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Discovering Your Church’s Story: A Bible StoryIntroduction – Discovering Your Story within God’s Story

Week 1

MATERIALS Laptop and projectorParticipants guideLarge flipchart Masking tapeSeveral pads of Post It NotesMarkersBiblesTables and chairs arranged to encourage groups of 2-5.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS The script for the leader is written in bold A routine of repeating verbal questions to the group will enhance

understanding There will sometimes be long moments of silence while participants

are thinking about their answers or deciding if they will speak. Try not to jump into their thought time too quickly.

Popcorn answers or discussion refers to whole group discussion with any participant answering.

AGENDA Define the church and mission field Examine Scripture to determine where your church is in its story

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Discovering Your Church’s Story: A Bible Story. (Slide 1)

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You came to seek the least, the last, and the lost. You have called us, your children, to do the same. Forgive us where we have forgotten this call, where we have been more concerned about ourselves than we have others, and where we have neglected to hear your voice. We ask that our hearts would be open to hear and respond to your call on this faith community at this time. Amen.

A. Using the story below, share with group, setting the tone for the day.

This story takes place as Jesus was finishing His work here on earth and returns to heaven. All the scars Jesus was carrying were

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very visible. The angel Gabriel approaches and asks, “Master, you must have suffered terribly down there?” “I did.”“And” Gabriel continues, “Do they now know how you LOVE them what you did for them. “Oh no, Jesus responds, “Right now only a handful of people know who live in Palestine, know what I did.”Gabriel quite shaken says, “Then what have you done to let the people know about your love for them. “Well”, Jesus tells him, “I asked Peter, James and John and a few others to tell people about me. Those who were told will tell others, thus one day the Gospel will be spread to the far reaches of the globe. Ultimately, all of human kind will hear about me and what I have done on their behalf”. Gabriel frowned and looked skeptical. He knew that people weren’t dependable. “Yes, he said, “but what if Peter and James and John grow weary?” What if the people who come after them forget? What if way down in the 20 & 21st centuries, people get too busy to bother telling others about you? Haven’t you made any other plans?”

“NO”----------“I’m counting on them”This story reminds us that Jesus is counting on us to continue to tell His story of love and grace. These next few weeks are designed for us to examine Scripture and help assess how we are telling the story in our local church.

B. “What’s in Your Wallet?” (Slide 2) Now that we have started to explore our reasons for being together today, let’s take a moment to get to know one another. I am sure you may wish to know more about me and I you. Let’s do a personal scavenger hunt. Taking a few minutes find the following items in your wallet or purse. Starting with something that …

You’ve had a long timeYou’re proud of

Reveals a lot about youReminds you of a fun timeConcerns or worries you.

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Have each person share the first item. Go around again using the second item and again until you have gone through each one. Don’t feel you have to use the full list, let the mood of the group determine the length of the activity.

After calling the group back together, praise them on their discoveries and the sharing that transpired.

ANCHORING IN SCRIPTURE A. Read together Matthew 28:18-20 together. (Slide 3)

1. What words stand out to you? 2. How would you rewrite the verse for a child to

understand? B. Based on the discussion about the Great Commission (Slide 4)

1. What is the purpose of the Church? Have the participants share what they think is the purpose.

2. According to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, the purpose of each local United Methodist congregation is "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." Have participants say that together.

C. Definition of Mission Field (slide 5). Just as you did previously with purpose of the church, have the participants describe their perception of the mission field. The mission field of a local faith community is its parish, whether defined geographically or by affinity group. The mission field will change with the context of the local faith community.

D. For example, in a densely populated urban area, the mission field may be a 1 mile radius around the local faith community; in a rural area, the mission field may encompass a 20, 30 or 40 mile radius. In other cases, the mission field may be a particular ethnic, cultural or linguistic group

E. Purpose of the Bible Study. (Slide 6) The community that surrounds our faith communities is being called “the mission field.” This Bible Study is intended to help local faith communities self-assess their mission-field effectiveness and assist in planning their next steps.

1. In pursuit of this goal, the following study is designed to help local faith communities focus on moving out into the community to make disciples. Effective mission-field congregations are making and supporting disciples in direct ministry in the community and world.

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2. This study is intended to have local faith communities self-assess their mission-field effectiveness and to provide insights for the faith community’s next steps. It is a discovery of your church’s story using Biblical images and stories. The design is to encourage and celebrate what God has already done and to lead into the next chapters of the church’s story.

BREAK: if needed

CHARTING YOUR CHURCH’S STORYA. Benefits of this study - Begin this time by talking about the benefits

this study will have on your faith community. 1. Deepened understanding of the mission of a United

Methodist church;2. Heightened awareness about how our faith communities

engage their mission fields;3. Increased commitment to align attitudes, behavior, and

resources towards making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

B. By this time, many in your group have had the opportunity to speak. Start the discussion by asking participants to record their answers. Remember to allow time for participants to have time to think. Using popcorn answers share with one another what individuals have recorded. Record responses on the tag/paper board. These questions are designed to help participants see how God has been at work in the church in the past

1. Tell about a time when you felt very proud or excited about your local church's effort to reach out to its community and meet a felt need.

• What was going on, what happened, who was involved?

• What do you value most about the contributions people made to achieve success?

2. When did something not go as well as you intended? What did you learn from this experience? Take time to share and really hear what is being shared. This not a time to be negative about the church but to seek experiences that produce real learning experiences even if that was not noticed until this exercise. Allow participants to go to places that are unpleasant and allow permission for that failure to be share. Instead of focusing on the cause of the failure once again chart for the group ways

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participants learned through this time of failure. Be sensitive to your group, and let them guide as to when to move on.

