Class Orientation
How Level 2 works, and what you'll become: a Church Planter.
You've led someone to Christ and started a House of Peace.
What's the next thing that group needs?
ORIENTATION DAY: As a Level 1 Graduate, you already know this is not information-based discipleship like most other programs. Instead, this is obedience-based discipleship training. This involves repeatedly practicing until you develop some skill at something, then setting a GOAL to go out into the real world and do what you practiced.
It directly challenges your will to serve and obey the Lord. When you return, the trainer will discuss with you what you did, who you did it with, and what you think you can do better to improve. At the end of this course there is an exam over the material. Those who pass the exam will receive certification
CERTIFICATION: After you complete all the assignments and pass the exam, your name will be added to the register of certified graduates. This is not an ordination or license to do ministry. This is a valuable certification that Churches and ministries can see to verify you have successfully completed this training. You can put this certification on your resume to help you get a position with or financial support from a mission-minded ministry or Church.
OPENING EACH CLASS: We will open each class with everyone reciting the Vision Statement on the back of the workbook. Be sure to say it like you mean it. Then we will open in prayer. The most effective group size is three to twelve. The group time should be organized in three parts: Look Back, Look Up, and Look Forward.
LOOK BACK (APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTES): The Look Back is a time for care and accountability. Check attendance, ask about the Disciple’s week, and check workbooks to make sure they did the written homework. Then ask each Disciple to briefly describe their experience doing the things they were trained to do. After Looking Back over their homework, turn to the new lesson in the workbook.
LOOK UP (APPROXIMATELY 40-MINUTES): The Look Up is a time for learning the new lesson. Briefly explain the information covering the What, Why, and How of the new lesson. If the new lesson is a Bible study, complete the Say/Teach/Do within 30-minutes.
Remember, this is not a teaching ministry, but an equipping ministry. This kind of learning comes from obedience, experiencing the Spirit’s leadership, resulting in wisdom and maturity. Once a little bit of understanding is reached, the trainer should transition the group to the Look Forward portion of the group time.
LOOK FORWARD (APPROXIMATELY 30-MINUTES): The Look Forward is a time for setting a GOAL and practicing the application of the new lesson. This is the main part of the equipping ministry. Guide the Disciples to set specific personal goals based on the lesson.
After setting a goal based on the lesson, the trainer should first give a physical demonstration of how to do the application, then encourage the Disciples to practice it by role-playing with each other. While the Disciples are practicing, the trainer should help them do it better.
After the Disciples practice several times, they should be able to do it with minor difficulties. At that point, the trainer should stop helping the Disciples and silently watch them practice, then give them some godly feedback, telling them what they are doing right and how they can do better. This is equipping them for the work of service ().
Finally, the trainer should praise the group and cast vision for them about how their obedience to God’s Word will have a ripple effect impacting individuals, the community, and the world for the glory of God. This is the kind of lifestyle God uses to advance His Kingdom.
CLOSING EACH CLASS: At the end of each class, everyone should join together again to recite the Vision Statement and prayer. Opening and closing like this will help form a bond within the community. LEVEL 2: INTRODUCTION
As a result of your faithfulness and fruitfulness in your Level 1 Training, you should have led at least one person to Christ and started at least one House of Peace that meets on a weekly basis. Now you are ready for Level 2. In this course you will learn how to turn your HOP/Oikos into a healthy New Testament Church.
This is the second in a series of four training manuals. Each manual is a call to more responsibility in the discipleship process. You will grow in your relationship with Christ, in knowledge, in experience, in wisdom, and maturity as you work through each step in obedience to Christ as Lord. This discipleship course helps Disciples grow from new believers into mature servants of the Lord. This is an essential training program for missionaries around the world.
This course may be taught as a formal class in a classroom, online, or in the mission field. Whether it is done in a formal or informal setting, the most effective way to do discipleship is in a group so that believers can help one another learn, grow, and change ().
CHURCH PLANTER: This picture shows one solid dot. It symbolizes the Church God will use to plant. As a Church Planter, you will learn nine essential things you need to become an effective Disciple-maker and pastor for Jesus Christ.
Baptize Believers
Serve Communion
Train believers
Model like Jesus and Paul
How to study Scripture
Lead Bible studies
Start a Church
Grow the Church
Help others grow spiritually
Say each one before you flip it
Love God. Love Others.
Change the World!
We believe God is transforming this into a place where the Kingdom of God is growing like the mustard seed that becomes a large tree ().
We believe this culture will be known by its love for God and love for others ().
We believe this will become a training ground where thousands of Disciples are equipped to serve as ambassadors who advance the Kingdom of God wherever they go from here ().
Before you go
Level 2 is a call to more responsibility: shepherding people, not just reaching them.
Ask God honestly: am I willing to carry that? Tell Him where you're afraid.
A pastor asked a little boy, "Do you know what the Church is?"
"Sure. It's the building with the pointy roof."
"But what if the building burned down?"
The boy thought hard. "Then we'd have to meet in somebody's house... like in the Bible!"
He got there. The Church is the people God called out of the world, not the pointy roof. Level 2 is about turning the people in your living room into exactly that.
Next up: what a Church really is
Next: The Church (manual p. 5)