Renovate Leadership Training Workbook 2023 Spring

LEADERSHIP

TRAINING

© 2023 Christ Chapel Bible Church

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible.

ESV – English Standard Version © by Crossway, Good News Publishers

Published by Christ Chapel Bible Church 3701 Birchman Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76107 www.ccbcfamily.org | 817-731-4329

1st ed. 2023 Spring

MISSION OF RENOVATE

We are a community of young adults being renovated by Jesus, for Jesus. We are for those who are far off … to be brought near to a gracious and worthy God. And we are for those near … to be sent out to a radical and obedient mission. Through weekly community, we live and work purposefully in our city, and we host big gatherings each month. We hope anyone can come get connected at one of these opportunities!

LEADERSHIP

YOU ARE A LEADER

We define “leader” as someone who is fully devoted to following Jesus and wants to live their life making an impact for Him wherever they go. In leadership community each year, we want to spend two semesters developing maturity in your walk with God so that you can be fully obedient to His call on your life.

COMMITMENT

Being a part of Leadership consists of the following:

1. Prioritize Wednesday nights.

2. Agree with and sign our Renovate Leadership Covenant.

3. Be obedient to Jesus.

ABSENCES

Because of the high level of investment, we are making in you through this program, we ask that you NOT MISS MORE THAN 3 meetings per semester. If we had our preference, you’d be here every time! Not just because we like seeing you, but because we think it’s worth it and you could miss out on very important pieces of this leadership training. These lessons are designed to complement one another and come together as a large unit that is meant to help us build community around the common goal of being on mission in our everyday lives. So don’t miss out if you can help it!

OVERVIEW

First Wednesdays of the month: Renovate Worship in the Sanctuary your opportunity to be fueled up and to bring others to “come and see” 6 p.m. Free Dinner 7 p.m. Worship Service

Other Wednesdays of the month: Renovate Leadership Training in the Chapel your opportunity to be equipped, challenged and encouraged in your mission These nights include lessons and discussion that kick off with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and wrap up by 8:30 p.m.

STAFF SHEPHERDS

Michael Koiner

Renovate Pastor

MichaelK@christchapelbc.org 478-787-9141

Brooke Seale

Renovate Women’s Director

BrookeS@christchapelbc.org 601-850-6737

Robert Newberry

Renovate Men’s Director

RobertN@christchapelbc.org 512-769-9419

Payton Weinzapfel

Renovate Event Director

PaytonW@christchapelbc.org 972-814-6038

2023 SPRING SEMESTER

SCHEDULE:

SESSION # DATE TOPIC NOTES

Lesson 1 Jan. 11 Welcome + Outside the Camp

Lesson 2 Jan. 18 Abiding and Holiness

Lesson 3 Jan. 25 Three Trees Last day to join or drop Feb. 1 RENOVATE WORSHIP

Lesson 4 Feb. 8 Faith in Your Workplace

Lesson 5 Feb. 15 Your Mission Field

Lesson 6 Feb. 22 Pre-Evangelism Mar. 1 RENOVATE WORSHIP

Lesson 7 Mar. 8 Evangelism & Gospel Fluency

Lesson 8 Mar. 15 Living in the Culture Spring Break

Lesson 9 Mar. 22 Evangelism in Your Context

Lesson 10 Mar. 29 Ecclesiology Apr. 8 EASTER OUTREACH

Lesson 11 Apr. 12 Shepherding

Lesson 12 Apr. 19 Sending & Serving

Lesson 13 Apr. 26 Commissioning May 3 RENOVATE WORSHIP

OTHER DATES OF INTEREST:

• Jan. 28 – 29

GROUP LEADER RETREAT

• Mar. 20 | WORSHIP IN THE ROUND

• Apr. 22 | BELIZE FUNDRAISER*

• May 27 – June 3 | BELIZE TRIP

• June 7, July 5, Aug. 1 |RENOVATE SUMMER EVENTS

• July 22 | LEADER RETREAT*

*Dates not set in stone yet for these

FELLOW LABORERS

Keep up with the people who are learning and living on mission beside you.

NAME PHONE EMAIL

Michael Koiner 478-787-9141

MichaelK@christchapelbc.org

Robert Newberry 512-769-9419 RobertN@christchapelbc.org

Brooke Seale 601-850-6737 BrookeS@christchapelbc.org

Payton Weinzapfel 972-814-6038 PaytonW@christchapelbc.org

FUN FACT

Irrational fear of water

Can quote all The Lord of the Rings

Never traveled outside of US

Accidental camel racer

ELEMENTS OF TRAINING:

Warm-Up Discussion – purposeful, self-led conversation around your tables

Host content – relevant announcements and upcoming opportunities

Lesson – thematic teaching and discussion, taking a little over an hour each night

Post-Work – an assignment or reflection for you to take home that’s related to tonight’s lesson.

Pre-Work – this is sometimes assigned to do in preparation for the next lesson. Please complete this before showing up for the next warm-up discussion.

Additional Resources – a web listing of referenced items from tonight’s lesson, as well as thoughtful next steps at Christ Chapel for you to learn and grow more in this topic at our church.

LET’S DO ONE OF THOSE RIGHT NOW …

Warm-Up Discussion:

1. Share your name and record the names of the others are your table on the page to the left.

2. What’s one fun fact about your personality or life that you’d be willing to share with your table?

3. What do you do with your day? What’s on your plate right now?

4. What made you decide to come to Leadership Training?

5. How are you hoping to be equipped?

OUTSIDE THE CAMP

observing the mission God has for His people to share His love with those not yet in the family

LESSON:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

- Hebrews 13:8-16, emphasis added

OBSERVATIONS AND PARALLELS FROM THIS PASSAGE:

WHY WE ARE HERE

What we are going to zoom in on today is the challenge our entire church has been given as our mission concerning disciples of Jesus: (see Matthew 28:19 for the command to “make disciples” of Jesus everywhere)

This devotion touches on the heart of why that should be our desire as believers because that is exactly what our Savior did. He had a heart to reach the lost. We are not breaking new ground or reinventing the wheel in doing so as well. We are simply following the example our Savior left to go reach others for His sake.

THE CHARACTER OF JESUS

OUR RESPONSE

WHAT DO WE NEED TO RESPOND WELL?

1. A firm grasp of who Jesus is and the grace that He offers 2. An understanding of the temple and its significance

SO HOW DO WE RESPOND?

1. Remain constant in Jesus 2. Remain gracious because of Jesus 3. Suffer outside the walls with Jesus 4. Keep doing good like Jesus.

What are your expectations walking into the mission field? Are you anxious? Feeling under-equipped? Talk at your tables about how you are feeling.

POST-WORK:

What would it look like for you to “go outside the walls” this semester to reach those who are suffering without the grace hope and truth offered in a relationship with Jesus? Spend some time in prayer asking God to give you direction on where he wants you to go to do that.

Are you healthy enough to go and reach others right now? Have you been deceived by wayward teachings or putting your hope in something other than grace? Do you need to take time to allow Jesus to “strengthen your heart” on grace before you set out this semester? What do you need to repent of so you can be healthy when you go outside the camp?

Read and reflect on John 15:1-17 before we gather again. We’ll use it as a framework as we discover what it means to be with Jesus.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

ABIDING & HOLINESS

being with Jesus to be like Jesus

Warm-Up Discussion:

1. What is an “unwritten” rule you have followed in your life?

2. How are internal convictions and rules different?

LESSON: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “ABIDE?”

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

- John 15:1-17

• Believe Jesus at H is W ord .

WHAT DOES HE CALL YOU TO?

• Love and obey Him

• Love your neighbor as yourself .

WHO DOES HE SAY YOU ARE?

FORGIVEN

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

- John 15:3

NEW CREATION

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17

ADOPTED/CHOSEN

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…

- Ephesians 1:5

Which of these is hardest for you to believe? Why?

WORK TO LIVE OUT WHAT HE SAYS

Is your primary desire to live out the calling and identity God has given you?

We will never be perfect, but do you strive to focus on and remind yourself of who you are in Christ, or are you living under the belief that it is all down to your execution or focus?

LOVE HIM FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE AND WHO HE IS

If you have not recently sat and been in awe of who Jesus is and what He has done, then you cannot abide as He calls you to because you haven’t recently experienced the life that He provides for you.

HOW DO WE STAY ABIDING?

Walking out the truth that we are rooted in the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ is essential to abiding. However, that is only an option when we are practically aware of our habits and how much we are actually trusting in God’s grace vs how much we are trusting in ourselves, our work, our preparation or others arounds us. So how do we know if we are truly abiding?

• Practically reckoning the truth that God loves you and wants you to remain close Him (when business, conflict, failure hits) is HARD.

• Repentance is the practical step we take when we realize we are running in a different direction or relying on a different strength than what God has provided for us.

• Abiding doesn’t mean perfection. It means pursuit, or a fight to remain.

WHY DO WE ABIDE?

Simply put: Jesus instructs us to glorify the Father and bear fruit. (John 15:8)

GLORIFY THE FATHER

We glorify God when we internalize and display that He is satisfying in the ups and downs of our life. When we “abide” in His love through the seasons of life, it shows that there is a practical side of finding our satisfaction in the Lord.

BEAR FRUIT AND GAIN ASSURANCE

BEARING FRUIT

What does it mean to bear fruit?

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

- John 15:3-5

Bearing fruit leads to living out your identity .

ASSURANCE AS A BELIEVER AND TRUE DISCIPLE

Have you ever asked, or had anyone else ask you, how do I know that I am really a believer? Have you ever had a season of doubt that you were “truly” a believer?

A constant return to habitual sin, or knowingly rebelling against God’s design separates us from the relationship God wants with us, and many times we confuse this relational difficulty with our salvation. We think that grace doesn’t work for us because we don’t “feel” forgiven or feel free in Christ.

But usually what’s happened is we have stopped abiding; and in doing so, we have stopped relying on Jesus. So the lack of freedom we feel is not that Jesus has given up on us, but instead that we have taken the burdens of our performance and sin and expectations of the world back onto our shoulders instead of trusting and abiding in Jesus. We feel beaten down by the weight of not abiding and are no longer living in the rest, hope and provision of Christ. It exhausts us.