3. Which Bible Story is your church? (Slide 7) Using slide seven promote popcorn answers from the group as to how they see their church ‘defined” using the list provided. Have Bibles available for those who choose to use a Bible. This slide helps us begin a journey of looking at who we are as a church. Read through the choices offered and see if you can find a Biblical reference to your local church. We will break into small groups of 2 or three to probe into these slides. Be ready to share why you feel this is so. Bring back your discoveries to the large group.

(Another alternative exercise is to have participants break into groups and take one or two passages. Have them read through the passage and write down key words or phrases. Have them discuss if there is any part of their church that can be found in that passage. Then have them come back and share their findings)

TIME OF PRAYERTake time to pray for what has been shared. Give God thanks for His Word to lead us. Praise Him for giving us insight as to whom and where we are. Ask for His Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct us as we continue on this path of discovery.

NEXT STEPS

Reflect over what has been shared today. Conclude today’s discussion with these reflections.

In what ways does your church have impact beyond its own walls? Does your answer to this question give you satisfaction or concern?

If your church disappeared tomorrow what would the impact be on the local community?

Use popcorn answers for the conclusion of this time.

The next session of this Bible study is “Engaging Your Mission Field.” It will follow up on the work we have done today and will deal with moving forward with the things learned.Let us close by reading from The Message, concerning what love is, found in 1 Corinthians 13. God’s love:

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Love never gives up.Love cares more for others than for self.Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,Doesn’t have a swelled head,Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,But keeps going to the end.

Ask for a participant to pray and send us out.

Discovering Your Church’s Story: A Bible StoryPart A—Engaging Your Mission Field

Week 2

MATERIALS Laptop and projectorParticipants guideLarge flipchart Masking tapeSeveral pads of Post It NotesMarkersBiblesTables and chairs arranged to encourage groups of 2-5.





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AGENDA Anchoring in Scripture and Wesleyan Theology for reasons for

engaging in the world Discover the Mission Field

INTRODUCTION (Slide 8)

A. Welcome to this session of Discovering Your Church’s Story which is called Engaging Your Mission Field. We will begin with a question that may give us some insight into our various individual mission views. If you could go anywhere and do mission work in the name of God, what would that work be?

I’ll begin. If I could go anywhere and do mission work in the name of God, I would ….

Encourage popcorn answers from the group. Provide some positive general comments about the answers. For example, “Many of you have hearts for helping children.”

PRAYER

Almighty God, as we come here to learn of your love for all the human family, we thank you and praise you for the presence of the Holy Spirit nurturing our hearts and minds. We also give thanks for these your servants seeking to learn more of your ways. Teach us how to love as we are loved and to model the life of our Lord. Keep our souls restless and thirsty until all your children can flourish as you intended us all to flourish. Open our hearts and minds as we learn to open our doors outward. In the holy name of Christ we pray. Amen,

B. Divide the group in to smaller groups of 3-5. Have newsprint sheets for the groups to record their answers. 1. (Slide 9) Consider the following question and write down

your answers on the guided note pages you have: If we were writing a 3 chapter book titled “Living as Christ Directed,” what should the titles of those 3 chapters be?

2. Then discuss your answers within your group and come to a consensus on the chapter titles. Select someone to record and report the group’s answers. Have groups display their

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answers by taping their newsprint in the front of the room. We will come back to these chapter titles, but first we will look to scripture.

ANCHORING IN SCRIPTURE AND WESLEYAN TEACHINGS

A. Scripture (slide 10) 1. Read Matthew 22:35-40 and Matthew 25:14-30.2. Consider this question and write your answer. How do each

of these scriptures relate to mission work? Discuss it with your group. One person should record some consensus answers to share with all of us. Encourage popcorn discussion of these ideas.

3. Which of our chapter titles are directly tied to the commands of Christ in these scriptures? Encourage popcorn discussion.

4. If working with more than one group, say: Let’s try to agree on one list of chapters titles. If we were writing a 3 chapter book titled “Living as Christ Directed,” what should the title of those 3 chapters be? Ideally, the 3 chapter titles will be very similar to Love God, Love Your Neighbor, and Make Disciples.

B. Read or paraphrase

John Wesley’s General Rule of Discipleship instructs us in the life and spiritual formation Christ directed for each believer. It can be summed up with three phrases that are written on your handout.

First by doing no harm, avoiding evil of every kind…; Secondly, by doing good of every possible sort, and, as far

as possible, to all…; Thirdly, by attending to all the ordinances if God.”

(Ordinances of God include worship, ministry of the word, the Lord’s Supper, prayer, scripture reading, and fasting.)

Reuben Job simplified the rule further as “Do no harm; do good; stay in love with God.”

Wesley believed that this rule divided Christian conduct into works of mercy done in relationship with our neighbors and works of piety that grow our personal relationships with God. All these works were to lead to a balanced spiritual life in both private and public practice.

The contemporary version of the rule is: “To witness to Jesus Christ in the world and to follow his teachings with acts of

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compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

(Slide 11)This Jerusalem cross is a graphic representation of the relationship of these beliefs. In future sessions, we will focus on the lower portion of this cross, the acts of piety. Today we are concentrating on the top half. Acts of compassion are actions that alleviate the needs of individuals in need. Act of justice are actions that address the causes of need.

C. Scripture

1. (Slide 12) Ask for individual volunteers to read the following passages to the group (listed on the handout):Matthew 9:27-34 Matthew 14:34-36 Mark 2: 1-12Mark 10:13-16 John 12:44-50

2. From these instances from the life and ministry of Christ, what would you conclude about his priorities? Popcorn discussion.

