Inspire: Revisit & Rethink: Vision, Mission, Values, Tradition
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2021
Pages: 108
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2021
Pages: 106
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INSPIRE is an invitation to revisit the concept of identity as the way a congregation sees and projects itself to the local community and the world, and how they connect to the surrounding community. The Book of Acts opens with the disciples of Jesus enjoying a very special time with him (40 days) following his resurrection. The account records their conversations with Jesus concerning the coming Kingdom and their desire to see the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom to Israel, but this is not what Jesus is preparing them for. Indeed, there is much to see and understand in this exciting first chapter of Acts, but one item that is key to understanding their identity is their obedience to follow Jesus’ instruction to return to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father (vss. 4-5). The disciple’s obedience sets up the dramatic event seen in Acts 2, and becomes the doorway to discovering the unique identity of the Church and congregational life.
Introduction
The Basis of Congregational Identity
Three Likely Conversations
Summary
Week 1 Congregational Identity: What Does It Look Like?
Introduction
What Makes a Congregation?
A Common Past – Life before Jesus
The Incredible Contrast of the Universe!
From Perfection to Ruin
From Ruin to Redemption
A Unifying Experience – Salvation and Reconciliation
God’s Proactive Exchange
The Inability of the Law
God’s Grace Lavished
Re-Created!
Rescued!
God’s Gift
God’s Special Possession
A Unique Transformation – Unlike Any Other
Initiating the Transformed Life
Continuing the Transformed Life
Preparing for Transformed Lives
Being Transformed!
A Shared Focus – Life in Jesus
ontents
What Does a Congregation Do?
A Common Motivation – Living for Jesus
Living for Jesus in Obedience and Joy
Experiencing the Reality of New Life
Experiencing a New Spiritual Family
Experiencing Divine Provision
A Unifying Motivation – Caring for Each Other
An Infectious Motivation – Loving Their Community
What Makes a Congregation Unique from Other Groups?
A Life-Changing Relationship with Jesus
Life Impacting Relationships with Other Believers
A Contagious Influence on Their Community
Summary
Week 2 Congregational Identity: Distinguishing Characteristics
Introduction
The Strength of Congregational Identity
Congregational Identity Is Anchored in a Relationship with Jesus
Jesus Came on a Mission
Jesus’ Mission Was Mission of Sacrifice
Jesus Mission Was Mission of Total Commitment
A Relationship with Jesus Changes Our Individual Identity
A Relationship That Transforms How We Think
A Relationship That Transforms How We Act
A Relationship That Transforms Who We Are!
A Relationship with Jesus Produces Congregational Identity
The Development Of Congregational Identity
Congregational Identity Develops through an Attitude of Obedience
Obedience is a Primary Characteristic of Christ
Obedience Was the Prevailing Characteristic of the Early Believers
Congregational Identity Is Hindered by Disobedience
Continued Obedience Opens the Door to Further Identity Development
The Forming of Congregational Identity
Congregational Identity Forms in a People Related to Jesus and Each Other
An Identity Develops as Congregations Focus on Essential Elements for Living
Obedience
Prayer
Like-Mindedness
Endurance
Determination
Growing, Learning, Developing People Reflect Jesus
Summary
Week 3 Congregational Identity and Community Relationships – Part 1
Introduction
Elements That Hinder A Biblically-Based Congregational Identity
Isolation
Loss of Connection
Substituted Value
A Biblically-Based Identity Enables Congregational Agreement
What about Disagreements?
Guarding Against Congregational Disagreements
Pursuing Congregational Agreement
Agreement about Purpose
Agreement about Focus
Agreement about Responsibility
A Biblically-Based Identity Enables Congregational Expression
Mission Understood and Expressed
A Biblically-Based Identity Enables Congregational Concentration
Vision Understood and Expressed
Summary ontents
Week 4 Congregational Identity and Community Relationships – Part 2
Introduction
We Were Intended to Be People of Influence
“Salt”, “Light”
A ‘Co-mission’ Statement
A Vision Statement
A Biblically-Based Identity Creates Congregational Curiosity & Understanding
Congregations Curious to See
Congregations Curious to Know
Congregations Curious to Respond
A Biblically-Based Identity Creates Congregational Sensitivity & Passion
Congregations with a Desire to Join
Congregations with a Desire to Help
Congregations with a Desire to Love
A Biblically-Based Identity Creates Congregational Opportunities & Potential
A Clear Mission
An Embraced Vision
A Desire to Share Relationships
Summary
Karen Turner Ward holds a doctoral degree in Criticism and Public Address from Regent University. Dr. Ward has the distinction of being the first student to earn a Ph.D. from the University. Dr. Ward currently serves as Chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Hampton University where she teaches communication and theatre courses. She serves on the School of Liberal Arts and Education University 101 (First-Year Experience) Advisory Committee and assists in the development of the course curriculum. She also helped prepare the course’s interactive textbook, The Individual and Life: Your Pathway to Success. She has served as a national consultant on recruitment, assessment, and retention of African American students.
To meet student needs, Dr. Ward has incorporated innovative approaches to instruction and introduced technology into traditional instructional programming. It was this search for innovative approaches to instruct “today’s students” that inspired her to write the communication textbook, Communication for Today’s Student, now in its fourth edition. The textbook, published by Kendall Hunt Publishing, is accompanied by an interactive program, which enables students to submit assignments online, sit for digital exams, take practice tests and post-tests, and absorb the material through interactive games and flash cards. This program enables students as well as instructors to obtain immediate assessment results. The overwhelming success of this program inspired Dr. Ward to develop both the Humanities One Interactive and Humanities Two Interactive textbooks.
Dr. Ward has received numerous awards for her commitment to innovative teaching, including the coveted, E. L. Hamm Distinguished Teaching Award presented each academic year by the University President.