Learning to Pray by Leaving our Building The Dundonald Church “Factory” being demolished. For the last 16 years, I’ve planted and led churches that gather on Sundays in hired facilities. I’ve become well accustomed to the rigours of setting up on freezing cold mornings, packing down in the dark, lost equipment, double-bookings, frustrations with other hirers (why can’t they put their rubbish in the bins), and disappointments with landlords (why didn’t they tell us the power and water would be disconnected?).And yet, I’m very thankful for the opportunity to join Dundonald Church, which owns its building, just as the church moves out of the building for two years! Let me be clear, I certainly don’t think that churches that gather in borrowed buildings are inherently better or worse than those that meet in spaces they own. But leaving our building has energised my prayers in a number of ways.Leaving our…
Training for Bible Readers #2 – Making the Most of Reading the Bible in Church This is Part 2 of the Training for Bible Readers video, and shares some helpful tips and patterns for reading the Bible in church.See also Part 1 of this training, “Why Reading the Bible in Church Really Matters”.
Training for Bible Readers #1 – Why Reading the Bible in Church Really Matters Do you serve in your local church by reading the Bible in your church gatherings? This video explains why your ministry is so important for the people of God, for the work of the Spirit, and for the cause of the gospel of Jesus in the world!See also Part 2 of this training, “Making the Most of Reading the Bible in Church”.
Ministry Resources 8 Strategies for Leading a Large Team Interview Tip – Present the Evidence Interview Tip – Show Your Learning The STAR(ce) Method – Or How to Ace Effective Planning & Review Meetings The Resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15 – High “I Am” High School Short Studies Stages of Group Life Join Dundonald Church as a Ministry Trainee in Managing Ministry Staff God of the Nations and the Lowly – Praying to Our God who Hears and Acts Let’s Worship our Glorious God – A Prayer In God We Trust – A Prayer from Evangelism in Church Gatherings Who Wrote James? Live Streaming Advice for Churches Learning to Pray by Leaving our Building Making the Most of Reading the Bible in Why Reading the Bible in Church Really Matters Leading Prayers at Christmas Services God, Church & Me :: Membership Course “5 Friends 5 Ways” Prayer Postcards Role Descriptions…
Leading Prayers at Christmas Services Download PDF One of the most exciting aspects of church Christmas events is the large number of newcomers who come among us. While we want every Sunday to be a good Sunday to bring friends and family so they can hear the gospel of Jesus, at Christmas time many more guests who are unfamiliar with church and the Christian faith will join us. This means those of us who lead in various ways in our services must be extra careful to use language that is inclusive and not alienating, and we need to work hard to minimise misunderstanding. This includes those who lead our prayers!Here are 10 tips that will help us pray helpfully and in a way that commends prayer to newcomers.Speak in plain language. This is a good discipline for any time, to work out how to communicate deep truths in accessible language! …
Philippians – The Cross-Shaped Life Download PDF “The Cross-Shaped Life” – 4 Studies in Philippians Your browser does not seem to support iframes. Click here to read this PDF. Convert your PDF to digital flipbook ↗ Sample material from this study guide:Leaders’ Notes :: Philippians 1 :: To Live is Christ Key verses:1:9 – 11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.1:18 The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.Notes:v 5 “Partnership” is the Greek work “koinonia.” Sometimes translated as “fellowship” but this…
Imagine a World Without Easter – Bible Study Guide Download PDF “Imagine a World Without Easter” – 3 StudiesThree studies for groups, individuals, or 1:1, examining and reflecting on the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus.1. Imagine a World Without Hope :: 1 Peter 1:3 – 72. Imagine a World Where Death Wins :: 1 Corinthians 15:12 – 263. Imagine a World Without Purpose :: 2 Corinthians 5:10 – 20See the PDF below, or view sample content from Study 2 in this Bible study guide further down the page: Your browser does not seem to support iframes. Click here to read this PDF. Convert your PDF to online magazine ↗ 1 Corinthians 15:12 – 26. Imagine a World Where Death WinsWhat is the most memorable funeral of which you have been a part?What makes it stand out in your mind?Shakespeare’s Hamlet observes “This fell sergeant, death, is strict…
God Church & Me :: Church Membership Course Download Bible Studies Download Workshop Notes These notes are the Senior Pastor’s notes for leading the workshop discussions at God, Church & Me. They obviously contain much which is specific to Trinity Church Mount Barker, but will give you some ideas as to how to structure a similar workshop discussion and what areas of discussion it might be helpful to include. Running a church membership course is one of the best ways to integrate new people in the your church or church plant. A membership course doesn’t have to be tied to formal or legal membership if your church has these, it’s simply a way for newcomers (and even those who have been around for longer) to find their place in the church family.Typically a course for members will aim to unpack how the church applies the Scriptures and how people can…
Planning to Plant – Visiting a “Secular Church” Download PDF Visiting a church for the first time can be a very daunting experience! But those of us who have been in church for a while can very easily forget what it’s like to visit a church, be surrounded by the unfamiliar, and feel like an outsider.Here’s a tool to help Christians get a sense of the experience of being new in an unfamiliar gathering, and then having had that experience, to begin thinking through what lessons can be learnt for making people feel welcomed in our churches.Visit a “secular church”! A secular church is just a place where people gather! Think of Ikea, a betting shop, a decent pub, specialty coffee shop, sporting club, or a restaurant. Visiting a place like this that you’re unfamiliar with is a great way of being reminded of the feelings and experience of visiting…
Church Plant Team Program Download PDF How will you spend the time you have with the planning team for your church plant?What areas need discussion?What should be decided in the early days?What can be left until later?What parts of the Bible will you study together?This example of a program for a planting team might give you some ideas about how to make the most effective use of your time as a team. This was the program for a team of 15 people, who met roughly fortnightly in planning to plant.This document references an earlier version of the Lessons for New Churches Bible study series.