‘Every Member a Missionary” Small Group Training

SESSION ONE:  INTRODUCTION SESSION

 

Purpose

The purpose of the “Every Member a Missionary” training is to equip every Christian to THINK, ACT, and REPRODUCE like Great Commission Missionaries. And, it all begins by understanding the answers to these four fundamental worldview questions:

 

§    Where are we? (What is the nature of this world?)

§    Who are we? (What is the nature of man?)

§    What’s going wrong? (Why is the world a mess?)

§    What is the solution? (What can we do about it?)

 

Though the “Every Member a Missionary” concept is captivating and resonates with a lot of Christians, it is not new. Some theologians say that it is as old the Old Testament itself. The first and greatest missionary act of all history was a Holy God looking until He found His wayward creation hiding sinfully and shamefully in the Garden of Eden.

 

One thing is certain, through the ages, God has modeled and given us models for missionary living; and, so it is for three important reasons: 1) FOR US (He wants Christians to be missionaries); 2) FOR THEM (He wants the lost to be saved); and most importantly 3) FOR HIM (He wants all to worship Him).

 

As you go through the Level 101 small group missionary training, you will…

§    Identify seven mission fields in your life (THINK)

§    See God at work in each of the seven mission fields (ACT)

§    Join God in a missionary movement (REPRODUCE)

 

The EMAM small group missionary training consists of eight sessions and can be taught in small groups of five to eight people.

 

Expectations

What is expected of the EMAM participants? 1) attend eight sessions of small group missionary training over the course of one year, 2) enlist a listening partner for you to share your responses to the eight mission-building questions, and  3) enlist a small group of 5 -8 individuals for you to teach what you have learned.

 

Important Information About the Curriculum

The teaching material in this notebook is a collaboration of ministries, experiences, and studies conducted by authors Johnny Rumbough and David Lee. Special appreciation is extended to the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board for their gracious invitation to David Lee to receive their Strategy Coordinator training. (Note: This is the same training career missionaries receive in preparation for their overseas assignment.)

 

It is the goal of your presenters to equip you with the same quality of missionary training as Southern Baptist’ mission boards conduct to equip their career missionaries.

 

The EMAM Small Group Missionary Training is to be taught within a 2-hour session. Each session is divided into three sections:

  I. Sharing Section

 II. Bible Study Section

III. Application Section

 

The Sharing Section is a relationship building section. It consists of Catch Up From Last Time, a Prayer Time, and a Vision Casting. You will want to spend about 30 minutes working through this section.

 

The Bible Study Section will focus on the Biblical view of one of the seven mission fields. It consists of Key Bible Verses and Teaching Points. You will want to spend about 45 minutes teaching this section.

 

 The Application Section will use a variety of tools to illustrate how every Christian believer can join God in His missionary activities; among the favored will be an innovative story about family who experience “talking fish”. This section takes a look at a missionary’s life In the Church and a missionary’s life In the Community. You will want to spend about 45 minutes experiencing this section.

 

If you would like to incorporate a 15-minute break in the training session, you may consider reducing the Teaching Section or the Application Section to a 30-minute segment in lieu of the suggested 45-minute.

 

Preparation Prior to Each Session

  1. Pray for God to transform your mind, heart and life so you can THINK. ACT, and REPRODUCE like those early disciples in the Book of Acts
  2. Ask God to help you focus more on “BE-ing” a missionary than just “DO-ing” mission stuff
  3. Review familiar scripture relating to the upcoming focus (ie. family, work, etc.)
  4. Read the appropriate chapter in “Fishing for Change” and make notes of the lessons you see in the story applicable to missionary living
  5. Teach your small group (if applicable)
  6. Write your responses to the eight mission-building questions on the colored card and be prepared to give your card to your teacher in the next session
  7. Share your responses to the eight mission-building questions with your listening partner

 

The Seven Mission Fields

  1. Home or Family
  2. Work or School
  3. Local Community
  4. Global Community
  5. Leisure
  6. Personal Development
  7. Spiritual Growth

The Eight Mission-Building Questions

  1. Do I see God at work in this area of my life?
  2. What do I see God doing in this area of my life?
  3. What am I doing right now to participate with God?
  4. What will I do next?
  5. How can I achieve God’s purpose?
  6. Who can help me achieve God’s purpose?
  7. How can this change in this area of my life be explained to others?
  8. What role does church life have with this change in this area of my life?

  

My Missionary Covenant With My Church

 

I,                                              , covenant with my church,                                                        , to participate in the Every Member a Missionary small group training.

 

Concerning attendance, I covenant to make every attempt to attend all eight of the Every Member a Missionary small group training sessions. If unable to attend a session, I covenant to enlist an individual from my small group to sit in my chair for the training offered by the Lexington Baptist Association.

 

Concerning small group recruitment, I covenant to meet with a small group of five to eight persons on a regular schedule to teach the missionary training material.

