THERE PRACTICES TO BUILD OUR 3

RELATIONSHIPS

SESSION 3 - WORD
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST - EMPOWERED BY
THE WORD
- Jesus IS ‘the Word’ (Rev. 19:13)
> One word from God can change everything
> "Behold him in a mirror dimly" (We see him / who we should be and are changed)

Simple technique - journaling S.O.A.P.

Q. Why not bible study? (= knowledge = puffed up)
- ‘Self feeding Christians’
E.G. Dairy Cows must eat grass. (About providing milk for others)

5 mins a day
- Realize first century christians didn't have a New Testament / scriptures
> Printing Press invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440.
NB. Focus is on Obedience, not knowledge.
> ‘Maturity’ measured by time between God speaking & us obeying

Acts 22:9 “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they
did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.
- Everyone saw light, not all hear from God.
> Everyone is walking in the light / not everyone is hearing from God!
That's the value of journaling

EXERCISE
Journal on Psalm 119:100-107 ONE CLEAR THOUGHT that speaks to your heart
Share
Group Exercise
- Change leaders
- Everyone share

SESSION 4 - BELIEVERS

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS (Words)

Prov 21:6 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat
its fruit"
- Prayer is LifeGiving!
1. Simple Prayer:
Jesus said pagans think they are heard by many words.
Prophets of Baal
E.G. "Our Father" (16-19 seconds)
- Not religious / intense / "King James" (Intimidating for new believers)
> Time for intensity / intercession but its not discipleship!
- Eyes open.
- Public place if possible.

2. Encouragement: John Maxwell: 'Oxygen of the soul'

Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many...
- Heeeyyy, hi 5's
- Encouraging the growth you see / fruitfulness (E.G. Piece of cake)

Groups Exercise - Simple prayer

Each person share one thing they would appreciate prayer for. (No big stories
to explain)
> Short paragraph
Pray for person on your left. Eyes open. Simple.

Recap brief overview of ground covered today

- Our work His work
- 3 Principles: Simple Easy Fun
- 2/3 Relationship
> Relationship with Christ / journaling
> Relationship with other believers / Simple Prayer & encouragement
>
- The power of relationship
RELATIONSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS – (SIMPLIFIED)
- Intentional outreach.
> Praying for them
> Discussing progress in every meeting

- Clean heart.
Q. How? Simple Prayer: "Lord is there anything you want to talk to me about my life?"

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my
anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me…

Psalms 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit
within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit
from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous
Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to
You.
- Evangelism flows from a pure heart

Group Exercise - Clean heart

Spend a few moments taking stock, asking Holy Spirit to speak to you
Then meet back in the group and share how you felt about the exercise (not specific
convictions)

SESSION 5 - UNBELIEVERS
- Intentional outreach.
> Praying for them
> Discussing progress in every meeting

Want to speak to you about another foundational element of discipleship

PURITY (EXTENSIVE) – do the simple version if
possible
Awesome promise:
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has Oo upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end
of the earth.”
- Receive Holy Spirits power. ("Dunamis" (Dynamite / dynamo = the life of God in us)
> The Christ-life must be lived supernaturally through the Holy Spirit's empowerment

To Influence our world in ever increasing circles / pebble in a pond

Acts 2 = Fulfillment (Mighty Wind / Fire / Gifts)

Q. With all this power, why isn't the job done? (Everyone win one a
year)
> Want to share a simple powerful principle around being a witness (circles of
influence)

PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN 'MISSION'

Jesus said:
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it
gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
E.G. Dean n Nerida and Buddhist family. ("Want to be here cause your home is
happy")
Illus: 1990 India Plant team / altar call: "Jesus cleans your lamp so your light can
shine"

Q. Why does it seem so hard!?

- Many Christians struggle to put their lamp on display because they're ashamed of
their dirty glass.
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as
a lion.
- Timidity of a life 'white-anted' by sin CONTRAST > The Confidence of a life well
lived
E.G. Honest interns comment: Wanted to change subject!

KEEPING YOUR HEART CLEAN

Indeed the key is in prayer, not for the harvest (fields are white)- for
OURSELVES!

Firstly: Understand who we are:

- Designed to be carriers of the message / his life / power
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence
of the power may be of God and not of us.
- "Earthen". Fragile. 'Crack-able'. Prone to leak (Not glazed)
> Glad God uses crackpots!

