TruBlessings -- New Nursery Curriculum!

Tru Blessings

We are extremely committed to teaching ALL our kids about the love of Jesus as soon as we can. We are always looking for the best way to teach them as well.  With Tru Blessings, we think we have found the perfect curriculum for our precious Nursery kids here at Wentzville Christian Church.  Let me tell you more about Tru Blessings.

Foundational Truths

• God Made Me
• God Loves Me
• God Is With Me

Key Features

• As with curriculum in our other children's ministry areas, we are committed to teaching what we call "The Big God Story." The Big God Story is a method of teaching that Bible that walks our kids through the Bible in chronological order on a yearly basis. Tru Blessings is no different.  However, we are jumping in midstream, so we will start with Genesis in September. 
  
• Repetition
• Each part of The Big God Story will be repeated two weeks in a row, but will utilize different large group storytelling techniques and small group activities each week.
  
• Interactive
• Children will use their senses to explore God’s Word through a variety of touch, see, listen, and move activities and visuals.
  
• Remember and Celebrate
• Remember and Celebrate Sundays happen on the 13th week of every quarter (once per quarter) and will be a weekend to remember the three foundational truths and celebrate who God is. These weekends will align with KidQuest and FirstLook Remember & Celebrate’s.
  
• Worship
•  Kids will worship through music provided with Tru Blessings and encouraged in the home as well.
  
• Environments
• Lessons are not written in any one of the 10 environments, but the parent components will land heavily on the environments and how to create them in the home. These environments will also align with what is being taught in FirstLook and KidQuest (See parenting components.)

Parenting Components

• HomeFront Weekly
• We email out the "take home" sheets to parents we have an email address for every Monday morning. If you would like to sign up to receive this great resource, click here.
  
• Inspire, Equip, Support
• Every week in our email, we hope to Inspire you to be the best parent you can be, Equip you with great Biblical resources for your home and Support you however we can.
  
• Child development tips for parents that align with spiritual formation included in our weekly email.

Here is the basic timeline of what your kids will be experiencing while in the nursery.

• Explore: 15-20 minutes
• Kids explore materials that will help teachers introduce the day's Bible story.
• Discover: 10-15 minutes
•  Bible Story Telling
• Respond: 5 minutes
• Worship
• Prayer
• Bless: 5 minutes
• Snack
• Leaders pray over your children while they are eating
• Connect: 15-30 minutes
• Create a craft that connects to the Big God Story
• Free play

If you have any questions about this transition, please email me.

God Wants Us To Say Yes To Him (November 20 in FirstLook)

This week in FirstLook we get to talk about one of my family's favorite Bible story! We love this story so much that we named our first cat Gideon.  Its funny the name of this lesson is "God Wants Us to Say Yes to Him" because when we went to pick a cat, Gideon was the only cat that purred when Stephanie picked it up. Gideon wanted us to say yes to him and God wants all of us to say yes to him!

Although we know God wants us to say yes to Him, this was a hard concept for the Israelites to grasp. In Judges 6, the Israelites had once again turned from the one true God and sought fulfillment through the worship of false gods. Because of their disobedience, God permitted neighboring countries to overpower Israel. Each time the people attempted to plant crops, the Midianites and Amalekites would sweep in and destroy what had been planted. After years of stubbornness, the Israelites finally cried out to God.

The Lord heard their petitions and sent a judge to lead them to victory over their enemies. Ironically, God chose to use a simple farmer to redeem Israel. A farmer! Gideon was not trained in the military, and yet the angel of the Lord called him “mighty warrior.” The Hebrew translation of the word gibbowr describes the warrior as strong, mighty, and impetuous (aggressive and fast-moving). A warrior is also described as having hunter-like qualities and capabilities.

There are some interesting parallels between the calling of Gideon (Judges 6) and the calling of Moses (Exodus 3). In Exodus 3, Moses protests his fitness to be the deliverer of God’s chosen people. He asks the question, “Who am I?” and highlights for God (as if He is unaware) his weaknesses. Gideon responds in a similar way, pointing out to God that not only is he from the weakest tribe in Israel, but he is the least of the weakest. God’s response to both Moses and Gideon is the same—“I will be with you.”

It was not Gideon’s skill and experience that made him fit to be a warrior; it was the Lord God. A simple farmer became a strategic warrior. Gideon was used by the Lord of Israel to redeem and save her from her enemies when he said yes to God.

