...I believe that it is vitally important to develop and maintain a small group in my current ministry setting. As a youth pastor I feel that students need to have small group times to get to know their peers better and further their own relationship with Christ. Small groups would allow for students to open up to one another and express themselves. Students would be willing to open up and talk about current issues that they are facing. They could do this with other teens and the group leaders. I think that by having a small group it also allows the student to take what they are learning and then learn to apply it to their life. Having a group of individuals to talk with might help them in the application aspect of what they are learning. Putting together a successful small group ministry is tough but the ministry itself would be rewarding. One thing that I believe to be true is that, “the best ministry generally doesn’t occur during a group’s meetings so much as between the meetings.” –Carl George. Think about all the lives that could be reached by the disciples that are being created through a small group ministry. I could see the church growing drastically because of people going out and putting into action what they learned from a small group setting. Communicating with other believers is key to maintaining and nurturing your faith. If you look at Jesus he maintained a small group of 12 that were the disciples. Jesus taught them and strengthened their faith so that they...
Words: 473 - Pages: 2
...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ANALYSIS PAPER # 1 Submitted to Dr. Rick Garner in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion DSMN 630 Small Group Ministries by Jeffrey W. Moore November 4, 2015 Contents Summary - Comiskey (Chapters 2-4) 3 “God’s Trinitarian Nature,” (Chapter 2) 3 “The Family of God” (Chapter 3) 3 “REVELATION: Jesus and His Method of Ministry” (Chapter 4) 4 Biblical Basis for Small Group Ministry 5 Principles from Passages 6 ‘My’ Church 7 Current Structure 7 Small Group Structure 7 Conclusion 8 Bibliography 9 Summary - Comiskey (Chapters 2-4) Summarizing the following three chapters of Joel Comiskey’s book, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church will prescribe a brief understanding of the trinity and its relationship to the image of God being created in man, and reinstituted through the work and person of Christ, the second person in the trinity. “God’s Trinitarian Nature,” (Chapter 2) God’s Trinitarian divine nature and character is revealed through theology, “the study of God” His ‘oneness’ is explicitly revealed, and His Trinitarian nature is implicitly revealed, yet equally true from His special revelation in scripture. The first reference to the Godhead being comprised of more than one is Gen. 1:26 where the plural ‘us’ is used; thereafter it is used multiple times. The triune nature of God reveals the foundation of his image being created in humanity with relational...
Words: 1898 - Pages: 8
...Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Analysis Paper 1 Submitted to Dr. Rod Dempsey In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Course Small Group Ministries DSMN 630-D01 By Erica Shelton March 30, 2014 Small groups are the proper environment to develop and grow disciples of Jesus. The purpose of a small group is to develop sacrificial, relational, transformed people who can continue the cycle of disciple development. Small groups must be intentional, individual and missional. There are five primary passages that can be used to form a small group ministry philosophy. Each of these passages have accompanying principles that we can apply to our small group ministries. Primary passages that form a small group ministry and the principles that are derived 1. The Great Commandment In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus was challenged by one of the Pharisees: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” We show our love for God through worship, giving, putting him first. We show our love for others by caring and giving to the ‘neighbors’ in our spheres of influence. A small group is the best place to pull people into a circle where they can love God and others together...
Words: 1288 - Pages: 6
...Writing Assignment 1: Learning Theory Systems Liberty University Theological Seminary A paper Presented to Dr. Jim Zabloski In partial fulfillment for the course: Ministry of Teaching DSMN 601 By Watson Rugano October 25, 2012 Yount Learning Theory Systems. To fully grasp and appreciate the learning theories suggested by William Yount, it is imperative that we discuss some of the key issues he highlights. The four theories are, traditional behavioral learning, social behavioral learning, cognitive I & II learning and humanistic learning theories. Although the materials covering those theories are enormous, this paper will only offer brief understanding of the said theories, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. Several personalities have been credited with promoting Traditional Behavioral Learning theories that have shed light into the nature of learning. Ivan Pavlov is popular for advancing classical conditioning “which focused on an association, or bond, between a stimulus and given response.” To this end, Pavlov experimented with a dog to measure salivation rates under differing conditions. On the other hand, John Watson and Edward Thorndike were known as the father of behaviorism and Educational psychology respectively. Although Watson’s contribution was essential in understanding human behavior, his attempt to associate the fear of rats by loudly banging a bell behind the boy Albert left more unanswered questions. However, it would be Thorndike...
