Run With Horses

A PNG Report, with Cameron

24_08_24 -Ep.326 - Run With Horses Podcast - A PNG Report
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
This week I have a special guest! My son, Cameron, is back from a missions trip to PNG and I thought we could see what he has learned before he is off to Bible College.
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
Thank you for joining me today! If you are new to the show, you can find our past shows on our website, runwithhorses.net. If you have been enjoying the show, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review wherever you are listening! And as always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net. And now, on with the show...
Habits - Giving
Finances
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Self
2 Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
DOCTRINE
August – Jesus
September – Holy Spirit
The Death of Jesus
Propitiation – to satisfy the wrath of God against sin.
1 John 4:10 - In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Reconciliation - having fellowship and peace with God where once there was enmity.
Romans 5:10-11 - For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Redemption - the work of Christ on our behalf, whereby he purchases us, he ransoms us, at the price of his own life, securing our deliverance from the bondage and condemnation of sin.
1 Peter 1:18-19 - knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
The work that Jesus did on the cross, restoring our relationship with God and placing us into His family also gave us a mission and purpose in life. Cameron’s trip to PNG is part of that mission. You relationship with people in your community is also part of that mission. How are you intentionally living that mission out this week?
Thanks for joining me again today! If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.

A Church Equipped for the Mission

24_08_17 -Ep.325  - Run With Horses Podcast  - A Church Equipped for the Mission
Podcast:  rwh.podbean.comWebsite:  www.runwithhorses.netYoutube:   https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcastFacebook:   https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcastTwitter:   https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
**(28:00)**Last week we began discussing what it means to be a church that equips people for ministry. We considered that it must be relational and built on the foundation of God’s Word. This week we look at the practical aspects of equipping in the church. What does that actually look like in the life of the church?
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
Thank you for joining me today! If you are new to the show, you can find our past shows on our website, runwithhorses.net. I have spent several weeks focusing on a definition of the church and the current discussion about a discipleship pathway is best understood in the context of our broader look at the church. If you have been enjoying the show, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review wherever you are listening! And as always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net. And now, on with the show...
(27:00)*******(27:00)
Habits - Meditating on Scripture
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 1:1-3 1 Blessed is the manWho walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,Nor stands in the path of sinners,Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He shall be like a treePlanted by the rivers of water,That brings forth its fruit in its season,Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.
Meditation is like chewing. It is slow and thorough. Write notes about what you see in this passage. Make connections between the various sections. Ask yourself, “What do these words from God say?” “What do they mean?” Place who you are and what you do next to this passage and ask God to examine you. Continue to write your findings.(https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/biblical-meditation/)accessed 08.14.2024
 (23:00)******(23:00)
MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCHA CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the MISSION of Jesus as His witnesses TO THE WORLD, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and EQUIP OTHERS to join them on HIS MISSION.
The discipleship pathway is an intentional plan to equip others to be on the mission of Jesus.
Don’t forget the goals of the pathway. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway? a. self-feeding Christians b. everyday missionaries – everyone on the mission of Jesus c. disciple-makers d. pastors e. new churches f. all members of the church, shepherded well
We are still on the THIRD step in the Pathway;   EQUIPENGAGE, CONNECT, EQUIP, RELEASE
Merriam-Webster definition: 1: to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioningIe. equip an army2:  to make ready : prepare
What is equipping in the church? It is preparing each member of the church to use their talents, gifts, and abilities to carry out the work of the ministry throughout their lives.It's answering the question. If the church is made of the people and every member is responsible for the work of the ministry, how do we intentionally help each other prepare and carry out that work, inside and outside the four walls. 
