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Published on Summit View Church (http://summitview.net)

CARE Articles

CARE Articles

Below are articles written by some of our pastors discussing CARE Groups and the CARE Initiative

Chris Kainu [0] - Russ Lucas [0] - Bruce Dillon [0]


PROGRESS REPORT

by Chris Kainu [0]

I was very encouraged recently as I reflected on some progress in the life of Summit View, and I want you to be encouraged, too, at the faithful response of many to the Lord’s clear direction.

Last August, we set into motion an alteration of the DNA of Summit View. We established a nine-month goal to “catalyze a culture of intentional relational discipleship.” Looking back at specific steps we’ve taken to reach that goal, I felt my hope level rise.

Starting out, we talked more and more about Jesus’ call to make disciples, and that it wasn’t just for a few specialized Christians, but a calling for every Christ-follower (we’re not all leaders, but we are all called to being involved in the lives of other people). Establishing deep relationships was not the end goal, relationships that cause us to be come more like Jesus was.

We adopted the acronym “CARE” to emphasize that each of us must take on the responsibility to Create A Relational Environment for spiritual growth.

To reach our goal, we chose four defining objectives. Here’s a recap of our progress in each area:

  1. Clarify Spiritual Growth Process

    It sounds basic to grow people up in Christ, yet every church struggles to avoid two pitfalls: just going through the religious motions and changing the focus so often no one really knows how to reach the goal.

    Coming up with a blueprint for how Summit View would empower spiritual growth in each person was a process that took several years. Through study, prayer and discussion, we as elders were able to clarify our purpose and approach to maturing people in Christ.

    It became clear that, as Christ’s character is formed in a person, God brings glory to Himself. Glorifying Himself is His ultimate mission and He does it by making us more like His Son, Jesus. From this thought the “North Star” emerged, showing the five-fold characteristics of a mature believer. We went on to define a four-phase process of maturity so that people could better understand how to step forward toward greater maturity.

    We also established a support system of staffing and four successive classes–a framework requiring a much deeper investment in coaches, leaders, apprentices and mentors.

  2. Cast Vision

    Last summer we were very intentional not to put a label on this new emphasis. The words “small group” and “discipleship groups” were too vague and misleading to describe the kind of change we were looking for. We didn’t want just a change of programs, but a massive shift in perspective. Being more interested in change of heart and change of community, we simply focused on biblical values. The series of messages “Life in the Kitchen” and “Community in the Trinity” were intentional to cast the vision, and we are continuing to study Acts for the same reason: to get a taste of the spring waters of the first Christian community.

    As a staff we focused more on how we could help people create environments that would lead to deeper spiritual relationships. To do that we backed off some of the events we had historically offered. The CARE weekend helped materialize this difficult to describe change–a change of heart, your life’s purpose and the way you function. However, we still needed to offer words and pictures to invite people to take ownership in this movement, so we printed stories in the newsletter that would later appear on the web site.

    In a sense, the ink was dropping into the water and spreading. People increasingly began to relate on a more honest level and with more intentional focus on Christ and becoming like Him.

  3. Empower Coaches & Leaders (& Mentors!)

    The key to this entire change is people. After all, programs don’t change people, people change people! This is God’s design. We needed to transform SV from a collection of natural groupings into a community–a community based on relationships, not events. Supporting those who could influence spiritual growth in the context of relationships became a top priority. We began to identify and train coaches and leaders. Recognizing that, while not everyone is a leader, everyone can be a discipler, we elevated the importance of non-leader roles such as apprentices, mentors and family members.

    Because our 401 and 402 classes train leaders, we launched them first, equipping potential facilitators for the Experiencing God Together Campaign and giving them practical tools for leading a group. One tool was a weekly DVD.

    Our hope was that facilitators would watch the “5 Minutes For Leaders” segment, as well as use the “Discussion Starters” for their groups. This seems to have worked out quite well.

  4. Launch 101 & 201

    This step hasn’t been realized yet, but we have made progress. The staff and elders have reviewed the 101 class material, and we’ll be launching the pilot class at the end of April (check the calendar for the particulars). This maiden voyage of 101 is especially purposed for folks brand new to faith. We want them to get the basics. (The class covers what we believe, and our distinctives as a Christ-centered community.) Later, we’ll figure out how to best communicate these fundamental beliefs and values to the church at large.

