“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes”

Mission & Purpose To lead and enable those committed to the Church to achieve its Holy Spirit inspired vision and objectives Vision and Direction Developing Teamwork Build Faith & Maturity Numerical Growth Represent the church

We see things differently Duck or a Rabbit? Backgrounds & Experiences Personalities Motivations & Desires Ambitions

Technical stuff Exegesis critical explanation or interpretation of a text what it meant then Hermeneutics interpretation of what a text means to the reader what it means now Theology “reasoning or discussion concerning the Deity” – St. Augustine of Hippo we begin to understand God through His word and through other people

2 Timothy 3: Timothy 3:16-17 (TNIV) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” Teaching – learning and impartation of understanding Rebuking – discipline and censure when error occurs Correcting – remedies and improvement Training – on-going development and application Leads to action – equipped for every good work

Small Beginnings “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand” Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” Proverbs 13:12 (NIVUK)

Application Seek confirmation  “The man who tries to walk two roads, splits his pants”  No-one is an overnight success but you have to start!  “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” James 1:5 (NIVUK) Develop a support network  Encouragers and Accountability  “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed” Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)

Application Stand in faith and believe God’s word  Hebrews 1:6 “without faith it’s impossible to please God”  “because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”  “the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” Zechariah 4:10 Trust in God’s strength  “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” Zechariah 4:6 (NIVUK)