S T E W A R D S H I P

Tuning Hearts To God

with Ben Maxson

Department Strategy
Stewardship Education Strategy
ia lI nf o.

Stewardship Strategy

Fi na nc

m Si ed ifi pl O S ff. . ys

STW Department Focus

Tithe & Offerings

Financial Discipleship
Ch. Finance Info.

Spiritual Leadership Discipling

Lordship Stewardship / Discipleship

But the word busy is the symptom not of commitment but of betrayal. It is not devotion but defection. The adjective busy set as a modifier to pastor should sound to our ears like adulterous to characterize a wife or embezzling to describe a banker. It is an outrageous scandal, a blasphemous affront (Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor, p. 27)

The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him. Oswald Chambers

To comprehend and enjoy God, is the highest exercise of the powers of man.
Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 05 30 82.

Focus for the Day

Understanding Spiritual Formation & Discipling Shaping the Heart Shaping the Mind Shaping the Life

Balance
Understand how spiritual formation works Move beyond theory Move to the practice of shaping our lives The What and the How Dedicate this day

Understanding Discipling and Spiritual Formation

Discipleship Definitions
Spirituality is the realized lordship of Jesus Christ. Lordship is intimacy with God through the indwelling Christ integrated into daily life. It is the result of accepting Christ as Savior, Owner, and present within us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Discipleship Definitions
A disciple is one who walks with, learns from, and lives in submission to a master in order to become like the master.

Discipleship Definitions
Biblical discipling is the art of shaping the life of an individual into growing partnership with God. It begins with assurance of salvation through the acceptance of the Gospel, and then continues integrating Christs lordship into every area of daily life.

Discipleship Definitions
Spiritual disciplines are the tools of discipleship. They work to help us focus on Jesus Christ, explore principles, and integrate discipleship into every area of life.

Describing the Disciple

1. Passionately loves Jesus Christ. 2. Maintains intimacy through daily devotional life.

Describing the Disciple

3. Integrates Christ into every area of life. 4. Makes Christ the priority in all decisions. 5. Actively shares Christ.

Discipleship Secret
The indwelling Spirit Intimate union/partnership Integrating relationship into daily life

Spirituality Myths
1. The goodness mythif you are good, you are spiritual. 2. The knowledge mythif you know your Bible, you are holy. 3. The church attendance mythyou are spiritual if you go to church regularly. 4. The lifestyle mythyou are spiritual if you have a careful lifestyle.

Spirituality Myths
5. The church leader mythif you are a church leader, you are spiritual. 6. The soul winner mythif you are a soul winner, you are spiritual. 7. The sin mythif you sin, you are not spiritual.

Spirituality Myths
8. The poverty mythif you are poor, you are spiritual. 9. The giving mythyou are spiritual if you give a lot. 10. The prayer mythyou are spiritual if you pray well.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION ONENESS GOSPEL

PRESENCE

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

GOSPEL

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION ONENESS GOSPEL

PRESENCE

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

VISION ONENESS GOSPEL

PRESENCE

LORDSHIP

SPIRITUAL FORMATION, Cont.

VISION ONENESS

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

Most problems come in areas of Gospel/Lordship: -- Failure to integrate Gospel. -- Failure to submit to Lordship.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION, Cont.

VISION ONENESS

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

Cause of the problem is often in the area of Vision or Presence. -- Loss of Vision distorts the Gospel. -- Loss of Presence distorts Lordship.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION, Cont.

VISION ONENESS

PRESENCE

GOSPEL

LORDSHIP

Best answer -- combine Vision & Presence -- it transforms the way we live. Place to start -Vision > Gospel > Lordship > Presence.

Spirituality Conceptual Model

God is Lord of the Universe
God Controls Influences Permits / Allows
Sin

H. Sp. Incarna tion

Spirituality Union with God Intimate Partnership Creating & Recreating

Ch oic e

Spirituality is the realized Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is that quality of life which responds to God's initiative and seeks to listen to the voice of God through a centering of oneself in Him, maintaining an openness to God and an absolute submission to His will.