Words: 1486 - Pages: 6
...LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ANALYSIS PAPER 2 DSMN 630 SMALL GROUP MINISTRY BY ELLIOT SANCHEZ NOVEMBER 8, 2013 Arnold has a novel idea of reproduction of oneself through small groups. The making of disciples should be the basis of small groups. The main theme of these chapters would be Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (NIV). The main method of making a disciple is not only to learn from someone but more importantly to see someone live it out. Jesus was the perfect example of this. Jesus taught His disciples with the love of His Father in everything He did. He showed his followers by living out what He spoke of. Much of what Arnold was stating in his writing was very similar to what Cominsky was writing about. One area I enjoyed about Arnold writings is found in the early church. I enjoyed the authors teaching on the early church and how they learned from each other multiplying by example. It is interesting to see the people of the early church spend all their time together. Acts 2:42-47 states...
Words: 1387 - Pages: 6
...Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Liberty University WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL ACTIVITY OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY? Submitted to Dr. D. P. Moosbrugger DSMN-500 – Discipleship Ministry Jacqueline Thornton Bryan, TX May 26, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………1 EDUCATION, DISCIPLESHIP, AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION…………………..1 CHURCH MINISTRY PRIORITY……………………………………………………..4 WORSHIP CONNECTION…………………………………………………………….5 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………6 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………7 Introduction As a youth leader working with different age groups, the question of what constitutes the essential activity of Christian ministry is a critic alone. The drive can be to simply educate about the Bible in a Christian setting, to drive spiritual foundation or to nurture discipleship of Jesus Christ. What is really important is to establish what really separates these theories or whether there is significant similarity. While many answers about education have been developed and published by nonspiritual authors, finding answers in the Christian setting require a rather different considerations as the spiritual aspect is a part. God is difficult to comprehend in scientific evaluation, however we can evaluate answers to the quest for an answer based on what Scripture teaches. In Chapter 1 of our text Mitchell states “Jesus expected his disciples to follow him, experience life change, and participate in something remarkable” (p 3). So in order...
Words: 1768 - Pages: 8
...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY The Centrality of Christ Submitted to Dr. Robert Gowins in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of DSMN 500 Discipleship Ministries by Shawn T. Hunt January 24, 2015 Introduction There some basic principles of Christian discipleship that can be seen from the beginning of this class. That Christ is the center piece of the Christian faith is the core of discipleship and disciple making. Without Christ there would not be a need for discipleship, if He had not come here to die for our sins we would still be trying to live up to the imperfect law. But because He did come down to us and did die for us we can see the need to follow Him. Obedience to Christ and to His teachings to paramount and the first thing a disciple needs to set out to do. Because Christ is the centerpiece of our faith Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey have detailed three stages of discipleship. Declaration, development and deployment are a model of how Christ is seen making disciples in His early ministry and can still be seen and used today. Christ as the Center From the very beginning of His ministry Christ demonstrated how a life of discipleship is intended to look. Christ did not use mere words to teach, His actions were confirmation to the first disciples the cost of following Him. Of all that He did, Christ demonstrated for us that humility was the core of following Him. Christ humbled Himself with His very...
Words: 2239 - Pages: 9
...A Disciple-Maker’s Message Gene A. Smith DSMN-500 LUO Dr. James H. Sulfridge June 19, 2013 A disciple-maker’s message must consist of two major in an academic sense consists of two major elements: content and curriculum. The disciple-maker’s objective of course is much different from secular human education. The disciple-maker is endeavoring to create fellow disciples who are followers of Jesus that worship and love Him. However, when it comes to making disciples it is important to establish what the content and curriculum is in their pedagogy. The content is the Holy Word of God, the Bible. The content encompasses everything that disciples will be taught. The big picture here of spiritual pedagogy is like a container and the contents of the container are everything that is fed to a disciple’s mind, but the disciple cannot receive it all at once. Therefore, you take small portions out of the container at a time and feed it the disciple, which is the curriculum (a lesson). Once the container is empty, the basics should have been fed to the disciple and he/she is strong enough to begin serving Christ. However, feeding on the Word of God is not over, the disciple now simply refills his container, but this time is not milk or soft food, it is the meat (the deeper parts of the faith and scripture). The principles to be observed in a curriculum plan will be, first, the biblical messages chosen that exemplify the Bible. The content of the curriculum plan to be employed in...
