18 October 2008

Gateway Training

Teaching in Soul-Winning CARE Groups

Johnny & Tina Wong - Gateway Adventist Centre

www.gatewaysda.org
johnnytina.wong@gmail.com
Gateway Adventist Center (GAC) | Adventist Students On Campus (ASOC)

What is Gateway?

Ministry started by a few SDA young people 19-22 y.o.

c A network of care groups (small group

ministry) and many overseas care groups

d New Church in the city of Melbourne that grew

from 35 to 150 in 4 years. 2nd Church started May 08

e Training Centre to train young people to be

soul-winners for Christ & courses to reach the
community via needs-based courses

f Church sponsoring the Student Club (Adventist

Student On Campus) at 3 University Campuses

Gateway is an Outreach center 60 baptism in 5 years

Healing of Paralytic Man Luke 5:17-26 and Mark 2:2-12

Mark 2:3 Four men passion for the friend

Mark 2:4 Effort required by team, bring to Jesus

Mark 2:5 Living out their faith (Witnessing)

Luke 5:25 depart to his own house, glorifying

 True Disciple

Every true disciple is born into the kingdom

of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the
living water becomes a fountain of life. The
receiver becomes a giver. Desire of Ages p.195
What is the End Game?

Goals:
- Souls are won; people are baptised
- Groups will grow in Spiritual depth
- Group will grow in number and multiply

Melbourne - 2007
Parkville Melb University
NM Chinese Drummond Auburn
Hawthorn East
North Melb
Lookout
Flagstaff
East Melb
Yarraville
Southbank
Melbourne City

Oakleigh
Port Philip Bay
Principles of Small Groups

What is the model?

Three equally important parts:

c Sharing a meal

d Word relevant & simple

e Sharing Time

- How was your week?

- Anything to pray for?
Principles of CARE Groups

What is the model? Wholistic CARE Groups

Three equally important parts:
Left-Hand Illustration:
c Sharing a meal
- Community
d Word relevant & simple
- Go make
e Sharing Time
- Leadership
- How was your week?
- Anything to pray for? - Accountability

- Equipping
How To Teach in CARE groups? General Principles

The Bible and Bible Only

Not a book review time
Not using EGW to substantiate key points
Not Spirit of Prophecy book reading
Spirit of Prophecy used for reference

Use a Study Series

People have level of comfort to join a series
Choose study series most relevant to your seekers
Use CG Teaching Resource
35 min relational study

Core members to live out the word

www.gatewaysda.org
Application / projects in our own lives

Must bait the SDA Bible Truth 5s (Sabbath, State of the Dead, Second
Coming, Sanctification, Sanctuary)
How To Teach in CARE groups? Preparing a Study

Heart preparation meditate, think, pray about the passage

Have you prayed for the seekers in your group?
Jot down 2 3 (no more) key points to convey
Can you place any names of your CG member/seeker next to the key point?
Are you relating the key points to a need in your CG?

Need to understand the seekers in your group

Learn to mingle and ask spiritual questions
Tell me about your spiritual journey so far
Spiritual background do you have the same belief as your parents?
CG Coordinators
Seeker
Know how to speak clearly Leader
Seeker
Consider the intonation of voice
Practise, practise, practise Carer

Member
Member

Member
He who begins with a little knowledge, in a
humble way, and tells what he knows, while
seeking diligently for further knowledge, will
find the whole heavenly treasure awaiting his
demand. The more he seeks to impart light,
the more light he will receive. The more one
tries to explain the word of God to others,
with a love for souls, the plainer it becomes
to himself. The more we use our knowledge
and exercise our powers, the more
knowledge and power we shall have.
Christ Object Lessons p.354
How To Teach in CARE groups? When you teach five mistakes to avoid

Talking Too Much

It is not you presenting a sermon
Are you getting people engaged in the Bible Study?

Asking Artificial Questions

Prepare questions that can lead to the 2-3 key main points
Be real, not outstanding questions that people cannot respond to
No patronising and obvious questions (this is not kindergarden)

No Preparation, or Too Much Preparation

The key is being sensitive to God (watch, listen, eye-ball people, see Spirit lead)
Let the study speak to you personally first

No Fun or Creativity
Object lesson, Flip Chart, Drawing etc

Failure to Encourage Application

Leave adequate time for application
How To Teach in CARE groups? Handling Objections

Ask a question when a question is raised

Can you elaborate on your question, so that we understand it better?
Was there any other related question to that important question you raised?
Why is it important to understand the answer to that question?

Clarify and understand their question

Best to handle objections by answer from the Bible do not venture a half-
baked answer it may sound like an opinion rather than Biblical truth
Say you do not know Lets research it together in the Bible and get back
together this week
Keep your word research it

Check if it is merely an intellectual, cognitive pursuit rather than a real

question
How do I know we had a good CARE group?

