

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/24 - 10:30am Communication in Ministry Tutorial

'The kingdom'

Assessment question 4

Kingdom culture is a shift from one culture to another.

A new normal.

Internal, not external

Kingdom of God rules, loves and sends.

Q: what does the kingdom of God look like when it's working?

Proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, healings, miracles and teaching the meaning and nature of the kingdom. The rule of God, it is a reign.

How does the concept and reality of the kingdom relate to global christian mission.

We have authority, exercise it in the spirit, walk in the spirit.

What stops you from exercising authority?

Q. 4. In the assessment.
What biblical mandate.
What does the bible say about local churches impacting beyond their local context (about 5 scriptures and explain them)
Describe if and how your local church is having a global impact. (Outline key initiatives)

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/25 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

The issue of church and it's role in mission.

Announcers and demonstraters of the kingdom of God.

What have you done that during the past 3 weeks to be the above?

Announcements, truths get proclaimed.

Demonstrates connotates action, what have you done.

- telling my "christian" co-workers the the truth about God's love and my reason for doing is not to try and satisfy rules or requirements but comes from the love and grace I have freely received.

- helping my sister with her highschool work.

- prayed for sick people

(Tracey's list
*Prayed for 4 people who were sick
*Spoke word's of life into somebody's unemployment situation
*served others at my expense
*waged war on the enemy in unified prayer)

Helping other people's needs more than my own

Announcing kingdom values.

Choose to align with kingdom purpose when doing things

Do we have eyes to see the kingdom opportunity or are we just filling a roster?

We are the soldiers

Different to the world norm which is to do the bare-minimum, serving well beyond agenda.

The kingdom does things differently to the world.

There's heaps we know, but what do we really know? you need to outwork it to see it.

The story so far (in lectures):
The all important reality - that God is sovereign (lecture 2)

God is working out His redemptive drama. (Lecture 2)

Jesus announced, inaugurated and demonstrated the Kingdom (lecture 3)
- the disciples also taught and demonstrated the kingdom
- us

God has always had a people (lecture 1)
-Whom He blesses
-Through whom He blesses others

---
God has a plan and it's called the church, there is no plan b.

God partners with people
"God's miracle, man's mandate"

He's done a miracle, created the earth, animals and plants and let's them get on with being a tree, a dog etc.

William Booth -
"It takes two to grow a potato - God and the farmer."
He let's farmers be farmers and plant the seed. He doesn't rain down potatoes.

--

Write down where you know God is doing a miracle but it requires you to do something as well.

With my music, God is giving me wisdom and discernment.. I need to put in the hours.

Purpose before provision.

God does a miracle when there is no other way, lot's of time He's asking us to be the solution, we are the co-workers with Christ.

1 cor 3:9 - Divine-human co-operation

OT
God - destroys life through the flood
-noah saves people

God - frees captives in egypt
-moses leads them out

God - to fulfill the conditions of the covenant
-nebuchadnezzer carries His people into exile

God - to save His people from destruction
-Queen Esther is positioned

God - to restore His people
- raised up Ezra, Nehemiah and Zerrubabel

NT
Jesus - came to seek and to save the lost - luke 19:10, tim 1:5

Jesus - provided redemption - divine

The mandate was given to us to preach it, to demonstrate the Kingdom - human

Prepared disciples, made a team

Trained them for ministry

God (divine) commissions people (human)
With His Spirit (divine) empowers, enables to reach,

---

Missional early church
Rom 10:13 - he who calls upon..
And...
Rom 10:14 - how are men to call upon who have not heard..

---

God's Plan
- Humanity to reach Humanity

"The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning" Emil Brunner

The holy spirit is what makes us the church so that we're not just a group or hobby club etc.

Holy spirit causes us to be God's household

God's cosmic plan (from ephesians 3:10-11)
- the reconciliation of all things, fullness and completion, through the church.

We cannot seperate Christ or Christianity from the church.

The church is God's community of people.

Missions, not just people saved but incorporated into His people, part of the body.

Fellowships as Witness

Gk - Koinonia
As fellowships, churches:-
Worship
Gather
Disciple
Pray

Fellowship is unique to the church, not found in rugby club etc.

Partnerships

-

The anti-cultural church
In christian history we have not lived "in the world"

There was a christ against culture position in the past. (H Richard Niebuhr)
Anti-cultural
Separatist
"Don't", a big NO

...

We are called to be YES people.

Jesus came into a world of human culture and it didn't seem to bother him.

Tendency to ignore the bible's historical-cultural setting
No attempt to understand own historical and cultural setting in which they were "doing church"

We cannot afford to be oblivious to culture.

NT shows us it's absolutely possible to be in the world but not of it.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/26 - 02:15pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Body language

1. Movement
2. Annoying habits
3. Facial expressions
4. Dress code
5. Eye contact
6. Posture
7. Hand movements

What's important about it?
What stops people from using it correctly.
Three things to help someone who's struggling with doing these things well.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/26 - 08:30am Old Testament Introduction

Here's the big picture

-

The Torah (heb instructions or the gk law)

Law is not the best translation

Gk = pentateuch (5 volume book)
Heb = Torah
English = law

613 statutes, to help you from messing up the big ones

--

The Torah is not...
What God was like before Jesus
A picture of life before grace
A set of rules and regulations Jesus saved us from (NB he saved us from ourselves)
Laws that the israelites had to obey to be in relationship with God. (They obey because they are in relationship, they believe they are chosen and have a responsibility)

The fact that we're lawbreakers doesn't make the Law bad.. It means we're sinners.

What the torah is..
*A revelation of God
*A revelation of grace
*The beginning of The Story
*An example for us (and OF us)
*Instruction on relationship with God and others
*Instruction from a 'parent' raising children to be mature and function to their full potential as an adult
*His story of taking his people to the promise
*Narrative with instructions woven throughout
NB Torah shaped the culture that shaped Jesus life

If we pick up the story half way through (from NT etc) you'll live limited, you won't understand where you came from.

Tall tower analogy.. Fence at the top, to protect you and others... Not just about you.. And having the fence you can go right to the edge and see it all.

Hebrew writing is a story

- Role of the Torah
*Shows God's standard of righteousness
*shows our need for God's help / grace for obedience
*shows terms of agreement / covenant / relationship between God & his people.
*reveals the need for choice and change
*reveals God's grace and mercy
NB The Law is a response to God's grace & love.. It's a means to have a relationshop.

ANE law vs Biblical law
ANE.. Submission was the goal, fear, failure and punishment, distance

10 commandments show a picture of who God is and what he's not.

Different types of Law
*Ceremonial - God enabling man to bring acceptable worship
*Dietary - God emphasizing that they are his people
*Quarantine - removing what's unclean from worship
*Dedication - recognition of Lordship & provision
*Religious - symbolizes dedication
*Civil - shows that civil obedience = worship (people sought God to appoint civil leaders)

Relationship based focus, the point was that they would be a light, 'city on a hill'

--

Exodus

Gk "way out" (exodus/exit)
Heb "names"

*story of salvation & deliverance
*opens with the need for salvation & God chooses a man

Names had massive significance

-

Exodus

God's reintroduction to His people - the burning bush "I am" ch3, the most personal intimate name of God

Gods deliverance of His people - the passover and the exodus ch12.. The blood of the lamb covers over, death passes over them, they are free to be delivered out of slavery, there is still a journey of discipleship... If your family could not consume the whole lamb you are meant to share it with others.

God's gift to his people - the Law ch20... Jews split them down the middle, 5 and 5... We split them Love God and Love people as 4 and 6... Thank you for not leaving us with our egyptian slave mindsets... Set free from an oppressive slave master, free to obey a new master, a loving merciful God. Free from slavery is not eough is because that's all you know, transformation, renewing of the mind is needed.

God's presence with his people - the tabernacle ch25-40... He moves in with his people, to dwell, lives amongst. Jn 1:14 same concept. Tabernacle/dwell same word here.. Set free to worship (slave/servant/worship same word)

--

Leviticus
Gk "pertaining to the levites"
Heb "he called"
Story of holiness
Call to purity - yom kippur lev 16
Call to relationship - sacrifices/statutes
Call to worship - priests/tabernacle/feasts

They were the maintanence people

"When you bring yourself as an offering, bring an animal" symbolic representation when they brought themselves

When they bring an offering of themselves.. Bring an animal. Symbolising the fact they are bringing themselves to the altar.. but God did not wanted them to be a living sacrifice so there were different animals to represent different things.

It's not their means of forgiving sin, it wasn't about forgiveness. Not about trying to get approval.

Food drink offering represented your daily work etc

They weren't paying for their sin, they were repenting for their sin with sorrow and remorse.

Guilt offering, community related like stole etc.

Peace offering

Heb 13:15

Sacrifice of praise

Atonement means to cover over not cleanse.

Jesus blood cleanses so unlike the covering over being yearly the blood cleanses and it's done.

Hebrews refers to this a lot.

The curtain is no longer needed because Jesus blood is forever.

Sacrifice meant "to bring close"

Lev 1:2, rom 12:1

--

Numbers

Heb "In the desert"

Story of wanderings.. Sinai to the promised land

The power of a good report

There are still temporal consequences to our sin

Wanderings & failures

Preparation and training for the promise.

Only leads to failure based on our choices during the wilderness.

-

Deuteronomy

Heb "words"

Brand new generation that needed to hear, re-establish the boundaries and lifestyle for the community so they can maximise the promise right to the edge.

Moses' words & God's Words
The renewal / restating of the law and the covenant: "remember", "do not forget"

Reminder of God's power and israels responsibility as god's people
Re-establishes god's covenant with God
A new generation so they will choose life
Dt 30:19

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/26 - 11:00am Chapel - Dwayne

Christianity is not a post-mortem thing, saved so we may have life.

Rom 12:17

Giving forgiveness is harder than receiving it.. Overcome evil with good. Do not be overcome by evil.

When you decide to avenge yourself, 100% of the time you are overcome by evil.
Enemy destroys both people, one with guilt and other unforgiveness.

Transfer to God the right to pardon or punish.

Ps 110

Jude

Mark 11

Forgive the sins

Apostles creed, giving forgiveness.

If you do not forgive it will stay with you, forgiveness releases you.

Book, karl to simon, telling his story as an ss soldier.

If there is not forgiveness for an ss soldier.. The gospel is a fairytale.

Mat 18

You forgive by faith, they asked for an increase in faith.

Faith is not what you feel or think.

Faith is what you say, do

Heb 12:15

Amish story, wife and kids, husband murdered. Forgiveness of the amish community.

Forgiving community of forgiving sinners.

Don't avenge yourself.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/30 - chapel - Catrina

God had victory in his plans for the israelite army against the phillistines but they were stuck, frozen, not moving.

Victory is to be had for us.

Don't hang back on your potential.

"On that day, the Lord saved israel and the battle moved on"

One day, Jonathan, son of Saul..

The further they advanced into enemy territory the more confident they became.

Who is your armor bearer?

Whose armor bearer are you?

If you didn't need the people next to you, you could have done college by correspondence.

I'll carry your armor, I'll watch your back.

If the people close to you are not carrying your armor.. Find different people.

What that looks like:

1. Believe in the promise on our lives. I'm going to be naÔve enough to believe you can hear from God. Believe in each others promises.

2. Rejoice in each others promotions. 39 years wasn't long enough, it's why they were there for 40.

Helping someone else up the mountain, you end up there as well. Right behind, every step.

3. Protect one anothers promises. Protect what's on the inside of you and others... Until the final curtain call.

Armor bearer fights along side, it's not a caddy.

You are your brothers keeper.

We all win when you win your battles. Everyone got in on the victory when Jonathan won, even the traitors turned back.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 30 March 2010 10:40:22 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/30 - Personal Leadership - Duncan Corby

... Accidently hit discard.. Lost all notes >_<

Life goals
Mission
Vision
Values

It's about the character, not the where... Not will I marry, how will I make the choice. Not where will I go but how will I live my life in the place I go.

Several NT scriptures

2 thes 1:11

Col

Phil

Will of God like a 6 lane highway not a tightrope, newcastle freeway analogy.

Not about a peace, right, best or Godly choice could be scary.

---

Factors when making big decisions

"Shape" your gifts, temperament, skills, talents etc

Walk with God

Prophetic word

Life experience

Mentors and influencers

Context

Your choices

- indicators

What do you really enjoy?
What makes you really angry? The things about the world.
Where do you see great possibilities?
Where do you bear fruit?
What do people regularly commend you for?
What is really important to you?

---

Give your all to the thing you're doing now, don't treat it like a stepping stone to something else. Treat it like you will be doing it for the rest of your life.

---

Values

Values based decision, what's important, true, right as opposed to the specific direction.

Two kinds:
General Christian values
Your personal application & expression

From values you go to vision.

Some start at vision, it's the wrong place to start. Values say who you are.

Vision - a descriptive, inspiring and compelling picture of the future you hope to see. Might be long, pictures can take awhile to describe.

Translate your vision into a mission.

This is what I'm going to do today, tomorrow and the day after.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/31 - 1:15pm OT intro

Revelation on the call / promises of Abraham

Look up the promises:

Gen 12:1-8
Gen 15:5-6
Gen 17:4-8
Heb 11:8
Gal 3:1:1-18

What are the promises?
All the peoples will be blessed through you

To your offspring I will give this land... Is it literal or we included?

Multitude of offspring

Everlasting covenant to be our God, and where you live as a foreigner will be yours

Reside as a foreigner, I give you this land. Your possession, you have a responsibility to it.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/31 - 11:45am Mission & Culture - Anita Schmied

Review

Partners with God

God doesn't need us but wants us.

Eyes to see.

Jesus was and is an evangelist and lives inside you

Film, "lost at sea"

3 quotes from the film or three things that challenge, move or inspire me.

"Our purpose should be quite clear"

"You are their only chance"

"Not a pleasure boat... a lifeboat for saving souls"

... Risk

Ministry AND mission

Personally leading people, not just corporately. Personal mission when outside of church.

