A Dwelling Place for God
The Pathway
"You're Invited 101"
"Let's Grow 201"
"Created to Serve 301"
"Sent to Share 401"
The goal of growing in faith and putting into practice both Spiritual gifts and disciplines is to be more like Christ. We are reminded by the Apostle Paul that the most important element in living out our faith is that we do it with love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (NIV)
When people first come to church it can be an overwhelming experience! Everything is new and unfamiliar. There are so many people, programs, and activities. The customs are confusing, the terms seem foreign, and the unwritten rules are everywhere. Most newcomers don't know where to start or how to fit in. No wonder so many of the people who finally get up the nerve to come to church, often don't come back! Or if they do start coming to church, no wonder so few ever move beyond worship attendance!
To be effective in fulfilling our Vision we need to build a clear Pathway that will help people to see how they can find their place in the community of faith and how they can move forward in their spiritual lives. Like a clearly marked trail through a dense and intimidating forest, the Pathway is a guide for people, wherever they are in their spiritual walk, to find the way forward. Each of the four seminars in the Pathway is an important step forward in this spiritual process.
Each of these four seminars is an introduction to a whole category of spiritual growth and equipping opportunities that will be developed as we move forward:
- 100 Series: Seminars and focus groups in Foundational Christian Beliefs
- 200 Series: Seminars and focus groups in Spiritual Growth and Discipleship
- 300 Series: Seminars and focus groups in Practical Ministry Training
- 400 Series: Seminars and focus groups in Missional Service
Newcomers are invited into the Pathway at the 101 Level and then encouraged to continue all the way through 401. The 101 Seminar is the Membership Class. Existing members are invited to enter the Pathway either at 101 or at the level of their current commitment. Completion of the 301 Seminar will be strongly encouraged for all new leaders accepting a position of service in the church.
"You're Invited 101"
This seminar is an introduction to the Christian faith, and explanation of what it means to live in a relationship with God, and an invitation to become a member of Bethel. At the conclusion of the seminar, those who decide to join commit themselves to regular worship, regular giving, and to taking the next seminar, "Let's Grow 201."
"Let's Grow 201"
This seminar is an introduction to the spiritual life of discipleship. It includes training on how to pray, how to study the Bible, the importance of a regular quiet time, the benefits of Growth Groups, the role of group Bible study, and the discipline of tithing. At the conclusion of the seminar participants are invited to commit to a regular quiet time, to joining a Growth Group or a Bible study, to growing towards a ten percent tithe, and to taking the next seminar, "Created to Serve 301."
"Created to Serve 301"
This seminar is designed to help people discover and implement their unique gifts for ministry. In the course of the seminar participants will discover their heartfelt passions for service, their God-given gifts, and their personal style. Attention will be given to how each person can most effectively use their gifts in the ministry of Bethel. At the conclusion of the seminar each person will be invited to commit to serving regularly in at least one aspect of the ministry of Bethel, to be a part of at least one missional service project beyond the walls of Bethel per year, and to taking the next seminar "Invite Others 401"
"Sent to Share 401"
This is a training seminar in relational evangelism. Participants will come to understand the crucial role of relationships in evangelism, they will learn how to talk to their unchurched friends about their faith experience, and they will discover the most effective ways to invite their unchurched friends to come to worship with them. At the conclusion of this seminar, participants will be challenged to identify at least three unchurched friends they intend to bring with them to worship during the coming year.
Reflection Questions
| 1. | Have you ever felt overwhelmed by church programs or confused about how to move forward in your spiritual life? Do you think this kind of Pathway would have helped you? |
| 2. | Which of these Seminars do you think is most needed at Bethel? Are there any that you feel are not needed? Explain. |
| 3. | How do you feel about the commitments that are invited at the end of each Seminar? Do you think we should be so explicit in our call for commitment? |
| 4. | What are some other seminars that you think might be important to develop in the future in any of these four categories? |