10 tips for mission

I'll just redirect you to Fr. Joshua Bovis' blog here:

http://creideamh-a-mhain.blogspot.com/2011/03/10-tips-for-mission.html

The Blessing of Beer (Rite I & II)

"We should thank God for beer and burgundy by not drinking too much of them."
-G.K. Chesterton

"It is a mistake to think that Christians ought all to be teetotallers; Mohammedanism, not Christianity, is the teetotal religion."
-C.S. Lewis

I should like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I should like the angels of Heaven to be drinking it through time eternal.
I should like excellent meats of belief and pure piety.
I should like cheerfulness to be their drinking.
I should like Jesus to be there among them.
-St Brigid of Kildare

BLESSING OF BEER RITE I:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Bless, + O Lord, this creature beer, which thou hast deigned to produce from the fat of grain: that it may be a salutary remedy to the human race, and grant through the invocation of thy holy name; that, whoever shall drink it, may gain health in body and peace in soul. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.


BLESSING OF BEER RITE II:

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: And also be with you.

Let us pray.

Lord, bless + this creature, beer, which by your kindness and
power has been produced from kernels of grain, and let it be a
healthful drink for mankind. Grant that whoever drinks it with
thanksgiving to your holy name may find it a help in body and in soul; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

Is your church full of man-boys?

This video is sobering. If you are a Christian man, then you need to watch it. Think of it as a spiritual cup check.

Church Planter

N.T. Wright and Martin Luther on the gospel, justification and imputation: Why Luther's doctrine of imputation captures 'what St Paul really said.'

Martin Luther got it wrong. His interpretation of Paul was ill informed and unduly influenced by a medieval framework. Luther’s struggle with the Roman Catholic Church, the Papacy, indulgences, the role of faith and works in justification, and his own internal struggle to find “a gracious God” led to his conclusion of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Luther read his own personal struggle into the Epistles of Paul. As a result, Luther misunderstood first-century Judaism to be a religion of “works righteousness,” “legalism” and “Pelagianism.” We now need a fresh reading of Paul in line with first century Judaism and liberation from the “Lutheran Paul.” Paul was not concerned with Judaism as a “religion of works” contrasted with Christianity as a “religion of grace” as was Luther. Paul’s primary concern was with the inclusion of the Gentiles into the people of God.

These are some of the claims of N.T. Wright who states, “The discussions of justification in much of the history of the church, certainly since Augustine, got off on the wrong foot… and they have stayed there ever since.” According to Wright, this “Augustinian” lens must be abandoned if we are to truly understand Paul. Protestants must now reinterpret the “Lutheran” doctrines of justification by faith alone and imputation according to the Pauline Epistles as opposed to an a priori commitment to the principles of the Reformation.

Interestingly, Wright’s own readings of Paul are largely influenced by a reconstructed interpretative framework based upon writings from the period of second temple Judaism(s) combined with the scholarship of Albert Schweitzer, W.D. Davies, Krister Stendahl, Ernst Käsemann and E.P. Sanders. It seems ironic that the very man who has fought many battles against the quest for “the historical Jesus” is now on a quest for “the historical Paul.” Although Wright accuses Luther of reading his own cultural situation into the Pauline Epistles, Wright himself comes up with a doctrine of justification remarkably in tune with the twenty-first century. For Wright, justification requires inclusive community cohesion and ecumenism.

Thesis:

This paper will compare and contrast Wright’s view of the gospel, justification and imputation with Luther’s. More specifically, my hope is to demonstrate that Luther’s doctrine of “imputation” captures the essence of “what Saint Paul really said.” In order to do so, I will (1) Present Wright’s understanding of the gospel, justification and imputation (2) Present Luther’s understanding of the gospel, justification and imputation (3) Compare both men’s interpretations of 2 Corinthians 5:21 while defending Luther as the better interpreter of Paul on imputation.

