ar undel church arundel presbyterian church
Connect, Grow, Serve Study Guide Term 1, 2011
Contents 2011 Growth Groups list A Story Connect, grow, serve Study Guide Church calendar
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Growth Groups When and Where Arundel Wednesday @ 6.00pm Russell van Delden 5571 5676 Church (132 Allied Drive) Arundel (late) Tuesday @ 8.00pm Russ Williams 5594 9364 11 Ashburton Court, Arundel Currumbin Wednesday @ 7.30pm George Harris 5533 8218 46 Hoffschildt Dr, Currumbin Waters Runaway Bay Wednesday @ 10.30am Russell van Delden 5571 5676 74/76 Bayview St, Runaway Bay Women Friday @ 9.30am Shellee Marcos 5630 1828 Church (132 Allied Drive) Young Adults Wednesday @ 7.30pm Russ Williams 5594 9364 4 Gympie Close, Parkwood
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Connect, Grow, Serve What do we want our church family to be like? What is important to us? In this special series of studies we explore the three main activities we should be actively pursuing as a church family: connecting people to God and each other; growing together in our relationship with God; and turning in response to serve God and others. Really, we’re talking about discipleship. We want to be good at bringing people to know Jesus and then live for him. In some ways, the content of these studies won’t be surprising. We’ll be looking at the “core business” of the Christian life. But we pray that through these studies we can work together to reflect on what we actually do as a church together, and how we might keep doing those things better.
A story...
John had been to Sunday School a few times as a young boy. But apart from that his only contact with the church and with Christianity had been to attend a friend's wedding and the funerals of his uncle and a workmate's mother. His general impression on each of those occasions was of a formal service that really did not relate to him. But this was different. Every time he drove past the church at the end of his street, he felt that he should give church and God one more go. So one Sunday he just decided to bite the bullet and front up. As he walked through the door, to his surprise, he was warmly welcomed by an older couple who actually went to the effort of showing him a seat and introducing him to Bob. It turned out his fears about feeling uncomfortable or being singled out disappeared as he found himself deep in relaxed conversation. And he was certainly glad when Bob helped him locate the bible reading and explain other aspects of the service. After church he was surprised that the older couple he had first met at the door seemed to take him under their wing and introduce him to several other people his own age. They even got him a cup of coffee! As he drove home he reflected that while there were still many things he was unsure about, there was no doubt that the welcome he had received was genuine. He would be back! It didn't take long before he actually found himself looking forward to Sunday mornings. He still struggled to understand everything that was being taught, but he definitely enjoyed the welcome and friendship of the people at the church. Not a Sunday passed without Bob and the older couple making a point of speaking to him and continuing to introduce him to others. So it came as no great surprise that he found himself saying yes to their invitation to attend a new-comers barbeque that had been arranged for the following month. Everything's provided, just turn up, they told him. Well John had always assumed Christianity was something you only talked about in the confines of a church building. Hearing individuals speak about Jesus that day as they sat around eating lunch made him realise just how seriously they took their faith. He was hooked! He wanted to know more. He wanted to get to know God in the same way they did. And amazingly, they genuinely seemed to want the same thing for him. That backyard barbeque seems like yesterday, but in fact it was three years ago now. And in that time, John has certainly come a long way. First there were the Study Guide T1 2011 3
questions - and he found the people at church were willing to answer them for him. Then there was the getting to know God course. But the real turning point came when he joined one of the Bible study groups. It was there, week by week, as they studied the scriptures together and prayed for each other that John came to know Christ as his saviour and Lord. He can't remember the exact night, but that doesn't bother him. The main thing is, he now knows God like they do! And the added bonus of his growth group is that the older couple he met at the door on the first day, host it. How considerate, he thought, that of all the groups they could have recommended he attend, they picked that group for him. Now, he had better stop day-dreaming and concentrate on welcoming this new family walking towards him. Yes, John was now part of the welcoming team standing at the door of the church. It seems that not long after he became a Christian, he had been encouraged to consider serving in some way so that other people could get to know God just like he had. The minister of the church had suggested that John's own experience might make him good at welcoming. And everyone agreed that he certainly had a gift in this area. He knew how important that first hello was, and how important it was to make a real effort to connect people with others in the church family and with God. John also knew the value of having this as a deliberate part of church life. You see, John's church had adopted an approach to all their ministries called: 'connect, grow, serve'. It meant that the whole church looked out for visitors and new-comers. The whole church went out of its way to not only welcome people but to introduce and connect them to others. Inviting people to get to know more about God or join a growth group was not just left to chance. It was all part of their spiritual care for people who walked through the doors. And the suggestion by the minister to consider serving in the life of the church – that was no accident either. Again, this was a church family who really did want to see people develop and grow into strong Christians. This was a church family who went to the effort of encouraging and training people to use their God-given gifts in the service of His kingdom. This was a church family who cared enough that they didn't just leave things to just work themselves out.
