cover page
Table of Contents
Know the Story-Be the People-Expand the Kingdom
Some Basics
The Learning Culture: Tangent Surfing
Building a Front Porch: Some Theory and Theology
TFB College Leadership Team
Leadership Application
Gift-Skills-Passions Assessment
Know the Story-Be the People-Expand the Kingdom
The goal of the TFB college ministry is to guide collegians to know the story, be the people, and expand the kingdom.
Knowing the story involves much more than memorizing a timeline or a series of narratives. The story begins with all the content of Scripture, and goes on to include our active participation in God's kingdom. It involves understanding the truth about life this side of eternity and about God’s work in the world. Being a follower-learner means moving away from double-mindedness and toward worship, and honesty demands we confess our weakness and sin.
Being the people involves a horizontal relationship and a vertical relationship. Follower-learners have a horizontal relationship with all follower-learners of all times and places. We also have a vertical relationship with Christ that unites us with God and with all other follower-learners. In the context of our identification with Christ, unity is more important than diversity; when diversity is exercised in the context of unity, division is unthinkable.
Expanding the kingdom involves increasing breadth and depth. The kingdom expands in breadth when follower-learners “go make follower-learners.” The kingdom expands in depth when we deepen our commandment-keeping.
Three intentions flow from these understandings.
We intend to be so certain of Jesus’ continuing presence that we are free to tell God and each other the true story about ourselves.
We intend to expand God’s kingdom by recognizing, preparing for, and participating in God’s continuing story.
We intend to expand God’s kingdom by working together to tell God’s Story to all who will listen and by challenging listeners to become followers.
Some Basics
The College Group meets on Sunday mornings at 11am for Collegium (a.k.a. Sunday School) and on Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm for Bible Discussion.
On Sunday morning time there is a student-led/student-written devotional reading followed by fellowship/worship/discussion (1 hour total). Tuesday Bible Discussion consists of an inductive bible study (or book reading), guided by a teacher-facilitator.
A weekly online newsletter allows away students not only to know what is happening, but also to participate and “distance learn” if they so choose.
Leadership is provided by college ministry staff and a student leadership team.
The Learning Culture: Tangent Surfing
TFB College Ministry learns by tangent surfing. Another name for tangent surfing might be ‘discussion’, but compared to ‘tangent surfing’ that simply sounds much too droll. The chart on the following page explains the basics of tangent surfing, but for those who prefer words:
The first key to tangent surfing is to ensure that the main point has sufficient gravitational force. The main point has gravitational force when it is sufficiently compelling, challenging, and intentionalized.
Basically, tangent surfing leverages distractions by using them to obtain alternate perspectives of the main topic. Tangents do not include side talk and interruptions. Both of these are disrespectful and rude, and all learners are expected to hold one another accountable. Tangents are parallel ideas, clarifying questions, and side road explorations.
The second key to tangent surfing is listening. Listening is an important show of respect for others. It honors them and their ideas. It is also absolutely necessary. In a group of five, each person should be listening 80% of the time. That’s a lot of listening, and listening is tough.
Now, all this explanation only scratches the surface. Practice brings true understanding, and even then it is a work in progress.
tangent
Building a Front Porch: Some Theory and Theology
Anyone who has ever watched the Andy Griffith Show knows the value of a front porch. On that porch Andy, Aunt Bea, Opie, and their friends shared life and community. The porch was a comfortable place where family, friends, and passersby were comfortable. People are still looking for front porches, and church is one place they look. But too often churches design socials with ulterior motives like increasing membership or getting more people involved in small groups. While these are worthwhile goals, putting the goals before the people is disrespectful and dishonest. An investigation into the features of a front porch can tell us much about developing community.
A front porch has two sides. One side is toward the house and the other is toward the street. This obvious architectural feature of a front porch is much like relational space. In his book, The Search to Belong, Joseph Myers describes four relational spaces: public, social, personal, and intimate. Public and social spaces take place street-side. In public space people connect through outside influences, such as hobbies or work interests, while in social space, they connect through neighbor relations. Personal and intimate spaces take place house-side. In personal space people connect through private experiences, feelings, and thoughts, while in intimate space they connect through (physically or emotionally) naked experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
The front porch is a transitional space between the public/social space of the street and the personal/intimate space of the house. Front porch activities provide opportunities for social connection with no strings attached; on the front porch people are treated as an end in themselves. Some front porch activities are focused on the house, while others are focused on the street. On the front porch, this comfort is created by the mutual love, wise conduct, and gracious speech of the persons in the space.
Love is the distinguishing feature of house-side conduct according to John 13:31-35. In verses 34-35, Jesus gives a new command: he tells his disciples to love one another as he has loved them. ‘New’ here refers to freshness, not difference. What makes this command fresh? The command is fresh because it calls for a new standard. The command to love others as oneself is frequent in the Old Testament, but with this command Jesus himself is the new standard for love. The command is fresh because it has a different purpose. Jesus tells his disciples that this love is the ultimate evidence for their discipleship. Mutual love helps make church an honestly comfortable place house-side.
Wise behavior and gracious speech are the distinguishing features of street-side conduct according to Colossians 4:5-6. Outsiders (those not yet belonging to the house) are to be treated in a way that shows practical and realistic knowledge of them as persons. Such conduct makes the best use of each opportunity and respects persons as persons. In addition, the words spoken by insiders must be pleasant and attractive, consisting of gentle answers that are relevant and make sense. Wise conduct and gracious speech help make church an honestly comfortable place street-side.
