s3.amazonaws.com€¦ · Web viewGod created His church for the purpose of making His wisdom...

Becoming a Member of theNew Life Church Family

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Welcome Message from the Pastors and Elders….........................................................................1

The Mission and Purpose of the Universal Church...........................................................................2

The Mission and Purpose of the Local Church.................................................................................4The Christian & Missionary Alliance.........................................................................................................4

The Statement of Faith of the C&MA........................................................................................................5

What is a Missional Church?..............................................................................................................715 Ways to Live On-Mission in Your Community (Cultivating).............................................................9

Spiritual Conversation Starters (Cultivating Planting).....................................................................12

What is the Gospel and How Do You Share It? (Planting Reaping)................................................14

New Life Church...............................................................................................................................15Our History.................................................................................................................................................15

Our Mission: We are Jesus to Others to Bring Others to Jesus.............................................................15

Our New Life Vision is a Vision for Making Disciples............................................................................15

Our Governance and Organization..........................................................................................................18The Leadership of New Life Church.........................................................................................................................18Biblical Leadership Qualifications...........................................................................................................................18The Nominating Process for Ministry Team Leaders...............................................................................................20Pastors & Leaders....................................................................................................................................................20

Expectations for Church Members...........................................................................................................22Submission to Church Authority and Discipline.......................................................................................................23The Practice of Restorative Church Discipline........................................................................................................23Serving at New Life Church......................................................................................................................................24

How Do You Connect to the New Life Church Family?.........................................................................24

Appendices.........................................................................................................................................25Appendix A: About the Christian & Missionary Alliance......................................................................25

Appendix B: Questions About Membership............................................................................................27Why Should I Join a Local Church?.........................................................................................................................27Which Church Should I Join?...................................................................................................................................29

Appendix C: Potential Membership Interview Questions......................................................................29

Class #1

A Welcome Message from the Pastors and Elders…Welcome to New Life Church. Thank you for the opportunity to share our vision and mission

to build up our body of believers and to share the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ with the unsaved. Membership at New Life Church is open to all who confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who have been baptized.

In this class you will learn about who we are, how we do ministry and the ministry opportunities available for you to exercise the spiritual gifts God has given you for His service. We hope this class will answer your questions about New Life church as you prayerfully consider connecting with the New Life family.

You may wish to turn to the Appendix and read about why you should be a member of a local church and what you should look for in a church before you join. Please avail yourself of the opportunity to ask questions during the class. We look forward to having you become a member of our church.

While you are waiting for the class to begin, take a moment to answer this question.

“What is one potential mission field where you would like to serve as a witness for Christ?”

Upcoming Schedule: Class 1: Mission and Purpose of the Church Class 2: C&MA History and Statement of Faith Class 3: Missional Living and Evangelism (meet some members) Class 4: New Life Mission, Vision, Core Values and Leadership (meet the elders) Class 5: Expectations for Church Members Class 6: Serving at New Life (meet some ministry leaders) Class 7: Biblical Teaching on Baptism (if necessary)

Last Revised: Jan 2014 1

The Mission and Purpose of the Universal ChurchGod created His church for the purpose of making His wisdom known in the heavenly realms.

In Ephesians 3:10, Paul reveals God’s magnificent plan to make known His wisdom through His Church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places, including Satan. Why is this significant? It is because God’s wisdom can only be effectively communicated when the church is spiritually united. Christ is the headship that brings about this unity.

So the church exists to:

1. Worship and glorify God (1 Cor 10:31; Heb 13:15).

2. Be a treasury of divine truth (1 Tim 3:15).

3. Provide a context of loving fellowship with one another for the purpose of mutual edification (Eph 3:16-19; 4:12-16).

4. Help people grow spiritually through the application of teaching and the utilization of their spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12-14; Rom 12; Eph 4).

5. Be a light in this dark world, for the evangelization of God’s elect (Matt 5:13-16; 28:19-20; Tit 2:11-15).

6. Provide accountability among the believers (Matt 18).

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. The church is not a building. Scripture describes the body of Christ as a living organism composed of individuals who have repented of their sins and committed their lives to following Jesus Christ.

God has arranged the parts of the body, including the members of this church. We have need of one another. Notice, the ear cannot say to the eye, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body.”All of the gifts God has given are important, and we are not to see our own gifts as inferior to others. Each person has been given one or more spiritual gifts for use in serving God’s purpose for His church with Jesus Christ as the head of His church. Each person has been gifted to perform a certain role here at New Life Church. Each of us has been given a vital role, and is dependent on another. No one has a more important role than another.

“God wants us to speak to men so that they will feel it, so that they will never forget it. God means every Christian to be effective, to make a difference in the actual records and results of Christian work. God put each of us here to be a power. There is not one of us but is an essential wheel of the machinery and can accomplish all that God calls us to.” A. B. Simpson


Ephesians 5 says that Christ:

1. Died for the church (v. 25) that He might sanctify her and present her to Himself in all her glory, blameless and without spot or blemish (vv. 26-27).

2. Nourishes and cherishes the church (v. 29)

3. Is the head of His bride, the church (v.23)

A failure to correctly understand the purpose of the church and that Jesus Christ is its head and the source of its life leads to a superficial ministry where program success is glorified rather than God.

The late A. W. Tozer, author of The Pursuit of God and an Alliance pastor, said, “One hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other. They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become “unity” conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”

Without Christ leading us, the church becomes an organization run by people and driven by programs rather than an organism of committed believers empowered by the Holy Spirit to do God’s will. It is not long before Satan gains a foothold, corrupting the church and sowing seeds of disunity among all.

