Exploring The Salvation Army: A Three-Week Course and Discussion Series
Discover the essence of The Salvation Army through a comprehensive three-week course and insightful discussions on topics like belonging, beliefs, and mission DNA. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, explore relevant scriptures, and reflect on personal connections to the teachings. Join us on Sundays from August 21 to September 4 to delve deeper into the mission and values of The Salvation Army.
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Sundays 6pm-8pm August 21, 28 and September 4 See ??? for more details Welcome to The Salvation Army A three week course for those considering joining The Salvation Army: A place to belong Our mission DNA What we believe Radical discipleship Called to mission
Welcome to The Salvation Army
Introduction Welcome and thanks for coming! Housekeeping Toilets Evacuation procedures Format five studies over three sessions 1. Who we are A place to belong Our Mission DNA 2. What we believe We believe 3. Joining the mission Radical discipleship Called to mission
Discussion 1. As a member of God s family, how important is it to belong to a Church? What are some benefits to you as an individual? 2. What are some benefits of belonging to a Church? 3. Why might a Christian choose to not be part of any Church? 4. It has been suggested that if the Church is a family, then a Christian without a Church family is an orphan. What do you think? What do spiritual orphans miss out on? Are there risks to going it alone ? 5. What do you think about attending a church but never committing?
In your workbook Read the bottom of page 9 Skim pages 10 and 11 Is there a story that you connect with?
In your workbook Read Acts 2:44-47 Read Ephesians 4:12-16
In your workbook Complete the Reflect and Apply sections on page 13
I can imagine some holy being just arrived from another world asking, What is The Salvation Army? and being answered in terms according to his own understanding, The Salvation Army is love for souls. Bramwell Booth (General, 1912-29) How would you answer that same question: What is The Salvation Army?
Discussion Briefly share how you first became involved with The Salvation Army? What were some of your early expectations and /or impressions?
Discussion What most excites you about The Salvation Army at the moment? Is there anything that you d like to understand better?
Discussion What do you know about The Salvation Army? How we came about Our DNA Our structure, ranks, etc. The range of services we provide
My first idea was simply to get the people saved, and send them to the churches. This proved at the outset impracticable. 1st they would not go when sent 2nd they were not wanted 3rd we wanted some of them to help us in the business of saving others General William Booth (Salvation Army Founder)
Discussion What do you see as the most important stage in our development? Why? Think about our name change from A Volunteer Army to The Salvation Army . What do you think this says about us?
In your workbook Read Matthew 11:5 Did you realise that the Christian Church has a mandate to preach the Gospel to the poor? What are some examples of poverty (not only financial) in the world today?
In your workbook Read and Discuss Going Global (pages 18 22)
Our Mission Today The Salvation Army internationally is divided into territories for administrative purposes We are in the NZ, Fiji and Tonga Territory Our territory s mission statement is: Caring for people, transforming lives, reforming society, by God s power It s simple, easy to remember and compelling
Our Mission Today What do you think The Salvation Army needs most to achieve more of its mission (that is if you could just improve this thing, we would care for more people, transform more lives and reform more of society)?
TERRITORIAL STRATEGIC MISSION PLAN (TSMP): 2005 2016 Was very helpful in providing focus Clarified our what Reached end of life
MISSION PLAN 2016-2019 One Purpose: We are the Army that brings Life Two Practices: Living like Jesus, Doing Mission Together For Three Years: 2016-2019
OUR VALUES Our values reflect who we are, how we strive to act, and how we make decisions.
