I'm not sure how much I can write here about the weekend, simply due to the wealth of information and discussion that happened! However, I shall attempt to summarise...
Also, a note that the theme of BLT+ this year was 'Getting Personal: From Programs to People'
Talks (Eugene Hor):
- As people, we imitate only that which we consider supremely great. Whether this is the awesome soccer player, or that incredibly skilled chef on TV, or that passion-filled singer, or even that friend of ours who seems to have a such good grip on life...as humans, consciously or subconsciously, we strive to imitate that which we consider to be great.
- The more we strive to imitate that person, the more magnified that person becomes. Imitation is the highest form of praise. 'Wow, you sing just like Delta Goodrem!' gives praise to Delta Goodrem, not you. But at the same time, the closer you get to your idol, the happier you become, because you are becoming the very person you aspire to be.
- God is supremely great. He, of all things, is holy and set apart. There is no other like him. Everything God does he does to reveal, magnify and secure the praise and glory of his holiness. In the gospel, in bringing us to himself and calling us to be like him, he is securing in our lives the greatest glory and praise we can give him, while we have the greatest possible joy and satisfaction in our lives!
- How do we even begin to imitate God's glory? When God's holiness is like a billion suns to our meager candlelight, such that we can't even look at his glory without being blinded by his brilliance...how can we even start to imitate him? Jesus, in whom the fullness of God dwells...glorifies God and is glorified by God! In the person of Jesus, we don't just see God's glory, but are brought close to it and to the greatest joy we can know.
- It follows, then, that the focus of ministry is to bring others to the glory of God, for nothing else brings God more glory and us more joy than us becoming more like Jesus.
- Why do other things in life we aspire to fall short? Because only an infinitely great treasure can fill an infinitely great need.
Sessions:
Difficulties in Discipleship -
- What does it mean to make disciples?
- Is there a culture of discipleship in our churches, or are we all there just to be fed but not to serve?
- Do we spend so much time 'doing church' that we neglect our non-Christian friends?
Ministry Mindshift (The Trellis and the Vine) -
From...
- Thinking about a warehouse (stockhouse of leaders somewhere out there) --> thinking about a garden (growing leaders).
- Running programs --> growing people.
- Organising events --> training people.
- Using people --> growing people.
- Filling gaps --> equipping people.
- Solving problems --> helping people progress.
- One man show --> developing a team.
- Focusing on immediate --> aiming for long term expansions.
- Seeking church growth --> desiring gospel growth.
- Ministry succession --> gospel succession.
Road map to growing people (Hebrews 10:24-25):
When we grow people to maturity in Christ, how do we know when someone is growing or stagnating? Three key areas in which we can keep a watch for:
- Knowledge of God's word, the bible
- Personal walk with God, reflected in character
- A person's work for God, in service and ministry
The Ministry of the Pew (from Matthias Media):
What are our attitudes when attending church? Do we go to serve, or to be served? Is the pastor the only one doing the hard work? Do we go only because of the social aspect, or because we have to, or just because we have always done so?
The article we read specifically targeted the role of sitting in 'pews', or chairs (you get the idea!) in church - is it really serving others when we sit in 'our' spot every time, surrounded by friends, while newcomers get left alone?
One-to-one prayer and bible reading:
Encourages the personal growth of a person in their walk with God, and is good because
- Convenient - easier to organise two people than a whole group!
- Personal - can focus on individual questions and concerns, unlike in a group setting.
- Accountable - much harder to meet up each week with one person and pretend to be serious.
- Strategic - a basic ministry, and useful in many contexts. Wherever we go in our Christian walk, we can find a Christian with whom we can read and pray with. Some places it's impossible to gather Christians together, such that the only way possible is with individuals.
Mission Minded:
7 'types' of ministry in which we can serve the people of God:
- Raising awareness
- Initial contact
- Pre-evangelism
- Evangelism
- Follow-up (for Christians)
- Nurture
- Training in Ministry
- --> also, support of ministries
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