My course is a book and dvd course. The book is titled "Suprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to each Them" by Thom S. Rainer. The dvd course is "Church Growth", taught by Terry Forrest. I'm going to try and have the book done in a week or two and I'll watch 3-4 classes a week on the dvd class.
I didnt post much on my course last week. The dvd course spoke on how to talk to people or witness to them. He gave tips like people are more open to change during a death or crisis. And also the importance of having an established relationship with.
Sean, for the purposes of giving the rest of us something to think about in regard to your book, please divide the number of chapters by eight and give us the titles of the chapters you would have been reading in week 2 if you did read the book over the course of the whole term. It is certainly O.K. to read the book over two weeks time. We need the time to reflect on the topics over the course of the term.
What were some of the techniques for witnessing you picked up in watching the DVD's? Did he give a sample conversation? Did he talk about things like "establishing common ground"? Have you used some of the things he talked about?
I think that a goal of what we would like to accomplish in witnessing is a good thing. I think we need it to help us strive for more. Does the book talk about setting goals for witnessing?
I apologize for not posting all the chapters, I forgot that we were supposed to do that. Part 1: 1. Shattering Myths about the Unchurched 2. Pastors and Preaching are Critical 3. Relationships that Click 4. Impressed by 1st impressions 5. Why they Returned and Stayed 6. Doctrine Really Matters
Part 2: 7. A profile of the Unchurched-Reaching Leaders 8. What Makes these Leaders Tick 9. Raising Leadership Issues 10. An Honest look at Their Personal Strengthes & Weaknesses 11. Preaching that connects with the Unchurched CONCLUSION: To Become a Church for the Unchurched
He did give examples of things to say. In all cases, after establising a conversation and who you are, ask them if you could talk to them about spiritual things. He also pointed out that if they are willing to listen, ask them if anyone has actually shown them in the Bible the meaning of accepting Christ, have it marked (ex. Romans Road) and turn your Bible towards them so they can read it. He said he had found that most people will say that no one has shown them.
Another point he gave was in witnessing to new people was to listen to prayer requests, or by talking with congregation members who have someone that they are praying for (we all have someone). He said it opens a door of opportunity to say "so & so goes to our church and cares a lot for you, have you ever thought about your spirituality, and could we talk about it?" Something to that nature.
He gave another point in getting back the control of the coversation when a person gets sidetracked or changes the subject is to say "Let me ask you this question", he gives an example of a person saying " I went to church and the pastor was caught doing something, or a person was a hypocrite and so I quit going". He would say "Let me ask you this question, will you answer for this or will the person doing the act answer for it?" His point is that people are more willing to talk about things if you ask them for their opinion instead of making them feel like they are being told something.
Wow, sean. Those were great tips. For all of us, I wonder if there is another way we can word it to ask someone if we can talk to them about spiritual things. That "spiritual things" part is what I am referring to. Do any of you have some ideas for other ways of getting to talk to them about spiritual things but by using some other words? Corey, you have some experience with this, what have you found to help?
Thanks for the chapter titles. If you were to spread the reading over 8 weeks. I looks like you would do one or two chapters a week. Since this is week 2. For our consderation for thinking about what you are learning, let's focus on the first three chapters which would are:
1. Shattering Myths about the Unchurched 2. Pastors and Preaching are Critical 3. Relationships that Click
I noticed that I put up the main post today about preaching before you gave us the chapter titles, so it relates to chapter 2 :) !
its easier to get them to talk about 'spiritual things' when you get them to talk about how there days been, and that leads to many other things, and eventually it leads to an open opportunity to share Christ with them(to get them to talk about themselves is the easiest way i think xD) but then again I am only a year old in this witnessing stuff so I dont really know much about it
the term specificly, no, the term generally yes. As in general i mean i talk about sprititual things, like gifts of the spirit, and things concerning the spirit.
Right, but you don't say something like, "Hey, can we talk about spiritual things?" You use some kind of bridge going from talking about how their day was, and how they are doing to getting into talking about spiritual things. The "bridge" is what I am interested in. You, however, probably don't have a standard technique. Maybe the Lord has just gifted you to know when and how to make that transition in the conversation and that it comes natural to you to where you do it without really thinking about how. Is that right, or is there a transition phrase you have found helpful?
You will notice some posts below that relate to various topics of discussion by our online community of preachers.
One of the purposes of Preachers' Meeting is to provide a place for young ministers or those recently called to preach to interact around the principles in a course of study recommended by our local group of preachers in the Southern Illinois area.
We invite you to look in on our conversations. If you would like to add comments as a guest, you are welcome to do so. If this looks interesting to you, you may join us as we start a new session. You can look in the side bar (or sometimes it is moved to right below this post) to see the weekly requirements. We start new courses every 8 or 9 weeks. As already mentioned, you are welcome to comment as a guest before that time.
Below these posts, you will see the word, "comments." Just click on it, and you will see a box on the right side of the screen where you may add your comments.
Look around. Enjoy yourself, and come back often!
Weekly Requirements
Here is a review of the general requirements for each week.
