1. Discipleship for the 21st Century
90 minutes
Introduction

2. Today’s Presenter Rev. Nicole Reilley, Dir. of New Ministries, Cal-Pac
Ordained Elder,
Served 3 churches,
House Church Network
Superpower: Resourcing
Live in the Torrance area
Huddles since 2011

3. The mission field is GROWING!

4. Statics from Thomas Rainer say:
65% of the Builder Generation are in church each week.
35% of Boomers are in church each week.
15% of Gen X’ers
4% of Millennial Generation

5. Go over chart
We tend to think of transfer growth
Or, people coming back
But the real place to reach people
Unaffiliated.
No background
Especially = get younger.

6. California’s population on July 1, 2016 was 39. 4 million
California’s population on July 1, 2016 was 39.4 million. The state is poised to reach a population of 40 million by the year 2018, 45 million by 2035, and 50 million during Between 2016 and 2060, the state is projected to grow by 30 percent: from 39.4 million to 51.1 million (0.6 percent annually), adding over 11.7 million people (more than the 2016 population of Ohio).

7. Interesting Cal-Pac Facts In 2016, 293 churches added members (of the 359) or 81.6% of churches. The conference added 3,428 members in 2016 but lost 5,470 (1,143 of those by death) in 2016.

8. +Removed by charge conference action 1,782 +Withdrawn from professing membership 527 +Correct previous year's reporting errors Transferred out to other UMCs 458 +Transferred out to non-UMCs 541

9. While 81% of churches grew (averages out to 10 new members per church) we would need to grow by 15 new members in order to keep even.

10. Increased Worship Attendance
Since 2014 % Churches
Increased Worship Attendance
East District - 30%
Hawaii District - 45%
North District - 28%
South District - 23%
West District – 38%

11. We can grow but we need to…
Plan for newcomers with little to no background.
Connect people to God not only the UMC, membership.
Raise the bar on discipleship – small groups (online and in person). (Less committees – Simple Board)

12. Our times are not much different from JW’s-

13. Archbishop Secker, then Bishop of Oxford, asserts ‘that an open and professed disregard to religion is become, through a variety of unhappy causes, the distinguishing character of the present age; that this evil is grown to a great height in the metropolis of the nation, and is daily spreading through every part of it.”
(The Life of John Wesley by John Telford - Chapter 8)

14. Not UMC
Go over
43% = get closer to God.
This = focus.

15. We need a model for Discipleship-
+Lightweight
+Doable by all ages
+Doable no matter how new or seasoned you are.
+Low maintenance
+Isn’t curriculum driven but life driven
+Run by laity
+Offered to newcomers

16. Wesley’s Model Connect with history and how disciples were made
The church of John and Charles Wesley’s time no longer captivated people—not emotionally, intellectually or spirituality. Religion had little influence in a time with the suffering of the Industrial Revolution; a vital, alive faith was needed.  
As a Church of England Priest, John Wesley knew the traditional church and its structure.  Finding the Church no longer reaching the common people, Wesley moved preaching outdoors seeking to connect with people where they lived and worked.  This proved successful. But quickly Wesley recognized that a sermon didn't provide the type of continued life change he was seeking to bring.  
Wesley set up groups of people who would continue to meet after the sermon had ended.   Originally he set up what he called societies. These would meet for prayer and Bible study under the leadership of clergy and lay leadership. The idea for a society was not new as Wesley had experienced it when he connected with the Moravians.  The original idea was to gather those who had been moved by the preaching to grow their faith.  As Methodism was originally a revival movement, societies were to strengthen faith and build a bridge to the Church of England.
Out of societies grew bands. These were much smaller groups (3-4, same gender) who sought to address sin and grow in holiness.  Serious and set on spiritual maturity, Wesley believed these to be an essential part of the methodist movement although they never caught on

17. Large (Preaching & Singing): “Societies” Midsize (Spiritual Growth & Serving): “Classes 2-3 People: “Bands”
Developed because Wesley – and George Whitfield another great preacher of the time – found that preaching wasn’t enough. People listen and love it and go back to their lives – nothing to support them.

18. Today Church = Large (Preaching & Singing): “Societies”
Today Church = Large (Preaching & Singing): “Societies” ? = Midsize (Spiritual Growth & Serving): “Classes” ? = 2-3 People: “Bands”
So how do we respond?
We have larger groups = churches which in W system are for preaching and singing – not for disciplemaking. Too much for a church to do!
We need to reclaim a midsize group (the smaller groups never really caught on in
Midsize group isn’t a book study or a programmatic group
Although can do some program
But a group to grow your discipleship.

19. Classes: As Classes grew to become discipleship making groups they focused on accountability to the General Rules as they gathered people together in small groups.

