For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

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Have you ever wondered . . .

“Is there more to this life with God than what I am experiencing?” “Is this as good as it gets or am I just scraping the surface of the Christian life?” “what is this way of life for which God has created us?” “Why do I feel so alone as a Christian?”

Jesus looked into the faces of those who were following him 2000 years ago and said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest . . . learn from me . . . and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). Is not this life of learning with Jesus the life that we have always really yearned for? But amidst the intensity of our busy lives today, when do we actually take time to join together with other believers in order to seriously reflect and honestly converse about our lives with the Lord?

Richard Foster has observed over the past few years, “Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” Whether you have walked with Jesus for many years or you are just beginning the faith journey we want to invite you to take this next several months and in the company of others discover more deeply the life that God wants to shape in you. Join us on this Emerging Journey . . .

What is The Emerging Journey?

The Emerging Journey is a unique spiritual formation and leadership development process that invites life transformation, shared authentic community, a re-visioning of leadership and influence, and Kingdom empowerment of your life. This shared journey of discovery involves an eight-month commitment and effort of:

• weekly small group gatherings (2 hours a week) • regular study & reflection & prayer (2-3 hours a week)

• a mentoring relationship with a mature believer (twice a month) We will walk and learn together through the following four stages:

Stage 1: Biblical Foundations . . . will guide us into an understanding and appreciation of the foundational and transforming role of the Scriptures for a lifetime of growth and service.

Stage 2: Personal Foundations . . . will lead us into an exploration of God’s sovereign, shaping work in our unique lives. Stage 3: Relational Foundations . . . will explore the necessity of spiritual community in Jesus’ way of forming us into people of integrity and influence.

Stage 4: Practical Foundations . . . will guide us into an overview of the diverse work of Christian leadership within a community.

Why go on this journey?

The spiritual life is not meant to be traveled alone. We need others’ support, challenge, and prayer if we are not to finish well in life. At its core The Emerging Journey seeks to invite you, along with a group of fellow travelers, into a stretching exploration of three primary questions in your life: Who is God? Who am I? What does God desire to do through me? Along the way you will:

• Be challenged to stretch your imagination of God’s personal goodness and love in this world. • Experience together the healing power of shared authentic Christian community.

• Discover the uniqueness of who God has created, gifted and prepared you to be.

• Grow in a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Scriptures and their transforming influence. • Prayerfully examine what God has been graciously up to throughout your whole life.

• Reflect upon your formation in holiness as a lifelong work of the Spirit from the inside out. • Cultivate a heart to walk with others and help them make sense of their life in Christ. • Wrestle with the difference Jesus makes to your understanding and practice of leadership • Be empowered to live and serve out of who you have been designed to be

• Be invited to participate in God’s good and gracious work in the world, in your community, and in your life.

E3 - Emerging, Equipping, Enriching

“For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

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The Goodness of God

Participants will be taken on a journey that underscores the goodness and grace of God in this world, in their community, and in their lives.

Scriptures

Participants will grow in a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Scriptures and their transforming influence.

Community

Participants will experience and value authentic and accountable relationships with fellow participants on the journey (experience of a shared life).

Re-visioning Leadership

Participants’ views and practices of leadership will be challenged and integrated by Jesus’ ongoing “but not so with you” wisdom in their life and community. (bursting cultural illusions of leadership)

A Lifelong Perspective

Participants will come to understand & reflect upon spiritual formation/leadership development from a lifelong perspective.

Character: An Inside-Out Approach

Participants will see and reflect upon their formation in holiness as a work of the Spirit from the inside out.

Identity

Participants will come to a deeper understanding and acceptance of their core identity as a loved child of God in Jesus.

Vocation/Calling

Participants will come to prayerfully see the whole of their particular life as a response to God’s initiating and inviting activity/mission in the world. (Ephesians 2:10)

Mentoring

Participants will be engaged in a one-on-one relationship with a mature believer who will pay attention to their ongoing character/spiritual formation.

Stage 1: Biblical Foundations

Stage 2: Personal Foundations

Stage 3: Relational Foundations

Stage 4: Practical Foundations

The Emerging Journey...

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction

Session 1: An Invitation to Discover Session 2: Developing a Biblical Foundation Session 3: Participating in God’s General Call Session 4: Understanding God’s Specific Call Session 5: Paying Attention to Character Session 6: Exploring Our Values Session 7: Developing a Personal Biblical

Mandate

In The Name of Jesus:

Reflections on Christian Leadership

Henri J. M. Nouwen

New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1991

The Emerging Journey

Stage 1: Biblical Foundations

The Foundation of Scriptures: Participants will grow in a deeper

understanding of the foundational role of Scriptures for their life and leadership.

Mission/Calling: Participants will begin to explore the relationship

between what God is up to in the world and their unique response/ role within God’s mission.

Leadership: Participants’ preconceived notions of leadership will

be challenged by Jesus’ “but not so with you” in their life and community.

Character: Participants will reflect upon the critical importance of a

godly character for life and leadership.

Identity: Participants will prayerfully consider the way God is lovingly

re-defining who they are in the world.

Trust: Participants will begin to develop relationships of trust and

safety with fellow participants.