Last week we gave some guidelines.Equipping in it’s best form is Relational.It is fundamentally Speaking the Truth.God's Word and the Holy Spirit supply the Wisdom that we need.
But when we ended last week we still had the question, what does that look like in the local church.
Equipping for the work of the ministry is actually a part of all that the church does, although we don’t always do it intentionally.Consider our discipleship pathway.
    • Engage: As the church talks about outreach and community connections, some members are just learning that we SHOULD be thinking about those outside the church. This is the beginning of equipping new members of the church. It shares the mission of Jesus to the world and the part the church plays in carrying it out.
    • Connect: The church needs to teach foundational Biblical truth to new members as well as those who are considering what it might mean for them to follow Jesus. In this phase the church answers the questions, “What is the church and how do I become part of the church?
 Consistent Bible teaching during this phase helps put down a firm foundation that a strong  Christian life and ministry can be built on. What is the biblical basis for service?
    • Equip: Laying the foundation of a Biblical life should challenge believers to consider how God has gifted them to serve the church. Equipping often begins in a believers life as a time of discovery. Who am I, How has God designed me and what do I need to live my call as an everyday missionary in the world?       During the early life of a new believer, it is helpful to help them think through both corporate aspects of ministry in the church and the individual ministry that every believer has. Equipping here helps answer the questions, “What ministry opportunities best fit my gifts and interests?” and “What training or skills could I get to help me serve better?” 
      Spiritual Growth: As a believer grows and connects with people and the ministries of the church, they should begin to get involved and see the need for further growth and skill training. Part of the Equipping ministry of the church is making it clear what training the church offers and how to take advantage of it. Training that the church recommends from other organizations, counseling centers, bible college, etc. are also kept available as part of helping every member grow in life and service. Equipping is answering the question, “How do I get ongoing training for ministry? “
    • Release: Once individuals are fully engaged in the mission, both in edifying the church and in reaching out in the community, Equipping takes the form of helping workers sustain a life of purpose and ministry through the challenges that life brings. Ongoing support, counseling, refreshment through deep relationships and the ministry of God’s Word help the church to sustain ministry and grow spiritually.
Practically, Where and How does the church do all of this?
1. The Scriptural Foundation is taught through weekly sermons and Sunday school lessons.This is the part most churches do well. We are good at teaching Biblical truth. The theology behind what we do is taught week after week through expository messages that help us understand who God is and what He is doing in the world through His church.
2. Small groups are a place where a lot of equipping happens organically. In the midst of conversations and life challenges we have opportunities to help each other grow and learn to live out our faith in relationships. Leaders and hosts of small groups play a big part in the equipping ministry of the church as they model healthy, Jesus-centered relationships to the group.Here we talk about how our theology works itself out in our daily lives. Encouragement to act soon what we believe. Practical guidance on how to carry out ministry in the community and comfort when we struggle.
3. Individual relationships in the church are often a space where equipping takes place although some individuals are more intentional about it than others.
4. General ministry training and skill development (for SS teachers, deacons, sound booth workers, etc) are carried out either on an individual, as needed basis, or on a yearly schedule with a group. Depending on the focus this can range from a classroom setting to a more informal gathering where issues are talked through and modeled.
5. Specific ministry training is usually handled in a small group or individually as needed. Staff and pastoral training, etc.
(00:00)  END PART 1********(27:00)  BEGIN PART 2
(5:00)*********(5:00)
DOCTRINEAugust – JesusSeptember – Holy Spirit
The Humility of JesusPhilippians 2:1-9 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 
**(1:00)**Next week we will continue exploring how we, as a local church can work to equip each other for the work of the ministry. Practically, there are decisions we make about what, when and where that affects our ability to be disciple of Jesus who are equipping other disciples of Jesus. When the church meets together and has discussion about what we do, we have to consider how we can best do the work of equipping people for ministry if we want to see spiritual growth in the church. There is a limit to how much we can grow without active engagement in the mission of Jesus.
Thanks for joining me again today! If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.(00:00)

