Class

101

Introduction To Our
Church Family
CLASS 101
Saddleback Church

Written By Rick Warren

Class
101 Knowing Christ!!!
Class
101 Strengthening the Congregation!
Class
101 The Basics For This Class
1. The church is a FAMILY.

2.God expects you to be A MEMBER of a

church family.

3.
A Christian without a church family is
ORPHAN.
Class
101 The Goal Of This Class

That I will commit myself to CHRIST and

to the CHURCH FAMILY!
Class
What Makes (Your Church
101
Name Here) A Family?
 Our Salvation (What God has done for us)

 Our Statement (Why we exist as a church)

 Our Strategy (How we fulfill our purpose)

Our Structure (When and where we fulfill

our purpose)
Class
101 Session One: Our Salvation
 What it means to be a Christian

 The symbols of salvation: Baptism and

Communion
Class
Session Two: Our
101
Statements

 Our Purpose Statement

 Our Faith Statement

 Our Lifestyle Statement

Class
101 Session Three: Our Strategy
 The story of Saddleback’s beginning

 Who we are trying to reach (target)

 Circles of commitment/4 covenants

 The S.A.D.D.L.E.B.A.C.K. strategy

Class
101 Session Four: Our Structure
 How our church is structured

 Our affiliation

 What it means to be a member

 What Now? The CLASS program

Class
101

Session One...
Our Salvation
Class
What Does It Mean To Be A
101
Christian?

Everyone wants to be happy!

But real happiness comes from

understanding my PURPOSE IN LIFE.
Class
101 I. Why Am I Here?
1. God made me to LOVE me.

2. We were created to ENJOY a personal

relationship with God and to MANAGE all
of the rest of God’s creation! This makes
us special!
Class
101 I. Why Am I Here?
3. When we know and love God, and
live in harmony with His purpose for our
lives, it produces tremendous benefits in
our lives:
 Clear Conscience Rom. 8:1
 Life & Peace Rom. 8:6
 Help with Weakness Rom. 8:26
Class
101 I. Why Am I Here?

 Purpose Rom. 8:28

 Confidence Rom. 8:31
 Security Rom. 8:39
 Power & Strength Phil. 4:13
 Fulfillment Phil. 4:19
 Freedom John 8:32,36
Class
101 II. What’s The Problem?
Man has a natural desire to BE BOSS
and to ignore God’s principles for living.
“Look out for #1. Do your own thing.”
“If it feels good, do it - regardless of what God
says about it.”
“It’s my life and I’ll do what I please!”

The Bible calls this attitude: SIN!

Class
101 III. What’s The Solution?
Jesus Christ said…

“I AM THE WAY, the Truth, and the Life. No

one comes to the Father, except THROUGH
ME!” John 14:6

JESUS HAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE

OF YOUR SIN PROBLEM!
Class
IV. What Does God Want
101
Me To Do?
1. ADMIT that God has not been first
place in your life and ask Him to forgive
your sins.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just

and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from
every wrong.” 1 John 1:9
Class
IV. What Does God Want
101
Me To Do?
2. BELIEVE that Jesus died to pay for
your sins and that he rose again on Easter,
and is alive today.

“If you confess that Jesus is your Lord, and you

believe in your heart that God raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Class
IV. What Does God Want
101
Me To Do?
3. ACCEPT God’s free gift of salvation.
Don’t try to earn it.

“For it is by grace you are saved, through faith

— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Class
IV. What Does God Want
101
Me To Do?
4. INVITE Jesus Christ to come into your life
and be the director (“Lord”) of your life.

“To all who receive Him, He gives the right to

become children of God. All we need to do is to trust
Him to save us. All those who believe this are
reborn! — not a physical rebirth...but from the will of
God!”
John 1:12-1
Class
101
CLASS 101

The Meaning
about baptism!
Class
I. Why Should I Be
101
Baptized?
1. To follow the example set by JESUS.

“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was

baptized by John in the river.”
Mark 1:9
Class
I. Why Should I Be
101
Baptized?
2. Because Christ COMMANDS it.

“Jesus said, ‘Go then, to all people everywhere

and make them my disciples, baptize them in
the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything
I have commanded you.’” Matt. 28:19-20
Class
I. Why Should I Be
101
Baptized?
3. It demonstrates that I really am a
BELIEVER.

