teaching in soul-winning care groups - rightly …...• best to handle objections by answer from...
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Teaching in Soul-Winning CARE GroupsJohnny & Tina Wong - Gateway Adventist Centre
18 October 2008Gateway Training
What is Gateway?
Ministry started by a few SDA young people 19-22 y.o.
A network of care groups (small groupministry) and many overseas care groups
New Church in the city of Melbourne that grewfrom 35 to 150 in 4 years. 2nd Church started May 08
Training Centre to train young people to besoul-winners for Christ & courses to reach thecommunity via ‘needs-based’ courses
Church sponsoring the Student Club (AdventistStudent On Campus) at 3 University Campuses
Gateway is an Outreach center – 60 baptism in 5 years
Gateway Adventist Center (GAC) | Adventist Students On Campus (ASOC)
Mark 2:3 – Four men – passion for the friend
Mark 2:4 – Effort required by team, bring to Jesus
Mark 2:5 – Living out their faith (Witnessing)
Luke 5:25 – depart to his own house, glorifying
Healing of Paralytic Man – Luke 5:17-26 and Mark 2:2-12
True Disciple
‘Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The
receiver becomes a giver.’ – Desire of Ages p.195
What is the ‘End Game?’
Goals:- Souls are won; people are baptised- Groups will grow in Spiritual depth- Group will grow in number and multiply
Melbourne City
Port Philip Bay
Melbourne - 2007
DrummondLookout
Flagstaff
Southbank
North Melb
Oakleigh
East Melb
Hawthorn EastAuburn
Yarraville
Melb UniversityNM Chinese
Parkville
What is the model?Three equally important parts:
Sharing a meal
Word – relevant & simple
Sharing Time
- ‘How was your week?’- ‘Anything to pray for?’
Principles of Small Groups
What is the model?Three equally important parts:
Sharing a meal
Word – relevant & simple
Sharing Time
- ‘How was your week?’- ‘Anything to pray for?’
Principles of CARE Groups
Wholistic CARE Groups
‘Left-Hand’ Illustration:
- ‘Community’
- ‘Go make …’
- Leadership
- Accountability
- Equipping
How To Teach in CARE groups? General Principles
• The Bible and Bible Only– Not a book review time– Not using EGW to substantiate key points– Not Spirit of Prophecy book reading– Spirit of Prophecy used for reference
• Use a Study Series– People have level of comfort to join a series– Choose study series most relevant to your seekers– Use CG Teaching Resource– 35 min relational study
• Core members to live out the word– Application / projects in our own lives
• Must ‘bait’ the SDA Bible Truth – 5’s (Sabbath, State of the Dead, Second Coming, Sanctification, Sanctuary)
www.gatewaysda.org
How To Teach in CARE groups? Preparing a Study …
• Heart preparation – meditate, think, pray about the passage– Have you prayed for the seekers in your group?– Jot down 2 – 3 (no more) key points to convey– Can you place any names of your CG member/seeker next to the key point?– Are you relating the key points to a ‘need’ in your CG?
• Need to understand the seekers in your group– Learn to mingle and ask ‘spiritual’ questions– ‘Tell me about your spiritual journey so far’– Spiritual background – ‘do you have the same belief as your parents?’
• Know how to speak clearly• Consider the intonation of voice• Practise, practise, practise
CG Coordinators
Seeker
Seeker
Member
Leader
Member
Carer
Member
‘He who begins with a little knowledge, in a humble way, and tells what he knows, while seeking diligently for further knowledge, will find the whole heavenly treasure awaiting his demand. The more he seeks to impart light, the more light he will receive. The more one tries to explain the word of God to others, with a love for souls, the plainer it becomes to himself. The more we use our knowledge and exercise our powers, the more knowledge and power we shall have.’
– Christ Object Lessons p.354
How To Teach in CARE groups? When you teach … five mistakes to avoid
• Talking Too Much– It is not you presenting a sermon– Are you getting people engaged in the Bible Study?
• Asking Artificial Questions– Prepare questions that can lead to the 2-3 key main points– Be real, not outstanding questions that people cannot respond to– No patronising and ‘obvious’ questions (this is not kindergarden)
• No Preparation, or Too Much Preparation– The key is being sensitive to God (watch, listen, eye-ball people, see Spirit lead)– Let the study speak to you personally first
• No Fun or Creativity– Object lesson, Flip Chart, Drawing etc
• Failure to Encourage Application– Leave adequate time for application
How To Teach in CARE groups? Handling Objections …
• Ask a question when a question is raised …– Can you elaborate on your question, so that we understand it better?– Was there any other related question to that important question you raised?– Why is it important to understand the answer to that question?