Equipping the Church for Ministry

24_08_10 -Ep.324  - Run With Horses Podcast  - Equipping the Church for Ministry
 
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Youtube:  https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
 
**(28:00)**
Last week we focused on the connection we have with Jesus and the church.  This week we continue along those lines and consider how the church can be intentional about helping people build their relationship with Jesus and His family.
 
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
 
Thank you for joining me today! If you are new to the show, you may want to check out our website, runwithhorses.net, and listen to some of the past shows to catch up. I have spent several shows focusing on a simple definition of the church and the current discussion we are having about a discipleship pathway is best understood in the context of the church. If you have been enjoying the show, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review wherever you are listening! And as always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net. And now, on with the show...
 
(27:00)
*******
(27:00)
 
Habits - Serving
 
John 13:2 
And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
 
1 Corinthians 10:24
 24Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
 
Philippians 2:1-4
1Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
 
 
 
 (23:00)
******
(23:00)
 
MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCH
A CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the MISSION of Jesus as His witnesses TO THE WORLD, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and EQUIP OTHERS to join them on HIS MISSION.
 
The discipleship pathway is an intentional plan to equip others to be on the mission of Jesus.
 
Don’t forget the goals of the pathway. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway?
a. self-feeding Christians
b. everyday missionaries – everyone on the mission of Jesus
c. disciple-makers
d. pastors
e. new churches
f. all members of the church, shepherded well
 
We are on the THIRD step in the Pathway;   EQUIP
ENGAGE, CONNECT, EQUIP, RELEASE
 
Merriam-Webster definition: 
1: to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioning
Ie. equip an army
2:  to make ready : prepare
 
What is equipping in the church? 
It is preparing each member of the church to use their talents, gifts, and abilities to carry out the work of the ministry throughout their lives. It involves specific skills, like playing the piano, as well as learning to use your gifting more intentionally, like the gift of encouragement.
It's an ongoing process in the church, something we are always to be doing.
It's answering the question. If the church is made of the people and every member is responsible for the work of the ministry, how do we intentionally help each other prepare and carry out that work, inside and outside the four walls. What skills and training do we need? What encouragement and motivation? Not just information.
Most people need more than facts to engage in meaningful Gospel ministry.
 
A 9Marks article entitled, What Should ‘Equipping’ Christians Look Like?, sees four basic approaches to the topic, most of which affirm the general teaching of the New Testament.
 
REF - https://www.9marks.org/article/what-should-equipping-christians-look-like/
 
Now this article answers some of the questions we may have about equipping in the church. 
First, it is Relational. No surprise since disciple making is essentially one on one equipping and it relies on a relationship.
Second, It is founded on Speaking the Truth.
Third, God's Word and the Holy Spirit supply the Wisdom that we need.
 
The question remains, what does that look like in the local church.
 
(00:00)  END PART 1
********
(27:00)  BEGIN PART 2
 
(5:00)
*********
(5:00)
 
DOCTRINE
August – Jesus
September – Holy Spirit
 
Jesus is our Great High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 9:6-10
**(1:00)**
Next week we will continue exploring how we, as a local church can work to equip each other for the work of the ministry. Practically, there are decisions we make about what, when and where that affects our ability to be disciple of Jesus who are equipping other disciples of Jesus. 
When the church meets together and has discussion about what we do, we have to consider how we can best do the work of equipping people for ministry if we want to see spiritual growth in the church. There is a limit to how much we can grow without active engagement in the mission of Jesus.
 
Thanks for joining me again today! If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.
(00:00)

Connect – United with Jesus and His Family

24_08_03 -Ep.323  - Run With Horses Podcast  - Connect – United with Jesus and His Family
 
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Youtube:  https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
 
**(28:00)**
Last week we focused on the connection we have with Jesus and the church.  This week we continue along those lines and consider how the church can be intentional about helping people build their relationship with Jesus and His family.
 
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
 
Thank you for joining me today! If you are new to the show, you may want to check out our website, runwithhorses.net, and listen to some of the past shows to catch up. I have spent several shows focusing on a simple definition of the church and the current discussion we are having about a discipleship pathway is best understood in the context of the church. If you have been enjoying the show, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review wherever you are listening! And as always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net. And now, on with the show...
 
(27:00)
*******
(27:00)
 
Habits - **Community**
 Acts 2:41-47 - 
> 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
 
Romans 12:4-5 - 
>4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 
 
Ephesians 2:19-22 -
>19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
 
 (23:00)
******
(23:00)
 
MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCH
A CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the MISSION of Jesus as His witnesses TO THE WORLD, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and EQUIP OTHERS to join them on HIS MISSION.
 
The discipleship pathway is an intentional plan to equip others to be on the mission of Jesus.
 
Don’t forget the goals of the pathway. Clear goals are important. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway?
a. self-feeding Christians
b. everyday missionaries – everyone on the mission of Jesus
c. disciple-makers
d. pastors
e. new churches
f. all members of the church, shepherded well
 
We are still on the SECOND step in the Pathway; 
ENGAGE, CONNECT, EQUIP, RELEASE
 
The church's role in connecting people to Jesus. What can the church do intentionally to help people connect their life, values, and purpose to Jesus?
1. Biblical teaching and preaching - the Bible is the foundation
 
a. Our identity in Christ- 
>ACCEPTED
I Am God’s Child- John 1:12
I Am United with the Lord- 1 Corinthians 6:17
I Am Chosen and Adopted- Ephesians 2:3-8
I Am Complete in Jesus- John 4:1-45
I Have Direct Access to God Through Jesus- Hebrews 14:14-16
>SECURE
I Am Free from Condemnation- Romans 8:1-2 and John 8:1-12
God Is at Work in My Life for His Glory and My Good- Romans 8:28
>SIGNIFICANT
I Am Connected to Jesus as My Source of Life- John 15:5
I Have Been Called to Bear Fruit- John 15:16
I Am Seated with Jesus in Heaven- Ephesians 2:6
I Am God’s Workmanship- Ephesians 2:10
I Can Approach God with Freedom and Confidence- Ephesians 3:12
REF (https://rootedministry.com/how-im-teaching-students-to-ground-their-identity-in-christ/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5Ky1BhAgEiwA5jGujmbR95PXgQowc5t6NcSS8cXzKPrMbmAxT2k7yGq0Hb6T1fTk9EHcyhoC_E4QAvD_BwE)
 
b. The character and mind of Christ
Philippians 2 - 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 
 
c. The mission of Christ
Matthew 28:18-20 - Be and Make Disciples (followers of Jesus)
 
d. Healthy relationships
aa. United in Christ
bb. New family
Answer the question, what does each believer need to grow to become more like Jesus and to embrace the mission of Jesus as their own?
 