- But I've realized in my own life and observed it in the lives of others (at times
catastrophically)
> You can do all the right things, but be a mess on the inside
(Journal / attend / give / even pray)
Not necessarily perfection, but the 'Holy' Spirit doesn't rest on filth

Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the
day of redemption.
SKIP TO "PRINCIPLE OF LIVING IN THE MOMENT"
E.G. Tell you a story:
- I know someone / has a big problem with alcohol (killing him)
- Even bigger problem with attitude. He's antagonistic. Revels in being the black
sheep of the family. Even flaunted his rebellion with his loving elderly parents.
- When he's had too much to drink, like many alcoholics, he's Belligerent. Selfish and
totally self absorbed.
> Ironically his number one accusation against the Christians in his family has
always been getting preached at when truth is he does far more preaching and
boasting about bad living than any of his family ever did on following Jesus.
- In spite of all that he's fun loving, generous to a fault and loves to see family when
sober.
- He's my brother...
> I love my brother, even though I've been hurt more times than I can count by him.
> But his behaviour grieves me. He's still my brother, and I do love him as you can
only love flesh and blood. But sadly, I don't really want to be with him.
> I wish it was different. But it just isn't. He's determined to do things that grate
against everything I believe in and stand for. Our lives have taken different courses.

When we determine to continue in a lifestyle of sin after we've let the Holy Spirit
into our lives, he gradually becomes a stranger to us, not by choice, but because
we've chosen a different course.
We're foolish as leaders to think these things don't apply to us

PRINCIPLE OF LIVING IN THE MOMENT

Eph 4:26 “Be angry, and do not sin” : do not let the sun go down on your wrath...
- Short accounts.

Jesus profound statement:

Matt 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its
own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
- Grace for today. Don't worry bout tomoz

Apostle Paul
Phil 3:11, 13 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead...

PRAYER OF THE DARING

"Lord, is there anything you want to speak to me about MY life?"
- Forgiveness / Praise / Heart hardened / Gossip / Lie / Calling / Actions to take.
> Grow by obedience / follow thru > not knowledge!
E.G. My experience of renewed conviction
> National conference: (Andrew H / Easterfest - repented)

DON'T MAKE IT HEAVY - KEEP IT SIMPLE! EASY! FUN!

PROMISE TO THE CLEAN HEARTED

Psalms 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit
within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy
Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your
generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be
converted to You.

RESPONSE
- Get yourself FIT for 'mission' > Lets take Jesus to the world!

Group Exercise - Clean Heart

- Spend a few moments taking stock, asking Holy Spirit to speak to you
> The leader will ask people how they felt about the concept / are they going to do it
(scale 1-10)
NB. Not super intense 'accountability group' but best practice
> Walking with God

GIOS CIRCLE OF LIFE EXERCISE

Spread pre-primed leaders around the big circle. Everyone else is sitting in on the
group.

GOOD STORIES & CONNECTION (High fives)

- Someone to share well but then start a sad story / gently start shut down (we’ll
pray about that)

JOURNAL
- Couple average journals encourage.
- 1 Strong journal Encourage interaction / pass the ball (That touches my heart,
what do you think Johnny?)
- Have a naughty member who hasn't journaled. Model gentle rebuke /
encourage - God wants to speak to you / grow you.

LEADERSHIP BYTE (Missional focus)

REMIND THEM OF CLEAN HEART / best practice (Personal focus)

COMMUNICATIONS / UPCOMING
- Co-ordinate outreach / church events
(Sport / movie / hangout in shopping center / men's breakfast)
PRAY FOR UNCHURCHED / NEEDS IN GROUP

FINAL EXERCISE
THEN PUT ALL THREE TOGETHER FOR 30 min SMALL GROUP
- Journal on 1 Tim 4:12-16 first
- Break into groups
- New leaders please. Lead strongly. (Pastors please let them!)
- Clean heart element a discussion on how you felt about the concept

Journaling exercise: 1 Timothy 4:12-16

Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be
evident to all. (I Timothy 4:15 NKJV)
- Give yourself entirely. Commitment to the word, the gift and the call
> I need to give the best of my time and effort to the ministry God has given me

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

- Elements
- Implementation