Connecting What We Know With What We Do
In last week’s post we mentioned upcoming training opportunities at Sojourn for those in the body who feel a disconnect between their knowledge and their experience. We seem to know a lot, but when it comes to putting what we know into practice, it seems much harder. Part of the problem is the way we talk about “knowledge” in such a way that we mean storing up more information in our heads. But true knowledge—true understanding—doesn’t happen if we don’t connect ou
r head knowledge with our experience. This can be easily illustrated by using the image of a section of railroad tracks. One rail represents knowledge, the opposite rail represents experience, and the connecting boards represent our reflection on our knowledge and experience that connects the two.
So in order to better equip the saints here at Sojourn, Seed has developed training opportunities in which we attempt to practice all three aspects of learning—knowledge, experience, and reflection.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
- Mercy 101 – Germantown Campus: Starting Sunday, January 17 (11am in Room 201); East Campus: Starting Sunday, January 31 (12 noon – 1:30pm in the auditorium). This class is the backbone of the Mercy Ministry here at Sojourn. You will go through the theology of why we even have a mercy ministry and what poverty truly looks like according to the Scriptures. This class is required for all Seed Leaders. You can sign up here for Mercy 101 at Germantown and here for Mercy 101 at East.
- Mercy Monday Training – Started last Monday, January 4, but the class is open to anyone who wishes to come, so jump on board (class from 5:30pm-6:30pm in the Listening Room of the 930, going into the neighborhood from 6:30pm-8:00pm). This training will equip you to live out the gospel and will carry heavy implications for the way you lead. The first half of our time together will consist of classroom instruction as we go through how to live a gospel-centered life. Immediately following the class time we will go out into the neighborhood surrounding the 930 to visit widows, the elderly, and our friends in Germantown, putting what was learned into practice.
- Porterbrook Training – (Starting time TBA, self-study). This self-study course will be for any one who is interested in living a gopel-informed life at Sojourn. More information is forthcoming on this training, which will begin in early 2010.
Feed and Seed
Germantown Campus – Sunday, January 10, we will meet from 12:30-2:30pm in the Listening Room for our monthly potluck. We will enjoy some great food and have a time of encouragement and reflection. During the teaching time will walk through how to answer the weekly Questions for Reflection in an outward-focused way. We encourage you to look at the questions and consider how you might answer them before we meet. So sign up online and bring your best side dish!
East Campus – We will be launching the first Feed and Seed at Sojourn East on Sunday, February 28, from 12noon-2:30pm. Mark Minnery and Andrew Coverdale will be casting vision for Seed at Sojourn East. So come, bring a side dish, and be encouraged by fellow Sojourners. You can sign up here.
Get Involved in Service
Here are some ways you can get involved in service at Sojourn Community Church:
- Consider bringing your Community Group to Mercy Monday this week. We have been visiting Parkway Nursing Home and are establishing relationships there with the elderly, who recognize the reality of death and need to hear the truth of the Gospel.
- Email mercy@sojournchurch.com for the name of someone who is lonely and in need of a visit. We have several elderly ladies within walking distance of the 930 that would love to see a friendly face during the week.
- Serve the poor every Saturday – Every Saturday afternoon, a group of Sojourners serve meals with Bates Memorial Baptist Church to needy families in Shelby Park neighborhood. Read about it here at the Seed website and contact David Taliferio for more information at david.taliaferro@summitenergy.com.