2. Equipping and Training
a. Spiritual gifts
Romans 12:6-8 
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 
 
b. Spiritual disciplines
>1. Prayer
At least 25 times in the Gospels, we read of Jesus praying. According to Luke 5:16, Jesus prayed often by himself. In other words, He made a habit of it.
>2. Fasting
At the onset of His public ministry, Jesus took 40 days to fast in the wilderness. While it made His body weak, His spirit grew stronger.
>3. Public Worship
Luke 4:16 says that “on the Sabbath day [Jesus] went into the synagogue, as was his custom.”
>4. Bible Reading
Studying Scripture was an important part of Jesus’ life. In fact, by age 12, He was already as biblically literate as the leading teachers (Luke 2:41-47).
>5. Solitude and Silence
Jesus regularly ministered in front of large crowds. But He also made a habit of getting away from time to time (Luke 5:16). In fact, He even encouraged His disciples to get away to a quiet place and rest (Mark 6:31).
>6. Service
In Mark 10:45, Jesus said His goal in coming to earth was not to be served but to serve others and to give His life for our benefit.
REF (https://influencemagazine.com/practice/seven-spiritual-practices-of-jesus)
 
c. Practical ministry skills
Answer the question, what training or skills does each believer need to carry out their role in the church and on the mission?
 
(00:00)  END PART 1
********
(27:00)  BEGIN PART 2
 
 3. Introduction to Personal Ministry
a. Where has God placed you?
Our individual stories are part of a much bigger Story.
 
Ultimately, this Story is not about us, but about Him.
 
God works in unexpected, unexplainable ways to accomplish His purposes.
 
God sovereignly and purposefully ordains and orchestrates the circumstances of our lives.
 
What we see now is not the whole story.
 
We can trust Him to write the story of those we love.
 
The challenges we face may be a part of God writing someone else’s story.
 
Those who trust in Him will never be disappointed.
 
You can trust God to write your story…
REF (https://openthebible.org/article/10-things-to-remember-about-gods-providence-in-our-lives/)
 
All this also makes a difference when we consider:
b. Who has God put in your life?
> Home
> Work/ School
> Community – The Art of Neighboring
> Church
Encourage everyone to see the relationships around them and bring Jesus into them.
 
4. Corporate Ministry
a. How do we intentionally serve each other?
One Another's of the NT
Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times)
Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16) Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)
Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)
Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10)
Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)
Pray for one another (James 5:16)
Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16) 
 
b. How do my gifts build up the body of Christ? 
You are part of something bigger than than yourself!
> Intro to church ministries
> Prayer service, prayer focus
> One Another’s of NT
> Intro to Small Groups - you can learn to help others grow, in individual relationships and in small groups or family units.
 
Help everyone ask and answer the question, what is my role in the local body of Christ? How does my church need my gifts?
 
 
(5:00)
*********
(5:00)
 
DOCTRINE
August – Jesus
September – Holy Spirit
 
Jesus - God Incarnate
Merriam-Webster: Incarnation - the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ
"..at one point in time and space, God entered the world, in the person of Jesus Christ, as He had never done before or since. ...the doctrine of the incarnation means that God is in the world and at work there." - Millard J. Erickson
 
Hebrews 4:14- 16  - 14Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
 
He knows us and our need. He can relate to us.
He is the perfect one to represent us, as God He is able, as man He understand our need.
 
Hebrews 9:11-14 - 11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 
 
He is the perfect High Priest who alone can offer the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
 
 
 
**(1:00)**
 
How is your church doing at helping new believers connect with Jesus in a real and meaningful way? Are relationships in the church growing and strong, able to handle the trials that always come our way? If we are too be intentional disciples of Jesus it is important that we make a genuine effort to live out the purpose of the church together.
 
