To the Leader:
Providing a solid foundation for new believers is a significant task that makes a tremendous difference in the lifelong process of discipling believers. We commend you in your desire to make an eternal difference in these baby believers. You will be holding their hands during the course of this study as you begin helping them learn to walk with Christ.
We share a combined 44 years in ministry. If you are a pastor, we have been where you are. Because of that, we have provided this “Leader’s Manual” to you in file format. We know that this was our preferred way to obtain our teaching materials when we were Senior Pastors. That way, you can add to or delete from the notes to make them fit your teaching style. Then you can print them and you’re ready to go. This will be of extra benefit if your ministry schedule is as tight as ours.
These sessions are designed to be taught in a 1 to 1½ hour format, depending on what you include and the speed at which you speak. They could be taught in one 4-hour seminar. Or, you could teach one letter of FRESH START each week for 10 weeks on a Sunday or Wednesday night. Use your creativity. Just be committed to instilling this material in the lives of the people in your church.
Some things you need to know:
- Every time you see a section shaded like this one, there is a slide on the PowerPoint presentation that corresponds with it. For instance, it could be a section title or a fill in the blank. These are items in the Participant’s Guide that will keep your students tracking with you.
- When you see a section with reversed type like this one, there is a feature you could include to reinforce your teaching, i.e., video clip, audio recording, object lesson.
- Sections that are bordered with lines like this one are suggested teaching and talking points. Use those that fit you, change those that don’t. The important thing is that the truth of the material is conveyed in a way that will be understood by those you are teaching.
This Leader’s Manual contains everything that is in the Participant’s Guide, plus the items that are reversed or blocked. If you have not prepared Participant’s Guides for your students, let us encourage you to do so immediately. Your students will learn much more if they are following along and completing the outline. If they are just listening to you and not writing, according to a study done by the U.S. Air Force, they will forget 90%-95% of what they hear within 72 hours. They need the Participant’s Guide.
Blessings as you build into the lives of new believers, helping them discover the ten gifts God has given them for a FRESH START.
Gerald Sharon Brad Johnson
Pastor of Evangelism Teaching Pastor and Pastor of Missions
Saddleback Church Saddleback Church