NGL Mardi Gras Outreach 2009 NGL Mardi Gras Outreach 2009 Rev. Troy D. BenitoneRev. Troy D. Benitone

Assessment Tools:Assessment Tools:““Determining Determining

Spiritual Phase with Spiritual Phase with the Phrase”the Phrase”

“For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”

Jeremiah 2:13 nlt

In the Water World there are:In the Water World there are:

1.1. Cisterns:Cisterns: Man-made and Land-made Man-made and Land-made areas that can hold water reserves.areas that can hold water reserves.

2.2. Dying Seas:Dying Seas: Some sources of water are Some sources of water are literally Dead or Dying Seas.literally Dead or Dying Seas.

3.3. Living Water:Living Water: Is a healthy water supply Is a healthy water supply that has water coming in and water going that has water coming in and water going out.out.

Fresh Streams Clean Water Stagnant Water

Types of Water ChurchesTypes of Water Churches

1.1.Cistern Churches?Cistern Churches?

2.2.Dead Sea Churches?Dead Sea Churches?

3.3.Living Water Churches?Living Water Churches?

Dynamic Death & Dynamic Dynamic Death & Dynamic Growth illustratedGrowth illustrated

Troy’s Haircut Metaphor:Troy’s Haircut Metaphor:

EXPLAINED!EXPLAINED!

Troy’s Solution to Great Hair: “If you want to have twice as many great hair days cut your

hair on a S-Curve and not on the Bell-Curve timeline.”

In SummaryIn Summary

The Same is true for Shepherding The Same is true for Shepherding Sheep and Growing Churches:Sheep and Growing Churches:

A Healthy Flock has new sheep, adolescent sheep and mature sheep under all under the leadership of under-Shepherds. As a result new flocks are birthed forth. And a Health and Productive system means the Ranch is growing. (Ranching on the S-Curve)

If we fail to grow and produce healthy flocks than they become stagnant & aging leading to decline & death.(Ranching on the Bell-Curve)

God Loves

God Loves FATFAT Sheep!

Sheep!

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into a lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”

Matthew 4:18-20

Four things define a Four things define a DISCIPLEDISCIPLE

1.1. A disciple is one who has made A disciple is one who has made Jesus the Jesus the Lord of his or her lifeLord of his or her life.. Jesus said, Jesus said, “Come “Come and follow me.”and follow me.” He is the leader. We must He is the leader. We must be committed to being the followers.be committed to being the followers.

2.2. A disciple is one who has entered a process A disciple is one who has entered a process of of relational discipleshiprelational discipleship with other with other maturing Christians. maturing Christians. To Become “Fishers” To Become “Fishers”

3.3. A disciple is one who is A disciple is one who is becoming Christ-becoming Christ-like.like. They “Followed Him.”They “Followed Him.”

4.4. A disciple is one who is committed to the A disciple is one who is committed to the mission of Christ.mission of Christ. Fishers– “of men”Fishers– “of men”

What is a Disciple?What is a Disciple?

They areThey are

Biblically Functioning Biblically Functioning Faithful Follower of Faithful Follower of

Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

“Jesus chose twelve disciples and

created a TEAM,a small group-

because in small groups people can

really learn. If there were a better way to

teach, He would have shown us.”

(134)

Jesus the Master of Jesus the Master of DiscipleshipDiscipleship

1.1. He taught in a He taught in a small group small group setting.setting.

2.2. Then He modeled it in the Then He modeled it in the real life laboratory.real life laboratory.

Four phases of Four phases of Discipleship DevelopmentDiscipleship Development

1.1. Share:Share: SalvationSalvation

2.2. Connect:Connect: DiscipleshipDiscipleship

3.3. Minister:Minister: FruitFruit

4.4. Disciple:Disciple: Disciple Maker/Seed PlanterDisciple Maker/Seed Planter

“Jesus will always takes us as we are, but He will not leave you that way. He will start the process of unmaking what we have become so that He can remake us into something useful for His Purpose.” (69)

Our Main ObjectiveOur Main ObjectiveJesus’ clear hope was the Jesus’ clear hope was the Every Every

DiscipleDisciple would grow to become like would grow to become like Him in calling people to a Him in calling people to a repentant repentant and savingand saving faith in God and in turn faith in God and in turn

training otherstraining others to go forth and continue to go forth and continue the work of spreading the Gospel as a the work of spreading the Gospel as a

part of His Great Commission until part of His Great Commission until Jesus returns.Jesus returns.

Determining “Spiritual Phase Determining “Spiritual Phase with the Phrase"with the Phrase"

1.1. Share-levelShare-level peoplepeople• Unsaved-Unsaved- need to hear the Gospel. need to hear the Gospel.• Saved-Saved- need to begin to develop basic need to begin to develop basic

knowledge.knowledge.

2.2. Connect-levelConnect-level people people (Watch out for the I-(Watch out for the I-Critical Stage.)Critical Stage.)

3.3. Ministry-levelMinistry-level peoplepeople

4.4. Discipleship-levelDiscipleship-level peoplepeople

Putman tells us that Putman tells us that Discipleship-level peopleDiscipleship-level people

1.1. They They See the needSee the need to grow a ministry to grow a ministry they are they are passionatepassionate about. about.

2.2. They notice that the ministry could They notice that the ministry could expandexpand if they had help. if they had help.

3.3. They notice the gifts and passions of They notice the gifts and passions of someone elsesomeone else who could play a part in who could play a part in the ministry.the ministry.

4.4. They are willing to They are willing to invest in anotherinvest in another who who they see who needs to be trained.they see who needs to be trained.

“In fact, I don’t believe a person is a mature Christian unless they are a part of Christ’s mission to reach the world through His team—the Church.”  “I don’t care how much scripture they know or how many seminary degrees they have, they are not in the will of God, this is not a mature believer, “a fully devoted-follower of Jesus Christ” unless they are a part of His Team— the Church. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

IS A TEAM SPORT!!!” (69)