... Difference between memorising the manual and actually doing it.

Don't get paralused by the small beginning that you can do.

Pre-destination vs free-will.

God has done both, pre-destined and given free-will.

Sometimes things seem immoveable... Like the boat docked, the tide comes, lifts it and you can push it... Like the holy spirit.

Tide of the holy spirit is rising.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/03/31 - 9:00 Core Tutorial

Take home:
Greater understanding of importance of core values

Assessment progress

---

Benefits of values

Values, the things that matter, the benchmarks.

Goal setting + review

Monthly sched, budget & review

Wk 6 reading was for this week.

---

Write 5 or 6 qualities or values that describe you.

Patience - Slow to anger
Generous
Caring
Humorous
Follow, respect, honour leadership
Friendly
Acceptance

Transparency

Difference between fruits and the value..

I.E. Being on time is a fruit of the value of respect.

They should all come from the character of God.

I value you, because of the value and worth God places on you.

---

-Acceptance.
When people share their past I do not judge or change my opinion of them.

Because of the things I have been through and done, with God's acceptance of me makes it very easy for me to do.

In the past people have told me things such as previous drug habits or addictions etc.

For people still stuck in those things I pray for change.

-Patience.

-loving people?

-generosity

-honouring leadership

----

Assessment for reflections.. Summarise for that week how I did, what impact the days I did versus the days I didn't... Was there a change?

Set the day for the start-end of the reflections

Endings on sunday (because monday there is no time) tues might have cg...

---
Values reading
Goal setting portfolio reading
Reading 7 confrontation principle

For the 14th

----

Bring a food or item from your culture for next class.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/01 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

Mission + Culture

In the past, we have been oblivious to culture and had a 'christ against culture' anti-cultural.

- 'People Groups'

"Missiologists"

A people group is.. A significantly large sociological grouping of individuals who percieve themeslves to have a common affinity for one another. (C.P. Wagner)

3 broad classifications of main kinds of people groups or ways in which people group together.

Ethnolinguisitic - ethnicity & language

Sociological - relative to rest of society, i.e. Classes.

Incidental - fixed term interest and specific circimstances... Tour group, addicts.. Even if it's for an hour.

If we can begin to realize that people gather we can focus a direction.

You'll get affirmation of what you believe, the negatives will gather together, re-affirming themselves getting into a huddle and it becomes a virus.

People huddle.

People group theory.

Looking at the possibility that God is wanting us to reach 'people groups'

4 main kinds of groups for missions

Unreached - aware of, no known evangelist amongst them
Hidden - not even aware of where they are or overlooked. Conscious of our ignorance.
Frontier - hard to reach groups such as chinese, muslims
Unpenetrated. - absolutely zero missions breakthrough, inaccessible

Some people are going to be difficult.

Book "what's so amazing about grace" phillip yancy

A point of connection between us and them.

Who can you reach? Even if it had objects in the way.

Language is dying out, simply don't have access to them

Biblical theology on people groups.

People groups assumed by God.

Mat 28:19-20 gk is 'panta ta ethne' for all the nations, all the people groups. Over 100 times in the OT

Gen 12:1-3

Bless peoples through his blessed people

Acts 3:25

Jesus assumes the OT promises
Luke 24:45-47

"House of prayer for all nations

Mark 11:17, from Is 56:7
For all peoples heb "kol ha'ammim"

----

Movie "The mission", tracey's favourite

Father gabriel approaches again

- Reaching people groups

Guidelines:
*Respect them as valid people in God's eyes, ps 24:1

*honour their identity, uniqueness.. Not condoning sinful behaviour

*study their history, culture, and language... Know what matters to them, know their "language" I.e. They like soccer.

*befriend them

*pray for them

*understand that Jesus came and died for them as for all others... Their worth is the same.

*go to them yourself or help and pray for others to go.

*expect God's spirit to reveal God's Presence and will to them.

*remember that God's ideal of the whole human race becoming one in Christ (jn 17; eph 2; etc) is an eternal purpose of creating one people group - the church)

-----

Reaching people groups.

It's not just about reaching them and communicating the Gospel.

Disciples of all peoples.

A journey of becoming, a global following of a united people.

Baptise all peoples
Change allegiance
Become one of his people

Acts 15

Amos 9:11-12

Goal of reaching people

Teach all peoples
To obey
In faith
Acknowledge His Lordship

Cleansed and now the people of God

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/08 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

20 mins late (sick)

Wait for a break...

Came in @ 1:27

---

Society -
The outward form & practice of culture

*activity
*expression
*behaviour

The root of misunderstanding

Missionaries came bringing their western culture.

Poor communication

Differences in culture.

Looked at culture, society..

Now race.

The major streams of division

European
Polynesian
Asian
African

Ethnicity's within race
Polynesian -> Maori
European -> French
Kenyan

...

We claim a new basis for evaluation... A kingdom basis.. From the bible.

We need to be careful about what we have assumed is kingdom culture and what is local culture.

"Am I really helping my brother when I dress that way"

When does culture become an excuse for moral failings etc.

Jesus and his disciples found a way of navigating this.. Corinthian letters are a good example.

Beware the "blind spots"

Culture is powerful.

Unconcscious ignorance.

Culture is about people

God created diversity

Diversity & Unity
* acknowledge the power of culture
* see the in-breaking of kingdom culture - culture cleansing
* acknowledge the diveristy of the Body
* seek the unity of the Church.

God needs the differences of the fingers, nose, liver to all do things the other part can't do but with a kingdom mindset.

--

World view
- the deep level of culture

We have certain feelings and values towards things.

If culture is what people are doing at a societal, behaviour level... Underneath all that, the undercurrent is the world view.

Culture - patterned behaviour

Worldview - patterns of assumptions
-values and commitments, mental map of reality, whether they are aware of it or not.

The unseen set of "rules", assumed truth.

It's not good enough to say "I don't know why I believe it, I just do" or... "My youth pastor said..." Etc. We have to take responsibility.

A culture's worldview attempts to make sense of the world outside itself. It assumes it's right even without proof.

World views
Example hebrew and greek world views

Cross cultural ministry

------

Cross cultural sensitivity

We need to recognize the gospel is central to the task.

Bridging the last 5 feet is the toughest.

God - OT
Jesus - Galilean Judaism
Luke 10:25-37

Culture was never an excuse for Jesus.

Tells a story embedded in their culture and shows kingdom culture.

Another example is the beattitudes.

Early church
Peter - acts 10
Paul acts 17:16-31
Jerusalem council acts 15

Don't become so enculturated that you lose the point.

People come along counter-culturally.

Happens in church culture as well.

Martin luther, Booth etc.

What is kingdom culture and what is the church culture?

Be careful about what you assume is kingdom culture vs local church culture.

(What is the kingdom culture about dating and opposite gender relationships)

-

Bonding and immersion in to a culture
Leads to:
Bi-cultural or 'meta-cultural'

-

Inculturation and indigenization

Having such an affinity that we truly understand their beliefs, culture, their insides.

Bring the seed of the gospel and plant it in their soil, don't bring a potted plant.

The gospel, kingdom and kingdom values takes contextualisation.

Sometimes the culture needs to be cleansed of sinful behaviour... Coming from worldview not trying to change people's behaviour.

Contextualising can be risky. Some messy hybrid can be the result. Or we can be so worried that we pull back.

I.E. Indonesia, orange sash and washed hands, tracey thought paganism but it was just local culture, contextualised christianity.

Transformation of culture.

John 3 - Nicodemus, night time is when rabbi's talk about serious stuff. Jesus then meets a samaritan in the next chapter. Taking them from one worldview to another.

Phil 3 - a shaper of culture not shaped by it

1 cor 6:12 - not mastered by anything but work within to win some.

God at work through His Spirit

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/09 - 11:00am - chapel

Special speaker, Rodney something?

Operation mobilisation, ship duolos.

The mon people, in burma.. People group don't want them there.

First thing, built a medical centre, dentist, then a church.

Myanmar, mon people.

-

Global challenge.

Why go to other places?

Is 49:6 - there's so much more you're called to. A light to the ends of the earth

Essence of justice

Prov 31:8-9. Reach out to those who don't have a voice.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/09 - 12:45pm Old Testament Intro Tutorial

Katie Peters took over.

You have read:
Father of John = priest, burning incense
(Other things, missed it)

* worship in ancient israel

Why pidgeons etc?

Outline:

Worship for *them* through history of OT

Patriarchal
Exodus-settlement
Monarchy (David, Solomon)
Exile & Return

A survey of what worship looked like in each period.

Application for us/me
Psalms in israel's worship

Patriarchal
Approx 2200-1550bc
Pastoral/nomadic peoples. The text assumes that people are familiar with procedure/details of sacrifice.

Act of worship = offering/sacrifice
Gen 4:4-5 - cain/abel

Sacrifice/human sacrifice common in the land of canaan

*Examples
Noah - gen 8:20-21
Offering: out of gratitude, recognition of God's power/reign, preceeded covenant (sign rainbow)

Abraham - gen 12:7-8, 13:18
Pattern of move, pitch tent, build altar.
We start to see relationship.

Gen 22: first explanation of sacrifice as worship:
- gathering woos
- special site
- build altar
- slay sacrifice

First time it's mentioned, the word love is mentioned and worship.

Worship, being sacrifice and obediance.

Love, love of a son to a father.

Gen 9:14 - circumcision also began as ritual / sign of covenant relationship.

Abraham - offering: gratitude, obedience, confirming the covenant

Isaac/Jacob
Gen 26:25 - build altar/call on the name of the LORD
'Offered sacrifices to God' Gen 46:1
Gratitude, obedience, recognition of ongoing relationship, accompany covenant w/ God.

Patriarchs
Job - offerings cover sin
Job 1:5 - Offerings atone for sin
42:8 - burnt offerings to cover sin

someone making an offering for someone else.

This is before exodus 20

First time since the animal covering adam and eve we see offering to atone for sin.

Introduced: worship is based on faith, expression of gratitude, love and obedience. Offerings and sacrifice accompany affirmation of covenant, introduce sacrifice as atonement for sin.

---

Exodus-settlement
Approx 1550-1000bc
Shift from stateless people to loosely organised group of tribes and villages - forms basis for covenantal community.

Ex 3:18 'let my people go' - so they can worship.

Ex 7:25 - 'sacrifices and burnt offerings'
Ex 12:3-11 - go into the desert to offer sacrifices/worship

Passover - 'lasting ordinance for generations' blood atones for sin.

Sacrifice accompany covenant
Ex 20:24 after law given
- sinners approach God on condition of shed blood.

God progressing his people and how things will happen.

Tabernacle/tent of meeting - ex 25:8, ex 40
Corporate worship
Idolatry - ex 32 - golden calf.

Israel as a community starts to veer away.

Sacrifices outlined in the law:
(Lev 1-12 and ex)
Occasions for offerings:
Burnt - symbol of total dedication to God
Grain - gift to God out of generosity (part to God/priests)
Fellowship - express friendship/communion between worshipper & God
Sin - unintentionally broken law
Guilt - damage done, victim suffered loss, compensation.

Settlement into canaan - tribes fragmented, sites for worship begin, shrines/altars everywhere. People would set up their own worship shrines (not what God wanted), served other Gods.

Judges.

Judges 17:6 'israel had no king, and everyone did as he saw fit'
3:5 '.. And they served their gods'
6 altars to Baal, asherah poles
17 household shrines

Bowing down to something else that isn't God. Totally devoted to God and then off clubbing or drinking etc.

Rebellion still costs the same.. Someone paid for it with death, even if you didn't have to.

Monarchy
Approx 1000-587bc
Transition from loosely connected tribes to political nation. Israel's golden moment.
1st temple (solomon) replaced tabernacle with for worship (2 sam 7:2)

Worship in the temple: place of national worship.
3 annual festivals
Morning and evening services
Sabbath rituals
New moon
Public events such as coronation of king, a victory in battle, national disaster etc

---

Exile & Return
587-330bc
Adversity often draws from people a degree of spiritual devotion which lies dormant or neglected in happier times.

Temple destroyed, filled with despair, some followed some didn't.

Is 40-55 shows renewal of faith

539bc - first thing: repair altar/begin sacrifice.
Rebuild the temple. Hag 2:3, ez 3:12

Established principle:
Worship in faith.
Re-affirmed covenant relationship
Sacrifices offered

Lev 17:11, Heb 9:21-22

--
Pattern:
Sacrifices no longer practiced (70ad)
Repentance & faith worshippers come to their God - Not the animal but the faith/trust in God to forgive.

Sacrifice of praise - Heb 13:15

Established preparation/expectation
Final sacrifice/atonement
Heb 9:26

Internal - not making us outwardly cleans, blood cleanses our consciences so that we can serve the living God

External - heb 9:8

---

God matures Israel (his son)

Psalms in Israel's worship

Man's words to God.

How do the words to God function as words from God to us?

How to correctly apply them.

Purpose: not primarily to teach moral behaviour or doctrine. But for helping us.

1. Express ourselves to God - joys and sorrows, success and failures, hopes and regrets.

2. Consider His ways. The way He works. How He was faithful to that man. The ways of God. Not just what he did but the way he did it.

Date: early monarchy to after exile (1000-400bc)

Authors: David (lots, 70+), Solomon (1), Moses (1), Sons of Asaph/Korah

Setting: various - actual life situations/crisis

Collected over centuries: oral transmission

Why poetry? Appeals to emotions as well as the mind. - emotive word pictures.

Through the heart, to the mind.

Provides a way to describe what is indescribable. E.g. Beyond our powers of imagination, or comparison to something familiar in our everyday lives.

Poetry is beautiful - language is vivid and evocative.

Poetry is memorable - attract reader's attention, poetic devices make it easier to remember.

---

(Read the bible for all it's worth, book)

Tools for interpretation

Context of worship - contain their words to God. Israelite worship. Their covenant and all they believed.

