Deacon & ABF Leader Training

Welcome!

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“…following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it.” 1 Peter 1:22

Adult Bible Fellowships serve to:• advance the gospel within our

church and community • through connecting people with

resources and environments• which promote life

transformation and loving community.

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Tonight’s “6x6” Agenda

• Church Year Emphasis – “The Big Story”– Message from Larry– Sermon Series Plan

• Teaching/Life Transformation Plan• Annual Bible Reading &

Devotional Reading Plan• Spiritual Practices• CORE• Prayer

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Church Year Emphasis

“The Big Story”• To address the problem of biblical

literacy– Today’s church attendee is different from

most of our growing up experience• To resource people in the area of the

Scriptures– When it comes to personal spiritual practices

such as daily Bible reading, reflection on Scripture, solitude, prayer, and tithing the results show extremely low levels of people practicing these on a regular daily basis.

• Daily Reflection on Scripture – 13%• Daily Bible Reading – 16%

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ABF Year EmphasisTeaching/Life

Transformation• Multi Year Scope & Cycle• Annually

• 2X - Direct Scriptural Study (History, Literature, Gospels, Letters, etc…

• 1X – Topical Study (Life You’ve Always Wanted, Peacemaker, Family/Stage of Life

• 1X Church Calendar or Church Emphasis Lessons (Lent, Advent, GPS, Deacon)

• 1X Electives

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Annual Bible Reading & Devotional Reading Plan

• Option One - Daily readings centered on and around the specific upcoming week’s text– Multi distribution of plan – in-service

scripture sheets, website, etc…– The key text Larry will preach on will

come will include a couple of questions to engage individuals and families

• Option Two - Daily devotional readings– Through the Bible – Through the Year –

John Stott

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Spiritual Practices

Approximately one in ten respondents to the Reveal Survey indicated they are “stalled” in their spiritual lives and approximately two in ten said the church is not helping them in their growth. When asked why they are spiritually stalled the top four answers were:– Lack of discipline in spiritual practices– Letting other activities take precedence– Conflicting Responsibilities– Lack of accountability/encouragement

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Spiritual Practices/Disciplines

• Discipline: Any activity I can do by direct effort that will help me do what I cannot do by direct effort now.

• Spiritual Discipline: Any activity that can help me gain power to live life as Jesus taught and modeled it.

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Spiritual Practices (Disciplines)

• Richard Foster: Spiritual disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that He can change us.

• Henri Nouwen: Spiritual disciplines create space in which God can act.

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Spiritual Practices (Disciplines)

• Monthly Practice - Reflection on Scripture, Living in Community, Servanthood, Prayer

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• The purpose of the CORE Series is to make sure that every follower of Christ at VRBC has a firm grasp of the biblical, theological and historical knowledge representing the core of the Christian faith. – October 26-27 - World Religions and Atheists

Too: What’s the Difference? – January - Spiritual Disciplines: Being a Lifelong

Apprentice of Jesus – Spring – The Story of Christianity – The Book

of Acts Continued

Transformation really is possible if we are willing to do one thing . . . and that is to rearrange our lives around the things that Jesus said and did.

Dallas Willard

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Prayer Time

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephes. 3:14-19