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Connect, Grow, Serve
Connect at Arundel Presbyterian Church we want everyone to connect: connect with God and connect with others. The way we’re connected to God and others is through Jesus. The death of Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins is the connection. We connect to God through the cross of Jesus as it reveals his love and forgiveness. And we only really connect with each other because, through the cross of Jesus, we’re all forgiven the same way—only through Jesus. That truly brings us together, whoever we are, whatever our background.
Grow at Arundel Presbyterian Church we want everyone to grow: grow in their relationship with God and grow in their relationship with each other. Connecting to Jesus as our Saviour means growing with him as our Lord. But we don’t have to do that on our own. We do it in true friendship with others who call Jesus Lord. That’s where our Growth Groups really excel.
Serve at Arundel Presbyterian Church we want everyone to serve: serve God and serve others. Once we’re connected to Jesus as our Saviour, and are growing with him as our Lord, we want to be like him in serving others. And as we connect to each other and grow together in Jesus, we want to serve each other and the community around us.
So how far has God taken you? Have you connected? Are you growing? How are you serving? Study Guide T1 2011 5
Connect
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God 2 Corinthians 5:20
How you connected Kickoff
1. How did you come to Arundel Church? How did you hear of it? Why did you stay?
2. How did you come to know about Jesus? How did you hear about him? Why did you want to find out more?
Each person’s story of entering church and coming to Christ is different. But everyone’s story has something in common. In this first study we will be thinking about how people connect to God and how they connect with a church family. What are the essential elements? Because that’s what we should be doing.
Connect, grow, serve But first, a brief explanation of what these studies are about. These studies will help you understand what connect, grow, serve is all about and why it is a valuable tool for us, as a church family, as we think about the activities and ministries we do together. Connect, grow, serve is all about discipling. It’s the path that allows someone to move from being foreign to church and God, to being an active member of our church family as we serve God together. Each study begins by looking at what is essential to discipling: the experience that every Christian must share because it’s what God always does when someone turns to Jesus. But then the study goes on to consider what it looks like in our church community, and asks whether there are ways we could be doing it better.
Connecting with God So what is the common experience of everyone who connects to God? What must happen if there is any hope of people becoming Christian? 6 Study Guide T1 2011
Read 2 Corinthians 5:4–21 3. How does Paul feel about the future? Investigate
4. Given that everyone must appear before the judgement seat of Christ (v.10), why doesn’t he fear the future?
Think and Apply
5. Does Paul think everyone has a healthy relationship with God?
The way we connect to God is through Jesus. Our sin ruined our relationship with God. We, and the people around us, are in a mess. But God sent Jesus to die on the cross and put things right—to put all of creation back into relationship with him. Jesus bears the punishment for our sins and we receive his good relationship with God. The question is, how do we take up this new relationship? 7. How does Paul bring others into this relationship? Investigate
8. What reasons does Paul have for wanting others to experience this relationship?
Think and Apply
Australians know the great danger of bushfire, but we’re not the only ones. As the American pioneers crossed the great rolling plains of the midwest, the prairie grass would grow as high as a man, and when summer came it became dry and dangerous. Summer also brought ‘dry’ storms—no rain, just lightning and thunder. The lightning found plenty of fuel and fierce fires would burn out of control, faster than a man could run and much faster than the pioneers’ heavy wagons. Yet, the pioneers worked out how to deal with the threat... When a fire was spotted they would stand with their backs to the wind, put all their possessions and families behind them and light a series of fires that would take off before them. In a few minutes they’d all stand in the large burnt area waiting the oncoming fire. The fire would not burn in the same place twice. God’s judgment is coming on us all. No one can out pace it—our best efforts are futile. We cannot save ourselves. Yet there is one place where God’s fierce judgment has already taken place—just like the fire the pioneers lit—the cross of Jesus. At the cross, Jesus takes our place and our punishment. If we trust in him we needn’t fear the judgment to come. If we take shelter anywhere else we have no hope.
9. What is the only way your friends can experience real relationship with God? Study Guide T1 2011 7
10. How much of Paul’s motivation do you share?
People connect to God through Jesus. And they begin that new relationship when someone tells them that God sent Jesus to die in their place, and so they can stop living as God’s enemies and begin a right relationship with him.