God wants us to say yes to Him.

God is Almighty (November 20 in KidQuest)

This week in KidQuest, we are going to fast forward a little to the life of Samuel. Samuel is an amazing figure in the Old Testament from his birth all the way to his death! This year we are going to spend some time looking at his life in KidQuest and discover how god used him.


God is mighty to save, mighty to heal, and mighty to love! Hannah called God the “Lord Almighty.” This was the first time this name for God was used in Scripture, though it was used many times afterward. “Lord Almighty” is translated Jehovah Tsaba, which means “Lord of Hosts.” The mood of this word in the Hebrew language describes a person who would go first or “before” into battle and fight for you—someone who is mighty and you would want to follow. It is interesting that this name—Lord of Hosts—first appears when Hannah cries out to God during her vow to dedicate her unborn child back to Him.

At the time of her prayer, Hannah had no idea God would answer her anguished cries and not only give her the child she prayed for, but also give her a child who would eventually lead Israel into a new era in which godly leaders modeled obedience to God for the people. Her son’s name was Samuel. It was Samuel who would anoint David, God’s choice for a king, the lineage from whom Jesus Christ would someday ascend.

In this way, God was not only mighty to answer Hannah’s prayers and give her a child, but also mighty to accomplish His purposes as a Sovereign ruler who went before His people into new life. Here, God’s plan for Israel’s future redemption met with Hannah’s anguished and righteous cry for a son.

So in this pivotal moment of Israel’s history, between the time of the judges and the monarchy, God granted Hannah’s request and brought forth the next step in His plan for His people—in which Samuel led the people as an obedient servant of God. God was mighty to use Samuel to usher in a new era for His people, and did so by answering the prayer of a barren woman of faith.

May 15 in FirstLook

Its time for a new environment. The past 4 weeks, your elementary student was exposed to the compassion of Jesus and how he served those he came in contact with. Over the next 4 weeks, they will begin to see how Jesus loved and respected them as well.

For us the environment of "Love & Respect" means this:
Without love, our faith becomes futile. Children need to experience love and respect in order to receive and give God's grace. Innate in this environment is the value that children are respected because they embody the image of God. We must speak TO them, not AT them, and we must commit as parents and as a church, to an environment where love and acceptance are never withheld due to one's behavior.

In the early days after Jesus’ ascension, God’s love compelled many people to respond in  faith. With a population of over 500,000, Antioch enjoyed a prosperous economy due to the strategic placement of the city at the crossroads for highly trafficked trade routes to the south (Palestine and Egypt), east to Persia, and west to the Asia Minor Peninsula. This ancient metropolitan city was a blend of many cultures, beliefs, and practices whose value for art and literature was praised by many. The city referred to as “Queen of the East” was also known for its extravagant, wasteful, and reckless behavior.

When the church in Jerusalem heard what was happening in Antioch, they sent Barnabus—a godly and faith-filled man—to visit. During his stay, Barnabus was a witness to the blessing of God upon this gathering of believers. He was a witness to all that was happening among the people. During his first stay, many more turned and put their faith in the Lord. Barnabus left Antioch long enough to bring Saul—who had once persecuted and killed followers of “The Way”—to Antioch to stay with him for a year teaching the Word of God.

It is from this time of God’s Spirit moving in Antioch that we see the beginning of the Gentile movement: the first Gentile church, the first missionaries, and the first act of generous financial giving for another local church community. It is here in Antioch that believers were first named Christians—Christianoi, which means “partisans of Christ.” What citizens of the city may have intended as a coining in jest, the followers of “The Way” embraced as a fitting title to describe their new identity.

JUST FOR FUN

Find a place in your home where you can move about easily. Explain to your children that as you read this portion of Scripture, you’re going to be moving from room to room in your home. Invite them to pretend that each room is a different city the disciples traveled to or from. Begin reading Acts 11:19–30, standing in one room; each time you get to a part where the people “came” or “went” to a new city, move to a different room in your home.

Once you’ve finished reading, ask your children why they think the people scattered. Discuss together what Barnabas told the people to do.

Explain to your children that just like God gave His disciples unique abilities, He has also given each of us special abilities to be used to build His kingdom here on earth. Ask them to share what some of theirs might be.

Remind your children that what they just heard is part of The Big God Story, and they’ll hear more about God’s love in church this week. Pray together thanking God that His love helps us respond to all He desires for us to do.