You have three assignments each week
(1) Make at least two initial posts in your posting area. The first one will be the name of the course, and the names (or numbers of the DVD's) of the chapters or lectures you will be covering during the week. The second one will be a comment on one of those chapters. You will receive one point for getting the first post in on Tuesday or Wednesday. You will also get a point for getting at least one more initial post in.
(2) Go to your fellow student's posting areas, and ask them a question or make comments about their intial posts. You will recieve one point for completing this assignment before 12:00 a.m. on Friday morning (that would be before midnight on Thursday).
(3) Answer the questions asked.
(4) On Fridays, I will also give directions for making remaining posts during the week. Be sure and read those, and take them into account when making at least one of your remaining posts.
In all, we want to make at least nine posts during the week. You will receive points for that as follows:
9 or more posts - 12 points
6-8 posts - 10 points
3-5 posts - 6 points
1-2 posts - 3 points
You will have the extra points you had accumulated by getting things in on time. Those are bonus points that will be used only to move your grade closer to 100 if you need them. They will be awarded each week if needed to move your grade up to 12 for the week. If you do not need them for that week, they will be carried over to the next week(s). Remember the posts that count for points will be at least three sentences long.
Thoughts on Application
Roger gave some good thoughts on application:
"Chapter 75, titled: 'Apply Within' is a lesson in application. The writer explains why it is sometimes difficult applying a sermon to real life situations. I will list some of the reasons application is not applied to our lives.
"First it is "hard work", it is hard to find application to every situation in the congregation,
"second, is wrong assumptions, assuming the audience is able to apply any and all biblical truths is totally a wrong assumption,
"third, is fear, fear of being to deep or to simplistic in the text and failing at application, and then there is training or lack thereof,
"many preachers know the text, and the history and the order of things but are totally untrained in application. One gentleman said it this way," how can you be a good football player when you can pass the ball, or when you can kick the ball, or when you can run with the ball but you don't know the rules of the game."
If you live in the souther Illinois area, we would like to invite you to a Couples' Marriage Enrichment Seminar on Saturday, February 27. It starts at 6:00 p.m and will run to 9:00 p.m.
After the welcome, there will be a dinner. Then there will be an opening session, followed by two breakout sessions, then a short closing.
The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Randy Carney (That's me :)!) and Roger and Janet Dutton will be speaking during the breakout sessions (That's Roger, who is commenting on this blog during this term!). Randy and Rhonda (my wife!) Carney will also have a breakout session discussing "Keys to Marital Bliss."
The Keynote Address will be on the topic of "The Way to a Successful Marriage: The Shocking and Surprising Truth."
Roger and Janet will be talking about "Hope for Restoring your marriage."
The cost is $15.00 per couple and that includes a dinner and all seminar materials. A nursery and childcare will be available. (Please indicate that you need these services when you register.) A book table with resources from Handfuls on Purpose Christian Bookstore will be available.
The seminar is for couples of all ages, ranging from newlyweds to marriage veterans!
To register, call 618-627-2228 to let the church know how may will be attending. Payment can be made at the event. (Make checks to TFBC.) For more information, call the church at 618-627-2228.
The Greatest Love
Since Valentine's Day falls on Sunday this year, I imagine there will be a ton of sermons going out on the topic of love.
Paul talked about love and respect in marriage (Ephesians 5), but he was really saying that that was an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church.
Christ
Left Heaven to come to this earth.
He
Overcame adversity while here. He even conquered death!
He
Valued mankind so much that He gave Himself on the cross.
He desires fellowship with us. He reconciled the world to Himself, so that people could have an
Intimate realtionship with Him.
He meets all of our
Needs.
He is the supreme example of
Giving.
Do you see the word, LOVING, there? That is what He is--our LOVING Savior! Because of that, we should love one another.
Course 11 Week 4
Scroll down to the week 4 area to begin commenting.
Dealing with the Closed American Mind
One of the chapters Roger is reading is entitled, (something like) "Dealing with the Closed American Mind." I don't know if it is mentioned in the chapter, but I suspect that if you tak about something where a person has a felt need, you can gain their hearing somewhat.
What are your thoughts?
You may scroll down and comment in the week 3 comments area. Visitors are welcome to comment also.
Connecting with Postmoderns
This is something most preachers do every Sunday. If you have young unchurched visitors in your church, you will be trying to reach postmoderns. Even some of your church youth are more influenced by postmodernism than by their previous Sunday school teaching.
Here is my reply to one of Roger's posts:
"Roger, what tips stand out to you for commecting with postmoderns? I think the term modern referred to an age in history that related to new thoughts in science, etc. (If I am off base, refresh my memory.) Post modern refers to the time following that era. Connecting with postmoderns is something you have to do, whether you realize it or not, almost every time you preach."
I will post some of his answers here if he sees the question in time.
Preaching--Proclamation of God's Word
Preaching, by one definition, is the proclamation of God's Word. As such, a person, can take the Scriptural passage and find some of its main points and emphasize those points.
While I believe we should learn all we can about the grammatical construction of the words of Scripture, and that we should learn all we can about the historical setting for when those words were originally spoken; the nice thing about proclaiming the Word is that you can just take what the text says and emphasize it. Then the Word will not return void.