Read Matthew 28:18-20. The model of Christ’s life and the Great Commission is...winning, building, and equipping people. Today, as it was with the first church, the mission of the local church is to make disciples by going (out to others), baptizing them, and teaching disciples to obey God’s Word.

How can we bring this about? Acts 2:42-47 shows how the early church displayed God's glory by growing both spiritually and numerically.

1. The first Christian community practiced worship, fellowship, caring, corporate prayer and evangelism. They met in homes and celebrated communion. Both God and people were daily priorities for the early Christians.

2. The key to a vibrant, spiritually growing church was that each member had a sincere heart for loving God and one another, including the people outside of their community. The result of this faithful loving kindness was unity among themselves and favor from one another, both within and outside the community.

3. Verse 43 says everyone was filled with awe. To be in awe of God is to view who He is and what He is doing with solemn wonder. It is to have a profound respect and reverence for Him that is tempered with fear. This fear is a healthy one—one of realization that we have been saved by the grace of a God who is slow to anger, yet who will not let the guilty go unpunished (Nah 1:3).

4. God blessed the first church with new people being saved and added to the community. This is the model we desire to follow for church growth at New Life Church.


Class #2

The Mission and Purpose of the Local Church

The Christian & Missionary Alliance1

Our church is a member of the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination. It was founded in 1887 by Albert B. Simpson as the Christian & Missionary Alliance. Simpson was born in 1844 on Prince Edward Island in Canada and was reared as a Presbyterian. As a young man, he suffered weak health which the cold Canadian climate did not help. He was ordained at Knox Church in Hamilton, Ontario, where he served two years and saw God add 750 members to the congregation. Eventually, he immigrated to the United States in Louisville, Kentucky where God used him to minister to a people embittered by the Civil War. In the two years he served there, he led large prayer gatherings of 10,000 people at a time. Following a revival, God healed him physically, giving him new strength for ministry.

God then sent Simpson to New York where he had tremendous success ministering among immigrants. As a result of seeing God’s work done through his life and experiencing God’s physical healing, he recognized and stressed that Christ must be the center of our religious life. He saw Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. He summed up his Christian success in these words:

“And when at last I got my eyes off my sanctification, and my experience of it, and just placed them on the Christ in me, I found, instead of an experience, the Christ larger than the moment's need, the Christ that had all that I should ever need who was given to me at once, and forever!” May these words be true of us as well!

Simpson recognized that we must do all in our power to win men to Christ. To encourage people to live Christ-filled lives, he founded the Christian & Missionary Alliance. It was not Simpson’s intention to create a new denomination. Rather, the refusal of his church leaders to allow immigrants to become members caused him to leave the Presbyterian Church.

The success of the Christian & Missionary Alliance in its goal of winning souls worldwide is demonstrated by the fact that it has more congregations overseas than it does in the United States. As Simpson lay dying in 1919, his last words were of prayer for these churches. As of 2010, there were over 2,000 member churches in the United States attended by 420,000 people. Internationally, C&MA national churches and ministries are located in 84 countries with three million followers of Jesus in 26,000 churches.

The message of The Christian & Missionary Alliance continues to be Simpson’s Fourfold Gospel: Christ our Savior, Christ our Sanctifier, Christ our Healer, and Christ our Coming King. The outflow of that is mission.

1 For more about our denomination, please visit www.cmalliance.org.


http://www.cmalliance.org/

The C&MA exists to develop missional churches, but this is only a result of the basic foundation for the C&MA's existence. The basic foundation and teaching of the C&MA is to know Christ personally.

The Statement of Faith of the C&MA

We believe….

1. There is one God1 who is infinitely perfect2, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit3. (1Deut 6:4,2Matt 5:48, 3Matt 28:19)

2. Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man4. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary5. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust6, as a substitutionary sacrifice7, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood8. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures9. He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest10. He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace11. (4Phil 2:6-11, 5Luke 1:34-38, 61Pet 3:18, 7Heb 2:9, 8Rom 5:9, 9Acts 2:23-24, 10Heb 8:1, 11Matt 26:64)

3. The Holy Spirit is a divine person12, sent to dwell, guide, teach, empower the believer13, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment14. (12John 14:15-18, 13John 16:13, Acts 1:8, 14John 16:7-11)

4. The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice15. (152 Pet 1:20-21, 2 Tim 3:15-16)

5. Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God16: he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature17, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ18. The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment19; and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss20. (16Gen 1:27, 17Rom 3:23, 181 Cor15:20-23, 19Rev 21:8, 20Rev21:1-4)


6. Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God21. (21Tit 3:4-7)

7. It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly22, being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service23. This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion24. (221 Thess 5:23, 23Acts 1:8, 24Rom 6:1-14)

8. Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body25. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age26. (25Matt 8:16-17,26Jas 5:13-16)

9. The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church27, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations28. The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper29. (27Eph 1:22-23, 28Matt 28:19-20, 29Acts 2:41-47)

10. There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life30; for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment31. (301 Cor 15:20-23, 31John 5:28-29)

11. The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent32 and will be personal, visible, and premillennial33. This is the believer's blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service34. (32Heb 10:37, 33Luke 21:27,34Tit 2:11-14)


Class #3

What is a Missional Church?2

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Evangelism is to Christianity what veins are to our bodies. You can cut Christianity anywhere and it will bleed evangelism. Evangelism is vascular. It’s our business. You talk about majoring on

evangelism. You may as well talk about a doctor majoring on healing. Evangelism is what we do.3

One chapel had a plaque above the exit that read, “You are now entering the mission field,” signifying that the church brings people in for the purpose of sending them out. However, the church has lost its focus by building up the “missionary training center,” yet neglecting the purpose for which it was created. How do we turn things around?