20. General Rules: 1. Do no harm. 2. Do good. 3. Stay in love with God. .
The General Rules were issued by John and Charles Wesley on May 1, 1743 and were the ways Methodists were to live.  The Rules are:
Do no harm, either to our relationship with God, the government, others or ourselves. This included keeping the sabbath, staying away from fighting and usury, speaking evil of others, wearing costly apparel and wasting time on music and reading that would hurt your relationship with God.
2. Doing good, by caring for the physical needs of others (giving food to hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and in prisoned),caring for others souls, especially those in the household of faith, taking up the cross.
3. Attending upon the ordinances of God. Including worship,family & private prayer, study of scripture, Communion, fasting.

21. How? We need: Tools & a Rhythm of Life. .
Tools built on Jesus’ teachings –
Look at Tools
Finish with a rhythm to apply these and how you’d start discipleship groups.

22. Share with you: +Simple Shapes “Lifeshapes” +Apply key teachings Jesus +Mike Breen, Larry Duggins,… +Shapes help you remember +“Play Button on your VCR”

23. Listening To God The Circle
Key teaching:” The time has come, the Kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the good news. “ First teaching.
Live into this grow as a disciple.
Kairos = a time in your life, a significant event, a defining moment. Kairos moments can:
Be positive or negative, but never neutral.
Leave a lasting impact on you, and have the potential change your life if processed well.
Signal an opportunity to grow spiritually and emotionally.
“The time (Kairos) has come, the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the good news.” -Jesus

24. Can you think of a recent Kairos moment in your life
Can you think of a recent Kairos moment in your life? What were the high points or the low points? Where did you experience stress or peace? Were there any relational conflicts or tension? What do you want the most in life right now? Is there something you thinking a lot about?  
.Can you think of a recent Kairos moment in your life?
These questions below help us to identify kairos moments within our week or month.
What were the high points or the low points?
Where did you experience stress or peace?
Were there any relational conflicts or tension?
What do I want the most in life right now?
Is there something I’m thinking a lot about?
Once you identify a Kairos moment enter more full into it by choosing to learn from it by:

25. (Believe) (Repent) How to Use the Circle –
The Circle is a tool to observe how God is involved in your life through everyday experiences.
Listening for life’s Kairos moments—that is, the moments when God is saying “give this your attention – this is an opportunity for you to grow more into the image and likeness of Jesus in your own life—will deepen your faith in God. The more you practice responding to life’s Kairos moments the better you will get at hearing God’s voice speaking in your day to day life.
There are two parts of the circle –
First half of Circle: Observe, Reflect, Discuss (this is the repentance part of the circle and leads us to the answer: What is God saying to you?).
Second half of the Circle: Pray, Plan, Account & Act (this is “believe” part of the circle and leads us to the answer: What are you going to do about it?).
The Circle is a way to take the key teaching of Jesus in Mark 1 and give you tools to apply it to your life.
 Observe: Observe what you are learning, take notes, what jumps out at you? Are you aware of new resources (people and things)? Observe the doors God is opening. Where are you, how do you feel, what do you think?
 Reflect: Reflect on what you have observed, is this an important learning or resource? What follow up might I need do? What direction is this leading? Reflection takes place to process observations past the initial stage.
 Discuss: Mention to others on your team what God is revealing to you. We need another to know where we are at—we walk the faith together. Discuss your Kairos moment with another for their support and feedback and insight/
This is the repentance process but this does not end the process. We believe that things can be different; we believe that because of Jesus we can live the new life he offers. The rest of the Learning Circle helps us live into that in a practical, hands on sense.
Pray: We believe that prayer makes a difference and that any real change and growth happens in life because of the Holy Spirit. Connect with God over the Kairos through prayer by both sharing what you are learning in this moment and by being still and listening to God.
 Plan: The right side of the Circle helps us identify what it is we need to learn in order to move toward what God would have for us in Messy Church. What is your response to what God has shown you? Do you need to make a call? Track down a resource? Spend more time in prayer?
 Act & Account: Finally we act on our plan and ask others for support. You will need support. Often times we want to skip this but life shows that having someone we are accountable to can make a huge difference. What will you do? Who will you share this with? Who will help you try again if you stumble?
(Believe)
(Repent)

26. Argument with sister
The Circle allows us to ask two fundamental questions of Christian spirituality that allows us to be changed from the inside out…What is God saying to me? And what am I going to do about it?
Let me give you an example of how to use this.
Go through the circle
Say – so what did God say to me? How did I respond?
6.I put my plan into place and check in for a couple weeks with Sue as I do things differently.
1. I feel sad, frustrated. She seems disconnected from me. I want to leave.
(Believe)
(Repent)
5. I am going to sit down with my sister and share with her. I am going to ask for her help in making other choices when tired.
2. This happens often. She often starts it. I take the bait cause I am tired.
4. God, Help me understand what is going on between my sister and I. What do I need to understand and do in order to deal with this pattern of discord?
3.Talk with my friend Sue about the situation, share observation and reflection.