Rob’s story I’d grown up in a Christian family, so I knew lots of parts of the Bible—I knew the story. However, in all that time I hadn’t accepted Jesus. Years later I was having a rough time in life and called up Dad to talk about it. He said, “You know, you really should get along to church.” And I agreed.
Our church family can only connect people to God if it is a place where people hear the gospel.
How people connect The question is, how will people connect to our church family and hear the gospel? In the past, all sorts of people went to church because most people claimed to be Christian. These days, barely anyone will seek out a church to be involved in. If they’re not invited by friends, they won’t come. Think and Apply
And however they come, that’s still only part of the journey. Connecting to a church doesn’t guarantee connection to God. That only happens when someone puts their trust in Jesus. So how does that happen in our church family? 11. Think of the new people you have met recently at a Sunday service. How did they hear about our church family? Did they start out seeking a church home or were they invited?
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When I went along to church, I saw that I really needed Jesus. I needed a relationship with him. All the time I’d known about Jesus, but it never really connected—never sank in. Now that I was searching, it all simply made sense. Jesus and his death on the cross suddenly meant something to me. Later on I was attending a church but wasn’t connecting with people—everyone just rocked up on a Sunday and that was it. People kept assuming I was visiting. But when I came to Arundel I connected immediately, was warmly welcomed and felt right at home.
12. How often do you meet non-Christians at church who were invited? How often do you invite people? Why do you think that is? 13. How do newcomers hear the gospel when they come to our church?
10. When you meet newcomers on Sundays, how do you find out if they have a right relationship with God? What do you do if they don’t? Elizabeth’s story
These final questions are often hard to answer, and yet they are the most important. People hear the gospel through the preaching every week. But what if they’ve got questions? What if they need help seeing the changes it will mean in their life?
Pray
The first concern of Connect–Grow–Serve is to make sure people connect to God through Jesus. That means making sure people are invited to connect with our church family. And it means making sure everyone that connects with our church family is invited to connect to God through Jesus.
Prayer Share with the group someone you know that you’d love to invite to connect with Jesus. Pray for the new people you thought of during the study and ask that they would have a relationship with God through Jesus. Thank God if you have come to know God through Jesus.
I first met people from Arundel Church when a friend invited me to an evening Bible study. I met Russ there and he offered to meet up with us and explain Christianity to us. I wanted to find out about God because I felt that something was missing in my life. I saw how all the important things were beyond my control. I saw how families are destroyed because God is not in our hearts to help us believe, respect and forgive. I saw how some successful people felt lonely and unhappy. And I figured out that my life needed to be in God’s hands. I don’t know why I took the opportunity to know more about God now and not before, but I am happy this happened. Jesus came to teach us how to live according to God’s rules. The more I learn about Jesus, the more I feel the need of God in my life, to help me love and believe how Jesus died and to help me follow his word. Study Guide T1 2011 9
Grow
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him Colossians 2:6–7
How you’ve grown Kickoff
1. Share your best or worst gardening experiences. What do you do to make sure that your garden keeps growing?
2. How do you make sure you keep growing as a Christian? What are your regular “must-do’s”?
We become connected to God through Jesus. But once that’s happened, what’s next? What does healthy Christian growth need? Because whatever that is, we want our church family to provide exactly those opportunities.
Growing in Christ Often as Paul begins his letters he tells the churches he is writing to what he is praying for them. We looked at the opening section of Colossians recently, so let’s go back and see what growth he expects. Read Colossians 1:1–12 3. How did the Colossians become Christians? (ie. How did they Investigate connect to God?)
4. What does Paul pray for so that growth will occur?
5. What will be the visible fruit if this growth is occurring?
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Think and Apply
6. How does growing in our knowledge of God give us strength, perseverance and thankfulness?
The Colossians connected to God when they heard about Jesus. And they will grow by continually getting to know God better. As they understand God’s power and how it is revealed in the gospel, they will hold on to their hope and God’s promised inheritance and they won’t give up. Paul summarises Christian growth in Colossians 2:6–7. 6
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in 7 him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
They don’t need something new. Paul compares them with a tree that puts down roots and constantly receives food through them. Our relationship with God begins and then is nourished through Jesus.
Think and Apply
7. Compare Colossians 1:9–10 with 2 Timothy 3:14–17. Why are the results expected the same in both passages?
8. What else does Paul do so that the Colossians will grow (v.9)? How is verse 11 similar to Philippians 4:6–7? Why?
Nathan’s story After I became a Christian, I’d been told to join a Bible study because I knew I needed to learn more and I wanted to learn from other people’s experience in the relationship with God.