    We have yet to determine when we’ll launch 201, which will cover the individual’s spiritual growth process.

We see the Lord’s direction for Summit View in His word and we sense it by the prompting of His Spirit. So be encouraged–we’re gaining ground! And to so many of you that have been faithfully cultivating the soil of this new culture, thanks!

 

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

by Chris Kainu [0]

It’s a privilege to report such positive feedback from our Experiencing God Together campaign. I’ve heard many people excited about their groups and one-on-ones focusing on the book of Acts. With so many getting involved, people are naturally asking, “How are we going to sustain this?” Fair question. Though we knew we weren’t prepared to capitalize on the growth and groups of our last campaign, we knew its “stand alone” value would outweigh the lack of follow up structure. Yet, we were determined not to do another campaign until we had a much- improved support system with which to sustain the growth and the groups.

So what’s the difference between this campaign and the last one? In the margin we’ve listed several key differentiating factors. Our last campaign might be illustrated this way: imagine an army assembled with temporary officers, provided with temporary munitions and a short-term goal to “take the hill.” After the mission, half of the officers are decommissioned, there are no more supplies and no clear directive on the next mission. Basically what’s lacking is infrastructure and a connection to the overall mission.

We believe that now we’re in a different position. We very clearly have an overall mission to glorify God and to do so by bringing people to maturity in Christ – primarily through relational discipleship. We have a much clearer understanding of maturity and how that discipleship process works. This was laid out at the CARE Weekend in October and will be made available church wide through classes 101 and 201 later this year. We also have a supportive structure of leaders and coaches that will be articulated in 301. In our last campaign, a large percentage of the groups were only temporary, ending with the campaign. Right now, 90% of the groups are permanent. We are delighted that there are a few temporary groups, because they meet a need, but the bulk of the groups will be ongoing. Most of those leaders have had training through the 401 and 402 classes. (Furthermore, we’re evaluating the sustainability of our online resources and our Discussion Starter DVDs.) Essentially, this campaign is just one step of many. And we’re very hopeful for the life change that will come from it – both individually and as a community. So to all of you that have participated in and/or supported this church-wide effort – be encouraged, you’re being used by God to make a difference in the lives of many.

What’s different this time?

There’s more to do...

We want to keep moving forward. Here are some ways you can help with our website:

 


WHY ACTS?

by Chris Kainu [0]

Why look at the Book of Acts? Because it’s the play-by-play account of the very first church. The Church in America, including SV, is in constant need of refreshing. Not to become something new, but in a sense to again become something very old – or better said, to be renewed back to God’s original intent. It is not within human nature to drift toward God, but away from Him. Our prayer is that God will provoke each of us to dig into His blueprint for the church. And with our attention toward His plans, we’re asking Him work powerfully to reform each one of us to become more like the Church of Acts. But, this will require that YOU study the book and pray for His enlightening of your mind. And further pray for a willingness to risk as you follow the lead of His Word and His Spirit. Will you dig in?

 


CHURCH: Experiencing God Together - A 6-week campaign

by Chris Kainu [0]

One man in his early 20’s is somewhat new to Christ. He and his girlfriend are trying to grow in faith, but sense they are slipping away. He expressed their struggles to stay focused on Jesus as their model and leader. She blurted out with a bit of a laugh, “We need some support!”

Don’t we all? Even those of us who have known Christ for decades must continually build habits and enter healthy adventures to keep us out of the rut of religion.

This is why we are launching a new series in February entitled Experiencing God Together. It is a 6-week spiritual growth campaign designed to focus all of us on what it means to live as the church.

The Book of Acts is all about the initial actions of an odd sect of Jews who followed after a leader that everyone else thought was dead, but whom they claimed was alive. Sometime later that group would come to be known as “Christians” for their radical adherence to the person and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, whom they called The Christ. Acts is a record of our early ancestors in the faith – many of whom hung out with Jesus.

We have much to learn from the early church. For sure, one of the biggest themes of the book was a dramatic sense of togetherness. Chapter 4, verse 32 says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

Can you imagine that? (If so, can I have your truck?) We struggle with sharing our stuff and we struggle with sharing our lives. If we want to make some advances against the barriers of suburban culture that separate us from one another and pull our focus away from Christ, we’re going to have to start doing church as the early Christians did.