Spirituality Key Points

Only in relationship to Biblical God Scripture defines boundaries Transformation=divine miracle Omitting centrality of cross=failure Counterfeit spirituality False if not centered in Christ

Discipleship Dimensions
Discipleship is 1. Multi-dimensional

Spiritual

Me nta l

Discipleship
ial

tio mo E

l na

l ica ys Ph

2. God focusednot self or church focused 3. Systemicit must include all of life 4. Process oriented 5. Growth aimed 6. Relationally based

So c

Discipleship Dimensions

Spiritual

Me nta l

Discipleship
ial

tio mo E

l na

l ica ys Ph

To comprehend and enjoy God is the highest exercise of the powers of man.
(EGW, RH 5/30/1892)

So c

Discipleship Dimensions
Spiritual

Me

nta l

ot Em

al i on

Discipleship
i al
l ic a ys Ph

So c

Discipleship Dimensions

Spiritual

Me nta l

Discipleship
ial

tio mo E

l na

l ica ys Ph

The spiritual dimensionGod is Spirit, we are spiritualcreated for a life integrated in God. Knowing God Knowing Scripture Experiencing God Practicing spiritual disciplines Integrating the spiritual into all of life

So c

Discipleship Dimensions

Spiritual

Me nta l

Discipleship
ial

tio mo E

l na

l ica ys Ph

The mental dimension The experience with God begins in our minds and carries over into all of life. Habits = pathways in the minds The mindvirtually limitless capacity Understanding truthmoving beyond information storage Thinking biblicallychallenging culture Developing a biblical philosophy of life

So c

Discipleship Dimensions

Spiritual

Me nta l

Discipleship
ial

tio mo E

l na

l ica ys Ph

The physical dimension The body impacts all other dimensions. Disciplining physical desires Conditioning the body temple Strengthening for service Prioritizing time and effort Managing Gods resources

So c

Discipleship Dimensions

Spiritual

Me nta l

Discipleship
ial

tio mo E

l na

l ica ys Ph

The emotional Decisions are most easily determined by our emotions. Recognizing emotional scars from sin Emotional healing required for growth Integrating the gospelfoundation for healing Often begins through human relationships

So c

Discipleship Dimensions

Spiritual

Me nta l

Discipleship
ial

tio mo E

l na

l ica ys Ph

The social Relationships are the context in which spiritual growth takes place. The family a. Context for initial growth b. Support base for continued growth c. First context for discipling

So c

Discipleship Dimensions

Spiritual

Me nta l

Discipleship
ial

tio mo E

l na

l ica ys Ph

The social, cont. The Church (as the Body of Christ) a. A celebrating fellowship b. A ministering community The world a. Site of the Great Controversy b. Target for redemption c. Context of daily spirituality d. Location for redemptive relationships

So c

Discipleship Elements
Values Priorities

Disciplines

Mission

Discipleship Growth Areas

Disciplines

Values

Priorities

Disciplines

Mission

Spiritual disciplines are tools of discipleship Begin with integrating principles a. Prayer b. Relational Bible reading c. Meditation d. Memorization

Discipleship Growth Areas

Values

Priorities

Disciplines

Mission

Disciplines, cont. Move into application disciplines a. Financial discipleship b. Sabbath keeping c. Time management d. Witnessing e. Simplicity

Discipleship Growth Areas

Values

Priorities

Mission Disciplines Values Recognizing what is important where we are in the kingdom of the world Determining what should be importantwhere we want to be in Gods kingdom Making decisionsGods kingdom in our world

Discipleship Growth Areas

Priorities Who is going to be first?

Values

Priorities

Disciplines

Mission

Who is going to be in control? Where do we start?

Discipleship Growth Areas

Personal Mission 1. Why we are here

Values

Priorities

Disciplines

Mission

2. How we partner with God

Discovering our Mission

Spiritual gifts Convictions Burdens Glorifying God Relating to the church Relating to the world

General Points
Holy Spirit changes hearts Holy Spirit empowers change & growth Holy Spirit only appropriate motivation We help open lives

General Points, cont.

Only lead from own experience Personal testimony = tool in discipling Discipling is a process We are pilgrims on a journey

E-Mail Address maxsonb@gc.adventist.org

Shaping the Heart

Introduction
Someone after Gods heart? How to shape our hearts to respond?

