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Dive into the strategic vision of CrossWay Church, exploring the essence and significance of the seven core practices that drive community transformation and impact according to Pastor Paul Kim. Discover the power of simplicity, engagement with scripture, dependency on the Spirit, and authentic love in this enlightening series based on selected Scriptures from December 1, 2013. Unveil a biblical portrait of the local church as a transformative community, rooted in the principles outlined in Romans 12:3-18.
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Seven Core Practices:Our Strategy for the Way of the Cross The Way of the Cross Series [10] Selected Scriptures December 1, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim
The vision of CrossWay Church is to: • “BE Christ’s transforming community • that impacts ourselves, our neighbors, and our world • for the glory of God and his kingdom.”
RECAP & OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT SERIESSeptember 15 – December 1 • Why Choose the Way of the Cross? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Our Vision: The Convergence of the Way of the Cross • Saltiness: The Quality of the Way of the Cross • Congruence: The Integrity of the Way of the Cross • Counterculture: The Mindset of the Way of the Cross __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Scripture Guidance: The Authority of the Way of the Cross • Spirit Dependence: The Power of the Way of the Cross • Real Transformation: The Fruit of the Way of the Cross • Authentic Community: The Love of the Way of the Cross __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Seven Core Practices: Our Strategy for the Way of the Cross
WHY ARE THESE SEVEN IMPORTANT IN LIVING OUT CROSSWAY’S VISION? • It is our way of life to seek God-centeredness in all things we do as Christ’s body. • It is our intentional way of keeping our church life to be an organic relational community rather than a programmatic organization. • It is our practices for fostering Spirit-dependence and Scripture-guidance in all things rather than relying on the latest trends or techniques. • It is our attempt to follow the multiplication principle of Jesus’ focus on a few locally to impact the world globally.
A BIBLICAL POTRAIT OF THE LOCAL CHURCHAS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY [Romans 12] 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body inChrist, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one whoexhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes,in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
A BIBLICAL POTRAIT OF THE LOCAL CHURCHAS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY [Romans 12] 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast towhat is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.Romans 12:3-18
WHAT ARE OUR SEVEN CORE PRACTICES AS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 1) SIMPLE LIFE & MINISTRY: Keep life and ministry simple by proactively arranging them around the “organic life and relationships” of a transforming homegroup community.
Homegroup • Community • simple • counter-cultural • lifestyle • Christ-centered • deep care/challenge • building up & branching out • holistic shepherding: modeling/ mentoring sharpening one another (men/women) apprenticing/ sharing leadership being missional serving together doing life-together Homegroup Community as the Hub of the Organic Church Life at CrossWay
Homegroup Community Homegroup Community Homegroup Community Homegroup Community Homegroup Community C CW Church-Wide Community All-Church Gatherings (Coaching/Training Children/Student Ministries Holistic Missions Sundays, Retreats, etc.) Homegroup Community Homegroup Community Homegroup Community Homegroup Community Homegroup Community CrossWay Church-Wide Community as the Hub of the Homegroup Communities
WHAT ARE OUR SEVEN CORE PRACTICES AS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 1) SIMPLE LIFE & MINISTRY: Keep life and ministry simple by proactively arranging them around the “organic life and relationships” of a transforming homegroup community. • “Simple” does NOT mean easy; rather, it is the cost of ARRANGING life and ministry to be God-centered. • Homegroup community is the HUB of the organic church life. • CW Church-wide community is the HUB of HG communities. • Our aim in this is to keep the church relational and organic rather than programmatic and organizational.
WHAT ARE OUR SEVEN CORE PRACTICES AS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 2) DEEP MUTUAL “CARE & CHALLENGE”: Cultivate both deep care & challenge mutually as transformational group culture. • Deep mutual care means genuine love in action. • Deep mutual challenge means to care enough to speak truth in love (envisioning for spiritual maturity/Christlikeness). • Our aim in this is to pursue transformation and maturity.
WHAT ARE OUR SEVEN CORE PRACTICES AS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 3) MISSIONAL COMMUNITY: Be God’s “sent people” to the world by living life in Jesus’ way and by reaching out with the gospel locally and globally. • Being missional is holistic. • Missional community is a “GOING” community. • Our aim in this is to live out with God’s mission for the world.
WHAT ARE OUR SEVEN CORE PRACTICES AS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 4) PLURALITY OF LEADERSHIP: Lead synergistically and biblically—but not politically, pursuing collective strength of wisdom and accountability as biblical discernment. • Elders are spiritual leaders (1 Tim. 5) • Leadership at CrossWay means servant leadership at all level. • Our aim in this is to serve and lead together as God’s family.
WHAT ARE OUR SEVEN CORE PRACTICES AS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 5) APPRENTICING/MENTORING: Practice apprenticing/mentoring as a lifestyle—starting within homegroup communities—mostly without any titles, positions, or even using the words, “apprenticing/mentoring.” • It is to allow opportunity to lead without the full responsibility of leadership. • It is also to encourage everyone to participate in some ways. • Our aim in this is to have an “every-member” ministry.
WHAT ARE OUR SEVEN CORE PRACTICES AS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 6) ORGANIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: Develop and empower homegrown leaders through sharing leadership tasks and responsibilities of homegroup communities. • This is a principle of 2 Timothy 2:2. • Our future leaders (most of them if not all) should be homegrown; this is our goal. • Our aim in this is to multiply effective spiritual leaders.
WHAT ARE OUR SEVEN CORE PRACTICES AS A TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 7) BUILDING UP & BRANCHING OUT: Multiply transforming communities through building up and branching out homegroup communities (20/30) and church-plants (300/400)—to keep it “happily disorganized.” • Our constant focus must be outward for expand God’s kingdom through spiritual multiplication. • The process may be slow but we ought to have “oak trees” in mind in building up and branching out. • Our aim in this is to reach the world as our obedience to Christ.
THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE • Which of the seven core practices stood out to you as the most needed practice for you in embracing the vision of CrossWay? Why? • In what practical ways can you participate more in these seven core practices? • In what ways will you help others participate more in these seven core practices?