Words: 1687 - Pages: 7
...Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Analysis 1 A Paper Submitted To Dr. Gary Waller In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for The Course DSMN 630 Submitted By Terry Michele Noonan Fitzgerald 10/28/2014 Table of Contents Introduction 2 The Primary Passages that Form a Small Group Ministry 2 The Great Commandment: Matthew 22:33-40 3 The Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20 3 The Great Example Acts 1-2 4 The Great Illustration: Ephesians 1 5 The Great Plan: Ephesians 4 5 Current Church and Group Structure 6 Bibliography 8 Introduction Small Groups may be considered as the environment most conducive to developing and maturing disciples in the faith. There are reasons why this statement is to be considered as valid, and Comiskey notes that in understanding of the Trinity, Trinitarian doctrine indicates that the emphasis in on “life, love and movement within the Godhead.” Thomas F. Torrance writes concerning the Trinity that this doctrine is “foundational to Christianity, defines who we worship and serve, while guiding the church to practice love, care and unity.” If one studies the Trinitarian nature of God, what they will find is a relational aspect unfounded in a singular view of self. If as Scripture states that “The Son loves the Father and the Father loves the Son” (Jn. 3:35-36; cf. 5:20), then it stands to reason that God loves those (humankind)...
Words: 1884 - Pages: 8
...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY Writing Assignment 1 – Christ in Discipleship Submitted to Dr. Gary Waller in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of DSMN 500 – B03 Discipleship Ministries by David J. Miller May 29, 2016 Centrality of Christ in Christian discipleship Christian discipleship is to follow Jesus, to be his disciple, doesn’t mean community involvement and the veneer of tolerance. It means, mainly, first and central, to worship him — with joy at the heart. Making disciples of Jesus means gathering his worshipers. Discipleship starts with the heart, it is to have Christ at the center, to have His love, His Holy Spirit fill you, and guide you. To have Christ as the centrality of Christian Discipleship is the most important thing. The Apostle Paul describes it best in Colossians 3:1-11. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath...
Words: 1938 - Pages: 8
...Disciple Making Plan HEBRON BAPTIST CHURCH __ A Paper Presented to Dr. Douglas White Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for DSMN 500: Discipleship Ministries __________________ by Timothy Taylor #177780 October 15, 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION……………………….………………………………………………2 VISION…………………………………………………………………..………………3 VALUES…………………………………………………..…………………………….4 VIEWS………………………………………………….…………………….…….……6 VEHICLES………………………………………………………………………………6 VERIFIERS…………………………………………………………………………….14 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………17 BIBLIOGRAHY…………………………………………………………………..……20 Introduction As I prepare the Disciple Making Plan for Hebron Baptist Church I have had time to reflect on the desires of the congregation and listen to the voice of God as He has spoke to my spirit. My current status has been encouraging, as we have shifted from being a reactive ministry to a proactive ministry. At this time I am presently in my 10th year as pastor of a church in an urban area of Brooklyn, N.Y, My first 8 years very little in the way of discipleship was accomplished as our building was old and the congregation was already small and began diminishing though relocation and death. Our efforts at discipleship were further hampered after in my 3rd year we experienced a major collapse in part of our building. Over the next 5 years the concentration of the church was on our building. Every bit...