What is conviction supposed to do in your life? What does it feel like for you?

ON CONVICTION:

• When we are not abiding, we are feeling a convicting tension between how we are living and who we are called and created to be

• The conviction from the Holy Spirit is to alert us to that dissonance in our life.

• It should lead us to return to abiding in Christ and trusting in Him as best as we possibly can

ABIDING IS WHAT WE WERE MADE TO DO!

We are called to abide because it is the desire of our heart. Our identity is found in Christ alone and so our abiding is our source of life, it is our hope, our joy, and our comfort so when we abide we are looking to Jesus to fulfill our hopes and desires as he is the only one capable of doing.

- Augustine

We find the rest our souls need, the hope we long for and the courage to step out and follow Him to doing things we would never choose to do on our own. But because of our faith, we can say yes because we know it isn’t about our judgement or risk-assessment, but trust in the God who is deserving of all trust and faith.

Abiding is when our hearts long for Jesus and the practical rhythms of our life reflect and enable that desire to be nurtured so we can flourish as believers.

Abiding leads us to a vibrant life in close communion with our Savior that means we pursue holiness as a priority because we pursue Jesus Holiness is not a box to be checked or a goal to be achieved, but a byproduct or overflow of a love of Jesus.

POST-WORK:

Reflect: How can you make abiding a priority this week? How can you make Jesus a priority?

Take an inventory: Have you ever taken a spiritual inventory to see what your daily practices look like and how many of them are centered around Jesus? If not, scan the code below to get a diagnostic tool to help you identify where you are investing your life.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

THREE TREES

how abiding can produce spiritual fruit or thorns when we shift our focus

Warm-Up Discussion:

1. Name some of your “pet peeves.”

2. What’s the biggest stressor in your life right now?

LESSON:

5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

- Jeremiah 17:5-10

1. What comes out of you when the heat/circumstances rattle you? Why?

2. Go back to the Warm-up Discussion question(s) and re-explain your answer(s) using the Three Trees diagram/language.

POST WORK:

Answer and reflect on the following questions:

1. What is your situation (i.e. Heat)? How do you view it (e.g. random occurrence; punishment; discipline; blessing [James 1:2-3])?

2. How do you react and respond (i.e. Thorns)? How do you blame sinful and “thorny” responses on your situation? Or, do you assume that you wouldn’t have acted a sinful way were it not for the situation?

3. What do you want? What is really driving you at a heart level?

4. Pick a particular sin struggle in your life. What difference does it make that Jesus died on a cross and rose again to you in light of that struggle? (Meditate on this if you are having a hard time answering.)

5. How are you tempted to bypass the cross (i.e. fruit-stapling; blaming; etc.)?

6. What kind of fruit are you seeing in your life?

7. What kind of fruit are you helping to develop in others?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

4 | FAITH IN YOUR WORKPLACE

a panel discussion with fellow laborers who live out their faith at work

Warm-Up Discussion: What’s challenging about faith in your workplace? Is there animosity toward the Gospel there?

NOTES FROM THE PANEL:

POST-WORK:

Take some time and reflect on the following questions:

1. What’s the spiritual temperature of your workplace?

2. Do you see your workplace as a mission field? Why or why not?

3. What helps/obstacles do you have at work when it comes to sharing the gospel?

4. Who do I have favor with?

5. Am I guarding my witness at work?

6. What believer(s) can I partner with in my workplace?

7. Who is the Lord asking you to minister to?

8. What ways can you be a blessing to your coworkers?

Read Matthew 6:19-24. What is an item, topic or theme your coworkers have been most talkative about lately? How can you pray for them in light of this passage? How can you turn their attention to eternal things, rather than temporal, fleeting things that will not last or be an eternal fix?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

YOUR MISSION FIELD

steps every believer should take when asking God how to be obedient in mission

Warm-Up Discussion:

1. Describe your friend group.

2. If you were to think of a close friend, what was it about your relationship that makes you close? How do you think you got to that point with them?

LESSON:

LIFE AS AMBASADORS

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, emphasis added

IDENTIFY MY MISSION FIELD

We do this by looking at three areas: Proximity, heart and favor.

PROXIMITY HEART FAVOR

Defined: Defined:

Who is close to me in my daily/weekly life … Who my heart beats fast for …

Defined: (see Mark 6:10-11)

Who I seem to have favor with …

HOW THESE THREE AREAS OVERLAP IS YOUR SPECIFIC MISSION FIELD:

PROXIMITY

FAVOR HEART

My specific mission field is:

Share how you arrived at your mission field identification, and how the people at your table can help you in the following ways:

- Prayer - Challenge - Encouragement

Be honest: How are you feeling after this exercise: - Encouraged - Energized - Discouraged - Confused - Convicted

Why? How can your table help you?

When we meet together to be equipped, challenged and encouraged on Wednesday nights, part of that will be to challenge and encourage you in your mission field.

POST-WORK:

1. Pray for your mission field.

2. Pray about what your next step might be in the future. If your prayer time brought you any clarity on a simple next step of obedience, write it down in the space below.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

PRE-EVANGELISM

earning the right to be heard

Warm-Up Discussion: How often do you find yourself around people who don’t believe what you believe? What do your relationships with those people look like?

LESSON: LIVING IN A WAY THAT THE GOSPEL MAKES SENSE

“Before all things, most dear brothers, we must love God and after Him our neighbor; for these are the principal commands which have been given to us.” - St. Augustine

BE AROUND

Taking what we believe to who we know in how we live

• Create intentional touchpoints

• Find commonalities

• Pursue

• Initiate

We are not agenda - driven, we are gospel - driven.

Instead, you move toward the quieter ones, the new person, the outliers.1 - Edward T. Welch

Have you ever been pursued by someone who took a genuine interest in your life? How did that person do it? How was it encouraging to you?

WARNING: It’s easy to have a “holier than thou” complex when you’re the one moving towards others. Remember, part of moving towards others is acknowledging you need them as much as they need you.

1 Caring for One Another, p. 21.

BE DIFFERENT

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.

- Acts 17:26-27

God has you where you are in this specific time and place and set of circumstances to minister to those around you.

• Guard your witness.

• Build others up.

• Use your equity.

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

- 1 Peter 3:15

BE AVAILABLE

• Ask good questions.

• Listen.

• Meet needs.

“Attention is our precious commodity. Our life is defined by what we pay attention to.”

- Justin Earley, The Common Rule

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

- Philippians 2:3-4

What would have to change for you to be able to be around, different and available to people in the way we’ve discussed? Are you willing to make those changes?

Our goal is not to be kind for our own sake or theirs, but for the sake of Christ.

POST-WORK:

Pray over who the Lord is asking you to move towards. Who are those people? Share their names with the people at your table or in your small group. Find ways to move towards them and put these things into practice, starting this week.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

EVANGELISM & GOSPEL FLUENCY

incorporating the story of God into everyday life

Warm-Up Discussion: What are some topics you would say you are “fluent” in?

LESSON: The story of God is woven into everyday life if we learn to see it.

What comes to mind when you think of “evangelism?”

• Demanding people become opposed to the things you’re morally opposed to

• Pursuing behavior- modification in yourself or others

Aim at the root, not the fruit.

• Arguing people into salvation through apologetics

• Selling people something

2. What Evangelism IS

• Submitting to God to be a vessel He uses in drawing people to Jesus …

• … by understanding and sharing the story of God in the world …

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “… and such were some of you …”

• … as an incarnational representation of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 2:20

Jesus came in the flesh so we would know what God is like. Then, He sends us out in the flesh, filled with the Holy Spirit, to show others what HE (Jesus) is like.

1. Which of these “evangelism is not” things have you leaned towards before, if any?

2. How is this different than how you’ve previously understood evangelism or thought of it?

3. What holes do you still have in your understanding of what evangelism is?

DEFINING OUR TERMS: WHAT IS GOSPEL FLUENCY?

WHAT IS IT?

“when the Gospel becomes our native , default tongue.”

HOW DO YOU GROW IN IT?

REMEMBER

“What affects you greatly creates in you great affections.”

- Jeff Vanderstelt2

2

Jeff Vanderstelt, Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truth of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of Life, Crossway, 2017.

RECITE

What works ON us, captures our imagination and, with our imagination, our love

You talk about what you love

REHEARSE

What most affects us is what we constantly talk about

You love it more because you talk about it

We talk about what affects us most

No proficiency: I haven't heard the language, wouldn't recognize it.

Beginner: I understand & use familiar, everyday phrases & can answer basic questions.

Limited Working Proficiency:

I can briefly describe past & future things, can give reasons for opinions & use the language when in the presence of people from other languages.

Professional Proficiency:

I can communicate confidently in a variety of settings on a variety of topics & can use the language flexibly.

Native/Bilingual Proficiency: I can interact with ease & skill similar to a native speaker, can differentiate shades of meaning and nuance. I would be mistaken for a native speaker.

1. If we compare Gospel fluency to learning a new language, where do you feel you are at?

2. What barriers have you experienced, or do you anticipate experiencing in becoming Gospel fluent?

WRONG TURNS IN GOSPEL FLUENCY

1. “We can fix this!” We are not God’s gift to the earth!

2. “Everything is awful, broken and horrible.” This is not the Gospel!

3. “Jesus is the answer.” He is, but He isn’t our cop-out!

The goal is to preach the Gospel to ourselves so much that it overflows into the everyday circumstances of life.

Practice summarizing the story of God as you understand it right now. Try to do this in 30 seconds or less. 3 Where do you need to grow in your understanding of His story in order to do this better?

3 For more help with this, scan the QR at the end of this lesson.

POST WORK:

1. Journal for 10-15 minutes, writing down every way you can think of that the Gospel has changed you and your life.

2. Take steps 1-2 of Gospel fluency this week and remember the Gospel consciously a total of two times in your day and recite it to yourself OUT LOUD at least one time per day for three consecutive days.

