Are YOU a Bible BASED Leader? Keith Palmer Associate Pastor, Grace Bible Church, Granbury

Overview: "Bible-BASED" is a new model for training AWANA leaders. The Bible-BASED model was first implemented in book one of the adult Citation curriculum and has now been used to completely redesign all Basic Training and other leadership training materials and programs.

B A S E D BASED Is An Acrostic ible truth pplication pecifics quipping iscipleship The foundation The focus The details The tools The process What does Scripture say? What should I do? How can I do it? What do I need to do it? Will you show me how? for doctrine … for reproof, for correction... for instruction in righteousness thoroughly equipped commit to faithful men M EANING E LEMENT A NSWERS WHAT II T IMOTHY:

Why it is needed: The old BT materials were baSEd; –No Biblical foundation –Little Biblical application –Strong on “how-to’s” –Tells how to use the tools (Awana program) –No built-in discipleship (except the test)

Observations: Children’s ministry instruction (including AWANA) has become largely baSEd We jump right to the application in an effort to be relevant… And we leave out (or hurry) the Bible Truth and Discipleship We need to put the foundation back We need to move from the foundation to the focus We can’t forget discipleship

BASED is: A ________ that guides the structure of training A _____ for evaluating training materials A ____ for helping churches raise the standard of training A ______________for indicating excellence A _______ that puts the Bible where it belongs blueprint filter tool seal of approval concept

First Applications Basic Training has been redesigned Rorheim Institute materials being produced Policy manuals rewritten Leader training programs will be built around it

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry THEOLOGY

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Glory of God – The ultimate purpose or goal of man (and thus also the church) is to bring glory to God (Eph. 1:4-6, 3:21). God's goal for Himself is to bring Himself glory. It is also God's purpose that people also bring Him glory (Ps. 86:9, Is. 43:7, Col. 1:16, Rev. 4:11). Therefore, the most fundamental and basic question that drives our ministry must be: "Will this glorify God?"

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Supremacy and Sufficiency of the Scriptures - The Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God and as such is absolutely and finally authoritative (2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Thes. 2:13, 1 Cor. 2:13). The authority of God's Word should guide every aspect of ministry. The Bible is also sufficient for all things pertaining to ministry, life, and Christian practice (Matt. 5:18, 24:35, John 10:35, 16:12-13, 17:17, 1 Cor. 2:13, 2 Tim. 3:15-17, Heb. 4:12, 2 Peter 1:20-21). So not only is the Bible authoritative in ministry, it is also sufficient for all matters and aspects of ministry. The Bible then, and the Bible alone, dictates how we live and how we run our ministry.

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Sovereignty of God – Recognizing the sovereignty (ultimate power and authoritative control) of God over all things, including the church, is absolutely essential in ministry (John 6:37-40, 44, Acts 13:48, James 4:8). This is particularly essential in the area of salvation. We as a church must rest in the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16), not the wisdom of man.

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Heart of Conversion – The Scripture clearly teaches that man is sinful and totally unable to save himself from his helpless condition (Eph. 1:4-7, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Thes. 2:13, 2 Tim. 2:10). As such, sinful man would never come to saving faith apart from the intervention of God changing his heart. We must resist the temptation to depend on our own abilities to bring unbelievers to Christ. We cannot. Only God can. Our job as is to be faithful to pray and present the gospel clearly to all (Rom. 10:13-15).

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Nature of Man - The Bible does not teach that man is a "blank slate," a product of his environment, the victim of his genes or upbringing, naturally good, or improving through evolution. Instead, the Bible teaches that man is God's creation, created to joyfully worship Him in obedience and holiness. Because of sin, all people are God's enemies by nature, separated from God and hopeless to change their condition (Is. 59:2, Ps. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-18, Eph. 2:1- 10). Only the intervention of Christ can change a man's course from eternal judgment and destruction to forgiveness, a restored relationship with God, and eternal life (Rom. 5:10, 6:23, John 6:43-4, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, etc.).

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Gospel of Grace – The Bible teaches that people are saved from their sin and credited with the perfect righteousness of Christ totally by grace alone and solely by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:21ff, Eph. 2:8-10). A person receives this gift of salvation by turning from his sin to God and placing his trust in Jesus Christ.