A missional church is not just one that sends out missionaries, but an entire church of “sent-ones” in which the goal of every member and every ministry is to reach the people God has sovereignly placed in our lives. The goal of a missional church is to cultivate ongoing, gospel relationships with unchurched peoples.

1. Ongoing relationships – Relationships take time to develop. Our goal is to develop deep relationships, not simply as many as possible. Ideally, this means close interaction with the same people at least 1-2 times/month.

2. Gospel relationships – The church is more than a social service organization. We exist to proclaim the gospel. We should always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, but to do this with gentleness and respect. Activities which do not progress toward gospel presentation are good community service projects, but are not considered missional activities.

3. Unchurched peoples – Fellowship among God’s people is necessary for spiritual growth and maturity, yet one major purpose for the people of God meeting together is to spur one another on to evangelism. Ideally, missional activities should minister to a greater number of unchurched peoples than churched.

We describe this with the agricultural metaphor of cultivating, planting and reaping (John 4:35).

Cultivating Planting ReapingBuilding relationships with people in your mission field

Proclaiming the gospel both in word and deed

Reaping the harvest of new disciples for Jesus Christ

The gospel is not our ulterior motive, but it is our ultimate motive.

The seed reveals the soil. Acts 2:47 – And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

2 For a simple explanation of the missional church, see youtube/arxfLK_sd68.3 Vance Havner


http://youtu.be/arxfLK_sd68

Personalize your own missional activities:

1. Start with you:a. What are your hobbies, activities, spheres of influence?b. What kind of work do you do? Where do your children attend school?c. Which activities are already in your community? Which ones are you involved in?d. Prayer map your neighborhood.

2. Work backwards:

a. Who are the people you are trying to reach? b. What activities will help you to reach them?

3. Work together:

a. What all-church mission teams can you participate in or support?b. Can you partner with your Life Group on joint activities or with others who are already

practicing personal missional activities?

4. Remember:

a. Make a Difference!b. Make a Relationship!c. Make a Disciple!


15 Ways to Live On-Mission in Your Community (Cultivating)

1. Eat with Non-Christians . We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians? Go to lunch with a co-worker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it’s too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation. When you go out for a meal, invite a non-Christian friend. Have cookouts and invite both Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Christian subculture.

2. Pray for your classmates or coworkers . Spend the beginning of your school day or work day in prayer for those around you. Spend the rest of the day observing and learning from them how you can more effectively pray for them. Ask them how you can pray for them. Map out your life and begin praying for the people you interact with regularly.

3. Talk to Your Co-workers . How hard is that? Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team after work or at lunch. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick three and pray for them. Form moms’ groups in your neighborhood and don’t make them exclusively non-Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors’ kids. Work on mission.

4. Walk, Don’t Drive . If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking around your neighborhood, apartment complex or campus. Instead of driving to the mailbox or convenience store, walk to get mail or groceries. Be deliberate in your walk. Say hello to people you don’t know. Strike up conversations. Consider yard sales, porch-sitters and other divine appointments as an invitation to introduce yourself. Attract attention by walking the dog or bringing the kids. Make friends. Get out of your house! Garden. Take interest in your neighbors. Ask questions. Engage. Pray as you go. Save some gas, the planet and some people.

5. Be a Regular . Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places at the same times. Adopt a restaurant or coffeeshop. Get to know the owners, workers and regular customers. Smile. Ask questions. Build relationships. Be a regular. Leave a good witness and generous tips.

6. Hobby with Non-Christians . Pick a hobby that you can share. Get out and do something you enjoy with others. Start a game night, book club or recipe-sharing night with friends. Try city-league sports or local cycling teams. Play ball at the community center. Build relationships at the gym or the YMCA. Organize sports ministries or clubs. Be a coach for your kids’ team. Talk to the parents and grandparents. Share your hobby by teaching lessons, such as sewing, piano, knitting, or tennis lessons. Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Have fun. Be yourself.


7. Invite Cards . Pass out simple, attractive business cards with key church info (church name, website and email on the front and Sunday location and time, including a map, on the back). Take invite cards everywhere, but don’t drop them under windshield wipers or inside books at Borders or “accidentally” leave them lying around. The last thing people need is to feel like your church is the same as the going-out-of-business furniture store. Don’t be a put-pocket, slipping them into people’s pockets or wallets or backpacks. Use them relationally. They give a better connection to our church when meeting someone or having a conversation. Put three on the table at the café when you sit down to read or work and see if you can give them out before you leave. It’s a great tool.

8. Bring Extra Stuff . It’s happened to you. You’re at the pool or the park and someone didn’t bring something they needed. Maybe it’s a water bottle. Maybe it’s bug spray or sunscreen. When you go somewhere, bring extra consumables and be aware of folks around you who might be suffering from forgetting something or a lack of planning. Be over-prepared and generous. Bring extra blankets for your family and for others if needed. Bring an extra umbrella if it might rain. The key here is to think of others when planning for your events and outings. Whatever you need for yourself, just add more. Leave bug spray, sunscreen, umbrellas, sweatshirts, wet wipes, lawn chairs, and water bottles in the car at all times.

9. Volunteer with Non-Profits . Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take a Saturday a month to serve your city. Walk in a charity for cancer or AIDS and talk with other participants. Visit patients at the hospital or nursing home. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your small group. Enlist your unbelieving friends to help you with a community service project. Spend time with your church serving your city. Once a month. Make a difference – Make a relationship - Make a disciple!