Context of covenant - declarations of relationship between people and God. God hears you and will be faithful to you. Covenant is permanent.

Context of poetry - types of psalms, functions, purpose. Parallelism, specific applications.

Parallelism - a fundamental characteristic of hebrew poetry, echo's one thought with another. Two thoughts the same, using different words. Ps 19

Synonymous parallelism
Eg ps 19. First two lines the same.

Focuses to make it clearer.

Antithetic parallelism
Opposite thoughts

Saying the same thing. "Wicked borrow and do not repay but the righteous give generously. Ps 37:21

Context of authenticity - teach us to bring every thought and emotion to God.

An entire book to show how comfortable God is to embrace us through all our emotions, whatever is in your heart.

Teaches us to bring it all to God.

God will answer, the psalmist has been heard, even when they say 'where are you'.

God hears and is interested.

Context of Christ
Some of the prophetic psalms specifically anticipate the life of Jesus.
Ps 2, 22, 45, 110, 118

In great distress, Jesus found his words echoed in the psalms, the lowest most vulnerable, abandoned part of his life find anchor and comfort in the psalms and pull out hope and promise... We can do the same.

Ps 21, 31

5 books of psalms.

When experience leaves you speechless.. The psalms have words for you.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/12 - life course leaders meeting.

Nicolette Deva
3 keys to self care

Fruit bearing tree analogy.

What kind of tree you are?

What is your job, not your job.. When are you stepping outside of your role.

Vital to avoid burnout, Compassion fatigue.

Where do you start and end and it goes to someone else.

In caring roles the lines blur in emergency etc

Facilitator responsibility:
Responsible for providing the environment for healing but not for the actual healing

The attendee is responsible for their commitment to coming.

Signs of stepping outside of our role:
Fatigue, sleep disrupted, apetite, resentment, feeling irritated, apathetic, lacking empathy.

Have a conversation with yourself or leader or similar role and clarify what is my job and what is someone else's job. Some things we have to pass on to others.

2. What does your tree need to thrive?
It needs external support.
Rest.
What/who nourishes you?
Bears fruit in season.
Rest from being in a caring role.
Ask every month/4 weeks, how much you rested?

It's important to consider what kind of God time you need during these times.

When and how do you rest? Not sleep, but *rest*

What boundaries do you need to setup to ensure rest, nourishment and balance. What do you have to say yes to and no to?

Don't feel guilty about resting.

Jesus ministered and rested.

3. What is going on below the surface.

What is important to you?

What drives us.. Overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

What are 3 words that would describe what you want to bring to your role and how you want to carry it out. (Values)... Short version.

When we are aligned with our values, less stress.

How consistantly are you living by your values?

Matt 22:39 (msg) love others as well as you love yourself.

----

31st may term 2 life courses.

Kathy Scalachi(sp?) taking over from Jenyfer.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/13 - 11:45 Chapel Dr Dave Martin

No human could have written a standard so high that is in the bible.

Prov 4 - wisdom

Deut 30:19 - choose life.

Live everyday like christmas morning.

This the day the Lord has made and a choose to rejoice.

Everything has already been paid for and is included in the ticket.

John 10:10 - life abundantly.

1. Slow down and enjoy the journey. Get the most out of today.

Happiness is in the now.

It's my choice to rejoice.

Nothing will make you happy without God.

2. Be yourself. Who God created you to be.

3. Lighten up. Enjoy the journey. Prov 17:32 healing power in a cheerful attitude. Laughter builds up immune system and disease fighting cells.

Don't let the enemy steal your joy.

4. Be positive.

The more wisdom you have the less miracles you'll need.

Gaining wisdom:
*Make mistakes and learn from it
*From mentors. Mentors can't be best friends.

5. Expect good things to happen to you. Favour from God. Whatever you *recognize* you become thankful for, whatever you're *thankful* for will increase in your life.

Got to love everybody but don't let everyone on your boat. Get rid of wrong people and relationships and watch problems clear up.

Favour will accelerate your destiny.

----
Announcements:
'The box' - creative talents night, 20th april.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/13 - 9:45 Personal Leadership - Duncan

Guest - Dr Dave Martin 'success coach'

The best of your life will be the rest of your life.

The person and principles of Jesus.

Person prepares for heaven, principles prepares for life.

Did a series, 10 secrets of negotiation.

What did you learn today?

Prov 1:5 - wise man will hear and increase in learning.

- Goal setting.

Plane tickets sold based on where you're going.

Annointing from serving

4 questions:

Why? get up this early, why read that many books, make that many friends etc

Why not? Why not see how far you can go. Got to stay until you go anyway.

Why not you? People have done incredible things with a limited start

Why not now? Why not while you're here right now?

T - teach
I - inspire
M - motivate
E - empower

The only person who can motivate you, is you.

David encouraged himself in the Lord when people were getting ready to stone him.

Great success principles from David. Imagination and memory.

Imagination is like a fast forward button. Pre-play the future.

Memory is like a rewind button.

Little victories leading to big successes.

* Dream Big

Do we really believe all things are possible. Dream big enough that God has to get involved. We have to get up and do something.

Successful people have a clear sense of direction. Success is goals, everything else is commentary.

When you write them down you increase your chance of accomplishment.

Spiritual goals, giving goals (finance, time), health goals. Relationship goals.

Absolute clarity about what you want is the starting point.

Every day sets goals for the day.

Mary K would write down six things and prioritised them.

Make good decisions and prioritise your time and the accomplishment of those goals.

the more you achieve the better you feel about yourself.

Upward spiral leading to greater things.

1. Write down your goals. Be realistic, be specific.

Just by writing them down has a huge impact

2. Set priorities. Make a detailed action plan. Visualize your goals. Do not associate 'dreams' with unrealistic unobtainable expectations.

*All things are possible

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

The biggest accomplishments start with the biggest dreams.

When your heart decides a destination your mind will begin to map it.

Broken focus causes failure.

Pulled towards your dominant focus.

- Plan your dreams, commited yourself. Going to make it happen.

Dave has a 'dream wall', vision board.

3. Set a deadlines for your goals.

4. Make a list of everything you can think of doing to achieve your goal.

5. Organize your list based on the priorities and sequence. God is a God of order. The accurate arrangement of things. Disorder distracts. Time be wasted when things out of order.

The only thing keeping him from where he needed to be was a key. (To his car).

6. Take action, immediately, don't delay. Plan and put action.

7. Work it out continually, do something everyday, no matter how small.. To move you toward your goal.

What are you going to learn today to make tomorrow different?

Choose to enjoy today.

Short pencil is better than a long memory.

----

www.davemartin.org

'Drdavemartin'... Twitter and facebook.

---

1. Be optimistic. Inspires and empowers people to do more and be better. Positive, excited people.

One of the most important qualities for success is optimism. The habits of optimism.

Reverse paranoia.. Always expecting something good to happen to you.

Positive mental attitude.

Optimistic people focus on the future, they look for opportunity.

Your brain takes over the job of accomplishing the thing in your heart.

The me I see is the me I'll be.

2. Self confidence.. The way God see's you... Not the way others see you or even you see you. God's picture is definitely better than what others or you think.

God has a picture of you as perfect success.

Whether you think you can or can't... You are right.

People will succeed based on their beliefs.

Van Gough sold two paintings in his lifetime, to his brother. He believed in himself even when others haven't.

Margeret Mitchell, 31 times her book rejected. 32nd publisher said ok. Book won a pulitzer prize... "Gone with the wind".

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Belief

3. Celebrate your uniqueness. Successful people don't care what other people think. Don't insult God by being something different.

Someone needs what you have.

You can't be someone else. You can't do all things.

Successful people constantly learn and grow. Unsuccessful people think they know everything.

When you're through learning, you're through.

Wisdom, learn more, information is powerful.

Dave has a weekly 'getting smart' plan.

Nothings going to change until you change. Commit to life long learning.

CANI
Constan and never ending improvement

Time. Time management. Time is earth's currency. Trading your time for things.

Draws a train with 24 box cars, each hour, determines what you will get each day.

Be more conscious of the time you have.

---

Next week, time management in detail.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/14 - 09:00am Personal Leadership Tutorial

Set goals.

Aligning goals w/ God.

Aligned with the cause.

Today's goals.

Fear paralyzes, faith mobilizes.

-

Tutorial Goal

Open Day
-everyone tells a person about it.
-

Reaching out/salvation

What needs are you bringing to the team that causes them to get distracted from the main thing.

--

Tutorial goal for next week.
*our* goal.

Come with idea's.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/14 - 11:45am Mission & Culture - Anita Schmied

How do you bring kingdom culture in the various cultures you go into?

A culture transformer.

Free flow, what words come to mind when you think of:
Culture
Food, language, colours, completely different style of dressing. Clogs, folk, traditional, black, white, yellow, red, videogames, groups of people with the same external or outward appearance (clothes and skin etc). Something personal.

How would you define culture?

Culture is the thoughts, activities and things recognized by a group as being theirs. Such as food, clothing, language and activities.

---
Society's integrated system of idea's, feelings and values with their associated patterns of behaviour which are shared, organized and regulated.

The attitudes and behaviour that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization.

A particular society at a particular time and place

All the knowledge and values shared by a society.

How do we as christians transform the culture out there?

... How does Brian do it?

---

Inviting to church... How about inviting to Jesus if the situation calls for it.

Identify the culture around you and change it... Getting tired? Initiate change.

How do we transform?

By making things simple

Unity

Casting vision

Personal

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 April 2010 7:58:25 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/14 - 12:45pm Old Testament Intro Tutorial

Abraham video.

He left his security and identity behind.

Heb 11:8

Obeyed and went even though he didn't know where he was going.

God wants you to get there more than you do.

"No turning back"

Gen 12:7-8

We have a tendancy to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember.

Marking stones help us to remember how far we've come.

What step do I need to take?

When did you last build an altar to God?

Wells... Natural meeting places.

Daily dependance.. Too much too soon can short circuit us and we take for granted.

God disorients us to orient us.

Gen 21:1-6

Waited 25 years.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/15 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

People Groups
Culture

Culture - Common idea's, beliefs and values for a group of people.

But it's no excuse to act a certain way... Culture is never an excuse for sin.

Learned, derived and inherited.

Hopefully we become aware of it, that we are behaving out of it.

Society is the outward expression of this undercurrent called culture.

Leads to certain behaviour.

Culture is very powerful, it can draw people in and influence people's choices.

Rituals, visual signs of a culture. Such as handshakes or symbols.

Hero's.

---

-Worldview

Assumed truths.

World view at a deeper level, the undercurrent or rip under the water.

You and I will assess and make decisions emotively based on our worldview.
Based on experience developed a worldview

Knowledge, assumed truths, emotions and values
-under pinning idea's, beliefs, feelings and allegiances.

Understanding these depths is key to
Cross-cultural Sensitivity
Cross-cultural Communication
Cross-cultural Mission

- Knowledge.
Had to incorporate these into sources of knowledge:

Biblical perspective
Kingdom values
Revelation
Spirit prompting
Transformation
Discipleship
Fellowship

Based on this and normal knowledge sources worldview is shaped.

What is their way to knowledge?

Conceptual knowledge
Intuitional knowledge
Relational knowledge

The mustery, intuitional.
Gal 1:11-12
1 cor 15:1
Eph 3:2-6

Some cultures are more inclined to get their knowledge a certain way.

*Watched the beginning of the movie "mother teresa"*
Interesting soundtrack, theme.

There's a lot going on in each person and their culture and people group.

-Knowledge
One more type, God's way.. Revelational knowledge.

Mystery
Natural & supernatural
Acts 8:26-40

Revelation knowledge.
Provides answers
Re-orients us
Refocuses us
Promotes unity
Changes your attitude
Transforms worldviews.

New ways of thinking
Seeing things as God see's them
Having "mind of christ" 1 cor 2:16
Leading to new ways of thinking
Then impacting society

- nurturing our knowledge
Culture differences
*Event time vs clock time.
*High context vs low context.
*Individualism
*Power distance
*Uncertainty avoidance

Conquest and Allotment
If we do it God's way we'll see the best outcome.
Entry, central, southern then northen campaign
Taking of the land (josh 1-12)
Allocation (13-21)
Problems not driving out the enemy
Cities of refuge
Inheritance of the levites.

The method won't always be the optimum plan.. if God said it, His word always accomplishes what it sets out to. What God wants of us won't always happen but what he says is indisputable.

---

Judges
Moral relativism

355 years
Author - possibly samuel. Judges 2:10-15

Israel's moral failure and failure to keep covenant.

Failure to drive out the people God said to.

Judges appointed to deliver and save

Cycle of sin (2:16)

Moral relativism (18:1, 19:1, 21:25)

-

You conquering your promise, getting over your addictions and insecurity so that your children can go forward and go further than those before.

-

Cycle of judges
Salvation -> silence (not hearing from God so let's come up with a method) -> sin -> servitude -> supplication -> salvation etc

God doesn't speak to you everyday because you're not babies anymore. If your mom had to call you everyday then something is wrong.

Ruth
A gentile makes it into Jesus lineage
Story of loyalty during the period of judges
An Idyll - a story of rustic life
4 act play, opening and closing passage and a central dialogue.

Ruth's themes (on the portal)
Famine to plenty
Barren to fruitful
Isolation to family

Ruth's "kinsman redeemer"
Lev 25:47-55
Deut 25:5-6

*Buys back the property of the kin and restores it to the family
*must be a blood relative
*must be able to pay the price of redemption
*must be willing to redeem
*must be free himself

Redeemer, to act like a kinsmen. Heb = Gaal... To do whatever is necessary to provide for.

---

The Rise of the Monarchy

Just because God let's you do it, doesn't necessarily mean it's part of the plan.

Establishing the monarchy under saul (1 sam)

The monarchy under David (2 sam)

The Monarchy under solomon (1 kings)

Divided monarchy (1 kings 12 - 2 kings)

Not disqualified by your mistakes, just deal with them and the consequences.