A helpful way to remember the Gospel and remember to do this exercise is to wear a rubber band on your wrist and each time you see it, remember the Gospel in that situation. Another way is to set a few alarms on your phone and label them “Gospel Reminder” or something to help jog your memory when the alarm goes off. Some people even carry a rock or some small object around in their pocket so that each time they feel it, they practice this exercise.

Note: If you happen to be around people when it’s time to practice reciting the Gospel out loud, even better! Practice Step 3 ( Rehearse ) if you’re with fellow believers. If you’re not around other believers, practice thinking through how you would apply the Gospel in this situation. And then recite it out loud later.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

| LIVING IN THE CULTURE

| EVANGELISM IN YOUR CONTEXT

contextualizing the Gospel and recognizing your on-ramps

Warm-Up Discussion:

1. How did your Post-Work go from Session 7? How has the Gospel changed you and your life?

2. How did it go this past week remembering the Gospel and reciting it out loud to yourself?

3. What barriers were there to practicing this exercise/discipline this week?

LESSON: When we listen well, we find on-ramps to share the story of God.

WHAT’S YOUR CONTEXT?

A. Sometimes you choose your context. B. Sometimes your context chooses you.

C. Sometimes you need a context.

What are some chosen contexts? What are some unchosen contexts? What is your third place or what could be your third place?

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CONTEXT & AUDIENCE

A. BEING AN EVERYDAY RESEARCHER

Helpful Questions for Everyday Researchers:

1. What do the people in this context value? What do they love?

2. What do the people in this context believe in? What do they bet their life on?

3. Where does the conflict really lie?4

B. UNDERSTANDING THE NON-CHRISTIAN

1. All people are believers in something

4 Alvin Plantinga, Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism, Oxford University Press, 2011.

2. People have real barriers, doubts, questions, and consequences 3. Non-Christians do not struggle with sin. 4. Non-Christians DO struggle with the effects and consequences of sin.

C. UNDERSTANDING THE BARRIERS

1. Gospel catchphrases

Un-biblical language

The flesh

Spiritual warfare 1. What about non-Christians is hard for you to empathize with?

Do you primarily know non-Christians or Christians who aren’t practicing their faith?

COMBINING EVANGELISM AND GOSPEL FLUENCY

ON-RAMPS FOR THE GOSPEL STORY:

1. Your life and witness

2. Your story

3. Their story

4. The world’s story, current events, etc.

Good questions to ask , or signs to look for , to get to an on - ramp :

1. Why does that [injustice, wrong, immorality] bother you?

2. Why should life be better?

3. Why should we expect things to be different?

4. If humanity got ourselves into this mess, what evidence suggests we’re going to get ourselves out of it?

5. Why do you think you have a sense that life ought to be better.

6. Why does EVERY person in every culture seem to see similar problems in the world and also have a similar desire for life to be different?

7. What should life be like?

THE PIVOT

MOVING FROM LIVING LIKE A CHRISTIAN TO PROCLAIMING CHRIST:

1. Start by listening to conversations with these questions in mind:

a. How does the Gospel bring good news to this situation?

b. What about the Gospel do we need to hear right now?

c. What about the story of God have we forgotten or failed to believe?

d. How is Jesus better than what we have or what we want in this situation?5

e. How does the creation-fall-redemption-restoration narrative fit here?

2. Pray for boldness in conversations when OTHER people provide on-ramps.

3. Pray for the Holy Spirit to provide YOU with an on-ramp opportunity and the courage to take it.

4. Do it! What’s different/hard about on-ramps and spiritual conversations with people we already know? What experiences do you have with this?

LET’S PRACTICE!

Brainstorm some creative ways you could take a step towards Gospel fluency, sharing the Gospel, or preparing to. What step could you take soon? When is soon? What would prevent you from taking this step? Who can hold you accountable?

5 Questions taken from Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt. We highly recommend reading this if you want to grow in this discipline and are looking for a very practical, easy read!

POST WORK:

You cannot share the Gospel well without first preparing your own heart for the task. If we don't prepare well, we may have the wrong motive, might have a wrong mindset (i.e. that we can save people), may feel alone or even ill-equipped.

Working through this preparatory process gives us tangible, measurable steps to move towards others with the good news of Jesus. Take some time over the next few days to work through one or two steps a day. Better yet, grab a partner and work through these steps together!

Preparing Your Heart Well for Evangelism

1. Posture (Motive of your heart)

a. Why do we produce fruit?

b. Why do we do any of this?

c. Refer back to 3 trees

2. Prayer

a. You will not be able to evangelize well to this culture without a deep understanding of your own sin, brokenness, and Christ’s redemption of you.

b. What does prayer for evangelism, on-ramps, and non-Christians in your life look like?

3. Partners

a. Who can you team up with in your contexts?

b. What would you need to change about your life to have partners in evangelism?

4. Prep-work

a. Where are you right now?

b. Do you know non-Christians?

c. Be realistic in setting goals/practicing the discipline of evangelism

5. Practicing

a. Remember b. Recite c. Rehearse

d. Review for how you can improve, what you learned from the experience(s), and invite feedback.

e. Repeat!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

10 | ECCLESIOLOGY

the roles and functions of the global Church and our local church

Warm-Up Discussion: What’s the most challenging part of working on teams or in a group context?

LESSON:

WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THE CHURCH?

The word we get “the church” from is the Greek word, ekklesia, which means the gathered or called out ones

There are two different groupings of the church

1. THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

Includes both the invisible and the visible church:

• The invisible church is the group (known only to God) of people who have a genuine faith in Christ united under the Nicene creed.

• The visible church is all of those who profess to be believers and all who “attend” church.

2. THE LOCAL CHURCH

• Majority of New Testament references to “church”

• Primary means of communicating the love of Christ for His body

• Should be the main source of teaching, community and sanctification for believers.

• A place and a community to commit to and to build up, rather than picked and customized to the individual.

WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS OF THE CHURCH?

1. Making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)

2. Evangelizing to a lost world (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)

3. Delivering the Sacraments (1 Corinthians 10:17; Luke 22:19-20)

4. Gathering of the believers together (Acts 2:44; Hebrews 10:25)

5. Loving one another (John 13:35)

6. Mutual encouragement in the faith (Hebrews 10:25b)

7. Meeting the physical needs of the rest of the church body (1 John 3:18)

8. Church discipline (Matthew 18; Titus 3:10)

WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF THE CHURCH?

1. To gather together the whole crowd of local believers

2. To send that crowd of believers out into a non - Christian world as ambassadors .

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELONG TO THE CHURCH?

Church membership was originally signified through baptism. As a public proclamation of faith in an environment hostile to the gospel in the first century church, it was often something that meant social isolation or loss of friends/family. Therefore, it was a very clear proclamation that the church was the primary means of community and support in a believer’s life, regardless of compatibility or convenience.

Church membership is the closest we can get to a formal declaration that the individual believer will pursue the same mission with the same community.

Church membership is not about …

What value does this commitment provide?

HOW SHOULD

“ATTEND” YOUR LOCAL CHURCH?

consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

- Hebrews 10:24–25

OUR CHURCH

Our local church body: Christ Chapel Bible Church Elder led, Deacon served multi campus church committed to “warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28)

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH IN YOUR PERSONAL MINISTRY?

The gathered church must be constantly mindful to limit its activities to equipping and training Christians so that they can take the light of Christ and the Word of God into the world as they pursue their callings and vocations. (Ephesians 4:12)

Our role as Renovate staff is to equip you to be mature believers capable of being missionaries and disciple-makers wherever you spend your time.

The role of specialized staff is to supplement but never replace the main structure of the church.

Renovate specifically provides you with training (Renovate Leadership Training) to be more equipped missionaries to the young adults of Fort Worth and gives a place to invite and connect those you are seeking to make disciples through Renovate Worship.

How is your personal ministry partnering with Christ Chapel? How can it grow to partner better with the local church?

POST WORK:

Start S.H.A.P.E.

Taking assessments like these is not meant to be a prescription for what you should be doing for the rest of your life. It is meant to be a tool to understand yourself better and how God has wired you so that you can use that wiring to serve him and his church. The temptation can be to find out your results and then start to attribute your behavior or even project how you should be acting or where you should be working based on your results.

Remember that this is a self-assessment and it is only a snapshot of how you see yourself currently. You still have the opportunity to grow and step into new things in life even after this test. This is meant to be a start of understanding yourself in light of how God wired you to help build up His church.

We hope this is fun and you share it with your community so they can see your results and have input to see if they believe it is accurate as well!

• piritual Gifts: https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey

• eart: What are things you are naturally passionate about or what gets your emotions stirred? (i.e. kids ministry, serving at a soup kitchen, missions, social justice, rehabilitation programs)

• bilities: https://www.viacharacter.org

• ersonality: https://www.truity.com/test/disc-personality-test

• xperiences: What are significant moments in your life that have shaped your passions or shown you where you naturally thrive? (List and describe them.)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

Spend some time this week thinking about how you got plugged into your community. What steps did you take? Did you have help? This will help set up our lesson and discussion for our next time together!

SHEPHERDING

following God’s lead as we care for others

Warm-Up Discussion: From the questions you were asked to reflect on this week, how did you get connected into this community? What steps did you take? Did you have help from anyone?

LESSON: THE GOOD SHEPHERD

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

- John 10:7-16, emphasis added

OTHER SHEPHERDS

Those who guide others to The Good Shepherd through provision, protection and pushing as we are called.

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory

- 1 Peter 5:2-4

Now that we have a proper understanding of the True Shepherd, what are some ways we can follow Him if we shepherd others?

GENERAL SHEPHERDING

When we think of shepherding what comes to mind?

• Oftentimes we think of shepherding simply as someone who is trying to lead or change an opinion

• The first thing that should come to mind is the flock, who are you shepherding? And to what are you shepherding them towards?

DEFINING THE FLOCK

In the Flock

• Who are people that God has given you influence over who are willing to follow you?

• If no one is following you, your “shepherding” is just you going for a walk with a big stick.

