This series is based off of Thom Rainer’s book, “I Am a Church Member.” Dr. Morehead and I led this series at Pentecostals of South Haven in the Winter of 2015. Each lesson is based off of the interactive EXCEL teaching model.

ENGAGE

Shake hands, get food

XPLORE

Tell me something good about last week’s lesson

COMMUNICATE

1) PEOPLE FIND ABOUT PREFERENCES– (The Handout for this activity is at the conclusion of this post)
- Who likes chocolate
- Who has a dog
- Who likes to shop
- Who likes southern gospel music
- Who likes seafood
- Who likes arts & crafts
- Who likes snow
- Who likes musicals
- Who likes to sew
- Who likes to bicycle
- Who likes Kid’s ministry
- Who likes to be in the choir
- We all have preferences, but church is not about our preferences

2) READ ALOUD: Read page 90-94
- We actually give up our preferences when we join. Church is about serving not being served.

3) SERVANT – Think about the word servant- who comes to mind/ why/ share out.
- Ms Cox
- Ms Frazier
- We will never find joy in church membership when we are seeking things our way. We will find the greatest joy when we seek to be last.

4) READ ALOUD: A survey that said a lot – Page 96-102

5) THINK/ PAIR/ SHARE: Give out 10 slips of paper with each dominant behavior pattern

6) READ ALOUD: Read pages 101-102

EMPOWER

1) MIND OF CHRIST – Examine Philippians 2:5-11
- Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We must have the mind of Christ.

Come up with a list of power words from that passage that we can write on a sticky note and pray over our owns minds this week such as
- No reputation – So huge (story of the first time my reputation was attacked publicly)
- Servant
- Humble
- Obedient unto death
- Even the death of the cross –disgraced, pride all gone, what others think means nothing
- Exalted by others (not by ourselves)

LAUNCH

READ THE 3RD PLEDGE – Page 104 – 106
FORGIVENESS – Read story from Forgiveness book – his mom says seventy times seven
CHALLENGE: I challenge you to intentionally ignore your preferences this week and treat someone who doesn’t deserve your kindness according to the bible
Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.