There is a bit of overlap in stories.
Prophet, priest and king insights into the story.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/16 - 02:15pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Idea's for speaking

Hook (intro)
Book (content)
Took (conclusion)

How to do introductions well and conclusions well.

Intro's
Story, humour, current events.

1. Shock

2. Raise curiosity

3. Questions

4. Current events

5. Special effects / technology

---

Keep our promises. Deliver what you promise to deliver.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/16 chapel - duncan

1 thes 1:2-3 we always thank God for all of you.

Your work produced by faith
Your labour prompted by love
Your endurance prompted by hope

Don't lose the reason why we're doing things.

Bring back to rememberance.

Don't do it on autopilot, routine or just because or I have to or required to do it... It's a terrible way to serve and do things.

*Labour produced by faith

Luke 5 - paralytic lowered through the roof.

Jesus saw their work and concluded they had faith.

That work was motivated by faith.

As I stand here doing this task.. God is with me.

What are the promises that God made you that are fuelling you?

God promised me that I will preach to groups of people.

Not trying to please people and it doesn't matter what they think.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/20 - 9:45 Personal Leadership - Duncan

Time Management

But first... Reconnect with some previous idea's.

The cause of Jesus becomes the cause of our life.

Something only God can do.

God invites us into the process.

We have God-given potential.

What will it take to maximise that potential?

Set Goals that cause us to strive towards them.

A series of milestones towards the goal.

Setting goals along the way, moves you forward.

Look for people who are setting goals etc, i.e. Dave about writing so many songs.. What goals does he set?

Take responsibility for developing your potential and gradually moving towards your maximised potential.

Make sure the goals you are pursuing are deeply connected to the cause of Christ.

Once that's sorted you can start propelling yourself forward.

"Cause driven life with God-given goals."

How have you used your time?

----

*Optimising your time

- Principles

We all have the same amount of time

We have enough time to do all that God requires and expects of us.

View time through the lens of the Kingdom. - it's motivating! (Not through the lens of your todo list.. Or what do I feel like doing today).

They achieve the most, who have the greatest desire and commitment to achieve, and who are the most skillful in managung and using their time.

--

Laws of Seizing Time
- taking control of your time

Unseized time (unplanned or planned and unused) flows towards my weaknesses.

Parkinsons law of time management, the task will expand to fill the time you have.. i.e a 30 minute task takes the whole day if you have the whole day.

Leaders are masters of using time and recruiting people and their time "what are you doing? Nothing? Want to help with this?"

Unseized time surrenders to the demands of emergencies.

Unseized time gets invested in things that gain public acclaim. (Things that give short term gain).

I seize time when I budget it far in advance.

---

Planning your time

Benefits of planning:
Helps put first things first
Freedom and control
Gives you a reason to say "no"
Avoids time conflicts
Avoids guilt
A sense of progress
Gives you a way through
Spontaneity!!

----

How to... An overview

Step 1 - your life goals
Step 2 - the big picture
Step 3 - weekly routine
Step 4 - a to-do list
Step 5 - plan your week
Step 6 - monitor and adjust

---

Step 2 - the big picture
Get a year planner
Map out the year / semester
Block out "dead" days and weeks
Put your deadlines, due-dates and projects into the year plan.

---

Step 3 - a weekly routine
You have 168 hours a week
After sleep (8 hours) - 112 hour
Look at all your roles
Develop a weekly routine that fits all your roles in.
Prioritising and allocating time to things so the area's in your life are moving forward. Multiple roles such as, lecturer, leader, student, brother, son etc etc

---

Step 4 - a to-do list
Before the new week starts
What do you need to get done this week? (Check your yearly plan, what's due, what special events are on?)
Check back to your Year Plan
What special events are on this week?
Set priorities

---

Step 5 - plan the week
(Into your locked in weekly thing)
Put in special events
Put to do-list into weekly plan

---

Step 6 - monitor and adjust
Start of each day - what didn't get done yesterday.
What new things need to be added, or can be taken away.
What are the consequences of adjusting?
Make the adjustments.

---

Making the most of your time.

The above will generate self awareness.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/20 - chapel

Matt Pugh
- Baggage.

Rom 6:22 - set free

Ps 103:112

Is 45:25 God blots out your transgressions for His sake.

Eph 4:1

---
Cherisse
'Dreams'

Gen 37

There's always going to be people that come against us and doubt us.. And sometimes they'll be the people closest to us.

Gen 45

Have a bigger picture of why you're here.

You could be the forerunner.

Rom 9:18-22

---

From where we're at to where we're going

Preparing for your promise.

(Nice recap)

1. Preparation.. For the sacrifice
Josh 1:2

Get the right people in place to help you move forward.

2. When God sends, he supports

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/21 - 09:00am Personal Leadership Tutorial

Feedback form

It is a warm and nurturing environment.

Katie always listens and shows concern for the welfare of the students.

-----

Getting things done

How to...

-----

Online open day,

Tutorial Goal possibilities

Fb year long support.

One to one connection

News letter

Encourage someone locally

- think of one person to check it out.

Our goal for salvations this semester coming to our community.

Praying for the people near us.

----

Getting things done - David Allen
Review key idea's
Apply in pairs

----
List things on your mind right now:
Finish my composition
Get back Edith's container from Sara
Find out about the bubushka doll
Learn japanese
Hungry :p
Assessments, conflict and cross-culture interview.
Reply to miyuki

---

Weekly schedule.

Roles + goals:

AIM student + finish semester portfolio by wednesday

HILC student + complete assignments on time and readings, attend and review lecture notes

Employee + get to work on time

Self sustaining person + laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning the house.

Servant/Son of God + devotional readings, connecting with God, worship, service.

4 aspects of manhood
Human
Lion
Eagle
Ox

---

Assertive
Eph 4:25-32
Speak for myself and no one else.

Express thoughts - use words.

Choice
Self is equal
Confidence - eye contact, body posture, open, integrity, listen.
High sense of worth
Respects self and others
Speaks for self 'I'

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/21 - 11:45am Mission & Culture - Anita Schmied

Had a culture lunch.

How do you interface culture and kingdom.

Culture transformers.

Take the principles into the culture not the the rules of the other culture that equals the principles.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/22 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

Lecture 8
-
People Groups
Culture
Worldview
---

Worldview
Knowledge of 3 types
Assumed truths
Values - our window to the world

---

Tensions from two culture and worldviews coming together.

World views compared:
*western //others

*Linear time divided into neat segments
// cyclical time / time flows and can't be quantified

*generalise about others from my experiences and observations of them
//can't generalise. Experience is always unique, isolated incident.

*humans can understand truth
//humans can't understand truth

*human-centred, individualistic universe
//God- or -spirit-centred universe;
Tribe or family centred;
Uncentred

*money / material = measure of value
// family relationships = measure;
Personal/ family prestige;
Spiritual power

ANE culture more like other

---
Danger of using our worldview to justify

---

Values
*competition is good - to get ahead
//competition is evil and co-operation is good

*change is good - for progress
//change is bad (destruction of traditions).
Or change is neither good nor bad.

*individual good is valued (what's in it for me)
//group good is valued
Individualism is destructive
What do I need to do to make it better for others? Not about a consumer mentality.

---

Allegiances compared
(The most important things in my life, in order are...)

option 1:
*self, job, family
// family/clan, job, self

Option 2:
*god, self, job family
//God/gods, clan/family

Option 3:
*God, family, self, job
//ancestors / family, self

---

How to communicate with other cultures

---

'North and South' period drama, set in 1800's

culture clash, prime example, world view values clash.

---
God's way for Intercultural Ministry...
Relationships

- Communication
"Communicate" - from the latin word communis
Meaning common
From the root word for community

To communicate - to share or exchange
-on grounds of mutually percieved relationship.

Gen 1:26-31
Gen 2:15-20
God starts communicating with humanity right away, in relationship with them.

Gen 18

James 2:23
Mark 3:14

Poor relationship - leads to poor communication
Mat 25:24-27

Mission is just doing what Jesus did with his disciples, communicating God the father's heart to others.

Doing greater works than Jesus (not being better, just greater works).

Relationship is key to communication of the gospel.

---

Basic communication model

3 principles
Sender (God, God & Christians) -> message (the word of God) -> receptor (would be Christian)

Two ways:
Direct:
Visible
Audible
Personal

Indirect:
Letter
Book
E-mail
Sermon
Non-verbal i.e. Physical cues etc

Communication is a process for creating understanding.

Involving the other person in the process.

---
Best communication of the gospel is ourselves, not our words, our training skills, theological terms, presentation skills.

Jesus *was* the message, word incarnate.

John 1:1

2 cor 3:2-3 - you are a letter from Christ.

Not just Jesus, we can be it as well.

Acts 20:18
1 cor 4:17
1 thes 1:5
2 tim 3:10

Message doesn't get diluted, by the spirit it's the same.

---

Relationship needs to be the foundation of our communication.

What relationship do we have that I can say this credibly?

Am I a living letter, living it myself?

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/23 - 02:15pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Story telling

Discussed childrens stories that we loved growing up.

Sense of build.

Sense of detail.

Characters.

Time and space of the story.

---

Head - make logical sense, have a structure.

Heart - connect emotionally

Hand - application for it.

---

4 themes stories use
Mob at a gate (group gathers and forces change to right an injustice)

Triumphant individual (injustice and overcame)

Benevolant community (massive disaster in a community, community comes together to rise above)

Evil dictator

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/23 - 08:30am Old Testament Introduction

The prophets

In heb OT
3 large seperations of text into genre.

Torah
Writings
Prophets

---

The old testament prophet
Deut 18:14-22

God called him
God encountered him
God gave a sign (protest)
God's spokesperson
God's authority
God's prophets distinguished from false prophets.

Amos and jeremiah both record all these moments but all the other prophets also did them.

- Message of the prophets
Spoke for:
Covenant - not a new message
Obedience to the law, to God's ways, instruction, relationship (mediators)
Faithfulness to God
Justice for the oppressed, stands up for the oppressed.
Of past & future eschatology

The message has not changed.

Most of the prophets spoke to their lifetime and time, 2% messianic, 5% eschatological (end times).

Prophets
Oral prophets - eg samuel
Professional prophets, employed.
Writing prophets - eg Isaiah, Jeremiah
Prophets and formal practices

Understanding prophecy
More than prediction
They have a 'now' and 'later' (not yet) tension
Some are fulfilled more than once
There are ambiguities
It's conditional (if you do, I will do X.. If you don't I will do Y...)
May have unexpected fulfilment
_The message is still relevant_

2 pt 1:19-21, ps 92:5, isa 55:8
A covenant God
A personal God
A purposeful God (for a reason.., so that.., because..)
A 'faith + works' God

May not be the same method as past prophets but message is the same.

Theology is alive, it demands attention

The degree to which you know something is the degree to which it's operating in your life.

Catrina banned the words "I know" from her counselling situations

You don't know if your broken leg is healed unless you walk on it.

If you're not doing what you're born to do, you're not alive.

Prophetic speech style:

Oracles - judgment, lawsuit, woe & salvation oracles
Visions - spectator & participant (i.e. Amos)
Poetry - figurative language
Symbolism - in life and language
Autobiographical narrative
Biographical narrative

-----

Is 53

----

Universal plan of God for all creation to worship and glorify Him.

Them, context

Us

Seperate devotional life from study of scripture.... You need more than just what God told you in your quiet time to preach to others. But don't get too hung up about it.

----

Samuel, kings & chronicles
1 & 2 samuel (approx 1100bc - 970bc)

From samuel via saul to the end of David's reign
Establishment of the monarchy
Prophetic overview of history
Ark of the covenant - presence of God.

Covenant
David's city - Jerusalem
David's covenant ( 2 sam 7)
Place for israel to dwell
David's son to build the temple
David's line forever
God would be their Father
God's favour wouldn't depart
- David's choice - and consequences

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 24 April 2010 9:58:38 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/23 - 11:00 Chapel - Catrina

Living without your insecurities, trusting God completely.

Ex 23:26 - God's got your back and he's prepared something for you and it's not dependant on you... It's about Him not about you.

Little by little we will walk into the promised land. Time is your friend.

He's not going to give you a shortcut

(Off topic: realised I'm being selfish in a situation).

He won't let you rush in, it's bad for the promise and bad for you.

He will drive them out before you, while you grow. WHILE you increase, not in the place of increase. God will go ahead of you.

It can ruin you if you're not ready for it.

You can take a short cut and ask like eve 'will I surely die?'

When you increase, you take possession of the land.. So God has a place to be with you.

"All of a sudden" takes a long time actually.

God has gone ahead of you and prepared a place for you.. Don't just focus on the promise, focus on the increase.

Eventually the mana will stop and you'll have to start living in freedom.

Josh 5

Don't forget what it took to get from egypt to gilgal and who got you out of egypt.

Don't ever forget.

Your freedom is not about you.

2 kinds:
Freedom from slavery
Freedom to serve

Free from slavery but not yet free to inhabit etc is where you need the mana and daily miracles etc.

Increase to possess your land to eat of your harvest and bless others.

Some are scared of freedom because the mana stops.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 27 April 2010 10:20:46 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/27 - 11:45 Chapel Georg Pingel

Mountains.

Cow mountain story.

Go for an adventure.

Blue mountains story.

God used mountains in history.

*Mt sinai

*Sermon on the mt

Mark 6:46
Luke 6:12

Mat 17:1

Mt of olives

Mat 28 great commission on a mountain.

Mountain principles for city people:

1. Solitude
City life is hectic

Spent time one on one with the Father.

There was no ministry without time with God.

Where is your mountain? Find your spot.

2. Seperation
It was also seperation going up the mountain.

Coming back down the mountain moses saw what he was seperated from.

We were seperated from the world first before being put back in it.

Jesus hung out in the world and had community and fellowship with sinners.

When you find your spot, make it a holy place.

