The Life of Christ
Dear Classic Sonlife Trainers and Alumni,
In a fresh way, after 30 years of studying the Life of Christ, it seems to me that Christ's ministry can be divided into two major segments.
The first half of Jesus life, strongly portrayed by the Gospel of John (which is 93% new material and organized around the major Jerusalem Feasts) clearly shows Jesus in the Judean wilderness and in Jerusalem. At the first Passover (John 2) he overturns the tables. In the second encounter in Jerusalem (John 5), he passionately and clearly presents Himself as the Messiah... at which time they began to plot to kill Him.
After these major events, you find Jesus moving to Capernaum and selecting His ministry team. Going to James and John, Simon and Andrew, and then eventually Matthew... he challenges them to "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men". His whole attention now turns to developing them into a movement of disciple makers... not seeking to reach the world, but equipping these disciples to reach their world. His focus is now clearly consumed with training them to become "fishers of men".
In our new resource called KNOWING HIM... you see how Jesus immediately takes these new disciples on six fishing expeditions. This next half of Jesus life culminates almost two years later by sending out the Seventy two-by-two to experience God working through them. You then find Jesus "full of joy by the Holy Spirit" (Luke 10:21)... capturing His true passion and priorities.
It is because of Jesus model, we know that intentional effort must be focused upon training our team to share their faith. This cannot happen in a classroom... it must be lived out in real-time experiences. It is because of this, Sonlife Classic is devoting much energy to relaunch SEMP (Students Equipped to Minister to Peers). This will happen in Chicago at Moody Bible on July 6-11th.
We now have a web site that explains all the details of SEMP at www.SEMPChicago.com. If you have never attended, or want to bring a delegation of students to be equipped, go to the web site and get all the information.
Details | Register Now | Photos
Let me suggest just a few reasons why I'd
encourage you to bring a team:
- The whole focus will be upon training students to become "fishers of men"... moving from a M1-3 lifestyle to a M6-7 lifestyle (terms used in the "strategy seminar"). Success will be measured by students returning home and sharing with their four most-wanted friends.
- We have a great theme, passionate speakers, and transferable training designed to take back home. Each morning students will be equipped to articulate their faith, each afternoon a time will be given to share their faith, and each evening celebrating what God has done. The major theme will be REWIRE, with the daily themes building from there. They are:
- We will be at Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago... a great place to experience multiple cultures and the great city life.
- Each student will have the opportunity to write CPR letters back home to their most wanted friends... following up when they return.
- In the past, over 80% of students experiencing SEMP have testified to being fully open to whatever God may call them to in life... saying SEMP truly changed their life.
- Great worship, a more intimate group (we can only handle 500 this year), and fellowship with ministry team students from all over the U.S.
- Each student will receive a training manual, plus a 20-day Devotional specifically written to take the values back home after SEMP. And all of this will be at a price less than what we charged in 2002 ($399 per student for everything).
Tuesday: Rethink: Why are you here?
Wednesday: Refocus: What is the next step?
Thursday: Reveal: How do we reach our friends?
Friday: Return: Where do we go from here?
Again I'd encourage you to go to our new web site at www.SEMPChicago.com and check out our mission, vision, and values for SEMP 2009. All that you need is listed there.
If you are a leader of a church or college ministry and would like to also experience a SEMP like training event for your whole church or college group...
I'd highly encourage you to go to www.NYCM.org and register for an adult-like SEMP, which will be conducted in New York City July 18-24, 2009 by Spread Truth Ministries (www.spreadtruth.com).
Designed for families... it is also a powerful event for training people to become "fishers of men".
God is at work! We are experiencing the miraculous in the Sonlife Classic relaunch... and we will keep sharing with you what is happening.
Just two quick issues:
1. If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to order the new KNOWING HIM resource along with the 50 Podcasts* (in mp3 format) that Mark and I have prepared for this 50 Day Adventure. Designed to study Jesus chronologically, it is a great tool to take a group of people through. These Leader Podcasts will give you insight into how Mark and I see Jesus developing His disciples. (Click link below to hear a sample podcast.)
[ View Details/Order Online Now ]
* Podcast Days 1-15 are now available in the store, 16-50 will be available in the coming weeks.
2. In the next e-mail update, I will be giving you the dates and location of our Fall Live 2:6 Conference.
Put together for our Classic Sonlife Trainers and Alumni who want to be equipped in multiplying the Life of Christ, we will be gathering to introduce all that is needed to multiply the new 2:6 Strategy. We are almost ready to announce the dates, location, and cost!
Thanks for taking time to read this Update. Let me know if I can serve you in any way... and I would love to hear from you if you have any questions or input about the Relaunch. My e-mail is .
Going ever deeper in Jesus,
Dr. Dann Spader
Ps 78:3-7
