Seven Tough Questions Spiritual Assessment
Seven Tough Questions Spiritual AssessmentCheck one answer for each question. If you are in-between two answers then you can put a line or dot between the two boxes.#1 – When I pray:[ ] I don't pray[ ] I only pray when there is an emergency[ ] I regularly pray for things I need and want[ ] I often pray for others and thank God for his blessings[ ] My prayers feel like a two way communication channel with God #2 – I give money to the church[ ] Rarely[ ] I put in some pocket money on occasion[ ] I give regularly a small percentage (less than 10%) of my income[ ] I give 10% regularly[ ] I give sacrificially above my 10% #3 – The Bible[ ] The last time I opened a bible outside of church was more than 6 weeks ago[ ] I read bible stories to my kids or grandkids[ ] I keep my bible near and read it when I have some spare time[ ] I set aside time 5 or more times per week to read the bible and do devotions[ ] I invest significant time to memorize scripture and study it in depth #4 – Serving others[ ] I'm so busy I can barely keep my own affairs in order[ ] Once or twice in the last year I gave money or time to help someone in need[ ] Whenever I see someone with a need I try to meet it[ ] People with problems seem to come looking for me[ ] A significant amount of my time goes towards helping others #5 – Fellowship[ ] I attend church less than 20 times per year[ ] I attend church most Sundays[ ] I attend church most Sundays and also attend prayer meetings and other events[ ] People notice when I'm not at church[ ] In addition to regularly attending church and events I am an active member of a small group #6 – Evangelism[ ] No one outside the church knows I'm a Christian[ ] I practice lifestyle evangelism and hope that by my example people will want to know Christ[ ] I invite unsaved people to church[ ] I feel comfortable discussing spiritual matters with the unsaved and can explain biblical salvation[ ] I seek out the lost to help them know Christ #7 – Helping others to become more mature Christians (discipleship)[ ] I know so little about being a Christian that I can't help others yet[ ] I'm bringing my kids or grandkids to church[ ] I check in on people who haven't been to church recently to encourage them to come[ ] I encourage other adults to read the bible and discuss spiritual matters with them[ ] I invest time one on one with other adults to study the bible and pray Assessment – God called, He wants you to work on one of the things in this list above, which one are you going to work on?
| [ ] | #1 – More meaningful prayer | [ ] | #4 | – Getting active in a small group |
| [ ] | #2 – Giving faithfully to support the church and its | [ ] | #5 | – Serving others |
| ministries | [ ] | #6 | – Sharing the Gospel with others | |
| [ ] #3 –Reading and learning the bible | [ ] | #7 | – Helping others to grow in their maturity | |
How did you do?The first answer for each question is 1 point, the second is 2 points, the third is 3 points, the fourth is 4 points and the last is 5 points. Half points are OK so if you're halfway between the third and fourth options in “bible reading” it's OK to give yourself 3.5 points. The goal is to take this assessment periodically and see an improvement each time you take it. The highest score is 35 and if you get a 35 it means you need to work on your humility. :-)Your Score: ___________ Today's Date: __________ 0 2009 by Matthew Nuzum – www.bearfruit.org – you are free to copy and distribute this as long as this notice is included. v1
Microsoft Tag
On the horizon for mobile users is a new technology Microsoft is starting to promote called “Tag.” According to the web site,
Microsoft Tag creates unlimited possibilities for making interactive communications an instant, entertaining part of life. They tranform physical media (print advertising, billboards,product packages, information signs, in-store merchandising, or even video images)—into live links for accessing information and entertainment online.
With the Microsoft Tag application, just aim your camera phone at a Tag and instantly access mobile content, videos, music, contact information, maps, social networks, promotions, and more. Nothing to type, no browsers to launch!
This provides some interesting educational opportunities. Students today are very comfortable with cell phone technology. If educators can find ways to embed interactive educational content into everyday objects, imagine the possibilities for learning!
Rather than static bulletin boards in a room, teachers could create links to interactive web content that students access via their cell phone. When students turn in projects, they can build in tags to content they have created.
From a church’s perspective, all kids of information can be linked from the weekly bulletin or newsletter. Sermon notes can have interactive content built in so that learners can access the content during the sermon or later.
