What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (Full Version)

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gmc4Jesus -> What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (4/28/2008 4:44:34 PM)

As a minister, I always wanted to build the congregation to become servants, not just worshippers. How much more could pastors accomplish for the Kingdom of God if they had more people in their congregations who are actually carrying some of the work load instead of just listening for an hour or two on SONday morning and thinking they have done their thing for the week?

In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul writes: 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

What has worked in your congregation to get people to become mature followers of Christ who are serving instead of just attending?

What book, tool, study, product, etc. would you like to see available to motivate or assist your congregation in becoming more like Christ and working to help build up the church?



CherishedbyGod -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (4/29/2008 1:32:50 PM)

Have you ever done the study "Experiencing God - Knowing and Doing the Will of God" by Henry Blackaby?

I am not a pastor but that particular study was a life-changer for me and many!

Serving God became an exciting and awesome venture as I learned how to hear His voice and join God in His work when He invited me to. It taught me how to have a closer walk with God, also...



BibleL7 -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/1/2008 1:23:20 AM)

How about old fashion preaching and teaching. You have the verse posted yet have you taught this to the congregation? Prayer helps. The leadership must lead in this area. If you have ministries in your church are the leaders actively taking part in them each and every time? Are members encouraged to help in these ministries? Does the membership realize that the 'Great Commission' is to all believers not just pastors and ministers? Personally I would say we have all the answers outlined in the Bible and don't need programs or other tools to use. Read the epistle to Titus and meditate on it.

Just the opinion of a small town preacher



brothertodd -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/1/2008 2:52:51 PM)

I agree with bible7 - the sermon should be from the bible only. I have seen chuches put down the word and use secular books/ teachings as the meat of the sermon. The meat should only come from the bible, and the use of segments from the secular material to emphisize on the message. But always check the secular material to the word so the word is not taken out of context or the material doesnt contradict the word. Secular studies are good for shcooling before or after the main sermon (whatever time you present sunday school) One tool that is used among many churches today and it helps with individual growth is Home groups/ministries where a group gather sometime during the week, usually at someones house where one can do secular studies. I recomend studies by John MacArthur, Lee Strobel, and Josh MacDowell all 3 have strong instruction and informative especially today as the world becomes increasinly hostile to Christianity. These resourses will give tools to answer the sceptic and their ilk.



CherishedbyGod -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/1/2008 8:09:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: brothertodd

I agree with bible7 - the sermon should be from the bible only. I have seen chuches put down the word and use secular books/ teachings as the meat of the sermon. The meat should only come from the bible, and the use of segments from the secular material to emphisize on the message. But always check the secular material to the word so the word is not taken out of context or the material doesnt contradict the word. Secular studies are good for shcooling before or after the main sermon (whatever time you present sunday school) One tool that is used among many churches today and it helps with individual growth is Home groups/ministries where a group gather sometime during the week, usually at someones house where one can do secular studies. I recomend studies by John MacArthur, Lee Strobel, and Josh MacDowell all 3 have strong instruction and informative especially today as the world becomes increasinly hostile to Christianity. These resourses will give tools to answer the sceptic and their ilk.


The reference I gave was about as far from secular teaching as a teaching can get.



brothertodd -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/2/2008 12:21:34 AM)

whether or not Blackabys teaching is smack dab on the truth it is still secular, I have many bible translations and not one mentions Blackaby as an apostle or teacher, even the apographal books dont mention him. The main service should be Bible, and bible instruction only. To do the main service on other than the bible is saying the bible isnt good enough. Its fine to use parts for examples but not for the whole service, keep it for adult bible school, or outside church group studies. I am not condeming Blackabys 'Knowing'...studies but used in the correct settings, The main church service setting is not the one.
I have done His studies and have enjoyed them.



colliefan -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/2/2008 10:10:10 PM)

Other than God's Word

Discipleship Journal
Christianity Today

James McDonald
Michael Yousef
James McArthur

Charles Colson
Charles Swindall
Philip Yancey
Larry Bowa
Henri Nouwen

for starters



funny_girl -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/3/2008 12:09:28 AM)

Living Through the Life of Christ by Sally M. Hill

for more info http://www.firstassemblywomensministries.com/

It's a wonderful study and it's not just for women! My husband translated it in Spanish.



gmc4Jesus -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/3/2008 2:01:47 AM)

I believe that if you look in a dictionary, you are using secular in the wrong way. Blackaby's "Experiencing God" might not be recommended for SONday morning sermon material, but it is full of Scripture and not "secular" in any way. It is also good teaching for helping people grow in discipleship. It is only a tool to help people understand the Bible. It is not intended as a replacement for reading the Bible. Nor is it the only tool. However, it is a good tool.

