It doesn't matter what we grow if we don't grow a people of divine distinction!
1. Jesus says it quite simply.
You are the salt of the earth
Matthew 5:13
2. Not because we believe something unique, or do something unique on Sundays. BUT because that is how God has recreated (regenerated) us to be
Be perfect as your heavenly father is
perfect!
Matthew 5:48

When we grow a people of divine distinction, we will fulfill our mandate!
1. Simply put by both Jesus and Paul
Your are the light of the world!
Matthew 5:14
Your are God's eternal enigma
Ephesians 3;10-11
2. Our mandate is not to win the world, plant churches, build programs. But to make the evangelization of every place possible THROUGH the people that God has entrusted to us

How do we measure that kind of success? How do we know when we are doing that?
1. When a majority of our people are taking baby steps in their priesthood and growing in God's first calling: to be related to Him and, then, to represent Him
Genesis 1-2
Dueteronony 6:4
Leviticus 19:18
Luke 10:25ff

Intimacy with God
1. What makes intimacy with God so hard?

Primarily I think that it was the incorrect way I was brought to God.
A. Was it escape from hell, promise
of heaven or the thought that all
life's issues would be quickly
resolved?
B. But, those are not what salvation is all about in the Bible
1) Genesis 1
-Out of all God's creation I am, we are the most unique
-Only to us does He say: know me, represent me
2) Jesus makes it clear: love God with all your heart, soul and mind.

2. Why is intimacy with God so important

Because when we come to salvation in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, He does something profound: He gives us a new nature!

Matthew 5: be perfect as your Heavenly father in heaven is perfect.

This is not a threat, it is a promise. Be like your Father, because you now have His nature living in you. You are made to be like father.

Hebrews 4:16ff God is prepared to bring healing through our life with Him

3. What are things that facilitate intimacy with God?

A. Some time every day, some way, listening to God in His word

B. Some extended time every week doing the same

C. A half day or more once every month or two spent in quietness, alone with His word before you.

D. Use more than one tool.
Listen
Read
Meditate
Use an occassional book by one who
has finished the course
Don't use radio, DVDs, music mp3
sermons as a substitute

Learn the sound of God's voice in His word and from His Spirit who lives in us.

2. When a majority of our people are taking baby steps in telling the story of their grace life
Ephesians 3:10-11

3.When a majority of our people are taking baby steps in using their spiritual gifts in the world where they spend 99% of their time. Spiritual gifts are not given for the program of the church but to fulfill the purpose of the church
1 Corinthians 12:7

4.When a majority of our people are taking baby steps in maturing the fruit of the Spirit in all of their individual and corporate interpersonal relationships
Galatians 5:22
Among themselves
In relationship to the world

5. When a majority of our people are taking baby steps in stewarding their assets for the expansion of the kingdom of God
1 Timothy 6:17ff
Acts 20:35

6. When we as a church are measurably reducing the lostness of the neighborhood we "live" in.
Acts 1:6-8
A I call this outside in thinking. By reducing lostness I do not mean that people will necessarily come to faith. But, that through our incarnational and declarative efforts, they will have understood their options.
B. I have come to identify it with circles of accountbility God gives to all local bodies. (circle of accountability is asking God the Spirit to give us a geographic sphere around us where we can mobilize all of our resources to guarantee that in a specific time frane every man, woman and child will have had an opportunity hear, understand and decide about God's offer of reconciliation in His Son, Jesus. If they decide yes, they are integrated into a local church that grows them in the life of faith and participation in the ministry of the purpose of the church)
In your neighborhood
In your city
In your state or region
In your nation
In at least one place outside of your
nation

These kinds of churches multiply! But what separates us from these kinds of churches?
1. Our historical theology about the church: A place to gather rather than a people to grow in the practices of faith and participation in the ministry of the purpose of the church
2. Our own egos that derive minimal significant feelings of worth from birthing rather than being at a "priestly" center of attention.
3. A people who have now been allowed to entrench in expectations based upon an erroneous idea of the church and their involvement in it's purpose.

We are in the need of reformation!
1. Not reprogramming
2. Not what we do, but how we think!

The Journey (training material package) process we advocate:
1. Demands time.
2. Demands reflection
3. Leads to correction
4. Is best accomplished in geographic affiliation of churches to churches
5. Builds churches that in every aspect give away as much as, if not more than they keep.
6. Leads to strategic engagement of our people and our places.
7. Measure their effectiveness by what people do with their faith.

Dwight Smith
April, 2009

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