Following Jesus | Week 3 - Live out His Mission

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Big idea:

Our mission is the same as Jesus’ during his time on earth—prioritizing self-giving love through our kingdom-ushering presence and proclamation of the good news.

The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Sept. 27th, 2020.

The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:

• Luke 4:16-22

• Matthew 10:1-14:

• John 16:7-10

• Luke 24:44-48

• Matthew 28:19-20

• 1 Corinthians 3:5-11

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Launch Team Training

*For those either on the Launch team, or anyone interested in answering the “how” for each teaching. This training teaches the VIM method (coined by Dallas Willard) and utlizes Hugh Halter’s Four components of “living out” one’s faith in a missional way. These four components are explained in his book Tangible Kingdom.

“More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.”  

- Henri Nouwen

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Recommended Additional Learning:

Podcast

Teaching on Modern Evangelism
https://movement-church.simplecast.com/episodes/evangelism

Articles:

An Article Explaining VIM (Willard’s Spiritual Formation Model)
https://www.soulshepherding.org/my-vim-plan-for-teaching-like-jesus/

Books to Read:

• The Tangible Kingdom, Hugh Halter & Matt Smay

  • Our inspiration for the missional living components focused on living among the sojourners and spiritually curious.

  • Is a great read for anyone learning how to live missionally within the marketplace.

• Art of Neighboring, Dave Runyon & Jay Pathak

  • A great accessible, and short read on being a great neighbor centered on loving your neighbor well.

• The Mission of God, Christopher Wright

  • This “textbook feel” book has the most holistic and cohesive theology of God’s mission throughout the entire bible (both OT and NT)

Following Jesus | Week 2 - Become like Him

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Big idea:

Our belief in Jesus, rooted in the love and grace of God, propels us into spiritual formation—becoming like Jesus by knowing him, and doing what he would do if he were you.

The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Sept. 20th, 2020.

The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:

• 1 John 1:5-7

• James 2:14-22

• 1 John 2:5-6

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Launch Team Training

*For those either on the Launch team, or anyone interested in answering the “how” for each teaching. This training teaches the VIM method (coined by Dallas Willard) and gives 5-10 mins to practice the VIM method for a certain area of your life.

Spiritual Formation Summary PDF

• Explains the summary of Spiritual formation in the teaching.

• Has the VIM method explained for your own personal use.

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Recommended Additional Learning:

Articles:

Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/introduction-spiritual-disciplines/

An Article Explaining VIM (Willard’s Spiritual Formation Model)
https://www.soulshepherding.org/my-vim-plan-for-teaching-like-jesus/

Books to Read:

• Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard

  • Incredibly thorough, but is so profound and organized.

  • Has the VIM Model in this book.

  • Utilized in the teaching several times.

• You are What You Love, James KA Smith

  • A great accessible read for learning the power of habit and heart in worship and spiritual formation

Following Jesus | Week 1 - Be with Jesus

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Big idea:

The gospel, and our relationship with Jesus is the foundation for everything we do.

The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Sept. 13th, 2020.

The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:

• John 15:1-17

• Ephesians 2:1-20

• Matthew 22:34-40

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Recommended Additional Learning:

Podcasts:

• Theology in the Raw

• Catacombs Podcast

Articles:

Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/introduction-spiritual-disciplines/

Bible Reading Apps:

• Lectio 365
  Gives you a passage of scripture to read everyday with the Lectio divina style of reading.

• Dwell
  Has several readers voices, and background sounds (costs money though)

• Streetlights
  Spoken-word, modern-esque reading of scripture. Highly engaging.

• Read Scripture
  Goes through the Bible in a year with each day allotted out.

Books to Read:

• Spiritual Pathways, Gary Thomas

  • Several pathways to encountering God

• Celebration of Disciplines, Richard Foster

  • The classic for spiritual disciplines

• The Sacred Way, Tony Jones 

  • Another spiritual disciplines book, more practical

• The Hour that Changes the World, Dick Eastman

  • A great 12-step guide on praying for an hour a day

• Hearing God, Dallas Willard

  • Heavy reading, but incredibly thorough on hearing God speak.