Once you have understood or identified your flock, you need to be able to lead them to nourishment. They need to be led to what will give them life. They need to get a clear picture of Jesus from following you.

What that means for you as a shepherd is that you must first be submitted to Jesus as your Shepherd if you have a hope of leading others to Him.

PROVIDING FOR THE FLOCK

You cannot lead people to a place you haven’t already gone or aren’t willing to go.

1. Send them to the Source (don’t BE the source!) 2. Be close to the sheep 3. Different seasons require different leadership 4. Pray and submit to God

PROTECTING THE FLOCK

Providing for the flock is great and healthy, but what happens where there are points of contention in the flock or dangers or threats to your population.

What do you do as a shepherd to protect the flock? 1. Be present with the flock.

Be dependable 3. Be a leader that sheep look at to constantly reflect them to God.

PUSHING THE FLOCK

The shepherd needs to push the flock when they need to move somewhere healthier. Your job as a shepherd is not just to keep everyone as comfortable and safe as possible where they are.

Long-term provision and protection for the flock may look like moving them in a direction that they are not comfortable going. Your job is to communicate vision and explain the path so at the bare minimum your sheep trust you, understand the direction, and know what is expected of them in the process.

To be a shepherd you must be following the ultimate Shepherd, Jesus, first.

SPECIFIC SHEPHERDING

Going after the one, not just leading “the ninety-nine.” – The intentional, structured practice of diagnosing spiritual sickness and restoring a sheep to health.

The moment you try to become someone’s Savior, you become a hurdle to them getting what they truly need. (For this section, please refer also to the chart on the next two-page spread.)

INTAKE INITIAL CONVERSATION

Questions to walk away with the answers to:

1. What’s the context ? 2. What are their expectations ? 3. What’s their general background ?

Reflective question: Are your eyes and ears sensitive to others and their needs?

OUTCOMES:

1. Connecting . • Use your community. • Think beyond yourself. • Time is of the essence. • Follow up 2. They have a specific hurt or concern • Something to consider: Is this something you are responsible for or can fix? 3. They want or need mentoring • Who’s going to step into this? You or someone else?

WANT NEED

- Are they willing to put in the work or are they consumeristic?

- Do they realize it is a want and not a need?

- Do they have a proper understanding of what their need is?

- Are they willing to take the necessary steps?

4. They simply are wanting to learn how to study God’s Word .

• We should see this as a welcomed conclusion!

• It’s important we do it in community.

• It’s also important to do it for ourselves

Which of these four outcomes most intimidates you? Have you ever walked with someone through any of these?

ORIENTATION

This stage happens over multiple conversations. It won’t come all at once, nor should it.

Remember: You are not entitled to anyone’s story. If someone comes to you for help or counsel, it is up to you to be a good steward of their trust and what they share.

The point of knowing someone’s past isn’t to just dig for information but to know how to offer counsel .

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

• The questions you ask at this stage help set you up for where to go next with them.

X-Ray Questions:

1. What do you love? Hate?

2. What do you want, desire, crave, lust and wish for?

3. What do you tend to worry about?

4. Whose opinion of you counts?

5. In what situations do you feel pressured or tense? When you are pressured, where do you turn?

6. What do you think about most often?

7. How do you spend your time?

8. Where do you find your identity? How do you define who you are?

• These questions will help you know what they think about God , themselves and others .

• These questions are not meant to simply be asked but applied

• Use this information not just to know them but to minister to them

Communities should be known for making one another more dependent on Christ, not just one another.

POST WORK:

Answer the following reflective questions:

1. How are you currently being shepherded?

2. Is there a reason you aren’t being shepherded?

3. Are you wired as a shepherd, or has God created you to serve in another way? How so?

4. If you are wired for shepherding, how does Jesus’ example call you to grow?

PRE-WORK WORKSHEET:

Finish your S.H.A.P.E. (Refer to the Post-Work from Lesson 10 on Ecclesiology.) We’ll ask you to talk about this with your table next time, so please come prepared to discuss this with them next time we gather!

As you have walked through Renovate Leadership Training this semester, we have hopefully helped you identify:

1. Your health and readiness for mission

2. Your specific mission field, and

3. Your S.H.A.P.E.

So what will we do with all of this new information? Will it be a cool fact you talk about at parties? Or will it be something tangible that affects how you serve God’s Kingdom?

We hope you will use it for the latter, we hope you will take the time to synthesize all of this information to generate an identity statement and plan to step into your mission field, and we hope that you will get to discuss and pray over all of this with others from Renovate Leadership.

Toward the end of the prior semester of Leadership Training, we finished out our time understanding that Jesus is the main character in our stories (it’s all about Him!); So now we want you to understand how Jesus has wired you to serve His people. We hope understanding your “SHAPE” and your heart for the mission field where God has you will equip you to move towards those people because you have an idea of how you were created to do that.

Let’s synthesize some of these things regarding your wiring. Feel free to reflect back on prior pages (the Mission Field exercise was in Lesson 5, and SHAPE is at the end of Lesson 10), and copy those things into the following fields:

MISSION FIELD (FROM LESSON 5)

S.H.A.P.E. (FROM LESSON 10)

S. (Spiritual Gifts)

H. (Heart) A. (Abilities) P. (Personality)

E. (Experiences)

IDENTITY STATEMENT:

This should be an integration of all the information you have written down above.

1. What part of the church or community does your personality naturally gravitate toward?

2. How has that influenced the past experiences that have become core memories for you?

3. How do those line up with your mission field currently?

4. What character traits have other people noticed or affirmed in you that seem to be longstanding (i.e. people have noticed these since childhood or at least since you’ve become a Christian).

5. What do you see God using you for in His body? (i.e. do you draw people together? Do you speak truth well? Do you encourage? Are you someone who reminds others of the grace of God?)

6. What spiritual gifts have others in the body of Christ affirmed in you? What does your name mean? (First, middle, and last!). How have you or others seen God use that identity? How COULD that identity be lived out in a way that glorifies God?

7. How could you put these things into a statement that answers the two questions who are you and what are you doing on earth? If done well an identity statement is a concise way to incorporate who you are wired to be with where you heart desires to go and helps keep you focused on God is calling you to serve!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

| SENDING & SERVING

understanding how God has designed you to partner in His redemptive plan

Warm-Up Discussion: Share some of the major take-aways you have from this semester or this year of Renovate Leadership Training.

TONIGHT:

Tonight you will be presenting this information to your table so they can celebrate, affirm, and pray over this as a community.

(Feel free to use this space to write down others’ Identity Statements.)

POST-WORK:

Pray over this, ask God to help you understand where he would like you to step in and what you need to do in order to do that faithfully.

Take this to your community. They should be an intricate part of shaping how you see yourself and how you think to apply what you have learned. A true identity statement isn’t fully complete until those closest to you have had a chance to give their input on what they have seen in your life. We all have the ability to misunderstand ourselves, so community can be a really valuable safeguard that helps you to see yourself accurately rather than how you wished you were which will help you understand yourself better in the long run.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Scan this QR code for next steps and links to this lesson’s endnote references, plus more learning opportunities at Christ Chapel that tie into this topic! You’ll get access to more basic info, as well as more advanced articles, books and media.

This “covenant” document outlines several commitments we will hold each other to this year:

| OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

We will

1. be a ministry staff who prioritize their personal walks with Christ so we can lead you from a place of health. (Abide; John 15)

2. provide a weekly space for you to step into discipleship and community

3. encourage you to stay accountable to your trajectory of holiness and to your mission field.

4. provide relevant training that will inform you about biblical theology with the purpose of better equipping you to confidently step into your mission field.

5. love you well. We want you to be seen, known and loved. Our ability to do this depends upon your vulnerability with us.

| YOUR COMMITMENT TO US

1. Be in biblical community. Identify to us what home group you are part of and/or who holds you accountable.

2. Make Wednesdays a top priority

o First Wednesdays: Your opportunity to bring people to “come and see” Renovate Worship

o All other Wednesdays: Renovate Leadership Training (fall and spring semesters)

3. Let us speak into your life as needed, as shepherds who are prayerfully committed to pointing you towards Jesus.

4. Communicate with us consistently We hope you feel loved and cared for by our church. If you don’t feel that way, please let us be the first people you tell about it.

5. Be a team player who pursues unity. A leader on our team must …

o embrace Christ Chapel's doctrinal position and constitution without reservation and be an advocate of our philosophy of ministry both in public and in private.

o be a maturing believer who is obviously, consistently and increasingly manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in his daily walk with Christ. (Galatians 5:22-23)

| YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE LORD

1. Love God most. Put God first. God wants your primary obedience; therefore your first priority is your relationship with God. (Abide; John 15)

2. Love God’s Word. Part of loving God and His Word is acknowledging the whole Bible as the inerrant and useful for everything. Leaders are committed to the continued learning of the Bible for the betterment of themselves and their community. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

“… as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

We believe there are many things that could be highlighted as character traits of a mature believer which all flow out of the two principles listed above. We have chosen to highlight 10 that we believe are crucial to the life of a believer desiring to mature and make disciples.

