INTRODUCTION TO GRACE CHURCHWelcome !

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History and Mission

SESSION ONETHE GRACE CHURCH STORY

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Mission Planning and Gathering

A NEW CHURCH FOR SILICON VALLEY

2000 2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

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2000 2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

April 2001– above Knuckle’s sport bar

WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING

Nixon Elementary School / Small groups

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RUF

BUILDING A BASEChildren’s Ministries

Leadership Training

The JLS Cafetoriu

m

2000 2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

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2000 2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Organization Service Elected Servant-leaders

ESTABLISHING A CHURCH

Gunn High School GraceTeen

Serving the Community

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BEGINNING TO MULTIPLY

2000 2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

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MISSION STATEMENT

To be a Christ-centered community

that worships the Trinity and loves our neighbors by applying the Gospel

to all areas of life.

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CORE VALUES

gospel centrality

community

mission

transformationrestoration

vocation

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PASTORAL STAFF

DREWVisionPreach

CG SystemPastor

Network

BOBGraceTeen

GraceUCG CoachWorship

Discipleship

LUKEMusic

OutreachCG Coach

Church Life

Discipleship

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MINISTRY COORDINATING STAFF

JESSEMinistry

CoordinationSunday

Bookkeeping

LAURAGraceKidsInfants - K

DONNAGraceKids

1-6th

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•First steps to the future •Communicate vision•Reorganize staff and structure

Foundation

•Grow SJ and PA•Quality of worship•Quality of groups•Stewardship

Site Stability

•Lay leadership training•Clarifying roles•Inspiring creativity

Leadership Development

•Assess growth areas•Additional learning environments•Guidance and direction

Spiritual Maturity

FOUR GOALS FOR 2010

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GROUP QUESTIONS

Spend a few minutes learning the names and background of your group members.

What has been one unique aspect of Grace Church that you’ve noticed ?

What do you hope to learn about the church today?

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What Do We Believe? Key Doctrinal Issues

SESSION TWOGOSPEL CENTRALITY

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THREE CIRCLES OF CHRISTIAN BELIEF

Historic Christian Churches

EvangelicalProtestants Reformed

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OUTER CIRCLE: ALL CHRISTIANS

Apostle’s CreedWho Is God? Unique. Creator. Infinite. Trinity.Who Is Jesus? Fully God. Fully Man.

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EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CIRCLE

What is the Bible? Revelation. Canon. Clarity.Who is Mankind? Image of God. Fallen. Sinner by nature and choice.What is Salvation? Reconciliation. Restoration.

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REFORMED CHURCHES

Sovereignty of GodCentrality of Christ’s WorkCovenantal view of ScriptureComprehensive worldview

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WHY AM I A CHRISTIAN?

1 2 3 4

How do I know that God has saved me? John 6:37

Father:Rom 9:11-13

Romans 3:10-12Deut 6/Rom 9:23

Eph 1:1-14

Son:Eph 5:25-27John 10:15

John 10:26-29John 6:39-40

Holy Spirit:Romans 3:23

John 6:442Tim 2:25John 3:3

Preservation:Phil 1:6

Rom 6:11-14Rom 12:1-2

Eph 2:9

creationpre-creation

new creation

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COVENANT AND REDEMPTION

One Covenant of Grace

Creation Fall No

ahAbraham

Moses

David

New

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Q&A ABOUT OUR BASIC BELIEFS

Doctrinal Statement = PCA Confession of Faith:The Westminster Confession

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BREAK !

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Fellowship, Membership and Life Together

SESSION THREEGOSPEL COMMUNITY

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GOD’S CALL TO COMMUNITY

Christian community = redemptive relationships

Each person is a “minister”

Developing real community takes effort,moving friends from outer to inner cicles >>

Public

You

Circles of Relationship

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GRACE CHURCH COMMUNITY GROUPS

Serves as the Social > Close Friends bridge

Our Community Group System provides systematic pastoral care through groups, enabling Christian growth

Each group develops a primary Christian community where lives are transformed by the Gospel through mutual ministry

Worship| Study | Prayer | Fellowship | Service

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MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH

Why church membership? Church membership is different: a

provider, not a consumer Biblical community and commitment

(Heb 3:13) Oversight and care by spiritual leaders

(Jer. 17, Hebrews 13:17) Use of spiritual gifts in ministry

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MEMBERSHIP VOWS1. Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the

sight of God, justly deserving his displeasure, and without hope except through his sovereign mercy?