May 15 In KidQuest -- Love and Respect

Its time for a new environment. The past 4 weeks, your elementary student was exposed to the compassion of Jesus and how he served those he came in contact with. Over the next 4 weeks, they will begin to see how Jesus loved and respected them as well.

For us the environment of "Love & Respect" means this:
Without love, our faith becomes futile. Chidlren need to experience love and respect in order to receive and give God's grace. Innate in this environment is the value that children are respected becasue they embody the image of God. We must speak TO them, not AT them, and we must commit as parents and as a church, to an environment where love and acceptance are never withheld due to one's behavior.

God’s desire is for restoration: spiritually, physically, and emotionally. In Genesis, God created man “from the dust of the ground.” By healing the blind man with mud, Jesus demonstrated again that He is the Creator. He was revealing the Truth of John 1:3:

“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

That fact didn’t escape the blind man, because he said in John 9:33, “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” This might be a confusing statement, considering the fact that we see magicians performing signs throughout Scripture. However, the blind man realized, through faith, that Jesus is God.

Jesus did not just heal the blind man physically; He also healed him socially. After he was healed, his physical ailment no longer excluded him from the community or (according to the religious leaders) condemned him as a sinner. But most importantly, Jesus healed the blind man spiritually.

In John 9, we first saw the blind man as a beggar, condemned as a sinner by his community. Then, we saw him progress to a state of dignity—even to the point of standing up to the Pharisees. Finally, we watched as Jesus loved and respected the blind man enough to restore him—mind, body, and soul. Then, we rejoiced with him as he came to a state of belief, worshipping Jesus, the Son of Man.

JUST FOR FUN
This week take turns blindfolding yourself and your children while trying to do something that is in the normal rhythm of your everyday life (folding a shirt, sweeping the floors, making your bed etc.). Discuss how hard it is to work when you can’t see! Then, read about how Jesus healed a blind man in John 9:1–12.

After reading this part of The Big God Story, ask your children how they think the blind man might have felt after Jesus healed him? Did Jesus have to touch the man to heal him? Talk together about why they think Jesus touched the man. Together as a family, thank God that He loves us so much and desires to heal us. If someone in your family has specific needs for healing, take this time to lift these up to God in prayer.

Share with your children that what they just heard is a part of The Big God Story in the Bible, and they will hear more about how Jesus restores in church this week.

May 1 in KidQuest and FirstLook

This is a weekly post that introduces you to what we are going to be teaching about in KidQuest and FirstLook this weekend.  We pray by reading this that you receive some insight to the Bible story are are able to answer any questions that may arise in your home as you talk about God's Big Story with your kids. For other insights into talking to your kids at home check out our other Parent Resources.


KidQuest -- Jesus Shows Compassion

After the people saw the miraculous signs Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:14–15)

Jesus’ miracle of feeding about five thousand men, women, and children was a sign to the Jewish people that the Messiah had come. The miracle might have reminded them of God feeding His people through Moses and Elijah (in the wilderness and during famine) in Exodus 16 and 2 Kings 4. Because of this connection, they may have been thinking about the prophetic promise in Deuteronomy 18:18, which reads, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth.” Jesus Himself said He is that prophet (John 5:46), and He is God. He is the Word incarnate, but they were not ready to receive Him (John 1:10–11).

Those who acknowledged Jesus was the Messiah also thought He would be a political figure. Because of this, they instantly wanted to make Jesus their king. Though they seemed to understand who Jesus was—the Messiah—the people did not fully understand what that meant. So Jesus had no choice but to retreat from them while they sought to “make him king by force” (John 6:15). Even so, He continued to teach them about Himself, God’s kingdom, and His purpose on earth. He continued to have compassion on these people who were “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34).

The account of Jesus feeding the five thousand is recorded in all four gospels—each one an example of Jesus’ great compassion for the crowd. In each example, Jesus’ feeling of compassion is followed by an action.

In the original Greek language, the word for compassion is splagchnizomai. It comes from the word for the vital inner organs—the stomach, heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys. This means that when Jesus was moved with compassion, His inner being was stirred, compelling Him to act not just sympathize. Jesus shows us that compassion is more than a feeling. It is meant to be a catalyst to action.