So, how does one go about building a front porch? The first priority is the spiritual maturity of the believers. Those who are mature practice mutual love, wise conduct, and gracious speech. The second priority is to design social events that create space for relationship to happen naturally, where social relating is an end in itself. When loving people is our highest priority, community will naturally follow, because humans were created for relationship (Gen. 1:26-27).
References
Myers, Joseph R. The Search to Belong: rethinking intimacy, community, and small groups. Grand Rapids: Zondervan/EmergentYS, 2003.
front porch
TFB College Leadership Team
Why a leadership team? First, the TFB College ministry is not run by staff (though the staff participate as part of the leadership team). Second, and more important, God called us all into community, to walk together in the way of Jesus. We have a leadership team because it is a very important way that we walk together.
As in any organized group of human, certain tasks must be done. Leadership does not revolve around these necessary tasks, though, but around the gifts, skills, and passions that staff and leaders bring to the leadership team. The gifts, skills, and passions assessment in the back of the handbook can help you determine how you can serve.
Relationship is the core of leadership, so students should be members of TFB College Ministry for three months before applying for leadership. This gives the group time to know the individual and the individual time to know the group.
Another important part of relationship is participation. Those on the leadership team are expected to participate in either Collegium or Bible Discussion, preferably both. Also, leaders should participate in at least one-third of activities outside of Collegium and Bible Discussion.
The leadership team meets monthly for at least one hour. The normal agenda is as follows:
Prayer and devotional
Evaluation: How well are we meeting our intentions?
- As individuals
- As staff
- As a leadership team
- As a ministry: People and Programs
Leaders help others participate by gathering task teams to carry out ministry. Many must belong before they can believe, and a good way to introduce people to Jesus is to live life in front of them. Ministry is one way to do that. Everyone, including those who have not decided to trust and follow Jesus, are encouraged to participate in tasks that do not involve direct, person-to-person ministry. We limit the participation of those who have not decided to trust and follow Jesus, because knowing the story, being the people, and expanding the kingdom is central to our ministry. All who have decided to trust and follow Jesus may participate in person-to-person ministry.
Team members agree to a specific length of service (school year, summer, calendar year, or school term). Early departure from term results in team-agreed consequences.
Leadership Model: General Principles
1.Spiritual Leadership Principles
a. By its very nature, leadership requires high qualifications. A leader must be a spiritually maturing person of character. Specific qualifications vary by the type of leadership. 1 Timothy 3:1-13
b. Training is important for leadership, and godliness training is most important. The college ministry provides such training so that leaders can carry out their responsibilities with devotion, intentionality, and persistence. 1 Timothy 4:6-16
c. By their character, knowledge, and intentionality, leaders help create a faith community that stays on track with God’s Word. Titus 1:5-16
d. Members are responsible to one another. Older members show younger members the ropes, while younger members work hard at learning the ropes. 1 Peter 5:1-5a
2.Gift, Skill, and Passion Principles
a. We best practice godly unity and diversity when members discover, develop, and practice their God-given gifts, skills, and passions. Romans 12:3-8
b. Our gifts, skills, and passions are best practiced by the power of the Spirit, with a proper understanding of Jesus, and for the good of the faith community. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
c. The leadership is responsible for equipping members to discover, develop, and practice their gifts, skills, and passions so that the college ministry will become more like Jesus. Ephesians 4:1-16
Leadership Application
If you are interested in joining the leadership team, you must provide an evidence report. The report should be a typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margin paper with good grammar and spelling. The report will be prayerfully considered by the college leadership and staff.
1)Write a one page description of your current God story.
2)Evaluate how well the college ministry is living out our three goals.
a) Give a half-page evaluation of how well the college group is fulfilling each goal.
- To be so certain of Jesus’ continuing presence that we are free to tell God and each other the true story about ourselves.
- To expand God’s kingdom by recognizing, preparing for, and participating in God’s continuing story.
- To expand God’s kingdom by working together to tell God’s Story to all who will listen and by challenging listeners to become followers.
a) Someone you are coaching.
b) Someone who is coaching you.
4)List three fellow collegians and describe the gifts, skills, and passions of each.
5)For each of the following, write one paragraph describing your understanding of the concept and/or questions you have.
a) Holy Spirit
b) Christ
c) Salvation
d) Church
6)Study a passage of Scripture (a minimum of one paragraph; please share your chosen passage with staff or leadership before proceeding).
a) Describe your study process
b) List and explain your conclusions
7)TFB participation beyond college group
8)It is important to have a good reputation in the local church. Please provide the name of a non-college ministry, non-family TFBer
9)Who helped you gather this evidence? At the end of your evidence report, fill in this sentence: “Thank you to ___________________ for helping me gather my evidence.
Gift-Skills-Passions Assessment
We encourage everyone to complete an assessment; those in leadership must complete an assessment and meet with staff in the first month of participation.
1)Spend some time in prayer.
a) Thank God for making you in his image and for gifting you to do his work
b) Ask him to help you to remember and to think clearly as you work through the questions.
2)Write out short stories or descriptions in answer to the following.
a) What are some things you enjoy doing?
b) What can you talk about for hours without being bored?
c) What do others say you do well?
d) What are some of your accomplishments that have produced great satisfaction?
e) What things do people seek your help on?
f) What have you done that helped others be more like Jesus?
3)Read through your stories and descriptions. What trends do you notice?
4)Spend some time in prayer.
a) Tell God what you’ve found.
b) Thank him for those gifts, skills, and passions.
c) Ask him for wisdom to know how he wants to use them.
Response should include a summary of the results of the assessment and a half-page response to those results indicating agree/disagree and reasons.
Which do you think needs developing? Agree to read one ministry book this year and write a one page response paper (summary, impact on you, plans).