 

Concerning missionary living, I covenant to live a life that is pleasing to my Lord and to look for opportunities to share God’s love with others.

 

Concerning a listening partner, I covenant to enlist a listening partner to regularly share my responses to the eight questions.

 

Concerning missionary movement, I covenant to apply Jesus’ instructions to make disciples by encouraging my small group to develop into their own small group in my second year.

 

Therefore, I acknowledge the importance of keeping this covenant and the implications thereof. The Scripture will be my instructional book, the Holy Spirit my guide, and my personal relationship with Jesus Christ my witness.

 

 ________________________________________________________________________________

 

So let’s get started with this Introduction Session.

 

I. Sharing Section

 

§    Catching Up

           Who is in our group? (individual introductions)

 

1.                                                        

2.                                                        

3.                                                        

4.                                                        

5.                                                        

6.                                                        

7.                                                        

8.                                                        

 

·   Prayer Time (Write the names of two non-Christians you will pray for on a daily basis)

 

1.                                            

 

2.                                            

           

            Note: Ask for a volunteer to lead in a prayer for the lost world.

 

·   Vision Casting

o       The Reality of Lostness is Huge

Lexington County

oPopulation  = 240,000

oAverage Worship Attendance: LBA = 15,000  /  All = 60,000

oUnchurched = 180,000 (estimated)

 

o       The Potential of Missionary Multiplication is World Reaching

 

See How One Church Can Make Disciples…

Year One

o       Small Group attendance = 5

Year Two

o       Small Group attendance = 25 + 5 (30)

Year Three

o       Small Group attendance = 125 + 30 (155)

Year Four

o       Small Group attendance = 625 + 155 (780)

Year Five

o       Small Group attendance = 3,125 + 780 (3,905)

 

II. TEACHING SECTION

 

1.  Biblical View of God                     (Where are we?)

 

Ö  It is very important that we establish the fact that there is only one God.

 

World View: There is no god or there are multiple gods.

 

In our pluralistic society, the world would suggest there may be multiple gods and multiple solutions to our waywardness. However, the Bible reports to us that there in only One Holy God and He has a name (YHWH)

 

     ·    Deuteronomy 10:14

 

·    II Kings 19:15

 

·    Jeremiah 32:27

 

·    Isaiah 54:5

 

·    Genesis 18:25

 

·    Psalm 47:7

 

Ö  It is very important that we acknowledge that God is a living God.

 

World View: God is non-existent in today’s world.

 

What hope is there in a God who didn’t survive His created world? A Christian’s hope is built on the fact that Jesus Christ was older than His mother Mary and as old as His father God. He was in the beginning and He will be in the end; the alpha and omega.

 

·    Genesis 1:1

 

·    John 1:1

 

·    Revelation

 

Ö  It is very important that we recognize God is a personal God. (Ask group about world view)

 

·    Psalm 139

 

·    John 3:16

 

2.  Biblical View of “The Story”      (Who are we)

 

World View: There are no absolutes; God, Bible, solution to problems.

 

The Bible is a love story of God’s mission through His rescued people to redeem those wondering spiritually aimless in a lost world. This story continues on today. We, His creation, are the subjects of His affection. He desires to know us intimately.

 

·   God desires a personal relationship with us

Imagine: Walking into a crowded room at a party and someone across the way waves, points to a 

               chair being held on to especially for you. For at least a moment, we feel special.

Consider this: Jesus said in John 14:2 “I am going . . . to prepare a place for you.”

(“Sacred Romance” by John Eldridge on p. 182)

 

·   Telling our story is a tremendously effective missional tool

No one can dispute your personal experience. It is your story. It has happened to you. They will see it in your eyes. They will see it in your life.

 

 

3.  Biblical View of People                 (What’s going wrong? What is the solution?)

 

World View: Self is sufficient.  Service is s  alvation. Show on the outside what you want people to think you have on the inside.

 

Israel existed for the sake of the nations. They were to be a light to the nations. We, today, live for the same purpose. Life is not about us, it is all about Him. We are to be a light on top of a hill so the entire city can see it. He is that light.

 

·   Hebrews 11:1

 

·   II Chronicles 7:14

 

·   Parables of Lostness (What if only one is lost?)

God’s Plan – John 10:10

Man’s Need – Romans 3:23

God’s Solution – Romans 6:23

Man’s Response – Romans 10:9-10

 

 

III. APPLICATION SECTION

 

Give an opportunity for three different individuals in your small group to tell their story.

 

1. A salvation experience

            How I became a follower of Jesus Christ.

 

2. A Rededication experience

            How I returned to following Jesus Christ AGAIN

 

 

3. A Mission experience

            How God invited me to join Him in a mission experience

 

  

WRAP UP

            Questions

            Materials (Be sure to gather all of the material you need for your next session)

 

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