27. Table Talk:
What might your spiritual life look like if each week you looked for where God was speaking to you in your Kairos moment?
What difference would this make – in church, youth group, with leaders?

28. Personal Reflection - Weekly
Take time to play with this concept by writing out a kairos moment from your own life –
Invite you during discussion to just concern your “discussion” to happen on the paper. Normallly you’d talk with someone.
To Figure out: What were the high points or the low points? Where did you experience stress or peace? Were there any relational conflicts or tension? What do you want the most in life right now? Is there something you thinking a lot about?
Only take 5 minutes so you won’t get thru it all today.

29. The Circle is a Key tool in Discipleship.
You are putting Jesus’ teaching into action –
“The Kingdom of God is at hand – repent and believe in the good news.”
By taking life’s experiences through the Circle, you can live into the abundant life to which God is call.
“The Way It Was Circle” – 4 conversations

31. Rest and Work The Semi Circle
To do this rhythm- to learn to look at your life in this way
Some adopt a more biblical rhythm of living.
Illustrated on the shape of the semi circle

32. Rest from work. Rest reminds us we are not God.
See “Rest” “Work” and the pendulum that swings between?
(do a demonstration of this with your finger swinging back and forth )
Problem is most of us get stuck on the work or busyness part of the swing (demonstrate this too)
But the biblical rhythm of life, the rhythm of life for a disciple is to work and rest, back and forth.
So far so good? Couple important pieces…
Fundamentally we are to work from rest.
Different than the world –work, work, work and fall down exhausted.
This is a very different model where we work till we fall down.
Here the model is that first we rest in God, we are renewed and out of rest comes being fruitful, comes our work.
Biblical model is to work from being rest – rest goes first.
Examples:
+The Story of Creation –
God created and on the 6th day he created humanity. The 7th day for God, but THE FIRST DAY for humanity was a day of rest.
 +Jesus started his ministry
He is baptized and instead of getting to work, he goes to the desert to be with God.
Why did God build the world in this way, what does REST do?
Renews us. But more than that - our stopping reminds us that the world does NOT need us to turn, that we are not God.
Rest from work. Rest reminds us we are not God.

33. Abide - If you don’t have time for prayer, you probably
I wanted to link this up with prayer so that you would see two things:
First, prayer isn’t only our talking to God; it is being in God’s presence---stilling our hearts and minds and opening our selves up to God.
Second, if you don’t have time for prayer, you probably aren’t hearing from God on a regular basis. Hearing from God takes building space in our life to do so.
Import to see that resting isn’t just laying around.
There is a definite focus on meeting God in this time of renewal.
The biblical word for this is “to abide”
Abiding is
to remain; continue; stay: Abide with me.
to have one's abode; dwell; reside: to abide in a village
to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship,
If we want to hear God,
Want to hear God’s direction
Want to make choices lead us in God ways
These things will develop out of our abiding in God.
Text: John 15: Listen for word “abide” and what abiding does.
Abide - If you don’t have time for prayer, you probably
aren’t hearing from God on a regular basis.

34. John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower
John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.

35. Table Talk:
How does this Biblical Rhythm of life differ from your life?
Do you take regular time to “abide” to rest in God?
What might it mean to your quality of life to live this Biblical Rhythm?

36. Personal Reflection Take some time with the Semi Circle –
In looking at Abiding, Pruning, Fruitfulness, Growing
All these seasons are part of our discipleship
Times of major rest
Times where there is loss and disorientation
Times of growing
Times of fruit
What season are you in?
Personal Reflection time.

37. Go over this slides

38. The Semi Circle
+Reminds us we are not God and must abide.
+ Reminds us of the seasons of life which releases us from anxiety.
+ Invites us to live a rhythm that is joyful. “My yoke is easy and my burden light” VS “I am so busy!”