This could be fun. :) Do you have any ideas how Microsoft Tag could be used?
You can learn more by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/tag/
Adult Ministries Discipleship Planning
Grace ChurchAdult Ministries Advisory TeamDiscipleship PlanningFebruary 7, 20099:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Grace Church
Charter
Adult Ministries Leadership Team
November 2008
Rationale:Grace Church established the Adult Ministries Leadership Team (AMLT) to serve as resource, represent the congregation and volunteer leaders within adult ministries, and to coordinate the strategic planning process for adult ministries. The team also serves as a focus group and sounding board for various activities and functions within the adult ministries domain.The team consists of a group of people representing various elements within adult ministries, and is linked to the Elder Body of Grace Church by the incorporation of two lay elders.Purpose of the Team:The AMLT's initial purpose is to successfully complete a strategic planning process for adult ministries at Grace Church. Each member will serve as a voice and as a resource towards the completion of this process.Accountability and Authority:The AMLT will serve as advocates for and implementation of a strategic plan focusing on the educational/training/discipleship domain for Grace Church.The AMLT serves in an advisory capacity to the pastor of adult ministries and is ultimately accountable to the Grace Church Elders and senior pastor. Ask Tough QuestionsChuck Gaines, church consultant for LifeWay Christian Resources, was asked at a seminar for his personal observations about the characteristics of "growing, exciting" churches. Gaines comments, "These churches don't look for answers—they look for questions," especially questions relating to forming and implementing a process for discipleship. Gaines said churches that ask tough questions experience growth and excitement in the process of finding the answers to them. He listed some of the questions such churches ask:
- How does our church define discipleship?
- What is the history of discipleship at our church?
- How do we define disciple?
- How do we define discipler?
- What does a disciple look like?
- Do we have an intentional process of discipleship?
- Does our church know this process?
- Does our leadership team know this process?
- How do we communicate this process?
- How does this process relate to the purpose of the church?
- Has our church prioritized distinct practices that relate to the discipleship process?
- Does our church practice the principle of abandonment based on the idea that activity doesn't always mean productivity?
- How does our church measure maturity?
- How does our church evaluate the effectiveness of the discipleship process?
- How does our community describe our church?
- What does a church committed to discipleship look like?
- Do our church families spend more planned time in a week at church with each other or in the community with non-believers?
- Can one size fit all?
- Are we creating clones or disciples; what's the difference?
- Are "spritual disciplines" and "discipleship" synonymous?
From an article by Chuck Gaines, Pastors Today, 01/19/08 Steve Miller’s Questions:
- How can we promote the working of the Holy Spirit in the people (all of the group) we work with?
- What are we currently doing to promote Christians to become Disciples of Christ?
- What is the fundamental purpose of the educational ministry (learning Biblical based truth, individual spiritual growth, ability/desire to disciple, all of these?)
- How do the "groups" we promote interact with our fundamental purpose?
- How can we (or should we) evaluate/assess our effectiveness?
- As Group Leaders do we believe that attendance equates to "learning" or "spiritual growth"?
- How does (should) accountability look for Group Leaders?
- How can Chris be accountable for each group and their group leader(s)?
- Do we want a linear curriculum (pre-school age through retirement age), sermon based, or group specific - or a combination of each - if so who decides?
- What skill development opportunities do group leaders have regarding meeting the needs of adult learners?
- What emphasis/expectations are placed on Group Leaders to model the behaviors Grace Church would expect?
I like this quote: If you keep doing what you have always done you will keep getting what you have always gotten.
Church Models of Discipleship
Growing True Disciples by George Barna (2001)
- Competencies Model (Pantego Bible Church, www.pantego.org). Ft. Worth, TX. David Daniels
- Missional Model (Fellowship Bible Church, www.fbclr.com). Little Rock, AR. Robert Lewis
- Neighborhood Model (Perimeter Church, www.perimeter.org). Duluth, GA. Randy Pope
- Worldview Model (Fellowship Bible Church North, www.fbcnorth.org). Plano, TX. Jeff Jones.