• Righteousness: Flee sin and opportunities to act on temptation and instead choose to pursue God’s Holy standard of living, understanding we don’t seek it to perform but instead rejoice in righteous living and recognize true satisfaction is found in God’s design for life. (2 Timothy 2:22)

• Integrity: Each believer will not be perfect, but having integrity means that you will have a sound desire to always live, speak and act honestly and seek righteousness. (Proverbs 10:9, 29)

• Patience: Accept or endure delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious; as a leader we want you to grow in your ability to respond rather than reacting (Colossians 3:12-13)

• Humility: Have a modest or low estimate of your own importance. (Romans 12:3)

• Tact: Be aware of the power held within your words. Intentionally use your words to build up rather than tear down. (James 1:19; Proverbs 15:1; Ecclesiastes 3:7)

• Kindness: Take interest in the lives of others and serve them with compassion. (Galatians 6:9–10; Philippians 2:4)

• Gentleness: Have hard conversations but do so in calmness that comes from abiding in Christ … the Creator. Whether talking about sin struggles, cultural issues or other problems, lead difficult conversations with a spirit of gentleness and grace. (Galatians 6:1; Titus 3:1-2)

• Restorative: There will be moments in community where you will get to choose how you’ll balance grace and truth when listening and when speaking up. Sometimes you will be called to enter into something uncomfortable. Remember that Jesus restored with grace but did not let people stay in sinful or unwise patterns that could rob them of abundant life. (2 Cor. 5:19; Matthew 7:3-5; Proverbs 17:17)

• Soberminded: We have freedoms in Christ that are not sinful, however abusing those freedoms is sinful and it is also one of the easiest ways young adults drift into habitual sin harming their personal walk with Jesus and losing their ability to witness to others about the satisfaction found in Christ. Leaders avoid any hint of drunkenness so that others can see a distinct “set-apartness” in their lives. (1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Peter 1:13, 5:8, Ephesians 5:18)

• Accountability: Take ownership for your mission and spiritual growth, but be able to identify when support is needed and willing to accept help and feedback from others. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

By signing this covenant, I agree to the above principles and growth opportunities, and am willing to be held accountable to live on mission for Jesus by my church and its pastors. also signed and committed to

epherds:

Michael Koiner

Brooke

Robert Newberry Renovate Pastor Renovate Women’s Director Renovate Men’s Director

X-RAY QUESTIONSi

1. What do you love? Hate?

2. What do you want, desire, crave, lust, and wish for? What desires do you serve and obey?

3. What do you seek, aim for, and pursue?

4. Where do you bank your hopes?

5. What do you fear? What do you not want? What do you tend to worry about?

6. What do you feel like doing?

7. What do you think you need? What are your "felt needs"?

8. What are your plans, agendas, strategies, and intentions designed to accomplish?

9. What makes you tick? What sun does your planet revolve around?

10. Where do you find refuge, safety, comfort, escape, pleasure, security?

11. What or whom do you trust?

12. Whose performance matters? On whose shoulders does the well-being of your world rest? Who can make it better, make it work, make it safe, make it successful?

13. Whom must you please? Whose opinion of you counts? From whom do you desire approval and fear rejection? Whose value system do you measure yourself against? In whose eyes are you living? Whose love and approval do you need?

14. Who are your role models? What kind of person do you think you ought to be or want to be?

15. On your deathbed, what would sum up your life as worthwhile? What gives your life meaning?

16. How do you define and weigh success and failure, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable, in any particular situation?

17. What would make you feel rich, secure, prosperous? What must you get to make life sing?

18. What would bring you the greatest pleasure, happiness, and delight? The greatest pain or misery?

19. Whose coming into political power would make everything better?

20. Whose victory or success would make your life happy? How do you define victory and success?

21. What do you see as your rights? What do you feel entitled to?

22. In what situations do you feel pressured or tense? Confident and relaxed? When you are pressured, where do you turn? What do you think about? What are your escapes? What do you escape from?

23. What do you want to get out of life? What payoff do you seek out of the things you do?

24. What do you pray for?

25. What do you think about most often? What preoccupies or obsesses you? In the morning, to what does your mind drift instinctively?

26. What do you talk about? What is important to you? What attitudes do you communicate?

27. How do you spend your time? What are your priorities?

28. What are your characteristic fantasies, either pleasurable or fearful? Daydreams? What do your night dreams revolve around?

29. What are the functional beliefs that control how you interpret your life and determine how you act?

30. What are your idols and false gods? In what do you place your trust, or set your hopes? What do you turn to or seek? Where do you take refuge?

31. How do you live for yourself?

32. How do you live as a slave of sin?

33. With what do you implicitly say, "If only ... " (to get what you want, avoid what you don't want, keep what you have)?

34. What instinctively seems and feels right to you? What are your opinions, the things you feel true?

35. Where do you find your identity? How do you define who you are?

COMMON TREASURES (IDOLS) OF THE HEARTii

TREA SURE/IDOL LIFE ONLY HAS MEANING / I ONLY HAVE WORTH IF :

Power I have power and influence over others

Approval

I am loved and respected by ______.

Comfort I have this kind of pleasure, experiences particular quality of life.

Image I have this particular kind of look or body image.

Control I am able to get master over my life in the area of ______.

Helping

Dependance

Independence

Work

Achievement

Materialism

Religion

Irreligion

An Individual

Racial/Cultural

Inner circle

Family

Relationship

Suffering

Ideology

People are dependent on me and need me.

Someone is there to protect me and keep me safe.

I am completely free from obligations or responsibilities to take care of someone else.

I am highly productive, getting a lot done

I am being recognized for my accomplishments; if I am excelling in my career.

I have a certain level of wealth, financial freedom and very nice possessions.

I am adhering to my religion’s moral codes and accomplished in its activities.

I feel I am totally independent of organized religion and have a selfmade morality.

This one person is my life and happiness; they are happy with me.

My race and my culture is ascendant and superior.

A particular social grouping or professional grouping or other group lets me in

My children and/or my parents are happy and happy with me.

Mr. / Ms. “Right” is in love with me.

I am hurting or in a problem; only then do I feel noble and worthy of love or am I able to deal with guilt.

My political party or social cause is making progress and ascending in power

i Powlison, David. X-Ray Questions: Drawing Out the Whys and Wherefores of Human Behavior (1999) The Journal of Biblical Counseling • Volume 18 • Number 1 • Fall 1999

ii Adapted from various Tim Keller Bible studies.

CONSTITUTION OF CHRIST CHAPEL BIBLE CHURCH

PREAMBLE

We, the members of Christ Chapel Bible Church, do adopt and establish the following articles to which we voluntarily submit ourselves.

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

The purpose of this body of believers is to glorify God:

1. in developing a family of believers which is first and foremost coming to know, enjoy and love God through the Lord Jesus Christ;

2. in laboring and striving according to His power to present every believer complete in Christ;

3. in regularly meeting together for the worship of God and for the equipping of the believers for the work of service to the building up of Christ through the faithful teaching of the Scriptures, through prayer, through the singing of praises to God and through fellowship;

4. in committing to work together and to be accountable to one another to permit God to develop the spiritual gifts of this body of believers for serving one another and others as God leads both financially and otherwise;

5. in evangelizing through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, locally and worldwide;

6. in supporting and working with other Christian ministries in harmony with God's Word; and

7. in the ordination of qualified men to the ministry, until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

ARTICLE II DOCTRINE

SECTION 1. The Scriptures

We believe that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" to write the very words of Scripture. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings - historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical - as appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in the originals is therefore without error. We believe that all the Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work in His first and second coming, and hence that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read, or understood, until it leads to Him. We also believe that all the Scriptures were designed for our practical instruction (Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2-3; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 2:13; 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21).

SECTION 2. The Godhead

We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience (Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 1:4-6).

SECTION 3. Angels, Fallen and Unfallen

We believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless, spiritual beings, known as angels; that one, "Lucifer, son of the morning" - the highest in rank - sinned through pride, thereby becoming Satan; that a great company of the angels followed him in this moral fall, some of whom became demons and are active as his agents and associates in the prosecution of his unholy purposes, while others who fell are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" (Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; 1 Tim. 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).

We believe that Satan is the originator of sin, and that under the permission of God, he, through subtlety, led our first parents into transgression, thereby accomplishing their moral fall and subjecting them and their posterity to his own power; that he is the enemy of God and the people of God, opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped; and that he who in the beginning said, "I will be like the Most High," in his warfare appears as an angel of light, even counterfeiting the works of God by fostering religious movements and systems of doctrine, which systems in every case are characterized by a denial of the efficacy of the blood of Christ and of salvation by grace alone (Gen. 3:1-19; Rom. 5:12-14; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; 11:13-15; Eph. 6:1012; 2 Thess. 2:4; 1 Tim. 4:1-3).

We believe that Satan was judged at the Cross, though not then executed, and that he, a usurper, now rules as the "god of this world"; that, at the second coming of Christ, Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss for a thousand years, and after the thousand years he will be loosed for a little season and then "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone," where he "shall be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Col. 2:15; Rev. 20:1-3, 10).

We believe that a great company of angels kept their holy estate and are before the throne of God, from whence they are sent forth as ministering spirits to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation (Luke 15:10; Eph. 1:21; Heb. 1:14; Rev. 7:12). We believe that man was made lower than the angels; and that, in His incarnation, Christ took for a little time this lower place that He might lift the believer to His own sphere above the angels (Heb. 2:6-10).

SECTION 4. Man, Created and Fallen

We believe that man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, and that he fell through sin, and, as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and that he became subject to the power of the devil. We also believe that this spiritual death, or total depravity of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire human race of man, the Man Christ Jesus alone being excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially and unchangeably bad apart from divine grace (Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Pss. 14:1-3; 51:5; Jer. 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:35; Rom. 3:10-19; 8:6-7; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 5:6; 1 John 3:8).

SECTION 5. The Dispensations.

We believe that the dispensations are stewardships by which God administers His purpose on the earth through man under varying responsibilities. We believe that the changes in the dispensational dealings of God with man depend upon changed conditions or situations in which man is successively found with relation to God, and that these changes are the result of the failures of man and the judgments of God. We believe that different administrative responsibilities of this character are manifest in the biblical record, that they span the entire history of mankind, and that each ends in the failure of man under the respective test and in an ensuing judgment from God. We believe that three of these dispensations or rules of life are the subject of extended revelation in the Scriptures, viz., the dispensation of the Mosaic Law, the present dispensation of grace, and the future dispensation of the millennial kingdom. We believe that these are distinct and are not to be intermingled or confused, as they are chronologically successive.

We believe that the dispensations are not ways of salvation nor different methods of administering the so-called Covenant of Grace. They are not in themselves dependent on covenant relationships but are ways of life and responsibility to God which test the submission of man to His revealed will during a particular time. We believe that if man does trust in his own efforts to gain the favor of God or salvation under any dispensational test, because of inherent sin his failure to satisfy fully the just requirements of God is inevitable and his condemnation sure.