• Clarify and understand their question
• Best to handle objections by answer from the Bible – do not venture a half-baked answer … it may sound like an opinion rather than Biblical truth
– Say you do not know – Let’s research it together in the Bible and get back together this week
– Keep your word – research it
• Check if it is merely an intellectual, cognitive pursuit rather than a ‘real question’
How do I know we had a good CARE group?
• Did I listen? – Was I too busy trying to get through the points and did not listen to words,
between the words or even ‘listen’ to the body language?
• Did I touch a felt-need?– Our success depends on our ability to reach the heart. Did I share a point /
bible promise that meet a person’s need?
• Did God speak through the word? • Was the points supported by the Bible?• Did the word of God guide our discussion or was it opinions?• Did we really pray together?• Not just a ritual but we really, really prayed together• Did we laugh?• Was I vulnerable to my group? Was I open?• Did our commitment deepen?
TrainingAccountabilitySkills Development
Primary CarerNurtureCounselDiscern Spiritual GiftsChannel GiftsOversees their service
AccountabilityNurtureLeadership TrainingTeaching Development
Care GroupCare GroupCare Group
Discipleship Class (FAST)Discipleship Discipleship Class (FAST)Class (FAST)
Spiritual GuardianSpiritual Spiritual GuardianGuardian
Gateway’s Integrated Discipleship Model
New MembersMinistry LeadersMinistry Ministry LeadersLeaders
EldersEldersElders
TrainingTrainingTraining
Bible TeacherBible Bible
TeacherTeacher
AccountabilityServe TogetherCoach them
CounselOversees Coach
Youth ConferenceTraining & Seminars
Bible study togetherwith new contactsCoaching/Praying
SPIRIT LED
SKED
REQUENTLY
UESTIONS
CG Language …
We need to be careful on the use of words / jargons at CG.
-- do not use EGW material when we have many new seekers in care group (reference for leaders only)-- Bible and Bible only-- Lead people to claim Bible promises
No church gossips or rumors at CG (not a second church board meeting).
Our measure must be about Spiritual Health … Watch Holy Spirit work.Reach the heart …
Seeker’s inviting friends … sign of acceptance and comfortable with groupSeeker’s asking questions and moving to personal studies.
Ask three questions during mingle time: 1. Was it clear to you? 2. Did you understand the topic? 3. What did you learn?
How do I know my CG is growing?
‘Your success will not depend so much upon your knowledge and accomplishments, as upon your ability to find your way to the heart.’– Gospel Workers p.193
How do I get people involved and own the group?
Core members – clear vision why the group exist
Seekers – ownership and involvement (roles)
Everyone gets to share before prayer:-- how is your week?-- what did learn from the topic today?-- what can we pray for you about?
Drawing people out …-- reminder members to MINGLE-- leaders set the example-- Simple Fellowship dinner … makes it relaxing, open environment-- no opinion render is wrong / be open to accept that is their current view-- facilitation skills training for leaders-- stop domineering people
All to pray - Group sharing and pair-prayers (get seeker’s to pray .. May be next week?)
How to handle members-only CG?
Talk to the leaders about vision and values.
Share with them ‘slow death’ and ‘death of a thousand cuts’ examples.
Nurture – No! Training – Yes! Develop people into disciples
Check 5 finger principles with leadership – get agreement
Pray for seekers or shut-down & redistribute resources
Accountability card : 1. Who do you pray for? 2. What did you do about it this week? 3. What will you do next week? (Filter out)
How do I engineer departure of some people?
Be direct with them.
Divide up the group during study time.
For the group that is to be engineered out – go through vision/values and seek their agreement to ‘5 fingers’. Otherwise stop the group.
Leaders/Elders to chat with them personally.
How to split CG? (multiplication)
Identify leadership early – pray with them.
Same home – meals together; two places for study+sharing time.
Share with seekers and others they have a choice.Decision: friends, link person, topics, needs, location
Both leaders to make a proposed list of names and pray over the names.Encourage and ‘sell benefit’ of the groups.
Meet back once in 5 weeks to share the learnings.
What if there are no seekers in my group?
PRAY
Make a list of friends … pray.
Run a letter-boxing in the neighbourhood … pray.
Direct Evangelism – SEARCH video, door knocking, work on project together (1-2 people initiate it)
Read Gospel Workers p.136 ‘Dream about ripen berries’
What if a seeker got lots of questions but no one can give Bible studies?
PRAISE GOD!
Make a list of friends … pray.
Work with Personal Ministry Leader … who knows the resources available.
A member of the CG is to be involved in the study.
Offer 3-5 sessions for Q & A session (not ‘Bible studies’)
‘In visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God's people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lightened with the heavenly influence. Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God. I heard voices of thanksgiving and praise, and there seemed to be a reformation such as we witnessed in 1844..’ - 9T p.126
A REFORMATORY MOVEMENT
&