SECTION 3.1: Mission, Vision & Strategy of Disciples Church – April 2011
SECTION 3.2: Missional Church Rebirth/Renewal – May 2011
SECTION 3.3: Mission Perspectives – June 2011

This year the Missiology Trimester is compressed into three sessions. In all liklihood it will be extended to at least four sessions next season. This means the readings, especially in Section 3.2 and 3.3 are extensive and will require much. The upside is we will not be meeting through the summer. Each section has three main components. 1) Personal Study; 2) Reflection Paper; and 3) Gathering, which includes a lecture as well as discussion.

//SECTION 3.1//

Mission, Vision, Strategy & Values of Disciples Church // April 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Robert Coleman’s Master Plan of Evangelism (link is for Amazon, for best price check half.com or see if Stu has a loaner copy)

Stu on DisciplesChurch_DNA

Driscoll on Radical Reformission

2. Reflection Paper – this needs to be sent on Friday before our gathering.

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss one of the distinctives of Disciples Church that you are most passionate about, and discuss one of the written distinctives you feel are not as central to our DNA as the paper suggests. paper is to be emailed to each person for further reading and reflection from one another. Email your thoughts  directly to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com this should direct everything we send to each person in the group automatically. If you are not yet part of this Google Group you will need to email Stu@discipleschurch.net first to request admission to the google group…no big pomp and circumstance, I just need to add you to the list.

3. Come prepared to discuss the following

–What are the strengths and potential blind spots in our approach and strategy as a community of faith?

–How will we know when we are being successful as a new local church?

–How will we remain distinctively unique in a sea of sameness? Does it matter for us to be different?

//SECTION 3.2//

Missional Church Rebirth  // May 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Roberts on transformational mission

Hunter on rebirth of apostolic congregations

2. Reflection Paper – this needs to be sent to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com on Friday before our gathering.

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss one standout idea/concept/argument in each of the two readings. Furthermore take a second look at Hunter’s complete list of “Top Ten Features of the Apostolic Congregation” and explain how this list marries with Roberts ideas of “Kingdom in, Kingdom out” from chapter 2 in the Roberts reading.

3. Come prepared to discuss the following

–How are the values & vision of Disciples Church uniquely shaping our experience of mission.

–Roberts discusses in detail how the western church ought to learn from the eastern church. What things are you currently learning about God’s mission for you in Disciples Church.

//SECTION 3.3//

Perspectives on the ‘how-to’ & ‘what-to’  // June 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Sweet on The Missional Life

Snyder on Coherence of Mission

Lewis on Irresistible Influence

2. Reflection Paper – this needs to be sent to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com on Friday before our gathering.

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss one standout idea or common thread through the three readings. If God has inspired any ideas for your own missional life, or things we can do as a church to further our own irresistible influence, discuss those as well.

3. Come prepared to discuss the following

–What do you see as the difference between “doing missions” and living missionally in Folsom and the world?

–What difference is Disciples Church making practically in Folsom outside of Sunday Gathering?

SECTION 2.1: Overview / History of Christian Church – January 2011
SECTION 2.2: Practices / Observances – February 2011
SECTION 2.3: Roles – March 2011
SECTION 2.4: Gifts / Healing – April 2011

This section of study, teaching and discussion will focus on the history, specific elements of the practices of the Church. Even a cursory knowledge of the history of the Christian Church helps us frame how we arrived at the place we are in culture. During this section of study we will discuss common practices of the church including Lord’s Supper and baptism as well as more controversial subject matters like baptism of the Holy Spirit, gifts and healing.

If you are unavailable for any of these Section Gatherings, be sure to get your reflection paper sent in (remember, keep it between 200 & 500 words) If you need to miss more than 2 of the Section Gatherings for this trimester I strongly suggest you spend ample time in discussion with other members of the Incubator on these subjects or just go through it next time it is offered. So much of the value for you AND us in this process is the iron sharpening iron that occurs during discussion.

In this trimester there is also a writing element introduced to help you and your fellow students to process the reading and thoughts on each topic. A maximum 500 word reflection synopsis is to be emailed en mass to all in the group on Friday before we meet. Please note all four gatherings of the Pastor Incubator will be on the campus of Oak Hills Church 1100 Blue Ravine Road in Folsom. Our thanks to the great people of Oak Hills for providing space for us to meet. Bring your own brown-bag meal, drinks are provided.

