Class Response # 7 - Chuck Lenhart

Many are called or chosen but not everyone goes through with it.  We need to go with a sense of purpose.  Jeremiah 29:11.     FOCUS ON THE WORK AND RELATIONSHIP MORE SO OF THE LORD!

Strengthen your team up and focus on Christ.  He needs to be the center.  Don’t be focusing on the unsettling things.  Do the things you tell your team to do.  Don’t just be a leader but be a friend.  Pray as a team when you begin to move into something. – Gift of Discernment 1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts    Prayer NEEDS to be THE KEY element.  Acts 1:1 picking it up from the book of Luke – after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit through prayer, they became great by giving Holy Spirit instructions to the team.  Stepping out in faith.

Everyone may not always be on the same page or chapter but show them how to carry the vision you have.  You can say any amount of words; they might not get it but practice it.  Pray that when you share the vision that God would give them and you a revelation.  Think about the goals, and long term goals.  Rekindle and restire the passion and love for your ministry.  See it through God’s eyes and not by your own.  The JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH.

1.      The things I am doing, ask God to help us function in everything we do, that he wants us to do in his purpose.

a.       In Chuck talking about chosen, God really spoke that to me last year.

2.      Write down and speak the vision God puts on your heart. Habakkuk 2-3

a.       Read Corinthians

b.      2 Corinthians 3:4-6 – Not about our confidence but our confidence that comes from God.

I think it’s so great that he mentioned this because vision has been a huge word lately for me

We need to influence people through the Holy Spirit.  God is calling us in this generation to humble ourselves, giving God all the honor and glory.

3.      Understand and walk in faith

a.       God gives us the inspiration to be a blessing around people.  Pray God gives you another believer in Christ.  Through our faith, through our prayer, pray and ask God for what you want.

b.      Key in onto God’s economy, not the world’s economy

4.      As God is bringing you up (promoting) be a giver

a.       There is prospering in this.

b.      In our lives, when being faithful to God, there is this door of blessing that continues to provide for us.

c.       Ephesians 14?3-20? – Christ dwell in our hearts through faith.

d.      As we give and let God stretch our faith, he turns on the channel of blessing and pours out his abundance.

e.       Romans 15:3

                    

5.      John 14:16 ( don’t remember the topic )

6.      Go out in the power of the Holy Spirit

a.       Using our spiritual gifts

b.      Luke 4 – Satan and Christ

c.       God is filling us whenever we are in his word

7.      Be flexible and be willing to bend

a.       “blessed are those who…do this”

b.      Galatians 2:20

c.       What is your worldview? How do you define it? What all do you do?

8.      Be true to your call

a.       Do the things God calls you to do. Be who you are in God

b.      DEFINE YOUR CALLING!!!!

c.       Galatians 2:6-10

d.      Is a cultural or cross-cultural call

9.      Know the language in the call

10.  Build a team around you to serve Christ’s great commission/ vision he gave to you.

a.       Build people up around you…the true disciples are made into the kingdom

b.      Being connected and getting to know your team

c.       Bring the guidance

d.      Bring in the stewardship

e.       When scheduling, it isn’t just what’s easier.  Tune your ear into where God wants to go.

f.        Find their gifting, their character…become the empowered through the team.

g.       Don’t allow anyone or anything to get in your way in the way of the will of the Lord for your life.

h.       Be prepared to face rejection

                                                               i.      People you are trying to reach

                                                             ii.      People on your team – humbly serve God and believe he’s going to protect our hearts and it is because he died on the cross for us.

11.  3 Major Items his team functions under

a.       2 Corinthians 3:17 – Walk in the fields God planted us him

b.      John 4 – Samaritan   (Where God wants to plant you pray)

c.       Psalm 127:1 – Building God’s house in his way!!!!

12.  Knowing those among you

a.       A way to build/strengthen your team and not separating

Don’t let ministry be a complete competition.  Though there are different gifted people keep pride away.

Class Response #6 - Ack Ackerman (ACRM)

Ack Ackerman – Men’s Director at the Adams County Rescue Mission

He read a great scripture and also explained then about recycling.  Not only do we recycle what you normally think we would but disciplining men and women.

He got into a lot of things and got delivered from it all.  He was from the city, came here to Adam’s County and is attending The Intersection.  You can tell so much that he has such a heart for hearing the Holy Spirit.

1.      Why does he think discipleship is important?

a.       It is designing us and transforming us to be more like Christ!  We need to be more Christ minded. 