“...many of the people who heard him believed

and were baptized.” Acts 18:8
Class
II. What is the meaning of
101
baptism?
1. It illustrates Christ’s DEATH and
resurrection

“Christ died for our sins... He was buried...and

He rose again.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4
Class
II. What is the meaning of
101
baptism?
2. It illustrates my NEW LIFE as a
Christian.

“When someone becomes a Christian he becomes

a brand new person inside. The old life has
passed away and a new life has begun!” 2 Cor.
5:17
Class
III. Why Be Baptized By
101
Immersion?
Because JESUS was baptized that way.

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out

of the water.” Matthew 3:16
Class
III. Why Be Baptized By
101
Immersion?
Every baptism in the BIBLE was by
immersion.

(Example) “...then both Philip and the man

went down into the water and Philip baptized
him. When they came up out of the water...”
Acts 8:38-39
Class
III. Why Be Baptized By
101
Immersion?
The word “Baptize” means to DIP
UNDER water”.

The Greek word baptizo means “to immerse

or dip under water”.
Class
V. When Should I Be
101
Baptized?
As soon as you have believed!
Can my family be baptized together?
What should I wear when I am baptized?
Will I have to say anything?
Special Needs?
Class
101
CLASS 101

The Meaning
of the Lord’s Supper
Class
I. What Is The Lord’s
101
Supper? (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
1. It is a SIMPLE ACT.

“The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed,

took bread...” (vs. 23)
Class
I. What Is The Lord’s
101
Supper? (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
2. It is a REMINDER.

“...and when He had given thanks, He broke it

and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; eat
it in remembrance of Me.’” (vs. 24)
Class
I. What Is The Lord’s
101
Supper? (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
3. It is a SYMBOL.

“In the same way, He took the cup, saying, ‘This

cup is the new covenant in My blood; drink it to
remember Me.’” (vs. 25)
Class
I. What Is The Lord’s
101
Supper? (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
4. It is a STATEMENT OF FAITH.

“For whenever you eat the bread and drink the

cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He
comes back.” (vs. 26)
Class
II. Who Should Take The
101
Lord’s Supper?
Only those who are already BELIEVERS.
(Mark 14:22-26)

“For anyone who eats and drinks without

recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks
judgment upon himself.”
2 Cor. 11:29
Class
III. How Do I Prepare Myself
101
For The Lord’s Supper?
“Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the
cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be
guilty of sinning against the body and blood of
the Lord. A person ought to examine himself
before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”
1 Cor. 11:27-28
Class IV. When and How Often Should
101 We Observe The Lord’s Supper?
Jesus never said when or how often
believers should observe The Lord’s Supper.
He instituted it on a Thursday night. Since
it is a ‘supper’, it may seem more
appropriate to observe it at an evening
service.
Class
101

Session Two...
The (Your Church Here)
Statement
Class
101 Our Purpose Statement

“We believe a great commitment to the

Great COMMANDMENT and the Great
COMMISSION will grow a great church!”
Class
101 Our Purpose Statement
The Great Commandment:
“Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all
your heart...soul...and mind. This is the first
and greatest commandment. And the second is
like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the
Law and Prophets hang on these two
commandments.’” Matt. 22:36-40
Class
101 Our Purpose Statement
The Great Commission:
“Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you.” Matt. 28:19-20
Class
101 Our Purpose Statement
 To “Love God with all your heart” is “WORSHIP”.

To “Love your neighbor as yourself” is

“MINISTRY”.

 To “Go...make disciples” is “EVANGELISM”.

 To “Baptize...” is to “FELLOWSHIP”.

 To “Teach them...all things” is “DISCIPLESHIP”

Class
101 Saddleback Church Exists:
1. To CELEBRATE God’s Presence
(Worship)

2. To DEMONSTRATE God’s Love

(Ministry)

3. To COMMUNICATE God’s Word

(Evangelism)
Class
101 Saddleback Church Exists:
4. To ASSIMILATE God’s Family
(Fellowship)

5. To EDUCATE God’s People

(Discipleship)
Class
I. We Exist To Celebrate
101
God’s Presence
 Worship: EXPRESSING LOVE TO GOD!

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him

only.” Matt. 4:10
Class
II. We Exist To
101
Communicate God’s Word
Evangelism: SHARING THE GOOD
NEWS WITH OTHERS!

“His intent was that through the church, the

manifold wisdom of God should be made
known...” Eph. 3:10
Class
Why Our Church Must
101
Never Stop Growing
1. Because GOD LOVES PEOPLE!
2. Because God COMMANDS US TO
REACH OUT!
3. Because GROWTH IS GOD’S WILL!

