Leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus by:
Connecting to Christ
Connecting to Christians
Connecting to Serve
Connecting to the Community
The following is an explanation of what each part means, why it is significant, and what our primary vehicle is to help accomplish each part and how it fits in with the whole mission.
Leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus
No other grouping of people has been entrusted with the Good News about Jesus… only the Church. Only the Church has been given the privilege and responsibility to make disciples.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Connecting to Christ
This is where discipleship (the growing relationship with Jesus) begins… our response to God who “first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Connecting implies a two way relationship. God, through Jesus, did that for humanity. Our response is to love God back by connecting to Christ.
Connecting to Christ needs to happen on two levels: personally and corporately.
Personally: We want to help people personally learn how to develop and grow through their personal times of worshipping Jesus.
Corporately, our primary mechanism for connecting to Christ is through our Sunday morning worship service.
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Connecting to Christians
This is the next step in a growing relationship with Jesus: being regularly involved in fellowshipping with other Christians. Christians need other Christians to keep from drifting: for accountability and encouragement.
This needs to happen regularly, face to face, and life on life.
Our primary mechanism for helping Christians connect to Christians is through our midweek Hope groups. This will ensure a mutual ministry: where people can care and be cared for in their group. Every Christian, therefore, is a minister.
Having a Kingdom Perspective, Hope Community Church will continue to partner with and support missionaries- locally and globally.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Romans 12:10-13 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Connecting to Serve
The third step of development of a fully devoted follower of Jesus is that one would be connecting to serve.
We want to help people discover and employ their spiritual giftings to benefit the Church and advance Jesus’ Kingdom. Serving isn’t done out of obligation, but rather, out of the overflow of thankfulness for what Jesus did for us.
Our desire is to have everyone serve in a ministry at least every other week
1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you.
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
We want to see everyone using their gifts for ministry, preferably in their passion area, at least twice a month.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
Weekly opportunities: greeter, usher, set up, Sunday School teaching…
Non- regular activities: Open Door, Mission’s trips…
Connecting to the Community
The final step of one who is growing deeper in their relationship with Jesus is connecting to the community. This again can be engaged personally and as a Church.
Personally, we desire to have every Follower of Jesus able to lead someone else to saving faith in Christ. Moreover, every Christian should be ready to share whom they are praying for and whom they are building bridges to Christ.
Corporately, we want to see people involved in the regular, larger scale bridge building outreach events so that people would be led to take steps to connect with Christ, thereby keeping the Discipleship revolution going.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Ephesians 6:19-20 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Opportunities: Christmas Banquet, Picnic, Parade, Clean up days, Shoeboxes…