Words: 4917 - Pages: 20
...DISCIPLE MAKING PLAN ___________________ A Paper Presented to Dr. William J. Higley Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary ___________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course DSMN 500 Discipleship Ministries ___________________ by Cynethia Gillispie March 2016 Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………………….…………….3 Vision……………………………………………………………………….……………………..3 Values………………………………………………………………………………………...…...4 Views……………………………………………………………………….……………………..5 Vehicles………………………………………...…………………………….……………………7 Verifiers…………………………………………………………………….……………………10 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….………..……..11 Bibliography………………………………………………………...…….……………………..12 Introduction Winning souls for Christ is more than lip service; it is action. My local church is known as “The Family Place.” Even as God created man out of a desire for a family, we win souls for Christ, then we share the love of family with them so that they remain rooted and grounded in Him. By embracing each person as a part of our family, we are able to build relationships that last a lifetime. In order to improve upon our church’s plan to develop disciples for Jesus Christ, the following disciple making plan will be presented to the senior leadership. This plan will include an in-depth evaluation of our vision, values, views, vehicles, and verifiers. This action plan will revitalize our evangelistic ministry by explaining the importance of each phase...
Words: 3157 - Pages: 13
...Liberty University The Traditional Church: Creating a Culture for Change Submitted to Dr. Austin B. Tucker in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Christian Leadership DSMN 605 Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary By Terence McCrimmon Fayetteville, North Carolina August 6, 2013 Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………………… 1 Stagnation within a Traditional Church………………………………….………. 1 Changing the Method does not Mean Changing the Message………………..….. 4 Christ at the Center of Change………………………………………………….…. 5 Change is a Process…………………………………………………………..…….... 8 Conclusion...………………………………………………………………..………… 10 Bibliography...………………………………………………………………………… 12 Introduction Leading a traditional church through change can be a very arduous task for any progressive minded leader who desires to promote growth within his context. Innovation within a traditional context tends to attract opposition from many angles. Resistance may come from the executive board of the church, members who feel they have some control, or from those who do not recognize the varying needs within the local congregation. However, change is an essential and never-ending need in the church because of the constant change in culture and church membership.1 This research paper will address the problem and offer solutions in creating a culture for change within the traditional church. Stagnation within the Traditional Church In a newspaper...
Words: 3728 - Pages: 15
...Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Liberty University DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES PROJECT Submitted to Dr. Morris L. Baker In partial fulfillment of course requirements for DSMN 500 – Discipleship Ministries Arlen Pfenninger Dover, Delaware July 7, 2012 Table of Contents Cover Page----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Introduction of Spiritual Development of First Baptist Church-----------------------------------3 Needs Within Adult Ministry--------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Objectives of Honor Bound Ministries---------------------------------------------------------------6 Goal Statement-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Target Group---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 Competencies Expected of Leadership---------------------------------------------------------------7 Goals of Honor Bound Ministries---------------------------------------------------------------------8 Selection of Content-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9 Organization of Content---------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 Learning Experiences------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 Organization...
Words: 4983 - Pages: 20
...Liberty University Discipleship Ministries Project A paper submitted to Dr. Zabloski In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the course DSMN 500 Liberty Theological seminary By Jonathan L. Keene Lynchburg, Virginia Sunday, May 12, 2009 Table of Contents Introduction 4 Diagnosis of Need 5 Target Group 6 Vision Statement 6 Goals 7 Lessons Gleaned from Scripture 8 Formulation of Objectives 12 Competencies Expected of Disciples attending Recovery in Refuge 12 Selection of Content 13 Setting Captives Free 13 Life Principles for Worship from the Tabernacle 14 Celebration of Discipline 14 Shatter the Darkness 14 Scope and Sequence Plan 15 Phase 1: Repentance, Redemption, Recovery 15 Phase 2: Regeneration 16 Phase 3: Rescue-Reaching Out 18 Phase 4: Real Life 20 Partnership with the Refuge Counseling Center 20 Conclusion 21 Self-Assessment of How the 5 Essential Activities of an Education that Produces Disciples Was Incorporated and Integrated 22 Resources to be used in Recovery in Refuge 25 Bibliography 26 Works Consulted 27 Introduction At Crossroads Community Church in Nampa Idaho the catchphrase is ‘Refuge.” The church has developed what it calls a “Theology of Refuge.”[1] They state, “Crossroads is built around the idea of being a church...
Words: 6080 - Pages: 25