2.      What kind of help do you need in doing your work?

a.       He only really needs the Holy Spirit.

b.      In Christ you need to work on both the outside and INSIDE!!!

3.      How do you balance family and ministry?

a.       His family is his first ministry.  He puts his wife and his daughter above all else but after God.  His first ministry is them but after that it is different.

4.      Two things he has tried and never will again?

a.       Finances

b.      Better devotions – he said that we should all be accountable to do our daily devotions.  That is something he really believes in.

c.       Anyone who goes to “live” at the mission, work there in some way.  They don’t work outside of the place.  Some are homeless, poor, or you but yourself in a bad situation that got yourself there.

5.      How did you build your ministry team?

a.       He said that his was already set in place.  I can tell he loves working with the staff he does work with.  He believes that John 14:12 verse.  That is not only do we try to image Christ but have the faith and walk in that agape’ love that we are taught from the Bible.

He definitely loves working with people there as well as being with his family.

Class Response #5 - Mark Chester (4Square Gospel)

I was so excited to hear Mark speak today!  He is so, inspiring!

Mark Chester is the senior pastor at Gettysburg Foursquare and both our churches partnered together this past summer for our "Hope For The City" event.  It was fairly successful and thanks to he/and his church we were able to praise God for all he did there.  He's been there at the church for the past 5 years and is one of those pastors in our county trying to make a difference.  He has a wife and 2 sons.

He was talking to us saying that AG and Foursquare aren't to different.  We believe in much of the same things.  Him in discipleship, he says that it's like weight loss or self help.  He thinks that with our times discipleship needs to change and transform our lives more!  He quoted from Proverbs 21:31 where he mentioned that perfection is direction in our lives.

His discipleship philosophy is of a few things.  The first thing he said is that approach to discipleship is holistic vs. compartmentalized.  Wholistic or holistic is the perspective to look at.  In Mark 22:47 it says the whole "love the Lord your God...".  Our culture tends to be very messed up.  We also need to learn to point people toward answers to help them.  The next thing he said was theat method must be incarnational vs. transactional.  Departmentalized.  We need to want to birth people in and develop from God about this sin.  He said that some things that grow in us IS legalism, and that it especially happens in a program/church/ministries like ours.  He had started to say something about that the word we study, is the word we have prayed theolgians...but from sitting still in the presence of the living word..."  I love when people say it's not about just hearing the words but it's the action of the words.  His third point was results must be transformational vs. informational.  He mentioned one of my favorite verses which is Galatians 6:15 and mentioning about the new creation..That always makes me think of 2 Corinthians 5:17.  We need to not just attend a service but we need to learn to serve.

TAKE NOTES ALWAYS!!!
I pretty much already do that anyways.  I like how he said out about what we tithe is pretty much what we get or  why people are how they are.  He mentioned 2 Timothy 1:6-8 which says about believing in growth even when challenged.  That is what part of a discipleship program is!  Mark saying that, it made me think back into our amazing breakthrough prayer time that morning about running the race.  Though it gets hard at times, that is when the true strength comes in!  Matthew 25 "The Parable of the Talents" is part of what he talks from.  It was interesting to hear the Foursquare thought of the 80/20 principle like FV does.  There are many different talents and people.  Everyone has a place they can serve.  Some people 10, 5, of 1 talent.  Either way, I believe in what he said about the talent in us, is a gift from God so therefore use it to serve others!  I never heard it this way before until Mark said, "We should be discipling with people that double our investment."  I never heard anything spoken like that before.  He who has, even what he has, can and will be taken away."  That is that will happen if we don't use it in the correct way for God.

The core of discipleship he spoke about was a lot from LIFE Journal.  The website is great and I can't wait to look into that website and book a bit more.  Journaling is an excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to us.  We need to use the SOAP application.  S, standing for Scripture, O, standing for Observation, A, which means Application, and P, which means Prayer.  I can't wait to also start looking at "The Divine Mentor".  He recommended that book to us to read.  People are the #1 goal of discipleship.  I've been thinking a lot more lately about expectations.  We need to learn to manage our expectations but sometimes things like expectations tend to lead to discouragement.  I personally love when someone goes up to Gerry and asks him how they can help on something.  He changes it around and asks no, what are they/we interested in helping out with.  That is one of the most interesting things I've heard from Gerry.  Interesting because I never really hear people talk like that.  Last but not least, he says, "forget being a disciple if you can't disciple yourself."  That is such a good word that many people don't want to really face but we all need to do that.  If we don't do well discipling ourselves, we can't disciple others.  That also means, if you aren't going to follow rules of your minsitry, you can't expect your team to.

