© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Session 3 Growing People

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Session 3 Growing People

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Community of Faith Looking at the shape and mission of the church –Biblical foundations –Forces shaping the church –Form and function –Call to God’s people Five sessions 1.What is church? 2.Incarnate people 3.Growing people 4.Kingdom people 5.Witnessing people

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Keys Key Point –Paul wrote that the purpose of the Holy Spirit appointing people to ministries, and giving people gifts was so that the body of Christ might be built up. This session looks at what it means to be a growing people. Key Skill –Reflecting on our purpose as members of the body of Christ.

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Today Growing Up Body and Bride Contemporary perspective Surrender & Reconciliation Equipped, Empowered and Effective Seeking the Spirit

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Growing Up What conditions make for good growth in plants or people? What are the analogies to Spiritual Growth?

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Body and Bride Reflect on either Eph 4:12-13 or Rev 21:2,10 Find a way to express the wonder and worth of God’s Church. What inhibits us from growth to maturity?

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Five Forces of Formation 1.Formation (biblical roots from which the church has developed) 2.Deformation (consequences of political power, cultural pressures and internal struggles) 3.Reformation (the call back to biblical integrity) and 4.Transformation (the impact of the Holy Spirit) preparing it for: 5.Consummation (new heavens and a new earth) Read the notes on ‘A Contemporary Perspective’

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People A Contemporary Perspective Consider local church potential to grow to maturity What are the enablers and inhibitors? What are the strengths and weaknesses? What could be done to strengthen or overcome these?

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Coffee Break

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Surrendered hearts, committed lives Read Ephesians 4:2 and 4:12 –Service for a purpose –Surrendered and committed to Jesus and the church “There are many forms of service but one Lord” 1 Corinthians 12:5

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Equipped, Empowered & Effective Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-18, and 1 Corinthians 14:1 –What key things does the Body of Christ need to do in order to grow? –How may we become equipped and empowered to do these things effectively?

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Reflection Bringing our fears to the foot of the cross Surrendering and committing our hearts to reconcile and serve Opening our selves to change and to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit

© Diocese of Guildford 2012 Growing People Wrap Up Module reflection exercise Comments and Feedback For next time: Check out the notes for Session 4 Bring a Bible