The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing. . . . It is the heart which perceives God and not reason. That is what faith is: God perceived by the heart, not by reason. (Blaise Pascal, Penses)

Creation designed for intimacy

Incarnation intimacy restored

Holy Spirit means of intimacy

2 Coming
nd

intimacy realized

Learning to Love
Love is not built by choice Love is awakened by love Love grows through nurtured intimacy

Learning to Love
List ideas for nurturing intimacy with God:

Learning to Love
Enochs model Rhythm to God for strength To men for ministry

Exploring the Gospel

Exploring the Gospel

The Good News that Jesus has solved the sin problem Past Present Future

KINGDOM TO KINGDOM

Kingdom of God

KINGDOM TO KINGDOM
Kingdom of God Kingdom of Darkness Condition Sinful Nature Act Separation Dominion of Sin

KINGDOM TO KINGDOM
Kingdom of God
Kingdom of Darkness Condition Sinful Nature Act Separation Dominion of Sin

Kingdom of Light Union with Christ Divine Nature Righteous Acts

Sinful Nature

Act

Lordship of Christ

2nd Coming

Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 05-12-96 If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins willfully; for when he sees his mistake, he turns again, and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred, does not make him less dear to the heart of God.

He knows that he has communion with the Saviour; and when reproved for his mistake in some matter of judgment, he does not walk sullenly, and complain of God, but turns the mistake into a victory.

Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. Oswald Chambers

Relational Bible Reading

Relational Bible Reading is the spiritual discipline of systematic Bible reading for the purpose of knowing God.

Relational Bible Reading

You will seek and find me . . . (Jer. 29:13; Deut. 4:29) . . . I will draw all men . . . (John 12:32)

Key questions
What does this passage tell me about God? What does this passage tell me about me and God? How does this passage help me walk with God?

Starting Point
Begin with prayer Start reading with crucifixion Move to life of Jesus Then the Psalms Historical portions Theology

MeditationTuning our Hearts

Meditation is the focusing of our mind and hearts on God by quieting the mind and using the imagination to focus on God and His Word.

Narrative Meditation
Narrative Meditation is the practice of purposefully controlling your imagination and focusing on a specific story from a consistent perspective in an attempt to experience as much of what happened as possible.

Narrative Meditation
Helpful Points: Control and guide the imagination Focus on biblical story as participant Use the imagination

Guide for Imagination

1. Use your will to focus your thoughts. 2. Let past experience and knowledge inform your imagination. 3. Let Scripture control or provide the boundaries for your imagination.

Opening the HeartPrayer

Prayer is: Actiongoing to God. Sharing our burdens with God. An attitudebeing open with God. Dialogue with God.

Dimensions in Prayer
Listening Sharing . . . The opening of the heart to God as to a friend.

Prayer does not equip us for greater worksprayer is the greater work. Oswald Chambers

Structure in Prayer
Helps focus prayer Provides discipline Gives substance Helps avoid repetition Makes prayer life more powerful

ACTS Prayer
A Adoration C Confession T Thanksgiving S Supplication

The Lords Prayer

Sanctuary Prayer

Choosing the Right Values

Values
Principles or ideals foundation for our choices and behavior Factors such as love, position, power, meaning, and belonging Often subconscious and therefore usually unrecognized

Values Process
Traditional values Contemporary values Existing values Biblical values Personal choice

Shaping the Mind

Thinking Biblically
Biblical Thinking is a way of thinking that identifies and explores the biblical paradigm, builds a biblical truth framework, develops a biblical philosophy of life, and evaluates any new input through the biblical thinking grid one has developed.

Problems
Born with sinful nature Cultural glasses Cannot eliminate cultural impact Cannot eliminate our own past

Key Ingredients
Biblical knowledge base Clear known pre-suppositions Identifiable biblical paradigm Truth framework Evaluation process

General Points
Its a journeynot a destination Scripture provides boundaries Both/and not either/or Truth is bigger

General Points, cont.

Biblical truth is always experiential We come to truth as learners We are pilgrims on a shared journey

Exploring the Biblical Paradigm

The biblical paradigm is the conceptual foundation for thinking biblically. It is the big picture or conceptual whole of truth. It is developing a biblical philosophy of life which helps make our daily living congruent with Scripture.

Exploring the Biblical Paradigm

Biblical thinking is a process Aligning minds with biblical truth

Key Ingredients
Who God is Who we are as humans Sinrebellion against God Faithbasis for knowing God

Key Perspective
The Great Controversy

Key Perspective
How God maintains His integrity

How God deals with sin

How God deals with sinners

Biblical Truth Framework

A Biblical Truth Framework is a system for understanding and applying the biblical paradigm in the context of daily living. It is often expressed as a system of doctrines.