10. Participate in City Events . Instead of playing XBox, watching TV, or surfing the net, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals, cleanups, summer shows, and concerts. Host community events at church. Participate missionally. Strike up conversation. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.

11. Reach your community . Work together as Life Groups to reach your community. Organize Backyard Bible clubs or Good News clubs to reach the neighborhood kids. Throw a Superbowl fiesta or Easter Egg hunt or block party that will bring the neighborhood together. Go to the ones you’re invited to.

12. Serve Your Neighbors . Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, or fixing a car. Be on the spot when people are moving in or out. Start a neighborhood blog or Facebook page where neighbors can list job opps, babysitting needs, skills inventory, dvd and book sharing, game nights and other events. Keep your eyes open to people’s needs, especially those which you have the resources to meet. Considering a communal sharing system for your neighborhood: tools, vans or trucks, tutoring, tax prep, office equipment, music lessons. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Ask for help yourself so they can serve you. Get creative. Just serve!


13. Start seeker groups . Identity people who are interested in spiritual things and offer to study the Bible with them.

14. Look for opportunities . For example, help with an International Students Ministry. Host dinners, drive to events, or make an international student feel at home.

15. Take Courage . How often do you kick yourself for not striking up a conversation? Or are you so bad at it that you just gave up and don’t feel bad anymore? We need a renewed courage to strike up conversations along the way. Being an introvert is not an excuse. Evangelism is a contact sport. Once you have a way to connect, go ahead, connect!


Spiritual Conversation Starters (Cultivating Planting)

1 Peter 3:15-16a,“In your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience.”

1. Starter questions—These questions do not assume prior knowledge and can be used with someone you just met or know as an acquaintance.

a. We’re Christians and we’re trying to promote more discussion about spiritual things. Would you have a moment to talk?

b. What role has God played in your life?c. We’re from a local Christian church and we’re interested to know what people think

about Christianity? Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?d. Do you ever think much about spiritual things?e. Is there a way that I could pray for you?f. Do you have a church/faith background?g. What are the current needs in your life? What do you think are the needs of the San

Fernando Valley?h. Do you think it’s possible that if there is a God and he wanted to communicate with us

that he could?i. [In response to their own faith claims] What makes you so sure? Who has influenced

your thinking on that?j. Could we offer you a free Bible?4

k. Why do you use Jesus’ name when you curse?

2. Transition questions—These questions move them along from one point to the next, opening the opportunity to declare the gospel.

a. Could I take a few minutes to tell you about something that really changed my life?b. Could I show you an outline that explains what it means to know God in a personal way?c. Could I show you a booklet that I think makes a lot of sense about how a person can

come to know God?d. Can I explain to you what the Bible says about eternal life?e. If you were to die today, do you know if you would spend eternity in Heaven? What do

you think are the requirements for getting into Heaven?f. Suppose you are standing before God at the end of your life. What would you say to

him as the reason he should let you into heaven?

3. Permission questions—These questions pave the way for future gospel conversation, when transition questions may seem too direct. This takes the pressure off someone who may not be ready to hear the gospel at that particular time. But make sure you schedule the next time you’ll meet.

4Make sure you have an extra Bible ready. And show them a good starting point.


a. Would you be interested in talking more about these matters?b. Would you like to hear more about what I believe sometime?c. Would you ever be up for talking about your faith and my faith and how they intersect?

4. Gospel Entry Points—These function like transition questions, but show how there are entry points at every place in the gospel outline. If you know the gospel well, you can link to it naturally from any conversation or situation.

a. God is Ruler because He is Creator

Look at creation (Rom 1:18-21). Do you think there is intelligent design in creation? Look at your conscience (Rom 2:14-15). How do you know right from wrong unless

you were made in the image of God (Gen 2:7)?

b. Man has sinned and rebelled against God

Read the newspaper. Why is this world in the state it is? Why do you think bad things happen in this world?

Would you say that you’re a good person? Do you think people are basically good or basically bad? Why is that you don’t need to teach a baby to sin? How do you feel when someone under your authority rebels against you?

c. The judgment of man’s sin is death

As humans, we witness death all around us. What happens to people when they die? Do you know where you will spend eternity? Do you think criminals should be punished for their crimes? What is a just

punishment for a crime like murder? (Use examples from the news) Do you think it’s fair that honest taxpayers should pay for the mistakes of others?

d. Jesus Christ died for rebels

Would you like to know what Jesus has done for you? Well, in order for that to make sense, let me start from the beginning.

Jesus said he was the Lord God. Do you think he was lying, a lunatic, or Lord?

e. God raised Jesus from the dead and made him ruler of all

Have you ever heard about Jesus? The real meaning of Easter? Did you know that the resurrection was the greatest evidence for Christianity?

f. There are two ways to live5

How does one who believes [insert their religion] become saved? If you were to die today, do you know how you would spend eternity? What would you say to God if he asked you why he should let you into Heaven?

5 For more about the Two Ways To Live gospel outline, please visit www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl.


http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/

What is the Gospel and How Do You Share It?6 (Planting Reaping)

1. God is our holy Creator and righteous Judge. He created us to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

2. But mankind has rebelled against God by sinning against His holy character and law. We’ve all participated in this sinful rebellion—both in Adam as our representative head, and in our own individual actions. Therefore we deserve death—eternal separation from God in Hell, and are in fact spiritually still-born—helpless in our sins and needing God to impart spiritual life to us.

