There is a worldwide stirring of the Spirit, and people are noticing.
“A movement is being launched that is impacting and changing lives here in the United States,” Juan Bravo, a native of The Woodlands, said. “It is a gift to the church in America and around the world.”
Eduard, a pastor in Moscow, Russia, wrote this tweet in October: “I have a heart that wants to train my leaders. I now have the material and the experience to train my leaders not just by what I teach but what I live out in front of them.”
And finally, a pastor of an American church posted on Facebook, “Just finished the series, and it grew in power and response each week. Small groups using the materials are flourishing!”
The movement, material and series each person above referred to is called “Christian to the Core.” Based on the Christian leader training resources from the International Leadership Institute, it is a small group and Bible class study that has borne much fruit in the mission field and in the global church (Dr. Steve Wende and Kristen Jones recently returned from an ILI Conference in Central Asia). Now, it is being offered to American churches, and First Methodist Houston will be one of the pilot churches incorporating and implementing it.
During Lent 2012, Dr. Wende and Dr. Paul Clines will preach at both campuses on the eight core values that Christian to the Core is based on, and dozens of small groups and adult Bible classes will walk alongside the preaching series, covering the material with rich, transforming depth each week.
If you are already in a Bible class or small group, talk to your teacher or class leader about their plans for Christian to the Core. If you are not currently connected to a group, there may not be a better on-ramp than this study.
A “disciple,” as defined in the Christian to the Core material, is “someone who is living out the decision to follow Christ in everyday life. He or she is a person who knows Christ inwardly and is committed to living outwardly in love and obedience to him.”
Part of the mission of First Methodist Houston is to make disciples. Join us during Lent 2012, as we heed the Spirit’s stirring, and take our discipleship ministry to a whole new level.
Join us for a new Adult Bible Study class - "The Core" in Room 401 of the Downtown Campus during the Sunday School hour - 9:50 - 10:45am. Class leaders will be Sonya Heath and John Stevens.
The majority of the regular Sunday School classes are also adopting the Christian to the Core curriculum from February 12 through April 1.
Click below for the Spring 2012 Adult Sunday School brochure.