Thanks for joining me again today! If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.
(00:00)
 

Connect – The Church, Jesus and His Family

24_07_27 -Ep.322 - Run With Horses Podcast - Connect – The Church, Jesus and His Family
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
(28:00)
Last week we focused on why must we ENGAGE with our community if we truly are the church. This week we consider how important it is that we are connected together as one body united.
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
Thank you for joining me today! If you are new to the show, you may want to check out our website, runwithhorses.net, and listen to some of the past shows to catch up. I have spent several shows focusing on a simple definition of the church and the current discussion we are having about a discipleship pathway is best understood in the context of the church. If you have been enjoying the show, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review wherever you are listening! And as always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net. And now, on with the show...
(27:00)
*******
(27:00)
HABITS - Bible Reading
There are many habits that will help you on the road toward Christ-likeness but the habit of reading the Bible is one of the absolute most important ones you must constantly build into your life.
Why? How else can you know what it means to be like Jesus?
The NT is key to growing in your understanding of the life of Jesus. As you see how He lived, talked and related to people, it should greatly influence how you live. Your goal is to have the same attitude and intentions that He has toward God the Father and other people.
How do you do it?
First, there is no wrong way to begin. If you don’t have a bible reading habit now, start one. Start simple, keep it short, but begin to build the habit of consistently reading God’s Word. A common complaint is that the Bible is hard to understand, and that is true if you haven’t grown up in the church or spent much time in the Bible. The Bible is a book that takes some time to really grasp. It covers thousands of years and every part of life through history, poetry, letters and straight teaching. But if you apply some effort you will get it and it is worth it!
Start by getting a reading plan or making one yourself. Stick to the NT until you have read it through twice. If you need a simple plan, start with Mark, then read Acts and continue through the NT. Start easy and read a chapter a day or a few verses a day with the goal of building up to a chapter. Have a pen and notebook handy and write down the key ideas of the chapter. Put it in your own words and think about what you need to do in response.
If you don’t understand something, write down your questions, but maintain the habit of reading every day. It will reward you in time as you begin to see the big picture.
(23:00)
******
(23:00)
Time for a quick review:
What is as DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY? Simply put, an intentional plan to help followers of Jesus grow toward Christ-likeness. That word intentional is key.
MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCH
A CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the MISSION of Jesus as His witnesses TO THE WORLD, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and EQUIP OTHERS to join them on HIS MISSION.
The discipleship pathway is an intentional plan to equip others to be on the mission of Jesus.
Don’t forget the goals of the pathway. Clear goals are important. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway?
a. self-feeding Christians
b. everyday missionaries – everyone on the mission of Jesus
c. disciple-makers
d. pastors
e. new churches
f. all members of the church, shepherded well
We are focusing on the SECOND step in the Pathway;
ENGAGE, CONNECT, EQUIP, RELEASE
As someone grows in their understanding of who Jesus is and begins to follow Him, they need to develop a solid connection to Him that allows them to abide in Him. It’s important to really know Him.
John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
How do we come to know and love Jesus? In His Word and in His people, the church.
We need a strong connection to Jesus. We need a strong connection to His church.
The Second Step of the Discipleship Pathway focuses on helping us make those strong connections to Jesus and His church. This is the TOGETHER in our definition of the church.
The CONNECT step includes Foundations of the Christian Life that help us grow in our relationship with Jesus and His church.
a. prayer – building the habit of talking to God
- praying for His church, His people
- learning to pray for His mission
b. Bible
A. reading the Bible
B. studying the Bible
C. memorizing the Bible
D. meditating on the Bible
E. Learning to live out His commands
c. community – the church is really important to Jesus. It has to be important to us!
A. fellowship
B. service – serving one anther and the community, together