How many times have we felt compassion and not followed God’s call to act on it? Pray God will give you the strength to respond the next time He calls you to have compassion. Pray also your kids would hear God calling them to follow Jesus’example and live a life full of compassion. Pray they will know compassion not only as a feeling, but as an action.

FirstLook -- God's Power Changes Everything

Throughout Scripture there are times when God chooses to display His mighty power. He intentionally makes Himself known and draws people to Himself. We see this clearly in the early days of the church when at Pentecost, the followers of Christ received the Holy Spirit. As they experienced God’s power alive within them, they did miracles in the name of Jesus. This new power is demonstrated in the miracle of Acts 3.

As Peter and John were walking into the temple, their eyes were diverted toward a crippled man begging for money. This man would not have been unfamiliar to them. As the Bible puts it, he was “laid daily at the gate of the temple” (3:2 ESV). The disciples must have walked past this man hundreds of times. However, this day was different: The Holy Spirit was prompting them. When Peter healed him in the name of Jesus, the man began leaping and praising God. The word “leaping” used in verse 8 is the Greek word hallomai. This word is rarely used in the Septuagint, or Greek Old Testament. Its use in Acts alludes to a messianic passage in Isaiah 35:

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come,
he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (vv. 3–6)

The prophet Isaiah was speaking of the coming messianic age: a promise established in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus which will find completion at His second coming.
 
The use of rare words is significant in Jewish texts, bringing to mind the passage in Scripture where the word is first found. The author of Acts was intentional with the language and words he chose. By employing hallomai, he was cueing the audience that something major was to happen: God’s kingdom was at hand. The messianic age they had longed for was unfolding right before their eyes.
 
Today, as we wait expectantly for Christ’s second coming, we are also watching God’s kingdom unfold. We are called to ask, “What needs to be done?” By the guiding of the Holy Spirit, we play a part in the story. We can watch God’s power change everything.
 
In the Old Testament, the Israelites made a habit of reflecting on their past. It was a way to strengthen their faith. Looking back on history reminded the people of the almighty power of God. In times of struggle or doubt, remembrance allowed them to embrace the truth once again and act with boldness on behalf of the gospel.

Spend some time embracing this habit in your own life. Make a list of ways that God’s power has changed your life, or the lives of those close to you. Pray beforehand for God to bring to mind important memories.
 
When your listing of things begins to slow, take time to pray over them. Praise God for what He has done for you. Thank Him for being powerful and mighty to save you and restore your life. Celebrate His work!

March 27 in KidQuest

By establishing Jewish law (the law God gave Moses for His people, the Israelites), God set up rules for how people were to live their lives. Because God is holy, people needed to purify themselves in order to approach the temple or sacrifice to Him. Some of the ways people could become “unclean” were by: eating unclean foods, touching someone who had leprosy, coming into contact with body fluids (including blood), or having contact with a corpse. However, when Jesus came to earth He satisfied the law. He physically came to be with people, so no one needed to keep themselves “clean” in order to approach God. One of the first ways He proved this was by physically touching people who were considered “unclean.”

After Jesus healed the leper in Matthew 8, He said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them” (v. 4). Jesus knew that only the Jewish priests could lawfully certify that a miracle of healing had occurred. So in order to allow this man to return to the community, Jesus knew Jewish law would need to be followed. Though Jesus came to fulfill the law, He still had respect for it. He also shows sensitivity to the healing of the whole person by wanting to see the leper restored, not only physically, but also spiritually and socially. (For more information on Jesus’ healing of the leper, visit: http://bible.org/seriespage/cleansing-leper.)

Jesus’ faithfulness to the law took precedence over His desire for His work to be hidden. Jesus probably knew that not telling the priests about the miracle could make it appear suspicious. This could have been one of the many reasons that Jesus instructed the healed leper to not tell anyone what had happened to him; Jesus might have wanted him to have validation from the priests first, before others found out. Healing a leper would be evidence that the kingdom of God had arrived. And in God’s divine timing, He was revealing Himself in the way that He thought best.

In this lesson, Jesus commends a woman for her faith to go out of her comfort zone and crawl through the crowd to touch Him. He commands faith from Jairus, when he hears from his friends that his daughter had died. Though God is faithful, it is not true that faith is an automatic formula for getting what we want, or even what we think we need. Though we might have to wait patiently, God always turns to us and hears our cry. He might not respond in the way that we would have imagined, but He hears, and He responds.