3. Sacrifice
Deut 3:19
Is 56:7
Ez 20:14

Many times we use mountains for analogies, for life, achievement, leadership etc

The biblical significance is not about reaching the top. It's about who is at the top... God.

Who are you going to meet at the top of your mountain?

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 27 April 2010 10:20:46 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/27 - 9:45 Personal Leadership - Duncan

A sharpened axe chops more wood, quicker.

You are spirit, soul and body.

How do you keep all of you alive, fresh and sharp?

Luke 9:10 - withdrew to replenish.

Also elijah huge victory then goes to mt sinai, God replenishes.

Greatest vulnerability after your greatest success. Given your everything.

*feeding your soul
*reading & study
*thinking skills
*reflections & meditation
*sabbath

---

What replenishes you?

What sharpens you?

When was the last time you did both of these?

---

Why replenish?

Most failures are at a soul level not a spirit level, to do with your emotions, thinking, behaviour... This can also be the source of your success!

When you are tired and grimpy you will minister than when you're happy.

Your soul:
Intellect
Emotions
Will
Relational
Existential

"Feeding" your soul

Not "relaxation" per se
Primarily not talking about veg'ing out.

Something much more focused and intentional to feed into those different area's of your life.

Which can mean purposeful and deliberate.

What which nourishes, replenishes and strengthens.

What feeds your soul?
In general on a weekly basis doing things that feed your soul.

We're all different, it's unique to you.

ie non musician, listening to music can feed existentially.

Be good at looking after yourself so your leaders don't have to.

When do you know you need to feed your soul?

Your life has dashboard lights.. Do not ignore them!

Eg you are continously tired, that is a warning light.

If there is not much joy in your life, warning light.

If someone's testimony or bad circumstance, warning light.

All of your great conversations happen on facebook instead of face to face.. That is a warning light.

Greater than normal levels of temptation, over indulgance.. Warning lights.

Time to feed your soul, you'll be less suceptable to these things.

You can be neglectful for so long, you've punched the warning light so hard you now ignore it.

You'll be unable to identify the warning signs.

At a moment of vulnerability there's nothing left to resist... Or going for things that give immediate pleasure. Costing those around them.

How much? How often? Your personal choice.

Weekly cycles.

---

Sharpening the axe.

Leaders are readers.

Leaders lead what people think, not just what they do.

So when it comes to your thinking you need to be ahead in what you'll lead others thinking in to.

Benefits:
*Enlarge your thinking

*Freshens your thinking
If you're going to be preaching for years, you better be fresh, bringing new idea's or old things in new way.

*challenges your thinking
We all believe things that are wrong or one-sided or inadequate.

*perspective

*conversation with great minds - past and present

--

What to read:

*Christian & non-christian books
Duncan mentioned Author Malcom Gladwell

*fiction & non-fiction
Fiction will enlarge your emotional life

*past & present
Read the old stuff

*the "classics" - in any field
You want to have encountered the best minds the world has ever seen.

*anti-....
Anti you. It will sharpen you. Help you to believe the right stuff for the right reasons.

Some examples
Suprised by hope - tom wright
What st paul really said - tom wright
The reason for God - timothy keller
The mind of God - paul davies

If you are not a reader... Get a great book!

Documentaries.

Challenging things:
The word is your centre, everything is evaluated according to that.

Someone you can debrief with who knows more.. Or a book from the other side.

---

Sabbath

It was made for man, not the other way round.

Sabbath concept incorporated to do you good.

Disengagement

Replenishment and reflection. Enjoyed it, marvelled in the creation.

Focus around the most important.

For reflection, restoration & re-creation

Connecting, relationship with God and others.

How? When?

If you don't cultivate a habit of sabbath you'll crash and burn.

Ideally one day a week not doing ministry or work

Create slabs of time that are your sabbath moments. Gaurd them.. Don't waste them by veg'ing, invest them in these things.

Use the time deliberately.

Maybe break it into three times a week if it's smaller chunks.

Gaurd it strongly from people that try and steal it.

But be flexible and well planned.. When you have kids it will be challenging etc and other seasons in life.

Work out in your week when is going to be sabbath time.. Find it, plan it and gaurd it!

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/28 - 09:00am Personal Leadership Tutorial

If you can't handle this... How can you be given true riches?

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/28 - 11:45am Mission and Culture tutorial

Recap

Worldview
Culture
Relationship

Western vs other worldviews

---

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/28 - 12:45pm Old Testament Intro Tutorial

Pl - the blessed life"
Comm min - "role of culture in communication"

Extract 10 & 11

---

Narrative and beyond

Tips on how to interpet it.

Tips on how to do assessment (Whole book study)

---

Interpreting narratives

Universal plan of God
What it meant to israel
Individual narratives

Start at the top.

Narrative is not... Just stories about people who lived in OT times, God is the hero.

Not allegories with hidden meanings

Not directly teaching doctrine, implicit lessons

---

Stated what happened, not what should necessarily happen in every circumstance.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/29 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

Recap:

Purpose of mission
- redemption plan, us carrying out God's plan

Culture
Worldview

Kingdom culture
'New kind of normal'

Skills - understanding culture

Sending messages, direct and indirect.

Communication requires relationships

Relationships key to communication

----

Methods of communicating cross-culturally

Going to look at some methods (not all of them).

Practical stuff.

----

Connecting with other cultures

Principle:
"Bonding"

Child bonds with the host, their family, mum and dad.

Creates a sense of belonging, for a child it creates security and courageous outside of that environment.

*establish a sense of belonging
We should make it our purpose to belong to another culture and bond with them.

Rather than "you need to become like me", I'm interested in your culture... Bond and belong to the culture so that relationship can be established.

Not a visitation into another culture, it is entering into it, no longer being a foreigner.

*we belong to God's family
And
*By becoming a belonger with the new culture (kingdom)
- be begin to effectively extend the invitation to them also
John 1:14

Jesus left heaven where he belonged, to enter another culture, a belonger here, to draw them into a belonging relationship with God like what He had.

---

What do you do in a new place to feel at home.

- finding people who encourage you.
- observation leading to participation.
- just starting it 'home', making a deliberate choice.

It's not about finding out where the rest of the aussies are or the expats.

It's about finding out how the locals do it, where they spend their time, by finding out how things work.

Becoming a belonger
Food? What to eat, what is a fair price, where to buy?

Company? Where to hang out?

Activities?

Landmarks?

Meeting places? What is a meeting place for that culture?

Not by asking other missionaries, plunge right in to those with which you wish to belong.

Have to get involved at a close level.

Get the answers from the insiders not the "informed" outsiders.

Live with them.

Shop with them.

Use public transport with them.

Learn the language from them, not from a book. Learn the language in conversation and relationship.

-

Becoming a belonger involves a prior commitment.

I want to reach those people.

I will make a decision and even when I feel uncomfortable and insecure in trying.

Just keep moving forward with this and remember you have a heart for these people.

We cannot survive long term not being bonded.

-

Immersion is crucial.

Bonding and "going native" are not the same thing!
We never reject our first culture - learn to bond with another culture.

Bi-cultural

There doesn't need to be brokenness or fractures, just belongs to both.

----

1. Bonding

2. Making contact

Making friends
Finding common ground.

I.E
Parent to parent at the school gate
Person to person at community events
Person to person at a sports club
Person to person as a need arises (maybe it's your neighbour)

Where do you share ground with people?

Relationship = communication = common ground

Value them as God does.

Then you can have a conversation.

Tips for Sharing the Gospel.
Refer to God first rather than Jesus. (You'll start to discover their worldview)

Ask questions of faith that match your level of relationship
Ask out of interest
What do you believe?
What do you hope to gain from it?

Listen with your questions!

Answer their question briefly, so they can come back to you with further questions

It's about them, not us having a preaching moment.

Start to dig deeper
Ask about:
*Foundations, values, worldviews beneath their beliefs.
*potentially exposing the inadequacies of them.

Pretty much hearing what they have to say and unpacking what their worldview is... It might be the first time they've ever thought about stuff.

You don't tell them stuff, you're the broker helping them to explore what they believe. Let me help you explore options of moving forward.

Take the opportunity to explore and discuss their worldviews, causing them to reflect.

Alternatively, explore their work or other interests and look for an entry point to talk about the existance of God.

Ultimately it is our lives that will speak most clearly to people.

----

Communicating the Gospel through stories...

Story time is powerful.

The power of testimony.

Story telling is a universal form of communication.

Stories has become a lost art in the west.

More than half the world's population prefer this mode of learning.

People are becoming decreasingly interested in lengthy readings.

Stories connect with our imagination and emotions.

Every major religion uses stories to socialize its young, convert potential followers and indoctrinate members.

Approx 75% of the bible is story. They act as a mirror for us and to others.

Stories create instant evangelists.

Parables.

Jesus taught theology through stories.

Listeners were...

Challenged to examine traditions
Form new images of God
Transform behaviour
Jesus' stories pushed people to encounter God and change!

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/29 misterhood brian (student)

Judges 7:1 (the story)

1. Don't live in fear

2. Live ready
Look at the here and now.

The uncomfortable things make us grow and stretch us.

We're all warriors, men. It takes warriors to make tough decisions... Even if it doesn't make sense in the natural, does it make God sense.

3. Be a part of the miracles.
He's already seperated you, all that remains is you as part of the 300

You are mighty men.

Men carry. We are strong.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/30 - 02:15pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Dealing with criticism.

1. Prepare for it... You will get negative feedback

2. Seperate the person from the feedback

3. Use it to improve

4. Figure out who is the person giving the negative feedback, motivating factors, are they just being critical, do they have experience etc

5. Don't over dramatize, don't over react to the feedback.

6. Listen, think about what they're saying, analyze it. Sift through and find what you can improve on.

We can use anything to get better.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/04/30 - 08:30am Old Testament Introduction

1 & 2 samuel cont... Covenant
David's city - jerusalem
David's covenant (2 sam 7)
Place for israel to dwell
David's son to build the temple
David's line forever
God would be their Father
God's favour wouldn't depart

David's choice - and consequences

---

Law of sowing and reaping

David thought he could lead a double life and manage it.

God cared more about David and the kingdom and the people than David's reputation.

Real love exercises discipline.

Get honest about your stuff. David is honest and open to God.

---

1 & 2 Kings
Death of david (970bc) to exile of judah (586bc)

Moral/historic overview of history

Reign of Solomon & decline of monarchy

The divided kingdoms - north and south

The exile of israel (722bc) & Judah (586bc)

Rise of enemy empires (& how they're used by God)

Role of the prophets (eg Elijah and Elisha)

*Every time you are tempted, there is a way out. - you don't have to live under the power of sin anymore. The power of sin is broken. The power that allowed Jesus overcome is in you.... Even death was overcome.

The spirit that inspired the prophets lives in you.

Kings evaluated on their loyalty to covenant

Nation evaluated on their loyalty to God

National consequences of choices

Paths of devotion or destruction

---

12 minor prophets

Who is your prophet?

When did they live/minister

What kingdom/nations did they prophesy to

What was happening in history and in israel's history

What was the key theme (for them & us).

Why does the evil go unpunished?

How can a just God use the wicked babylonians to punish a people more righteous?

Trust and joy in God

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/04 - 09:45am Personal Leadership - Duncan Corby

Money

Financial Leadership

Your life as a whole, serving God.. Your financial life as equal as your ministry, marriage etc... Maximising every area of your life.

-

Exercise

Imagine you're about to do a session on finances, what would you cover.

Daily, weekly, monthly budget.

Is your money growing?

Saving goals.

Get a job.

What money is, a tool.

Emergency plan/funds

----

Biblical principles
Practical principles
Techniques and habits

What is money?

Money is stored value. The value of your labour, ready to be utilised and unleashed.

Money is power, it enables you to do things. It can give you the power to pursue your dreams, rent the building you need, etc. Situations that could be radically different if there was money. The power that it gives you. Money is a tool.

What is the purpose of money:

1. To provide for your daily needs.
Eph 4:28
1 tim 5:8

2. Helping others
Prov 19:17, 21:26, 28:27

3. Enjoy ourselves
Luke 6:38 abundance and enjoyment of life
1 tim 6:17

4. To honour God
Mal 3:10
Prov 39

When these 4 things are not balanced and in right priority and proportion, a problem is created.

How should we relate to money?

Money vs God
Matt 6:24 - love one and hate the other

1. Be wary of it
1 tim 6:6-10 - it's powerful enough to ensare ourselves.

God is our provision and the source of our wealth.

2. Hold it loosely
1 cor 7:30-31 - don't get too caught up with 'stuff'
Luke 12:15

3. Be a steward
Matt 25 parable
Looking after something for it's owner.
Be a conduit, flows through you not stop at you.

4. Be generous
Lev 19:9-10
Lev 25
2 cor 9 - having ample sufficiency to be generous on every occassion.

Use it for the glory of God

How much is enough? - how much do you want to change the world? How big is your heart to do things?

It's all in your head.
- how you think about money is important, everything you will come from what you think about money and drive how you think about money.

God given capacity to generate finance to look after yourself and bless others.

Grow the whole. Instead of sacrificing more, growing the entire thing, becoming bigger. Grow and lead in the area of finances.

---

Exercise

Work out how much money you spend a week or year on coffee... Or hot chocolate, chips a hamburger etc.

Whatever is your discretional spending.

---

Practical principles to move ahead.

1. Invest in yourself
Before you do anything else.
*Increase your income earning potential
*increase your financial intelligence
"Rich dad, poor dad" robert kyosaki

2. Spend less than you earn.
Yes give, sowing and reaping etc.. But the rest is mathematics. Don't expect the blessing of God to outweigh your financial foolishness.

3. Give - Save - Spend
Give God your first fruits, put money aside (invest), then spend what's left... In that order.

Give 10% and save 10%.

4. Build assets & reduce liabilities
Assets - Term deposit, savings account
Building assets to increase income instead of liabilities.

Months worth of income in savings, then high interest things.