My final words from a few hours of hearing Mark Chester, is that I love his heart for his church and his word in wanting to start an internship/discipleship program at his church.  He says that not the right person has come along yet, but you know, I can see in the future that his program is going to launch and it is going to be great.  It's going to be so great that our team and their team come and work together.  I can't wait to see how God blesses the group, church, and area even more.  It was such an encouragement that day!

Book Review #1 - The Complete Book of Discipleship

Wow!  Everything that I read in or heard about this book is just phenomenal!  Since reading this book, I’ve learned that discipleship is more than I ever thought in my life!  It’s crazy to think that discipleship is more than just defining the word disciple.  Being in a discipleship program, here at Freedom Valley, has been such a huge learning experience and a great way to be disciplined.  Area’s you never think you’ll have to face and such, it comes out when you are living a life for God constantly.  When following God, we think it will be the easiest thing in the world, but it’s not always that grand.  People get persecuted every day for the faith and that’s just crazy to me.  If we could change first ourselves, impact the people around us, then impact our world for the cause of Christ, that’s what I’ve learned about being a disciple.  We need to be working on ourselves from the inside out, following Jesus’ example.  On page 45 it gives this passage from Hebrews 12:1-3.  That is something where our GMC team needs to just go to God in, with arms wide open, holding nothing back, running the race to be disciples for God's kingdom!

In the Bible, we are told to be disciples and to go make disciples.  Another way to explain that is doing the Great Commission!  The first thing honestly, though most people may say this, but it’s true, the first thing to catch my attention was, “Christianity without disciple is always Christianity without Christ” (Hull 15).  God called us all to the Great Commission and to seek and save the lost.  We can believe in God and follow him for ourselves, but how does just that help the kingdom?  In my opinion after taking time in this book, I’ve learned that we need to be sent out, making other disciples, encouraging those around us to follow Christ.  Hull tells us in this book that there are three streams of thought in regarding discipleship.  Those three different streams are classic (one-on-one/bible study), spiritual formation (process of new believers taking on Christ attributes), and environmental discipleship (including community/congregation and how people get along).  I love that the book defines disciple, disciple-making, discipleship, spiritual formation.  In the discipleship-making process, I like how it breaks it down into deliverance, to development, and then deployment.  You know, that’s how I feel it is with missionaries.  They learn, pray, and ask.  The next thing they do is develop and then get sent off.  That is so fascinating to me.  We can be totally transformed when we allow God to work through us.  We just need to give him the time to be with us each day.  We need vision to inspire us, we need accountability in training, and we also need structure in order for us to empower us.  

Overall, I just love how broken down Bill Hull makes this book about discipleship.  I like that chapter 4 explains about imitating Christ.  That’s a principle that we should all be going after.  We should all be Disciples of Christ no matter what we do.  The origin as well as the development of discipleship is great to learn but that also didn’t interest me as much as the 4^th chapter of imitating Christ.  One of my favorite parts in the book is talking about the 6-fold definition of being conformed to Christ’s Image.  We need a transformed mind (believing what Jesus believed), character (live the way Jesus lived), relationship (love as Jesus loved), habits (train as Jesus trained), service (minister as Jesus ministered), and influence (the way Jesus led).  When talking about community, it’s always good to be disciple-making people.  It is also in that way, as well as our own personal time with God, we can be transformed spiritually.

Either way, throughout this book, I’ve learned that as we are learning to grow into mature followers of Christ personally, we also need to work on the outside in humbling ourselves and each other to empower those around us, be an accountability and vision.  We need to ask God to work on us first.  After that come your family friends, small groups, congregation, and eventually our world.  We need to pray and really think about pressing through to run the race and not quit until we are done.  It’s great to be able to read and learn what’s in these books.  I only pray that we become strong disciples of Christ and make disciples all over the world.  That is my vision after looking at this book.

-Unfortunately, I’ll be honest; I worked on the book as best as I could.  I probably read about 5-10%.  :(  My schedule and priority list prior to this week could have been better.  In the past few weeks though, with my schedule improving came, just a spiritual warfare or something.  I've felt like I couldn't get anything done or focus.  I feel it is under control now though. :)  I apologize; I did read some of the book but not too much.  I’ll do much better on the next one.

