THE OVERALL GOAL / PICTURE

If I had to say what it was about in a sentence:

Encourage you to be intentional in discipleship / by meeting in small groups / that
focus on Christian growth & relational outreach / in Simple, Easy, fun ways / that can
be easily duplicated in others.

The following sessions will break it down into Theological Basis, Values, Culture &
Practices

SESSION 1 - HIS WORK / OUR WORK

- Such a privilege to be with you
> Thank my good friend Ps Edgar / many years / great work thru CFF

Filling empty vessels

- Often think us
- But no one as empty as some without Jesus

This seminar is about getting back to basics.

> Being a follower of Christ is not always easy, but it shouldn't be complicated
> Talking about simplifying our spirituality so that others can embrace it…

NB. What we will be sharing is happening in CFF already

 Asked Ps Edgar if Gio & Ian could share these conferences because they
have been implementing these principles and are seeing some great results

INTRO
- Got saved in crazy little swing from chandeliers independent Pentecostal church '86
> Hunger for power of God and supernatural / aversion to weirdness all at same time
- Year in a drug rehab in Kings Cross 88 / burnt out 2 yrs on sidelines
- Intern Pastor for 3.5 years / married / 10month old baby
- First Church in country / 12 people -1 / keys to kingdom / left with over 120 reg
attend
- Rod Plummer to Japan / me back to T-Bar / 25 year journey with same church
- Loved leadership / cell church experiment / relational aspect unavoidable

Matthew 16:17-19 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-
Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in
heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My
church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the
keys (yes Lord) of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has
been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

- Jesus our commander / General / Captain of the Lords Army delivering battle plan
Matt 16 Strategic Plan (What will be achieved / who is responsible / long time frame)
Matt 28 Tactical Plan (Breaks down Strategic into 'bit size' chunks / short-medium
time / who's responsible)
- Pastor's conferences for 20+ yrs have focused us on doing Jesus job!

JESUS is the builder / we are laborers

I Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
E.G. Building site.
> We gather the stones, he builds the temple. (Jesus: "Bring me the living stones!")
NB. No matter how good the commanders plans, if the troops don't obey - you won't
win the battle!

I've come to understand great meetings come and go, (necessary, but like manna)
Moves of the Spirit come and go (times of refreshing),
Great leaders and men of God come and go - what remains after are those who
were discipled. (Taught to follow)

THE 'ONE' THING?

- Jesus last command > our first priority
- Could it really be the “one thing” he's asked us to do?
NB. Of all the things we might think first century Christians would be shocked about
in the modern church,
- Big screens / media
- Haircuts / tattoos / fashion worn by Christians
- loud Music / drums in church
> Religious thinking truly focuses on side issues. Majors on minors. Blinds us to
obvious truth.
> I think what would shock / frustrate / disappoint them the most is the fact that not
every Christian makes disciples! (The one thing)

Manilla right here went:

Eph job description
2 Tim 2:2
Off the cuff great

DISCIPLES & DISCIPLESHIP

Q. WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?
Define disciple: (not complicated) Greek “methetes” = ‘Learner’ / ‘student’
(Teachable spirit). Specifically one learning from an experienced leader (E.G.
Apprenticeship).
> Not 'super Christian' or perfect / 'spiritual' one.

LOVE HOW INCLUSIVE THIS IS:

> It stumbles the arrogant and proud. (Pharasees)
> But no longer performance based acceptance (Magdalene - at the cross)
Anything that promotes exclusivity is contrary to Jesus outlook

DISCIPLESHIP
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENERAL VS INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
- Church events (Where discipleship happens / Kids church possible exception)
- Small groups (Intentional)
E.G. Difference between walking down street catching rain on your body, and putting
a tank under the corner of a roof

GOD IS SPEAKING TO THE CHURCH WORLDWIDE ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP

Q. What's different about this wave of discipleship and most of previous?
- PERSONAL. Not classroom. (LayLeadInt etc well intentioned but a biblical model?)
E.G. Much Cell movement curriculum.
NB. Jesus - changed world without classroom.

RELATIONAL.
- Not ‘structural’ (cell movement)
> Not just building 'groups'. (Focused on vehicle rather than people)

- We often want the fruit without tending the root

> Groups become a bi-product (so easy to confuse)
Daresay our most lasting shaping moments were attached to people not
meetings?
E.G. Ruth & Naomi (Your people will be my people / God my God)

Convinced relationships are becoming more critical.

- Devil knows it.
> Never been a conspiracy man but if there was anything about internet / mobile
technology that was devilish, it's the removal of the need to relate skin to skin.
E.G. Facebook - 500 friends but not really know anyone.
> We can use technology to our advantage where necessary but at some point we
truly need each other. (Philippinos do actually understand that / social fabric &
community)
In the middle of desiring to build relevant, vibrant church services, lets not forget
the body of Christ! (1 Cor 12 - Nobody has everything so we need one another)
E.G. Hillsong. Easy to look from a distance and think its just a 'big machine' but
when you get around it you see how relational it is.
(My niece Sarah. Julia / staff. Brian continuously hammers God & people)

DON'T CONFUSE A 'MODEL' WITH A RELATIONSHIP

- People always try sell you a model.
E.G. Cell church letdown' was not a problem of the model, but failure to understand
values

And every nation is different

> what works in the Philippines might not work in Australia
> What works in Australia may not work in The Philippines
- It's up to us to listen to God for our peoples
> And Jesus said "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom" (And he will build his
church)

- We have a great model, but I tell our leaders "It is not enough"
NB. Model is just common ground.
IT WON'T PRODUCE DISCIPLES! - PEOPLE PRODUCE DISCIPLES
- Because discipleship is relationship

EXERCISE TO CLOSE:

PERSONAL REFLECTION
FEW MINUTES INTERACTING WITH NOTEBOOK / PHONE
Q. When you think of people who really impacted your life discipleship wise
> what was the context that happened in? / describe what it looked like

FEEDBACK
Q. Identify a good personal discipleship experiences you've had
My E.G. Mr & Mrs Philippa - 1 John 1:9

PERSONAL GROWTH
Q. Are you currently receiving this kind of input now?
Q. If so, from who?
Q. How often?

DISCIPLE MAKING.
Q. Are you currently providing this kind of experience?
Q. If so, to who?
Q. How often?

4 KEY QUESTIONS TO IDENTIFY INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP:

WHO
WHAT
WHERE
WHEN
- If a person can't answer these they're probably not doing it...
EXERCISE. List those already in your world and how you could add intentionality to
it.

GENERAL AND INTENTION

- What we've been doing so far is an excellent example of General discipleship.
> This is necessary because you need to understand the theology behind this. These
principles are not just good ideas, these are the word of God.
i.e. I speak / do, you listen

- As the day progresses we’ll move to Intentional,

i.e. We do it together and I coach you.