1. NGL Mardi Gras Outreach 2009 Rev. Troy D. Benitone Assessment Tools: “Determining Spiritual Phase with the Phrase”

2. “For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” Jeremiah 2:13 nlt

3. In the Water World there are: 1.Cisterns: Man-made and Land-made areas that can hold water reserves. 2.Dying Seas: Some sources of water are literally Dead or Dying Seas. 3.Living Water: Is a healthy water supply that has water coming in and water going out.

4. Fresh Streams Clean Water Stagnant Water

5. Types of Water Churches 1.Cistern Churches? 2.Dead Sea Churches? 3.Living Water Churches?

6. Dynamic Death & Dynamic Growth illustrated

7. Troy’s Haircut Metaphor: EXPLAINED! Troy’s Solution to Great Hair: “If you want to have twice as many great hair days cut your hair on a S-Curve and not on the Bell-Curve timeline.”

8. In Summary The Same is true for Shepherding Sheep and Growing Churches: A Healthy Flock has new sheep, adolescent sheep and mature sheep under all under the leadership of under- Shepherds. As a result new flocks are birthed forth. And a Health and Productive system means the Ranch is growing. (Ranching on the S-Curve) If we fail to grow and produce healthy flocks than they become stagnant & aging leading to decline & death.(Ranching on the Bell-Curve)

9. God Loves FAT Sheep!

10. “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into a lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20

11. Four things define a DISCIPLE 1.A disciple is one who has made Jesus the Lord of his or her life. Jesus said, “Come and follow me.” He is the leader. We must be committed to being the followers. 2.A disciple is one who has entered a process of relational discipleship with other maturing Christians. To Become “Fishers” 3.A disciple is one who is becoming Christ- like. They “Followed Him.” 4.A disciple is one who is committed to the mission of Christ. Fishers– “of men”

12. What is a Disciple? They are Biblically Functioning Faithful Follower of Jesus Christ.

14. “ Jesus chose twelve disciples and created a TEAM, a small group- because in small groups people can really learn. If there were a better way to teach, He would have shown us.” (134)

15. Jesus the Master of Discipleship 1.He taught in a small group setting. 2.Then He modeled it in the real life laboratory.

16. Four phases of Discipleship Development 1.Share: Salvation 2.Connect: Discipleship 3.Minister: Fruit 4.Disciple: Disciple Maker/Seed Planter

18. “Jesus will always takes us as we are, but He will not leave you that way. He will start the process of unmaking what we have become so that He can remake us into something useful for His Purpose.” (69)

19. Our Main Objective Jesus’ clear hope was the Every Disciple would grow to become like Him in calling people to a repentant and saving faith in God and in turn training others to go forth and continue the work of spreading the Gospel as a part of His Great Commission until Jesus returns.

20. Determining “Spiritual Phase with the Phrase" 1.Share-level people Unsaved- need to hear the Gospel.Unsaved- need to hear the Gospel. Saved- need to begin to develop basic knowledge.Saved- need to begin to develop basic knowledge. 2.Connect-level people (Watch out for the I-Critical Stage.) 3.Ministry-level people 4.Discipleship-level people

21. Putman tells us that Discipleship-level people 1.They See the need to grow a ministry they are passionate about. 2.They notice that the ministry could expand if they had help. 3.They notice the gifts and passions of someone else who could play a part in the ministry. 4.They are willing to invest in another who they see who needs to be trained.

22. “In fact, I don’t believe a person is a mature Christian unless they are a part of Christ’s mission to reach the world through His team—the Church.” “I don’t care how much scripture they know or how many seminary degrees they have, they are not in the will of God, this is not a mature believer, “a fully devoted- follower of Jesus Christ” unless they are a part of His Team— the Church. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A TEAM SPORT!!!” (69)