3. (Slide 13) Read Matthew 9:35-36. After healing the men who were blind men and the man who was mute, Christ instructed those around him.

4. Read John 21:15-17. Another conversation took place between Jesus and Peter when Jesus appeared to all the disciples after he rose from the dead. He had appeared on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias while they were fishing. Jesus had filled their nets with more fish than they could haul up and then invited them to have breakfast with him. After they had eaten, Jesus talked publically with Peter.

D. Wesleyan Thought a. John Wesley wrote in his notes on this scripture that the

lambs were the weakest and tenderest of the flock. Think about this question: Based on Wesley’s description, who are the sheep and lambs in today’s world?

b. Take a few minutes to write down on your Post It notes all the different types of people you would consider are the Lord’s sheep today. Write each type on a separate note.

Break if needed

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CHARTING YOUR CHURCH’S COURSE

A. Who are the Sheep and Lambs?Make a T-chart of the flip chart page with one column labeled “Inside” and the other labeled “Sent-out.” After the break, read each of the types of people that have been posted and ask the group whether a congregation of Christians is likely to encounter that type of people in an inside their church building or during a sent-out ministry. Place each type on the appropriate side of the chart. Eliminate duplicates. Try to ensure a broad spectrum of types of people (new Christians, church youth, college students, children and adults in poverty, homeless, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, prisoners, substance abusers, prostitutes, victims of crime and abuse, immigrants, non-native speakers, latch-key kids). Be sure that the list includes types of people that we tend to be less sympathetic about. Prompt with examples, if necessary. If any additional suggestions come up during this discussion, ask a participant to write them on Post its notes and add them to the chart.

Tape the sheet to the wall for future reference in the next session

B. Who are our neighbors? In preparation for our lesson next week, we want to see if we know who our neighbors are. Answer the following questions: (Slide 14)

i. What do you consider to be your congregation’s mission field?

ii. How many people live within your mission field? iii. What is their average age? iv. Income level? v. Family situation (married, single, single-parent

households, etc.)? vi. What are the main subcultures?

C. After 5 minutes, have the groups spend 5-10 minutes discussing and coming to consensus answers. As the group answers are reported, record the answers of each group and ask how the answer was determined. These answers will most likely be based on speculation.

D. How confident are you about these figures? Why, or why not? Encourage popcorn discussion.

Next week, we will see exactly “who” our neighbors are. Keep the notes of who the group thinks their neighbors are for discussion for next week.

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PRAYER

For the closing prayer, let’s engage in a guided prayer. I will lead you with through the prayer with phrases or words and you allow those to lead your silent prayer time. Lord, forgive us where we have done harm….to You….to others….to ourselves.Lord, we give thanks and praise for where we have seen Your goodness…thank you for allowing me to be Your hands and feet in these situations….Lord, help me to stay in love with You by spending time with you in these ways….Amen.

Discovering Your Church’s Story: A Bible StoryPart B—Engaging Your Mission Field

Week 3

MATERIALS Laptop and projector

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Guided note pages for participantsLarge flipchart Masking tapeSeveral pads of Post It NotesMarkersBiblesAt least one copy (color, if possible) for each group of the Quick Insight Report from MissionInsite for that congregation’s location. Size of study area is determined by the context of the congregation. Tables and chairs arranged to encourage groups of 2-5.





AGENDA Defining Your Mission Field Assessing Your Connection to the Mission Field Reflection

PRAYER

DEFINING YOUR MISSION FIELD (Slide 14)A. Before you begin assessing of your faith community’s mission

engagement, let’s look again at the benefits of this assessment. Our work so far has been intended to deepen our understanding of the scriptural basis for the sent-out mission of United Methodist churches. We will continue by looking at some questions that will help give us heightened awareness of how your faith community engages its mission field.

B. Deepened understanding of the mission of the United Methodist church

C. Heightened awareness about how our faith communities engage their mission field

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D. Increased commitment to align attitudes, behavior and resources towards making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

E. (slide 15)The mission field is defined in this way: The mission field of a local faith community is its parish, whether defined geographically or by affinity group.

ANCHORING IN SCRIPTURE

A. (slide 16)Read Luke 10:25-37 B. Read or paraphrase:

Jews had considered the Samaritans racially inferior for centuries. When the most of the Jews of the Northern kingdom had been exiled to Babylon, the Assyrians had relocated other groups to that area to help further dilute the Jewish influence there. These groups intermarried with Jews and their descendants came to be known as Samaritans. After the exile, the Samaritans were despised by the Jews as half-breeds.

Samaritans were also considered spiritually unclean because they had developed a religion that was a combination of Jewish beliefs and pagan religions. They believed in the same God as their Jewish ancestors and in the coming Messiah, but had other beliefs and rituals that were very different. When the Jews had returned from exile in Babylon, Samaritans had offered to help them rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. But the Jews refused their help and then refused to allow them to worship in the temple.There was deeply entrenched animosity between the Jews and Samaritans. It would have been easy for a Jew of that day to think that the Samaritans were “what’s wrong with the world.” The Jews listening to Jesus that day must have been shocked to hear a story that presented a Samaritan as the hero and someone to be loved as a neighbor.

C. What does the story of the Good Samaritan teach us about engaging in missions with our neighbors? (List several of those types of people who tend to be viewed with less sympathy). After popcorn discussion, read or paraphrase:

“From [scripture] we can draw several conclusions about what it means to love our neighbors. First of all, loving our neighbors involves responding to specific needs—hunger,

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illness, imprisonment, loneliness, and so forth. Love is more than a feeling; it is behavior. It is practical and concrete.