//SECTION 2.1//

History of the Christian Church // January 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Church History_shelley

History of the Church timeline

2. Reflection Paper

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss one of the eras in Christian history described in the reading that you knew the least about previous to your personal study and discuss what key facts you learned. paper is to be emailed to each person for further reading and reflection from one another. For this first section email your paper to stu@discipleschurch.net and I will forward it on to everyone. In future months we will do our digital correspondence by emailing everything directly to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com this should direct everything we send to each person in the group automatically.

3. Come prepared to discuss the following:

–What do you see as Constantine’s greatest contribution to The Christian Church?

–What are the great tragedies of the Christian Middle Ages, and how would you lead those in today’s church to avoid the mistakes of their time?

–What are the great triumphs of the Christian Middle Ages, and how would you lead us to celebrate those triumphs and learn from them?

–What would you say is the lasting affect in your life and the local Church of the Reformation?

–Let’s talk denominations…their time, their triumphs and their place today.

–What would you say was the greatest progress in the Age of Progress?

//SECTION 2.2//

PRACTICES/OBSERVANCES // FEBRUARY 2011 //

Because we are church that is relentless about people far from God AND developing leaders we will focus the bulk of our discussion this month on this subject of developing leaders who connect people far from God and His church with Christ and Community. There are many other important practices and observances worthy of discussion but most of these will come up naturally in the course of discussion. The lecture this month will focus some of it’s time on baptism, communion, prayer, lent, advent, etc. That being said, the major focus this month is to paint the picture for an intentional and clear development process for how we lead this local body.

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

You will notice there is considerably more reading this month than most. Forgive us, we are leadership junkies. We will die for the idea that to truly engage those far from God and Church with Christ and Community it will require a heightened level of passion and intentionality to LEAD. We are not given the luxury to  just follow what everyone else is thinking or doing, we must innovate, create and dream. This requires a focus on leadership most of us have never experienced in church.

snyder on genetic material of thriving churches

snyder on DNA of structures

malphurs on process to developing leaders

malphurs spiritual health in leadership

2. Reflection

With the amount of reading this time around, try to focus your reflection on synthesizing what was the overall message in all this structural and systematic discussion. Was it, “never stop changing”, “Be intentional”, “keep scripture first”, all of the above, or something completely different. Try and synthesize. 200-500 words max, please. email your reflection to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com

3. Come prepared to discuss the following

–What makes this leadership piece so important to God?

–How do you see the structure changing over the next few months, years, decades?

–What traditional practices are you most curious about? baptism, communion, lent, etc?

//SECTION 2.3 //

ROLES // MARCH 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Genesis 1-3 / 1 Timothy 2 / 1 Corinthians 14 / Galatians 3 / And ANY other Scriptural texts that have helped you in the process of finding God’s heart in this.

John Piper on Women in Ministry

NT Wright on Women in Ministry

Graeme Codrington on Women in Ministry

2. Reflection

Remember this is a brief reflection. 200-500 words, don’t try to share all you know with the group, maybe just one significant “AHA” or one significant “NO WAY” you felt as you read and reflected. email to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com

3. Come prepared to discuss the following:

–What did you resonate with/ what did you disagree with in the readings? How do explicit writings in Scripture and its overall narrative support your thoughts?

–Is it fair to assume different formats or approaches to this issue will be appropriate in different settings?

–If you were to write the Disciples Church heart for women in ministry what would you want to say?

–Does our approach to this also help us arrive at God’s heart for Youth in leadership as well?

//SECTION 2.4 //

GIFTS, HEALING // APRIL 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

–Purchase and read Ministry and the Miraculous, A Case Study at Fuller Theological Seminary edited by Lewis B. Smedes. This book is out of print but look online to purchase or use a loaner copy from Stu.

–Jack Deere from Surprised by the Power of the Spirit

2. Reflection

Remember this is a brief reflection. 200-500 words, don’t try to share all you know with the group, maybe just one significant “AHA” or one significant “NO WAY” you felt as you read and reflected. email to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com

3. Come prepared to discuss the following:

–How is God challenging your thinking in this area?
–What are next steps for you in discovering God’s heart in this area?
–What do these new realities mean for us as a church?