Class Response #4 - Adam Landers - YWAM

Here's what I've learned and typed as we heard from Andy.  He was such an inspiration, the way he talked about his ministry.  It was such a great learning experience for me.  My favorite part was the I+A=T.  It works so well with what I've been dealing with lately.

Matthew 16:24-25 – being a disciple of Christ.  Taking up the cross and following him.  Jesus says to deny OURSELVES and FOLLOW HIM!  He went around meeting God’s needs and following that call on his life and died for us on the cross.  If we have given our lives to Christ already, then it is not our life anymore.  It is God’s.  He’s our ultimate creator who made and loves us in his image.

He says we can look the “same” on the outside, but you also need to look at what’s going on in the inside.  We need to hear Christian principles but then take them into action.  Discipleship is not just about how it looks on the outside (Kings: crowing King David) but it’s about what is motivating our hearts.

Secondly, he started talking to us about the voice of God.  You can hear God in multiple ways.  It’s not just audibly.

3^rd part - I (information from the Bible) + A (Application) =T (truth/teaching/TRANSFORMATION)

Is there anyone that I have a broken relationship?  Is there a hindrance or fence?

When you hear the truth, apply it to your life!!!

4^th part is talking about being in a learned environment.  How is your training?  We need to find ways to be able to teach people in class but also through what goes on in your actual life.  It’s not all about the lectures but it is how you apply what you learn in the classroom.  You don’t want to just hear about the teaching part but the relational part.

The last part of their discipleship strategy is lots of structure, lots of love!!!  How much to you really work on that?  Do they have freedom, boundaries, etc?  People do need a high level of structure to their life to give opportunity to see the value in a disciplined life.  Some never learn to experience that.  He says the language of the Bible is the language of family.  This is how people should live.  It’s like having those spiritual roles.  If you don’t love them, how can you minister to them?  That is such a great quote from him.  This is really opening my eyes to more opportunity on my part and on the part of those around me.

Starting community to take initiative.  It needs to start with someone doing that, to make that sort of community grow. J

Question Time:

In this his first question was about a recent discipleship success story.  Went on a missions trip and one student, there was so much selfishness, he had to leave Thailand to go back to his church to figure out what was going on with the student.  The student had so much self pity, he had truth but wasn’t applying it to his life.  Jesus would give the law to the proud, but then when they get talked to directly then they didn’t want anything.  We need to be humbling ourselves more often.  We need to help those around us understand, it’s not about them but about taking up our cross for Jesus.

Well truth, is one size fits all.  The application of it, the input, can be the same but where do we walk it out.  Teaching as a team, Small groups make it really deep, 1-1 makes it really deep.  Taking time to work and have fun together at the same time, serving the Lord through serving each other.

How do you measure a win in your ministry?  It’s about their fruit.  The people that are graduated from the program, are they living out that discipleship process?  What are they doing with their lives?  He said that we can’t just reach out to one gender or generation…it needs to be bearing fruit to all others (2 Timothy 2:2).  I love how he says, though it can be hard, it to disciple them through the heart, not just the outside.

What kind of help do you need for the work you do?  Multiply yourself, your team.  Make disciples through what you have learned.

What are the 3 most difficult aspects of your ministry?  When well meaning Christians or the body of Christ say that you don’t have to take up your cross everyday.  The Christianity that is safe is not being a disciple.  It’s not about taking over the world, but it is giving up your life for the word of God, for the gospel.

How do you balance family and ministry?  Get your family involved in your ministry.  Ministry is a lifestyle, not a vocation.  Marry the right person, the one that works with your calling.  It really needs to line up.  One might be so on fire for the calling but the other may not feel the same way.  The life we live a blessing from God.  I think he’s doing a great job in the way he balances both.  It’s so cool when a whole family is in ministry together.

How did you build your ministry team?  What you do isn’t nearly as important in who you do it with.  You could be in so many different ministries and different people.  Who do you want on your team?  It’s about relationships.  You want to be with the people who will speak real truth, love, self-sacrificing.  It’s not about strengths of gifting, but it’s about relationship and character.