3. But God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, to die the death that we deserved for our sins—the righteous for the unrighteous—so that God might both punish our sin in Christ and forgive it in us. God then raised Christ to life again, proving that He is God’s Son—victorious over sin and death.

4. The only saving response to this Good News is repentance and belief. We must repent of our sins (turn from them and turn to God) and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.

6Pastor Mark Dever, Capitol Hill Baptist Church.


Class #4

New Life Church

Our History

In October 2010, Woodland Hills Church closed its doors for the final time after an eighty-three year ministry in the San Fernando Valley. They sought help from the Christian & Missionary Alliance, which strategically asked a sister church in Northridge to begin a new work in Woodland Hills. Community Christian Alliance Church thus began the prayerful process of re-planting a church where a previous church had closed. We encouraged those from the Woodland Hills Church to join the new work. We formed a core team, renovated the worship center and prayed for the Lord to renovate our hearts. Then on March 27, 2011 we launched our first worship service with the fitting name of New Life Church. The Lord has continued to bless New Life with a gospel witness in the community and a heart to multiply churches around the world. We have been able from day one to support and partner with compassion ministries and church plants in Watts, Simi and the San Fernando Valley. By God’s grace a new church has grown up in the place of the old and is now bearing much fruit (John 12:24).

Our Mission: We are Jesus to Others to Bring Others to JesusThe mission statement of New Life Church embodies the one given by Jesus to all of his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20:

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.”

Our New Life Vision is a Vision for Making Disciples

We define discipleship at New Life Church as Jesus did in Matthew 28. A true disciple…

LIVES for Jesus – The church's ultimate priority is to worship Jesus by living under his authority (v. 18).

LEADS in Evangelism – The church is called to mission by going to all peoples with the good news of Jesus (v. 19a).

LOVES His Church – The church embraces authentic community in Jesus as publicly identified in baptism (v. 19b).


LEARNS to Obey – The church is called to spiritual formation by obeying all that Jesus has commanded (v. 20).

Our New Life Vision is a process

While we want to be a people who live for Jesus, lead in evangelism, love His church and learn to obey – we realize that spiritual transformation is a process which God initiates (Rom 8:29), continues (2 Cor 3:18) and completes (1 John 3:2). Therefore, we partner with God in this process of discipleship.

Our New Life Vision is reflected in our Core Values7

We seek to establish these core values in our church community and personal lives.

LIVING for Jesus:

7 You can listen to our sermon series on the Core Values (May 8 to June 19, 2011) at www.nlwch.org/resources.


http://www.nlwch.org/resources

Worship is our LifestyleWe value authentic Spirit-led worship that acknowledges Jesus as Lord with both heart and mind and gives Him honor in response (John 4:23-24). We express this both through corporate praise and personal devotion.

Prayer is our Priority We value prayer as our expression of genuine reliance on the sovereign, loving God and prioritize becoming a people of personal and corporate prayer (Luke 11:1). As we bring our requests, praises, confessions and intercessions before our great God, He will receive glory through our lives no matter the outcome. We commit to praying for one another and also for those without Jesus.

LEADING in Evangelism:

Making Disciples is our CallingWe value God's Great Commission to make disciples who make disciples (Matt 28:18-20). We join God on His mission of bringing people to Himself (Luke 19:10) by proclaiming the gospel in word and deed, planting growing churches and engaging in worldwide mission.

LOVING His Church:

Togetherness is our AimWe value authentic community in Jesus as the soil in which godly relationships, healthy marriages and loving families are formed (Heb 10:24-25). We strive for biblical togetherness by gathering as God's family on Sunday mornings and throughout the week in Life Groups. We welcome all sinners, before and after the cross, to experience this open community together as a testimony of Christian love (John 13:35).

Serving is our Joy We value serving as both the duty and delight of every believer (1 Pet 4:10). In God's Kingdom, no person is unimportant and no Christian should be without a ministry. We rejoice in sacrificial service by equipping members of God's family to minister in their areas of gifting and desire. Through ministries of mercy, we seek to show compassion to those who are in spiritual, physical or emotional need, whether in the church or in the community.


LEARNING to Obey:

The Bible is our CenterWe value the Bible as God's authoritative and accurate word and have set our hearts to studying, practicing and proclaiming the whole counsel of God (Ezra 7:10). We establish the centrality of Scripture through expository preaching, personal Bible study and speaking the truth in love with one another.

The Gospel is our MessageWe value the good news of Jesus as the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16). We uphold this message as transformational in every sphere of life and ministry both for those who are lost and those who are found.

Our Governance and Organization

The governance of the church is guided by the Constitution and Bylaws. The denomination (C&MA) sets the articles of the Constitution, while the rules of the local church are in the Bylaws. The Bylaws establish foundational principles and procedures for doing ministry, but are not perfect and cannot cover every eventuality. Because of this, the Bylaws are not designed to establish the “letter of the law,” but to lay foundational principles.

The church is governed by an Elder Board, a body composed by a plurality of elders. We also have a ministry team, composed of the pastors, elders, deacons, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Secretary and ministry leaders. Together, we provide the leadership and oversight of various ministries.

The Leadership of New Life Church

The duties of the elders, deacons and officers are defined in the Constitution and Bylaws. The Bylaws prescribe the length of term and number of terms each deacon and officer may serve. Elders who demonstrate biblical character serve for life in the terms described in the Bylaws.

Biblical Leadership Qualifications

“History will show that the church has prospered most when blessed with strong leaders and suffered the greatest decline when her leaders were weak and time serving. The sheep rarely go much farther than the shepherd.” A. W. Tozer

We adhere to the biblical qualifications for pastor-elders and deacons prescribed in1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 for all of our leaders. Elders are always men (1 Tim 2:12), however, both men and women may serve as deacons.