SECTION 1.1: Introduction/Christian Orthodoxy/ Task of Theology – Monday September 27; 7-9:30p
SECTION 1.2:Authority of Scripture – Monday October 25; 7-9:30p
SECTION 1.3: Trinity & End Times – Monday November 29; 7-9:30p
SECTION 1.4: Jesus & Salvation – Monday December 13; 7-9:30p

If you need to miss two or more of the Section Gatherings for this trimester I strongly suggest you spend ample time in discussion with other members of the Incubator on these subjects or just go through it next time it is offered. So much of the value for you AND us in this process is the iron sharpening iron that occurs during discussion.

SECTION 1.1 // Introduction //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Nicene & Apostles’ Creeds

Lausanne Covenant

task of theology – karl barth

Familiarize yourself with Disciples Church beliefs page http://www.discipleschurch.net/?cat=31

2. Reflection Paper // to be sent no later than Friday Sept. 24

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss  Nicene, Apostles’ and Lausanne Covenants. How do you see the heart and content of these three documents inside our own Doctrinal Statements for Disciples Church. Paper is to be emailed to each person for further reading and reflection from one another. Email your thoughts  directly to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com this should direct everything we send to each person in the group automatically. If you are not yet part of this Google Group you will need to email Stu@discipleschurch.net first to request admission to the google group…no big pomp and circumstance, I just need to add your email address to the list.

3. Come prepared to discuss the following //

–What similarities are present in each
–What points do you hear most often in the Disciples Church culture?
–Which of these seem to be of lesser value in the Disciples Church culture?
–How would you describe your own regular involvement with theology.
–What are thelogian’s blindspots in theology? Pastors? Professors? congregations?
–Describe your own theological blind spots or areas of least familiarity.

SECTION 1.2 // AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

HOW_CAN_THE_BIBLE_BE_AUTHORITATIVE by N T Wright.

Beyond Foundationalism ch3 Scripture sm (Chapter 3 of Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context, Stanley J. Grenz & Juhn R. Franke)

Take the time to re-read all the scripture references for both documents.

2. Reflection Paper // to be sent no later than Friday Oct 22

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss  the difference in your own life between what you know & believe to be the Scripture’s authority in your life and it’s practical authority. –meaning where are the gaps for you between what you think/believe and what you actually do. Also discuss how the can/does/will affect your own leadership. Paper is to be emailed to each person for further reading and reflection from one another. Email your thoughts  directly to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com

3. Come prepared to discuss the following:

–Bring a verse or two that have stumped you or others and causing questions about authority of Scripture.
–breakdown in authority of scripture due to denominations, translations and time.

SECTION 1.3 // TRINITY & END TIMES

1. For Personal Study and reflection //

Beyond Foundationalism – Grenz ch 6, trinity part1of3 , Beyond Foundationalism – Grenz ch 6, trinity part 2of3 , Beyond Foundationalism – Grenz ch 6, trinity part 3of3
4. Daniel, Matthew 24 & Revelation

Additional Suggested reading (Not required): How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit, A.W. Tozer

2. Reflection Paper // to be sent no later than Friday Nov. 26

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss  Nicene, Apostles’ and Lausanne Covenants. How do you see the heart and content of these three documents inside our own Doctrinal Statements for Disciples Church. Paper is to be emailed to each person for further reading and reflection from one another. Email your thoughts  directly to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com

3. Be prepared to discuss the following //

–Your perspective on the importance and beauty of the Trinity
–Your perspectives on the risks of weak Trinitarian Theology

SECTION 1.4 // JESUS & SALVATION

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

–All four gospels in your regular version, and a different version than you normally use.
–Essay #1 in supremacy of Christ in a postmodern world -David Wells . To read the entire collection of essays (not required reading for the Incubator)  in this book take advantage of the free download of the entire book.