If you are interested in reading my entire thesis, then send me an email at:

scottcwalker@yahoo.com

Spiritual Formation & Catechesis: A few ideas.

As the church lives out her calling through the 4 pillars embodied in community groups the church will offer many courses in the tradition of the Celtic abbey model of learning, hospitality, mission and scholarship. The following courses are just a few that I thought we could offer, but the opportunities are endless. For instance a calligraphy course, how to play the bagpipes, how to grow your own vegetables, brew your own beer, make your own meat smoker/smoke your own meat etc. are all courses I would love to see developed. Note: such courses could be taught by various qualified people in the broader community & interdenominationally in the Christian church. For example, I thought it would be wonderful to partner with the local YWAM base in Lakeside, Montana. Imagine the combination of the School of Biblical Studies with the daily office of Morning & Evening prayer. In any case, the following courses are us a few ideas.

Appendix 2: Spiritual Formation & Catechesis

All Christian formation has in mind nothing less than bringing all aspects of one’s life into obedience and conformity to Jesus Christ. Therefore, the program of Formation & Catechesis at Good Shepherd is designed to:

• Guide Christians into deeper intimacy with the Triune God
• Help cultivate a life of grace, holiness and mission
• Teach disciples to cooperate with the transforming work of the Spirit in our common life
• Enable participants to experience the abundant life that Jesus promised to his disciples.

We intend that course offerings will ground participants more deeply in the stories God tells about the world, and give them the spiritual tools to grow in faithfulness to Christ. Many of these patterns and practices are ancient and time-honored, precisely because they have served well in diverse times and places for the cultivation of Christian virtue.

Basics Practices: Hearing and Doing the Word. Christian disciples are entreated to continually “read, mark and inwardly digest” the Holy Scriptures, and these three classes are offered in single segments on a regular basis. These courses will be offered multiple times per year.

Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, & Compline (Night) Prayer (3 sessions)
It is of the highest importance for disciples to listen to the Lord and offer prayers to him, both alone and with others. The Daily Office of MP & EP guides us to do this while interacting with the Scriptures, and following the rhythms of the Christian Year. This session will cover how to use the BCP in Daily devotions, and various other options for the Daily Office.
The word Compline is derived from the Latin completorium. It simply means “complete.” Compline is said at the completion of the working day – often just before bed. This ancient form of prayer dates back to as early as the 4th century. Learn how this form of contemplative prayer can enrich your prayer life and draw you closer to Christ. Many people report an increased sense of peace in their lives as a result of this office.

Inductive Bible Study - Philemon (4 Sessions):
Do you ever feel like you want to study the Bible more, but don’t know where to begin? Have you ever said, ‘the Bible is just too hard to study or understand?’ If so, then this course is for you! This introduction to the inductive approach of Bible Study gives you the tools to observe what the text says and then let the text speak for itself. Learn to discover the big picture, while also digging into the details of the book of Philemon. Emphasis is placed on understanding the cultural and historical background of the author and original readers of the book. The student interprets Scripture with the mindset of the original reader then takes the timeless truths and applies them personally and corporately.

Lectio Divina: Reading Scripture to Feed Your Soul
Lectio Divina is method of reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture designed to help us feed deeply on the Word of God and hear the Holy Spirit speak into our lives.

Seminars. Other multi-session courses will be scheduled at different times of the year as appropriate.


Anglican Christianity (6 sessions)
Are you new to the Anglican stream of the Christian tradition? Are you wondering what the Church teaches about different matters? Want to learn more about why we do things the way we do? Join us for six sessions that cover the basics

1. A Church both Catholic and Reformed: the History of the Anglican Church
2. Professing the Faith of the Undivided Church: Holy Scripture and Tradition
3. Praying our Faith: Christian Liturgy and the BCP
4. Holy Baptism & Holy Eucharist: The Sacramental Life
5. Reformation Doctrines: The centrality of Scripture, grace, justification
6. Making Room: Hospitality, Celtic Mission, and the Four Pillars


I Believe in God… the Apostles’ Creed (6 sessions)
Understanding and Applying the Apostles' Creed. Come and discover the most important and basic elements of the Christian faith. What makes up the centre and core of the faith once delivered to the saints? This course on the Apostles’ Creed is a great introduction to the nuts and bolts of Christianity.

