Hawaii Lay Speakers

 

This session can also be downloaded from

 

Session I

In this session you will be able to:

·         describe what is means to be a leader

·         define the meaning of “spiritual leadership 

 

Devotional

As you begin this session and each session begin by singing a song.  In the Resource section below are websites to use for singing.

Sing: “The cry of my heart is to follow you.”   Go to http://www.turnbacktogod.com/it-is-the-cry-of-my-heart-to-follow-you-song/  for sing along

Read Hebrews 10:24-25

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Pray

O God, the Holy Spirit, come to us, and among us; come as the wind, and cleanse us; come as the fire, and burn; come as the dew, and refresh; convict, convert, and consecrate many hearts and lives to our great good and to thy greater glory; and this we ask for Jesus Christ’s sake.  Amen

Session One Presentation

Many of you come to leadership in the church because someone asked you to chair a committee.  Every wonder why you were asked?  Was there a need and you had some skills and ideas to contribute?  As a church leader you called not just to be a leader, but a spiritual leader.  Did you know that?  We will explore this concept by your readings and discussions.

 

Spiritual Leaders combine skills and faith in a spiritually nourishing environment.  Spiritual leadership helps the community of faith effect transformation in the congregation and the community.  Romans 12:2, 9 is our guide.

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 

  

Your first assignment is introduce yourself.  Please do so on the assignment tab.  The class facilitator introduction is on the link below.  Spiritual Journey of Winnie Ching

 

Another guide is from The Book of Disciple of the United Methodist Church 

The link below will get you to the table of content

http://umcneb.org/administration/bookofdiscipline.htm 

Pages 87-96 Part III Ministry of all Christian, Section II can be found on the following link

http://umcneb.org/media/2008BookOfDisciplinePDFS/CONS001936QK004001A.pdf

Scroll down to ¶125 The Heart of Christian Ministry

Section II.  The Ministry of All Christians:

¶ 125. The Heart of Christian Ministry – The heart of Christian ministry is Christ’s ministry of outreaching love.  Christian ministry is the expression of the mind and mission of Christ by a community of Christians that demonstrates a common life of gratitude and devotion, witness and service, celebration and discipleship.  All Christians are called through their baptism to this ministry of servanthood in the world to the glory of God and for human fulfillment. The forms of ministry are diverse in locale, in interest, and in denomination accent, yet always catholic in spirit and outreach.

 

By catholic we mean universal, as it applies to all humankind.

 

Read the following poem.  What does it tell you about being a servant leader? 

The Wind of the Spirit

Where does the wind come from, Nicodemus?

Rabbi, I do not know.

Nor can you tell where it will go.

Put yourself into the path of the wind, Nicodemus.

You will be borne along

by something greater than yourself.

You are proud of your position,

content with your security,

but you will perish in such stagnant air.

Put yourself into the path of the wind, Nicodemus.

Bright leaves will dance before you.

You will find yourself in places

you never dreamed of going;

you will be forced into situations

you have dreaded

and find them like coming home.

You will have a power you never had before, Nicodemus.

You will be a new man.

Put yourself into the path of the wind.

        By Myra Scovel 1970

 

To learn more go to http://bible.org/seriespage/distinctives-christian-maturity-and-leadership

 

Say your own prayer of thanksgiving to end this session.

 

Resources

·         Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets, John P.Kretzmann and John L. McKnight, (Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research, 1993; ACTA Publications [800] 397-2282)

·         The Power of Asset Mapping, Luther K. Snow, The Albin Institute, 2004

·         Appreciative Inquiry Handbook, David L. Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline M. Stavros, Crown Custom Publishing, 2005

·         The Wind of the Spirit, Myra Scovel, Hearing God‘s Call: Ways of discernment for Laity and Clergy, Ben Campbell Johnson, Wm. B. Eerdman‘s Publishing Co., 2002

·         The Upper Room Worship Book Music and Liturgies for Spiritual Formation compiled and edited by Elise S. Eslinger, Upper Room Books, 2006.

Websites for songs

http://www.hymnsite.com/  List most of the hymns in the Methodist Hymnal.  Select a hymn and you may select the tune to be play by bells, piano or organ and words appear.

http://www.turnbacktogod.com/it-is-the-cry-of-my-heart-to-follow-you-song/  http://www.umcom.org/site/c.mrLZJ9PFKmG/b.3563949/k.E4C8/Training_United_Methodism_101.htm Go to this website to register for a free online course on Methodist 101.

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