Our Fall Trellis
There is the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Sometimes, however, the cover—or more precisely the title—sums it up well. One such book is Colin Marshall and Tony Payne’s The Trellis and the Vine. The authors hold out a vision for church life that is not so heavily focused on structures and programs and activities and calendar events that the vine withers. All the energy goes into building and maintaining the trellis. However, pressing into “organic relationships” and going with the flow can be so unstructured that it too can hinder the vine. The vine does need some kind of trellis in order to grow.
I think this is helpful imagery for the discipleship structure we have at Westview. Changing metaphors, I have described the structure in relation to moving in four directions: up, to, in, and out. Let me describe this “trellis” with that movement and share details about what we have starting up as we move into September.
I think this is helpful imagery for the discipleship structure we have at Westview. Changing metaphors, I have described the structure in relation to moving in four directions: up, to, in, and out. Let me describe this “trellis” with that movement and share details about what we have starting up as we move into September.
Upward
The primary direction of our discipleship strategy is to move upward in public worship as we reorient on the gospel each Sunday together. Our liturgy—the way we have decided to structure our service from what we read in the Bible—has five movements:
Coming up, we plan to return to a minor prophet again in September to “hear the prophet speak” before starting in on a series through Ecclesiastes for the remainder of the year.
- Call to Worship
- Confession
- Consecration
- Communion
- Commission
Coming up, we plan to return to a minor prophet again in September to “hear the prophet speak” before starting in on a series through Ecclesiastes for the remainder of the year.
Toward
The second movement is toward one another in Community Groups. Christ has created a new people of which we are a part, and we are a compelling community because of the grace of the gospel. These groups are the low-bar entry point into the life of the church, of the community. We move toward one another with gospel intentionality and generous hospitality. We eat together and practice “gospel fluency.”
We have three new Community Groups starting this fall. If you have not connected with a group, reach out so we can make that connection. If you have been part of the same group for years and want to branch out (that’s a vine reference) to foster relationships with others, connect with a Community Group host directly or let me know, and I can help make connections.
We have three new Community Groups starting this fall. If you have not connected with a group, reach out so we can make that connection. If you have been part of the same group for years and want to branch out (that’s a vine reference) to foster relationships with others, connect with a Community Group host directly or let me know, and I can help make connections.
Inward
We move inward to press relationships deeper and spur one another on in following Christ in all of life in the context of Discipleship Groups. These groups are limited to our members, those who have committed to and been welcomed into the relationships of accountability we desire to carry out together. The aim of each of these groups is to advance our members’ faith and obedience to all that Jesus commanded through study, prayer, and accountability. And as we communicated at our last members meeting, we want to increase the intentionality and effectiveness of these groups by focusing more on identifying and equipping the leaders of these groups.
One "low-hanging fruit" opportunity we plan to leverage this fall is having Discipleship Groups focus the content of their meetings on Ecclesiastes. With each sermon, the pastors will prepare questions as a means of equipping leaders to facilitate their group in moving from listening to a sermon to listening expositionally. The questions will give leaders reps at learning how to be a man or woman of understanding who can draw out the purpose within the hearts of the men or women in their respective groups (Proverbs 20:5).
Separate from Discipleship Groups, we also are going deeper together at 9am on Sundays. This fall we are adding to our kids’ class two studies for students in grades 5-12. The younger kids will continue growing in their knowledge of God's Word and a love for God's people in their class. The students will break up into young men and young ladies groups, respectively led by Toby P and Joas Y, and Kelina T and Kate H. Adults are welcomed to dig into an hour of study and prayer, taking the first half hour in the Gospel of John and the second half hour before the throne of grace in prayer.
One "low-hanging fruit" opportunity we plan to leverage this fall is having Discipleship Groups focus the content of their meetings on Ecclesiastes. With each sermon, the pastors will prepare questions as a means of equipping leaders to facilitate their group in moving from listening to a sermon to listening expositionally. The questions will give leaders reps at learning how to be a man or woman of understanding who can draw out the purpose within the hearts of the men or women in their respective groups (Proverbs 20:5).