In your workbook Complete the Reflect and Apply sections on pages 22-23
God (doctrines 14) Doctrine 1 | The Bible helps us know and follow God Doctrine 1 | The Bible helps us know and follow God We believe We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice. God helped good men to speak and write what is in the Bible, so that from it we may learn the way God means us to live. (Doctrine 1, simplified) Doctrine 2 | One supreme God, worthy of worship Doctrine 2 | One supreme God, worthy of worship We believe We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship. There is only one God, and he is altogether perfect in every way. He is the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things. We should not worship anyone or anything else. (Doctrine 2, simplified)
God (doctrines 14) Doctrine 3 | One God in three persons Doctrine 3 | One God in three persons We believe We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory. God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one God. (Doctrine 3, simplified) Doctrine 4 | Jesus is God and man Doctrine 4 | Jesus is God and man We believe We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man. Jesus is both truly God and truly human: he has both God s nature and our nature. (Doctrine 4, simplified)
Sin and Sacrifice (doctrines 5-6) Doctrine 5 | Our sinful human condition Doctrine 5 | Our sinful human condition We believe We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God. Our first parents, by their disobedience, lost their sense of God s favour, and came under the power of sin; and because of this we are all inclined to do wrong. (Doctrine 5, simplified) Doctrine 6 | God s solution for sin Doctrine 6 | God s solution for sin We believe We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved. On the cross Jesus suffered and died for the sins of everyone, so that whoever wants to may be saved. (Doctrine 6, simplified)
Grace and Response (doctrines 7-11) Doctrine 7 | Repentance, faith and regeneration Doctrine 7 | Repentance, faith and regeneration We believe We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation. To be saved we must be truly sorry for doing wrong and trust in Jesus; then the Holy Spirit will make us new people. (Doctrine 7, simplified) Doctrine 8 | Our new standing before God Doctrine 8 | Our new standing before God We believe We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself. Salvation is a free gift from God. It is received when we believe in Jesus; and when we are saved we know it. (Doctrine 8, simplified) Doctrine 9 | Maintaining our salvation Doctrine 9 | Maintaining our salvation We believe We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ. To keep good we must trust in Jesus to help us, and we must go on doing as he wants us to do. (Doctrine 9, simplified)
Grace and Response (doctrines 7-11) Doctrine 10 | Full salvation Doctrine 10 | Full salvation We believe We believe that is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Saved people are given the chance to be used by God to help him. When they have given themselves to him fully, they can be given power to serve him, and be kept from sinning. (Doctrine 10, simplified) To be like Jesus! This hope possesses me, In every thought and deed, This is my aim, my creed: To be like Jesus! This hope possesses me, His Spirit helping me, like Him I ll be. John Gowans
Grace and Response (doctrines 7-11) Doctrine 11 | Doctrine 11 | The life to come We believe We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgement at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked. When our bodies die we ourselves go on living in a new and different way. At the end of time Jesus will judge all people. Those who have chosen him to be their Saviour will be happy to live with him as their King, for ever. Those who have not done so will always be unhappy because they chose what separates them from all that is good and lovely. (Doctrine 11, simplified)
In your workbook Complete the Reflect and Apply sections on page 43
The needs of the world are vast. God in His love longs The needs of the world are vast. God in His love longs to reach out to all those who, inwardly or outwardly, to reach out to all those who, inwardly or outwardly, are crying out for help are crying out for help but He has chosen to work but He has chosen to work primarily through the disciples of Jesus. If we are primarily through the disciples of Jesus. If we are taken up with our own personal needs first and taken up with our own personal needs first and foremost, or if we are looking for position and status in foremost, or if we are looking for position and status in the church, we shall be of no use to God. the church, we shall be of no use to God. We are called to serve We are called to serve and a servant must and a servant must go where his master sends him and do what go where his master sends him and do what his master commands. his master commands. David Watson (Discipleship)
Radical Discipleship Growing to be like Jesus through service and spiritual disciplines Supporting discipleship through soldiership A covenant with God A way to live out your Christian discipleship A high stake in the ground public commitment to following Jesus and living His way Counter-cultural going against some of the prevailing societal norms Working with others to make a difference Support for the The Salvation Army
Spiritual Disciplines It is important to build habits into our lives to keep ourselves strong in the faith Providing the right conditions for spiritual growth to occur Bible reading, prayer, meditation, confession, worship, celebration, fellowship, simplicity, fasting, solitude, silence, service
Senior Soldiers People who have chosen to sign the Soldier s Covenant 14 years or older Enrolled during a public worship meeting Described as militant, costly discipleship a covenant between the person and God to commit to follow God and serve Him within The Salvation Army Soldiers are invited to wear a uniform Adherent members also committed to serve God within The Salvation Army but do not sign the Soldier s Covenant Junior soldiers children s version
Refer to Appendix III The Soldier s Covenant
A Counter-Cultural Lifestyle Lifestyle choices Senior soldiers make specific, voluntary lifestyle choices lifestyle choices: to abstain from alcoholic drink, tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult, and all else that could enslave the body or spirit .
A Sacramental Lifestyle The Salvation Army teaches that all of life is sacramental we can encounter Jesus Christ every day The Salvation Army is non-sacramental , not anti-sacramental Salvationists are welcome to take communion at other churches if they want to The soldier enrolment service is likened to baptism or confirmation in other churches Salvationists are not prohibited from being baptised if they wish to do so
In your workbook Complete the Reflect and Apply sections on page 53
The Salvation Army is composed of people who, having experienced forgiveness of sins and conversion by divine power, are enlisted under its banner as soldiers fighting for God and souls. (Orders & regulations for officers)
Discussion Why does The Salvation Army need soldiers? Why might someone choose to become a Salvation Army soldier? How might entering into a covenant with God help a person s discipleship journey?
Called to Mission Signing the Soldier s Covenant is more than saying you re a believer or member You are making some radical commitments To a lifestyle marked by Christian integrity in every area of your life To holy living To take up arms active participation in the spiritual fight To make a difference in the world The people of New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga need a Saviour You can carry on The Salvation Army s mission DNA Will you sign up to Salvation Army mission?
In your workbook Complete the Reflect and Apply sections on page 57
