Foundations                           Printer Friendly Page

"But the fruit of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control."
Galatians 5:22-23

I. Relationship Foundation

LOVE AND UNITY (making the Connections)

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity."
Psalms 133:1

"A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another."
John 13:34-35

 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Romans 12:3

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
I Peter 4:8

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
I Peter 2:17

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. ... .... 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Romans 12:10,16

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. .......Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 15:1-2,

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
I Corinthians 8:1

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
I John 3:18

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect UNITY.
Colossians 3:13-14

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II. Ministry Foundation

"Write the vision and make it plain that he may run that readeth it."
Habakkuk 2:2

Based on-  Mark 12:30-31, the two greatest commandments, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength... Love your neighbor as yourself."

A. Love God Through

1. Worship
2. Obedience
3. Giving

B. Love Your Neighbor

1. Ministry to the body
2. Ministry to the world

               a. "Every member a minister" (like a cell in an organ)
               b. "Do groups" (like an organ of the body - every 
                   group has a function)
               c. Every group is a valid and important part of the
                   body. ("to prepare God's people for works of
                   service, so that the body of Christ may be built
                   up.") Eph.4:12

 

 

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III. DO GROUPS FOUNDATION

“TO DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY”
Ephesians 4:12

A. Ministry to the Lord

1. Praise and Worship
2. Intercession (Prayer and Meditation)

B. Ministry to the Body

1. New Believers Group
2. Bible Study Group
3. Youth Functions
4. Givers
5. Technicians
6. Intercessory Prayer Groups
7. Hospitality
8. Encouragement
9. Mercy
10. Healing
11. Helpers
12. Coffee Houses
13. Theater Groups
14. Thrift Stores
15. Pastors (personal care of the body)
16. Lending Library
17. Fellowship Groups
18. Pregnancy Centers
19. Musical Groups

C. Ministry to the World

1. Evangelists Groups
2. Food Ministries
3. Prison Ministries
4. Clothing Ministries
5. Tract Ministries
6. Street Ministries
7. Missionary Groups
8. Homeless Ministries
9. Healing Ministries
10. Prayer Groups
11. Coffee Houses
12. Game Rooms
13. Theater Groups
14. Thrift Stores
15. Pregnancy Centers
16. Group Homes

(There are many more possibilities)

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IV. FINANCIAL FOUNDATION

“EACH MAN SHOULD GIVE WHAT HE HAS DECIDED IN HIS HEART TO GIVE, NOT RELUCTANTLY OR UNDER COMPULSION, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.”
II CORINTHIANS . 9:7

Based on Luke 6:38“Give, and it shall given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

A. Sharing Finances

1. Opportunity to give during Corporate Gatherings
2. Done privately by each person giving into “ministry baskets” cash or checks at their own discretion
3. No records are kept and no receipts given (some exceptions)

B. Funds Allocation (Ministry Baskets)

          1.    Mission Field

                 a. Pledge 1/10th of your giving to the mission field to our home
                 missionary (Russell Black) through Latin Impact Ministries
                 as a cooperative connection for us to
                 have a missionary in common. (Receipts are provided if
                 requested.)

           2.  Ministries

                a. Only those who give into the storehouse ministries, will have
                the opportunity to receive funds into their own ministry basket.
                b. Every member will be encouraged and supported in their  
                ministry.
                c. The financial function of the storehouse is to make funds 
                available to flow directly into ministry.

C. Benevolence

               1. Asking that each member be faithful to gather up their own personal
                “Benevolence Fund” to carry with them in order to be ready to
                share at all times with those in need. (God’s purse)

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V. MEETINGS FOUNDATION

“THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE”
ACTS 2:1

 Based on Acts 2:42, 46-47 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”

A. Weekly Meetings

1. Bible Studies
2. Worship Groups
3. Prayers Groups (etc.)

B. Corporate Gathering of Groups (1st Sunday of the month)

          a.    Fellowship Time

          b.    Dinner or Refreshments

          c.     Time of sharing from each group or ministry

          d.     Sharing tithes and offerings directly into ministries          as the Lord leads each individual to give

           e.   Opportunity to minister to one another through:

                  1.  Prayer
                  2.  Communion
                  3.. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (etc.)

C. Ministry Meetings
(for group and/or ministry leaders to meet occasionally)

1. Fellowship
2. Discuss and share ideas
3. Prayer for ministries and individuals

D. Fellowship Meetings

1. Dinners or refreshments
2. Picnics and other outings
3. Get-togethers for worship, fellowship, live music 

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VI. OUTCOME AND GOALS

“GO AND TELL THEM, I AM COMING, SOON.“ JESUS

Based on Eph. 4:13, 16 “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ... From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”

       A.  Goals

1. Every member will have the opportunity to minister through financial and spiritual support
2. All groups will have the opportunity to share in each others' ministries.
3. The ministries will share together as one body, (each group having its own focus or function)

B. Outcome

1. God will be glorified
2. The body will be built up and strengthened with all parts healthy and functioning in their proper place
3. We will not be alone
4. We will be one

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.”
Gen. 2:18 

 My prayer is not for them alone. 

   I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one; 

I in them and you in me.

 May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
 John 1 7:20-23

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