It's All Connected

by Matt Rogers

 

As a pastor, there are many options for the ways I choose to invest my time and lead our church to embody the purposes for which she was created. While the options are numerous, the Scriptures define that my central role is to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry.” 

This job description helps to give shape and clarity to the systems that we put in place around Renewal. Simply put, if the central goal is to glorify God by equipping the saints for living out the mission of God, then it is essential that I prayerfully develop a plan that will facilitate this actually happening.

As a 17-month old church, we are attempting to do just that. This year the elders of Renewal have chosen to adopt the theme of “Gospel Saturated Relationships”, in which we will seek to equip our people to live out the implications of the gospel in the context of all of their relationships. Some of the means we plan to use to push us towards this goal are the following:

 

  • Six Sunday teaching series between now and August 2012, dealing with the concepts related to our theme. During this time we will study the books of 1 John, the final third of Leviticus, Jonah, and Proverbs. We will also do three thematic series on Marriage, Family, and Killing Sin.
     
  • 6-8 additional small groups of gospel communities in various geographies throughout the city (including the college campuses) for the living out of the life of the Body and the engagement of mission in our city. Prayerfully, we will launch many others after the first of the year.
     
  • The first phases of the developmental plan of Renewal’s Family Ministry model, led by Toby Dix, which will serve to multiply disciples of grade-schoolers and teenagers, as well as serve parents as they attempt to lead well in their homes
     
  • Renewal’s membership class, “Connections”, will meet every Sunday during the month of October, and is designed to integrate attendees into meaningful membership in the life of the Body.
     
  • Multiplying Disciples Summit, a two-day mini-conference, will take place on September 30th and October 1st, with the intent of equipping the church at Renewal to multiply disciples within their relational contexts.
     
  • The launch of “Study/Serve”, a pre-gathering, theological instruction time for adults is aimed at maturing our adults in their walks with the Lord. Beginning this Sunday, September 11th, our body will begin studying the concept of “Missions and the Glory of God”.

 

As you can see the process of equipping is multifaceted and requires the intentional and passionate engagement of the body. Far from the simple addition of programs, Renewal is seeking to be an equipping and sending station, and the elders believe that these are tools to that end.

Jump in as we seek to equip the church and multiply disciples.