SESSION SUMMARY · • The story of the fall of Jericho gives us principles on how to walk together...
Transcript of SESSION SUMMARY · • The story of the fall of Jericho gives us principles on how to walk together...
WE BELONG CONFERENCE
SESSION 3 — THE DIVINE FLOW
INTRODUCTION
• Godsavedusandplacedusinafamily.• Weneedtolearnhowtowalktogetherasone(takingupourpositions)andoperateinthedivineflow.• ThestoryofthefallofJerichogivesusprinciplesonhowtowalktogetherasachurchinthedivine
flow.
HOW TO WALK TOGETHER IN THE DIVINE FLOW (JOSHUA 6)
1. Victory Through Being in Divine Order (Joshua 6:1-21)Thespiritualworldisaworldofdivineorder.Thereisasystemofdivineordertofollow.DivineorderisGod’splanforourdeliverancefromtheenemy’splanbytherestorationofdivineauthorityandindividuallibertysubjectedtothisauthority(asillustratedbythebattleofJericho).
a. Walkinginthedivineorderofoneness(vs.1-5)God’sinstructionstobringdownJericho’swallsinvolvednotonlythearmy,
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KEY POINTS• Whenwewalktogetherinthedivineorderofoneness,inGod’spresenceandinsubmission,wecan
expectspiritualvictory.• Wemustapproachissuesandcriticismsintherightway-elliminategossip,adoptaGodlyattitude
andapproachtowardsdisagreementswithleadersBiblically.• Cellgroupsandministriesmustalignwiththechurchandministertotheindividualsaswellastothe
churchasawhole.• Planyour schedulearound thechurch’sministry seasons (eg.highevangelism focus inEasterand
Christmas).• Cellsgroupsdiscuss the sermonduring cellmeetings to alignwith and to foster unitywithin the
church.
SESSION SUMMARY
but thepriests aswell.All of themworked together asoneunderGod.On the seventhday,everyoneshoutedinunisonandbroughtdownthewalls.
SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– AnointingflowsdownfromtheheadoftheChurchtoeachmember(Psa.133:3).Weoperateinspiritualauthoritywhenwetogetherarealignedinproperrelationshipwithoneanother–justlikehowGodisinJesusandhowJesusisinGodoperatingasone(John17:21).
– Whenmemberswalkinoneness,weteardownthespiritualstrongholds.Thisistheruleofdivineorderandsubmission. Ifweare living inobediencetoGod’swill, thenwewillhavespiritualauthorityoverallourspheres.
b. WalkinginthedivineorderofGod’sPresence(vs.6-16)ThepeopleofGodovercametheseeminglyinsurmountableopposition(Jericho’smightywalls)bytotalrelianceonGod.ThefocusisGod’spresence,asrepresentedbytheark,whowaswithHispeopleastheyacteduponHisinstructions.
SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– GodisaGodoforder.AsweseekHispresencetoknowHim,wewillseeHishanddirecting,arrangingandorderingourlives(Exo.25:21-22).
– GodisrevealingtheorderoftheKingdomandbringingitforHisglory.
c. Walkinginthedivineorderofsubmission(vs.15-21)OperatinginonenessandobedienceasthousandsmarcheddefencelessandsilentlyaroundthecityofJericho.Theyobeyedtheirleader,Joshua,andneverquestionedGod’smethods–whichwasanunusualbattlestrategy.
SpiritualWarfareApplication(SWA)– Christplacesmenandwomenintopositionsofauthority.Aleaders’authorityisinthespiritandtheirnaturalfunctionistoserveandtohelpothersgrowintomaturity(Heb.13:17).
– We must respect our leaders in their anointing before we canreceive(Acts3:6).InsubmittingtoGodandtheHolySpirit,wecarryagreaterweightinthespiritualrealmastheSpiritflowswithinus.We’llhaveauthorityovereverythingwithinourGod-givensphere.
– Theoppositeofthespiritofsubmissionisthespiritofrebellion.TheBiblecallsitthesinofwitchcraft.Weneedtohonourtheofficeofaleader,eveniftheleaderisflawed.Respectingtheofficefreesusfrompreferenceandthatfreedomallowsustodotherightthings.
2. Cell Group Structure• JesussetsanexampleofthebiblicalroleoftheservantleaderbywashingHisdisciples’feet(John
13:14).
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• Thereare5layersinthestructureofthechurch:– In-MostCore:EldersBoard&SeniorLeaders– SecondCircle:Congregational&ZonePastors– ThirdCircle:AreaOverseers– FourthCircle:CellLeaders– FifthCircle:CellGroups
• OrderlyFlow:Criticismsandissuesaresettledinward,whilepraiseandencouragementaretobeexpressedoutwardly,andineverything,wepointupwardtowardsGod.
