IN CALLING
rmy one
’s IN CALLING {leader manual } called into being
CALLED INTO BEING SUPPORTING RESOURCES Book: The General Next to God.
IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following, remembering to include reference to the suggested Scripture and how it relates to the topic (see page 03 of the In Calling book): 1. Discuss reasons for believing the Army was called into being by God. Zechariah 4:6; 1 Corinthians 1:26; 1 Peter 2:10 2. Examine the following verse of the song that begins this unit and discuss what the Army is called to today. A God-raised and Spirit-filled Army, Convinced of its calling today To enter the world of the hurting With Jesus, the Life, Truth and Way; We ask that your Spirit’s infilling Will guide us, empower and inspire; O Lord, give your presence to make us One Army, your Army, on fire. Luke 4:18, 19; John 14:6 3. How should The Salvation Army relate to other churches? Philippians 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 4. What is the reason for the Army’s spread to more than 125 countries? 1 John 3:24; John 15:5 Activity Ideas •• Read and discuss the historical passage from The General Next to God (see text on page 09). •• Read the following passage from The Salvation Army in the Body of Christ: in calling
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‘WE BELIEVE that The Salvation Army belongs to, and is a particular communion of, the Church universal and a representative of the Body of Christ. Christ is the True Vine (John 15:1) and all believers are his living, fruit-bearing branches, exhorted by Scripture to live in 01 Christlike unity (1 Corinthians 12:12). ‘WE DO NOT BELIEVE that any community made up of true followers of Christ can rightly be regarded as outside the Church universal, whatever their history, customs or practices when compared with those of other Christian communities. God alone knows those who are truly his (2 Timothy 2:19).’ (pp 4-5, The Salvation Army in the Body of Christ) What relevance does this have for The Salvation Army in your territory? •• Who are these Salvationists? (page 143) tells how William Booth began with no plan. He was directed and led by God: ‘William Booth once said, “Beginning as I did with a clean sheet of paper, wedded to no plan…I have gone on from step to step. We tried various methods, and those that did not answer we unhesitatingly threw overboard and adopted something else”. This was his pragmatic creed. We shall do well to go on following it.’ •• Does your corps have a mission statement? If so, is the mission being fulfilled? If there is no mission statement, why not try to write one? •• How many countries can you name
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IN CALLING
THE CALL TO SINNERS SUPPORTING RESOURCES Books: Born Again in the Spirit. The Common People’s Gospel.
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where The Salvation Army is at work? The Year Book has a lot of useful information. •• Try this quiz: ‘The Salvation Army’ is translated into many languages around the world. Can you match the translation with the correct language? 1. Pelastusarmeija 2. Kau Sai Kwan 3. Hukbo k Kaligtasan 4. Jeshi La Wokovu 5. Te Ope Whakaora 6. Ejército de Salvación 7. Ratchaniya Senai 8. Armiya Spaseniya 9. Hondo yo Ruponiso 10. Bala Keselamatan Answers: 1. D 2. F 3. H 4. G 5. B
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A. Shona B. Maori C. Russian D. Finnish E. Indonesian F. Cantonese G. Kiswahili H. Filipino I. Tamil J. Spanish
6. J 7. I 8. C 9. A 10. E
an international teaching resource
IN PRAYER Pray that both you and Salvationists everywhere will have a renewed understanding of what God is calling the Army to today. Dear Lord, thank you for calling The Salvation Army into being. Thank you for the way it has grown through the power of the Holy Spirit. May we and all Salvationists everywhere be guided by you so that the Army will fulfil your purpose in the world today. SESSION OUTCOMES •• Understanding that the Army came into being through God working in the life of William Booth. •• Understanding the purpose for which the Army came into being. •• Recognising that the Army continues to grow today under God’s guidance. •• Being willing to find out what God wants the Army to be in the world today.
IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following (see page 05 of the In Calling book): 1. Why does the Army believe that God’s love is for everybody? John 3:16; John 13:34 2. How did Jesus describe his mission? Luke 19:10; John 3:17 3. Define ‘salvation’. Why is it in our name – The Salvation Army? Luke 19:9; Ephesians 6:17; Titus 2:11 4. Why do we need God’s salvation? Romans 3:10, 23 Note: The passage from The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine found on page 09 may be helpful for Question 3. Activity Ideas •• Write a script or act out a role play about Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). •• Read together Doctrine 6: ‘We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by his suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.’ The emphasis should be on the last part of the doctrine. If there are questions about the first part – for example, ‘atonement’ – this will be dealt with more fully in a future module. •• Share names of people you know who may not yet have come to an awareness of the love and forgiveness offered by Jesus. Include them in your prayers. in calling
•• African Salvationists, in particular, may wish to read pages 3-5 of Born Again in the Spirit. •• Chapter 2, ‘The Sin of Mankind’, in The Common People’s Gospel, was written for Japanese Christians, but has timeless teaching for all cultures. IN PRAYER Ask God for a greater realisation of the vastness of his love and its implications for the ways in which we interact with other people. Dear Lord, we thank you that Jesus came to offer salvation to everyone. Help us to understand just how much you love us. May we do our part to share your love with others and to encourage them to invite Jesus into their hearts. SESSION OUTCOMES •• Understanding that all people are sinners in need of salvation. •• Understanding the meaning of salvation. •• Understanding that Jesus came to offer salvation to all. •• Recognising that if we want to receive salvation, we must invite Jesus into our hearts. •• Recognising our responsibility to call others and tell them of God’s love.
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THE CALL TO SINNERS one rmy
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IN CALLING
THE CALL TO FOLLOW SUPPORTING RESOURCES Books: They Gave Their Lives. Heroes of the Faith.
SUPPORTING RESOURCES DVD: From Generation to Generation. Magazines and periodicals of your territory.
DVDs: Ask your territory what it can share with you in the way of discipleship DVDs.
IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following (see page 07 of the In Calling book): 04 1. When Jesus calls ‘Follow me!’, what are the implications for you personally? Mark 1:16-20; John 21:15-22 2. In what ways is following Jesus a true adventure? Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 8:34, 35 3. What is unique about relationship with Jesus? John 10:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:24 4. How important to Jesus are you and the part you play in his mission? Matthew 6:26; Luke 10:1, 2 Activity Ideas •• Read any of the chapters of Heroes of the Faith or They Gave Their Lives. •• Devise and perform one or more role plays to show how following Jesus might change a person’s life. •• Invite members of the group to share ways in which their lives have changed since they decided to follow Jesus. •• Share and list reasons why it is wise to follow Jesus. List reasons why it is foolish not to do so. •• Consider the costs – and the undeserved blessings – involved in following Jesus. Which list is the longer? in calling– the call to follow
CALLED TO BE
IN PRAYER Pray for a readiness to say ‘yes’ to God without placing your own conditions on his call. Lord Jesus, we thank you for calling us to follow you. Help us to say ‘yes’ to your call and to be willing to follow wherever you lead. SESSION OUTCOMES •• Understanding that Jesus both invites and commands us to follow him. •• Understanding that the Army is made up of individual followers of Christ. •• Being ready to accept that to follow Jesus may lead us in unexpected ways.
one rmy leader’s manual
IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following (see page 08 of the In Calling book): 1. Discuss what it is like to be called out of darkness into light. John 3:19-21; Isaiah 9:2 2. In what ways can Christians be lights in the world? Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12 3. What kind of people are we called to be? Ephesians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2 4. Discuss ways in which The Salvation Army’s internationalism is in harmony with God’s will. Philippians 2:9-11; Ephesians 4:11-13 Note: For Question 4, reference to The Salvation Army Year Book, All the World or other periodicals may help. Look especially for examples of how people have moved from one country to another to serve with The Salvation Army, or how finance or supplies have been sent from one country to another to assist those in need. Activity Ideas •• Identify any particular ‘dark places’ in your community, e.g. prostitution, drugs. In your prayers, ask God to show you what you could do, either as individuals or as a corps, to bring light into these places. •• If you have access to Army periodicals, distribute them to members of the
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IN CALLING
group to find examples of how the Army’s internationalism is making the world a better place. •• See how Salvationists are called to share the light of the gospel and consider the dangers that may hinder 05 our doing this well by reading chapter 10 (pp 55-60) – ‘A Wider Family’ – in From Generation to Generation. •• Read ‘The Call to Salvationists’ from Called to be God’s People, page 7, (see text on page 10). At the conclusion of this reading, take time to breathe in and out together, considering the message about our spiritual life. IN PRAYER Pray for guidance and insight as to how you might help others come out of darkness and into God’s ‘wonderful light’. Dear Lord, we pray for those in our community who are living in darkness without the light of Christ. We ask that you will help us to be lights where we live. Give us wisdom and insight so that we can help others to come into the light. SESSION OUTCOMES •• Understanding what it means for Christians to be lights in the world. •• Understanding why internationalism is a hallmark of The Salvation Army.