Secondly, our neighbors include many people. Within the context of the Christian community, our neighbors are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Neighbors may also refer to the contemporary understanding of those who live near us. However, from a biblical perspective, neighbors often include people whom we might not normally consider:

strangers; prisoners; people who mistreat us (who are our enemies); people from other cultural and ethnic backgrounds; people from different religious traditions; people who irritate us and push the boundaries of our

patience.

Therefore, loving our neighbors requires attention and sacrifice. We have to pay attention to what is happening around us in order to see our neighbors and to recognize their needs. We must also consider their needs to be as important as our own in order to live faithfully. Loving neighbor is more than random acts of kindness. It takes time, energy, and commitment. It is a lifestyle carefully cultivated in response to God.

Finally, these passages emphasize that loving our neighbors is not optional; it is mandatory. It is what Christians do and what Christians are. Our lives are a testimony to our love—our love for God and our love for neighbor.”

CHARTING YOUR CHURCH’S COURSE

A. (Slide 17) Last week, we asked these questions about our community:

i. What do you consider to be your congregation’s mission field?

ii. How many people live within your mission field? iii. What is their average age? iv. Income level? v. Family situation (married, single, single-parent

households, etc.)? vi. What are the main subcultures?

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vii. How confident are you about these figures? Why, or why not?

B. Distribute several copies of the Quick Insite Report from MissionInsite for the church’s location.

C. Let’s see how well we did. The Conference has made community data available for our churches through a website called MissionInsite. You have instructions for accessing MissionInsite information on the Mission Information Resources page of your handout. This is the Quick Insite Report. There would also be a longer report available.

D. Explain the study area. Leaf through the report and list some of the types of information contained. Compare the group’s answers to the MissionInsite information.

E. How are the demographics and subcultures different than the make-up of your congregation? If the demographics are very similar, suggest that they consider extending the radius of the study. The study area may also need to be enlarged if the perceived need relates only to one affinity group (example, college students or the homeless).

F. How important is flexibility when engaging your mission field? Why?

G. How has the faith community shown flexibility in the past 2 years in engaging the mission fields? Encourage popcorn discussion.

H. Let’s look again at all those types of people we listed as God’s sheep that we might encounter during sent-out ministries. Read through the sent-out post-it notes again.

I. In your group, determine which of these people would be connected to a pressing mission need in your community? Make a note of your choices. After 5 minutes, have the groups report their choices and list them all on a flip chart sheet.

J. Now take a few minutes for your groups to list the 3 most pressing needs of people who live within your mission field. They may or may not involve the types of people we have just been talking about. After 5 minutes, have the groups report their choices. Encourage discussion by the entire group to arrive at a consensus of the 3 most pressing needs. Circle them on the flip chart list. Read the second part of question 6.

K. Why would it be important confirm these need and have accurate information about them? Popcorn discussion points

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should include the possibilities of misreading situations, duplication of service, regulations, etc.

L. Who could confirm these needs? Answers will depend on the needs selected. Refer participants to the list of Mission Resources on page 5 of the guided note pages. Explain the information on the Mission Resources page. Also emphasize Conference resources available on the web (MissionInsite, Connectional Café, Pathways to Missions.) If the group does not seem receptive to using the internet, emphasize the advantages (amounts of information available; speed of a web search; global connection; saving paper, gasoline, labor, etc.)

M. In your group, determine a response to this item. Review the most pressing needs identified in #6 above. Which of these needs is your local church most equipped to meet? Give reasons for your choice. Have each group report their choice and give reasons. Encourage popcorn discussion to help the group arrive at one choice.

N. Write the mission choice on the flip chart. What else would be needed to begin this as a sent-out ministry? What might be the next step? List suggestions from popcorn discussion on the flip chart. (This sheet should be left for the congregation after the day’s session concludes.)

BREAK if needed

ASSESSING YOUR CONNECTION TO YOUR MISSION FIELD

A. We will conclude this portion of the study by rating your congregation’s connection to the mission field (slide 18).

a. A rating of 1 is labeled “We focus on the needs of our congregation,” meaning that your congregation believes that it should concentrates mainly on the needs of our local congregation.

b. A rating of 2 is labeled “We know we’re disconnected,” meaning that your congregation believes that you should be involved with the mission field but have not made effective efforts to do so.

c. A rating of 3 would mean that the congregation has some practice and success in their community mission field.

d. A rating of 4 would mean that the congregation engages in ministries that are largely appropriate and successful in their mission field.

B. Take 3 minutes to decide on the rating that reflects your congregation’s local mission engagement and briefly write on a

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Post It note some of the things you have witnessed that would verify the rating.

C. After 3 minutes say, Bring your note up to the screen (or wall where the scale is projected) and stick it under the rating you chose. After the participants have posted their notes, read the items. Ask if there are any other observations that would verify the accuracy of the rating that received the most support. Encourage popcorn answers.

REFLECTION

A. Ask these questions for popcorn discussion:a. What are common concerns and misgivings that people

have about engaging the local mission field? b. How could those concerns be alleviated?

B. Read the following passage about doing good from Three Simple Rules: The Wesleyan Way of Living by Rueben Job. This passage is included in the participants’ guided notes on page 7.

“There are many obstacles to this way of living, and at the top of the list may be my desire to be in control. I like to know where I am going, and I like to know what it will cost to get there. That is shy doing all the good I can is such a frightening idea….What if I offer my gift of goodness, small or large, and it is rejected? Suppose I were to seek compromise in conflict and my efforts were ridiculed? What if my efforts were seen as weakness and my concerns were overlooked? What if my gift of goodness was accepted and then misused in ways that are abhorrent to me?The truth is that my gift of goodness may be rejected, ridiculed, and misused. But my desire to do good is not limited by the thoughts or actions of others. My desire to do good is in response to God’s invitation to follow Jesus, and it is in my control. I can determine to extend hospitality and goodness to all I meet. I can decide to do good to all, even to those who disagree with me and turn against what I believe is right and good. And the reward for my doing good is not cancelled or diminished by the response to my acts of goodness. I will have

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the reward of knowing I did what was right and pleasing to God. I will still be identified, known, and loved as a child of God. What could be a greater reward than this?

