01
Nov '24
Adult Discipleship – November 2024
01
Nov '24
Chris was our sons’ Bible study leader when they were in middle school. He marked their height on a church wall every year. Those lines are probably still there, twenty years later! That leads me to think about another type of growth. How do you measure spiritual growth? We don’t notch church door jambs with years of attendance or the verses we memorized.
Ken Braddy is approaching four decades of discipleship service to churches and denominational groups, training thousands of Bible study leaders during that time. Based on his experience, he has developed a more accurate measuring tool to gauge small group Bible study growth. Numbers represent people, but attendance alone is of limited value in evaluating spiritual growth. Stack your own life next to this spiritual maturity yardstick. Here are Braddy’s four measurements with my summary of his evaluation questions.
Learn and obey God’s word – Are the individuals in your small group growing as disciples, engaging in discussion? Is your group identifying and calling up apprentice leaders? As we grow numerically, do we periodically spin off new versions of the group?
Invite people to become disciples – Do our prayers focus on the lost…by name? Do we schedule intentional time among the lost, initiating “next steps” conversations? Are we intentionally inviting both saved and lost people to join the group?
Form deeper relationships – Are we organized to care for each other’s needs? How balanced is our connection and content? What are we doing to strengthen group relationships?
Engage in acts of service – How does our group make a difference in the local community? Do we encourage one another to serve in the church, and within our leadership team? In what ways do we encourage and pray for our pastor?
Christians don’t go from “milk to meat” in a day. However, there should be some observable traits, actions, and attitudes that we develop as we age in our faith. So, pull out your measuring tape with me and let’s grow!
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01
Oct '24
Navigate
01
Oct '24
Navigate /’navə,gāt/
verb – plan and direct a route or course, especially by using instruments or maps.
verb – plan and direct a route or course, especially by using instruments or maps.
Larger military and commercial planes carry a navigator, whose job is to make sure the aircraft stays on course. At Trinity, our Navigate ministry is designed to give young adults the opportunity to plot a course of discipleship, following Jesus by using His word as a map for life. In a day when many youth graduate and leave the church, Navigate bucks the trend.
Young adults who are in college or just embarking on a career are often highly mobile. We are able to provide them with a consistent place to engage in worship, Bible study and fellowship with one another. They can ask difficult questions without fear of being cut down. When society says “Make your own truth”, Navigate can encourage these college and young professional adults to stay the course. They discover they can investigate hard questions without abandoning their faith. That is one of our goals, to lead young adults to making God’s truth their own.
Look to see this group lead worship on a Wednesday night and serve the church in other ways. You might think we need to reach them because they are the future of the church…but that’s not entirely true. They are the church today! Our Wednesday night video ministry, youth ministry, and audio visual ministry are just a few places where these 20-somthings in action, already engaged in serving the Kingdom of God by serving Trinity.
Join us some Sunday night at 7:00 pm to see what Navigate is all about. Pray for our young adult ministry. Tell other young adults what is going on at Trinity!
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01
Sep '24
The Time of Your Life
01
Sep '24
Sometimes I feel like there are little monsters all around me, clamoring for my attention! They are like children on a candy aisle; instead of chocolate bars they are reaching for my calendar.
Ladies and gentlemen, I encourage you to consider these upcoming events to help with your ‘yes and no’ choices. They are not calendar or efficiency training classes. Rather, I believe you will be able to better set some life priorities after these events.
October 18-19 is our on-campus men’s conference…Rock Solid Men. Jerry Canupp is the Southwest Regional Director for Man in the
Mirror. The Friday night and Saturday morning sessions will help us as dads, grandfathers, husbands and brothers, as we seek to develop Christ’s character deep in our souls.
Mirror. The Friday night and Saturday morning sessions will help us as dads, grandfathers, husbands and brothers, as we seek to develop Christ’s character deep in our souls.
On January 31-February 2, our ladies will host Dr. Katie Frugé, Director of Texas Baptists’ Center for Cultural Engagement. She will guide moms, wives, sisters, and grandmothers in the believer’s quest to be salt and light within our communities and homes.
I am excited for both our Women and Men’s Ministries as we prepare to host these two discipleship events. How can we grow as image-bearers of the Creator? Yes, the time will require some level of sacrifice! It will be worth it.
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01
Feb '24
Discipleship
01
Feb '24
The word standing by itself doesn’t seem very exciting. It may sound overwhelming to some. What does it even mean? “-ship” means the state or condition of something; so, the state or situation of being a disciple. In New Testament times, it implied a teacher/learner relationship. For Jesus and His disciples, it represented doing life together with formation of a spiritual relationship. Pastor and author Bill Hull describes discipleship as “a way of life for all of life”.
When we look at Jesus’ life, discipleship happened in many places. The synagogue where He read from Isaiah, the temple where He overturned merchant tables and commented on a widow giving her meager offering, homes and public venues in which He healed broken lives.