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rmy leader’s manual
CALLED TO DO one rmy
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IN CALLING
CALLED TO DO SUPPORTING RESOURCES Books: I Knew William Booth. The General Next to God. Servants Together.
IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following (see page 06 11 of the In Calling book): 1. How important is it that Christians are active for God and ‘do something’? Isaiah 1:15-17; 1 John 3:18; James 1:27 2. Why is the attitude in which we serve God more important than simply doing something? Philippians 2:5; Matthew 6:1-8 3. Why does Jesus tell us to love our enemies? How well do we do this? Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 23:34 4. List and discuss ways in which we should not discriminate against people. Matthew 7:1, 2; James 2:1-9 Note: Question 3 could be a major issue in some parts of the world and in some cultures. Take time to explore this fully – allow members of the group to express their thoughts and feelings but give time to look at what Scripture says. Activity Ideas •• Challenge each member of the group to think of something they can do for God. Give time to report back at the next meeting. •• Challenge each member of the group to think of ways in which their attitude to in calling– called to do
others might need to change. Give time at the beginning of the next meeting for feedback – but be sensitive to the fact that some might not wish to do this. •• Consider these words from page 14 of Servants Together: ‘God valued human life so much that he sent his Son into this world as a human being to relieve human suffering and to save us. One of the fundamental purposes of this fellowship is to continue the mission of Christ in relieving human suffering and pointing to his salvation.’ •• Discuss your culture’s attitudes to helping the poor and needy in your land. What has happened to formulate these attitudes? Are they Christlike? •• See the chapter ‘Father and Son’ in I Knew William Booth. It tells of the call to ‘do something’. •• Pages 272-281 of The General Next to God tell the inspiring story of Commissioner Charles Péan, who devoted a large part of his life to working among, trusting and rehabilitating some of France’s most notorious criminals.
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IN PRAYER Pray that the attitude in which you give service for the Lord will be a reflection of his love. Dear Lord, we thank you for opportunities to serve you by serving others. Open our eyes to see opportunities for service each day. If our attitude towards certain people needs to change, give us power to make that change and to show your love to everyone we meet.
SESSION OUTCOMES •• Understanding that Christians need to act against the evils of the world. •• Understanding that service to others should be motivated by love. •• Understanding that there should be no discrimination in service.
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REFERENCED RESOURCES one rmy 08
one rmy ‘Salvo Two’, pp 65-66, The General Next to God, Richard Collier. Change of name to ‘The Salvation Army’ Early one morning in May, 1878, Bramwell and Railton were summoned to Booth’s bedroom for the day’s instructions. As Booth, who was recovering from ’flu, paced the floor in a long yellow dressing gown and felt slippers, Railton scanned the proofs of the pink eight-page folder which was the Mission’s annual report. Its preliminary was bold and succinct:
REFERENCED RESOURCES FOR THIS UNIT This unit in part relates to Doctrines 6, 7 and 9.