C. mutual edification
D. the one and others of the New Testament
E. Joining the church on the mission of Jesus, more on this later
d. disciple-making foundations – part of knowing and obeying His commands
A. be intentional
B. be relational
C. expect reproduction
e. simple journaling – thinking deeply about His Word and how you should respond to Him
(00:00) END PART 1
********
(27:00) BEGIN PART 2
In all of these the goal is knowing and loving Jesus more and developing a deeper connection with Him and His church as we carry out his mission in the world.
We begin to connect to His mission from the moment we accept Jesus as Savior. A new believer is an example of the reconciliation that God is working in the world. God has a clear purpose for our lives and the fact is that His mission is central to His purpose for each of us.
How do you learn about His mission? In His Word and as we grow in our relationship with His church. We carry out His mission with His church, as His church!
Personal Evaluation and Spiritual Development
This is seeing God at work, preparing me for ministry.
Everyone has a part in the mission of Jesus. We often talk about it is using the words – ministry and mission. Some view ministry as our service to each other inside the church, and mission our service to those outside the church. I’m not sure I see the division quite like that but clearly we have a responsibility and opportunity to engage with people who are part of our local church and those who are not a part of it. Pauls says we engage with those outside the church as ambassadors for Christ, carrying His message of reconciliation to the world.
How do you find out about your part in ministry and how do you know your gifting?
A personal evaluation can cover many avenues and provide a starting place although it can’t answer all your questions. Ultimately you will learn how you best serve as you serve. Jump in and volunteer to help and ask for guidance from mature believer in your church.
To begin, here are some areas to prayerfully consider as you think though how God has made you and what role you have in his church and mission.
a. the DISC profile. Who am I, relationally?
- how do I behave in various situations around different kinds of people. You can learn, grow and adjust and get better are relating to everyone.
b. spiritual gifts inventory. Who am I, in service?
- ask your pastor if there is a spiritual gifts inventory that he uses
- remember that this can’t tell you what your gifts are but it can’t give you some direction as you think and pray through it.
- many of your gifts will be discovered and build upon as you serve and begin to get involved in Christ’s mission
c. hobby, interest, skill set. Who am I, in my current and future ability?
- you already know a lot about many different things. From cooking to carpentry, people bring some skills to the table when they come to Christ.
- I recommend making a list of everything you know and can do, along with things you already have a desire to learn, and prayerfully give each one to God.
d. training.
A. Past, what I have now.
- education and practical skills
B. Future, what I want or need.
- as doors open for ministry and service, you may see the need for more training.
e. experience. - God uses all you are to make you a fitting tool for helping others
A. Work
B. Ministry
C. Life
f. Pursue spiritual growth
- be intentional
- seek out people who are actively growing to talk with
- assume God wants to use you!
What all this means is that we need to be intentional about our relationships and seeking out people who will challenge us to live like Jesus.
It also means pursuing opportunities to learn about God’s Word.
It also means looking for opportunities to join His church on His mission.
Next time we want to consider the role that the church has in helping people connect to Jesus and to each other. As always, it takes being intentional and putting our theology into actions!
(5:00)
*********
(5:00)
DOCTRINE
July - God – Omnipresent, Holy, Righteous and Just
August – Jesus
September – Holy Spirit
God is Righteous and Just
Deut. 32:3-4 For I proclaim the name of the Lord:
Ascribe greatness to our God.
4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.
Romans 3:21-26 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
God always does what is right. He Himself is the standard for what is right.
God is always all that He ought to be as God. He is always consistent with His own character.
(1:00)
How connected are you with the church? How can you help others connect to Jesus and His family? In both cases, the love of God is a driving force that compels us toward Him and others as we join Him on His mission.
It can be difficult but there is nothing in life that is as worth the effort as pursuing Jesus and following Him.
Thanks for joining me again today! Stop and say a prayer for your church family today! I’d love to hear from you, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.
(00:00)