However, I didn’t know what to expect. It felt really unknown and I didn’t like the idea of being asked to pray, even in a small group. But when I did join a Growth Group it turned out better than I expected. Not only could I ask questions but I found I really related to the experiences of others and learnt so much by hearing how God’s word had applied in their lives. And its meant I’ve developed some great relationships and friendships along the way. In fact, Peta and I now attend meet with a few other families on Sunday afternoons so that we can pray, study the Bible and encourage each other. These days I find I’m often driving home from Growth Group with more things that I want to learn about God. The more you study, the more you understand and I’ve found that exciting. I’m even looking forward to seeing how I can use that knowledge to serve others in the future. Study Guide T1 2011 11
Our relationship with God strengthens us. As we hear from God through the Bible and bring our concerns to him in prayer, we are able to persevere and live for him.
How Christians grow But the Christian life isn’t lived solo. We are part of a church family. Read Acts 2:42–47 9. What does a church family growing together look like? Investigate
Think and Apply
10. How are our Sunday services designed to encourage the sort of growth described in Acts 2?
11. How much time would you need to spend with other Christians to see the sort of growth described in Acts 2?
12. What advantages do Growth Groups have over Sunday services if we are aiming for that sort of growth? What else could your Growth Group do to encourage relationships like those in Acts 2?
13. Is it possible to spend time with others in our church family but not see each other grow? What would be missing?
From the earliest days that it existed, the church has grown by spending time together to know God better (through the teaching of the apostles), pray, share food together (particularly in the Lord’s Supper) and care for 12 Study Guide T1 2011
each other. Those sorts of relationships take time. They don’t happen if we only see each other at a distance in the pews on a Sunday. And so our church family works hard to provide opportunities to grow. We make a point of having time to talk after our services. We run Growth Groups so that we can spend more time together. We phone each other up and make sure that we’re persevering and staying “rooted and established” in Jesus. Just spending time together doesn’t cause growth. Growth comes as we understand more and more about the God who saves us. Which is why we spend so much time hearing God’s word and praying each Sunday. It’s why our Growth Groups always include time to study the Bible and pray. Only by knowing God better through Jesus can we hope to live for him.
Prayer Pray
Ask that our church services and Growth Groups would be places where Christian growth is always happening. Share any personal prayer points and then pray for each other’s growth as Christians.
Advantages of Growth Groups Thinking about the picture of church life from Acts 2, consider some of the important ways that growth groups can build on our weekly Sunday gathering: bible study: more opportunity for asking questions, clarifying meaning, and sharing insights, especially applying the message personally to our lives. prayer: more opportunity for sharing personal prayer points and praying meaningfully for others. Also provides opportunities for praying for ministries in our church, world mission, etc (see pages 12-13 for our Creek Road partners in the gospel). accountability: greatly increased as you share struggles with each other and follow-up on these in an ongoing way. support: growth groups act as great support networks - helping each other through difficult times, and sharing each others joys. ministry: great opportunities to serve others - through prayer, encouragement, leadership, etc. training: developing patterns of godly relating. Apprentice leaders trained up. evangelism: great opportunities for introducing our friends to a smaller group of people from church. social activities: groups can organise social activities together, providing opportunities for fellowship, relationship-building and evangelism. Study Guide T1 2011 13
Serve
... to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ... Ephesians 4:12
How you serve Kickoff
1. What picture comes to your mind when someone speaks of “serving” in church?
2. Why do you think people call it serving?
It’s such a normal part of Christian lingo that sometimes we can forget why we speak about “serving” in church, and not just “being involved” or “helping out”, or even “doing our bit”. But church is not a social club, and serving in church is not just about keeping the organisation running. We are connected to God through Jesus. We grow as we come to know God better through knowing Jesus. And we serve because we understand differently what serving God is all about.
Serving God’s purpose Read John 13:12–16 3. Why do Christians describe the Christian life as “serving” God and Investigate others?
We serve because that’s what Jesus did. But we also need to be very clear about why we serve. Read Ephesians 2:8–10 3. What role do the good works we do (ie. our service of others) have in God saving us?
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Think and Apply
4. What is our motivation for doing good works?
Getting it wrong...
John arrived at church a couple of months ago. He made it clear when he first arrived that he has a real gift in the area of kids ministry and 5. How does this explain the flow of suggests he should be involved in the kids program as soon as connect, grow, serve? possible. In fact, John isn’t really open to other forms of serving in the church. Stacking chairs was definitely not his gift. Or cleaning toilets. He As we talk about serving in church it is was beginning to think maybe incredibly important to remember, we can there’s another church that will only serve because God has already saved better appreciate his gift. He was very frustrated with the us. We can picture things like this: leadership of the church in not good works ® salvation ý recognizing what he had to offer.
salvation ® good works þ
Good works can’t save us. They can only be a response. They are a “thankyou”, not a “please”. But there is more to be said. We just read that God has pre-planned the good works that we do. So what is the purpose of those good works? Read Ephesians 4:1–16 6. Why does Jesus give each member of Investigate his church gifts (note v.12)?