Unchurched Friends - Interview #1

Age: 21 years old

Sex: Female

1. Have you ever gone to church before?  If so, where?
1. Answer: Yes, at Jireh Baptist, St. James, and St. Paul's
2. What was it like being a part of that church?
1. Answer: Jireh, she really didn't like it. Didn't feel comfortable. Reminded her of a cult, talked down about other churches including Freedom Valley. Discriminating against other churches. Friendly greeting though.
3. Have you/or friends been involved in serving in ministries anywhere at/for church?  How much did that make a difference for you or your friend?
1. Answer: She never did but it was also offered. She thinks it would have changed her perspective on alot of things. Came up with excuses not to go. More into Native American religion. Doesn't really believe a lot of our church life. It's confusing to her and to perplexed. More into Mother Nature. Believe in God but in a different perspective. Mother Nature...it's hard to explain she says.
4. What do you believe churches do well at?
1. Answer: Getting the word across. Interpreting the Bible and applying it into everyday life. Greeting new comers. Reaching out to new people. Some can be very pushy about it though.
5. Why do you think people don't attend church regularly or why don't you?
1. Answer: Right now its because of her job. The way or religion she's into, you don't need to go to a building. You don't have to be there to practice her religion. You can just do it at home. Pray for things and being thankful for what she has.
6. What doesn't make sense to you about Christians?  Do you see a difference from people who have a relationship with God to ones who don't?
1. Answer: Nothing doesn't make sense to her. She just wants there to be respected on both ends. She doesn't really look for it, but if she notices it, the way they talk and respect. She says if you aren't being respectful to hear about others than how can you have a relationship with God.
7. What are your beliefs on church and God?
1. Answer: Her beliefs on church is that she respects it but she doesn't really understand any religions. She thinks God can be very mean. Say, someone is lost or passes. It's because she doesn't understand why certain things happen here on earth. It can be with your consciousness of what you believe. I know I shouldn't do this but I do it anyways.
8. If there was something you could change about church, what would it be?
1. Answer: Certain times. Why can't it be available all the time. You know all day.
9. How is your life going right now and do you think it could be better if you were a disciple of Christ?
1. Answer: Her life is going a lot better now more so than 3 months ago, because of trying to get on the right track, job, relationships. She does the same thing of practice in her Native American way like we are at our church.
10. What do you think churches could do around the community that people would like?
1. Answer: Don't do the door-to-door thing. If people need help, they know there are churches out there. Don't antagonize. Having the resources but not pressuring. 

Response:

Catching Up With An Old Friend

            Wow, after being best friends, almost like sisters since we were in middle school, I never knew that my friend was so different from me.  I mean, I knew we were different people but I didn’t really know much about her beliefs.  My mom and dad practically adopted her as another daughter.  I’ve missed talking to her.

            What I have seen over the years with her is such a growth but not all of it being so good.  There are some things that she does that I would not agree with.  She knows and I’ve told her my opinion on these things, that I don’t want our friendship to be lost over these things.  Sometimes the way she is, worries me, if she’s really doing ok.  She can definitely take care of herself but she and I have gone through a lot together too.  We’ve lost friends, family, etc.  In other ways though, she’s been a huge inspiration to me just because she sticks up for herself.

            Before this interview, I thought that she was a non-practicing Baptist or Lutheran but I was way wrong.  She and another friend of ours (he went to the same Lutheran church as me growing up) but passed away 6 years ago, loved Native American culture, or more so the religion.  She is a practicing Native American.  She’s still very new to it, doesn’t completely know how to explain it but she likes it.  I’m so glad she believes in God.  She says that church doesn’t have to be a building which is very true.  It’s out in nature or anywhere we want it to be.  It’s like relying heavily on Mother Nature.  She doesn’t understand why God let’s bad things happen, such as people dying, our economy is, etc.  Her and I have lost close friends and loved ones due to suicide or cancer.  She doesn’t understand why God didn’t work in their hearts and minds to not reach out more to others for help.  I feel her pain from that but also know and told her God doesn’t want us to suffer, fear or be confused and that I’m praying for her on that.  Churches do great things but that’s not all it is to her.  I know that she is very respectful and open to know and experience other religions and aspects of church but she tended to find an excuse to not do ministry at her one church.  She felt it was very pushy.  In that certain church, they actually called our church a cult or occult.  I’m just so thankful for church in general and people’s faith.  I believe a way I can start reaching her more is by meeting up with her for lunch sometime, talk and pray with her and definitely have her come with me to Freedom Valley.  I know she’d be very open to that if she didn’t have work.  I can’t wait to work on reaching her more.

            I thank God for her every day.  She didn’t have to answer these questions and she did.  Thank you God for the time I had to talk to an old friend and learn more about her beliefs!  Please bless her and I just ask she would live for you first and foremost!  It was a fantastic interview, for me tonight.  Thank you God!