mutual&respect trustand& understanding& smartalec& humor& · why don’t i have...

Mutual Respect Trust and Understanding

Smart Alec Humor

How Many ? Close ? How START ? Why END ? Confusing

Attached/ Drift by/ Storms come/ Isaiah 57 wishing, hoping/ God’s plan/ booklet

Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the TOSSING SEA, which CANNOT REST

START a Friendship Concepts Church Introduce

Sincere people a church (or in a church or a church)

Sincere people a church (or in a church or a church) for 3 reasons: Will this church be a place for me of:

1.  Healthy, Deep

2.  Personal Spiritual

3.  Making a in someone else’s life.

Short

Connected Pg. 2

Joe

Courses give you an IMMEDIATE INCREASE in all 3 metrics.

Making a Difference

Personal Spiritual Growth

Healthy Deep Friends

10

5

0

About 25 years ago, I gave two people a simple assignment. I took: Ø  two people, Ø  gave them a short Bible study and Ø  asked them to meet and talk through what they learned.

Over the past two decades, as we have had thousands complete short courses, I have been fascinated with the complex and powerful dynamics

of both “Friendship” and “Discipleship”.

Ø Discipleship is the core DNA for every Christian. According to Matthew 28:19-20 - discipleship is our Highest

Calling.

Ø  Friendship is one of the Strongest Cravings in our hearts.

These two words are so powerful.

Our Story - “Short Courses” pg.2

Yet, in our End Times Fractured - Soul society; these words


Yet, in our End Times Fractured - Soul society; these words & can also cause Confusion & Pain.


Yet, in our End Times Fractured - Soul society; these words Friendship & Discipleship can also cause Confusion & Pain.

The Lord Jesus has graciously taught us some Biblical principles that have allowed friendship and discipleship to become SAFE words that release great power and fruit in individual lives.

Short courses, as the card indicates, are two individuals or two couples meeting to Biblically study a subject 2-4 times.

The length of the meetings and the number of the meetings is Intentionally SHORT. The material studied is up to the individual person.

In our church, we have a Free cd lending Library & free downloadable ONLINE format of over 50 different studies. bottom


Short courses work for EVERYONE in every walk of life.

Short courses do NOT REPLACE small groups, counseling ministries etc.

On the contrary they

SUPPLEMENT, COMPLEMENT & STRENGTHEN the SMALL GROUP and COUNSELING ministries in a church.


Pg.3

Why don’t I have good friends?

Friendship is such a subject for so many people. It evokes great and . It also evokes feelings of , and . The Bible gives

that can bring great clarity.

# 1 – I Hunger for Deep Friendships

Friendship is a BY-PRODUCT of Mutual Goals pg.3


Friendship is such a confusing subject for so many people. It evokes great hopes and desires. It also evokes feelings of loneliness, pain and betrayal. The Bible gives one key insight that can bring great clarity.

Ø  If you friends, - you will always find yourself and . Ø  seek to be a person who to - you will have all the

you could want. You with other people who minister. Like co-captains on a football team - the strong purposes in your lives draw you together.

With short courses



If you


Friendship is such a confusing subject for so many people. It evokes great hopes and desires. It also evokes feelings of loneliness, pain and betrayal. The Bible gives one key insight that can bring great clarity.

Ø  If you seek friends - you will always find yourself frustrated, empty and disappointed. Ø  If you seek to be a person who ministers to others - you will have all the deep rich

friendships you could want. You bond deeply with other people who minister. Like co-captains on a football team the strong purposes in your lives draw you together. With short courses you begin to find that you can minister to others. Soon you have all the friends you desire as a of mutual goals – as God’s Word says.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?



Opposite

I do NOT need any MORE friends.




My life is already and . I don’t need more friends. With short courses I can someone, give them a and then them toward to .

They will NOT CLING to me.

In addition,




My life is already full and busy. I don’t need more friends. With short courses I can help someone, give them a friendship and then keep them moving toward ministering to others.

They will not cling to me.

In addition, the of Short Courses allows people to

with getting to know someone a commitment.

The “ ” of only having 2-4 meetings people to be

to the idea of getting to know others. People Skills



People Skills

Short Courses actually teach a person to be a great friend. It teaches excellent people skills such as:

and that the best friendships are a by-product of mutual goals.

Pg.4



You seem like a nice person. We are doing a Short Course together. The of God has me and I share with you a and

in my life.

# 2 – Don’t Cut Me!

No Advice Given Unless Asked pg.4

You seem like a nice person. We are doing a Short Course together. The Word of God has touched me deeply and I share with you a vulnerable and painful failure in my life.