Did I listen?
Was I too busy trying to get through the points and did not listen to words,
between the words or even listen to the body language?

Did I touch a felt-need?

Our success depends on our ability to reach the heart. Did I share a point /
bible promise that meet a persons need?

Did God speak through the word?

Was the points supported by the Bible?
Did the word of God guide our discussion or was it opinions?
Did we really pray together?
Not just a ritual but we really, really prayed together
Did we laugh?
Was I vulnerable to my group? Was I open?
Did our commitment deepen?
Gateways Integrated Discipleship Model

SPIRIT LED
Youth Conference
Training & Seminars

Training
Training
Bible study together
Counsel Bible
Bible with new contacts
Oversees Teacher
Elders
Elders Teacher Coaching/Praying
Coach

Accountability
Serve Together
Ministry
Ministry
Coach them Leaders
Leaders New Members

Spiritual
Spiritual
Guardian
Guardian

Discipleship
Discipleship
Class
Class (FAST)
(FAST)
Training Care
Care Group
Group Primary Carer
Accountability Nurture
Skills Development Counsel
Accountability Discern Spiritual Gifts
Nurture Channel Gifts
Leadership Training Oversees their service
Teaching Development
REQUENTLY

SKED

UESTIONS
CG Language

We need to be careful on the use of words / jargons at CG.

-- do not use EGW material when we have many new seekers in care
group (reference for leaders only)
-- Bible and Bible only
-- Lead people to claim Bible promises

No church gossips or rumors at CG (not a second church board meeting).

How do I know my CG is growing?

Our measure must be about Spiritual Health Watch Holy Spirit work.
Reach the heart

Your success will not depend so much upon

your knowledge and accomplishments, as
upon your ability to find your way to the
heart.
Gospel Workers p.193

Seekers inviting friends sign of acceptance and comfortable with group

Seekers asking questions and moving to personal studies.

Ask three questions during mingle time: 1. Was it clear to you? 2. Did you
understand the topic? 3. What did you learn?
How do I get people involved and own the group?

Core members clear vision why the group exist

Seekers ownership and involvement (roles)

Everyone gets to share before prayer:

-- how is your week?
-- what did learn from the topic today?
-- what can we pray for you about?

Drawing people out

-- reminder members to MINGLE
-- leaders set the example
-- Simple Fellowship dinner makes it relaxing, open environment
-- no opinion render is wrong / be open to accept that is their current view
-- facilitation skills training for leaders
-- stop domineering people

All to pray - Group sharing and pair-prayers (get seekers to pray .. May be
next week?)
How to handle members-only CG?

Talk to the leaders about vision and values.

Share with them slow death and death of a thousand cuts examples.

Nurture No!
Training Yes! Develop people into disciples

Check 5 finger principles with leadership get agreement

Pray for seekers or shut-down & redistribute resources

Accountability card : 1. Who do you pray for? 2. What did you do about it
this week? 3. What will you do next week? (Filter out)
How do I engineer departure of some people?

Be direct with them.

Divide up the group during study time.

For the group that is to be engineered out go through vision/values

and seek their agreement to 5 fingers. Otherwise stop the group.

Leaders/Elders to chat with them personally.

How to split CG? (multiplication)

Identify leadership early pray with them.

Same home meals together; two places for study+sharing time.

Share with seekers and others they have a choice.

Decision: friends, link person, topics, needs, location

Both leaders to make a proposed list of names and pray over the names.
Encourage and sell benefit of the groups.

Meet back once in 5 weeks to share the learnings.

What if there are no seekers in my group?

PRAY

Make a list of friends pray.

Run a letter-boxing in the neighbourhood pray.

Direct Evangelism SEARCH video, door knocking, work on project

together (1-2 people initiate it)

Read Gospel Workers p.136 Dream about ripen berries

What if a seeker got lots of questions but no one can give Bible studies?

PRAISE GOD!

Make a list of friends pray.

Work with Personal Ministry Leader who knows the resources available.

A member of the CG is to be involved in the study.

Offer 3-5 sessions for Q & A session (not Bible studies)

A REFORMATORY MOVEMENT

In visions of the night, representations passed before me

of a great reformatory movement among God's people.
Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other
miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen,
even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost.
Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and
opening before them the word of God. Hearts were
convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of
genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors
were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The
world seemed to be lightened with the heavenly influence.
Great blessings were received by the true and humble
people of God. I heard voices of thanksgiving and praise,
and there seemed to be a reformation such as we
witnessed in 1844.. - 9T p.126
&