From Three Simple Rules: The Wesleyan Way of Living, Reuben Job, pp. 39-41.

C. The next session of this Bible study is “Connecting with Christ.” It will follow up on the work we have done today and will deal with moving forward with the things learned.

D. Let’s close by joining together in Wesley’s Covenant Prayer found on page 7 in your participants guide.

Wesley’s Covenant PrayerI am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all thingsto thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven. Amen

Mission Readings

The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church—2013. ¶ 104, pages 76-78. Nashville, Tennessee: United Methodist Publishing House, 2013.

Davis, Lindsey. Congregational Health. The Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, March 2013. Web. 12 March 2013.

Farr, Bob. Renovate or Die, Ten Ways to Focus Your Church on Mission. Nashville, Tennessee: Abington Press, 2011.

Job, Rueben P. Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living. Nashville, Tennessee: Abington Press, 2009.

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Smith, Debra and Harris, Cindy, editors. What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Theology. Discipleship Resources, Nashville, Tennessee, 2002.

Wallace, Rocky. Wildcard: Servant Leadership and the 21st Century Church, Transforming Communities with the Christ Model.

Mission Information SourcesLocal

The Family Resource and Youth Service Centers: work to alleviate the conditions that keep children from being available for learning. They are excellent sources of realistic information about the needs of their school and children. They can also provide information about other community agencies that serve families with children. Contact your local schools.

The United Way: maintains a county directory of a wide variety of agencies serving local populations. Connect with your local office through http://www.unitedway.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.aa.org/

Narcotics Anonymous: [email protected] or 818.773.9999 x771Detention Centers

Nursing Homes

Kentucky Drug Court: http://courts.ky.gov/courtprograms/drugcourt/Pages/ContactDrugCourt.aspx

Kentucky Annual Conference

MissionInsite: community demographic information relevant to missions and ministries.

See the attached sheet.

Connectional Café: Online listing of trainings available for local congregations in the Conference. Cost is the presenter’s traveling expenses. Trainings related to missions are included. Videos of some training sessions will be available in the future. Direct contact information for presenters is listed or contact http://www.connectionalcafe.com (1-800-530-7236, ext. 314).

Pathways to Mission: provides information to churches on how to get involved in United Methodist based mission experiences. http://www.kyumc.org/pages/detail/2028

http://www.kyumc.org/pages/detail/2028

http://courts.ky.gov/courtprograms/drugcourt/Pages/ContactDrugCourt.aspx

mailto:[email protected]

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Campus Ministries: Listings and information about Wesley Foundations on Kentucky campuses. http://www.kyumc.org/pages/detail/998

Camps: Information about the UM camping ministries. http://www.kyumc.org/pages/detail/953 Global

United Methodist Committee on Relief: a non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering due to crisis or chronic need in over 80 countries around the globe, including the United States. http://www.umcor.org (1-800-554-8583)

Discovering Your Church’s Story: A Bible Study Connecting with Christ

Week 4

MATERIALS: Laptop and projectorGuided note pages for participantsLarge flipchart MarkersBiblesThe number of Professions of Faith in the last year from

end of year report

http://www.umcor.org/



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AGENDA Discover what Scripture says about hospitality Discuss how our church can be more hospitable Relate ways to share our faith and how to invite people into

relationship with Christ

INTRODUCTION (Slide 19) Welcome to this session Discovering Your Church’s Story, which is called Connecting with Christ. To begin, let’s share with each other why we chose to become a member of our church. Who were the people who welcomed you? Why did you decide to commit to this church? Allow participants to share briefly about their story of connecting to the church.

PRAYERLoving God, we give you thanks for our church. We are grateful that You are the head of our church. You have embraced us with your gracious, everlasting, undeserving love. Help us to help our church to offer that same love to others. Widen our vision and deepen our commitment to serving you by serving others. Amen.

ANCHORING IN SCRIPTURE A. It is often believed that someone comes to know Christ in one

particular way, when in reality; there are many ways that one can come into a relationship with Jesus. God works with our personality and our circumstances to reveal himself. The Scriptures are full of the variety of ways people come to have faith in Jesus. Break into groups and give each group one of the following Scripture passages. Have them discuss how this person came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

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(Slide 20) Paul (Acts 9) – dramatic, one-time event

Lydia (Acts 16:11-15) – She believed for a time before knowing Christ. More of a slow and gradual over a period of time

Philippian jailer (Acts 16:25-34) – in a crisis

Timothy (Acts 16:1-3, 2 Timothy 1:4-7) – grew up in the faith

B. Have members of the group share together: 1. What is your conversion version? 2. How do you come to know Christ?3. Share about a time recently when you had the opportunity

to share your faith. Encourage participants when they share success stories of our faith and new disciples being made. Encourage participants to be intentional in sharing their faith in places and spaces that are provided for them

4. What process does your church have in place for introducing new people to Christ?

5. Do you have opportunities where people have a variety of ways of coming to know Christ?

C. Read: Genesis 18:1-8 (slide 21)1. What did Abraham show hospitality for his guest? 2. Who were his guests? 3. What does this passage tell us about how we should

welcome others?