ENGAGE - The Church in the Community

24_07_20 -Ep.321 - Run With Horses Podcast - Engage – The Church in the Community
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
(28:00)
Last week I introduced the word ENGAGE as representing the first step a discipleship pathway for the church. Today I want to anchor it more fully in our working definition of the church. Why must we ENGAGE with our community if we truly are the church?
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
I don't say it enough but I am really thankful you are with me on this journey of pursuing Jesus and His mission. I have been told, repeatedly, that I need to do a better job of getting the word out about this show. I do believe what we are talking about is valuable, at least to some people, but I need your help to find them. If you have enjoyed the show, leave a review wherever you find the podcast and more importantly, tell someone else to have a listen.
(27:00)
*******
(27:00)
HABITS – Prayer
Part of the life of a disciple is developing the habits that help you follow Jesus well. Prayer is a key part of that life and an essential habit to develop.
1 Thess. 5:16-18 – 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• Make a commitment: Commit to praying and understand its importance
• Schedule time: Schedule prayer into your daily routine as well as be prepared to pray wherever and whenever
• Find a place: Choose a regular place to pray and minimize distractions, but practice praying in the chaos too!
• Ask for help: Ask God to help you pray and transform your heart
• Pray with others: Pray together, pray with and for each other
• Pray while exercising: Divide your workout into prayer periods
• Read the Bible: Use Bible passages and verses as a foundation for your prayers, Paul’s prayers are awesome!
• Other tips: Keep a prayer diary, find a regular prayer partner, and give thanks for the privilege of prayer
(23:00)
******
(23:00)
Time for a quick review:
What is as DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY? Simply put, an intentional plan to help followers of Jesus grow toward Christ-likeness. That word intentional is key.
MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCH
A CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the MISSION of Jesus as His witnesses TO THE WORLD, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and EQUIP OTHERS to join them on HIS MISSION.
The discipleship pathway is an intentional plan to equip others to be on the mission of Jesus.
Don’t forget the goals of the pathway. Clear goals are important. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway?
a. self-feeding Christians
b. everyday missionaries – everyone on the mission of Jesus
c. disciple-makers
d. pastors
e. new churches
f. all members of the church, shepherded well
We are focusing on the first step in the Pathway;
ENGAGE, then CONNECT, EQUIP, RELEASE
ENGAGE - Actions by the Church, outside the four walls primarily.
* Community Engagement
Be part of what is happening in the neighborhood, community.
Pastor here on the town council.
Local clubs – art, sports, civic. There are a lot of people who want to make your community a better place, help them do that.
* Relationship Building
Look for opportunities to go beyond the community event or club. Invite people into your life. Supper, hobbies, coffee, etc.
* Evangelism
Live your faith in front of your friends. Let them know you pray for them. Ask them what you can pray for!
Share answers to prayer in your own life.
Share a meaningful verse you have been memorizing or meditating on recently.
Let them know your faith is genuine by your conversation and life choices.
After a short break we will be back to consider why it is so important that we get out and interact with our community.
(00:00) END PART 1
********
(27:00) BEGIN PART 2
Why is this so critical?
The world no longer looks to the church for answers about anything.
We need mature believers to take a Christian worldview into the marketplace and engage in the crucial conversations that people are having.
Who do people look to when they have questions? Their network of relationships, their friends. How do you get to be one of them?
#
Reference: https://www.str.org/w/what-do-non-christians-think-of-christians-and-christianity-
QUOTE,” The aim of the interview is not for students to actually do apologetics. I just want them to become more comfortable talking with non-Christians and to establish a habit of asking questions and listening attentively. I also want them to see firsthand how and where the ideas that we discuss in the classroom are at work in the lives of people they know.
Here are the required questions:
How would you describe your personal spiritual beliefs?
Do you believe God exists? If so, why, and what do you believe God is like? If not, why?
What has your exposure to Christianity been?
As best as you can, describe what you think Christianity teaches.
Who do you believe Jesus was and why?
What do you think about the Bible?
What is your honest perception of Christians?
What are your top reasons for not believing the Christian faith is true?
Do you have any objections to Christianity? If so, what?
Is there anything that could persuade you that Christianity is true? If so, what? If not, why?”
#
These questions can start conversations with your friends and neighbors that they need to have with a mature follower of Jesus. The question is, are we consistently producing mature followers of Jesus?
Where and how does the church train, encourage, motivate, support, and equip the individual to go out and be actively engaged in the community.
Equipping by the Church- support and training for engagement
1. Gospel Foundations
2. First Steps in Gospel Ministry
(5:00)
*********
(5:00)
DOCTRINE
July – God – Omnipresent, Holy, Righteous and Just
August – Jesus
September – Holy Spirit
Today we want to pause and consider that God is Holy.
Merriam-Webster - : exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.
A biblical definition: The Hebrew word for “holy” literally means “separate” or “set apart.” Holiness is talking about His absolute purity. God is unstained by sin and evil. He is perfect in every way, and perfectly good all the time.
Completely separate from sin.
1 Samuel 2:2 - “No one is holy like the Lord,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
1 John 1:5 - This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Isaiah 59:2 - But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
1 Peter 2:13-16 – 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
(1:00)
Thanks for joining me again today! Stop and say a prayer for your church family today! I’d love to hear from you, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.
(00:00)