2. Reflection Paper // to be sent no later than Friday Dec. 3

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss  any key takaways from the reading. What struck the most? What did you agree or disagree with and why?  Paper is to be emailed to each person for further reading and reflection from one another. Email your thoughts  directly to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com

3. Be prepared to discuss the following //

–If/How/Why a clear view of Christ as the Head of The Church shapes your practical leadership
–The strategies you see Jesus suggesting for evangelism, discipleship and conflict
–What one must do to be saved & what is the responsibility of The Church in this process

Pastor’s Incubator is the development process of Disciples Church for raising up exceptional leaders for the biblical call of leading the church. Disciples Church is not a church that is led by votes, consensus or strong personalities pushing their way to the top. We are led by the Head of the church, Jesus.  As such, we intentionally invite people into our formal leadership development process with the hope of multiplying the church and its impact in Folsom and beyond.

Being an exceptional leader does not necessarily qualify a person to fill the biblical role of Pastor/Elder in Christ’s Church. Furthermore, being a devoted Christ-follower does not necessarily fill the biblical AND practical requirements of leading the local church in today’s culture. This is where I believe Pastor’s Incubator enters the picture for the folks of Disciples Church who sense God’s tug to lead as part of our developing Pastoral Lead Team.

The purpose of Pastor’s Incubator is to take exceptional leaders who are devoted Christ-followers and prepare them for the role of pastor/elder in the Disciples Church community. Completing the Incubator will be a requirement in future years for those men and women invited to serve on the pastoral team, aka Elder Board, Leadership Team, etc.

This will be a small group who will meet monthly, roughly following a traditional trimester system with three modes of development: 1) Assigned personal study & brief written reflection; 2) Teaching from Pastor Stu or a guest lecturer and 3) Discussion. Each session is scheduled for three hours and will have roughly 45-60 minutes of lecture followed by a short break and 90 minutes of discussion all based around the assigned reading for that section.

Before you go any further read this short 1-page letter and the handwritten note in the margin. I received this in my first seminary course as a 22 year old youth pastor and it has inspired me to develop Pastor’s Incubator.  modern-day lttr to Jesus about disciples potential

LABOR INVOLVED:

Reading – each month’s section has assigned reading. Most of it is easily located in the section syllabus for download in PDF format, but occasionally you will need to purchase or check out a book. Check these out ahead of time to be sure you have what you need.

Reflection – Please spend ample time to think through your thoughts on the reading. Followed by a short reflection paper (200-500 words is ample) to be emailed the FRIDAY BEFORE we meet. Please email paper either as a PDF or just cut and paste it into your email. email to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com. Be sure you have been added to this group by giving Stu a heads up.

Gathering – be prepared to discuss the questions connected in each section. There is typically a lecture as well, so if you’re a note-taker bring whatever you need for that to be helpful to you. Check your section syllabus for the meeting locations and further info about what to bring, etc…

FALL: Theology

This section of assigned personal study, teaching and discussion will focus on tennats of the faith and doctrine of God, Authority of Scripture, The Trinity and Soteriology (the doctrines of salvation).

SECTION 1.1: Introduction/Christian Orthodoxy/ Task of Theology
SECTION 1.2:Authority of Scripture
SECTION 1.3: Trinity / End Times
SECTION 1.4: Jesus / Salvation

WINTER: Ecclesiology

This section of study, teaching and discussion will focus on the history, specific elements of the practices of the Church. Even a cursory knowledge of the history of the Christian Church helps us frame how we arrived at the place we are in culture. During this section of study we will discuss common practices of the church including Lord’s Supper and baptism as well as more controversial subject matters like baptism of the Holy Spirit, gifts and healing.

SECTION 2.1: Overview of History of the Christian Church
SECTION 2.2: Practices / Observances
SECTION 2.3: Historical Roles / DC Roles
SECTION 2.4: Gifts / Healing

SPRING: Missiology

This section of study and discussion focuses in on less of the general tenets of our faith, and more of the DNA and approach of Disciples Church specifically. This is also the shortest of all the Trimesters and is also one of the best for new folks in the Incubator as the readings and discussions tend to be just slightly less heady and a bit more practical. Click on the link above for all the readings and further info on this Trimester.

SECTION 3.1: An Introduction to the vision, values and strategy of Disciples Church
SECTION 3.2: Missional Church Rebirth
SECTION 3.3: Perspectives on the ‘How To’ and ‘What To’