5. Use the power of compound interest.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/04 - 11:45 Chapel

He is the God of the miracle.

The God of the miracle is with you whatever season, in slavery, in the wilderness or crossing the Jordan taking the promised land.

Be ready for the miracles!

If you're still trying to get free, God is the one who can set you free. God showed up in their desperation and said "watch this". He wants us free. He will part the red sea for you if you need it.

Significant link between the miracle and the love of God. God loving you is the miracle.

He'll rain mana down, for a season, while you need it.

He's not just the God that saves you, He's the God that is enough for you.

The miracles needed in the promised land.

If he can provide mana in the desert, finding a home for someone can't be a problem.

Story about house miracle for a friend in uni.

Why not believe that God can provide!

God set them free so they can partner with Him and be part of the miraculous. Miracles are flowing through you.

Here's what's possible, here's My power, go give them something to eat.

When you're involved in the miracle, it's yours. You know it's real.

When he's done it through you, something way beyond you... You can't argue that.

God, let's do a miracle together, see it happen through my life.

God will still do the stuff you can't do, that's the point of a miracle, to show God is God. If he needs to, stop the sun, but you'll still have to fight.

I'm the God who provides, who calms the storms but He wants to use you, in a way you couldn't have imagined.

Press in for the miracle.

The save of the miracle based on the land you're inhabiting... Not your faith, mustard seed faith can move a mountain.

He needs partners for the miracles and he needs them to be free.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/05 - 1:15pm OT intro

Activity to put the prophetic books in order.

Groups of five.

Putting groups in order

To judah or israel?

Periods of the empires, prophet within the empire they prophesied.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/05 - 11:45am Mission and Culture tutorial

Answering assesment questions

1. Clarify the question (dictionary terms).

2. Plan

3. Draft

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/05 - 9:00am - personal leadership / comm min tutorial

Jessamine

Budget, forecast, regular plan

Give thought to financial goals. Short and long term. 5 years, 3 years.. What is your strategic plan?

We are to be stewards.

A simple budget firstly. Weekly or monthly, whatever works better for you.

Look at our expenditure and what is necessary or not.

3 area's. Give, spend and save.

Income
-job
-other income

Budget in line with pay cycle.

Be realistic about income, if casual, make a realistic estimate.

If living off savings, determine how much you can spend that week and make that your income figure.

Expenditures
Be realistic.
Tithe
Savings
Living expenses (rent, bills etc)

Other expenses
Clothers
Entertainment
Medical expenses
Debt repayments

* for one week, make a list of everything you spend on to see how much you really spend

---

Katie's office hours

Mon
10-1pm

Tues
3-4

---

Communication that builds culture.

Announcement for the life of church.

31st of may life courses

How bunch of courses

---

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/06 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

Last meeting until a break

Worldview

Communication

Relationship

Communis, common ground.

1. Bonding/belonging - not visiting with an agenda.

2. Making contact

3. Story telling

Language
Listening, let them speak, dig deeper
Non-verbal communication
Find out about their background
It's about them, not me and my message. What questions do you have, unpacking their worldview... So if you believe that, do you think such and such

---

The people & pluralising of Australia.

Many and multiple people groups.

Culture:
Converging, colliding, conflicting and contributing.

Prior to ww2 - british, anglo, celtic most dominant

Some german, italian and greek

After ww2 - european, middle eastern, asian immigration

Australia becomes a land of plurality.

Colonialisation, imperialism and immigration have brought dis-inheritance to indigenous population of australia

The converging of cultures has resulted in some conflict - even in recent years.

Is it multicultural? There is a cap put on the other cultures that are here.

---

Unity & diversity

God's creation is one of diversity

God's creation is one of unity

Ephesians 2:1-22

One of the enemies greatest weapons is to cause disunity.

All people can be reconciled to God's plan, through the church.

---

Pluralism and multiculturalism

Pluralist societies have been around since genesis

The early church was founded and thrived in a pluralist society

Paul in athens acts 17:22-31

---

Religious pluralism adds another dimension to cross cultural navigation.

---

Cross cultural evangelism in australia

Like paul we can see the religious pluralism as a superb opportunity for the church to engage in mission and evangelism strategies - with reconciliation as the goal.

---

Australia: a shopping mall of faiths

Religons

Folk religions such as technology, economics etc... Not thought through, but satisfying something on the inside.

Problems are faced with astrology, drugs, virtual realities, luck, spiritualism.

Globalisation
Filling the nation with philosophies.
Col 2:8

Some say 'leave them be'

But!:

Jn 10:16
Jn 14:6
Jn 17:1-3
Col 1:15-20
Eph chapters 1 and 2
Acts 4:12

It's only through Jesus they will be reconciled and have eternity.

Because of this there's a tendency to wrong thinking of... I'm right, you're wrong

But let's find common ground (not all religions lead to God).. Things you can agree with.

---

Aboriginal spirituality

View to reconciliation

Aboriginal worldview and belief system

Animism - unseen world of spirits

"Dreamtime" - creative period. Ancestral beings involved, world being created

Ancestral beings -> hills, rocks, rivers etc

Land = mother = identity

Underlies cultural & social ways, rituals, behaviours... What drives behaviour

---

All cultures need redeeming and cleansing, not just theirs, mine as well.

No different to corinth, ephesus etc

Aboriginal culture has developed from particular perspectives.

There are strengths to their worldview.

These area's become entry points.

---

We judge by others their actions and ourselves by our intentions :p

---

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/06 - hs men - duncan corby

Movies that inspired us to be men.

Manhood.

LOTR

This man can handle situations and has a track record.

Boyhood to manhood. 18-25 transition from boyhood to manhood.

Are you going to do the things you need to do to get to manhood?

2 sam 18 - story, there was a battle, absalon battle. You don't have any news that will bring reward. Go stand over there.

Ahamaz wanted to run amongst the men but he had nothing to offer... He didn't have the goods. Ahamaz didn't have what it took to bring the news to the king.

The cushite had what it took.

Joab has what it takes to confront the king about his bad behaviour.

How do you get to be a joab?

Battles they've fought, enemies they have defeated.

Exploits, mighty deeds in your track record. Faced some enemies, slayed some giants, gone on some quests.

Manhood
-using your strength (character, heart) to serve others.
(You can be physically strong but character weak then you're not a man)

- confidence - earned trust in yourself.
I can handle myself, putting my strength between danger and the ones I love, I have what it takes.

Virtue, tested.

Manhood becomes manhood because it has been tested.

Metaphorically you need to kill the lion.

Step up to the task and overcome.

Creates a moment of truth.

*There* is an opportunity to put my strength to the test.

These moments of truth are like steps up a ladder, further up the challenges get harder.

Your wife is looking for a guy with strength that she can trust in. To entrust her destiny and that of her children to your stewardship.

Find some battles and fight them. Stir up each other.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/07 - 08:30am Old Testament Introduction

Classical Prophet

Isaiah - Malachi, 800-450 bc

Generally:
*Addresses the people & their situation
*Informs them of God's view of their situation
*warns them of approaching judgment
*calls them to repentance
*proclaims God's salvation for those who turn to him
*Foretells the future (on occassion)
*Tells people what God is like

Isaiah first of the writing prophets into a classical prophet. Made the transition.

Every time we are tempted, there is a way of escape.

Even the gentiles are warned.

It's a way towards salvation, not escaping the flames.

Historical setting 800-450

During rise of Assyria
(Portal list)
Babylon
(Portal list)
Persia
(Portal list)

After the exile
Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

During the exile
Daniel, Ezekial

Right when it happened
Lamentation (Jeremiah)

One or two sentence summary per book on portal as well

Isaiah "the Lord saves"
Same time as amos, hosea and micah.
Lived in Jerusaleum, under king hezekiah

The Lord's salvation.

Isaiah uses a little bit of sarcasm in his writing (chap 44) he uses prose and poetry, some of it is symbolism, parallelism, alliteration.

*watched Jeremiah (patrick dempsey) dvd (very cool)

Jeremiah, themes:
God's heart for the people
Warning of imminent judgment but promise of a new covenant.
Omniscience and omnipotence of God, you can't hide from God
Announces the destruction of judah but also the promise of restoration.

*watched another scene

---

Summary of Major Prophets
Isaiah - salvation is of the Lord. Condemnation, consolation
Jeremiah - judah's last hour. Certain judgment & promise of a new covenant
Ezekiel - future restoration, ministry to captives after fall of jerusalem and promise for their future
Daniel - God is faithful to the faithful, God's plan for the gentiles and promise through tribulation

- God is in control

Ezekiel teaches in parables, 5 messages.

Daniel is like kind of like revelation.

Hosea - a tragic love story. His name means salvation. 50-80 years he prophesied.

Forgiveness and grace.

Let that desert season be a place of intimacy, where everything else is shut out.

Unfailing love

Like the book "redeeming love"

Amos - God's righteousness
Israel at the height of opulance, but the way they got it was unjust.
Calls witnesses like a law case.
Earthquake

Joel - the Lord is God, chapter 2, He will pour out His spirit on all men.

Everybody's in on this, men and women, young and old.

Obadiah - shortest book in the OT. Re-visiting an age old argument.

Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom) argument

Section of jeremiah parallels it.

Jonah - means dove. No prophetic discourse in this book... More of a history.

*these were real people, real nations

Micah - 'who is like the Lord'? Jerusalem. Blessings of the Messiah. Doom and deliverance.

Nahum - 'consolation' consoling. A compassionate prophet. Brings it to the gentiles.

His prophecy is 'a burden' compassion has weightiness.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 14 May 2010 9:32:01 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/07 - 12:45pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Sermons
A different focus
Holy spirit prompting
The audience is a lot more diverse.
Prayer
Lifestyle.. How you conduct your life, before you get up and speak it.

*read a handout*

Unity
Purpose
Application

A sermon is about one thing, one major idea or theme.

Crystallizing idea's.

Without unity it becomess random and wanders.

Sermons are for listeners not readers.

- Process of unity

2 tim 3:16-17

A fallen condition focus.

Application

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/19 - 09:00am Personal Leadership Tutorial

80yr old janet on britains got talent.

---
Readings:
Changed by the power of the word
How to get along with others

---

How did you refresh?

---

Working from a place of rest. (Joel A'Bell)

---

Sabbath

To sit in.

----

What needs to be examined in the garden of your life.. To cultivate?

----
Robert Morris

1. What is his primary point
2. What does this mean for my generosity
3. My strategy for heart for the house

----

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/19 - 12:45pm Old Testament Intro Tutorial

Assyria 850-612
Babylon 612-539
Persia 550-331
Greece (Alexander the great) 336-165
Rome 63-

Assyria prophets
Jonah
Nahum
Amos
Micah
Hosea
Jeremiah (inbetween assyria and babylon)
Zephanaiah

Babylon
Ezekial
Obadiah
Habbakuk
Daniel

Persia
Haggai
Malachi
Zechai

---

Genre examples.
stories
Letter

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/19 - com min core tute robert morris message

Multiplication
Luke 9

Miracle happened in the disciplea hand

Blessing of the master and obediance of the disciple

1. It has to be blessed before it can multiply.

2. It has to be given away to be multiplied.

Get your finances in order so you can be a blessing.

1. Get out of debt.
2. Don't manipulate.
3. Give, more than tithing (tithing doesn't belong to you and it goes to the storehouse).

*Tithing
*Offering
*Extravagant offering, something that stretches you.

A river not a resevoir

Walking in obediance with a generous heart.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/20 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

@ hills sisterhood - victor malaki (sp?)
Danielle strybeck (sp?) Melinda lankard riest (sp?) Talking about trafficking and prostitution

----

The early church thrived in a pluralist society and it was an opportunity not a threat.

We have to be on the ball with making links to connect gospel to their beliefs and how it's similar etc.

---

Allegiance is the core value of a world view.

All cultures have been distorted by sin... How does the gospel contradict how I live?

How do address cultural values distorted by sin.

Practice unpacking someones world view.

How do we bring people to a point of divine encounter, conversion and transformation.

2 cor 5:16-17

-

Transformation
3 levels

Personal, Cultural Group & Society

Keep your original without sinning and make it christian.

Seed of the gospel planted in their soil.

"Paradigm shift"
As with paul - acts 9
The "born again" process "from above" jn 3:3

Varying worldviews:
Western/american way
(Individualism, capitalism, freedom, superiority, democracy, materialism)

Scientific humanism
(Science, reason, technology, human effort)

Progress

Individualism

Groups

... Plus many more and variants.

One worldview is also of...

Disorientation, anxiety etc.

Worldviews can become entrenched and become traditions, it becomes religious.

---

Beware tradition bound, static Christianity.

Jn 10:10 - life and in abundance, growing.

Advocates and practitioners of change.

Incarnationally.. Become like jesus IN cultures.

Provocation and contradiction to culture's belief system.

---

Missionary models

(By donald larson)

Viable missionary. (What will work, thrive and survive).

Historical and traditional views of christian missionaries:

School house - Teacher (response: do I need to learn this?)
Market place - Seller (do I need to buy this?)
Court room - Accuser (do I need to take their accusation seriously? Are you judging me?)

Look at their perspective! Consider how they feel about it.

They will think:
You need to learn my viewpoint

You need to depend on our local market before you attempt to sell to me and what you think I need.

You should measure yourself by our standards before you attempt to accuse me by your outside standards.

Missionaries must become insiders... By pursuing relationships in viable roles.. Not teacher, merchant or accuser etc

3 viable roles (combined roles):
It must be done consistantly.. Not a one off.

*Learner* - they are worth listening to. What is important to them. Can you help me? Can you explain this, can you teach me this word?

*Trader* - not a seller. Equal terms, trading stuff. Stories, interest in others, using the language I have learned.

*Story-teller* - having learned their language, proven I have something significant to say, tell stories from the bible, encounter with Christ, relationships healed etc etc.

Hold them lightly and entrust them to God.

