South Bedfordshire Circuit

A Discipleship Movement Shaped for Mission
A Learning and Preaching Series between Easter and Pentecost 2013.


 

 

Follow up the series with a Pentecost Festival

The church has left the building

 

 

This series is focussed on the idea that we are "A Discipleship Movement Shaped for Mission". This is a movement of Methodists who want to make a lifelong commitment to working out what being a Christian means in the whole of their life, in order to make a real difference in the world. If we want a simple definition of discipleship, it is a response to a call, the call to follow Jesus and all that follows on from that. It is an opportunity for us to refresh and renew our personal faith and to focus on what we as churches can do as we respond to this idea of a Discipleship Movement Shaped for Mission.


The learning and preaching series is linked to the prayer without ceasing events planned throughout the circuit.


We hope that this idea will help us all to continue to develop our Christian journey both personally and by our churches.


We have subjects over a six week period that will help us understand what "A Discipleship Movement Shaped for Mission" is all about. The aim is that this material will be used in services as well as house and fellowship groups during the period between Easter and Pentecost. Ideas for preaching and discussion is available on this website (see below) and by hard copy from the circuit office.

 

The idea is seen to have its roots deeply buried in our Methodist history, and yet is is about how we work out what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century.


In a short book by Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, he says


A desire to be a Christian disciple clearly shaped the early structures of Methodism. It's probably unsurprising then that the divine disquiet some Methodists experience today stems from the fact that they feel Methodism is no longer best structured and shaped to enable Christian discipleship. This disquiet may well be the prompting of the Spirit of God, and if so we can expect revelation and guidance as we seek to respond and discern the way ahead.


We want time to be the start of an exciting journey for the circuit. As Martyn Atkins says near the end of his book, speaking about Methodist Christian discipleship -


Exciting and scary. Rooted in Jesus and his community of discipleship. Whole-life. Life-long. Accompanying the Holy Spirit to transform the world to the likeness of God's kingdom.


Resources

 

Additional Hymns    Study Groups

 

1. Knowing God - week commencing 7th April

 

To know the awesome and amazing nature of God who loves each one of us

 

Preaching Notes     Youth Group Activities     Junior Church Activity


2. Inspired by Christ – week commencing 14th April

 

To be so inspired by what Jesus has done that it has a lasting impact on each one of us

 

Preaching Notes      Youth Group Activities    Junior Church Activity

 

3. Empowered by the Spirit – week commencing 21st April 

 

To see that the Holy Spirit is able to empower each one of us for the working of

God's purpose in the world.

 

Preaching Notes      Youth Group Activities    Junior Church Activity


4. I am a disciple - week commencing 28th April

 

To know that we are each called by Christ to make a lifelong commitment to

follow him

 

Preaching Notes      Youth Group Activities    Junior Church Activity

Simon Peter        Disciple


5. I am a member - week commencing 5th May

 

To know that, as a disciple, our Christian commitment requires us to fully participate in our local church community

 

Preaching Notes      Youth Group Activities    Junior Church Activity

 

6. I am a missionary - week commencing 12th May 


To know that, as committed disciples of Christ, we are commanded by him to share the gospel with all the world


Preaching Notes       Youth Group Activities    Junior Church Activity


 

For further information   The Methodist website -

 

Book by Martyn Atkins

'Discipleship and the People called Methodists' - available from Methodist Publications

or as a free download from the Methodist website


Contact one of the following for more information about this learning and preaching series.

Andy Melvin, Jenny Spouge, Clive Salmon, Catherine Roots or Roger Owers


Contact the Circuit Office for a hard copy of the preaching and learning series. The same material can be downloaded from this website.