Fundamental Assumptions Of The Productive Church Member Presented By J. Alfred Johnson II Director of Adult Ministries North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists © 2013 J. Alfred Johnson II (Exception: Lou Evans’ Eight Principles of Covenant Dynamics)

Disciple Latin discere – “To Learn” Greek mathetes – “Learner”/”Apprentice”/ “Adherent”

“…As he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7 Thought Process - Ultimate Generator / Facilitator of Behavior

Fundamental Elements Of The “Disciple’s Mindset”

1. The Church exists to Facilitate The “Making of Disciples” Through The Power Of Jesus Christ Matthew 28: The Great Commission Mathano - The Making of Disciples (v. 19) Didasko - Imparting Knowledge (v. 20)

Three-Fold Commitment of the Disciple Christ Scripture and Church of Christ World “WITH” Christ

2. The Seventh-day Adventist Church IS the Remnant Church of Bible Prophecy Our Mandate and Mission -- Live, Teach, Preach the Messages of the Angels of Revelation – with special emphasis on those of Chapter 14!

3. ALL Members Of Body Of Christ Are Given SPIRITUAL GIFTS Each Member Is Called Into Ministry! 1 Cor. 12; Matt. 28; 1 Peter 2:9-10

4. Pastor Is NOT “The” Minister Of The Congregation! He/She Is “A” Minister With The Responsibility of Pastor-Teacher [Facilitator]. (Ephesians 4) “Lead” Trainer, Motivator, Ministry Coordinator Of The Congregation

5. The Bible Knows Nothing Of : Laymen With Secular Calling, And Clergy With Spiritual Calling Scripture Says, We Are ALL Part Of “laos” (the “laity”) 1 Peter 2:9,10 - “The People Of God In The World”

6. In Terms of Status: We Are All On The Same Level! All Sinners Saved By God’s Grace! We Derive Our “God-Esteem” From This REALITY! (Ephesians 2:8)

We only differ with regard to Function! Spiritual Gifts Human Temperaments Training Experience Local Ministry Needs Accordingly, there is NO HIGH or LOW work assignment in the cause of Christ! 1 Corinthians 12

7. IDENTIFICATION Is With The Individual VERIFICATION Is With The Body Of Christ! (1 Corinthians 12:13-16)

8. “Non-Bureaucracy” Must Prevail In Church Leadership Negative Bureaucracy assumes power must be kept in hands of a few because the masses lack the ability to give intelligent input! Negative Bureaucracy assumes that all are not created equally. Genesis 1:26, 27; Acts 17:26

Non-Bureaucracy Provides For Input At The Decision-Making Level Non-Bureaucracy Spawns Goal-Ownership And Team Spirit!

9. We Do Our Work Because: We Have Been Called To Do So! We Are Commissioned To Do So! The “Call” Establishes Our WORTH The “Commission” Establishes Our DUTY Jeremiah 1:4-10

The Holy Ghost “IN” Us: -“Fruit of The Spirit” (Galatians 5:22,23) - Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Meekness, Goodness, Faith Meekness, Temperance - Gives The Capacity to “BE” - Makes Us “NICE” People - Purpose is To Show Consistency In Our Daily Lives -- With Message We Share! - Notice The Life Of Jesus Before His Baptism

The Holy Ghost “Upon” Us: - “dunamis” Power – “Ability To Perform” -Gives Ability To “DO” Intentional Soul Winning / Kingdom Building Through Use Of Spiritual Gifts (Acts 1:8) - Note Jesus’ Life and Ministry Before His Baptism (“In / “Be”) And After His Baptism (“Upon” / “Do”) - The “Baptism Upon” (“Do”) Completed / Balanced The Fruit (“Indwelling / “Be”)

NOTHING Shall Be Impossible To Ministry Teams/Families That Enter Into Covenant With Christ, And One Another! (Matt. 17:20,21)

IN SUMMARY 1.The Church Exists To Facilitate The “Making Of Disciples” Through The Power Of Jesus Christ – Matthew 28: The Seventh-day Adventist Church Is The Remnant Church Of Bible Prophecy – Revelation 14 3.All Members Of The “Body Of Christ” Are Given Spiritual Gifts – 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; Romans 12

IN SUMMARY 4.The Pastor Is Not “THE” Minister Of The Congregation. He/She Is “A” Minister With The Responsibility Of Lead Ministry Coordinator. – Ephesians 4 5.The Bible Knows Nothing Of “Laymen” With A “Secular Calling” And “Clergy” With A “Spiritual Calling”. – 1 Peter 2:9,10 6.In Terms Of Status – We Are All On The Same Level – “Sinners Saved By God’s Grace! – Ephesians 2:8 7.“Identification” Is With The “Individual”. “Verification” Is With “The Body Of Christ”. – 1 Corinthians 12:13-16

IN SUMMARY 8.Non-Bureaucracy Must Prevail in Church Leadership. Acts 17:26; Genesis 2 9.We Do Our Work Because We have Been “Called” And Commissioned” To Do So. – Jeremiah 1: The “Baptism Of The Holy Ghost Upon Us IS The Primary Motivating Factor In And For Ministry To Others”. – Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49

Lou Evans’ Eight Principles of Covenant Dynamics

1. The Covenant of Affirmation - Agape Love “I will love you and affirm you no matter what you have said or done. I love you as you are, and for what Christ wants to make you.”

2. The Covenant of Availability “Anything I have. Time, energy, wisdom, myself, finances, are all at your disposal. I give these to you, and the covenant group in a unique way.”

3. The Covenant of Regularity “I covenant to give a regular part of my time to this group when it decides to meet. I consider that time to be of highest priority on my schedule.”

4. The Covenant of Prayer “I promise to pray for you, to uphold you, and to attempt to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit concerning your needs.”

5. The Covenant of Openness “I will show myself to you. Letting you know who I am as a person in feeling, history, hopes and hurts. In other words, I will need you!”

6. The Covenant of Honesty “I will be honest in my mirroring back to you what I sense and feel is coming from you.”

7. The Covenant of Confidentiality “What goes on in this group stays here. I will say nothing that may be traced back, or that could be injurious or embarrassing to my covenant partners.”

8. The Covenant of Accountability “You have a right to expect growth from me so that I may give you the fullness of the gifts which God has bestowed upon me, and fulfill my God-created designs. Therefore, I will not languish in the process of growth.”

“Finally, My Brethren…” Ephesians 6:10-20; 23-24