Contagious Fire - Chapter 1:
(New) Hope for the Church – Jesus the Good Shepherd”
- Based on your experience and knowledge of other leaders, does the chapter meet Christian leaders where they are? If not, share some additional perspectives we ought to address.
- What illustrations from your own experience might be helpful to flesh out the message of Chapter one?
- What key Scriptures have you found helpful for this stage of our discussion?
- Will Chapter 1, as proposed provide a good invitation for our potential readers to dive in and read further?
The spiritual formation movement is gaining momentum throughout the Church worldwide. Christian leaders are responding to the Holy Spirit’s invitation to a new and deepening relationship of loving intimacy with the Trinity. Many of them tell us that this ever-growing abiding relationship clarifies and strengthens their identities as beloved followers of Jesus, and heals and transforms their personal brokenness. As they learn to truly abide with Christ in prayer, He attunes their attentiveness to the present reality of Jesus’ shepherding, creates increasing Christ-likeness in their character and their relationships with others, and sets them free to live abundantly in the fellowship of the Trinity’s dance of love.
As Love becomes perfected within them, these “leaders in transformation” discover a new passion to invite everyone in their ministry context into a new and profound intimacy with Jesus that enables the Church to live out its call to the Great Commandment and Great Commission.
Virtually all of these leaders-in-transformation serve local churches as pastors, missionaries, or elders – formally or informally. As their fire of love for God and neighbor grows, they begin to see what could happen if their church becomes ablaze with that same contagious fire. They wonder, “What if our church and its ministries could focus totally on loving God and neighbor? What would it take for every member to intentionally follow Jesus into this ever deepening and abiding relationship with the Trinity until their hearts are set on fire with a love that becomes contagious and motivates them to live out missional lives in the church and in their life contexts?”
Let’s get honest, though. How do these “flaming” words connect with you right now? As a leader, you may respond, “Yes! This is just what I am on fire about!” Or, you might respond, “That might sound good if I weren’t nursing burns from a different kind of fire—the kind of institutional and political fire that torches people and leaves them scared for life.” Some of you might feel, “That’s what I want my ministry to be like—on fire and contagious, but I’m so tired that there’s not much spark left in me.”
- Issues we face
o Secularization of the church
o Cultural issues that overshadow spiritual priorities
o Anti-institutional bias, lack of commitment, and individualism
o Inadequate preparation for ministry leaders
o Measures of success - immeasurable
o Burnout
- The promises of Jesus
o Personal relationship of love
o Victory over sin and death in the present
o Abundant life with peace and joy
o God wins
- Connecting the Great Commandment with the Great Commission
o First and Second Order Callings
o Two-fold vision for each person – loving in love
- Jesus’ call to hope, joy, and effectiveness
o Found in God rather than results
o Found in community
- Overview of the coming chapters