We believe that according to the "eternal purpose" of God (Eph. 3:11) salvation in the divine reckoning is always "by grace through faith," and rests upon the basis of the shed blood of Christ. We believe that God has always been gracious, regardless of the ruling dispensation, but that man has not at all times been under an administration or stewardship of grace as is true in the present dispensation (1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2, 9, ASV; Col. 1:25; 1 Tim. 1:4, ASV).

We believe that it has always been true that "without faith it is impossible to please" God (Heb. 11:6), and that the principle of faith was prevalent in the lives of all the Old Testament saints. However, we believe that it was historically impossible that they should have had as the conscious object of their faith the incarnate, crucified Son, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), and that it was evident that they did not comprehend as we do that the sacrifices depicted the person and work of Christ. We believe also that they did not understand the redemptive significance of the prophecies or types concerning the sufferings of Christ (1 Pet. 1:10-12); therefore, we believe that their faith toward God was manifested in other ways as is shown by the long record in Hebrews 11:1-40. We believe further that their faith thus manifested was counted unto them for righteousness (cf. Rom. 4:3 with Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:5-8; Heb. 11:7).

SECTION 6. The First Advent

We believe that, as provided and purposed by God and as preannounced in the prophecies of the Scriptures, the eternal Son of God came into this world that He might manifest God to men, fulfill prophecy, and become the Redeemer of a lost world. To this end He was born of the virgin and received a human body and a sinless human nature (Luke 1:30-35; John 1:18; 3:16; Heb. 4:15).

We believe that, on the human side, He became and remained a perfect man, but sinless throughout His life; yet He retained His absolute deity, being at the same time very God and very man, and that His earth-life sometimes functioned within the sphere of that which was human and sometimes within the sphere of that which was divine (Luke 2:40; John 1:1-2; Phil. 2:5-8).

We believe that in fulfillment of prophecy He came first to Israel as her Messiah-King, and that, being rejected of that nation, He, according to the eternal counsels of God, gave His life as a ransom for all (John 1:11; Acts 2:22-24; 1 Tim. 2:6).

We believe that, in infinite love for the lost, He voluntarily accepted His Father's will and became the divinely provided sacrificial Lamb and took away the sin of the world, bearing the holy judgments against sin which the righteousness of God must impose. His death was therefore substitutionary in the most absolute sense - the just for the unjust - and by His death He became the Savior of the lost (John 1:29; Rom. 3:25-26; 2 Cor. 5:14; Heb. 10:5-14; 1 Pet. 3:18).

We believe that, according to the Scriptures, He arose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died, and that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which ultimately will be given to all believers (John 20:20; Phil. 3:20-21). We believe that, on departing from the earth, He was accepted of His Father and that His acceptance is a final assurance to us that His redeeming work was perfectly accomplished (Heb. 1:3).

We believe that He became Head over all things to the church which is His body, and in this ministry He ceases not to intercede and advocate for the saved (Eph. 1:22-23; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1).

SECTION 7. Salvation Only Through Christ

We believe that, owing to universal death through sin, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree of reformation however great, no attainments in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner to take even one step toward heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word, is absolutely essential to salvation, and only those thus saved are sons of God. We believe, also, that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin and was made a curse for us, dying in our room and stead; and that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church, nor all the churches that have existed since the days of the apostles can add in the very least degree to the value of the blood, or to the merit of the finished work wrought for us by Him who united in His person true and proper deity with perfect and sinless humanity (Lev. 17:11; Isa. 64:6; Matt. 26:28; John 3:7-18; Rom. 5:6-9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 3:4-9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:18-19, 23).

We believe that the new birth of the believer comes only through faith in Christ and that repentance is a vital part of believing, and is in no way, in itself, a separate and independent condition of salvation; nor are any other acts, such as confession, baptism, prayer, or faithful service, to be added to believing as a condition of salvation (John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Rom. 1:16-17; 3:22, 26; 4:5; 10:4; Gal. 3:22).

SECTION 8. The Extent of Salvation

We believe that when an unregenerate person exercises that faith in Christ which is illustrated and described as such in the New Testament, he passes immediately out of spiritual death into spiritual life, and from the old creation into the new; being justified from all things, accepted before the Father as Christ His Son is accepted, loved as Christ is loved, having his place and portion as linked to Him and one with Him forever. Though the saved one may have occasion to grow in the realization of his blessings and to know a fuller measure of divine power through the yielding of his life more fully to God, he is, as soon as he is saved, in possession of every spiritual blessing and absolutely complete in Christ, and is therefore in no way required by God to seek a so-called "second blessing" or a "second work of grace" (John 5:24; 17:23; Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1; 1 Cor. 3:21-23; Eph. 1:3; Col. 2:10; 1 John 4:17; 5:11-12).

SECTION 9. Sanctification

We believe that sanctification, which is a setting apart unto God, is three-fold: It is already complete for every saved person because his position toward God is the same as Christ's position. Since the believer is in Christ, he is set apart unto God in the measure in which Christ is set apart unto God. We believe, however, that he retains his sin nature, which cannot be eradicated in this life. Therefore, while the standing of the Christian in Christ is perfect, his

present state is no more perfect than his experience in daily life. There is, therefore, a progressive sanctification wherein the Christian is to "grow in grace" and to "be changed" by the unhindered power of the Spirit. We believe also that the child of God will yet be fully sanctified in his state as he is now sanctified in his standing in Christ when he shall see his Lord and shall be "like Him" (John 17:17; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Eph. 4:24; 5:25-27; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 10:10, 14; 12:10).

SECTION 10. Eternal Security

We believe that, because of the eternal purpose of God toward the objects of His love, because of His freedom to exercise grace toward the meritless on the ground of the propitiatory blood of Christ, because of the very nature of the divine gift of eternal life, because of the present and unending intercession and advocacy of Christ in heaven, because of the immutability of the unchangeable covenants of God, because of the regenerating, abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all who are saved, we and all true believers everywhere, once saved shall be kept saved forever. We believe, however, that God is a holy and righteous Father and that, since He cannot overlook the sin of His children, He will, when they persistently sin, chasten them and correct them in infinite love; but having undertaken to save them and keep them forever, apart from all human merit, He, who cannot fail, will in the end present every one of them faultless before the presence of His glory and conformed to the image of His Son (John 5:24; 10:28; 13:1; 14:16-17; 17:11; Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 6:19; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2; 5:13; Jude 24).

SECTION 11. Assurance

We believe it is the privilege, not only of some, but of all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ as revealed in the Scriptures, to be assured of their salvation from the very day they take Him to be their Savior and that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery of their own worthiness or fitness, but wholly upon the testimony of God in His written Word, exciting within His children filial love, gratitude, and obedience (Luke 10:20; 22:32; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6-8; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 10:22; 1 John 5:13).

SECTION 12. The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the blessed Trinity, though omnipresent from all eternity, took up His abode in the world in a special sense on the day of Pentecost according to the divine promise, dwells in every believer, and by His baptism unites all to Christ in one body, and that He, as the Indwelling One, is the source of all power and all acceptable worship and service. We believe that He never takes His departure from the church, nor from the feeblest of the saints, but is ever present to testify of Christ; seeking to occupy believers with Him and not with themselves nor with their experiences. We believe that His abode in the world in this special sense will cease when Christ comes to receive His own at the completion of the church (John 14:16-17; 16:7-15; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 2:22; 2 Thess. 2:7).

We believe that, in this age, certain well-defined ministries are committed to the Holy Spirit, and that it is the duty of every Christian to understand them and to be adjusted to them in his own life and experience. These ministries are the restraining of evil in the world to the measure

of the divine will; the convicting of the world respecting sin, righteousness, and judgment; the regenerating of all believers; the indwelling and anointing of all who are saved, thereby sealing them unto the day of redemption; the baptizing into the one body of Christ of all who are saved; and the continued filling for power, teaching, and service of those among the saved who are yielded to Him and who are subject to His will (John 3:6; 16:7-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:30; 5:18; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 John 2:20-27).

We believe that some gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues and miraculous healings were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism nor of the filling of the Spirit, and that the deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection (Acts 4:8, 31; Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 13:8).

SECTION 13. The Church, a Unity of Believers

We believe that all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of the church which is the body and bride of Christ, which began at Pentecost and is completely distinct from Israel. Its members are constituted as such regardless of membership or nonmembership in the organized churches of earth. We believe that by the same Spirit all believers in this age are baptized into, and thus become, one body that is Christ's, whether Jews or Gentiles, and having become members one of another, are under solemn duty to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian differences, and loving one another with a pure heart fervently (Matt. 16:16-18; Acts 2:42-47; Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:20-23; 4:3-10; Col. 3:14-15).

SECTION 14. The Sacraments or Ordinances

We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the only sacraments and ordinances of the church and that they are a scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age (Matt. 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 10:47-48; 16:32-33; 18:7-8; 1 Cor. 11:26).

SECTION

15. The Christian's Walk

We believe that we are called with a holy calling, to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, and so to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But the flesh with its fallen, Adamic nature, which in this life is never eradicated, being with us to the end of our earthly pilgrimage, needs to be kept by the Spirit constantly in subjection to Christ, or it will surely manifest its presence in our lives to the dishonor of our Lord (Rom. 6:1113; 8:2, 4, 12-13; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 2:1-10; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 1 John 1:4-7; 3:5-9).

SECTION

16. The Christian's Service

We believe that divine, enabling gifts for service are bestowed by the Spirit upon all who are saved. While there is a diversity of gifts, each believer is energized by the same Spirit, and each is called to his own divinely appointed service as the Spirit may will. In the apostolic church there were certain gifted men - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers - who were appointed by God for the perfecting of the saints unto their work of the ministry. We believe also that today some men are especially called of God to be evangelists, pastors and

teachers, and that it is to the fulfilling of His will and to His eternal glory that these shall be sustained and encouraged in their service for God (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 4:11).