Historical Theology 100-451 AD - Patristics (4 Sessions):
This course will survey key orthodox theologians of the early church such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Athanasius, and Augustine of Hippo. We will also look at key heterodox theologians such as Arius and Pelagius. We will survey key theological developments and controversies during the first five centuries of the Church. Examples include: the development of the New Testament canon, the role of tradition, the creeds, the two natures of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity, the Church, and grace. This course is incredibly helpful for understanding the foundations of our faith. It is not overly academic, so don’t be shy.

The Father Heart of God (3 sessions)
One of the things that keep people from finding joy in Christ and growing deeply in him is not having a deep revelation of the Father’s unfathomable love and delight in his children. Spiritual growth only happens as we entrust ourselves more and more fully to God. But what if deep down we do not feel or believe God is trustworthy? What if we find ourselves feeling like God is never really pleased with us and doesn’t really delight in us and so no matter how hard we try to please God we are never good enough for him? God has something different and better for us. He wants to birth in our hearts a vision for Him as Abba, Father (Romans 8:15), and to root and ground us in his eternal and unchanging love (Eph. 3:14-18). He wants us to know him as the Father who delights in us, wants us and who loves – only because we belong to him. If you would like to refresh your vision of God and begin to let him root you and ground you in his love, then be sure and attend this seminar.

Love, Sex, Relationships, Christian Marriage (3 sessions)
This three-week gathering will examine Biblical and Christian teaching regarding love, sex, relationships and Christian marriage. The assumption of the class is that God intends celibacy outside of marriage and Christian marriage to be a means of Christian formation and to express the life of his Kingdom. The class will combine Biblical teaching and practical training in how to have Kingdom focused relationships. Married and non-married persons are welcome.

These single-session courses will generally be offered once or twice a year at different seasons. Please keep in mind that some courses are still being developed.

The Cross of Christ
The Christian Church is the community of the Crucified and Risen Lord. But how does the death of one man two thousand years ago save us? This two-session course will explore the different ways the Cross of Christ is understood to save and heal us, and how it shapes our lives together and directs our witness to the world. Learn about deep theological concepts such as propitiation, substitutionary atonement, satisfaction theory, Christus Victor, Christus exemplar, expiation… and have such concepts explained in normal, everyday language that one can begin to understand and apply to everyday living.

Scripture memorization
Do you ever wonder how some people seem to have scripture on their heads and hearts 24/7? Our Lord Jesus often quoted scripture as a way to refute religious legalists and bless sinners with the word of God. How can we make scripture a part of our deepest being? Or perhaps a better way of saying this is how can we become a part of scripture? The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to ‘eat this book’. How do we seek to metaphorically eat and digest the scripture through memorization? Come and find out.

Understanding Spiritual Warfare
Saint Paul wrote that our fight is not “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” What does this mean for our lives as we confess sin, resist temptation, and demolish strongholds as we engage in Christian mission? This course will look primarily at St Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians and Colossians.

Evangelism and the Practice of Christian Hospitality
How can we create hospitable space in our lives so that our friends and neighbors can experience the Christian gospel as truly “good news”?

Key Biblical Paradigms of mission (2 Sessions)
John 4, Acts 17, Matthew 28. What does it mean to be “missional” in our cultural context? What does it look like to consider oneself a missionary right where you are today? How can missions not just be somewhere “over there,” but right out your front door? The first session looks at three key passages of Scripture. The second session seeks to practically apply the truths of scripture to our own mission field. Be prepared to ask yourself some tough questions.