Separate from Discipleship Groups, we also are going deeper together at 9am on Sundays. This fall we are adding to our kids’ class two studies for students in grades 5-12. The younger kids will continue growing in their knowledge of God's Word and a love for God's people in their class. The students will break up into young men and young ladies groups, respectively led by Toby P and Joas Y, and Kelina T and Kate H. Adults are welcomed to dig into an hour of study and prayer, taking the first half hour in the Gospel of John and the second half hour before the throne of grace in prayer.
Outward
The final direction of our “trellis” is the more explicit work of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). If we are going to see healthy churches advanced in the west metro and beyond, if we are going to play a role in seeing our neighbors and the nations following Christ in all of life with us, then we need to be a healthy church with equipped and healthy church members.
This is the objective of the Anselm Institute. Because the Triune God is bringing about our gospel growth, and we have caught a vision of divine hospitality moving us to be so generous in our own hospitality, we joyfully move forward in the mission. And we want to do so equipped and prepared. So, from that starting point of faith, we seek understanding.
Starting this fall, all five of the fellowships of the Anselm Institute will be launched:
This is the objective of the Anselm Institute. Because the Triune God is bringing about our gospel growth, and we have caught a vision of divine hospitality moving us to be so generous in our own hospitality, we joyfully move forward in the mission. And we want to do so equipped and prepared. So, from that starting point of faith, we seek understanding.
Starting this fall, all five of the fellowships of the Anselm Institute will be launched:
The Antioch Fellowship
The Antioch Fellowship is a 6-week intensive led by Pastor David that is particularly focused on training you to be Antioch-like Christians who go about “preaching the Lord Jesus” (Acts 11:20) and remain faithful to him with "steadfast purpose” (Acts 11:24)—even as an example to others. For Discipleship Group leaders, or any members who desire further equipping, this fellowship will join doctrine and practice together to stimulate your devotion to Christ and your discipleship of others.
This fellowship is asking the Lord to move again through his people like in Antioch but here in these Twin Cities as men and women are equipped through study and practice. The book of Titus will serve as the trellis of this fellowship, studying and memorizing it together. Each week will also include a workshop component to put into practice the different aspects of disciple-making.
This fellowship is asking the Lord to move again through his people like in Antioch but here in these Twin Cities as men and women are equipped through study and practice. The book of Titus will serve as the trellis of this fellowship, studying and memorizing it together. Each week will also include a workshop component to put into practice the different aspects of disciple-making.
The Churchman Fellowship
The Churchman Fellowship will continue this fall to foster the renewal of men being committed to the local church by opening God’s Word with others. For ten weeks, this fellowship will gather on Friday mornings to discuss and apply Mark Dever’s Discipling and David Helm’s One-to-One Bible Reading, practicing with the sermon text for the following Sunday.
The Colson Fellowship
The Colson Fellowship is underway with the inaugural cohort diving into the curriculum curated by the Colson Center, being equipped to gain wisdom, live faithfully, and act courageously in a world that seems to have utterly lost its mind. This fellowship aims to take members beyond the ordinary to being thoroughly Christian in all of life.
The Paraclete Fellowship
The Paraclete Fellowship will be concluding its second iteration this fall as the fellows learn how to be better “paracletes”—comforters, helpers, and advocates—for their fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. This fellowship has been making use of the classes produced and taught by the Christian Counseling & Education Foundation.
The Timothy Fellowship
Last, the Timothy Fellowship is wrapping up its first offering as two of our members complete this course of study and preparation as we seek God’s will as to whether he would have these brothers serve as pastors at Westview.
A Maturing Vine-Man
Church, our prayer is that this trellis, this discipleship structure with its multi-directional movement, would be a means of God’s grace to you. May the Master Gardener be pleased to use this trellis to prune and grow the vine “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).