1. Personal Spiritual Formation A Personal Transparent Account of Trying to Maintain Fresh Springs of Life in the Midst of Intense, Time-consuming Ministry John 4:14, 7:38 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you - Gal 4:19

2. Two Realizations 1. God will not bring about a movement if you are not a person of God Person of God – (Psalm 78.72) Nothing lasting will happen in your ministry without you first being a man or woman of God with a heart of integrity Person of God – (Psalm 78.72) Nothing lasting will happen in your ministry without you first being a man or woman of God with a heart of integrity The quality of your ministry will directly reflect the quality of your spiritual life. Are you building fruit that will remain? (John 15:16) Jesus’ ministry life was built around his relationship with the Father. Are you the type of person God would use to build a movement through? Are you the type of person God would use to build a movement through? CPMs are built around men and women of God God uses men not simply methods!

3. Two Realizations 2. The more intense your ministry becomes the more you will need to be sustained in personal devotional life E.g. SWBTS chapel speaker You don’t have time not to be consistently at His feet E.g. Mary and Martha This is an intensely personal area, but there are things we can learn together

4. Exercise What are some spiritual disciplines you see in the lives of... What are some spiritual disciplines you see in the lives of... David David Jesus Jesus Paul Paul Small groups – pick one and discuss the “secrets” of what sustained them spiritually Small groups – pick one and discuss the “secrets” of what sustained them spiritually Report back with sample passages Report back with sample passages

5. Consistency in QT Escaping in a busy life – Mk 1:35 Escaping in a busy life – Mk 1:35 Consistency over volumes of time Consistency over volumes of time My secret date with God – Matt 6:6 My secret date with God – Matt 6:6 Makes me long for it Makes me long for it Connected to God in prayer through the day Connected to God in prayer through the day Like breathing Like breathing How is your consistency? How is your consistency?

6. Transparent Journaling David’s Prayer Journal - Psalms David’s Prayer Journal - Psalms Anger – Psa 109:6ff Anger – Psa 109:6ff Excitement – Psa 103 Excitement – Psa 103 Earnest desire – Psa 7:1-2 Earnest desire – Psa 7:1-2 Transparency – Psa 7:3 Transparency – Psa 7:3 Recording God’s victories and deliverance in his life – Psa 18 Recording God’s victories and deliverance in his life – Psa 18 Surrender – Psa 131 Surrender – Psa 131 What is a father’s greatest desire for his children? What is a father’s greatest desire for his children? Loving, transparent relationship Not perfection E.g. Pharisees sought perfection; disciples a relationship Journaling helps me to be honest with God Journaling helps me to be honest with God Written to God Looking back thru my journal reminds me of Looking back thru my journal reminds me of How God has been faithful How He has changed me – the process How are you being transparent and honest? How are you being transparent and honest?

7. Accountability & Examples Brothers in deep accountability Brothers in deep accountability LEAD SCs LEAD SCs Meet 2x a year Meet 2x a year Retreat:..\Covenant Questions - LEAD.doc Retreat:..\Covenant Questions - LEAD.doc..\Covenant Questions - LEAD.doc..\Covenant Questions - LEAD.doc Email: “Keep up the good work and don't get buried settling into the new role.” Email: “Keep up the good work and don't get buried settling into the new role.” Kunming SC friend Kunming SC friend Weekly transparency Weekly transparency Piercing questions -..\Wesley - Holy Life Questions.doc Piercing questions -..\Wesley - Holy Life Questions.doc..\Wesley - Holy Life Questions.doc..\Wesley - Holy Life Questions.doc Mentors Mentors Significant conversation with other believers Significant conversation with other believers Time with Laura Time with Laura Biographies Biographies House Church House Church Can’t run away from them Helps me put things in perspective Helps me put things in perspective

8. Accountability & Examples Brothers in deep accountability Brothers in deep accountability LEAD SCs LEAD SCs Meet 2x a year Meet 2x a year Retreat:..\Covenant Questions - LEAD.doc Retreat:..\Covenant Questions - LEAD.doc..\Covenant Questions - LEAD.doc..\Covenant Questions - LEAD.doc Email: “Keep up the good work and don't get buried settling into the new role.” Email: “Keep up the good work and don't get buried settling into the new role.” Kunming SC friend Kunming SC friend Weekly transparency Weekly transparency Piercing questions -..\Wesley - Holy Life Questions.doc Piercing questions -..\Wesley - Holy Life Questions.doc..\Wesley - Holy Life Questions.doc..\Wesley - Holy Life Questions.doc Mentors Mentors Significant conversation with other believers Significant conversation with other believers Helps me put things in perspective Helps me put things in perspective Biographies Biographies House Church House Church Can’t run away from them Who are you being accountable with? Who are you being accountable with? Are you opening up fully with them? Are you opening up fully with them?

9. Regular times of Solitude Mark 6:30-31 Mark 6:30-31 Keeps me away from burn- out Keeps me away from burn- out My target: My target: ½ day a week – Monday morning ½ day a week – Monday morning 1 day each 2-3 months 1 day each 2-3 months Actual target: 2 nd Tuesday of each month Actual target: 2 nd Tuesday of each month Time off after intense ministry Time off after intense ministry Sabbath day each week Sabbath day each week Quiet enough to hear God Quiet enough to hear God Puts ministry and life in perspective Puts ministry and life in perspective My journal accounts after these times – wonderfully transformed My journal accounts after these times – wonderfully transformed When do you get away to hear God? When do you get away to hear God? 30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

10. Life Built Around the Word Not just reading the Word Not just reading the Word My continual obsession in life: How is this area to be based on the Word? My continual obsession in life: How is this area to be based on the Word? Is this idea consistent or built on the word? Is this idea consistent or built on the word? Laura & I discuss this much. Laura & I discuss this much. This leads to a quiet confidence that life is built on an enduring foundation This leads to a quiet confidence that life is built on an enduring foundation Has sustained me often in times of fruitlessness or doubt

11. A Habit of Gratitude Rom 1:21; Col 3:15- 17; 1 Thes 5:18 Rom 1:21; Col 3:15- 17; 1 Thes 5:18 A habit of gratitude is a sign that you have a trust in the absolute goodness of God A habit of gratitude is a sign that you have a trust in the absolute goodness of God Anger is often the opposite – angry at how God is running things Anger is often the opposite – angry at how God is running things Gratitude is a good barometer of a person’s faith Gratitude is a good barometer of a person’s faith Do you have a habit of giving thanks in each situation? Do you have a habit of giving thanks in each situation?

12. Personal and Family Worship Personal guitar playing and worship Personal guitar playing and worship Singing and making melody as I go places Singing and making melody as I go places Family times Family times

13. What have you found that has helped? What have you found that has helped? When you leave here, things will get incredibly busy. What will you do to keep the springs of life flowing through you? When you leave here, things will get incredibly busy. What will you do to keep the springs of life flowing through you? Jot down some specific plans you have Jot down some specific plans you have