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Heart of Discipleship - Scripture teaches that a person's heart or mind (synonyms in Scripture) is the "Mission Control Center" of the person. In other words, a person’s heart directs his behavior and actions. The Bible also teaches that it is a man's heart/mind that is naturally corrupt and sinful (Gen. 6:5, Prov. 20:5, Jer. 6:14, 17:9). No man can do good or please God while in his sinful condition (Rom. 3:10-18). And no manner of "changing the outside" will do any good toward honoring God (cf. Matt. 23:27-28). The "inner man," a person's heart/mind is what must be changed. Specifically…

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry Affections Desires Motives Beliefs Will OUTER MAN (what can be observed) INNER MAN (what cannot be observed) Mind/Heart Mission Control Center Words, Actions, Behavior Proverbs 4:23, 23:7 Mark 7:20-23, Matt. 12:34

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Heart of Discipleship - Man's heart/mind needs to be changed through salvation – When a person is saved, God regenerates his heart, gives him a new disposition toward righteousness, and send His Holy Spirit to work in him (Titus 3:5, 2 Cor. 5:17ff, Rom. 6:1ff, 8:9) Man's heart/mind needs to be changed through sanctification – While salvation brings about the means and the tools for righteous living, the process must be continued through sanctification. Sanctification involves a person renewing their mind/heart by the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures. This involves the renewal of conscience, motives, intentions, will, affections, and thoughts (Eph. 4:23, Rom. 12:1-2, Heb. 4:12, 2 Cor. 10:5, etc). When a man's heart/mind is changed, his behavior will change.

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Preeminence of Christ – Colossians 1:18 tells us that Christ is to have "first place" in everything. He is the head, leader, and focus of the church (Eph. 1:22, 5:23). Therefore Jesus Christ alone is to be followed, imitated, obeyed, and exalted in life and ministry.

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Transforming Work of the Spirit – The Holy Spirit empowers and motivates believers to be like Christ. He and He alone produces godliness in the life of a believer (Eph. 2:22, 1:13, Rom. 8:9, 2 Cor. 3:6). Ministry in any context should emphasize a believer's need to walk with the Spirit, live by the Spirit, be filled with the Spirit, and rely on the Spirit's empowerment, illumination, and enabling (Rom. 6, Gal. 5, Eph. 3:16, 5:18, 1 Cor. 2:14-15).

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Priority and Purpose of the Church – In this age, God has ordained the church to be His primary vehicle to accomplish His work and bring Him glory (Eph. 3:9-10). All believers should identify with a local church, function in a local church, and joyfully follow the leadership of a local church. The church and the God-given authority she has must take priority over other institutions, such as para- church organizations and mission agencies.

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The church has three primary purposes: To worship and glorify God (Eph. 1:4-6, 3:21), to equip and edify believers (1 Cor. 12:7, 1 Peter 4:7, Col. 1:24-29, Eph. 4:7-16, Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 20:17-35), and to evangelize the lost (Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 5:42, 8:5, 13:1)

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry The Priority of Parents in Discipling Children – The Bible teaches that the primary responsibility for the spiritual shepherding of children rests of the shoulders of parents (Deut. 6:7, Eph. 6:4). They are the primary spiritual influence in a child's life. The church's primary responsibility is to come along side parents and equip them to be able to fulfill their ministry at home to their children (Eph. 4:11-13). The church's second responsibility is to encourage, support, affirm, and supplement parental teaching of spiritual truth to children (Col. 1:28-29). While unbelieving parents are not exempt from their God-given responsibility to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, the church should realize in these cases that they (by default) do function as the primary influence of spiritual truth to those children.

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry APPLICATION

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry Ministry is about God. Jesus Christ should be the sole focus of ministry (Col. 1:18, 28-29) Our ability to minister flows out of our own walk with the Lord (2 Tim. 2:21) Theology is relevant and a child's greatest need is for biblical teaching (Heb. 4:12, 2 Tim. 3:16-17) Discipleship is reality and should be the priority (Titus 2, Matt. 28:19-20)

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry Children are by nature sinners (Rom. 3:23, Ps. 51:5, 58:3) Children need the gospel of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:1ff, Col. 1:28-29) The goal of children's ministry is to see each child develop a maturing and growing walk with Jesus Christ (Col. 1:28-29, Eph. 4:13-15) Wise discipleship involves addressing heart issues, not just outward behavior (Mark 7:20- 23, Matthew 12:34, Proverbs 4:23, 23:7)

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry Children's ministry should be committed to equipping and encouraging parents (Eph. 4:11-13) Children's ministry should be connected to the overall purpose of the local church (Eph. 3:9-10, Matt. 16:18) There is a tension between sovereignty of God and the responsibility of people (John 3:1ff, Eph. 2:1ff & Rom. 10:14-15, 2 Tim. 4:2)

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry Common Children’s Ministry Tendencies Exposed

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry Decisionism – the goal becomes getting a child to make a decision for Christ Behavior Modification – the goal is to get kids to behave well Moralization – the goal is produce "good kids" "Bird-bath" teaching – children are only given watered down, very basic biblical truths

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry "Me" orientation – the ministry revolves around children and their perceived needs Churchism – the goal is to get them to be in church Relevancy – only teaching about so-called "relevant" childhood topics Entertainment – the goal and the means become to entertain and have fun Postponment – just keep them in the church until they graduate from high school

Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation of Children’s Ministry We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. - (Col. 1:28-29)

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