Tag Archive for: Life Groups

Life Groups: Practical Expectations for Deacons

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TITLE: Life Groups: Practical Expectations for Deacons
PREACHER: Glenn van Rooyen & Shaun Mackay
DATE: 5 SEPTEMBER 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In part 5 of this part of the series for leaders and potential leaders we looked at shepherding in more detail. Now we will focus more on practical issues, starting with the practical expectations of deacons.

Following up newcomers

Who is the church?

We are the church. So when we say we are Cornerstone church, we are a body of believers who call ourselves Cornerstone Church. We aren’t some organisation, we’re a people.

At some point in our personal histories we decided that this was going to be our spiritual home. But what was it that made us decide that? Was it the coffee? The music? The boys and girls? Location? There are many reasons why people come to a church. But what keeps us here is important and it’s important how we welcome anyone new in and let them know who it is we are.

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Life Groups: Our Discipleship Shepherding Wineskin

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TITLE: Life Groups: Our Discipleship Shepherding Wineskin
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 29 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In Part 4 we showed the qualifications and functions of a deacon. In this part we will look at shepherding in more detail.

 The motivation for shepherding

Matt 9:35—38

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.” That’s our saviour. But it’s amazing how differently it’s been with leaders throughout the ages, where rather than being moved by compassion they’ve seen the crowds and sought to take advantage of them.

When Jesus feeds the five thousand and the four thousand (Matt 14: 13 – 21; 15:32) the Scriptures re-iterate how he was moved by compassion.

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Life Groups: Being a Contributing Part of the Body

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TITLE: Life Groups: Being a Contributing Part of the Body
PREACHER: Mark Meeske
DATE: 29 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In part 4, we looked at what the priesthood of all believers is about. In this part, we’ll be looking at how one integrates and functions in the Body of Christ.

What defines the Church?

The church isn’t an organisation or a building but is a group of people. So, we are the church. When we say we’re going to church we mean we’re going to be with God’s people, a local group of God’s people, not that we’re going to a building.

Essentially, two words define the local church (a local group of people): Integrated and Functioning.

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Life Groups: Qualifications and Functions of a Deacon

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TITLE: Life Groups: Qualifications and Functions of a Deacon
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 22 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In Part 3 we discussed why Life Groups are important for us today and how they are practically worked out in the life of a church, using Cornerstone as an example.

Now the course splits into two – for those who are involved in leadership or would like to be and for those who aren’t. We’ve called these two parts “Leadership” and “Priesthood” for ease-of-use, knowing that, of course, all of us are the priesthood.

You are currently reading the first part for leaders and potential leaders, which is the fourth part of the course overall. In this part we will talk about the qualifications and functions of a deacon.

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Life Groups: Priesthood of All Believers

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TITLE: Life Groups: Priesthood of All Believers
PREACHER: Mark Meeske
DATE: 22 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In Part 3 we looked at how Life Groups function in the life of a church, using Cornerstone Bedfordview as an example. Now, this aspect of our Life Groups course focuses on the “Priesthood of all Believers” and their role in the church.

Priesthood of all believers?

The term “priesthood” can sound very religious and that often makes us lose the essence of what it means. And what it means is that God has got a calling and ministry for every believer in the church that lines up with what He has called the church to do – not just pastors/elders or deacons, but everyone. In the Bible, all Christians are called saints and ‘priests’. It’s the priests that cause the church to live in its fullness.

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Life Groups: Life Groups in Cornerstone

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TITLE: Lifegroups in Cornerstone
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 15 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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Life Groups

Part 3: Life Groups in Cornerstone

The audio version of this teaching can be downloaded at http://www.cornerstonechurch.co.za/lifegroups-in-cornerstone/

In Part 2 we looked at the emphasis the Scriptures place on meeting in homes, starting from the ministry of Jesus to the life of the early church, including the letters, which give us more clues to God’s heart for church life.

Now we’ll look more closely at why Life Groups are important for us today and how Life Groups are practically worked out in the life of a church, using Cornerstone Bedfordview as an example.

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Life Groups: Homes, House-to-House and Households

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TITLE: Homes, House-to-House and Households
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 8 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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Life Groups

Part 2: Homes, house-to-house and households

In Part 1 of this series on Life Groups, we looked at Acts 1 & 2 and examined how the early church started and how they met. Acts 2:42 and vs 43 shows us that they devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching (the Word), the breaking of bread, the fellowship and prayers. Verse 43 shows us that the met both in large corporate meetings (at the Jewish Temple) and in their homes. It even says they did this day by day!

Now we’ll look at the emphasis the Scriptures place on homes, starting from the ministry of Jesus to the life of the early church, including the letters, which give us more clues to God’s heart for church life.

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Life Groups: Living in the Kingdom from House to House

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TITLE: Living in the Kingdom from House to House
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 1 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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Life Groups

Part 1: Living in the Kingdom from House to House

 Why We Meet the Way We Do

It’s always been God’s desire that we co-labour with Him. We see this when we look at Jesus’ ministry. For three and a half years as he goes around from village to village, city to city, he calls a group of twelve to Himself, trains them and sends them out to continue His work.

But how should they continue His work? After he has faced the cross and overcomes and is resurrected, He tells them to wait. Simply to wait. He promises that they are going to receive something that will let them be His witnesses even to the ends of the earth (Matt 28: 19, 20).

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Ideas for when you host someone in your home

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The best kind of hosting does not involve the best décor.  The heart of the ideas in this article is simply to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable.

Ideas of things to include in the room they will stay in:

  • Clean linen and towels, including hand towel and face cloth with a bar of soap.
  • A jug of water and glasses or bottled water.
  • Bin and tissues.
  • Hanging and cupboard space with some hangers.
  • An adapter available in the power point that can take 2 pin plugs.
  • A mirror and chair if possible.
  • A little gift.
  • Simple flowers and snacks.
  • An extra blanket for winter.

Other things to think about:

  • Ask them what they like for breakfast.
  • Show them where stuff is in the kitchen so they can help themselves if necessary.
  • Try to keep times of chatting short so as not to drain your guests.
  • Offer them a spare set of house keys so that can get in if you’re not around.

If you would like to put your name on the list for hosting someone in your home, contact info (011) 616 4073 or info@www.cornerstonechurch.co.za.