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Pastor Cohort

Equipping pastors to ADVANCE God's mission in their context.

RE is a movement of God’s leadership seeking to strengthen God’s Church and transform a community through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In coming months you will be guided through 13 of lessons and consultations seeking to equip you to lead God’s people to reorient to God’s mission as you trust Christ to build His Church.

RE is not a manual for church revitalization, but a guide to help you get started on a long journey as a pastor called to serve an at-risk church. Seeking to create the right conversations to encourage pastors and replanters to focus their time on elements essential to church revitalization, each lesson in RE will challenge you to consider Biblical Truth, Wisdom from others, and apply it to your local context.

Below you will find links and required resources for each lesson of the RE cohort. It is imperative that you set aside time each month to prayerfully work through the individual requirements as you will be expected to share your work with your peers, mentors and ultimately, leaders in your congregation. Church revitalization is hard work over a marathon length tenure as pastor to God’s people. So, set your pace and let’s start the journey together for the glory of God!

Required Reading List

The primary resources are listed so you can order/obtain them in time for each corresponding lesson.

DOWNLOAD THE PASTOR WORKBOOK (PDF)
DOWNLOAD THE MENTOR GUIDE (PDF)

(Password Required)

1. Orientation / Preparing for your first cohort session

1)    Begin a 30-day personal prayer strategy for personal revitalization. Some options might include:

    • Consider reading a resource to grow a particular spiritual discipline

    • Schedule a weekend prayer retreat

    • Begin a prayer journal just for this season of revitalization

    • Adjusting your schedule to allow for more uninterrupted times of prayer

2)    Secure a pastoral mentor. You will need to select a pastoral mentor to meet with you regularly as you complete your revitalization journey. We feel it is better that you choose a mentor that can:

    • Meet about once a month for an hour to discuss a few pre-written questions related to the RE content.

    • Provide wisdom and encouragement

    • Commit to praying for you and the church you serve

3)   Review and sign the RE Pastor Covenant bring it to your first cohort session. (Download PDF)

4) Assessment

    • Download and complete a self-assessment of 13 Essential Characteristics referenced by Jimbo Stewart. (Download pdf)

    • Ask 3-5 members of your congregation or trusted peers to complete the 13 Essential Characteristics assessment and return it to you in preparation for Session 3, Biblical Leadership. NOTE: You may need to create a way for them to return them anonymously to ensure accurate feedback. (Download pdf)

5) Order the primary resource for next lesson: Developing a Powerful Praying Church by Richard Blackaby and Rick Fisher

2. Prayer

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2)   Additional resources related to objectives:

3)  Order the primary resource for your next lesson , Biblical Leadership: Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence For Every Believer by J. Oswald Sanders

3. Biblical Leadership

1) If you have not completed the Assessment from your orientation, you’ll need to:

    • Download and complete a self-assessment of 13 Essential Characteristics referenced by Jimbo Stewart. (Download pdf)
    • Ask 3-5 members of your congregation or trusted peers to complete the 13 Essential Characteristics assessment and return it to you in preparation for Session 3, Biblical Leadership. NOTE: You may need to create a way for them to return them anonymously to ensure accurate feedback.

2) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

3) Additional Resources related to objectives:

4) Order the primary resource for your next lesson , Gospel Centrality: The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ by Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.

4. Gospel Centrality & Marks of a Healthy Church

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Additional Resources related to objectives:

3) No primary book required for the next lesson, Vision & Values.

5. Vision & Values

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Primary Resource: Seeing Your Context in Preparation for Kingdom Advance (article)

3) Order a demographic survey for your context from your State Convention, local Association, or NAMB (https://www.namb.net/contact/demographics-request/)

4) Video overview of Vision Frame (password: “churchstrategies”)

5) Additional resources related to objectives:

6) Order the primary resource for Lesson 6, Evangelism/Missional Engagement in the Community:
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, by J.I. Packer

6. Evangelism/Missional Engagement in Community

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Additional resources related to objectives:

3) Download the primary resource for Lesson 7, Preaching & Teaching: 3 Benefits of Preaching Exegetically in Church Revitalization

7. Preaching & Teaching

1) Complete the pastor lesson for Preaching & Teaching (download) prior to cohort session.

2) Personal Development Plan Template (download and edit)

3) Additional resources related to objectives

4) Order the TWO primary resources for Lesson 8, Discipleship & Member Care:

8. Discipleship & Member Care

1) Complete online lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Order the primary resource for Lesson 9, Worship:

9. Congregational Worship

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Better Sundays Begin on Monday: 52 Exercises for Evaluating Weekly Worship by David Manner

3) Personal Development Plan Template (download and edit)

4) Order ONE of the primary resources of your choice from the list below for Lesson 10, Developing Leaders:

10. Developing Leaders

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Additional resources related to objectives:

3) Download the primary resource for next lesson: Leading Change with the Word by Mark Hallock (blog series)

11. Polity & Processes

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Additional resources related to the objectives

3) Order the primary resource for Lesson12, Adversity, Perseverance & Partnerships:
Finish Period: Going the Distance in Ministry by Sonny Holmes

12. Adversity, Perseverance & Partnerships

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Additional resources related to objectives

3) Order the primary resource for Lesson 13, Multiplication & Sending:
Gaining By Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches that Send by JD Greear

13. Multiplication & Sending

1) Complete pastor lesson (Download) prior to cohort session.

2) Resources related to objectives:

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Church Strategies Group    Hopeforchurches.org
This SCBaptist resource is made possible through the Cooperative Program giving of South Carolina Baptist churches.