D. Break into groups and each group take one passage to discuss what it says about hospitality (slide 22):

Hebrews 13:2

Matthew 25:34-40

Deuteronomy 10:19

Matthew 22:8-10

Romans 15:7

Bring the groups back together and have each group share what they discussed. You can write up their comments on a whiteboard/flip chart so everyone can begin to see some of the characteristics of hospitality

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CHARTING YOUR CHURCH’S STORY

These next two sections reveal some of the ways in which local churches can incorporate disciples. This should promote discussion to evaluate where your church is and how it can continually work on incorporating disciples better.

A. Discuss what happens in the first five minutes of someone arriving at your church:

What will they see? Who will they meet? What is your intentional plan of welcoming visitors before

the worship service even begins? What is your plan for welcoming visitors after the service? What is your church’s follow up plan for your guest?

B. Inviting CongregationsSometimes members forget that churches offer something people need. People need to know that God loves them. They need to know they are people of extreme value and worth. People need to be reminded that they are not alone. The church can be the community that extends grace as they come along someone in times of tension, doubts, despair, and trying circumstances. People need to have peace that passes our human understanding, hope that sustains through any circumstance, comfort in the valley of death, forgiveness for themselves and how to extend that forgiveness to others.

1. Why do people need Christ? 2. Why do people need a church? 3. Why do people need your particular church? 4. How does your church offer what people need? 5. What does your congregation do to engage, invite, and

welcome the unchurched? (above questions adapted from Cultivating Fruitfulness, Robert Schnase)

6. What process does your church have in place for introducing new people to Christ?

7. Do you have opportunities where people have a variety of ways of coming to know Christ?

8. We measure numbers of new disciples each year in the membership category "Received on Profession of Faith." How many new members were received on Profession of Faith in

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the last year? What steps can you take to improve this process for making new disciples?

We think that in order to share our faith we must have all the answers. We are often intimated and insecure to share with others. Most of the time, we are called to simply share our story. People don’t want all the answers necessarily; they want to know how God has worked in your life.

REFLECTIONS

1. Who are the people God has laid on your heart to share your story and/or invite to church? Have participants think through neighbors, friends, family members, coworkers who do not have an active relationship with Christ. Ask them to begin praying daily for these people for open doors to share and invite. Take some time to write down these names in your participants guide.

2. We will conclude this portion of the study by rating your congregation’s intentional plan of connecting disciples (Slide 23).

a. Ranking 1 – We don’t intentionally make disciplesb. Ranking 2 – We’re considering starting a disciple-making

systemc. We have parts of a system in placed. Disciple-making is what we do.

3. The next session of this Bible study is “Developing Disciples.” It will follow up on the work we have done today and will deal with moving forward with the things learned.

Let’s close by joining together in this prayer found on page of your notes.

Gracious God, give me a heart thatremembers the strangers who may be in my path today.Help me share your all-encompassing love with them,

just as you have shown love to me.Prayer by Bishop Robert Schnase

Resources

Schnase, Robert. Cultivating Fruitfulness. Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN 2008

Schnase, Robert. Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, 2007.

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Swanson, Roger K. and Shirley F. Clement. Faith-Sharing Congregation. Discipleship Resource, Nashville, TN, 2002.

Discovering Your Church’s Story: A Bible StudyDeveloping Disciples

Week 5

MATERIALS: Laptop and projectorGuided note pages for participantsLarge flipchart Masking tapeMarkersBibles





AGENDA What is a Disciple? What did Jesus do to “make” disciples? What is Wesleyan thought on disciple-making? How is our church doing with making disciples of Jesus for the

transformation of the world? What can be some next steps for us as church?

INTRODUCTION

(Slide 24)Welcome to this session Discovering Your Church’s Story, which is called Developing Disciples.

(Slide 25)Let’s begin with a basic question, “What does being a disciple mean to you?” Encourage popcorn answers from the group. Provide some positive general comments about the answers as you record them on the large flipchart paper. For example, “Look at all the different ways we define disciple”.

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PrayerLoving God, we come here today full of praise for your glory and care. Help us to put aside all the clutter in our heart, so we might fully focus in this short time together on the meaning of discipleship for our church and in our own personal lives. Open our minds, open our eyes, and open our ears that we may comprehend, that we may see, and that we may hear clearly, all that you would have us to learn about walking closer with you in our journey as disciples. In the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

Discussion Divide the group into smaller groups of 3-5.

A. Our stated purpose as United Methodists is to make disciples. There are a variety of models for doing this: one on one mentoring or the apprentice model, use of the classroom setting that may include a large number of people, or the use of small groups.

B. (Slide 26): A definition of a disciple: One who responds to God’s invitation to follow Christ in community by doing and becoming like Jesus through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

a. What words jump out to you in this definition? b. What verb is used to describe what a disciple does? c. What does “following Christ” look like? d. Who gives the disciple the ability to follow and become

like Jesus?

C. (slide 27) Is there a difference in being a believer and disciple? Allow for discussion.

1. Note the definition includes the idea discipleship is not just about following Christ (because you can follow someone as closely or as far away as you like), but that it is about becoming Christ-like.

2. It’s not something we do alone, but in community with others. (You can believe all by yourself and not necessarily be in fellowship with other believers).

3. A disciple is one who is intentionally involved in the lives of others as Jesus was.

4. A believer may believe in Jesus, but not be an active follower.5. Point out that Satan was a believer, but not a disciple.

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D. If we are to make disciples of Jesus Christ, why not use the method he used? While he spoke to the multitudes, his main focus was on spending time with the twelve he had called to follow him. There is something unique that happens when a group of people commits to sharing life together. There's a quote that says, "Christianity is more caught than taught." This is certainly how Jesus taught discipleship.