2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?

3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?

4. Do you promise to support the church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?

5. Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to strive for its purity and peace?

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ACTIVE CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT

DAILY WALK

W/GOD

WEEKLY WORSHIP

COMMUNITY

GROUP

MINISTER TO

OTHERS

STEWARDSHIP

BRING AND

INCLUDE

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HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?

1. Membership Seminar2. Membership Application / Interview

Contact a pastor to set up an appointment

3. Session Approval4. Take Public Vows (+ Baptism, if

needed)

Do I Have To Be A Presbyterian To Join?NO!

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INVESTED AND CONNECTED TOGETHER

Belong

ServeRetreats

Leadership

Community

Groups

Sunday Teams

Pastoral Care

GraceCares

GraceGlobal

Grace@Work

Sunday Classes

Events

MeetWorship

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GROUP QUESTIONS

What does community look and feel like to you?

Where at Grace Church have you already participated? How did that help you get involved?

Have you connected to a community group? Share a highlight of that group.

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Living Out the Gospel For Others

SESSION FOURGOSPEL MISSION

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“MISSIONAL CHURCH”

What compels us since our launch? Not for ourselves but for others Stay ‘simple’ and focused on mission Speak in plain language, avoid “us/them” Not embarrassing to your friends “Success” = gospel changed lives Enter into the world around us Live radically changed and surprising lives

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MISSIONAL: CHRIST CENTERED CHURCH LIFE

Community Centered Around Jesus,Not the “Boundary” Entry

Church Focused on the “Boundary” MarkersAnd Not Focused on the Core Gospel

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‘Restarted’

Grace

Extends gospel

Focus on

mission

Reach neighbors

Develop leaders

Leverages staff

MULTI-SITE AND NEW CHURCHES

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ONE CHURCH IN MANY LOCATIONS

GRACE CHURCHSILICON VALLEY

Vision, Mission, Admin, Preaching/Music

Leader Development, Staffing

San Jose Site

• Worship• Community

Groups• Outreach

Palo Alto Site

• Worship• Community

Groups• Outreach

Future

SitesFutur

e Sites

Stanford RUF

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GLOBAL MISSIONS

RESTARTING a new emphasis on mission in 2010

Supporting missions in other cities – SE Asia, Mexico, Africa, Bulgaria, Pakistan

Sending short-term teams from Grace to help church plant networks (ex: Saltillo)

Helping foreign church planting and training local leaders

Concern for physical needs of developing nations and issues of justice: Compassion, Chalmer’s Center, Kiva, IJM

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WORSHIP IN MISSION

First: God’s GloryWorship at Grace Church connects Christians to God

Second: Expanding God’s GloryWorship at Grace Church connects other people to God.

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STEWARDSHIP IN MISSION

All Money is God’s Money Giving Must Be In Significant Proportions.

10%+ Evaluate your heart with regard to money

What do you most enjoy spending money on? What percentage of your income is going to: God's causes, people in need. How close is it to 10% of your income?

Giving Must be Regular and Consistent Prayerfully distributed among Christian

causes as God directs

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LUNCH BREAK !

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Becoming like Jesus from the inside - out

SESSION FIVEGOSPEL TRANSFORMATION

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LEGALISM AND RELATIVISMLegalist/ Moralist/’Religious’

“Truth without grace.” Says or implies that we must obey the truth in order to be saved.The religious only repent of sins.Moral and religious people are sorry for their sins, but they see sins as simply the failure to live up to standards by which they are saving themselves.Without a knowledge of Christ's completely satisfying life and death, the knowledge of sin crushes us or moves us to deny and repress it.

Relativist/ Hedonist/Irreligious

“Grace without truth.”Says or implies that we are accepted by God regardless of what is true.The irreligious don't repent at all.Irreligious people aren’t sorry at all, or at most they are sorry for some of the bad consequences of their sins which go against their ability to enjoy life to the fullest.Without a knowledge of our extreme sin, the payment of the gospel seems trivial and does not electrify or transform us.

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GOSPEL TRANSFORMATION

Gospel brings a new relationship with God:Not boss/employee, but father/child

Change from the inside out: New identity united in Christ Jesus. Real change is deeper than behavioral change

Idolatry is the root sin: a functional savior that’s not Jesus.

Examples: Despair, guilt, fear, anger, manipulation, lust, hopelessness… evidence of idolatry

Worshiping the Real God, loving Jesus more, leads to greater holiness

Christians continually grow by grace, through faith, in deepening circles

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TRANSFORMING GRACEAdoratio

n

Aware of Sin

Despair

Repentance/Faith

Sanctification

Dynamic of Spiritual Transformation: Faith / RepentanceOn New / Off Old >>

Means of Grace Private Prayer, Bible Worship, Sacraments Preaching, Teaching Fellowship Service Study Meditation, etc.

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THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE (GOD’S LAW)

Why Commandments? God's law expresses his character, i.e.

what he is like, what he loves, what he hates.

Since we are created in his image, we can only find fulfillment in a life of law-keeping. The law expresses what we were both made and redeemed for (Exodus 20:1-2).

Law and Love Sinless Perfection, or a Lifetime of

Repentance? Christian Ethics in the Public Sphere

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CASE STUDY: GRACE IN CONFLICTMatthew 18:15-17 Conflict resolution. Colossians 1:19-20

Focu

s on

sel

f

Focus on God

Focus on ‘enemy’

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4 STEPS OF FORGIVENESS

Glorify God Get the log out of your eye Gently show your brother his

fault Be reconciled

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PEACEMAKING IN THE CHURCH

Informal Discipline (below the surface)Self-examinationSitting under ScripturesGeneral interaction among believers. Personal conflict resolution.

Formal DisciplineFor non-repentanceElders and PastorsWhole church

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PURPOSE OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE

1. Maintain the honor and glory of God(Rom. 2:23-24)

2. Maintain and promote the purity of Christ's Church (1 Cor. 15:33-34)

3. Restore the fallen to a life of godliness(Gal. 6:1)

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SESSION SIXGOSPEL RESTORATION

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CITIES AND CULTURES

Broken Design: Separation, class

and danger Competition and

inhumanity Cultural gods

dominate(tallest buildings = home for the ‘gods’)

God’s Design: Refuge for the weak

and safety Culture making and

creativity Spiritual center for

God’s glory

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SOCIAL PROBLEMS ARE WORSHIP PROBLEMS

Societal “Functional Saviors” Wealth Race/ethnicity State Reason/education Progress/technology

Leads to injustice, violence, strife, dependency, intolerance

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ALREADY / NOT-YET: NOW + FUTURE

Not Yet•Begins with Jesus•Hope and power•New Heavens and Earth

Already

•Begins in the Garden•Continuing sin•Continuing effects of sin•Ends at the Return

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GOSPEL IS NEITHER LEFT NOR RIGHT

Brings Hope to Hopeless, Humility to Powerful, Unity to Separated, Bond of Common Grace

Mercy partners Community Pregnancy Center CityTeam Hope for a Child Compassion International Leland House (with RUF) New Ministies… plus personal and group ministries

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Participating in Grace Church

SESSION SEVENGOSPEL VOCATION

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GOD’S KINGDOM PURPOSES

Redeeming the World: New Heavens and New Earth

Your Whole Life is for God’s Glory and to serve his Kingdom

Gospel: You have been saved for a purpose

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CALLING IN CHURCH AND LIFE

Where Do I Serve Best?

ABILITY AFFINITY

OPPORTUNITY

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WHO DOES WHAT IN A CHURCH?

MEMBERS

MinisterOne Another

Outside

STAFF

GuideEquip

Connect

PASTOR

LeadsVisionUnity

ELDERS

GovernShepherdSupport

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CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Multiple Officers

Elders

Diaconate

Selection/Ordination

Assemblies

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CHRIST’S CHURCH

Ed Clowney, The Church

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ELDERS AT GRACE CHURCH

Shepherd (Individually)• Prayer + Care

Govern• Accountability + Vision

Approval

Support• Encourage + Resource

Tyler MartinTom OliveriLloyd TaylorJoe Weber

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HOW ARE DECISIONS MADE?Church: Elders

Churches: Presbytery Presbyteries: General Assembly

Congregation

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NEXT STEPSCONNECT to

a Community Group

CONTACT a Pastor

ENGAGE in Ministry

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HANDOUTS

Notes and Resources

Membership

Application

Peacemaker Brochure

Involvement

Financial Details