Role of Doctrine
Doctrines are those principles which a group/church agrees upon as truths held in common by the members of the group/church. The group/churchs articulation of truth developed over time Serve to strengthen the group/church and individuals in their walk with God:

Doctrines:
Tools for discipleship Group boundaries Express application Cannot stand alone

Doctrines, Cont.
Need to be rearticulated Part of biblical & organizational tradition Developed by group individually owned Danger of solidifying into codes

In Practice
Is it true? Does it fit the wholethe biblical paradigm? Can I understand it in the context of the biblical paradigm? Is it relevant to real life? Does it help people grow or is it just a point of truth?

Applying Doctrine
How does this doctrine/truth help me know God better? What does this doctrine/truth teach me about myself in relationship to God? What issues in contemporary culture does this doctrine/truth address? How does this doctrine/truth help me walk with God?

Putting it to Work
Prayer is the context Opens heart & mind to listen to God Brings thinking into context of Gods presence Primary tool for dealing with sin Acknowledges dependence on God

Putting it to Work, cont.

Prayer: Calms & centers us in God Aligns us with God Sensitizes us to Gods will Unites us to source of strength

Working with the Church

Working with the Church

Basic Attitudes:
Submission Historical Development

Context for spiritual gifts

Benefits of Memorization
Saturate mind with Gods Word Provides contact points for Holy Spirit Builds new thought patterns Connects us with God

Memorization Plan
Choose Bible version Select passage Write and repeat Meditate Review Use in ministry

Processing New Input

Is it true? Philosophical foundation? Contradict or negate?

Processing New Input, cont.

Add to previous understanding of truth? Contribute to growth or relevant? Help in walk with God?

Shaping the Life

Role of Obedience
Created for relationship with God Created for obedience Sin interrupted harmony Unable to obey

Role of Obedience
Gift of Grace Provides forgiveness Provides new life in Christ Provides power Provides obedience

Motivation for Obedience

. . . Love of Christ controls . . . . . . God who works in you . . . I will put my Spirit within you . . .

Power for Obedience

From beginning to end obedience is a gift!

Blessings of Obedience
Helps align our lives with God Implements a partnership with God Produces the fruit of the relationship with God Reduces the dissonance in our lives

Choosing Your Tools

What are you going to do to shape your life in tune with God? What tools can you use? It really is your choice!

Devotional Time
Regular time Regular place Start day with God Start with inviting prayer Saturate with prayer

Devotional Time, cont.

Have a planyet flexible Use variety of disciplines Close with prayer Multiple times during day

Journaling
Journaling is the practice of maintaining a spiritual diary. Its purpose is to provide regular and systematic reflection on ones walk with God, and a record of that walk and reflection.

Journaling
Provides systematic reflection on God and ones relationship with Him. Provides a review of how God has worked in ones life.

Journaling Hints
Use a notebook or computer file. Reflect on key points from devotional time. Reflect on how God is working. Write out prayers or record answered prayers. Record special experiences with God or events that have a meaningful impact.

Practicing the Presence

Practicing the presence of God is the art of consciously seeking to be alert to and aware of God's presence in our lives

Practicing the Presence, cont.

He has promised to be with us. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring His presence to us. We can do things which will help us be more sensitive to the reality of His presence.

Presence Pointers
Use your imagination Make room for God Try to think of God each minute Try to keep one part of your mind focused on God Be conscious of the presence of God

Priorities
Priorities are those choices we make which determine our behavior. Often, our priorities are automatic and contradictory. Clarifying our priorities and aligning them with Scripture are powerful tools for shaping our lives.

Purpose
Improve effectiveness Identify the important Allocate resources Control time Reduce emergencies

Areas to Consider
Convictions by the Holy Spirit Call to ministry Relational needs of those around us Job/career requirements Greatest returns or rewards

Principles
Analyze Eliminate Plan Trust Move forward

The Integrated Life

God First
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness . . .

Removing Blocks
Deal with sin Depart from iniquity (2 Tim. 2:19) Eliminate distractions Move towards God

Personal Spiritual History

Write your spiritual history Review your history Identify patterns/issues Identify Gods intervention Pray through

Plan Your Growth

What decisions do you want to make about your growth with God?

Meet me on the Eastern side of the tree of life!