Is there a place in your life where you need God to hear your cry? Have you given up hope that He will hear you in this area? Take hope. God is listening and He will respond to your cry in His timing.

Pray the kids would know that God will hear them and respond to them, too. God loves them and cares about them because they are His children. Though they might need to be patient, they can trust in the knowledge that God will hear and respond.

March 27 in FirstLook

In Luke 19, a tax collector and notorious sinner named Zacchaeus fought the crowds to see Jesus. He found something so compelling about Christ that he sprinted ahead of the crowd, climbed a tree, and watched as Jesus passed. In the first century, men didn’t run. Running was considered highly inappropriate and even scandalous, since it was viewed as childlike. One might conclude that climbing trees would also be socially unacceptable. Zacchaeus moved beyond these social parameters to see Jesus. There was no guarantee Zacchaeus would have any interaction with Jesus or that he’d witness something miraculous. Yet he was willing to potentially humiliate himself to get a brief glimpse of Jesus. That sort of faith caught Jesus’ eye. The crowd was displeased that Jesus would have chosen to stay with someone with such a miserable reputation.

Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). In Christianity, to be “saved” is usually used in reference to our salvation—a life where we are freed from the penalty of sin and given a new life with Christ now, as well as after death. However, it’s interesting to note the depth behind this passage. The word “save” in verse 10 is the Greek word sõzõ. According to Strong’s Concordance, sõzõ means “to rescue from danger or destruction; to save one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, or restore to health.” Jesus came to find those who were broken inside and make them well.

Zacchaeus was on a path toward destruction. Tax collectors were known as notoriously greedy, corrupt thieves. They often collected fines over that which the government required, pocketing the profits for themselves. Therefore, Zacchaeus’s love for his material things probably consumed his life. The corruption likely kept him from being in community with others. Yet, when Jesus showed Zacchaeus God’s true, unconditional love, his whole life was changed. The power of God’s love healed his very soul. He willingly responded by pledging to give away half of his goods, repaying those he had cheated, and vowing to change for good.

You are loved by God. You have been commissioned to go into the world and be a representative of His love. God wants everyone to be part of His family— regardless of gender, race, background, or history. So, we must always be aware of those around us: our brothers and sisters who have not yet joined the family. Furthermore, we’re called to live out love such that our lives point to Christ. This is rarely an easy, or comfortable, endeavor. Quite frankly, living the life God calls us to can often be extremely stretching and uncomfortable. We can hold firmly to the Truth; God will give us everything we need to follow Him with boldness and love through the power of His Holy Spirit.

This week, ask God to reveal to your heart someone in your life that He may be specifically pursuing. Maybe it’s a coworker, relative, or classmate. Or perhaps you visit a particular restaurant or coffee shop frequently, and the waiter or barista knows you by name. Write down the name or names God puts on your heart. Pray that God would give you the courage and boldness needed to represent Him—despite how unusual or challenging it may feel. For many, talking to others about God is an uncomfortable and stretching endeavor. Pray that you would be able to move beyond your boundaries, relying fully on God’s strength. (It may even be beneficial to meditate on this week’s Remember Verse.)

Throughout the week, also be aware of ways God may want to use you to bless or show His love to another person. Be open and available to God and see how He would use you to minister to that individual. May you be an ambassador of His love, ushering others into God’s family.

March 20 in FirstLook

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1–2). To really understand the significance of Jesus’ message in the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son, it is helpful to take a look at the social and religious climate of the time. The Jewish leaders looked disapprovingly on tax collectors, Gentiles, and “sinners” as morally and religiously impure. They did not seek to pursue relationship with these marginalized people, nor did they attempt to introduce them to God. They were lost. This was the
identity given to them. The fact that Jesus welcomed such people into His circle and shared meals with them was unheard of and quite appalling to the Pharisees and teachers.

God had chosen the descendants of Abraham to take the message of who He was to the entire world. It was to be through the example of their relationship with God that other nations would be able to know the one true God. They were blessed to be a blessing to all people. Instead, over time this message was hoarded and kept within the Jewish community—excluding all who fell outside the law. Jesus rebukes the judgmental mutterings of the Pharisees and teachers by telling three different parables with one central point: Jesus came to seek and save the lost—Jews and Gentiles alike. Every person who is not in relationship with God is lost. Every person who is lost matters to God and is worthy of His pursuit for the restoration of relationship with Him.