Let’s take a look at some Scripture to see what Jesus did to “make” disciples.

ANCHORING IN SCRIPTURE AND WESLEYAN TEACHINGS A. Scripture:

a. (Slide 28)Read Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 2: 13-14.

B. Discussiona. Consider this question: What do these Scriptures tell us

about how Jesus “made” disciples? Discuss it with your group. One person should record some consensus answers to share with all of us. When small groups have come up with an answer, record on large paper for all to see. Possible answers can include:

Jesus is intentional about creating his small group Jesus invites people to come and be a part of the group In the calling of Levi, Jesus sees a potential disciple in

everyone Jesus calls unexpected people, those we wouldn’t necessarily

choose or see

C. Scripture:a. (Slide 29). Read Matthew 5:1 and John 14:15-26

D. Discuss this question with your group: What does each of these Scriptures tell us about how Jesus “made” disciples? One person should record some consensus answers to share with all of us. When small groups have come up with an answer, record on large paper for all to see. Possible answers include:

Jesus intentionally teaches Jesus removes them to a place where he can teach and

be heard

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There is the Promise of the Holy Spirit to remain with us to continue to teach us and remind us of Jesus’ ways

Our life as disciples is only possible through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling

Disciples must keep God’s commandments and love Jesus

E. (Slide 30)WESLEYAN THOUGHT ON DISCIPLE-MAKING a. As Methodists we are the beneficiaries of a wonderful heritage. b. John Wesley and George Whitfield were greatly used of God in

the 1700's to bring revival to England. c. The Wesleyan movement survives today due to the genius of Mr.

Wesley's organizational skills. d. Through the use of the Societies and Classes he formed

everywhere he went, people who were introduced to the Gospel were supported in their spiritual growth and held accountable for their actions. The early Methodist class meeting was focused on helping people come to know Jesus Christ and learn how to give every part of their lives to loving and serving Christ.

e. The pattern of the meeting was simple – people gave testimony to their experience of God over the past week.

f. The class meeting served to keep every person connected, made sure people were doing all that they could to their journey in grace toward sanctification, and ensure no one was left behind or forgotten.

Break

CHARTING YOUR CHURCH’S COURSE (Slide 31)Discussion

A. On Large Paper, record the brainstorming of the whole group for this question:

How would you define a small group?B. Share with the group:

In his book, The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Group Experience, Kevin M. Watson discusses three types of small groups:

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1. Affinity groups – these groups are organized around common passions, interest, and hobbies. Examples: cooking club, bowling league, book club

2. Information- driven groups – focused on conveying information and are organized by a common curriculum. Examples: Sunday school, a Bible study, or a study of any other book of curriculum.

3. Transformation-driven groups – not focused on discussion or mastery of content, but on changed lives, on group members’ experience of God. They are centered around supporting each other in their efforts to live out their faith of loving God and loving each other on a daily basis.

Based on these definitions, list the groups your church offers in each of these categories.

C. Contrast discipleship model from membership model and allow for discussion. (Michael Foss, Power Surge).

Membership Model:

It’s about getting something for yourself It’s about paying dues It’s about belonging to a select group with certain privileges

Discipleship Model:

It’s about giving of yourself It’s about stewardship It’s about changing and shaping lives by through God’s grace

REFLECTION

(Slide 32) We will conclude this portion of the study by rating your congregation’s intentional plan of developing disciples. Ranking 1 – We have no plans for disciple supportRanking 2 – We’re considering a disciple support programRanking 3 – We’re starting a disciple support program right now.Ranking 4 – We have a disciple support in place

What steps will you take to continue to improve your process for making new disciples?

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What other small groups does your church need to form to further personal discipleship?

The next session of this Bible study is “Sending Disciples to Transform the World.” It will follow up on the work we have done today and will deal with moving forward with the things learned.Let’s close by joining together in “The Prayer of Saint Francis” found on page of your notes.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon’where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine master,grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Resources

Covenant Discipleship groups are another resource available for our churches. This is supported by the General Board of Discipleship. "Experience and tradition tell us that disciples make disciples. The Wesleyan tradition provides us with a proven and effective method for disciple-making in the 21st century." This quote comes from the GBOD web site (http://www.gbod.org/leadership-resources/covenant-discipleship) where you can find more information about this ministry under the direction of Dr. Steven W. Manskar, Director, Wesleyan Leadership.

Foss, Michael W. Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church. Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 2000.

Watson, Kevin M. The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Groups Experience. Seedbed Publishing, 2014.

http://www.gbod.org/leadership-resources/covenant-discipleship

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Discovering Your Church’s Story: A Bible StudySending Disciples who Transforming the World

Week 6MATERIALS:

4 Poster Boards3 Different Colors of Post-it NotesBibleLaptop and projectorParticipants Guide





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AGENDA1. Examine examples of transformation in the Bible2. Explore ways our church is involved in transformational ministry

PRAYERLord Jesus, we are so thankful for your love you have shown us on the cross. We give You thanks for the Holy Spirit who continues to teach us and mold us into your disciples. We are grateful for those who you have called us to go and make disciples. We ask that you give us courage to do the mission you are calling for this church to do – right here and right now. May all that we do and say bring you honor and glory. Amen.

(Slide 33)INTRODUCTION In this section, the intent is to put the previous lessons into action. This will help your church see how it is currently living out the mission of transforming its community, and therefore, the world. This lesson is geared to take an assessment of what is currently being done and what are the possibilities of what is still to come.