BOOKS Sing to the Lord, Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd, January 2013 The General Next to God, ‘Salvo Two’, pp 65-66, Richard Collier, Crest Books, The Salvation Army, Alexandria, Virginia, USA The Salvation Army Year Book 2012, ‘Booth’s Army – 100 Years On’, p 3, Salvation Books, IHQ The Salvation Army in the Body of Christ, Amplified Statement, Salvation Books, IHQ The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, doctrine number 6, p xv, Salvation Books, IHQ The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, Chapter 7, pp 151-152, ibid Galileo, born 15 February 1564: died 8 January 1642 (wikipedia.org) The General Next to God, ‘Salvo Six’, pp 175-176, ibid The Salvation Army Year Book 2013, pp 20-22, Salvation Books, IHQ DVD See especially excerpts from the DVD, Our People – the Remarkable Story of William and Catherine Booth and The Salvation Army, on how the Army began WEBSITES www.salvationarmy.org/onearmy www.salvationarmyspirituallife.org
@TSAOneArmy What resources would you add? Let us know by emailing OneArmy@salvationarmy.org or visit www.salvationarmy.org/ onearmy/resources
referenced resources
one rmy leader’s manual
THE CHRISTIAN MISSION Under the superintendence of the Rev. William Booth Is A VOLUNTEER ARMY Recruited from amongst the multitudes who are without God and without hope in the world... At this time the Volunteers, a part-time citizens’ Army, with grey-green uniforms and shakos (later the Territorials) were a favourite butt of cartoonists. Bramwell, aged twenty-two, was stung by the imputation. ‘Volunteer!’ he exclaimed, leaning excitedly back in his chair as Railton read this out. ‘Here, I’m not a volunteer, I’m a regular or nothing!’ Booth stopped dead in his tracks. For a moment his eyes were fixed on his son, expressionless. Abruptly, he crossed to where Railton sat, taking the pen from his hand. He struck decisively through the word ‘volunteer’ and substituted the word ‘Salvation’. Simultaneously, they scarcely knew why, Bramwell and Railton leapt from their chairs, crying, ‘Thank God for that!’ This ‘army’ was then exactly eighty-eight strong.
‘Essentials of the doctrine’, pp 151-152, The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine. The work of Jesus on the Cross calls humanity to repentance and faith Repentance and faith describe the proper human response to the work of Jesus on the Cross; together they constitute the necessary human action for salvation (Acts 20:21). They are not totally human in origin, but flow from an experience of God’s grace which enables the individual to appreciate, and respond to, God’s gift in Christ. Nevertheless, it is possible for humanity to ignore, resist or deliberately turn away from this gift. Repentance and faith are always freely chosen. Repentance and faith lead to regeneration The doctrine points to the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit which brings people to salvation and transforms and renews their life. It describes the spiritual rebirth that is experienced by those who have repented and believed. It is described in various ways, each of which signifies a movement from decay to wholeness. These include a change from death to life (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14), becoming a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15), being born again (John 3:5-6; 1 Peter 1:23), receiving eternal life (John 17:2; Romans 6:23) and moving from darkness to light (John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8). God’s purpose is our re-creation in the image of his Son, Jesus, and our freedom from the power of sin. Through faith in Jesus, we can be led into a free, open and growing relationship with God. We are freed by the Spirit to become our true selves. This process is never completed in this life, but it grows and develops as the Holy Spirit reveals to us more of our own need of the power of Christ. The Holy Spirit as Lord and giver of life makes the risen Christ real to us. leader’s manual
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one rmy The outcome is salvation Salvation means we are accepted by God unconditionally and promised a new way of life through him; our salvation depends both on the grace of God and upon our response of faith. The doctrine of salvation is vital for our understanding of the nature of God. It shows that we worship a saving God, one who understands our human situation and comes to rescue us. ‘The Call to Salvationists’, page 7, Called to be God’s People. The Founders of The Salvation Army declared their belief that God raised up our Movement to enter partnership with him 10 in his ‘great business’ of saving the world. We call upon Salvationists worldwide to reaffirm our shared calling to this great purpose, as signified in our name. Salvation begins with conversion to Christ, but it does not end there. The transformation of an individual leads to a transformation of relationships, of families, of communities, of nations. We long for and anticipate with joy the new creation of all things in Christ. Our mission is God’s mission. God in love reaches out through his people to a suffering and needy world, a world that he loves. In mission we express in word and deed and through the totality of our lives the compassion of God for the lost. Our identification with God in this outward movement of love for the world requires a corresponding inward movement from ourselves towards God. Christ says ‘Come to me’ before he says ‘Go into the world’. These two movements are in relation to each other, like breathing in and breathing out. To engage in one movement to the exclusion of the other is the way of death. To engage in both is the way of life. The vitality of our spiritual life as a Movement will be seen and tested in leader’s manual
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our turning to the world in evangelism and service, but the springs of our spiritual life are to be found in our turning to God in worship, in the disciplines of life in the Spirit, and in the study of God’s word.