Viable roles =
credible roles
- for me
- for them
- within any existing missionary movement (don't undermine)

Don't be a sacred specialist.. It's about them.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/21 - 02:15pm Public Speaking - Ben Cochrane

Unexpected things during public speaking.

Various disruptions etc

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/21 - 08:30am (OT Intro) Ray Bevan

Ray Bevan speaking instead of OT Intro

----

The listening leader

How to listen to the holy spirit

1 sam 3:7-11

Plane story, didn't listen to the instruction because he thought it wasn't relevant to him.

To be led by our ears.

1. Not familiar by sight

Jn 20:11-16 - comes in a form we don't recognize.. But by listening Mary knew it was God.

The listening ear.

2. Move in our lives in an unfamiliar way.

Mat 14:25-29 - walked to Jesus on a single word. One word can cause you to stand on any circumstances, peter walked on the word, the promise.

Jesus was logos and rema and out of a situation you need more than just bible knowledge you need Jesus to give you a word personal for you.

When you develop a listening ear.. When Jesus speaks to you, that is enough.

He may take us into realms we've never been before.

Rev 1:10 - the stabilising factor in all these things was the voice of God.

It's enough for you to know that He knows.

"I know" and "He that has an ear, hear well" often said in revelations.

*Just because it's spectacular doesn't necessarily mean it's supernatural - don't get involved in religious games that make you feel spiritual, be scriptural.

*don't become addicted to the sensational and spectacular at the expense of the scriptural - 1 kings 19:9-13

How to recognize a move of God:

1. Never elevate demonstration above doctrine. - don't run after personalities.

2. Never elevate subjective experience above scriptural declaration. - everything you need for life and Godliness is within you, you don't need more... That's how Eve was decieved... She was already in the image of God but the enemy decieved her into thinking she needed more.

3. Never elevate the spectacular over the authentic - Gnostics, sensationalism is their theme.

Don't embrace the sensational over the scriptural.

Paul saw heaven and saw things he couldn't speak of.

Be wary of stuff that is beyond biblical, extra biblical. i.e. Gnostics saying they know Noah's wifes name.

---

Break

---

Why should we develop a listening ear?

2. To protect us from being decieved.

3. Life is unpredictable.

Less time planning life, more time preparing for the unpredictability of life.

Acts 10:17-20 - peter responded to the unpredictable with a listening ear. He recognised the voice. God cutting across things you held as sacred.

A footballer can't walk onto the field and know exactly what every player will do at every moment of the game.. He can't anticipate everything but he can go prepared ready for the spontaneous.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit has plans different to ours.

Gifts of the spirit are meant for daily life not making you look good in life.

Listening to the voice of the spirit, flowing with it.

Paul didn't plan to get shipwrecked.

Whiteout in the antarctic... Can't see anything, difficult to make decisions and navigate... Shackelton used his ears to navigate.

Rom 8 - I know that all of creation.. In the middle said he didn't know.. In the end he said I know.

Sometimes God will send us stuff.. Ask for more love and a difficult person comes into your life.

The I don't know prayer:

"Oh Lord, open the doors I need to walk through and close the doors I don't need to walk through because I can't tell the difference.

Don't give me more than I can handle because I can't say no to people.

Help me to understand the seasons of my life.

Take the people out of my life that I don't need right now and bring in the people that I do need, because I can't tell the Judah's from the John."

---

Spiritual whiteout, navigate with your ears.

To develop a listening ear:

1. Learn to be still, when water is still it becomes clear, so does your mind.

Ps 4:4 - meditate be still
Ps 46:10 - be still and know I'm God
Ps 43 - still waters

Don't be worried about what others think, rejoice with what heaven knows about you.

Ps 42:5

2. Learn to conserve your energy.

God blesses commanded work not hard work.

The disciples worked hard all night to catch fish and got nothing but when commanded they let down the nets and caught the fish.

Energy leaks can kill you. You don't have to say yes to everything.

Trapeze story

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/21 - chapel - Ray Bevan

"Seven steps to a successful circumcision"

"What yo do when..."

The call of God doesn't need any fuel from you to keep burning.. God is quite capable to keep it burning.

You learn when your theology has shoes on it.

How to minister through a heart of contentment.

3 reccuring themes in surgery: Fear, lonliness and insecurity.

But we know the answer, Jesus lives in us.

Jesus ministering through you. The confidence of Him in me.

God confident, not self confident. Self confidence goes on a holiday.

Minister with contentment.

Live from the inside out.

Work *out* your salvation not work *at* it.

Christianity would be a lot easier if it wasn't for our humanity.

Insecurity can wrap around us when we're asked to do something.

Not everyone will like you. The people you're called to minister you might spit in your face.

Keys to contented heart:

Jesus knew how to minister with an audience of one.

Insecurity in our lives and ministry has no chance of breeding in an atmosphere of contentment.

Profile addiction.

The scalpel is just as useful whether in the surgeons hand or on the table

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/25 - 11:45 Chapel Catrina

If the enemy can take you out in this season it won't just effect right now.. It will effect your future ministry, music etc.

The greatest weapon we have is to draw near to God.

James 4 - draw near and He will draw near to you.. Attach yourself to.

In the OT it's about sacrifice to draw near.

Even the sacrificial system in leviticus was about drawing near.

It actually says.. When you bring yourselves as an offering bring an animal... Bring the thing that represents your source of strength.

In view of God's mercy offer yourselves as a living sacrifice.

Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Purify your hearts. Humble yourselves before the lord.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/25 - 9:45am Personal Leadership - Duncan

Guest speaker - Scott Wilson

Managing a healthy life

Emotional health and managing stress and leadership.

How you view things (paradigm) will effect how you solve problems.

It's determined by how you see things.

2 paradigms

(Soft approach) Spiritualistic side - prayer answers all problems, revival is needed, need the anointing

(Hard approach) Technocratic - process orientated, systems, structure, goals.

For many christians they become opposites but they are not opposites.

Biblically they are polars.

Paul says we are the field (spiritual) and the building (technocratic).

Cheerful (spiritual) giver (technocratic)

These two idea's come together.

You need the two of them together.

Family (relationship), house, body (systems)

Usually it's a systems technocratic problem not a spiritual problem

Emotional breakdown -> something wrong with the systems of thinking. Irrational thinking.

Cognitive therapy

Preventative stress management, putting in systems now.

1 tim 4:12 - young in leadership.. be an example... That your progress may be made evident by all.

You have wells of living water inside you... Don't even think you're in a desert. You will be pruned.. Because you're growing! Not dry and barren.

Pruned for more growth, rivers of living water.

System, sabbath.

Issue of stress and growth in ministry.. Is an issue of time management.

What's in your calendar? Your calendar tells you a lot about how you live your life.

Systems will help you avoid getting into the trap of stress.

How to prevent it for the future?

Back to tim verse.. save yourself first *then* those around you. Divine order of God.. Because you have 60 years of saving others.

How can I save myself?

Burnout - the disease of the overcommitted.

Stress - two types.

Distress - leads to pain, bad stress
Eustress - helps us grow, good stress

It's different and can be opposite for people.

Role confusion can cause stress.

Without apology look after themselves.

Courageous leadership - bill hybel (sp?) Book

Every person has a fingerprint where they meet God. Their discipline.

It's not about having pain to get closer to God.

3 basic stress factors:

*Life changers
Sudden impact, a tragedy, career change, lose job, move country

*Work related
Work includes anything you do, expending energy to reach a goal, church, studies, job.

*Environmental
Things outside your realm of influence. ie Dog barking.

Common signs of stress *not* burnout.

Things that lead towards stress.

1. Your mind begins to reject new information.

2. You can't see any options

3. You start to regress (to happier times, memories) when things were easier. Aquiess back to what we know. Leadership will take us into new area's

4. Inability to change bad habits

5. Fatigue, feeling weary.. If it's long term, see a doctor. It can be something very simply.

6. Sensing that you are failing and not achieving

7. Decreased energy

8. Reduced sense of reward in what you're doing. Satisfaction.

Keys to help:

1. Find fresh spiritual disciplines. If you only read msg, read a different one. Illustrated bible, chronological bible. Change how you prayer.

2. Take time off. Means go and be with yourself... Even just one hour.

3. Find support, people you can talk to who can help you

4. Live a full life, enjoy every moment.

Past. Now. Future.

Don't live in the past

The now moment is the most important, it determines your future and soon to be your past.

James 1:2 - count (rationally work it out) all joy (emotional reaction) when trials happen.

So you won't have a negative past.

Rationalise and work it out to make it ok.

Rom 8:28 - all things for good.

5. Exercise regularly

6. Face the stuff that is causing you the angst

7. Practice self assessment

- self assess (someone else will if you won't.. If you reject that, God will tell you.. Better to sort it out yourself, spirit helping you to fix it up before God starts talking to you)
- self control (take control of yourself, fruit of the spirit, spirit gives you control)
- self direct (get set on a goal, get directed)

8. Laugh

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/26 - 11:45am Mission & Culture - Anita Schmeid

Worked on missions workbook.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/26 - 9:00 Core Tutorial

The welcome mat.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/27 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

Receptor orientated communication

It's about what was received and heard by them, not what we said to them.

Do we bother to get feedback?

Charles Craft is big on this.

The most important person and dynamic is them and what they're hearing.

*Discover and discern their needs

"felt needs"
Mat 19:16-22

Mark 10:46-52 - blind bartimaeus

John 4 - woman at the well

*take into account the significant reference groups

"Their people"
Woman of Samaria

People of town of sychar

Rahab

Lydia

*bear in mind their pre-commitments, beliefs, values, lifestyles, etc...

Recognize what you are expecting of them.

It's a big deal.

Example - Acts 26:24

Some it will cost too much.

--

Dynamics of a receptors attitude

*the process of interpreting

They are trying to understanding what you're saying.

- send clear unambigious messages

*the process of construing meaning

- do not confuse them. Be clear and consistant with the message you're sending. Keep non-verbal in keeping with the verbal

*process of evaluating meaning and intention

- if they don't trust us they won't see it as well meaning and well intentioned.. Trusting you in relationship. There's no point getting defensive if they don't. It's not about you, it's about them!

- earn the right to be heard

* process of maintaining balance

It's probablt pressing some buttons and causing them to feel something they might not like.

Be sensitive
Don't pressure
Don't force

The gospel can be provocative

-

Feedback! Find out what's going on. And make the adjustments.

*the process of feedback
Look & listen for it
Make adjustments where necessary

We are thinking about them

*the process of deciding if they will receive, ignore, shelf it, talk about it more or take a break.

- listen carefully to their feedback. Recognize where they are at and be ready to have the next conversation when they are ready.

---

Approaching the issue of Sin

Obviously it is serious.

God considers it serious

The burden of it is serious, there are consequences to it and you can't get away from it.

Sin displeases God and falls short of the mark of His holiness.

Grace and people pushing the boundaries. How far can I go?

Rather ask.. How well can I keep myself pleasing to God.

Corinthians talks about it a lot. People were confused. They were in a culture and tradition.

In the end it comes down to the conscience and heart attitude.

It grows the longer they walk in step with Christ.

Rom 14 - the weak and strong, don't cause people to stumble

Corinth pagan meat issue.

How do we define sin?

Rom 3:23 - God has a definite standard no matter how we all have diff ones

Mat 22:37-40 - explains the standard... If you've fallen short of this standard than you have sinned.

At the end of the day only you will know.

Don't go messing around with Sin and God's grace

Each of us is answerable to God.

God wants to lead us into greater love and obediance.

God's heart behind us not sinning is our heart for God and our heart for others.

We're not helping others living in sin

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/28 - 08:30am Old Testament Introduction

Summary of the minor prophets

Hosea - God's unconditional & faithful love

Joel - The Day of the Lord

Amos - Judgment of Israel

Obadiah - Judgment of Edom

Jonah - Revival in Nineveh & God's mercy

Micah - Judgment on Israel & Judah and the covenant promise of Messiah

(Rest on portal)

---

Did the final minor prophet skits

---

Nahum - Judgment of Nineveh (125yrs after Jonah) & Assyria

Habakkuk - live by faith. Perspective on God's ways amidst Babylonian attack. Often quoted in the new testament (acts, rom, phil) Hk 2:4 - righteous live by faith.
An insight into communion with God.
If you do the consequences well, you will return to the land.
Habakkuk means 'to embrace'
What happens to the righteous and unrighteous around you is not your problem. Your heart is your problem.
Amidst challenge your faithfullness will be tested.

Zephaniah - 'the Lord hides who the Lord hides' the Day of the Lord. Overthrow of Judah and her final restoration. Self control is a fruit of the spirit, control of others is bad. Judgment and restoration. The man who is loyal to God is sometimes entrusted with the tough messages. Where does your loyalty lay when there is a situation? You are faithful to who you are loyal to. What you do with your time and money to see what you are faithful to. Who you are when you're not too tired and when you have time is important. Who you are loyal to. God will not be mocked, people will reap what they sow (galatians).

Haggai - Rebuilding the temple... Put God's house first. Arise and build, bride of Christ. Don't get caught up in the peripheral. Priority is the bride. Seed doesn't grow overnight, sowing now it can take time for it to grow. Free from slavery to worship.

Zechariah - 'the Lord remembers' Historically a couple of months after Haggai. Prepare for the Messiah. Complete the Temple. Priest and prophet. Your scars are your testimony. Some messianic stuff and some post apoc vision stuff.

Malachi - 'my angel/messenger' about 100 years later. Came back and lost again relaxed too much, spiritual compass is off track ...Return to God! Blessings for the repentant & curses for the backslidden. Seeds are not that nourishing for a meal.. Instead of eating your seed... Sow it into God... Don't take it out of God's hands. God in charge of your finances. If talking about finances irks you.. Then you have a problem with it. If you're trusting that God is your father, stop living like an orphan.

---

In the wilderness, God is preparing you to last.

- Division of the kingdom.

