Shepherding and Counseling in the CityChurches— 2011 Year End

1. We have participated in 3 very important series over the last 2 plus years as we have moved to our new CityChurch strategy of becoming a church of 12 churches.

3. Thesis: There is a connection (“Link”) between the spontaneous expansion of the Early Church and the simple gathering together of communities of believers on the first day of every week in homes or tenements around an evening meal, celebrating their new life in Christ.

5. “The communities are telling the story of Jesus by the very nature of their existence.” From every angle, when you examine the nature of these small communities of early churches, by their very design, they were intended to be kerygmatic and key to the continued proclamation of the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, all through the centuries.  

6. Shepherding and Counseling in the CityChurches— 2011 Year End

7. We are revisiting this third series to sharpen our own life focus at year end and to prepare us for two important events in the first half of 2012, to help our communities engage more fully in lives of people around us.

8. The Thessalonian Correspondence Founding the Community Shaping the Community Stabilizing the Community Conversion Concept of Traditions (Commandments, instructions) Challenge to Traditions …mother…father …accepted as word of God …received from instruction …stand firm and hold to the traditions …full conviction …word sounded forth …turned from idols …so that you may not be disturbed …not be quickly shaken …appreciate those who labor among you …admonish the unruly

9. Pastoral Care Taxonomy Special Assistance (Lifelong psychiatric-medical—if needed) Productive Member of Community LifeWork (paid if able) Mature in faith Faithful service, fully using abilities Special Assistance (Psychiatric-Medical—if needed) Strongholds Renewing Mind Working Knowledge of Scripture - The Story, LifeStories - Psalms, Proverbs - Biblical ideas, in context Complex life situations Establishing Process Learning the First Principles of Faith Developing LifeWork Skills Special Assistance (Psychiatric-medical—if needed Life Rebuilding Living with a Family Learning the First Principles of the Faith Developing LifeWork Skills 3 years on average Conversion Process Embracing the Kerygma Baptism Join community of faith

10. Special Assistance Spheres Perpetually poor, destitute life conditions, bankruptcy Psychological and physiological disorders Partner with medical professionals Life Rebuilding Programs Partner with government programs Parolees, juvenile delinquents Partner with judges, parole officers

11. Official Counseling-Type Problems • Children’s problems: ADD, autism, behavioral and learning disorders • Teenage transitional problems • Life-rebuilding problems: unwed mothers, parolees • Fractured families: divorce, abuse, juvenile delinquency, social services • Criminal activity • Emotional breakdown, psychological disorders • Financial problems: bankruptcy, job loss, inadequate work • Health problems, grief, death

12. I want to use the year end to help you sharpen your focus at the top level: Productive Member of Community LifeWork (paid if able) Mature in faith Faithful service, fully using abilities

13. Three tools are part of developing goals and skills at the top level.

14. To help sharpen that focus, I pulled 3 pieces out of these tools and want to have us all work with them over these 3 weeks. • Timeline • SIMA • Goals

15. Psalm 90 10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. 11 Who understands the power of Thine anger, And Thy fury, according to the fear that is due Thee? 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.

16. 5 Key Exercises • Number your days • Quickly identify a handful of “freshly stated” goals for 2012—off the top of your head. • Review your SIMA (175 of you have them)—if not, have someone in your church share theirs. • Update your timeline (if you don’t have one then have someone in your church share theirs with you). • Carefully update your goals.

17. Development Stages Timeline 17–22 40–45 60–65 Childhood & Adolescence Early Adulthood Middle Adulthood Later Adulthood

18. Timeline Criteria 1. nodal events 2. mentors 3. ministry experiences 4. educational experiences 5. work experiences 6. family experiences 7. achievements 8. future goals 9. future desires

19. Interview—Timeline • Sam Stagg • LifeWork • Body of Work

23. The MAP tells you much more: • your core abilities • the subject matter that is always part of your motivation • motivating circumstances • how you best work with people • how you prefer to be managed • And much more!

24. Interview—SIMA • John Haila • Business focus/insight • Zach Keller • Precision in paid work

25. Panel—SIMA • Panel on Uniqueness • Caleb—biographer • Bill—co-author of 10 Steps • Aaron—SIMA artist

26. SIMA Events in 2012 • A Lifen event—Saturday morning February 4, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. • A “SIMA and Your LifeWork” event in May—involving the Ames and Des Moines communities.

27. 5 Key Exercises • Number your days • Quickly identify a handful of “freshly stated” goals for 2012—off the top of your head. • Review your SIMA (175 of you have them)—if not, have someone in your church share theirs. • Update your timeline (if you don’t have one then have someone in your church share theirs with you). • Carefully update your goals.

28. Sketch a Master Plan • This should incorporate the following elements: • A flexible, general strategy, probably designed in phases (5–15 years in length). • A detailed plan covering 1–2 years with prioritized activities, dates, deadlines, and review systems. • Habits to be built over a period of time (most habits take two years before they are truly lifelong habits). • One-time simple goals, such as skills to be learned.

29. Now we have two final exercises to complete our three weeks and to build a bridge to 2 key events.

30. Telling Your Story Pick an element from your Lifen process—timeline, goals—that you can use to illustrate the value of the life planning process. Your SIMA may also be part of your story—maybe how it helped you in enhancing your job-fit, a new path in education, insights into marriage or children, etc.

31. Inviting a Friend Pick a friend or acquaintance, and invite him or her to the Lifenevent. Be prepared to share its value to you by sharing part of your own story. Friend’s name _______________________ Plan the setting for sharing with your friend: lunch together, after-work drink, meal in your home, break at work, etc. Quickly record you initial thoughts here.

32. I want to focus on helping each of you set goals toward the top level: Productive Member of Community LifeWork (paid if able) Mature in faith Faithful service, fully using abilities

33. Interview—Vision of Events Sean’s Vision Sam’s Vision

34. SIMA Events in 2012 • A Lifen event—Saturday morning February 4, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. • A “SIMA and Your LifeWork” event in May—involving the Ames and Des Moines communities.

35. A Collection of Jesus to the Gospels Series We will return to Mark on January 29 to complete our collection of “Jesus to the Gospels”—studying Matthew, then Luke, then John through the year 2012.