Teachings
Contrast Christmas Service 2021
God invites even the most low, down-trodden people to his banquet.
Big idea:
God invites even the most low, down-trodden people to his banquet.
Following Jesus | Week 9 - Don't Believe the Hype
The call of followers of Jesus is faithfulness.
Big idea:
Our call as followers of Jesus is faithfulness.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Nov 15th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Ecclesisates 1 & 2
Mark 8:34-37
Following Jesus | Week 8 - Sacrifice & Service
Jesus’ call to discipleship, and union with him is a radical denial of self which leads to loving and serving others.
Big idea:
Jesus’ call to discipleship, and union with him is a radical sacrifice (denial of self) which leads to loving and serving others.
We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.
- 1 John 3:16
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Nov 8th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Mark 10:35-45
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Galatians 5:13-16
Baptisms!
This week we had the opportunity to baptism four of our launch team members! Below are the videos for each of their brief testimony and baptisms.
Following Jesus | Week 7 - Love thy Neighbor
Love for neighbor, and hospitality are at the heart of the gospel and mission of the church.
Big idea:
Love for neighbor, and hospitality are at the heart of the gospel and mission of the church.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Nov 1st, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Luke 10:29-37
James 1:22-25
Love thy Neighbor Week!
Our training, and practical application this week is centered around loving our neighbors.
If you are interested in participating in Love thy Neighbor week, click here for a document that explains our goal as a launch team.
Following Jesus | Week 6 - Diversity in Unity
The diversity of the Body of Christ is to foster unity with its unique gifts rooted in love.
Big idea:
The diversity of the Body of Christ is to foster unity with its unique gifts rooted in love.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Oct 25th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
1 Corinthians 12-13:7
2 Kings 18
Ephesians 4:14-16
Training
This week we learned about the 4 occurrences of Spiritual “gifts,” roles, and manifestations in order to better understand the work of the Spirit in our lives.
In tandem with the audio training, we went on to this Spiritual gifts website and learned about our gifts after taking the test.
Following Jesus | Week 5 - Reverential Awe
Our devotion for following Jesus leads to a reverential awe that produces Kingdom wins.
Big idea:
Our devotion for following Jesus leads to a reverential awe that produces Kingdom wins.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, October 18th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Acts 2
Acts 4:13-14
Acts 5:12-14
Training
This week we discussed our Philsophy—Mission, vision, and DNA of Contrast Church. Below are three PDFS that briefly describe each one.
Following Jesus | Week 4 - Together
The church is to be a tangible display of God’s love, known by our unity and radical love for one another and the world.
Big idea:
The church is to be a tangible display of God’s love, known by our unity and radical love for one another and the world.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, October 4th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
John 17:20-26
John 13:33-35
Acts 2:42-43
Ephesians 1:22-23
Following Jesus | Week 3 - Live out His Mission
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
The gospel, and our relationship with Jesus is the foundation for everything we do.
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
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.