Trinitarian Spirituality
Christians confess their faith in the blessed and undivided Trinity because this is how God has revealed God’s own self in the course of Christian living. This seminar will not only discuss the rationale for faith and trust in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but the understanding of Christian life that proceeds from that revelation. This course is based primarily on Millard Erickson’s book, Making Sense of the Trinity: Three Crucial Questions.

Eucharistic Spirituality
The Christian rite of Holy Communion brings God’s past and future actions together for our salvation in the present. Learn how the Eucharistic Meal shapes us in mission and everyday relationships, with God and one another. This course is based primarily on N.T. Wright’s book, The Meal that Jesus gave us: Understanding Holy Communion.

Gospel of John
Learn how St John structures his Gospel around the 7 signs. Learn how each sign points to the divinity of Jesus. And how from beginning to end John want us to know that Jesus Christ is nothing less than Almighty God in human flesh. John tell us why he writes in John 20:31, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Come explore the meaning of John’s Gospel. This is a great class for those who come from other religious traditions and/or have left cults such as Mormonism or the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A proposed covenant for community group leaders

COVENANT FOR SHEPHERDS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS
AS A SHEPHERD OF A COMMUNITY GROUP BY GOD’S GRACE I WILL …

✞ Submit to the clergy of this parish and other chief ministers of the Church in all things lawful according to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures and the doctrine and discipline of this church as she has received it.

✞ Meet at least monthly with the clergy and other community group leaders of Good Shepherd to pray the daily office, share a meal, and to discuss what God has put on their hearts for the local community

✞ Seek to be a humble shepherd who cares for those in my group. Rather than trying to be a “preacher” I will be an example to my group. I will be the first to model a life of repentance, godliness, and service. I will seek to protect the sheep by guarding orthodox theology while gently correcting false doctrine under the discernment, guidance and support of my clergy.

✞ Commit to being a team player while equipping others to use their gifts both in the church and to reach our local community and surrounding areas.

✞ Intentionally look for an apprentice who is has potential to shepherd/lead a community group at Good Shepherd in the future and communicate potential leaders with the clergy.

✞ Make a one-year commitment as a community group shepherd/leader.

✞ Pray for one specific area and/or neighborhood of our city. I will, in time, seek to be a “sent” person who goes to my community. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (Jn. 20:21). I will bless that area with my community group through prayer, acts of service, existing service projects in the community – such as fixing a fence, painting a building, offering water to joggers in a park on a hot day, and through real relationships.

✞ Intentionally build relationships in the neighborhood/area to which I feel called – especially the unchurched. I will get to know people by name, pray for them, drink their coffee, eat their food, shop in their stores and love them like Jesus would. Rather than withdrawing from society into an isolated Christian subculture we will intentionally enter into the community around us and build relationships with the unchurched.

✞ Take ownership for the mission of the church.

✞ Demonstrate a strong desire to see multiplication in community groups and to see the church grow spiritually and numerically.

✞ Commit to staying “outward focused” within the context of ministry.

✞ Commit to the ministry of hospitality and to being “inconvenienced” in our schedules and daily lives. We seek not only to “share the gospel” with others, but to share our lives with others. We seek to receive our unchurched friends and neighbors into our routines, homes and workplaces as if they were Christ himself.

✞ Encourage participation in local festivities, gatherings, social networking events in the city and surrounding areas so as to be like Jesus.

✞ Intentionally hold a community group “social event” once a month in an area that God has given me a burden for with the discernment and approval of the clergy. I will encourage my group to invite the unchurched to that social event – e.g. a movie, pub, BBQ, etc.

✞ Make communal meals a part of my community group as much as possible. I will use this as a means to invite the unchurched that I have built a relationship with into my home and community group.

