Foundations is our core discipleship series that summarizes, in three basic truths, what it means to pursue God. Whether you are a pastor, a small group leader, or leading a ministry team, it is very important for you to understand Foundations.
- Foundations provides a common framework, pathway, and vocabulary for making disciples.
- Foundations gives you positive vision for your own life: what you are pursuing and what you are modeling as a spiritual leader.
- Foundations gives you a positive vision of what you want to see happen in the lives of the people you lead.
- Foundations provides a helpful framework for evaluating the people in your ministry to help them take the next steps of Christian growth.
How to Start Pursuing God
We want the people in our ministry teams and small groups to understand that starting a relationship with God is simple. It’s not about how good you are, but what Jesus did for you and how you respond. In light of that, Truth 1 is: We start by trusting Jesus.
- Our problem is sin. We are all broken and alienated from God.
- Our solution is Jesus. Jesus gave his life on the cross so that we could be forgiven. But forgiveness is not automatic.
- Our response is faith. When you place your trust in Jesus and his work on the cross you enter into a right relationship with God.
Now, consider how Truth One applies to leadership. First, it helps you understand how to pray for the people you serve. Pray that they really do know Christ in a personal way. Make sure you explore this basic starting point with the people on your team. Plenty of people attending Christian churches have not experienced a relationship with God. Offer to go through Foundations personally with them. Don’t leave it to chance or simply hope somebody else will do it.
The second thing we want the people in our ministries to understand is…
How to Live as a Christian
Becoming a follower of Jesus changes how we live. We’re saved by grace, through faith, but that doesn’t mean we do whatever we want. God wants us to live a new kind of life. Once we come to faith in Christ, Truth 2 is: We live to honor God.
God has given us three important resources to live this new life.
- The Spirit leads us. The Holy Spirit lives inside every follower of Jesus. He gives us the motivation and power to do what honors God.
- The Bible guides us. The Bible is God’s inspired word. It helps us know what honors God and what doesn’t.
- Other believers help us. The Christian life is not a solo journey. We need others to encourage and correct us.
Consider how Truth 2 applies to leadership. Again, it gives you a direction for prayer. Your vision as a leader is not just that people come to faith in Christ, but they also grow to live changed lives. This also helps you understand what you need to model as a leader. Does your life honor God with consistent obedience? Are you letting the Holy Spirit empower you? We said that other believers help us. You can have that role. If someone from your team or group is not honoring God in some way, have a loving conversation with them. Gently, humbly help them to start living God’s way in that area of their life.
As a spiritual leader, the third thing you want to make sure people know is…
How to Grow in Your Faith
We learn from Jesus’s words and example that true maturity isn’t just about more information or going to more church meetings. Here’s Truth 3: We grow by helping others.
- We grow by serving people. Jesus came to serve and called us to serve each other as well.
- We grow by giving to God’s work. When you follow Jesus, your priorities change. You want to be involved in what God is doing in the world. That means a financial investment, starting with the local church.
- The greatest way to grow is by mentoring others. Jesus poured himself into the lives of his followers to make disciples. He envisioned his followers – even ordinary people – doing the same.
Think about how Truth 3 applies to leadership. Pray for the people in your ministry to go full circle. We want to see people make an eternal impact in the lives of others. Also, what are you modeling? Are you giving to your local church? Are you mentoring? Take Mentor training to learn how to invest more intentionally in the people you lead. Then, use Foundations to evaluate what kind of input the people you serve need and how to encourage them In their pursuit of God.