Where and when will discipleship happen in your life? For your family, it ought to include the patterns outlined in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (the Message) “Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.”
Trinity U is just one way to weave the fabric of discipleship into your life. Our upcoming Sunday night Bible reading series will equip you personally as a parent or grandparent. MasterLife and The Disciple’s Prayer Life are two proven disciple-making formats for adults. These opportunities don’t have to be limited to Sunday evenings. You won’t regret the time and energy invested in discipleship for yourself or others!
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01
Nov '23
Adult Ministry – November 2023
01
Nov '23
Do you remember the teachers who would let you take an “Open Book” test? How about grading your spelling test by “passing it across the aisle” for your neighbor to score? Or the dreaded group project; where either you did all the work, or arguments prevented any meaningful accomplishment!? Your last school exam may have been 20-50 years ago, but there are still areas of your life that need evaluation.
One part of your life that needs a regular assessment is your Bible study group. Don’t worry, it is an Open Book test! For many, attendance is the only measurement used to gauge group health. Ken Braddy, a discipleship consultant with LifeWay, has complied a new “scorecard” to better quantify the spiritual health of our small group Bible studies.
Braddy’s scorecard has four major categories. One: Do group members learn and obey God’s Word? Two: Do they invite people to become disciples? Three: Are they forming deeper relationships? Four: Do they engage in acts of service?
This list is not exhaustive, but let me share a few probing queries to flesh out Ken’s questions.
Measurement One: Are apprentice leaders identified and developed; are new groups started?
Measurement Two: Are prayers focused on the lost; do group members initiate gospel conversations?
Measurement Three: How balanced are connection and content; do newcomers experience biblical hospitality?
Measurement Two: Are prayers focused on the lost; do group members initiate gospel conversations?
Measurement Three: How balanced are connection and content; do newcomers experience biblical hospitality?
Measurement Four: Does our group make a difference in the community; do our group members serve in leadership roles for our group?
It requires a courageous change of heart and mind to begin evaluating yourself and your small group Bible Study by more than attendance. Healthy small groups make for a healthy church. Here at Trinity we have a good ministry, let’s press on to make it even better!
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01
Sep '23
A Way of Life…For All of Life
01
Sep '23
“Discipleship isn’t a program or an event; it’s a way of life. It’s not for a limited time, but for our whole life. Discipleship isn’t for beginners alone; it’s for all believers for every day of their life. Discipleship isn’t just one of the things the church does; it is what the church does.” (emphasis mine)- Bill Hull, author of The Complete Book of Discipleship.
Bill is a speaker and former pastor whose ministry focus is discipleship and church leadership. For him, the biblical view of discipleship is “a way of life…for all of life!” That doesn’t mean discipleship happens by osmosis. It is intentional and has some level of structure.
Young and old, male and female, single or married – all believers are on a discipleship journey. What is the next step for you? Trinity U is one option you can use on this road to Christ-likeness. Below, you’ll find a few opportunities to grow in your faith. I urge you to deepen your walk by engaging in one of these classes:
Crisis 101 (Red Sea Rules)ife is hard, difficulties are guaranteed, but a way through is available! Barbara and Roger McCormick share ten strategies for following God in the midst of trials. This video guided series by Robert Morgan is developed from the Israelites’ experience of crossing the Red Sea, and will be divided into two semesters. $5 book cost.
Faith Driven Entrepreneur
What does it mean to be a Christian businessperson? Does your business serve as an active part of God’s work in our world today? What does it mean to embrace your call to create, and fulfill God’s purpose, for your life and work? Join Wayne Uecker in discovering what God desires to unleash through our work. Be encouraged to flesh out the purpose of your entrepreneurial dreams. 8 weeks, no cost.
MasterLife – The Disciple’s Victory
Cynthia and Royce Itschner lead the third book of the MasterLife series. Learn to gain victory over the world, the flesh, and the enemy using God’s word and prayer. The first two books of the series are recommended prerequisites. 7 weeks, $15 workbook required.
Love Like You Mean It
How do the ten attributes of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 relate to marriage? Discover the biblical vision of marriage and how actions and decisions drive emotions, not vice versa. Lauren and Kaleb Kurz lead this video driven conversation by marriage and family expert Bob Lepine. 9 weeks, optional workbook.
Writing Your Spiritual Memoir
Your spiritual story is worth telling. Leave a legacy of your journey with God for family and friends by writing your Spiritual Memoir. Bill Gray will guide you through effective steps of planning and organizing, best writing practices, and free publication on www.draftdigital.com. Limited to 12 committed participants. 9 weeks, $15 material cost.
The Disciple’s Prayer Life – Walking in Fellowship with God
Do you desire intimacy with God and effectiveness in your prayer life? Survey biblical examples and apply biblical prayer principles in this powerful small group study. You will do more than talk about prayer! The 13-week course led by JD Templeton will be divided between two semesters. $15 workbook required.
Please register today for any one of these discipleship opportunities by calling Gina at 830-895-0100. Room assignments will be made at a later date.