✞ Commit to an intentional plan for personal spiritual growth. Examples include: development of prayer life, personal devotions or “quiet time”, lectio divina, silence and solitude, fasting (food, coffee, media) journaling, writing songs, poetry, financial stewardship and giving, intercessory prayer and spiritual warfare, Sabbath rest, seeking a “soul friend”/mentor/prayer partner, reading classics of theology, liturgy, church history, evangelism, attending conferences and teaching sessions at Good Shepherd, commitment to the poor and social justice.

✞ Pray the office of either Morning or Evening Prayer – preferably both – and read, meditate, and inwardly digest scripture daily.

✞ Live not only to “get the world into church” but also to “get the church into the world?”

✞ Seek to serve, bless and keep accountable those in my community group. Particularly in times of joy and hardship.

✞ If married, then I will seek to love my spouse, family and kids and teach them to love Jesus. I will not neglect them or sacrifice them on the altar of “ministry.” Mission begins at home.

A missional vision for church planting Anglicans

I'd like to give credit to Fr. Peter Vance Matthews of St Patricks Anglican church in Lexington, KY and to the community groups at Mars hill church Seattle for much of the inspiration & ideas for what is laid out below. For more information visit:

Saint Patricks

MarsHill community groups



How To Get Involved in the Church of the Good Shepherd
THE 4 Pillars of Community Groups

Worship
Community
Formation
Mission

Introduction

Getting involved in a local church is often about participating in its programs and activities. For example, someone might attend Sunday worship for a number of weeks and then decide to deepen their involvement by joining a Sunday school class or taking their children to the mid-week youth program. Often one’s involvement with the church ends there.

At Good Shepherd we have many traditional ministries like those mentioned above. However, we also understand we live in a new era in the life of the church. We can no longer afford to do ministry within the Christendom model. Most of our neighbors are unchurched. Therefore, we believe getting involved must include more than that. While we do have activities and programs, we also see “getting involved” comes by knowing Christ and by making Him known in St Catharines and beyond. We seek to do this in community groups and by living as disciples of Jesus Christ. We don’t do that because we think programs are bad things. We do that because we believe this is the mission Jesus has given the Church until he returns: to know Him and make Him known. Thus, mission begins right outside our doorstep. Like it or not, you are a missionary and our mission field is St Catharines!

Moments before Jesus left earth to ascend to the Father, he left his disciples with the Church’s standing orders:

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:16-20 ESV)

This passage is called the Great Commission because here Jesus commissioned the Church with its central mission until he returns again: make disciples, not converts.

A disciple is a learner. More precisely, a disciple is one who is learning the way of Jesus. In our time and place we often associate learning with schools and classrooms. But there was a time when it was highly common for people to be educated – especially if they were learning a trade or a skill – through a process called apprenticeship. An apprentice is one who is learning how to do a certain skill from a master practitioner of that skill. A disciple is learner in this sense: an apprentice of Jesus. A disciple is learning to do all Christ’s commands.

Good Shepherd is a community of apprentices for Jesus who are in a lifelong apprenticeship learning how to live the life he wants us to live. So getting involved is about being an apprentice of Jesus – learning from the master how to live life as God intends. To help us stay focused on that end we frame Christian discipleship – our apprenticeship – around four pillars: Worship, Community, Formation and Mission. These four pillars capture, in broad brushstrokes, the way of life Jesus is teaching us so that we might know Him, make Him known, and to live as his disciples.

Community groups are vital vehicles through which the people of Good Shepherd gathers to live life for Jesus in, among, and around St Catharines: loving people, immersed in our surrounding culture, and seeing lives transformed for Jesus through authentic relationships.

We create community groups because we model the Trinity. God is one God in three persons. Perfect love and true community exists and has eternally existed within the Triune God! He does not need to go outside Himself because “He is lonely” or because He needed to “find someone to love.” Rather, God, for no other reason than grace and love reaches out of his divine, eternal, Triune community and shapes us to reflect this eternal communion between Father, Son and Spirit. In community groups we are invited to participate in the very life of the Triune God!