People with all different types of backgrounds have been called to preach throughout the centuries. Some very "unlearned" (as the world would put it) men have had great results by simply taking the main ideas of Scripture and simply emphasizing them. As long as we do not twist the meaning, this simply shows the amazing power of the Word of God.
New Format
I am going to try putting my comments for each day in this left sidebar. The comments areas for the remaining weeks are displayed to the right. That is where you will place your comments for each week.
16 comments:
My course is a book and dvd course. The book is titled "Suprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to each Them" by Thom S. Rainer. The dvd course is "Church Growth", taught by Terry Forrest. I'm going to try and have the book done in a week or two and I'll watch 3-4 classes a week on the dvd class.
I didnt post much on my course last week. The dvd course spoke on how to talk to people or witness to them. He gave tips like people are more open to change during a death or crisis. And also the importance of having an established relationship with.
Sean, for the purposes of giving the rest of us something to think about in regard to your book, please divide the number of chapters by eight and give us the titles of the chapters you would have been reading in week 2 if you did read the book over the course of the whole term. It is certainly O.K. to read the book over two weeks time. We need the time to reflect on the topics over the course of the term.
What were some of the techniques for witnessing you picked up in watching the DVD's? Did he give a sample conversation? Did he talk about things like "establishing common ground"? Have you used some of the things he talked about?
That all sounds interesting and practical.
I think that a goal of what we would like to accomplish in witnessing is a good thing. I think we need it to help us strive for more. Does the book talk about setting goals for witnessing?
Hey Sean, your dvd course "Church Growth" does Mr. Forrest give details about what sparks church growth and does he say anything about church hoppers?
I apologize for not posting all the chapters, I forgot that we were supposed to do that.
Part 1:
1. Shattering Myths about the Unchurched
2. Pastors and Preaching are Critical
3. Relationships that Click
4. Impressed by 1st impressions
5. Why they Returned and Stayed
6. Doctrine Really Matters
Part 2:
7. A profile of the Unchurched-Reaching Leaders
8. What Makes these Leaders Tick
9. Raising Leadership Issues
10. An Honest look at Their Personal Strengthes & Weaknesses
11. Preaching that connects with the Unchurched
CONCLUSION: To Become a Church for the Unchurched
He did give examples of things to say. In all cases, after establising a conversation and who you are, ask them if you could talk to them about spiritual things. He also pointed out that if they are willing to listen, ask them if anyone has actually shown them in the Bible the meaning of accepting Christ, have it marked (ex. Romans Road) and turn your Bible towards them so they can read it. He said he had found that most people will say that no one has shown them.
Another point he gave was in witnessing to new people was to listen to prayer requests, or by talking with congregation members who have someone that they are praying for (we all have someone). He said it opens a door of opportunity to say "so & so goes to our church and cares a lot for you, have you ever thought about your spirituality, and could we talk about it?" Something to that nature.
He gave another point in getting back the control of the coversation when a person gets sidetracked or changes the subject is to say "Let me ask you this question", he gives an example of a person saying " I went to church and the pastor was caught doing something, or a person was a hypocrite and so I quit going". He would say "Let me ask you this question, will you answer for this or will the person doing the act answer for it?" His point is that people are more willing to talk about things if you ask them for their opinion instead of making them feel like they are being told something.
Wow, sean. Those were great tips. For all of us, I wonder if there is another way we can word it to ask someone if we can talk to them about spiritual things. That "spiritual things" part is what I am referring to. Do any of you have some ideas for other ways of getting to talk to them about spiritual things but by using some other words? Corey, you have some experience with this, what have you found to help?
Thanks for the chapter titles. If you were to spread the reading over 8 weeks. I looks like you would do one or two chapters a week. Since this is week 2. For our consderation for thinking about what you are learning, let's focus on the first three chapters which would are:
1. Shattering Myths about the Unchurched
2. Pastors and Preaching are Critical
3. Relationships that Click
I noticed that I put up the main post today about preaching before you gave us the chapter titles, so it relates to chapter 2 :) !
its easier to get them to talk about 'spiritual things' when you get them to talk about how there days been, and that leads to many other things, and eventually it leads to an open opportunity to share Christ with them(to get them to talk about themselves is the easiest way i think xD) but then again I am only a year old in this witnessing stuff so I dont really know much about it
Corey,
Thanks for your input. I think you are doing great with the witnessing stuff. Do you use the term "spiritual things" when you talk to your friends?
the term specificly, no, the term generally yes. As in general i mean i talk about sprititual things, like gifts of the spirit, and things concerning the spirit.
Corey,
Right, but you don't say something like, "Hey, can we talk about spiritual things?" You use some kind of bridge going from talking about how their day was, and how they are doing to getting into talking about spiritual things. The "bridge" is what I am interested in. You, however, probably don't have a standard technique. Maybe the Lord has just gifted you to know when and how to make that transition in the conversation and that it comes natural to you to where you do it without really thinking about how. Is that right, or is there a transition phrase you have found helpful?
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