Today as we look around our world, who are those who may feel spiritually or socially marginalized and unable to have access to God? What is our response?

God wants everyone to be a part of His family.

March 20 in KidQuest

When the paralytic and his friends came to Jesus, they expected healing. They wouldn’t have gone through all of that effort had they not. However, Jesus had a much grander plan in mind—one that was not about physical healing alone. Instead, He began with forgiving the man’s sins—all of the brokenness and inner pain.

We so often want to give God certain portions of our lives—the issues that might not hurt as much. We only want Him to heal the easy stuff. But when it gets down to the real struggles plaguing our hearts, it can be so easy to shy away from God, try to hide our sins, and try to atone for our sins with good works and deeds. Yet, no matter how much we try, we cannot hide our sins or conjure up forgiveness on our own. Only God has the authority to forgive sin.

We belong to a loving God who wants to be in every part of our lives. Though He detests sin, He hates the separation that sin causes between Himself and His people even more. He is willing to forgive, if we are faithful to ask.

We were created to live in community. Though it might be out of our comfort zone, accountability is one great way to facilitate asking God for forgiveness. Partner with one of the brothers or sisters in your faith community this week, and be vulnerable. Share and confess with one another where you are struggling, and intercede for one another in prayer. Make it a habit to pray for that person throughout the week. As the days pass, don’t forget to also share with your accountability/prayer partner where you are experiencing freedom and God’s victory in the struggles you discussed. Thank God—and praise Him—for His forgiveness and grace.

Changes to KidQuest and FirstLook for Parents and Kids (Part 5 of 6)

THREE BIG WORDS YOU WILL KEEP HEARING

Inspire:

I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

(Jeremiah 32:40, emphasis added)

We have the great privilege of sharing our enthusiasm for how God is moving in this new generation and the future impact that will be theirs to make on this world! Through storytelling we share the vision God has put in our hearts to bring transformation through spiritual formation and family ministry at Wentzville Christian Church. Before lasting change can occur, whether structurally or personally, one must see an envisioned future that is compelling and attainable.

We desire to inspire others with the hope of seeing families and children who:

• Worship from the inside out compelled by the Spirit, not through expected or mandated behavior. They see worship as a lifestyle, not a moment or event.

• Embrace a kingdom-community mindset and choose to usher in the realities of justice, mercy, love, the presence of God, forgiveness, service, and humility to life in everyday situations.

• Possess a global worldview and feel responsible for their brothers and sisters around the world. They feel compelled to make Christ known to every corner of the globe within their lifetime.

• Are knowledgeable about God’s Word, but more importantly, through it they have come to know God personally. They have investigated the Scriptures for themselves and have concluded that God’s Word is Truth and are unashamed of it.

• Know God’s voice, desire to obey it, and then obey it in and through the power of the Holy Spirit as they depend on Him alone for strength.

Equip:

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

(Ephesians 4:11–13 NLT, emphasis added)

Inspiration is only as great as the ability to come alongside and equip those who have been impacted by it toward the desired and agreed upon goal. As we champion our envisioned future and God brings us His workers, we must dedicate ourselves to the equipping of the saints as prescribed in Ephesians 4. The role of the church is to be an equipping and sending agent for the sake of the gospel. As we give ourselves to the task of equipping, we replicate ourselves in others. At its very core, this is discipleship. The one who equips is constantly assessing what the individual needs in order to successfully carry out the envisioned future.

Included in this area of ministry are: resourcing, training, modeling, giving opportunities, offering suggestions, sharing context, and granting access to information and instruction.

Support:

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

(Ephesians 4:16, emphasis added)

The ministry of support is the opportunity to “come alongside” another. This ministry allows those involved in the dream to be realigned over and over again to the primary vision. This often means re-casting the vision and telling the progress in the journey. Support says that no one person will ever journey alone. We believe that the envisioned future will be arrived upon as a collaborative effort between the body of Christ, the giftings within, and the power of God’s Spirit.

The role of the Spirit is primary here as we look to Him for wisdom, comfort, and guidance. As we seek Him and His plans, we are reminded that this is His plan and that He alone placed it on our hearts for His glory.

Included in this area of ministry are: encouragement, prayer, personal spiritual transformation, feedback, God’s Word, clarity on what is needed at each stage, and personal reflection and assessment.


There is only one part left!!!!