- Lecture-Lab Model (North Coast Church, www.northcoastchurch.com). Vista, CA. Larry Osborne
The Competencies Model: Pantego Bible Church
- 30 specific foci
- 10 core beliefs
- 10 core practices
- 10 core virtues
- Celebration/congregation/cell
- Christian Life Profile
- Topical adult-ed classes
The Missional Model: Fellowship Bible Church
- A blend of the Competencies & Worldview models
- Six core qualities/competencies
- Introduction class
- Small group
- Specialty classes
The Neighborhood Model: Perimeter Church
- Combination of Worldview, Competencies, & Missional models
- Inquirer’s class
- Neighborhood congregation (15-20 people)
- Discipleship Team (5-9 people)
- Church-authored discipleship curriculum
- Modeling evangelism
The Worldview Model: Fellowship Bible Church North (Chase Oaks Church)
- Imparting biblical wisdom that leads to personal transformation
- Goals: participation, service, understanding, decision-making
- Two-year, small group process
- Discovery Series: 4 topical books
- Issue-oriented
- Dissonance-based
- Peer mentors
The Lecture-Lab Model: North Coast Church
- Delivery of content through sermons (lecture) and small groups (lab)
- Biblical knowledge + faith-based relationships à godly character & Christian service
- Sermon outlines
- Small groups as the primary forum for learning
Barna’s “Best Of” Model: Don’t reinvent the wheel
- Look for principles not templates
- Senior Pastor as champion
- Church membership linked to discipleship
- All ministry programs tied to discipleship outcomes
- Minimized programs to focus on discipleship
- Coordination of all teaching
- Discipleship tied to the church mission statement
- Use of PDPs
- Disciples in small groups
- Disciples in mid-size groups
- Disciples in worship services
- Disciples in community service
- Disciples with mentors/coaches
- Annual evaluations & revised PDPs
- Coordinated sermon content
Chuckle for the Day
I enjoyed this, thought you might too. :) Not sure of the source.
Notice:
Due to recent budget cuts and the cost of electricity,
gas and oil, as well as current market conditions and
the continued decline of the U.S. economy, The Light at
the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Churches and “The Big Game” Copyright Issues
Photo Source: The Christian Post.
Every year, churches across the USA face huge competition from an event that has become known as the Super Bowl. In fact, as National Public Radio commentator Frank Deford observed in a piece called “A Merry Super Bowl To All, And To All A Good Game”:
Like Halloween and Valentine's Day, Super Sunday isn't an official paid holiday, but let's face it, it's become as much an accepted part of the modern American calendar as President's Day or Memorial Day…And at the end of the day, I'd suggest that Super Sunday is actually much more Father's Day than is Father's Day itself. Why don't we just combine the two and send out cards to Daddy now?
Rather than fight the growing interest in Big Game, churches started taking an “if you can’t beat them, join them” attitude. In fact, as more and more churches installed video projection equipment, Big Game Sunday became a big draw for local churches. That was until two years ago.
In 2007, the National Football League decided to crack down on Indianapolis area churches who held Super Bowl Parties in honor of their home-town Colts.
Last year, the NFL went out of its way to alert churches that showing the Big Game on anything larger than a 55-inch screen was indeed a copyright violation, and that if churches violated the NFL’s copyright, they may face legal consequences. [See NFL Pulls Plug On Big-Screen Church Parties for Super Bowl, by Jacqueline L. Salmon, The Washington Post, Feb. 1, 2008.]
Obviously, no one was happy with this turn of events. Churches found themselves once again in direct competition with the Big Game, and for its part, the NFL came out looking like a money-hungry bully unwilling to play with Mainstreet America.
Last year, all of the legal threats and ambiguity put a chill on the entire event. It was like dumping a five-gallon bucket of Gatorade down the backs of America’s churches. No one knew what to do.
After the game was over, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell softened the NFL’s stance and brought clarity to the issue. In a letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Goodell stated, “The League would not object to live showings of the Super Bowl by religious organizations, regardless of screen size, as long as the viewings are free and are on premises that the church uses on a routine and customary basis.” The NFL stated its intention to implement the policy starting with this year’s Super Bowl. [Source: Television Broadcast cited in “The NFL Goes to Church.”]
So, as you prepare for the Big Weekend featuring The Big Game on The Big Day, make sure you don’t mention the name of The Big Game in any of your promotions. Beyond that, may you have a blessed Big Day and enjoy the Big Game.