Lesson, Lab, Live-it...
Our “Lesson, Lab, Live-it” model makes our Sunday Morning Worship Celebration deeply meaningful. To progress as followers of Jesus Christ, it’s imperative that we integrate His teachings into our daily lives. Our old way of doing church left a lot to be desired in accomplishing this. That’s why we began to integrate our “Lesson, Lab, Live-it” model with round tables right into our Sunday Morning Worship Celebration. Here’s the model explained:
First, we have a Lesson. The lesson is traditionally called the “sermon,”“message,” or “teaching.” Almost always, the lesson includes a Power Point presentation to help people get as much as possible out of the message. The lesson also follows a study guide that adds to listener interaction and highlights key points for retention. The lesson is always based upon what God says in His Word about the issues of life.
Next, we have a Lab. The lesson is followed by a round table Bible discussion, or “hands-on laboratory”. Round table Bible discussions usually last about 30 minutes, but they’re so engaging that they could easily go longer. The goal of the lab is to discuss how we’re actually going to apply the lesson to our lives. It’s amazing to hear how the Holy Spirit takes the lesson and applies it to the hearts of the different group members. As the group members work through the discussion questions, the Holy Spirit does a powerful work of transformation!
Then, we go out and Live-it! Jesus reprimanded those who simply listened to His teachings but didn’t put them into practice. In the end, it’s not how much Bible we know that’s most important but how much Bible we live. “Living-it” is what Christianity is all about—how we positively impact the world for Jesus Christ.
The “Lesson, Lab, Live-it” model makes the whole church experience far more meaningful for our church family than our former, traditionally-organized services did. In addition to our members, nearly all of our guests have responded enthusiastically. Our “Lesson, Lab, Live-it” model with round tables must be working if people are getting so much out of it!
Two years after the founding of the Assemblies of God, members adopted 16 beliefs for the Fellowship. This list, known as the Statement of Fundamental Truths, remains virtually unchanged. Four of these beliefs are considered the major tenets of the Fellowship. They are:
1. Salvation Through Jesus Christ (John 3:3, 16, 17; Romans 10:13; Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.
2. Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2:4; 17, 18, 38, 39)
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
3. Divine Healing for the Sick (James 5:14-16)
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.
4. The Second Coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14-16; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52)
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years.
For a complete list of the 16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God, click here.