Will you join in? For 6 weeks will you set aside whatever gets in the way and get in a one-on-one or a CARE group to focus with the whole church on the same passages at the same time? I’m excited to see the changes that God makes in us individually and in the Summit View community. If this feels risky…take the leap. You will grow in your faith.


What's the Deal with Discipleship?

by Russ Lucas [0]

In essence, to be a disciple of Jesus is to be like Him in every way. Reading the gospels helps us understand the kind of person that Jesus is and therefore the kind of person we need to be. But here is a question: What does it mean to be like Jesus if you are a father? Jesus was never a dad. What does it mean to be like Jesus if you are a woman? Or a school teacher, handling unruly school children? How would Jesus handle an abrasive roommate or a spouse who isn’t holding up their end of the marriage? The Bible is a lot of things, but one thing it isn’t is a rule book on how to respond in every situation we find ourselves in. That is why God made us dependent on people in the discipleship process. To see Christ on the page is one thing, but to see Him in someone who is coaching a basketball team is something altogether different. We need to rub shoulders with people who are following Christ so we can learn from them what the written word cannot impart--a living, breathing example of what Jesus would do.

I believe the book of 1 Thessalonians was written for this reason. It’s a handbook on how to disciple others. Here are a few key passages:

You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord in spite of severe suffering. 1 Thess. 1:5-6

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well because you had become so dear to us. 1 Thess. 2:8

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 1 Thess. 3:10

Finally brothers we instructed you how to live in order to please God as in fact you are living. 1 Thess. 4:1

Do you get the drift? We learn how to be like Christ by reading His word and by watching other people as we live with them in a relational context. Relationships are the vehicle to seeing Christ revealed in others.

In short, your CARE group is not enough. That’s right. It’s not enough. That two-hour meeting once a week is only the beginning. If you are a CARE leader you must recognize the importance of sharing not only your home, but your life. That means planning a weekend retreat for your group. It means going out of your way to have contact with them. Have them come over to help with your fence. Go to their kid’s soccer game or on a road trip together. No agenda, just time together. Something will pass between you as you journey together. Don’t say you don’t have anything to offer, either. Christ is in you and He wants to get out!

I invite you to read through the book of 1 Thessalonians a couple of times. As you do, I challenge you to:

It would also help to read Acts 17:1-12 to get some background on Paul’s visit to Thessalonica. We will be delving into this book on Sunday mornings in March after the “Experiencing God Together” campaign in February.


A Call to CARE

by Bruce Dillon [0]

On Sunday, February 4, we will be kicking off a new series centered in the 2nd chapters of the Book of Acts (look for the article by Chris on page 10 for more info). During the 6-week “campaign” we are asking all of you to join a CARE group. There is something very powerful when an entire church dives into God’s Word together, allowing it to transform our lives.

Wouldn’t it be great to have 60 brand new groups meeting once a week between February 11 and the week of March 18? That would mean an additional 400-500 people getting deeper in Christ. To reach that goal, we need 60 new leaders to shepherd a group. Often when we hear a call for someone to step up to leadership, we assume someone else will do it. But why? Jesus called us all to “make disciples”, not just a few supposed super-Christians. We believe every believer has something to offer in the way of discipleship. Perhaps you’d feel more confident as a mentor of one person - that’s great. Or maybe you’d like to learn as an apprentice, before taking on the lead spot of a CARE group - super. If you want to work with students or children, this is a perfect time to get going. These are all ways that you can be a part of making disciples.

Would you prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to meet this challenge? I believe He is calling each of us to discipleship. Our hope is to see you increase your discipleship skills over the six-week campaign and then ideally continue on for the next few months. After the campaign, you may continue in that role or you may discover that a different discipleship role fits you better. On-going CARE groups are vital so that everyone who calls Summit View their home can be in a relational environment for spiritual growth. This is a great time to start.

Know that you will be supported in this endeavor if you take advantage of the 401 Class and the availability of your Community Pastor and Coach. During the campaign the group discussion questions will also be provided, which will minimize your prep time. And, as Community Pastors we are eager to come along side you and equip you for the ministry. Why not contact us today and ask a few questions?


JOIN A CARE GROUP TODAY - CONTACT US HERE [0]

For more information, contact the church office or one of the Community Pastors.

Bruce Dillon [0] - Russ Lucas [0] - Rick Quinonez [0] (family) - Brandon Angelo & Jason Seymour (High School [0]) - Casey Graves [0] (Middle School [0])

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