We believe that, wholly apart from salvation benefits which are bestowed equally upon all who believe, rewards are promised according to the faithfulness of each believer in his service for his Lord, and that these rewards will be bestowed at the judgment seat of Christ after He comes to receive His own to Himself (1 Cor. 3:9-15; 9:18-27; 2 Cor. 5:10).

SECTION 17. The Great Commission

We believe that it is the explicit message of our Lord Jesus Christ to those whom He has saved that they are sent forth by Him into the world even as He was sent forth of His Father into the world. We believe that, after they are saved, they are divinely reckoned to be related to this world as strangers and pilgrims, ambassadors and witnesses, and that their primary purpose in life should be to make Christ known to the whole world (Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11).

SECTION 18. The Blessed Hope

We believe that, according to the Word of God, the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy will be the coming of the Lord in the air to receive to Himself into heaven both His own who are alive and remain unto His coming, and also all who have fallen asleep in Jesus, and that this event is the blessed hope set before us in the Scripture, and for this we should be constantly looking (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14).

SECTION 19. The Tribulation

We believe that the translation of the church will be followed by the fulfillment of Israel's seventieth week (Dan. 9:27; Rev. 6:1-19:21) during which the church, the body of Christ, will be in heaven. The whole period of Israel's seventieth week will be a time of judgment on the whole earth, at the end of which the times of the Gentiles will be brought to a close. The latter half of this period will be the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:7), which our Lord called the great tribulation (Matt. 24:15-21). We believe that universal righteousness will not be realized previous to the second coming of Christ, but that the world is day by day ripening for judgment and that the age will end with a fearful apostasy.

SECTION 20. The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the period of great tribulation in the earth will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth as He went, in person on the clouds of heaven, and with power and great glory to introduce the millennial age, to bind Satan and place him in the abyss, to lift the curse which now rests upon the whole creation, to restore Israel to her own land and to give her the realization of God's covenant promises, and to bring the whole world to the knowledge of God (Deut. 30:1-10; Isa. 11:9; Ezek. 37:21-28; Matt. 24:15-25:46; Acts 15:16-17; Rom. 8:19-23; 11:25-27; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Rev. 20:1-3).

SECTION 21. The Eternal State

We believe that at death the spirits and souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious bliss until the

resurrection of the glorified body when Christ comes for His own, whereupon soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory; but the spirits and souls of the unbelieving remain after death conscious of condemnation and in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (Luke 16:19-26; 23:42; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15). This doctrinal statement is the complete and unaltered doctrinal statement of Dallas Theological Seminary.

SECTION 22. MARRIAGE1

We believe the testimony of the God-breathed Holy Scriptures is that the marriage covenant shall be reserved for only one God-made man with one God-made woman. We believe it was our Creator the Lord God Who decided the man should not be alone, Who specifically fashioned the woman as the suitable helper for the man, Who literally made the woman from a part of the man and in the woman made the man complete, Who designed sexual union to be with a husband cleaving to his wife as one flesh, Who bestowed His divine blessing upon the unity of a God-made man and a God-made woman, Who gave the man and the woman the ability to fulfill His charge to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and Who ordained the pattern for human existence that a God-made man and a God-made woman would pair up and cleave to each other in one flesh. We believe that God values man and woman as equals in His Kingdom, yet in the holy unity of marriage, the husband and the wife each have distinct, God-ordained roles and responsibilities. We believe no other relationship can ever be the holy unity between one God-made man and one God-made woman established by our Creator, which the Apostle Paul frequently compared to the holy unity of Christ and the church, and man has no authority to alter the divine order of the unity between one God-made man and one God-made woman (Gen. 2:18-24; 1:27, 28; Matt 19:4-6; Eph. 5:31, Eph. 5:22-25, 32).

SECTION 23. SEXUALITY2

We believe sexuality and the divinely prescribed boundaries for the expression thereof is covered clearly in the Holy Scriptures, which limit sexual expression to the marital relationship of one God-made man with one God-made woman. We believe homosexual acts, adultery, bestiality, and all forms of fornication are categorically condemned in the Holy Scriptures (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:3; Rom. 1:26-27; Prov. 5:3-5, 8-13; Prov. 7:21-27; Gal. 5:19; Exod. 20:14; Deut. 5:18; Matt. 5:27; Matt. 19:18; Luke 18:20; Rom. 13:9; James 2:11; Lev. 20:10; Lev. 20:13; Lev. 20:15; Lev. 20:10-21; 1 Cor. 10:8; 1 Cor. 6:18; Jude 7).

1Amendments added circa 2015 2Ibid.

ARTICLE III

THE MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Definition

For purposes of church government, the membership shall consist of all the members of Christ Chapel Bible Church.

SECTION 2. Qualification for Membership

Any person desiring to unite with this local church shall be examined by the Board of Elders at a regularly convened meeting and shall satisfy such body of his personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior by affirmation of such faith, and shall agree that Jesus is God; that He was virgin born; that He died as a voluntary substitute for sinful man; that He was bodily raised from the dead; that God imputes righteousness to the believer upon acceptance by faith of His Son as Savior and gives the believer eternal life; that Jesus will bodily return to the earth and that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.

SECTION 3. Receiving into Membership

Upon the Elders being satisfied of the applicant's qualifications he shall be received into membership of the church and presented to the membership at an appropriate service thereafter.

SECTION 4. Termination of Membership

If a member engages in conduct which, in the opinion of the Elder Board, is detrimental to the ministry, unity, peace or purity of the church and such member remains unrepentant, then the Board, by unanimous vote, may declare such member's membership terminated, remove the member's name from the roll and announce such removal from the pulpit of the church on the first Sunday following removal.

At death, the name of a member shall be removed from the roll. Upon a member joining another church, membership shall be terminated.

SECTION 5. Membership Meetings

A membership meeting may be called at any time by the Elders, by the giving of notice of the time, place, and purpose at all worship services on the Sunday at least one week previous to the day of the meeting. In case of an emergency, the membership will be notified by mail provided that such notice is placed in the mail not less than five days before the meeting. The Elders shall always call a membership meeting when requested in writing to do so by ten percent of the members of the church, except as provided for in Article V, Section 2(4) (c). No business shall be transacted in such meeting except that stated in the call. The Elders shall call a membership meeting at least once a year to report on the goals for the ensuing Church Year and to hear the recommendations of the membership.

SECTION 6. Quorum

A quorum for the transaction of business in all membership meetings shall consist of twentyfive (25) percent of the members of this church who are eligible to vote. Only members in good standing and who have attained to the age of eighteen (18) years and upward shall be eligible to vote at any business meeting.

SECTION 7. Minutes

Minutes of all membership meetings shall be taken by the secretary of the Board of Elders or by a substitute appointed by the Elders and shall be kept in a well-bound book.

SECTION 8. Order

In the transaction of business in all membership meetings, Robert's Rules of Order shall be used in all cases not covered by this constitution.

ARTICLE IV

GOVERNMENT

The government of this church, under the leadership of Jesus Christ, is vested in the Boards of Elders and Deacons duly elected by the membership.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS, PASTORS, NON-PASTORAL STAFF AND TEACHERS

SECTION 1. The Officers

The officers of the church shall consist of a Board of Elders, a Board of Deacons, and a Church Treasurer. Each officer shall be installed in an appropriate ordination service prescribed by the Elders.

SECTION 2. Pastors

1. Qualifications. For a man to be considered for Pastor, he shall show evidence of having successfully completed college and seminary training, or shall offer an educational equivalent judged satisfactory by the Elders. Also, every Pastor must meet the requirements of I Timothy 3:-1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 and subscribe to the Doctrinal Statement of the Constitution of the church.

2. Selection. Any Pastor of the church shall be chosen by the members for an indefinite period (unless otherwise specified in the call), by secret ballot, upon the recommendation of the Elders after prayerful investigation and examination. Only such men shall be recommended for the pastorate who conscientiously subscribe without mental reservation to the Doctrinal Statement and Constitution of this church, and who are or will become independent of any denomination. The selection of a Pastor shall be voted on at a regularly called meeting of the members. Each Pastor shall be recommended to the church by the Elders and shall be elected by a three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of the qualified members present at a meeting duly called and constituted

for the express purpose of considering such recommendation. After his election, the Pastor-elect shall be installed at an appropriate service prescribed by the Elders. Each Pastor's salary shall be set by the joint action of the Elders and Deacons.

3. Duties. It shall be the duty of each Pastor to perform the duties given to him by the Elders. Each Pastor shall be an ex-officio member of all boards and committees without vote. Each Pastor shall spiritually encourage the Elders and Deacons and share with them the shepherding responsibilities for the church.

4. Termination. Termination of a Pastor relationship can be effected in any of the following manners:

a. If at any time a Pastor shall tender his resignation to the Elders, such resignation may be accepted by the Elders upon any terms specified by the Elders.

b. The termination of the pastoral relationship can be accomplished by a unanimous vote of all of the Elders at a special or regularly called meeting, provided that written notice of such proposed termination has been mailed to the Pastor and Elders at least one week prior to such meeting. Any Elder who cannot attend the meeting shall express his vote on termination in writing.

If so terminated, the Pastor shall receive a minimum of one month's salary after the time of termination.

c. The termination of the pastoral relationship can be instituted by the members in the following manner. If a petition signed by twenty percent of the members, requesting such termination, shall be presented to the Elders, they shall cause to be called a membership meeting for consideration of the question. The moderator of this meeting shall be the chairman of the Board of Elders or any member of the Board of Elders so designated by the Elders. Upon reading of the petition to the members and discussion thereon, a vote by secret written ballot shall be taken. A simple majority vote of all those present shall be sufficient to cause termination. The pastor shall be entitled to a minimum of one month's salary after such termination.

SECTION 3. Non-Pastoral Staff

Any staff member shall be chosen by the Elders. Any staff member may be terminated by a vote of the Elders present at a special or regularly called meeting. The salary of staff members shall be set by the joint action of the Elders and Deacons.