I will also agree that preaching from the Bible, expositorily or hermeneutically is excellent for SONday sermons. However, if that is all the spiritual diet a believer gets, it is going to be a long time before they develop any level of spiritual maturity.

We have many excellent study materials that are Bible centered and based to help us understand the Bible better. In essence, that is what a sermon is -- a study of a passage of Scripture as interpreted and applied by the minister who is doing the preaching.

In my opinion, I don't think it is wise to go condemning Bible based study materials. Most ministers consult commentaries and other books in researching for their sermons.

I want to encourage people to get to know Jesus so they will become more mature in their faith and more like Him in their daily living.

Lets focus on how we can use various tools to help us and others in that process.

God bless you in your labors for His Kingdom.



Little_1 -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/3/2008 7:21:01 AM)

I am not a pastor but I know from what the Bible teaches that noone can make the congregation do anything evangelism-wise/serving-wise no matter how hard a person/minister/pastor tries and this is a Biblical fact:

"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it......" (Psalm 127:1)

God knows all about such hence Psalm 127:1 to explain that this has been tried before and He doesn't want us wasting our efforts in a repeat of such and getting tired by doing the all the work by ourselves (even although our hearts and motives have been for His glory). God does not want you to get frustrated and burnt out in your own efforts - you are much too precious to Him for Him to let you carry the burden yourself - rather, He wants you to be a 'co-worker with His Holy Spirit' to bring about His Kingdom plans in your congregation.

So you can hand it over to Him and instead of trying to get the congregation to sit up and take notice that you need help - you can pray on their behalf and ask the Holy Spirit to move in their hearts whilst at the same time asking God to show you what methods He wants you to use to encourage them to fulfill His Great Commission.

I do believe the Lord can stir their hearts out of their sleep whilst showing you what His will is for the church in the community, and beyond and how to carry this out in His strength.

Your heart is so obviously set on leading a church to carry out the Great Commission from your post but you need to enlist the Holy Spirit in prayer and possibly even fasting (Matthew 4:1-9) to do so and then watch this space.

May God give you the desires of your heart and encourage you as you co-labour to carry out His will as Pastor/Minister with His help (and not Master Builder).

Also - it is important to mention that any revival in a church/community usually begins with the Holy Spirit and you (i.e ourselves) first! Please consider Psalm 51 - A pattern for evangelism thread which was posted on one of the other Crosswalk forums this week. It is a thread which may be of interest to you whilst on this subject of evangelism/servanthood.



ChristianCommando -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/3/2008 9:30:33 PM)

Try reading the book- "Responcibility of a Child of God". Don't remember the author, but a very solid biblically based and taught lesson book along with study guides with questions.

You might also try Bible Study groups started based on our lives as a Child of God and what it al entails.

If you like, I'll go thru my library of teaching aides and post a list of good study programs that really peak people's interest and get them wanting to grow, learn more and find out more.

God Bless!!



BibleL7 -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/3/2008 9:51:39 PM)

As Scripture quoted commands the leaders of the congregation should teach and preach the Scriptures. A leader should know the whole of Scriptures and be able to preach and teach it well to the congregation. Use small groups if your church is of good size of no more than 20 to 30 so people can ask questions and discuss the Scriptures. Also is good to separate men and women's groups so men teach men and women teach women, this is Biblical whether your opinion is that it is sexist or not Biblical concepts work. You may wish to study other resources as a leader to better teach and understand but you will find that all that is needed to teach is Scriptures.



gmc4Jesus -> RE: What tools have helped you bring your member to Spiritual Maturity? (5/10/2008 7:45:57 PM)

Although I strongly agree that reading the Bible should be one of the highest priorities for bring other Christians to maturity, I also realize that other Bible study tools can greatly facilitate that process.

Some books are topical, i.e. marriage, parenting, experienceing a closer relationship with God or focusing on some particular aspect of God, Christ or Christian living.

Some books are commentaries that give greater clarification to what the original authors wrote in the Bible.

While some people may insist on the Bible alone, almost all preachers consult commentaries or other books when writing sermons or preparing to teach lessons. Few try to take on the insurmountable task of writing simply from their own Bible without allowing any outside influence.

There have been a few good tools here, some of which I have used in my ministry. What else can help build spiritual maturity in your congregation?

God bless you as you seek to bring your flock to maturity in Christ.



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