Engage, The First Step in a Discipleship Pathway

24_07_06 -Ep.320  - Run With Horses Podcast  - Engage – Part One of the  Discipleship Pathway
Podcast:  rwh.podbean.comWebsite:  www.runwithhorses.netYoutube:   https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcastFacebook:    https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcastInstagram:    https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcastTwitter:   https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
Last week we began talking about a discipleship pathway for the church. Today we begin to break it down and consider the first step. What does it mean to Engage with your community?
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
*******
HABITS - ThanksgivingThe Discipleship pathway is intended to help a church be intentional about helping people take steps toward Christ-likeness. However, individually each one of us has the same responsibility and opportunity to pursue that growth ourself. One thing that you can do personally to support a life of pursuing Jesus is work to develp new habits that make it easier to move forward.Today I want to focus on Thanksgiving.Thanksgiving is a habit that we all can and should develop and ingrain in our lives.1 Thess. 5:16-18, 
How? Make it easy and give yourself reminders. Memorize this verse or others like it.One step at a time. This is a good place to start.
******
A quick review:What is as discipleship pathway? Simply put, an intentional plan to help followers of Jesus grow toward Christ-likeness. That word intentional is key.
MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCHA CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the mission of Jesus as His witnesses to the world, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and EQUIP OTHERS to join them on His mission.
The discipleship pathway is an intentional plan to equip others to be on the mission of Jesus.
Don’t forget the goals of the pathway. Clear goals are important. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway? a. self-feeding Christians b. everyday missionaries c. disciple-makers d. pastors e. new churches f. all members of the church, shepherded well
First step in the Pathway.
ENGAGE, then CONNECT, EQUIP, RELEASE
ENGAGE -  Everything is covered with the clear expectation of Intentional Engagement by all members of the church.
Actions by the Church, outside the four walls primarily.* Community Engagement Where and how are we involved in the community? How does the church family encourage and support community activities and projects?
* Relationship Building We seem to have lost the ability to build realtionships! What does it take to make a new friend? Time and conversation. Galatians 5:22-23, 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control.
* Evangelism – Gospel Conversations -  built on relationships. Not a rote prepackaged gospel conversation, although there is a time and place for those, but bringing your friends into your relationship with Jesus and sharing hwo the Gospel has impacted your life.
* Pre-Baptism – following up with those God is working in. - Gospel review – How well do they understand what Jesus did on the cross? - Christian Life Basics – How do you build a relationship with Jesus?  > Prayer  > Bible Reading  > Church Family - Church Family – get to know relationally, invite your unbelieving friends into your church family network of friends  > Importance of–   > Purpose of – introduce the mission of Jesus
** Baptism/ Membership – connected with the church family officially.
Equipping by the Church- support and training for engagement1.  Gospel Foundations. -  grounded in God’s Word and His work in our life a. salvation and faith – review and talk about your own life change comfortably b. Jesus' finished work on the cross and the implications of that work, what Jesus did in and through you. c. our new identity and all that means for life, who we are has changed and impacts everything!
 2. First Steps in Gospel Ministry a. my testimony – your story connected with God’s story b. Three Circles gospel presentation c. The Bridge gospel presentation
 
*********DOCTRINEJuly – GodAugust – JesusSeptember – Holy Spirit
God is OmnipresentJeremiah 23:23-24, Psalm 139:7-10, 
 
Thanks for joining me again today! Stop and say a prayer for your church family today! I’d love to hear from you, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.
 

What is a Discipleship Pathway?

24_07_06 -Ep.319  - Run With Horses Podcast  - Beginning A Discipleship Pathway
 
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Youtube:  https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
 
I have spent some time looking at the a definition of the church recently, today we begin thinking about what it means to live this out as a church.
 
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
 
A quick review:
 
MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCH
A CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the mission of Jesus as His witnesses to the world, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and equip others to join them on His mission.
 
Why do we need this kind of essential definition of the church? 
Clear vision – who we are and what we do
Unity
Clear purpose – what do we need to focus on, How do we accomplish our purpose
Goals and Strategic planning, Intentionality
Church planting – more and faster
Mission
 
So what does it look like to be a member of something like this? What is my role? How am I supposed to act and what should I do?
The church IS it’s members. Every member needs clarity of vision and purpose.
 
The church is a group of people who are intentionally and increasingly moving along a path toward becoming like Jesus.
So, are you a good church member? How about a good disciple of Jesus?
What can you do to help your church as you all grow in Christ-likeness and pursue Him and His mission together?
These are all questions we have asked in the past. Now, let’s begin to develop some answers.
A church needs a discipleship pathway. What do I mean by that?
Some define it as a disciple making strategy for the church. Navigators has called it “a sequenced plan to move disciples from one stage of growth to the next.” 
REF: https://navigatorschurchministries.org/2023/07/21/growing-disciples-the-discipleship-pathway/
What you should take away from any definition is that it is intentional, some thought has been put into it, and it has the goal of helping people grow toward Christ-likeness.
Clear goals are important. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway?
a. self-feeding Christians
b. everyday missionaries
c. disciple-makers
d. pastors
e. new churches
f. all members of the church, shepherded well

Life is A Journey

24_06_29 -Ep.318 - Run With Horses Podcast - Life is a Journey
 
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast
 

Becoming a Responsible Adult

24_06_22 -Ep.317 - Run With Horses Podcast - Becoming a Responsible Adult
 
Podcast: rwh.podbean.com
Website: www.runwithhorses.net
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast