Sowers
"Listen! A sower went out to sow...Let any one with ears to hear, listen!" (Mat. 13: Luke 8)
No one is "done" yet! The seeds of the Good News are sown on all different kinds of souls in our hearts. As we are sown, we are being prepared to sow.. If I flower the seed gets scattered and there are more seeds to sow. If I flower, the seed gets scattered and there are more seeds to sow. The fruit of our own spiritual growth gives seed/birth to new growth elsewhere. Each of us, including clergy and lay leadership, need do be open and always learning and listening to God and to each other. Just as Jesus became most fully the person God imagined him to be, we are called to become who God imagines us to be.
- Clergy and Lay leader's model spiritual growth - Share your stories. Share how God has touched you. Teach and model how to share God's stories.
- Education/Spiritual formation for the journey - What opportunities do you offer besides worship? For adults? For children? For teens? Does the guest know she is invited? Do you have a strategy for ongoing discipleship?
- Levels of discipleship - Offer classes and small group studies at various "levels". Alpha and membership classes are a start. What's next? How do you help people grow in Christ-likeness? Have you moved your newcomer class into a small group?
- Small groups - Make small group membership of some sort an expectation and norm for the church. Each small group, whether a discipleship group, support/recovery group, or ministry task group or fellowship group are places people can begin to share their lives, grow in their understanding of the biblical story; find places to serve and pray together.
- Spiritual formation - Teach and practice spiritual disciplines: prayer, tithing, fasting, devotional time, silence, simplicity, etc.
- Hear the voices of our children and youth - These are often our prophets. How are they integrated in the community?
- Gifts for ministry - Once people have discovered their spiritual gifts, in conjunction with their personality and passions, then, get them using and growing their gifts.
- Training and mentoring - As people begin to serve, don't leave them high and dry. Train well, continue to have others mentor.
- Honor commitments
- Celebrate new members - book signing, liturgy of belonging.
- Commission new lay members at all levels
- Thank those who serve publicly.
- Recognize the beginning of confirmation classes, adult baptism preparation, EFM groups, etc.