A leader must be a person who:

2. Is spiritually mature

a. Not a new convert (1 Tim 3:6)b. Holy (Tit 1:8)

3. Is self-controlled

a. Self-controlled (Tit 1:8) b. Sober-minded (1 Tim 3:2) c. Sensible (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:8) d. Not quick-tempered (Tit 1:7) e. Not addicted to wine (1 Tim 3:3; Tit 1:7)

4. Manages his family well (applicable to male leaders with families)

a. The husband of one wife (Tit 1:6: 1 Tim 3:2) b. One who manages his own household well (1 Tim 3:4) c. Having his children in submission with all dignity (1Tim 3:4) d. Having children who are faithful (Tit 1:6) e. Having children not accused of being unruly or insubordinate (Tit 1:6)

5. Relates well to other people

a. Not violent (1Tim 3:3; Tit 1:7) b. Not a brawler (1Tim 3:3) c. Not self-willed (Tit 1:7) d. Hospitable (1Tim 3:2: Tit 1:8) e. Gentle (1 Tim 3:3) f. Just (Tit 1:8)

6. Has a proper sense of values

a. A love for what is good (Tit 1:8) b. Not fond of sordid gain (1 Tim 3:3; Tit 1:7)

7. Is able to minister with the Word

a. Holding fast the faithful Word as he has been taught (Tit 1:9) b. Exhorting by sound doctrine (Tit 1:9) c. Refuting opposers by sound doctrine (Tit 1 :9) d. Able to teach (1Tim 3:2)8

8. Has a good reputation in the community

a. Blameless (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:6-7) b. Of good behavior, respectable (1 Tim 3:2) c. Of a good reputation before those outside (1Tim 3:7)

8 This is the only biblical qualification which sets apart elders from deacons.


The Nominating Process for Ministry Team Leaders

Our nominating process is defined in the Constitution and Bylaws. A nominating committee is composed of pastor-elders and members selected from the congregation according to the Bylaws.

The committee proposes names of qualified candidates for Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Secretary, elders and deacons. These names are submitted as the nominees to the congregation for election at the annual meeting in January. Usually, the congregation votes by voice to elect each candidate. A vote by paper ballot is used if there are multiple nominees for an office or if the congregation so chooses.

Pastors & Leaders

Tom SugimuraSenior PastorTom grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where he met his wife, Amanda, and left a career in engineering to pursue a call to pastoral ministry. He is a graduate of The Master’s Seminary and has served at churches in the Bay Area and Northridge before coming to New Life in 2011. Amanda is an aerospace

engineer as well as an excellent cook. And when they’re not chasing after their three boys, Trevor, Jordan and Peyton, they enjoy board games, the great outdoors and good sushi.


Lowell SueWorship Director & Outreach CoordinatorLowell serves many communities through his God-given talents and experience in music, technology and the culinary arts. He leads an R&B Funk band involved in prison and homeless ministry. Lowell has the best 'L' cheerleading team ever: Lauren, Leibee and Lana. At home, they enjoy “performing onstage” together and an occasional Yogurtland treat.

Jimmy LoonElder

Born in the San Fernando Valley, Jimmy has served as an elder and small group leader for many years at Community Christian Alliance Church (CCAC). He and his wife Nancy have two children, Melanie and Matthew. His interests include gardening and photography, and his favorite places to

shop are Costco, Home Depot and Sperling’s Nursery. Jimmy works in product development for a medical diagnostics company which produces blood tests for tissue matching for kidney and bone marrow transplantation.

Christopher SueElder

Christopher served as an elder, on the worship team, missions committee and as treasurer of CCAC for a number of years. He and his wife, Stephanie, with their two sons, Chris and Kendall, have lived in the West Valley for over 20 years. As part of the leadership team from CCAC that helped launch New Life Church, you can also find Christopher serving as the

Executive Director of Operations at Children's Hunger Fund and serving as treasurer of New Life Church.

Titus WongElder

Titus was previously a member at CCAC for 21 years. His role there as an elder and his heart for service is what compelled him to be a part of the New Life church plant. He is retired from Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. He enjoys spending time with his wife Helen and two boys, Tyler and Connor. Together, they enjoy eating out, going to the movies and traveling whenever the opportunity arises.


Class #5

Relational Commitments of Church Members9

1. Keep growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ through personal Bible study and prayer. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

2. Give priority to developing and maintaining Christ-centered relationships, especially within your own family. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). “For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?” (1 Tim 3:5).

3. Attend Sunday worship faithfully. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). “…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb 10:25).

4. Participate in a Life Group. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col 3:16). “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

5. Use spiritual gifts in ministry to others. “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift” (Eph 4:7).

6. Contribute faithfully to the financial needs of the church. “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:6-7).

7. Participate in drawing lost people to Christ. “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” (Matt 28:19-20).

8. Abide by the Relational Commitments of a Peacemaking Church (www.peacemaker.net).

9 Although it is recognized that church membership, as also conversion, constitutes the starting point of the Christian life, a growing Christian will progress in these areas of spiritual maturity. Church members will be exhorted and equipped to strive toward meeting these expectations.


http://www.peacemaker.net/

9. Submit to the authority of the church leaders including the application of church discipline. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Heb 13:17).

