2. As a courtesy, please turn your cell phones off.

4. Welcome to Grace Gathering If you are visiting us today we hope you feel very welcome. Many of us do mission together in smaller gatherings throughout the New Haven/Fort Wayne area. We invite you to our website or the welcome center and find a mission-community that meets near you or has a similar focus to your passion. Oh, and by the way, stop by our welcome center for a free drink at our Fireside Café.

6. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. … Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. …

7. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 … Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. … Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. …

8. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 … May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

10. My story: I am trying to bring God’s kingdom to the earth today wherever I am. I am trying to bring God’s kingdom to the earth today wherever I am. I am discipling and training others to live and lead like Jesus I am discipling and training others to live and lead like Jesus I face difficulty, hardship, and persecution for following Jesus I face difficulty, hardship, and persecution for following Jesus

11. How does my story ends: Jesus returns and I enter the fullness of God’s kingdom Jesus returns and I enter the fullness of God’s kingdom or or I die, am with Christ, and await the New Heaven and Earth I die, am with Christ, and await the New Heaven and Earth

12. My story: I am trying to bring God’s kingdom to the earth today wherever I am. I am trying to bring God’s kingdom to the earth today wherever I am. I am discipling and training others to live and lead like Jesus I am discipling and training others to live and lead like Jesus I face difficulty, hardship, and persecution for following Jesus I face difficulty, hardship, and persecution for following Jesus How does my story ends: Jesus returns and I enter the fullness of God’s kingdom Or Jesus returns and I enter the fullness of God’s kingdom Or I die, am with Christ, and await the New Heaven and Earth I die, am with Christ, and await the New Heaven and Earth

13. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

14. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

15. Paul was very intentional, strategic, and Spirit-led in his discipleship strategy.

16. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

18. Jesus’ three year discipleship investment Begins with invitation: “Come follow me.” Begins with invitation: “Come follow me.” Ends with challenge: “Go and make disciples.” Ends with challenge: “Go and make disciples.”

20. Jesus was very intentional, strategic, and Spirit-led in his discipleship strategy.

21. 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us

22. 1 Thessalonians 1:11-12 For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

26. Grace Gathering Vision and Strategy Bringing God’s kingdom to earth today by discipling people to live and lead like Jesus