SECTION 4. Teachers

All teachers will be approved by the Elders before teaching in the church. Any teacher may be terminated at any time when, in the opinion of the Elders, the teacher's conduct is detrimental to the ministry, unity, peace or purity of the church. All teachers shall agree to the Doctrinal Statement of the church and shall not teach anything contrary to the Doctrinal Statement.

SECTION 5. The Elders

1. Qualifications. The qualifications are specifically set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Additionally, each man nominated for Elder must subscribe to the Doctrinal Statement of the church.

2. Selection. The Board of Elders shall be composed of not more than the maximum number of members as determined by the Board of Elders. The positions of such Board of Elders shall be numbered consecutively, beginning with Number 1, and each Elder shall hold the office of Elder designated by that numbered place.

In addition, each Elder shall be assigned to a class in such a manner that there shall be three classes at all times, each with the same number of members insofar as is possible. Elders shall be elected for a term of three years and to a numbered place and class so that at the end of the Church Year the terms of all the members of one class shall expire.

a. Nomination. At least four weeks before the last Sunday of the Church Year every year and for four consecutive Sundays it shall be announced from the pulpit and published in the church bulletin the names of all of the Elders who are members of the class whose terms expire that year. Such announcement shall also contain nominations by the Board of Elders for the office of Elder for each of the members of the class whose terms are expiring, and nominations for the office of Elder for any vacancies existing on such Board of Elders. Incumbent members of the Board of Elders shall be eligible for nomination and election for no more than two successive terms of office.

Additional candidates for the office of Elder can be nominated by any voting member of the church until the close of the morning service two weeks before the election by presenting the nomination in writing to a member of the Board of Elders and all such nominations shall be to a particular and designated numbered place on the Board of Elders. All persons so nominated from the membership shall be subject to being certified by the Board of Elders as meeting constitutional and scriptural requirements of the office to which they are nominated, and such certification shall be a prerequisite to such nomination, and the refusal of the Board of Elders to certify a nominee shall prevent his being voted upon by the membership. It shall not be necessary for there to be a nomination or candidate for every vacancy on the Board of Elders.

b. Election. The election shall be at a duly constituted membership meeting presided over by the chairman of the Board of Elders or by any member of the Board of Elders so designated by the Elders. The election shall be by secret ballot. The ballots shall be designed so that all nominations for each place on the Board of Elders shall be voted upon separately.

To be elected, an Elder must receive at least a three-fourths majority of the votes of the qualified members present and voting, and the failure to so receive a threefourths majority shall result in an unfulfilled vacancy on such Board of Elders.

In the event there is more than one nominee for a particular place and the election shall result in no three-fourths majority by any of such nominees, the name of the nominee receiving the highest number of votes on the first ballot shall again be submitted to the membership by secret ballot. This second ballot shall be taken at the same meeting if practicable, but if not practicable, at a meeting held not less than two weeks later for which notice of one week has been given by announcement from the pulpit during the regular service and a notice included in the church bulletin. Said nominee receiving the highest number of votes on the first ballot must receive at least three-fourths majority of the votes of the qualified members present and voting on such second ballot and the failure to so receive a three-fourths majority shall result in an unfulfilled place on such Board of Elders.

c. Special Election. Upon the death, the resignation, or the removal from office of a member of the Board of Elders, provided that there shall remain more than one year in the unexpired term of such Elder, the Board of Elders may at its discretion call a Special Election for a replacement for such Elder to serve the balance of the unexpired term. Such election shall be conducted as soon as practicable and with all notices and requirements as stipulated for regular elections. If no replacement is elected at such Special Election, such vacancy shall continue until the next regular election.

3. Duties. It shall be the duty of the Elders to care for the church and its spiritual condition, to guard the purity of doctrine and life of the church, and to discipline the church in accordance with the Word of God. The Elders shall assist the Pastors in the administration of the Lord's Supper, act for the church in the reception and dismissal of members, and examine all seeking membership in the church. It shall be the duty of the Elders to assist the pastors in counseling the needy, comforting the afflicted, visiting the sick, and supplying the pulpit of the church when necessary. It shall be the duty of the Elders to supervise the operation of the church with its various organizations. The Elders shall supervise the Church School, the missionary work of the church, the distribution of benevolent funds, the young people's work, and any other organization or activity of the church. The Elders and the Deacons shall jointly approve the church budget to be prepared by the Church Treasurer.

4. Officers and Committees. The Elders shall annually elect a chairman, a secretary, and committee chairmen as are necessary for the functions of its aims as a Board and shall appoint from its members committees for the effectual oversight of the spiritual welfare of the church.

5. Termination. Termination of an Elder to serve on the Board of Elders can be effected in any one of the following manners:

a. If at any time an Elder shall tender his resignation to the Board of Elders, it shall be accepted.

b. The termination of an Elder can be accomplished by a unanimous vote of the Elders if an Elder shows himself by person or attitude to be disturbing the purity, peace, or unity of the church; who has changed his views regarding the Doctrinal Statement

and Constitution; or whose life and activities are consistently unbecoming an officer in a Christian Church. Such vote on divestiture shall occur at a special or regularly called meeting, provided that written notice of such proposed termination has been mailed to the Elders at least one week prior to such meeting. The Elder named in the motion for divestiture shall not be permitted to vote. Any Elder who cannot attend the meeting shall express his vote on termination in writing.

c. The office of Elder shall also be terminated by expiration of term or death.

6. Quorum. A quorum for the transaction of business in all Elders meetings shall consist of a majority of the total number of Elders. All actions taken by the Board of Elders shall require a unanimous vote of the Elders present at a duly constituted meeting of the Elders.

7. Communication Minutes of all Elders meetings shall be available upon request by any member of the church at any reasonable time and place.

SECTION 6. The Deacons

1. Qualifications. The qualifications for the Deacons are specifically set forth in I Tim. 3:813. Additionally, each man nominated for Deacon must subscribe to the Doctrinal Statement of the church.

2. Selection. The Board of Deacons shall be composed of not more than the maximum number of members as determined by the Board of Elders. The nomination and election of Deacons shall be the same as for Elders except for term of office and classes. The term of office for a Deacon shall be two years. No man shall be elected for more than two successive terms.

3. Duties. The Board of Deacons shall operate under the general supervision of the Board of Elders. The Deacons shall be responsible for the properties of the church and the maintenance of them in proper repair. They shall be responsible for such temporal duties as ushering at church services, the collection of offerings, and the provision of every material thing for proper worship.

4. Officers and Committees. The Deacons shall annually elect a chairman, a secretary and committee chairmen as are necessary for their functioning as a Board and shall appoint from its members committees for the accomplishment of its various duties.

5. Termination. Termination of a Deacon to serve on the Board of Deacons can be effected in any one of the following manners:

a. If at any time a Deacon shall tender his resignation to the Board of Deacons, it shall be accepted.

b. The Termination of a Deacon can be accomplished by a unanimous vote of the Elders if a Deacon shows himself by person or attitude to be disturbing the purity, peace, or unity of the church; who has changed his views regarding the Doctrinal Statement and Constitution; or whose life and activities are consistently unbecoming an officer in a Christian Church. Such recommendations of divestiture shall occur at a special or regularly called meeting, provided that written notice of such proposed

termination has been mailed to the Deacon and the Elders at least one week prior to such meeting. Any Elder who cannot attend shall express his vote on termination in writing.

c. The office of Deacon shall also be terminated by expiration of term or death.

6. Quorum. A quorum for the transaction of business in all Deacon meetings shall consist of a majority of the total number of Deacons. All actions taken by the Board of Deacons shall require a unanimous vote of the Deacons present at a duly constituted meeting of the Deacons.

7. Communication. Minutes of all Deacons meetings shall be available upon request of any church member at any reasonable time and place.

SECTION 7. Treasurers

1. A church treasurer shall be elected by a majority of the Board of Deacons at its last regular meeting before the end of the church year, such treasurer to serve for the next church year. His signature shall be sufficient for checks drawn on the account of the church and he shall be responsible for keeping all books pertaining to the church's financial affairs except those specifically made the responsibility of other treasurers. He shall be responsible for preparing the church budget.

2. Assistant treasurer or treasurers for special funds may be elected by the Board of Deacons as is expedient for the affairs of the church.

3. Treasurers of the Church School or of various classes or bodies within the church shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Deacons whether they be appointed or elected.

4. Any treasurer of the church, as set out in paragraphs 1-3, shall make available for audit his books at any time upon request of the board of Deacons or the Board of Elders.

ARTICLE VI

CHURCH YEAR

For the purpose of determining terms of office for all church officers, the church year shall begin on the first day of September and shall end on the last day of august of the following year.

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended at a duly announced meeting of the membership providing the proposed amendment has been conspicuously posted in written form, or a letter sent to members, and announced from the pulpit, for a period of two consecutive Sundays preceding said meeting; and provided further, that any such proposed amendment shall receive an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the qualified members present at a duly constituted meeting of the membership.

ARTICLE VIII

ORDINANCES

SECTION

1. Baptism

Baptism is one of the two ordinances instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ. If a member of the church has not been baptized, the Elders shall recommend that such member be baptized as an act of obedience and testimony. The mode of baptism being only a testimony to a spiritual reality, shall be by sprinkling or immersion at the candidate's option.

SECTION 2. The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper shall be administered as frequently as the Elders shall order during the church year.

ARTICLE IX

ORDINATION

The church shall have the authority to ordain qualified men to the gospel ministry. Such men shall be ordained and given a commission to preach and administer the ordinances by an ordination council composed of the pastors and the board of elders. The ordaining council shall thoroughly examine all applicants for ordination as to their call to the Christian ministry, education, Christian experience, reputation, character, doctrinal belief, and demonstrated efficiency in Christian service.

ARTICLE X

DEDICATION OF CHILDREN

It shall be the policy of the church to have children dedicated to the Lord in a brief ceremony where the parents are committed to rear the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and request the dedication ceremony.

ARTICLE XI

FISCAL POLICY

The church shall not acquire property or services unless they are paid for in full when acquired or upon receipt of the bill for same. No officer or Pastor of the church is authorized to incur on behalf of the church a debt or execute evidence of debt requiring the payment of interest.