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01
Jun '23
College and Young Professionals
01
Jun '23
Would you invest money in a retirement account if you didn’t know that money would grow and provide you with financial support in your golden years? Probably not! Spiritual investment is sometimes different than future financial planning. The result of some Kingdom investments will never be known this side of heaven.
Investments we make in young adults who are in college or testing the waters of the work force can seem risky. “They don’t give to the church!” “We can’t count on them being here.” These are just two observations (complaints, perhaps) about those in their 20 and 30-somethings.
Trinity’s College and Young Professionals’ ministry seeks to engage young adults in a vibrant discipleship life. Navigate is the Sunday night worship and fellowship arm of this ministry. We offer this ministry knowing that Trinity Baptist Kerrville may never reap the results that we are accustomed to from other church members. However, God has given us different evaluation standards. If we are willing to look at the big picture, we might see a 23-year-old woman today become an international missionary worship leader 10 years from now. We might notice a 27-year-old man today who will lead the greeter’s ministry in a new church plant in an unchurched area of Los Angeles.
Would you pray about investing in young men and women who need someone to walk beside them and say “You’ve got this!”? We need 3-4 people who would consistently join us Sunday nights, build relationships with young adults, and invest in the lives that cross over the Millennials and Gen Z.
Navigate meets Sunday evenings. Doors open at 6:30 pm, worship begins at 7 pm. Share this with the young people in your life, and consider sharing in their lives!
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01
Jan '23
Adult Ministry – January 2023
01
Jan '23
Can you be a disciple and not grow spiritually? Not according to Jesus. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8)
What are you doing to position yourself for spiritual growth? Please don’t let this question push you toward guilt. Jesus is not asking you to climb Mount Everest in a single day! Understand that spiritual growth is usually a gentle climb, it is a process.
Trinity U is one avenue we have at Trinity to grow as disciples. This semester we have two sessions of the Disciple’s Personality. If you have studied the Disciple’s Cross, this is a great follow-up. Mark & Dianne Clemons and Royce & Cynthia Itschner lead these two groups.
A Skeptic’s FAQs, led by Bob Davis, will help you grow in confidence when confronted by hard questions. This will be a conversation, as you learn how to respectfully engage questions such as “What reasons do we have to believe the resurrection occurred?” “ and “Is it possible to be a moral person without believing in God?” 1/29-3/19
The Ministry Gift and Passion Inventory will equip you to fulfill the charge we have in 1 Peter 4:10 – “Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others.” Discovering your spiritual gift(s) is not simply a matter of taking a test. It is not rocket science, but neither is it a casual endeavor. It takes intentional thought and action. In this session you will explore how God has gifted you, and how you can plug into Kingdom service. 3/26. See you Sunday nights at 5 pm!
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01
Aug '22
Dominican Republic Trip
01
Aug '22
Joe, Jennifer, Jaden, and Jordan Rief; Becky Doyal; April, Jaycee, and Kenleigh Conner; JD Templeton; and Wes, Mica, Anna, and Charis Henson traveled June 18-25 to the Dominican Republic. We experienced God’s great work through a number of projects. Here are excerpts from a few of their stories.
Anna – God taught me about using simple tasks to glorify Him. We served ice cream to the youth and played basketball and volleyball, all of which God was working through even with the language barrier. God also helped me to discover new ways in which I can be a better leader now.
Becky – We visited the Santiago Orphanage, a wonderful place which cares for 140 abused and neglected children – teens to infants – who were legally removed from their parents. My heart hurts for those children, but I praise God that they are in a good place now. I plan, Lord willing, to go again next year.
April – This is my second mission trip to go on and I will say that I always get more out of it than I give. There were things to do at many different skill levels from sewing, making and sanding bunk beds, and construction. One of the construction leaders said, “God has given us a left and a right hand, and it’s up to you what you do with it.”
Charis – God showed me how he can take care of the orphans who have been mistreated by their family or who do not have a family. Some of the kids were scared to accept Christ because they thought they might get bullied. So, we encouraged them to accept Him because God will help them through it.
Jaycee – Before I went on this trip I was scared and not quite sure how I would help contribute. Now though, I feel like God has shown me that if I am willing I can be used for his work. This trip taught me a lot about myself and showed me that there are sisters and brothers in Christ everywhere. I encourage everyone, who is willing, to go on the next trip. The experience will give you far more than you ever imagined.
Mica – God taught me during my time in the Dominican Republic that no job was too small. There were times that I was not part of a large project, but I found ways to be helpful. Organizing donations, sweeping construction debris, and cleaning the dining area. All of it was essential in helping with the work God was doing.
Kenleigh – The way the people prayed so selfless convicted me that what I pray for doesn’t really matter. For example, they prayed for other people to know Christ and that they would have a good education. This trip not only brought me closer to people in the Dominican, but people from our church. I was originally nervous about going because it was a different, unknown place. But by the end, I didn’t want to leave.
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