39. Fullness of Life in Christ The Triangle
Live in a time where making inside life priority = Not vogue
Spend all kinds of time, money
= best body, eat right, hair color, botox
(maybe not you but culturally)
Internal life, faith, spirituality = second, third place…
1 Reason = complex
Confusing
Overwhelming.
But what if it didn’t need to be that way?
What if looking at Jesus’ life gave us the model for our life
& we = follow it?
Actually, that is a perfect place = start.
Text: Luke 6:12-20

40. Luke 6:12-19 (NRSV)
Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot,

41. and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor
and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. +
This scripture is a clear example
Rhythm Jesus lived his life
Lived his life in 3 Directions
See it over, over, over again---
Here = really easy to see, lets pull it apart…

43. Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. - Luke 6:12
The rhythm of Jesus begins with prayer
Spent whole night in prayer
Jesus = constant contact with the Father
The source of his success =his UPWARD relationship w/G
As his followers, model our lives on his, starting with this
Whole night? May scare us
All agree that connecting to God in prayer = essential grow in our faith
2-3 times a week, Notice the sounds, colors around you—sit outside.
Pay attention to what is around you.
Helps be more present. To others and to God.
Model = lives have upward direction to God

45. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor Luke 6:13-16
OK, 2nd part
Here list of who Jesus calls to follow him
What = purpose? Mark 3:14 says this way:
“He appointed 12—designating them apostles—that they might
be with him and
that he might send them out to preach.”
He called them so he might: be with them,
Build relationships with them
Teach them.
Also: laughed with them
Shared food
Lived life together.
Inward direction of life – care for those around us.

47. He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. Luke 6:17-19
Jesus never lost sight God’s vision to care = others
He sent = troubled world
To bring hope,
The world is still = troubled place
Like Jesus went OUTWARD into the world
We = too
For Jesus = teaching, healing
You = walking for cure,
food to someone lost wife,
providing funding anonymously to someone in need
So life = Upward, Inward, Outward. All three.

49. Table Talk:
What direction is my strongest?
What direction do I need to strengthen?

50. Personal Reflection:
Use of Up In Out Questions…

53. You have this list

54. Look at the Up In Out Questions
Personal Reflection
Look at the Up In Out Questions
Take one that jumps out at you and write and reflection on it for 5 minutes.
You have this list

55. What is the Gospel? What is the Gospel
Larry Duggins – Pastor in Texas,
Story of Paige “Aren’t Christians just haters.”
Drew this out for her -

56. Love God
Love Others

57. Love God Love Others Text #1: Matthew 22:34-40 –
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, " "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Love God
Love Others

58. Pour Out
Fill Up

59. Fill Up
Pour Out
#2 Text: Philippians 2:1-8 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.

60. Love God Pour Out Fill Up Love Others
Gospel is to Love God – Love Others
Pour our lives out for one another
Filled up by God
Plus…
Pour Out
Fill Up
Love Others

61. Unity with God in Christ
Unity with Christ
Jesus’ prayer for us in John

62. #3 John 17:20-23 – Circle in Center
"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me…

63. Love God Pour Out Fill Up Love Others UNIT Y
This gives you a bit of information and a taster on the discipleship training.
Though these simple tools that everyday Christians are disciples and disciple others.
UNIT Y
Pour Out
Fill Up
Love Others

64. Today Several Key Discipleship Shapes
This gives you a bit of information and a taster on the discipleship training.
Through these simple tools
everyday Christians are disciples and disciple others.

65. Discipleship Huddle Plan for Local Church:
Lay run (clergy often run first huddle)
5-8 people
Meet for minutes.
Weekly or every other week (build in breaks)
Birth leaders who start new Huddles
“Young adult Huddle”
“Youth group huddle” etc.
*This is key – discipleship to spread…
Jim White is doing this – ask him -

66. Schedule: Open with prayer, close with Lord’s Prayer
1. Each week: 10 minute discussion on sermon from previous Sunday- asking, what did you hear God say in the text and sermon on Sunday? How did you respond?
2. Sharing Kairos moment week 2 & 4. Either in pairs or as a larger group, sharing what God has been saying and how we have responded.
3. Doing Up, In Out questions week 1 & 3. Focus on either Up, In, or Out and invited everyone to pick a questions. Take some time for silent prayer. What is God saying to you? How will you respond? Share in a large group or in pairs. Check in on follow thru with last week’s Kairos.

67. Start a Huddle at your church.
Next Steps:
Start a Huddle at your church.
Sign up to be part of a huddle at (next slide)
Use the Rhythm of Discipleship Sheet to begin this for your own life. (handout)

68. Fall Huddles www. calpacumc
Fall Huddles Fall 2017 Huddle 1 dates: September 14, September 28, October 12, October 26, November 9, and November :00 AM - 12:15 PM Pacific time.   Fall 2017 Huddle 2 dates September 11, September 25, October 9, October 16, November 6, November 13 and November 27. The group meets 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific time.    
Let others see your passion for God in Christ by sharing the gospel
Learn more:

69. General Rules: 1. Do no harm. 2. Doing good. 3. Stay in love with God. .
Closing:
History helps us connect with our future –
Groups that make discipleships is our future
This is a powerful and doable way to make disciples
I hope you will make use of these tools in your own journey of faith.