Scripture Reading/Reflection: Participants will read and reflect together

upon the book of Esther.

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B J E C T I V E S

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors.

But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest,

and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”

Luke 22:24-27

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Session 1: A Lifelong Shaping Session 2: A Narrative Approach Session 3: Our Sovereign Foundations Session 4: Preparation: An Invitation to

Growth & Holiness

Session 5: Challenges to Growth & Influence Session 6: Writing Our Narratives

Session 7: Sharing Our Narratives

The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery

David G. Benner

Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, 2004

The Emerging Journey

Stage 2:

Personal Foundations

God’s Sovereign Grace: Participants will enter a narrative learning

process that underscores the goodness and grace of God shaping their lives.

Double Knowledge: Participants will come to wrestle with the notion

that knowledge of God and knowledge of self are inextricably linked together.

Life Story: Participants will prayerfully examine their spiritual

formation/leadership development over the course of their whole lives.

Deepened Fellowship: Participants will enter into increased

authenticity, intimacy, and trust with fellow participants through the sharing of their life stories.

Perspective: Participants will gain a lifelong and grace-filled

perspective on their own development and the development of others.

upon the life of David (1 Samuel 16 - 2 Samuel 24).

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B J E C T I V E S

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

John 13:12-15

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Session 1: Soul Work: Our Need for Community

Session 2: Imitating Jesus’ Way with Others Session 3: Walking with Others Today Session 4: The Critical Practices Session 5: Characteristics of Spiritual

Mentoring

Session 6: The Dynamics of a Spiritual Mentoring Relationship

The Walk:

The Life-Changing Journey of Two Friends

Michael Card

Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 2006

The Emerging Journey

Stage 3:

Relational Foundations

The Personal Character of God: Participants will explore the relational

and personal character of God as revealed most clearly in the person of Jesus.

Confronting “Lone Ranger” Leadership: Participants’ overly

individualistic notions and practices of leadership will be

challenged and re-imagined by Jesus’ relational way in the world.

A Shared Life: Participants will be challenged to recognize the

theological reality of community and the essential need for community in the Christian life.

Impact of Others: Participants will reflect upon the positive impact of

others in their life story/development.

Practice Mentoring: Participants will be encouraged to practice

intentionally sharing their lives with others for the sake of others’ growth and empowerment.

upon the book of Luke, chapters 1-12.

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B J E C T I V E S

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

Hebrews 13:7-8

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Session 1: Soul Work: The Need for a Sabbath Rhythm

Session 2: The Work: Inspiration & Motivation

Session 3: The Work: Relational Connectedness

Session 4: The Work: Various Tasks Along the Way

Session 5: Serving Out of Who We Are Session 6: Wrapping it Up...

Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge

James M Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2004.

The Emerging Journey

Stage 4:

Practical Foundations

Overview the Work of Leadership: Participants will come to explore the

central overarching practices of leadership exercised within any given community or organization.

Re-visioning Leadership: Participants’ views and practices of leadership

will be challenged and integrated by Jesus’ ongoing “but not so with you” wisdom in their life and community.

Explore Personal Strengths: Participants will discover their central

strengths through StrengthsFinderTM_{Assessment and be challenged}

to apply their discoveries.

Contemporary Model Interview: Participants will interview a

leader whom they admire and then reflect upon the leadership implications of this person’s life and work.

upon the book of Luke, chapters 13-24.

Clarifying Next Steps on the Journey: Participants will come to

prayerfully reflect together upon what they need next in their development; in view of the whole of their life as a response to God’s initiating and inviting activity/mission in the world, what is their next step?

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B J E C T I V E S

He chose his servant David, and took him from the sheepfolds; from tending the nursing ewes he brought him

to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel, his inheritance. With upright heart he tended them, and guided them with skilful hand.

Psalm 78:70-72

!"

Living Your Strengths

(StrengthsFinderTM_assessment)

Albert L. Winseman, Donald O. Clifton and Curt Liesveld

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Notes from the E3 Info Meeting

When will E3 start?

Sunday September 20th

What does E3 Cost? Why?

$285 - Full set

$225 - modified set

Time Cost - 5-7 hours a week including group time

Weekly group gatherings 1.5 - 2 hours long

Why so much money?

The $285.00 buys 5 books, and 4 manuals.

The cost is something that you can pray about, how will God provide for this? If

he wants you to be a part of this then he will provide a way for you.

Pay all at once?

Pay Monthly?

We can work out a monthly payment system to help ease the burden, but at this

stage we are not planning on offering any scholarships for E3.

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E3

Application

Creekside Church Name: ___________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________ Birthday:_________________________________________

We are excited with your interest to participate in E3. The following questions are designed to help provide us a perspective on your faith journey. The E3 Coordinating Team, led by Pastor Jason Deuman, will process your application. Please complete the following information to the best of your ability and return it to the church office by August 16, 2009.

PERSONAL

Age: (please circle) 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 75-84+ Marital Status: (please circle) single married widowed divorced re-married Children: number: _____ ages: ____________________________________

Payment Options: ______ I could pay in full

______ I would like to discuss payment options

QUESTIONS:

•Tell us briefly how you became a Christian

• Please describe your present walk with God.

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• What do you hope for from participation in E3? Any concerns?