Submission to Church Authority and Discipline

Becoming a member of the church implies there is a mutual commitment between the leadership and membership. The pastors and elders are committed to serving and nurturing the flock for the glory of God. By becoming a member, you agree to submit to the authority of the leadership and to serve the needs of the church so that God’s manifold wisdom may be proclaimed and that we may all bring honor and glory to His name.

On occasion a believer, either a member or regular attendee, stumbles and becomes ensnared in sin. These sins are covered under the areas of godly attitude, humility, honesty, morality or integrity, which Scripture clearly addresses (Rom 1:29-32, Gal 5:19-21).

As Christ’s followers, we are to lovingly, but firmly, bring the matter to the attention of the individual at the earliest opportunity. Our love for one another motivates us to confront sin so that none of us may suffer the consequences of sin and the wrath of God. Church discipline glorifies God by maintaining purity in the church (1 Cor 5:6). Its nature is restorative—carried out with the intention of returning the person to the path of righteous living and adherence to a biblical standard of doctrine and conduct (Gal 6:1). Failure to confront the matter may lead to greater pain, scandal, broken relationships, and injury to the church.

The Practice of Restorative Church Discipline

At New Life Church, we practice restorative church discipline according to the C&MA policy (Matt 18:15-17).

1. Speak to the person one-on-one. This is a private opportunity to speak the truth in love, explaining the situation which compelled you to speak with him. It is a time for clearing up a misunderstanding or difference. If the person listens, you have won your brother or sister over and the matter is closed.

2. If the person will not listen, take one or two other spiritually mature believers so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Do this as often as needed until the person refuses to receive you further.

3. If the person persists in refusing to listen, then you are to inform the elders. The elders will then inform the church after their efforts to resolve the matter have been exhausted. The purpose of informing the church is not to spread gossip or malign the individual, but so that the church may pray for the person to repent. By informing the church, others may also be deterred from committing sin (1 Tim 5:20). Note that members who are under church discipline may not resign their membership.


Class #6Serving at New Life Church

We have many opportunities for serving at New Life Church. Please take time to talk to the leaders of various ministries and view www.nlcwh.org for a description of ministries. Due to the importance of serving for both your spiritual maturity and the life of the church, we ask that each person identifies an area of ministry to serve in before becoming a member.

How Do You Connect to the New Life Church Family?

1. Participant—Anyone is welcome to attend New Life Church and participate in our ministries. We think it is important to get to know a church before you join.

2. Member—All Christians are members of the universal Church (1 Cor 12:12), but it is also important that every believer join a local church in order to practically live out the “one another” commands in Scripture (e.g., John 13:34-35). We don’t want to make it harder to join our church than to get into Heaven, so we tried to keep it simple.

a. Agree with the New Life membership covenant and C&MA statement of faith.b. Demonstrate a genuine testimony and a clear understanding of the gospel.c. Identify a way you can serve in the body of Christ.

3. Leader—Members who show progress in spiritual growth may lead ministries for which they have a passion. Leaders include ministry directors, teachers, deacons and elders. They must have elder approval and will receive ongoing training.


http://www.nlcwh.org/

Appendices

Appendix A: About the Christian & Missionary Alliance

The Logo of the C&MA:

• The Cross: Christ Our Savior

• The Laver (cup): Christ Our Sanctifier

• The Pitcher (of oil): Christ Our Healer

• The Crown: Christ Our Coming King

• The Globe: Completing Christ’s Commission

The Mission of the C&MA:

The C&MA exists to know Jesus Christ, exalt Him as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King; and complete His Great Commission.

The Vision of the C&MA:

The C&MA will be a movement of Great Commission Christians who are glorifying God by building Christ's Church worldwide.

To achieve this vision, a strategy has been developed that consists of six components. The resources of the C&MA are focused on these strategic initiatives:

1. Develop Healthy Local Churches

2. Identify Workers for the Harvest


3. Train Called Workers

4. Multiply Churches in the United States

5. Multiply Churches Worldwide

6. Establish a Strong Support Base

The Values of the C&MA:

1. God's Glory : We value the lifting up of God's glory so it shines forth in all the earth.

2. Scripture : We value the Word of God as the rule for faith and practice in all things.

3. The Church : We value the universal Church and every local church that represents the larger Body.

4. The Great Commission : We value making disciples of all peoples in obedience to Christ's command.

5. The Empowerment of the Holy Spirit : We value total dependence on God demonstrated by praying first and praying always for divine appointment.


Appendix B: Questions About Membership10

Why Should I Join a Local Church?

I'm already a Christian and a member of Christ's body, the Church. Isn't that all that matters? This is a common question among Christians and it deserves a thoughtful answer. The Bible never tells us to “join” or “become a member” of a church. Instead, it speaks as if we are already members because of our faith in Christ. In Ephesians 2:19, Paul tells his readers that by virtue of their faith they are “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”Again, in Ephesians 5:30, he says, “We are members of his body.”If this is so, then the practice of requiring Christians to become members of one particular church surely needs some justification.

Pastor Rick Warren suggests five benefits of membership in The Purpose Driven Church:

1. It identifies you as a genuine believer (Eph 2:19; Rom 12:5).

2. It provides a spiritual family to support and encourage you in your walk with Christ (Gal 6:1-2; Heb 10:24-25).

3. It gives you a place to discover and use your gifts in ministry (1 Cor 12:4-27).

4. It places you under the spiritual protection of godly leaders (Heb 13:17; Acts 20:28-29).

5. It gives you the accountability you need to grow (Eph 5:21).

Your People Are My People

A good starting place is the recognition that God wants us to identify closely with His Church, and that inevitably means identifying with some particular group of Christians. I may call myself a “world Christian” because of my concern for God's worldwide mission. I may call myself “a member in the church of Los Angeles” because of my desire to see God glorified throughout our city. But for me to really identify with the Church as God intends, I must be in fellowship with specific believers.