GET CONNECTED

If you’re new to Good Shepherd or have been here since the beginning we want to see you connected in community. Community is a gift of God and essential for your growth as an individual and our growth as a church. Our groups are typically 8-15 people. Please sign up for a community group at the back of the church or phone the clergy to get plugged in. We encourage you to choose a group that is close to the neighborhood you live in. Ideally your group would be close enough for you to walk to! Also, we encourage you to join a group that matches you as a person or as a family. This will be a group that you will spend lots of time with and it should be a good fit for you.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY GROUP?

Gathering weekly for fellowship and accountability, study and prayer, good times and tears, Good Shepherd Community Groups are an essential expression of our church’s mission.
At the heart of the Community Groups ministry is the desire to see a community of believers who worship Jesus, love one another, and embody our mission to know Christ and to make Him known. God has called us to a continuous lifestyle of worship and relationship with Himself, which is cultivated and nurtured within the body of Christ. The Church is not a building, but a people. It is a gift of God. At Good Shepherd, community groups are the place where discipleship, care and mission takes place. It is where we encourage one another to be worshipers of our Lord. It is where the body becomes the body, loving, caring and challenging one another. As well, it is within community that we engage culture and incarnate Jesus in the nooks and crannies of our city. We were created to worship Jesus in community in the Image of our Creator, who Himself exists in community. It is our desire to see every member of Good Shepherd loved, cared for, and challenged within a thriving community. And it is our desire that our neighbors within this city are blessed and touched by the love of Jesus through the lives of our members.

I AM NEW HERE. AM I READY FOR A COMMUNITY GROUP?

A community group is a gathering of people from the church that get together weekly to share life and support one another. Life is hard. It was never meant to be lived in isolation. Community is a gift of God intended to help us see and experience the good news of Jesus in profound and tangible ways. If you are new to the church this the perfect place for you to belong, ask questions, and wrestle with your faith in a community of people who care for you because you are created in the image of God. It is within community that we exist as true family in a time when the concept of a loving and caring family can seem foreign. It is a place where we encourage and challenge one another in our journey to know Jesus in deeper and more personal ways. In Community Groups, people talk through life issues, eat together, pray together, laugh together, struggle together, and serve others as we are transformed by the grace of God in our lives.

WHY ARE COMMUNITY GROUPS SO IMPORTANT TO GOOD SHEPHERD?

Getting connected at Good Shepherd means participating in both the Sunday gathering and a Community Group. Sundays are a time for celebrating in worship of Jesus together, hearing the preached Word, and sharing in Holy Communion. Community Groups are the place where the seeds of the Word, Sacrament and liturgy take root and become real. It is the place where we build relationships with one another, living life together. As well, it is within the groups within the neighborhoods of the city that we can participate in the work that God has called us to as a church. Our groups are an opportunity to love and bless St Catharines in unique ways.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN I GO?

Each Group is unique as the group reflects the people and neighborhood in which it exists. However, you can expect a weekly gathering that involves food, conversation, prayer, discussion for applying the Bible to practical living, and service in the neighborhood. Community Groups are an environment for building relationships with one another, which strongly emphasizes challenging one another to drive God’s Word deeply into our lives. Some groups follow the Sunday sermon series; although some may choose to work through another book of the Bible, or pray the Daily Office. We encourage our groups to follow the sermon series which typically follows the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) available online – just google it. Community groups are much more than a Bible study however, they are community, a place where we can laugh, cry, work and play together for glory of Jesus. This means you could expect BBQ’s, yard work for an elderly neighbour, bowling, working in children’s ministry, visiting people in the hospital, birthday parties, making and taking quilts to young mothers, serving at a soup kitchen, etc.

