Untitled Sermon

Review

Chicago Embassy Church to become a network of localized groups that carry the DNA of our movement beyond the boundaries of the Sunday Gathering.

Group Goals

Grow people in their relationship with Jesus Christ and with His people, the church.

Grow people in their knowledge of and intimacy with the scripture.

Grow the size and scope of our movement to wrap our arms around Chicago and love the city life in Christ.

Group Commitments

Relationship Driven

Biblically Based

Intentionally Missional

Commitment #1: Relationship Driven

What does it mean to be driven?

The driver puts the apparatus in play.

motivated or determined by a specified factor or feeling

THE RELATIONSHIP HAS TO BE YOUR WHY?

The 2-fold relationship.

Redemption and Fellowship.

The vertical relationship (Redemption).

Continually exploring the length and the width and the height and the depth of Christ love for us (Ephesian 3:18)…God chasing.

The horizontal relationship (Fellowship)

“The heavenly burden.” aka “My people.”

These are the people who it pains you to see them not walking with the Lord...

You would trade your salvation for theirs if you could...

Not a person, but a type or category of people...

Heaven would be incomplete without _________________

This is the essence of our faith, when we cultivate the vertical and the horizontal…everything can hang on that…we’re doing the great commission.

Let’s Talk Brass Tacks

Cultivating the vertical

Church infrastructure

The Hand of God

Thumb is the Apostle...Pusher - They are always thinking about the future, bridging barriers, establishing the church in new contexts, developing leaders, networking trans-locally.

Forefinger is the Prophet…Pointer - Functions in revelation and points the way for believers. The prophet flows in areas of guidance, instruction, rebuke, judgment, activation, revelation—whatever Christ chooses to speak for the purification and perfection of His church.

Middle Finger is the Evangelist…Reacher - The middle finger extends the furthest on the hand—it represents these infectious communicators of the gospel message who recruit others to the cause. They call for a personal response to God's redemption in Christ, and also draw believers to engage the wider mission. God is activating Prophetic Evangelist.

Ring Finger is the Pastor…Relationship - Caregivers of the community, they focus on the protection and spiritual maturity of God's flock, cultivating a loving and spiritually mature network of relationships, making and developing disciples.

Pinky Finger is the Teacher…Balance - Communicators of God's truth and wisdom, they help others remain biblically grounded to better discern God's will, guiding others toward wisdom, helping the community remain faithful to Christ's word, and constructing a transferable doctrine.

The Guiding Coalition will be comprised of 5-fold Ministry Gifts

Grow Groups will be facilitated by Teams of Leaders who represent the Gifts

Propeller (Apostle)

Motivator (Prophet)

Recruiter (Evangelist)

Caregiver (Pastor)

Trainer (Teacher)

Cultivating the Horizontal

Starting Groups

Solidify the idea

Build the team

Get trained

Get to work

3 ways to form a grow group

Launch a brand new group - You have an idea from the Lord and not aware of or involved with any other groups that are doing what you want to do with the people God has on your heart.

Build a tea

Convert an existing group - You are already leading a group and you want to bring it into the the Network for structure and support.

Penetrate an existing group - You are aware of or involved with an existing group and you want to bring it into the Network for structure and support.

Process

Questions & Discussion