3. Process for Resolution of Issuesa. PrinciplestoResolve:Issues&Criticisms
– Addresscriticismsandissuesinternally(inwards)withinthecellfirst–fromcellmembers,tocellleaders,toareaoverseers,thentozoneleaders.Issuesareresolvedinprogressivelayers.– Mostcriticismsareagainstasystemoraperson(s).Forcriticismsdirectedprimarilyagainstasystem,dealwiththeissueinternally(inwards).Forcriticismsdirectedtowardsaperson,thepersonwhoisthesubjectofthecriticismmustbeinvolvedastheissueisdealtinternally(inwards).– Undernocircumstancesshouldgossipbetolerated.Gossipiscriticismspreadamongotherswithoutinvolvingthepersonwhoisthesubjectofthecriticism.Itissinful,unbiblical,anddestroysunityinthebody.Whengossipisdetected,itshouldbeaddressedimmediatelybyanyindividualwithinthecell.
b. ExerciseEncouragementandPositiveEvaluationOutwards– Makeitahabittoencourageoneanotheroutwardly(Eph.4:29).Indoingso,itcreatesacultureofencouragementthusfulfillingthelawofJesustoloveoneanotherasHehaslovedus.
c. InEverythingPointUpwards– NoissuemaybeaddressedorresolvedunlesswealignourselveswithGodthroughprayer,relyingonHisdirectionthroughHisWord,andaskingforwisdomthroughHisSpirit.
d. WhatToDoWhenWeFindOurselvesinDisagreementWithOurLeader– Makesurewhatyouaredisagreeingwithissomethingthatpersonactuallysaid,andnotexpressingapersonaldispleasuretowardsthatperson.CheckitagainstScripture(theultimatetest).
– Refrainfromrebukingaleader(wheneverandwhereveryoufeellikeit)ifyoudisagreewithhim/her(Matt.18:15-16).
– Weallhaveourpersonalstyleofdoingthingsorpreferencesofhowthingsshouldbedone.Bysaying,“Idon’tlikethat”,itisself-focusedandnotaboutthemissionofthe
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church.Itslowstheflowofgoodideasandshutsdownconstructivecriticism.Italsomakesthedisagreementfeelmoreconfrontationalthannecessary.Whenwebanish“Idon’tlikethat”fromourvocabulary,itforcesustolookfordeeperandbetterreasonsforthedisagreement.
– Instead,wecanaskthefollowing:⇒ Howdoesthisfitourmission?⇒ IstheresomethingI’mnotseeinghere?⇒ Howcanwedothisbetter?⇒ Whatpartsofthiscanbeturnedintosomethinggreat?
4. How a Cell Group Relates with the Larger Church Communitya.Howdoesacellrelatewithothercells?
– Acellgroupmustorientthememberstothevision,focusesandministriesofRiverLife.
– Acellgroupmusttakecaretobeasgraciousaswecantowardseachothersothatthereisnocompetitionbetweencellsortheencouragementofmemberstomigratefromtheircell.
– Acellgroupshouldnotencourage“grouphopping”.– Acellgroupmusthaveconnectionwithothercellgroups.
b.Howshouldacellgrouprelatetotheministriesofthechurch?
– Thefocusofcellsistobuildcommunity,whereasthefocusofaministryistoserveandedifythechurchasawhole(collectively).
– Bepartofthechurch.Nocellgroupisisolatedonitsown.Beinvolvedinallchurchactivities.
– Beactiveinserviceoutsidethecellgroup.– Beawareofthegreaterneedsofthechurch.
c. Howshouldtheministriesofthechurchrelatetothecells?– Involvementratherthanjustrecruitment.Developyourmembers;notjustdeploythem.– Involvewholegroups(eg.families,awholecell,etc)ratherthanjustindividuals.– Creatingpresenceandrealconnectionsratherthanjusttransactionalappearances.Communicateconstantlywiththecells.
5. Two Cell Ministry Applicationsa. HighSeasonsforEvangelism
– ThehighseasonsforevangelisminourministryyearareoftenEaster,ChristmasandotherHolydays.Cellgroupsshouldnotmissthesehighseasons.Doyourbesttoplanholidaysaroundhighministryseasons.
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b. Sermon-basedCellGroups– Discussingthesermonduringcellmeetingsunifieschurchteachingsandsharpensthefocusofthechurch.
– Itprotectsagainstheresyastherecouldbemanypotentialerroneouspointsmadebyindividualviewpoints/interpretationsofthesermon.
– Itencouragescellmemberstobepartoftheworshipgatheringandnotisolatethemselvestojustattendingthecellmeetings.
RESPONSE/CONCLUSION
1. Wecannotwalkinthespiritofdivision,speakagainstleadershipandthenexpecttoseeunityinthechurch.WecannotoperateinthespiritoftheenemyandthenexpecttoseethepowerofGod.
2. God’smove is tobring forth aplurality of leadership to serve theworld, throughwhomChristwillgoverntheworld.
3. Leadersareservantleaderswithdelegatedauthority.WemustfightagainstthespiritofindependenceandstandinthedivineorderofonenessandsubmissionwithGodsothatweflowwithHisSpirit.