COMMUNITY GROUPS AT GOOD SHEPHERD

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

-Acts 2:42-7


The 4 Pillars

In Acts 2:42-47, we read how the first Christians lived out the Great Commission. They were, “Continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers…” Going on in the same passage, we see that there were signs and wonders taking place, the believers were selling their possessions and sharing with one another, taking meals together in each others’ homes, worshipping together in unity at the temple, and rejoicing as the Lord was adding to their number day by day, those who were being saved. Out of this wonderful description of new life in the Spirit, we can discern four basic practices of Christian discipleship: Worship, Community, Formation and Mission.

We accomplish our mission by gathering for worship, creating community life, formation in Holy Scripture, spiritual formation & learning to live on a mission for God. Another way to say this is:

WORSHIP – COMMUNITY – FORMATION – MISSION


WORSHIP
Participating well in public and private worship.

COMMUNITY
Knowing, serving, loving other Participants in the local church and city

FORMATION
Immersion in Scripture and spiritual disciplines to grow into the image of Christ.

MISSION
Loving and serving our local community & the world in word and deed.

The 4 Pillars should not be confused with a set of Laws to be observed legalistically. While we believe that every Christian should embrace these common areas of discipleship to grow closer to God, we also know that each of us has different spiritual needs and preferences. Therefore, the norm for Good Shepherd is following principles based on the 4 Pillars. We realize each person is diverse in makeup, tastes, preferences and internal hard wiring. This is the Glory of our God who takes pleasure in diversity. We encourage each disciple to develop his or her own unique plan in order to know Christ and make him known. However, we encourage everyone at Good Shepherd to get into a community group.

Teaching: Classes are available through Good Shepherd’s Formation & Catechesis Education Program that address what one needs to learn so that they might be better equipped to know Christ and make him known as a his disciple. One’s community group shepherd or a mutually agreed upon sponsor will help one choose the classes needed.

Community group sponsor, accountability partner, soul friend: a spiritual friend that meets with a learner to pray, encourage and have conversation about what the learner is learning. The sponsor is committed to pray for the learner daily and to show through example what Christian discipleship looks like.

Foundations

The 4 Pillars are based on three foundational passages in St Matthew’s Gospel. At Good Shepherd, we call these the “3 great C’s” of Christian Faith:

1. The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40)
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (ESV)

2. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

3. The Great Compassion (Matthew 25:31-41)
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’. (ESV)

Appendix 1: Your Community Group

A community group is an intentional community of formation and mission. Under the oversight of a lay shepherd - who is under the oversight of a Priest - each community group utilizes aspects of classical Christian spirituality to foster Christian formation and mission. Community groups denote a smaller community of disciples that are attached to a larger church community.

The characteristics of a community group are:
+Community groups are diverse. Some are primarily built around Bible study (following the Sunday sermon series), fellowship and prayer, often meet around a shared meal, some pray together using the Daily Office, others focus on offering a non-threatening environment of hospitality, service projects, or are event focused with intent to invite unchurched folks.

+Community groups are designed to foster Christian friendship with the assumption that in Christian discipleship is more “caught than is taught.”

+Community groups meet 2-5 times a month. This is to give enough time for the communities to grow in friendship but allow freedom in one’s schedule for other commitments and especially for friendship with other people inside and outside of church.

+Each member makes one-year covenant with other community members to attend the meetings of the group and fulfill any other commitments the groups agree to. This covenant is central to the aim of the community group and will foster and strengthen the bonds of Christian friendship and ignite Christian discipleship.

+Community groups intentionally encourage each of the members to commit to and live out the 4 Pillars.

+Community groups encourage each member to pray the Daily Office and will seek to pray it daily at home.

+Each Community group is led by a person who will not only serve as organizer and facilitator for group meetings, but will act as a kind of lay “minister” seeking to encourage and strengthen each community member in their Christian pilgrimage and help the group grow together into deeper Christian friendship. The group leader is called a shepherd.

+Each Community group will do common mission to reach out together to non-disciples through hospitality and to serve the surrounding community in concrete ways.

*Each missional community group leader would be expected to sign a covenant.
*the 4 pillars and community groups are shaped according to Anglican polity.