Southern kingdom
Rehoboam
2 tribes
Judah
Jerusalem (capital)

Northern Kingdom
Jeroboam
10tribes
Israel
Samaria (capital)

-

209 years: 19 kings

Northern kingdom exiled 722 bc by assyria. 27,000 people deported

Kings of Judah
20 kings, 8 were good.

586 exiled by the babylonions, 136 years after Israel was exiled
2 kg 25, 2 chron 36:15-21

---

Next week: ezra, nehemiah and esther

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 29 May 2010 12:07:50 AM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/28 - 11:00am - chapel

Duncan Corby

2 pet 1:3 - His power has given us everything. So that we might participate in the divine nature.

Let's do a check about where we are, infused with grace.

Plastic explosive.

Vs 5 - because of that, make effort to add to it, all the things that build up to love. You will be effective productive.

Knowing you're growing.

How do you know you're making progress?

Let's do a stocktake. I know I've been busy and done a lot of work.. But am I growing?

We know we're growing when...

1. We can trust God for things we didn't use to. Is your faith increasing? Our ability to believe God for things. Not just finances and provision. How about God's love and acceptance is enough, no matter how accepted or welcomed by people I am. God's faithfulness to you. Believe in God in the midst of your circumstances.

*When did you last have a revelation you could step up and stand on?

2. When we stop doing things we shouldn't and start doing things we should. (Goodness). Moral excellence.

*when was the last time God put His finger on something in your life and said "that. *We* need to deal with that".

3. When we know our bibles better. (Knowledge).

*when was the last time you had a 'penny drop' moment? "Ah now I get it!" Moment.

4. When we master old habits and emotions (self control).

I understand what's valuable and important etc, now I will steward myself continuously and consistantly.

Depression, anxiety, anger, "it's all too hard".

What does wisdom say about how I should live my life.

*when was the last time someone said to you "you're different, you've changed"

5. When it takes more to get us discouraged. It takes more to get us to lose focus etc. (Perserverance).

*when did you last push through a quitting point?

6. When we've had a new revelation of God. Godliness, to have an awareness of the amazing power of God and living appropriately. Fuelled by right perspective and understanding of God.

*when was the last time you were overwhelmed by a revelation of who God is?

7. When we have more friends and our friendships are better (mutual affection).

*when was the last time you made a new friend?

8. When we're helping more people who can't help us in return.

Sacrificial, self giving love.

Love... You need the other things first to get to love.. Are you getting better at it?

*

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 3 June 2010 11:01:02 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/05/28 - 3rd year info session

Interviews for third year.

Purifying motives.

It's not where you're sitting it's where you are seated.

2nd year builds the right foundations.

3rd year takes that and you live it out day by day, focused in one area.

As long as you keep saying yes to God, things will keep working out.

Helped change the face of the church

Ministry, don't be in a hurry. It takes time. God was doing everything in that 'delay' time... Working on their who not their what such as joseph and david.

God does the work in you, you don't need to strive... Be a steward and live right etc but don't strive.

- who you are determines the size of your life

- your 'who' determines the quality of your marriage.

- your who determines your longevity

Some great finishers as our examples in these area's not just starters or people who start well.

3rd year develop your who while learning to lead.

Coaches once a fortnight.

Do third year with a sense of awe and freshness.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 3 June 2010 11:01:02 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/06/01 - 9:45 Personal Leadership - Duncan

Managing Relationships 1

You'll succeed in ministry by your success in relationships.

* kingdom relationships

* boundaries

* relating up, down and across

* relationships with the opposite sex

---

Kingdom relationships

Biblical backgrounds

*Relationships are part of image bearing.. In God's image 'let us make in our image, two'. Designed to connect with others.

*Companionship is meant to be enjoyed. It produces a deep level of satisfaction and enjoyment.

*Relationships help define us. You can tell a lot about a person by the friends they keep. They shape you. Bad company corrupts good character, the opposite is also true.

*The kingdom comes first. We often form friendships based on what we like, what makes us comfortable.. Instead of ones that will be a champion in the cause of Christ. Kingdom purpose needs to be the primary lens.

---

Boundaries

- the fear of saying 'no'

It's a word we learn very early. But later.. We begin to find it difficult to say no. 'Everyone else is more important than me' unhelpful set of thinking.

We fear:
*Someone else's anger (they don't like me.. or they get violent).. Past gets applied.

*Fear of punishment. Our parents might have expected yes all the time, no was never allowable and if given was punished. Punishment in ministry, fear of saying no to a leader

*Self centred, selfish and sinful, appear to others.

*Appearing to ourselves or others as unspiritual.. Or genuinely feeling it.

*because of the backwash of guilt. Someone is dissapointed or let down or doesn't get what they want and you feel guilty so you always say yes

*fear of rejection

Downsides of never saying no:

Busy keeping others happy never focusing on yourself

Breeds resentment

Can feel used

Stress, burn out

Sets you up to fail on your commitments

Building dependancies of others on to you, you won't empower others.

You'll do a lot of things ok and nothing really well.

Long term in marriage problems. They can't get any of your time.

---

Exercise

Discuss how well you do at saying no. Out of 5.

----

A boundary

* an invisible line that defines Me, my territory and my responsibilities.

Circle of things I'm responsible for and accountable for.

*expressed through:
Words
Actions
Geography

Within my boundary are my feelings, my attitudes and beliefs, behaviour is all my responsibility. My choices, my values, my limitations. My territory and my responsibility. My talents, thoughts and desires, love and affection are in my territory. ... Yours are in *your* territory. You can't make me responsible for yours.

In galatians.. Bear each others burdens BUT each person bears their own load.

-Benefits if boundaries:

Allows you to affirm your own dignity and value. I'm made in the image of God as much as the next person.

Live and prosper as a mature adult, you're taking responsibility over your life. Legitimate control of your life, it's not being sideswiped by others.

Authentic and genuine freedom.

Form mature, genuine friendship.

Allow you to stand with integrit before God.

-

-Boundary Myths

These things are not automatically true, they are not the default.

*If I set boundaries I am being selfish, uptight, neurotic, unreasonable, things wrong with me.

*boundaries are a sign of disobedience

*if I set boundaries I will be hurt by others.. People might respond negatively but that is their problem.

*if I set boundaries I will hurt others, they might be disappointed, upset or angry but generally very unlikely you will hurt/damage them

*boundaries mean that I am angry

*when others set boundaries it injures me.. It does you good, forces you to take responsibility

*boundaries cause feelings of guilt

*boundaries burn bridges and end relationships permanently

---

Principles of boundaries

1. Value

I am valuable as a uniquely created child of God. I am as valuable as the next person.

This is not the army, it's a church, it's family and people's value cannot be removed.

2. Stewardship

My life is a gift and entrustment from God for which I must give an account.

A return on the investment equal to what could have been done if Jesus was living our lives.

This is our primary obligation

3. Sowing & Reaping

There are consequences of our actions - it is a "cause & effect" universe.

This is underminded when others help and bail people out of the consequences of actions.

4. Responsibility

I am responsible (before God) for myself, and you are responsible for yourself.

5. Respect

I should expect you to respect my boundaries just like you expect me to respect yours.

Dignified respecting people negotiate.. You may not get everything your way.. You will have to compromise.

-

(6). People can't read your mind. You can't read theirs. People may be compromising already in an area you don't realise.

-

6. Hurt vs Harm

We should cause no harm.

Sometimes we don't enfore boundaries to not hurt them.. But it harms them.

7. Exposure

You can only enforce a boundary and expect it to be respected when you bring it out in the open. People only get you and understand you because you bring it out into the open.

8. Proactivity

What I have in life depends on my active choices.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 3 June 2010 11:01:02 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/06/02 - 1:15pm OT intro

Divided kingdom

Character study on Rehoboam
Read
1 kings 12:1-24
1 kings 14:21-32
2 chron 10, 11, 12

Reho's reign.. Look up details that are unclear.

Consider the following passages
Think about the nature of OT law code - how does the law treat people

Deut - 23:15-16
Deut - 24:16
Exo - 20:13
Exo - 21:12, 21:27

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 3 June 2010 11:01:02 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/06/02 - 11:45am Mission and Culture tutorial

Reciever orientated communication

Post modernism

*relativism

*no absolute truth

Book - Faith to be an atheist - Geisler, turek

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 3 June 2010 11:01:02 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/06/02 - 9:00 Core Tutorial

*Greater emotional awareness

*Recognize how I can manage my emotions

-

Next week is final week for q's

Hard copy assessments

-

Fieldwork intensive

18th last week of classes

21st is field work

-

Make a list of emotions that can be damaging & effect your capacity to lead & enjoy life.

Shame
Depression
Sadness
Bitterness
Anxiety
Stressed
Anger
Resentment
Jealousy
Insecurity
Feeling unworthy
Fear
Pride
Self-loathing
Arrogance
Dissatisfied
Apathy

- in groups of two. pick two, one way you deal with them.

4 Godly principles for how you deal with discouragement

Revealing your heart to God and asking Him to search your heart.

Self assessment, perspective and communication

Gain God's perspective through the word, counsel etc

Talk to yourself not listen to yourself. Say the right words.

---
Podcast about discouragement
2 sam 19:1-2 absolom, mourning

An incredible victory but there was a picture of discouragement.

Vs 5 - so locked on to those who hate you, you're taking it out on those that love you. Forgetting these are the people that love you.

Vs - 6 people feel devalued.

Vs 7 - go out and encourage your men! If not, none will be left. If you want people to keep following your leadership you better encourage them.

Flattery is empty words and builds nothing.

Encouragement is very important

Philemon 1:7

Encouragement is a way of life, not a one off thing.

The best time is right now to encourage

Heb 3:13 encourage daily, as long as it's called today.

The hardening of heart that comes from the decietfulness of sin

Encouragement can soften someones heart, in confrontation, situations etc.

The sons and daughters of encouragement.

---

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 3 June 2010 11:01:02 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/06/03 - 12:30pm Mission & Culture - Tracey Barrell

Missions to the western world.

Where generally the western world is at.

The process is the same for the world you're trying to reach if it's not western.

Same model.

Orthodox thinking is "others need the gospel"

"I have something to say to them" something they should have and without it they won't reach their full potential, go to heaven etc

Very dogmatic

Ironically here in the west we're knowing jesus less.

Approx 65% of the church is non-european

People say they are christian, fruit and evidence indicate otherwise.

Much of europe is now "post christian"

The west is not christian.

Mission needs to happen in our own country

Post modernism

Profile of western society

Origins:
Greek & Roman thought.

e.g. Philosophers

Influenced renaissance, reformation, enlightenment.

Greek/roman empire, united language so they can all communicate and enjoy together.

Learning to think in a certain way.

Epicurean and stoic.

We are a product of that.

Hebrew thinking is very different.

We are a product of some idea born thousands of years before.

A strong predominant empire enforcing it's way.. Is thinking we have had for a long time.

Enlightenment period etc.. In this period we advanced and progressed.

Humanism
- the belief in humanity is raised, we can improve our lives. Industrial revolution. Humans became the centre of the universe.

Intellectualism
- we are fabulous is what we were thinking. Led to modernism.

Modernism

Pluralism
- influences on people became pluralistic

Individualism

Naturalism

---

Renaissance, enlightenment, age of progress, humanism with the goal of "utopia"

The problem.. Even though we kept advancing and technology improving... Couldn't achieve utopia. We turned in on ourselves, fighting.

Modernity (modernism) didn't work.

Society shifted.

Dissappointment, disillusionment, distress, anxiety.

Not a complete backlash, some things kept such as technology, arts and sciences.. But with hopelessness.. Not certain of things. Scepticism.. We used to think we knew everything.. Now we don't know, loss of confidence.

Now, by default we say "not necessarily, I don't think so, might not be true". Suspicious of governments, business, institutions, absolute statements.

-----

A journey of thought in the western world

Power matters in the western world.

Economics, trading in common currencies and language, gain is in monetary terms. Money orientated in how we measure progress.

Poverty is beyond the $. Poverty is emotional, relational and spiritual.

Political, democracy. We've put our trust in democracy.

This is what we've been born into.

"The history of Western thought can be read as..."
(Colin brown quote in the powerpoint).

A quest for right methods and right foundations. To become an exercise of the mind.

---

Post-modernism

New age, era, mood, conversation.

No absolutes, truths, definitions or boundaries

Book - A primer on post modernism - Stanley Grenz

Truth.. Everything is up for grabs, everything is relative.

True for me doesn't have to be true for you. Relative to what your experience is in defining something.

No boundaries, a lot of grey.

Progression:
Church:
early - spiritual and allegorical (stories)

medieval - myths, legends, authority of church & priest.. Fear of spirituality, didn't think through faith, it was what the priest said.

modern - elevation of human mind "I think therefore I am". Understanding, objectivity.

Post modern - experience, suspicion & subjectivity (what it means to me, does it work for me).

It's about:
Sensory experience, feeling.

Something to help

Ease

Speed

Next, new.

Living life to the full.

Relationship to the person, not knowledge or authority over them.

Rejection of consequences

Spiritual

Inclusion, tolerance, diversity, equality.

Opportunities:

Searching
Globalisation
Openness to spiritual/supernatural to pray.

- Mal Fletcher, check his resources.

Continue to watch trends and the generations.

Themes of films will tell you a lot about the worldview.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nathan Rickuss
Date: 3 June 2010 11:01:02 PM
Subject: 00 - 2010/06/03 - misterhood - jeremy brian

Be men of honour

Be men of decision

1 thes - God's will that you be sanctified.

Be men of revelation

Mat 9:13 - go and figure out what scriptures mean.

Be men of the spirit

You fight for the glory of the king.

Luke 4:1 - Jesus baptised.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being myself

2010年6月5日星期六

6th of June

2010年6月3日星期四

Nathan's note for school part 2

2010年6月5日 星期六

6th of June

2010年6月3日 星期四

Nathan's note for school part 2

2010年6月5日星期六

2010年6月3日星期四