We believe our church must grow

LARGER and SMALLER at the same time.
Class
III. We Exist To Educate
101
God’s People
Discipleship: BELIEVERS GROW
SPIRITUALLY!

“Let us leave the elementary teachings about

Christ and go on to maturity...”
Heb. 6:1
Class
IV. We Exist To Demonstrate
101
God’s Love
 Ministry: MEETING NEEDS WITH LOVE!

“By this shall all men know that you are My

disciples — that you have love for one
another.” John 13:35

The heartbeat of Saddleback is our SMALL

GROUPS. Every member needs to be a part of
one.
Class
IV. We Exist To Demonstrate
101
God’s Love
 Every member is a: MINISTER!

 Every task is: IMPORTANT!

 Every member is a “10” in: SOME

AREA!
Class
101 Our Statement of Faith!

What We Believe!
Class
101

Session Three...
The (Your Church Here)
Strategy
Class
Who Are We Trying To
101
Reach?
“...Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find
common ground with him so he will let me tell
him about Christ and let Christ save him.” 1
Cor. 9:22 (LB)

Provide your own detail of your

“Saddleback Sam/Samantha”
Class
101 5 Circles of Commitment
Class
101 The Four SVCC Covenants:
1. The Membership Covenant...
is a commitment to CHRIST and
THE CHURCH FAMILY.

“You are members of God’s very own

family...and you belong in God’s household with
every other Christian.” Eph. 2:19 (LB)
Class
101 The Four SVCC Covenants:
2. The Maturity Covenant…
is a commitment to the HABITS necessary
for spiritual growth.

“Continue to grow in grace and knowledge of

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 3:18
Class
101 The Four SVCC Covenants:
3. The Ministry Covenant...
is a commitment to discovering and using
my God-given gifts and abilities in
SERVING God and others.

“God has given each of you some special

abilities; be sure to use them to help each
other...” 1 Pet. 4:10 (LB)
Class
101 The Four SVCC Covenants:
4. The Missions Covenant...
is a commitment to SHARE the Good News
with others.

“...you will be My witnesses for me...to the ends

of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (GN)
Class
Make Your Own Strategy
101
Acrostic!
Use the following slides to make your own
strategy acrostic.
Class
Make Your Own Strategy
101
Acrostic!
Use the following slides to make your own
strategy acrostic.
Class
Make Your Own Strategy
101
Acrostic!
Use the following slides to make your own
strategy acrostic.
Class
Make Your Own Strategy
101
Acrostic!
Use the following slides to make your own
strategy acrostic.
Class
Make Your Own Strategy
101
Acrostic!
Use the following slides to make your own
strategy acrostic.
Class
101

Session Four...
The (Your Church Here)
Structure!
Class
How Our Church Is
101
Structured
I. The Church Is A FELLOWSHIP!

“They continued steadily learning the teaching

of the apostles, and joined in the fellowship...”
Acts 2:42 (Ph)

A top priority in a fellowship is

HARMONY and UNITY.
Class
How Our Church Is
101
Structured
Implication:

A good structure promotes unity and

downplays DIFFERENCES.

“Voting” tends to CREATE CONFLICT.

Class
101 II. The Church Is A...
FAMILY!

“You should be like one big happy family, full of

sympathy toward each other, loving one another
with tender hearts and humble minds.” 1 Peter
3:8 (LB)
So we operate on the basis of
RELATIONSHIPS not RULES.
Class
101 III. The Church Is A...
BODY

We are a body — not a business!

We are an organism — not an organization!

Therefore,
we function on the basis of
SPIRITUAL GIFTS not ELECTED OFFICES.
Class
101 Our Structure
The people are the “MINISTERS”.

The pastors are the “ADMINISTERS”.

Class
101 IV. The Church Is A...
FLOCK

Therefore it is cared for and led by

SHEPHERDS.
Class
101 Our Affiliation is...
ADDYOUR OWN CHURCH SPECIFIC
COMMENTS!
Class
What it means to be a
101
Member!
ADDYOUR OWN CHURCH SPECIFIC
COMMENTS!
Class
101 What is Expected of me?
ADDYOUR OWN CHURCH SPECIFIC
COMMENTS!
Class
101 Membership Covenant
I. I will protect the unity of my church!

II. I will share the responsibility of my

church!

III. I will serve the ministry of my church!

IV. I will support the testimony of my

church!
Class
101
CLASS 101

Congratulations!
You Have Completed CLASS 101