A. Review1. In the last couple of lessons, we looked at our mission

field. What insights did we gain from discovering who our mission field is? Again, take time to hear from the group what they learned in the previous weeks about the results of Mission Insite and the discussion around those findings

2. (Slide 34)In the previous lessons we have looked at who we are, how to make disciples, what is our mission field and now, how to do put this all together. In our previous lesson, we discussed what a disciple looked like? What do we remember of that discussion? Take time to highlight the lesson “Connecting with Christ.” Talk through the conclusions of what a disciple is and what a disciple does.

3. (Slide 35) Back to the title of this lesson – Sending Disciples who Transform the World. We have discussed the word “disciple” and we have discovered our “world” around us. Let’s focus for a few moments on the word “Transform.” What comes to your mind when you hear the word “transform”? Have participants share what they

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think the word means. The words or definition can be written on a white board. Then give these definitions:

4. (Slide 36) Webster’s dictionary defines this word in three meanings:

1. to change in composition or structure 2. to change the outward form or appearance of3. to change in character or condition: ConvertDiscuss how the definition is similar and/ or different from what had been discussed. Break into small groups of 2-3 and have each group come up with an object or a metaphor that describes transformation. Examples can include caterpillar/butterfly, seed/flower, baby/adult, etc. Share these with the entire group.

ANCHORING IN SCRIPTURE

B. (Slide 37). Read Acts 9:1-22 1. If you had to write a newspaper article title/ a twitter post,

about this story, what would it be? (Depending on the age of the group, ask for hashtags for this story)

2. Where do you see transformation? Discuss physical, spiritual, relational, emotional, etc. transformation that is seen.

This is an example of personal transformation. C. In Acts 17:6, “These men (Paul and Silas) who have turned the

world upside down have come here also…” Paul and others have gone from transforming into disciples to transforming the world. What did that look like for them? Let’s read all of Acts 16 and describe how their world turned upside down (or was transformed).

Examples can include:

The church growing in numbers and in the faith (v.5). A young Greek/Jewish boy becoming a leader (v. 1-3). Jews and

Gentile did not mingle together, much less a “mixed blood” becoming a leader

Listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit (v. 6-10), instead of doing what they wanted to do

A woman leading her household to Christ (v. 11-15). Women leading in that culture was unheard of

A woman being released of evil spirit (v. 16-18)

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Paul and Silas remaining in the jail after earthquake (v. 25-32). Most people would have escaped.

CHARTING YOUR CHURCH’S STORYA. (Slide 38)Let’s begin to think through how our world be can

transformed because of us, disciples of Jesus Christ. Tell them you don’t want answers yet, but just think about that question.

B. The next part of the lesson is an exercise for the entire group. Have up four poster boards that have the following titles:1. Spiritual Formation2. Worship and Committees in the Church3. Mission within the Church4. Mission in the community

Have post-it notes in various colors and give each color a meaning:

Yellow post it notes represents “I am interested in this area”

Blue post it notes represents “I am a leader in this area”

Green post it notes represents “I am participating in this area”

Ask everyone to put their initials on the post-it notes and then put their post-it notes on the appropriate posters.

This should form the discussion of the next few questions.

What do you see? Where are most of the green and blue post it notes? Where are most of the yellow? What is missing? What appears to be the strength of our congregation?

C. Take this exercise and expand to include even those who are not present: 1. How do individuals in your faith community live out their

Christian discipleship in the world? Give some examples of those who are not already represented in the poster board.

2. How does your faith community facilitate engagement of members in responding to the hurts and hopes of person in its mission field? In the world?

D. Remembering the Mission Insite results and the poster board, answer this question. 1. How many individuals participated in direct service missions

outside your community? Inside the church? Take a guess as to the actual number of those who are participating inside and

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outside the church. Give a good percentage of what this looks like for your church. 80% inside/20% outside. 70/30, 45/55, etc.

2. Other than giving money to other organizations, what success stories can you share about how your congregation is involved in mission beyond its walls? Often, churches believe that giving money is the only means of being involved in missions. This question goes beyond just the money but where has time and talent been given.

REFLECTIONS

(Slide 39)We will conclude this portion of the study by rating your congregation’s intentional plan of sending disciples to transform the world. Rank 1 We give money but aren’t directly involved in transformational missionsRank 2 – We have a few who are directly involved in transformational missionsRank 3 – Many are involved in transformational missionsRank 4 – Most are involved in transformational missionsHave discussion around why participants choose their answer.

Resources:

Hamilton, Adam. Leading Beyond the Walls. Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, 2002.

McNeal, Reggie. Missional Communities: The Rise of Post-Congregational Church. Jossey- Bass, 2011.

McNeal, Reggie. This Present Future. Jossey- Bass, 2003.

Quinn, Robert E. Changing the World: How Ordinary People can Accomplish Extraordinary Results. Jossey-Bass, 2000.

Swanson, Eric and Rick Rusaw. The Externally Focused Quest. Jossey-Bass, 2010.

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Study Conclusion (Slide 40)(This may need to be a separate session based on your previous discussions)

A. Review the previous rankings in precious lessons Engaging Your Mission Field, Connecting with Christ, Developing Disciples, and Sending Disciples to Transform the World. Reflect again on why those rankings were chosen.

B. (Slide 41)Rank overall where your congregation would fall in its overall involvement in the mission field, connecting with Christ, developing disciples, and sending them into the world

a. Ranking 1 – Won’t leave the buildingb. Ranking 2 – At the doorstepc. Ranking 3 – On the sidewalkd. Ranking 4 – Walking alongside the community in direct

ministry to community needC. (Slide 42) Is your study group comfortable/satisfied with

where your faith community is along this spectrum? Explain your answer

D. Is it your perception that the entire faith community would agree with your assessment?

E. Is there a desire within your faith community to move to the next step? What do you think it will take to do this? List specific steps you could take.

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