Making the Transition, Traditional to Home Group Centered Ministry

Gilbert Lennox

How can a church make a change from a traditional church model to a home group centered model? Hear from Gilbert Lennox whose church did just that! He outlines what they, as a church, had learned so far in ten points for making the transition. Which includes pointing out the biggest challenges they faced: conceptual--figuring out and understanding what the New Testament vision of a church is--and leadership for the home groups.

Lasting Change, the CCDA Way

John Perkins
John 5:1-9

How can you create lasting change in your community? According to John Perkins, you cannot just preach the Gospel and expect everything to be fixed completely. You have to help others "pick up their mats and walk" just like Jesus told the man by the pool of Bethesda. There is a need for a holistic approach to Christian community development. Find out what this looks like and what practical steps you can take to get there in your community.\r\n

Serving Love in the Body of Christ (Part 1)

Dennis McCallum
1 Thessalonians 5:11-13

Just like other organizations, a body of Christ/church must have leadership. Though unlike worldly leaders, godly leaders are long-term servants of God who have been recognized as such (not ?made?). Leaders are called by God to serve, provide for the church's needs, protect the members, and supply direction/vision for the church. Leaders are to be involved deeply in peoples' lives; prayerful; and accountable to Scripture and to their co-leaders. The members of the body of Christ are called to live in peace with one another; this entails respecting the church's leaders, who work hard to serve the church.\r\n\r\n

The Dynamics of Serving Love

Dennis McCallum
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10

Serving love creates certain dynamics in the life of the church. Paul demonstrates being caught up in the lives of other people at the deepest level, being focused on giving to the other person. Contrast this to other relational dynamics in the world, such as codependency and tribalism.

The Key Elements of Serving Love

Dennis McCallum
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Serving love has many roles and and benefits. It involves sharing the good news without deception, selfishness, or manipulation. Serving love is not flattery or for profit or glory. It is nurturing and personal. This is where the root of discipleship relationships is found.

The Logic of Grace

Dennis McCallum
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

The church has the choice to be involved in what God is doing. Love motivates people to do so, and joy is the result! Together, the church gets to grow in hope with each other for heaven. The logic of this grace follows a pattern: faith (putting trust in God and beginning a relationship with Christ), hope (growing an eternal perspective), and love (learning the joy of giving your life away to others).

Schemes of the Adversary

Jim Leffel
Ephesians 6:10-12

Paul warns to be aware of the schemes of the devil. Believers are encouraged to stand firm in the truth, being confident in God's Word. Believers can put on and trust in a breastplate of righteousness. This righteousness is not of their own, but it comes from the grace that Christ has given them. Believers should also know their mission and understand the urgency of it. They should stand with each other as a wall of defense, and they need to gather up a will to fight. Believers should be calculated in their force, trusting and knowing when to use the power of God's Word.

Why Believe in Jesus?

Dennis McCallum
2 Peter 1:12-21

We can be sure of our belief in Jesus because of the testimony of the apostles, predictive prophecy, and the uniqueness of the Bible. The Old Testament, in comparison to all other ancient Near East religions, is vastly different and does not follow the evolution of religion as it happened throughout the rest of the world, instead remaining steadfast and unchanging on its unique views of the Lord.

Leadership and Humility

Dennis McCallum
1 Peter 5:1-7

Leadership is necessary and a provision from God, to give the church protection and direction. Good leaders care about God's people, have humility, and seek God's will over their own. Leader's shouldn't be in it for the money, or personal gain, but because they love God and God's people. Good leaders can have an incredible impact on individuals lives within the church!