7. As the members of Jesus’ body use those gifts, what happens? What does it mean to grow up into Christ?
What’s the problem here? *** Melinda has been around at church for over two years now. She’s a very quiet kind of person. She’s happy enough at church and has got to know a few people. She’s been involved in a growth group for most of the two years, but somehow she doesn't feel as involved in the church as she would like. But she hasn’t wanted to look pushy and isn’t really sure how she could serve moreanyway. Ask the leadership of the church how long Melinda has been around, even her own growth group leader, and they’d be surprised to learn it’s been two years already. What’s the problem here?
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8. Because God has given these gifts, what should be our attitude as we serve (vv.1–3)?
Think and Apply
9. What is the relationship in this passage between Christians serving and how people connect and grow?
10. How do these verses shape our goals when we serve others at church? How might they affect the tasks we choose to serve in?
Kaye’s story These days I really enjoy serving around church because it is a direct way that I can serve the Lord’s wishes and keep things swinging along nicely for him. Early on I didn’t feel as confident in my relationship with God or the church family, but growing to know Jesus better brought an increasing sense of belonging. It seemed natural to become a member of the church and to start actively serving. We were soon asked to help with Morning Tea and welcoming (though I leave Geoff to do the Bible readings up front). But we don’t just wait for when we’re rostered on to serve. Folded handouts are ready to be handed out. If a welcomer isn’t too well, we can offer to help. Because as people see how we serve each other around church they see what God is doing in our lives.
God equips us to serve each other. Every member of God’s family is needed. We are given different gifts, but we all work toward the same goal: seeing the church built up in Jesus. That is, we serve others so that they can connect with God, grow in Jesus and eventually serve as well. What begins as a sequence of steps becomes a cycle. When we speak of serving in church, our goal is not to create a thousand jobs so that the building is always clean or the walls are always painted. These things are important to the extent that they help others connect with God and grow in him. We are all involved in discipling. We just have different ways of contributing. So if you ever get to choose where to serve, look for a place where you can enable others to connect, grow or serve as well.
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How we serve So the only question left is, what should it look like around our church family?
Think and Apply
12. Reflect on particular ways you serve around church. Share how you are able to help people connect, grow and serve. (Not everyone will have something to share. That’s ok. But don’t just focus on official roles. Maybe you welcome new people or catch up and encourage people during the week. That’s equally important.)
13. What do you find makes it difficult to serve around church? Are there ways of removing those obstacles?
14. Sometimes the ways we serve at church don’t seem to directly contribute to people connecting, growing and serving. What should our attitude be then? What should we do?
Christians don’t have to serve to be saved by God, but it’s a natural part of following Jesus. And, through our service, others come to know God and grow in their relationship with him. Of course, how we serve looks different for each person and sometimes we need others to point out opportunities to use the gifts God has given us. But however we end up serving, God has one purpose: he wants all of us to be built up together by knowing Jesus better.
Prayer Pray
Pray for each other and the ways in which each person serves at Arundel. Ask that we would all serve with God’s goal in mind. Pray for the ability and willingness to be part of connecting people with God and growing them to know Jesus.
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The rest of the term...
March Annual Congregational Meeting. 12th March, 3pm. An opportunity to look back on the year and thank God. Don’t forget nominations for the Committee of Management. Youth Group social. 25th March. Mark it in your diary now. Details to come. Socials @ nightshift. Meet new faces and hang out with old friends. • 19th March. Details to come. WMPCQ coffee nights. Great speakers over a cup of coffee. For more details, check the website: http://www.wmpcq.com • 19th March, 7pm. Esther & Lyndall White, “Talkin’ bout my generation”. MacGregor Presbyterian.
April Family Services. 10th April. Special morning services designed for the whole family, followed by a bring-and-share lunch. A great opportunity to invite friends to church. Good Friday. 22nd April, 9am. Starting a little later this year and followed by Hot Cross buns at Russ & Joce Williams’ house. (BYO buns)
Coming next term... Ynet Conference. 29th April–2nd May. A superb weekend of training for anyone involved in Children’s, Youth or Young Adult ministry. If nothing else, come for the Saturday. Women’s prayer breakfast. 30th April, 7.30am–9am. Always an encouraging morning praying for God’s work in our church family and beyond. 18 Study Guide T1 2011