Fourth Day Talk Speaker Guidelines Fourth Day Speaker Guidelines

 

Study –  Christian study should begin and end with prayer.  All Christians are called to study to show themselves to God “as one approved rightly explaining the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).    The call to Christian study is to be life long learner.

Your Spiritual Life

  • Daily Devotion- The Upper Room is available online at http://www.upperroom.org or toll free by calling 1-800-972-0433
  • Prayer Life – How comfortable is your communication with God?
  • Worship – Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).  How do your personal and family worship practices enhance the worship experiences in your local church?
  • Group Reunion or a small group for spiritual growth and mutual accountability.  The Bible states that we cannot make it alone.  We need the support, future, correction, and guidance of other Christians.
  • Spiritual Retreat – Jesus developed a rhythm of time alone with God, time with a small group, and time in ministry to others.  If times of spiritual retreat to be alone with God were important for Jesus, they are equally important for those of us who want to follow Him.

Your Family Life – Reflect on your growing up years.  What spiritual practices were important to your family?  What good memories and models can you keep or revive today?  What bad memories or practices will you need to study to overcome?  The Bible clearly teaches that there and responsibility of the more mature (parents or grandparents) is to help the less mature (children or grandchildren) come to love God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their might (Deuteronomy 6:5).  This is our mission as Christian adults.  If you need help ask God for grace and guidance.  Make this a priority and get the help and resources you need.

Your Ministry in the Local Church – The Walk to Emmaus provided you with a thorough review of the importance of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Jesus set the powerful example of service to one another as he washed the feet of the disciples (John 13:1-20).

  • Worship as the body of Christ – regularly
  • Prayer as the body of Christ – fervently
  • Service in the body of Christ – faithfully

Your Mission in the World as a Disciple of Jesus Christ – Jesus commanded us to love God, love our neighbor, and serve others out of this love (John 13:12-20, 34-35).  Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever” (John 14:15-16).  Jesus’ closing words in the Gospel of Matthew are often referred to as the Great Commission.  He said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20).  We need Christian study to be able to understand the needs of the world and the needs of our community, city, state, and nation.  Careful, prayerful study is the foundation for all significant Christian action.

Christ is counting on you!

Christian Action

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

no hands but yours;

no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which the compassion

of Christ is to look out on a hurting world.

Yours are the feet with which he is to go about

doing good.

Yours are the hands with which he is to bless now.

— Attributed to Saint Teresa of Avila

The purpose of Emmaus is to develop servant leadership for the church and for God’s mission in the world. You will find beginning ideas at http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus/servant/

Additional ideas:

Volunteer to work on the Outside Team on the next Emmaus Walk or Chrysalis Flight

Prepare agape for a future Emmaus or Chrysalis event

Prayerfully consider serving with the Kairos prison ministry for adults  or with Epiphany ministry for incarcerated young people

Volunteer in a ministry inside the church (for children, youth, or adults)

Raise money to help start new Emmaus communities.

This information was taken from Worship Booklet for Pilgrims, Third Edition, Walk to Emmaus, Upper Room Books