Disruptive Discipleship | Week 4 - Dependence over Deeds

---

Big idea:

Our deeds (works) will never amount to the importance and weight of dependence on Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Jan 24th, 2021.

The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:

• Ezra

• Nehemiah

• Ezekiel 26:22-32

• Matthew 15:10-20

---

---

---

Disruptive Discipleship | Week 3 - Intentionality over Complacency

---

Big idea:

Following Jesus requires intentionality centered on a lifelong pursuit of growing, and becoming more like Him.

The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Jan 24th, 2021.

The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:

• Daniel 4

• 2 Samuel 11

• Luke 19

---

---

---

Training

Disruptive Discipleship | Week 2 - Presence over Distraction

---

Big idea:

A mark of disruptive discipleship is a prioritized presence with Jesus that overflows into a presence with others.

The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Jan 17th, 2021.

The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:

• Daniel 6

• Luke 10

• Luke 23

---

---

---

Training

Four Practices for unhurried your life:

*From Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

1. Silence and Solitude

   1. In Matthew 4, Jesus’ first step into ministry he goes and fasts for 40 days, is tempted by Satan. In this we see, not weakness, but strength. He was most strong at the end of that fast because he had been in the presence of God for so long. 

   2. Silence and Solitude reminds us of our true identity and calling before the world gets a chance to taint it. 

2. Sabbath

   1. If the Lord of the universe created the entire universe and then took a day off, your busy week is not an excuse to not Sabbath.

   2. Walter Bruggeeman” People who keep Sabbath live all seven days differently.. “

   3. Sabbath is:

      1. Rest and worship (a day off is a “bastard Sabbath by Peterson).

      2. Resistance (to the world of go, more, and hurry).

3. Simplicity

   1. Less is truly more..

   2. Inward reality seen in an outward lifestyle.

4. Slowing

   1. “Cultivating patience by deliberately choosing to place ourselves in positions where we simply have to wait”

   2. Practices for slowing

      1. Turn your smart phone into a dumb phone.

      2. Delete social media off your phone

      3. Set times to be on social media

      4. Keep phone off until after morning quiet time.

      5. Journal

      6. Take long vacations

Disruptive Discipleship | Week 1 - Resilience over Compromise

---

Big idea:

In a culture of compromise, followers of Jesus must lean into a disruptive discipleship that embodies resilience.

The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Jan 10th, 2021.

The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:

• Daniel 1

• 1 Peter 1-2

• Luke 22

---

---

---

Training Notes:

5 Practices for Resilient followers of Jesus.

*From Faith for Exiles

1. Experience intimacy with Jesus

   1. This is done powerfully with others (like CORE), 

   2. Asking big questions and finding the answers in Jesus, 

   3. Learn what it means to talk to God, but also listen and respond in conviction.

2. Develop the muscles of cultural discernment

   1. Don’t live under a rock, anchor to the Bible and trust its convictions on you.

   2. Don’t just engage, prepare to engaged.

   3. Learn how to have theology with a cultural backbone.

3. Forge meaningful, intergenerational relationships.

   1. Have a group of people that you love, but sometimes don’t like  (they call you on your crap).

   2. Have someone ahead of you, helping you navigate

   3. Be someone who is worth being around, be vulnerable.

4. Train for vocational discipleship

   1. Form a good theology of work and calling.

   2. Find meaningful ways to engage in mission at your work.

5. Engage in Countercultural mission.

   1. Curb entitlement and self-centeredness by serving

   2. Don’t always put safety first.

   3. Embody a Godly sexual ethic (more on that in a few weeks).

   4. Lead with love

Contrast Christmas Service 2021

---

Big idea:

God invites even the most low, down-trodden people to his banquet.

---

Following Jesus | Week 9 - Don't Believe the Hype

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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.