Shared Learning Experience

Fruitful Journey Session One Welcome!

Fruitful Journey Session One Welcome!

Greeting from Bishop Coyner

Your Participant Manual The complete Participant Manual (introduction and seven sessions) is available for download from When you get to the website, click on “Enter Protected Area” and then enter the password: fcj2013 (lower case).

Core Purposes for Today 1. Strengthen our understanding of the Fruitful Congregation Journey and how the Shared Learning Experience fits into the overall process.

Core Purposes for Today 1. Strengthen our understanding of the Fruitful Congregation Journey and how the Shared Learning Experience fits into the overall process.

Core Purposes for Today, cont. 2. We will also explore some key concepts in the book, Bearing Fruit, and how they apply to our church’s ministries.

Objectives for Today Understand the Fruitful Congregation Journey process Understand the key concepts in the book, Bearing Fruit Begin building relationships with other participants

Introductions (laity) 1.What are your main expectations of the Shared Learning Experience? 2.What is your church’s greatest challenge and greatest strength? Have one person from your church share one answer for each of the above. Also share your church’s name, location, and weekly worship attendance average.

Introductions (pastors) Name Church / location How long have you been there? How long in leadership? Family Biggest challenge in ministry Main expectation for this program

Spiritual Centering John 15:1-8 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine.

John 15:1-8, continued “Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. 6 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned.

John 15:1-8, continued 7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.” — Jesus

Reflection questions… 1.Describe a time when your church was fruitful. What seemed to bring about the fruitfulness? 2.What does it look like when your church is connected to Christ (the vine)? How does your church intentionally nurture this connection? 3.Has your church gone through a period when it was pruned? What sustained it during that time? What resulted from the pruning?

Group Covenant 1.Pray regularly 2.Complete the reading 3.Be on time 4.Be engaged 5.Be curious 6.Be respectful

Group Covenant, continued 7. Understand that we may move quickly 8. Be flexible Others?

FCJ Overview The Fruitful Congregation Journey is a process not a program. Its purpose is to help churches more effectively carry out their mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

FCJ Overview, Three Steps Step 1: Shared Learning Experience Step 2: Consultation/Intervention Culminates in a weekend assessment that helps a church identify its 5 greatest strengths and concerns, and provides 5 prescriptions to address these concerns. Step 3: Implementation of Prescriptions, with the help of a coach.

FCJ Overview, Three Steps For the greatest results, churches should go through all three steps. Churches that only do Step 1 will still benefit. In order to go on to Step 2, a church must have good attendance at the Shared Learning Experience sessions.

Step 1: Core Purpose 1.To develop leaders within congregations that will understand concepts related to them more effectively carrying out our church’s mission. 2.To multiply this understanding to other leaders in the congregation.

Step 1: Objectives Develop a strong understanding of how our culture has changed and how that shapes and directs our outreach. Grow as leaders both inside and outside your local churches. Personally apply the key concepts and share them with others in your church.

Step 1: Objectives Understand new tools for doing ministry that are both faithful and fruitful. Experience team-based leadership and develop strong collegiality with other leaders. Prepare your church to consider Step 2 of the Fruitful Congregation Journey.

Step 1: Session Reading Guide

Session Reading Guide, cont.

FCJ Team Responsibilities Attend the sessions. Read the books prior to each session. Do your personal Action Plan. Attend a team meeting between sessions. Pray for your church—its leaders, FCJ team, and the FCJ process. Share the session information with other leaders in your church.

Nuts & Bolts and Questions Spend some time reviewing the “Nuts & Bolts” section. What questions do you have about the Fruitful Congregation Journey process?

Bearing Fruit Churches are called to be faithful and fruitful. Fruitfulness among churches has little to do with location or economics. When a church is fruitful, it will have ministry that matters to its community.

Bearing Fruit Pruning is as much a part of a fruitful harvest as is planting. The ultimate focus must always be not on what we are doing but on what we are accomplishing toward the mission.

Bearing Fruit John Wesley asked three questions of his leaders: Have they faith? Have they gifts? Have they fruit? Two key questions: 1.Are we bearing fruit? 2.Is it good fruit?

Bearing Fruit Many of your fruits will not become manifest for many, many years. There are seasons… a time for preparing the soil (spring), planting and watering (summer), harvesting the fruit (fall), and a time of resting (winter).

Bearing Fruit The two most powerful words for leadership are “so that.” For practice, answer one of the following: We are having Vacation Bible School so that… We have Sunday worship so that….

Session Outline I. Opening -Core Purpose and Objectives -Spiritual Centering -Action Plan Review II. Leadership Teaching III. Key Learnings and Take-aways IV. Action Plans V. Evaluations

Action Plan

Next Step Assignments 1.Work with a key concept or questions from this session back home. Dig further on our topic of bearing fruit by referencing other books, scriptures, websites, etc.

Next Step Assignments 2. As a team, a) Talk about your key learnings, and action plans. b) Come up with a way to introduce your team at our next session. c) Do something fun as a group. d) Consider creating a team covenant. e) Make sure your church has a prayer team.

Action Plan Review  Accountability: Were you able to accomplish your plan? If not, what got in the way?  Application Learning: How did you apply what you learned to your specific situation?  Peer Mentoring: How can your teammates help you achieve your plans?

Key Learnings & Prayer Concerns

Wrap-Up & Closing Next book: The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, by Robert Schnase Review Core Purpose and Objectives Evaluations

Core Purposes 1. Strengthen participants’ understanding of the Fruitful Congregation Journey and how the Shared Learning Experience fits into the overall process.

Core Purposes 2. We will also explore some key concepts in the book, Bearing Fruit, and how they apply to our church’s ministries.

Objectives Understand the Fruitful Congregation Journey process Understand the key concepts in the book, Bearing Fruit Begin building relationships with other participants

Continue the conversation! Visit the Indiana Conference Church Development Facebook page & blog site. Facebook page transformingcommunities Blog Site

Have a great month!