The Bible tells us to love, submit to, and pray for one another. It tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. It tells us to instruct, edify, rebuke, agree with, bear with, and forgive one another.11 But most of these are activities which can only take place in a local setting and in face-to-face relationships. Joining a particular church is a way of saying to God that we are ready to take his “one another” commands seriously; we are ready to make his people our people. An unwillingness to make a commitment to a local body of believers often reveals a prideful spirit of independence.

10 For a fuller discussion on the biblical basis for membership, see the article at www.nlcwh.org. 11 Some of the chief "one another" commands can be found in Rom 12:10, 16; 13:8; 14:13; 15:7, 14; 16:16; 1 Cor 1:10; Gal 5:15; 6:2; Eph 4:2, 32; 5:19, 21; Col 3:9, 13, 16; 1 Thess 3:12; 4:18; 5:13, 15; Heb 3:13; 10:24, 25; Jas 5:16; 1 Pet 1:22; 3:8; 4:9; 5:5; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12; 2 John 1:5.


http://www.nlcwh.org/

Who Are My Shepherds? Who Are My Sheep?

A second issue is the problem of spiritual accountability. When Paul wrote to the churches in Rome or Corinth, he knew that there were leaders in those cities who had oversight over all the Christians there. He could give instructions to the churches because there were structures in place to ensure that somebody would be present to teach and shepherd the Christians in the truths he was proclaiming.

Today, however, there are no leaders responsible for the entire “church of Woodland Hills,” much less the “church of Los Angeles.” Instead, shepherding takes place in local churches and is carried out by pastors and elders who have been appointed over those churches. The leaders of various churches may gather together to pray for the city, but there are no organizational bonds tying all of them together, and so there is no single structure which would permit the shepherding of the people of an entire city. In Paul's day, a person who said “I am a member in the church of Corinth” would mean that he or she was willing to be guided by the leaders of the Corinthian church. Today, if someone said, “I am a member in the church of Los Angeles,” the sentence would have little meaning, since Los Angeles has no leaders who have been appointed to care for all of its Christians.

Membership in a specific church is necessary today, because elders, pastors, and other church leaders need to know which people are committed to following their leadership and the people need to know who their leaders are. The refusal to join a local church often expresses an unwillingness to follow the command, “Obey your leaders and submit to them” (Heb13:17).

The Nature of Church Authority

Talk of “submission” is frightening to us, though, and so we need to understand just what kind of authority church leaders are meant to exercise. A key passage is1 Peter 5:1-3,“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

From this passage and others it is clear that church leaders have no right to dominate or exploit the people of the church. On the contrary, they are to regard themselves as “under-shepherds” who are responsible to God for the care of a portion of his flock. As such, they must exhibit the same type of servant-leadership which is so evident in Jesus himself. They must teach, exhort, rebuke, and guide the people of the church, but they must do so in humility and gentleness. The call to become a church member is not a call to surrender to a dictator, but a call to find a church whose leaders we can gladly follow because we see in them a reflection of the Good Shepherd himself.


Which Church Should I Join?

This brings us to the crucial question, “Which church should I join?” Here there are no easy answers. Each Christian will need to prayerfully consider his or her options and try to make the wisest choice possible. Some of the most important considerations are these:

1. Does this church believe and teach the Bible? Are the doctrines of the church those of historic Christianity?

2. Does this church have a mission and vision with which I can identify? Can I see myself serving joyfully in this church?

3. Does this church have a plan for helping me grow spiritually? Is there a small group I can join? A Sunday school class I can attend? Are there ministries in which I can participate?

4. Is there a sense of reverent joy in the church? Do the people seem to genuinely love and revere God? Are they trying to reach out to others with his love? Are they concerned about the worldwide mission of the Church?

If a church exhibits these characteristics, chances are it is a place where your spiritual life will flourish. Why not show your love for Christ and His people by becoming a member?

Appendix C: Potential Membership Interview Questions

Spiritual Background &Testimony

1. How did you come to New Life Church? What other churches have you attended before?

2. Tell us how you came to trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Your testimony is like a timeline describing your life before and after Christ. Be sure to include how the truth of the gospel impacted your life.

3. What are some things that you think are important to share with others about your faith in God?

Doctrinal Convictions

1. In your own words, what is Christianity all about?

2. Have you come to the place in your life where you know for certain, if you died today, you would go to heaven?

3. Have you obediently followed the Lord in believer’s baptism? If not, is this your desire?

4. Do you understand the C&MA Statement of Faith? Are there any sections about which you have questions? Are there sections with which you are in disagreement?


Understanding Membership

1. Did you participate in a membership class? Did the class leave you with any unanswered questions?

2. What is the purpose of the Church at large? The local church?

3. What are some reasons why you feel church membership is important?

4. Do you understand the meaning and purpose of church discipline? Are you aware that members who are under church discipline may not resign their membership?

5. How would you describe the mission and vision of New Life Church?

6. Why have you decided to seek membership at New Life Church?

7. In what ways is giving important to the body of Christ?

8. What are some ways that you could minister to others that are unique to your spiritual gifts?

9. How will you open your life to allow the body of New Life Church to minister to you and make your life more complete?


s3.amazonaws.com€¦ · Web viewGod created His church for the purpose of making His wisdom...

Documents

Transcript of s3.amazonaws.com€¦ · Web viewGod created His church for the purpose of making His wisdom...