Goal #3

So, if the scripture from the "Goal #1" post holds true, then we haven't yet addressed the second part of Ephesians 4:12. Making more followers of Christ is only one half the equation. In the parlance of "Mo-Betta," it's time to discuss "Betta." In his book "The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" Bishop Robert Schnase (Missouri's United Methodist Bishop) the bishop says (and I'm paraphrasing here since I don't have his book right in front of me) that the question we want to be able to answer to the affirmative is that at this time next year I will love God more than I do today.

In the language of Good Shepherd we have as our task as Christ-followers the responsibility to Love, Learn and Live. We Love God, Learn about Christ, and Live the way the Holy Spirit leads us. That's the inward side of faith. Outwardly, we're to share the love of God, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit with our community. That all sounds good... something we can all get behind. But how??? During the coming year I will work with a team to begin the design of a faith transformation process. The goal being to give you a simple, clear, and effective process to assist you to be able to answer to the affirmative "This year I love God more than I did last year."

The goal is to have the initial presentation of the process (Beta version) rolled out by the first of September.