Reaching Generation C

Generation C is more of a behavioral group than an age group. They are constantly connected to their friend via electronic devices and social media.  They often disconnect from face to face conversation in order to carry on a text conversation. Read more at  Reaching Generation C 

Impact Christmas

People from Westpoint Church joined with others in the community to celebrate Christ in East Winter Garden.  This video tells the story.

Discount Rate for Catalyst Orlando Feb 17

Experience the Catalyst Leadership Conference one day event in Orlando on Feb 17th. Get a discounted registration rate of $79 when you use rate code "GOBA" before Jan 27. Click the link below to register.

Catalyst One Day

www.catalystoneday.com

The Grace Card

Free movie night for you and your sweetie Friday, January 14 at 7pm in the Winter Garden / Windermere area. Call Sharon at 407-293-0450 for details.

ReproducingChurches.com January Gathering in Lakeland

Join missional leaders who are passionate about church multiplication in a reproducingchurches.com regional gathering in Lakeland, FL on January 27. The details are coming together. Read the reproducing churches update for more info.

Set a GOAL for leadership multiplication

Greater Orlando Adventures in Leadership is a growth journey based on relational peer groups that focus on leadership multiplication.  Making disciples involves growing the next generation of leaders.  Leadership does not take place unless new leaders are equipped and empowered. It should be the GOAL of every church leader to give all of their leadership responsibilities away to apprentice leaders. Church multiplication is dependent upon leadership multiplication. If you don't have the leaders that you need to start new teams, groups, or churches, there is a clog in your leadership system. GOAL helps you to regain focus on your primary responsibility through a journey along four paths: personal leadership, interpersonal leadership, team leadership, and organizational leadership. Why not set your GOAL for 2011 to be a better leader?

Does an organic church need a website?

About two weeks ago, Bill and Wanda Tummons started an organic church just outside of Orlando in Wedgefield, Florida.  They were able to get a good-looking 3 page website for 0 dollars and absolutely no monthly cost.  It  took just a few hours to get content loaded and a couple of days to get the site up and running.  The website is now searchable on Google.  Check out the Wedgefield Community Church website at: http://www.wedgefieldcommunitychurch.org.

Since organic churches are primarily relational, do they need websites?  I would say yes, because a website is a great way to tell your friends about your organic church.  Sometimes it's hard to explain what you are doing or hard for people to remember when and where you are meeting.  So, why not just ask them to check you out on the web?  A website is a great place to share your values and beliefs while letting people get a feel of what your gatherings are like.  You can post a link to your Facebook page and send out Tweets with links back to your site just like any other church.  You can also link to or list other organic churches in your network.  If you could get a low-cost or free website for your organic church, why not let the www know that you exist?

Help me solve a mystery

What is Paul talking about in these seven verses.  What is the mystery?

1. Ephesians 1:9
   And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
   
2. Ephesians 3:3
   that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
   
3. Ephesians 3:4
   In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into themystery of Christ,
   
4. Ephesians 3:6
   This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
   
5. Ephesians 3:9
   and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
   
6. Ephesians 5:32
   This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
   
7. Ephesians 6:19
   Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

The Jesus Model of Disciple Training

We hear a lot of criticism today about the Western ideal of discipleship.  We have poor discipleship models where the emphasis is on knowledge rather than living sent.  Instead of  following our modern models of discipleship, why don't we examine how Jesus did it and follow him?  Here is a great post from Felicity Dale: 

 How did Jesus train his disciples?

·       He shared the rough and tumble of everyday life with them (Luke 8:1-3)

·       He asked them questions to show them what they needed to learn (Matthew 16:13-20)

·       He answered their questions (eg Matthew 17:19-20)

·       He demonstrated the practical skills they needed to know (Luke 11:1-3)

·       He used teachable moments.  Consider, for example, the occasion in Matthew 20 when James and John persuaded their mother to approach Jesus about letting them sit next to him in his Kingdom.  Jesus used the opportunity to compare the world's style of leadership with his Kingdom way of leading. (You know how leadership is done in the world--rulers lord over those under them.  But with you it is to be different.  If you want to lead then become a servant and slave.)

·       He gave them assignments and had them report back, using their reports to bring fresh insight and teaching.  (Luke 10)

·       Jesus didn't give his disciples a body of knowledge, but the experience of living with him.