To my you immediately begin to how to FIX this. You lecture me with superior arrogance. You have no clue how I have tried your . You have no clue how it was for me to be with you. I want to from you.



You seem like a nice person. We are doing a Short Course together. The Word of God has touched me deeply and I share with you a vulnerable and painful failure in my life.

To my HORROR you immediately begin to tell me how to FIX this. You lecture me with superior arrogance. You have no clue how many times I have tried your trite cliché advice. You have no clue how hard it was for me to be vulnerable with you. I want to run far, far away from you.

This is the of Short Courses.

To prevent this disaster we ask EVERYONE who does a Short Course to agree in advance to give advice unless .

Rest of the page – Core Value in Liberty pg.5



Why am I Tired?

You can in many ministries for many years and if you ever really made a in someone else’s life. This can cause you to , become and .

# 3 – I want to make a Difference pg.5

Why am I Tired?

You can serve faithfully in many ministries for many years and wonder if you ever really made a difference in someone else’s life. This can cause you to lose hope, become weary and apathetic. Every sincere Christian to make a DIFFERENCE in someone else’s life. We want to touch people with the love, power and life of Jesus Christ that He has poured into our lives. Perhaps the most astounding part of Short Courses is how people’s lives are changed in such a short time. Because Short Courses have a specific goal, clear expectations, clear boundaries, a clear end date and lots of rich sharing; the

of God goes and the end results are in 2-4 meetings.

Expertise in an area!


Expertise in an area!

Short courses allow you to help someone deal with a situation

Ø  Depression, Ø  Divorce, without having to have EXPERTISE on the subject. You feel SAFER discussing serious subjects through a study since the other person is not relying on you to have all of the answers. Your main goal is to encourage and to help them process through the Bible material on this subject. Because you are able to meet a need with a , you are able to make a Difference in other’s lives.

Ø  Stress, Ø  Parenting,

Ø  Anger, Ø  Co-dependency,

Ø  Healing, Ø  Addictions, etc.


pg.6

In our church, when you set up a short course – You do NOT have to get permission from anyone or fill out any paperwork.

Free Childcare! We have free childcare available for infants through 5th graders before, during and after every service.

A Place to Meet! We have 40 different places where 2-4 people can sit to do a course during childcare times.

These are ways of showing how much we care for our people.

Ma<hew 11:28 You will find rest for your souls.

Bottom of the page

# 4 – Convenience = Caring pg.6

We love small groups. However we recognize that it is VERY HARD for a visitor to feel comfortable to come to a small group.

For the visitor, coming to a small group can be an awkward and nervous time - like asking them to jump up onto a kitchen table. It is not easy.

Instead, it is very Gentle and Warm Transition for a visitor to try a short course with a member of our church. After a few weeks of the short course, this visitor has begun to form a friendship. It is natural and comfortable for that visitor to attend small group with their new friend.

Pg.7

# 5 – Jump up on the Table pg.6 The big leap from VISITOR to CONNECTED FRIEND

Listening We always ask one person to be the Facilitator of the short course discussion. We ask the facilitator to go around the room 3 times with equal sharing. 1st time - everyone shares what they Liked or Learned in the study. 2nd time - everyone shares one thing that someone ELSE shared that they liked. 3rd time - everyone Updates on their week, their Prayer Needs

and their Praise reports.

Pg. 8

# 6 – Laughter, Listening & Learning pg.7

The second step is called “Reverberation Listening”. It is a powerful skill to learn. In a short course – knowing that you are asked to share what you liked about someone ELSE’S insights causes each person to listen to others with greater depth and clarity. This has stunning effect.

As the receiver, when people tell you what they liked about YOUR insights, it touches a Tender place HIDDEN in your soul. You feel Valued and Understood. You feel confidence that:

a)  you CAN LEARN,

b)  you CAN Study God’s Word and

c)  you HAVE something Valuable to Share. Proverbs 1:5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,

Pg 9-10 Drifting/ Circle which ones Next week – Long term - Let Go - Anxiety Biblical picture

# 6 – Laughter, Listening & Learning pg.8

Gracious

Make a Difference

Joy

Levels Rom. 8:28-29 Choice Rom. 12:2 Next week – Long Term & Let Go 3

Seekers

1 Minute -‐ DEBRIEF

Ø  Your Favorite pt. or what Helped you Ø  Prayers

Pastor Johns Personal testimony 2 cds

mutual&respect trustand& understanding& smartalec& humor& · why don’t i have...

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