3g reflections
3G thoughts taking shape before landing elswhere
Growth. Love God. Growing in godliness by: practicing exercises for godliness; using Bible study skills; increasing Bible knowledge and Bible beliefs.
2 Pt 3.18 grow in grace and knowledge of Lord
2 Pt 1.4-8 pursue holiness
2 Pt 3.11-14 be holy in conduct and godliness
1 Tm 4.7 discipline for godliness
1 Pt 1.15-16 be holy in behavior
Positional Righteousness was already achieved at the point of beginning to follow Christ. Here the concern is reflecting the positional righteous with Practical Righteousness.
Make disciples
Jn 8.31 disciple - if continue in word
Besides Bible knowledge & beliefs, Growth also includes pursuing holiness (practical righteousness), Father led, and faith
The disciplines, Bible study, prayer, Bible knowledge and beliefs are not the focus. These are only means to getting to know God better, enriching our friendship with Him. The focus here is developing a close relationship with Him. Best friends. The evaluation is not how many chapters or hours we read a day or how much we know. We can know a lot about God and not be friends with Him.
Groups. Developing friendships.
The title is Groups. In today's culture, this relational element might be best done in a small group. Small groups, however, are not the only environment for 2nd G activity.
The church tends to get one to two hours a week with a person. Summer Camp gets a week with full days and and multiple dynamics. MAPS (cedine.org) gets 15 months, two summers to build into a person. Other than family, MAPS may be the best model we for imitating Christ's discipling method.
James 5.16
- confess to one another
- pray for one another
- be healed
Eph 4.2 love one another
Eph 4.15 speaking truth in love
1 Cor 13 selfless not selfish
1 Cor 13.1-3 results of 3rdG activity when void of 2ndG activity
Heb 10.24-25 stimulate one another to love and good deeds
Make disciples Jn 13.35
disciple - if love one another
Are people closer to Jesus as a result of the time we have spent together? Am I moving my current friendships deeper in Christ?
Groups is the relational element of following Christ, done in community. Doing and sharing life together.
friends find friends. friends guide friends. who's your friend?
Gifts. Seeking to serve sacrificially.
1 Pt 4.10 Gifted to grace others
book of James
1 Cor 11.1 follow me as I follow Christ, do nothing alone, have a shadow, mentoring
Mt 13.44 the mission is worth the sacrifice
Make disciples Jn 15.8
disciple - if bear much fruit
follow me and watch me
- mess up
- cover up
- confess up
Do something worthwhile
2 Cor 10.14-17 expanding sphere of influence
Measuring Progress. Three questions.
1. Am I growing in godliness?
2. Am I developing friendships?
3. Am I seeking to serve sacrificially?
Part of the 3G assessment's value, is your giving of permission to a (safe) circle of friends (2ndG activity) to ask you these questions and for you to to get their view on how well you're doing.
The Mission: Turning hearts toward God:
· Both to Christ for salvation
· And toward Christ for Christ-likeness
Mt 28.18-20 Great Commission
Acts 26.20 repent turn to God
James 5.19 turn him back
The People: Fully devoted followers of Christ.
Not so with:
· Casual Christians
· Coasting Christians
· Comfortable Christians.
· Consumer Christians
Lk 10.27 all heart, soul, strength and mind
Jn 21.19 follow Me
Jer 29.13 seek God with all heart
1 Cor 3.18 Christ-likeness
Gal 2.20 not me but Christ
The Purpose of the 3Gs. A simple memory aid. We need an assessment that is constantly monitoring the level of our devotion and resultant effectiveness of turning hearts toward God. Dt. 6.1-10” love God” always on mind, always in my thoughts, Ps. 16.8 continually on mind, Ps 17.3-5 examined life, Ps 26 examined life.
2 Pt 3.18 grow in grace and knowledge of Lord
2 Pt 1.4-8 pursue holiness
2 Pt 3.11-14 be holy in conduct and godliness
1 Tm 4.7 discipline for godliness
1 Pt 1.15-16 be holy in behavior
Positional Righteousness was already achieved at the point of beginning to follow Christ. Here the concern is reflecting the positional righteous with Practical Righteousness.
Make disciples
Jn 8.31 disciple - if continue in word
Besides Bible knowledge & beliefs, Growth also includes pursuing holiness (practical righteousness), Father led, and faith
The disciplines, Bible study, prayer, Bible knowledge and beliefs are not the focus. These are only means to getting to know God better, enriching our friendship with Him. The focus here is developing a close relationship with Him. Best friends. The evaluation is not how many chapters or hours we read a day or how much we know. We can know a lot about God and not be friends with Him.
Groups. Developing friendships.
The title is Groups. In today's culture, this relational element might be best done in a small group. Small groups, however, are not the only environment for 2nd G activity.
The church tends to get one to two hours a week with a person. Summer Camp gets a week with full days and and multiple dynamics. MAPS (cedine.org) gets 15 months, two summers to build into a person. Other than family, MAPS may be the best model we for imitating Christ's discipling method.
James 5.16
- confess to one another
- pray for one another
- be healed
Eph 4.2 love one another
Eph 4.15 speaking truth in love
1 Cor 13 selfless not selfish
1 Cor 13.1-3 results of 3rdG activity when void of 2ndG activity
Heb 10.24-25 stimulate one another to love and good deeds
Make disciples Jn 13.35
disciple - if love one another
Are people closer to Jesus as a result of the time we have spent together? Am I moving my current friendships deeper in Christ?
Groups is the relational element of following Christ, done in community. Doing and sharing life together.
friends find friends. friends guide friends. who's your friend?
Gifts. Seeking to serve sacrificially.
1 Pt 4.10 Gifted to grace others
book of James
1 Cor 11.1 follow me as I follow Christ, do nothing alone, have a shadow, mentoring
Mt 13.44 the mission is worth the sacrifice
Make disciples Jn 15.8
disciple - if bear much fruit
follow me and watch me
- mess up
- cover up
- confess up
Do something worthwhile
2 Cor 10.14-17 expanding sphere of influence
Measuring Progress. Three questions.
1. Am I growing in godliness?
2. Am I developing friendships?
3. Am I seeking to serve sacrificially?
Part of the 3G assessment's value, is your giving of permission to a (safe) circle of friends (2ndG activity) to ask you these questions and for you to to get their view on how well you're doing.
The Mission: Turning hearts toward God:
· Both to Christ for salvation
· And toward Christ for Christ-likeness
Mt 28.18-20 Great Commission
Acts 26.20 repent turn to God
James 5.19 turn him back
The People: Fully devoted followers of Christ.
Not so with:
· Casual Christians
· Coasting Christians
· Comfortable Christians.
· Consumer Christians
Lk 10.27 all heart, soul, strength and mind
Jn 21.19 follow Me
Jer 29.13 seek God with all heart
1 Cor 3.18 Christ-likeness
Gal 2.20 not me but Christ
The Purpose of the 3Gs. A simple memory aid. We need an assessment that is constantly monitoring the level of our devotion and resultant effectiveness of turning hearts toward God. Dt. 6.1-10” love God” always on mind, always in my thoughts, Ps. 16.8 continually on mind, Ps 17.3-5 examined life, Ps 26 examined life.