Brian Haynes' "Shift" (Book Review)

This week in class we had a book review on the book Shift by Brian Haynes. I will give an outline of what the book covered.

·      The Original Blueprint

   o   Deuteronomy 6:4-9

·      Spiritual growth begins in the home, at birth

·      Suggestion

   o   Milestone Strategy

           §  Bringing the discipleship process into one common path where parents and church work

               together

           §  The goal is to equip parents with motivation, resources, training, study and a clear path.

   o   Seven Milestones

   o   1) Birth of a baby

           §  Age: birth-12

           §  Church Leader: Preschool Minister

           §  Parent Seminar: Fist steps

           §  Core Competency: the parent as the primary faith influencer

   o   2) Faith Commitment

           §  Age: 7-13

           §  Church Leader: Children’s Pastor

           §  Parent Seminar: Leading Your Child To Christ

           §  Church Event: Faith Commitment Ceremony

           §  Family Celebration: Spiritual Birthday Party

   o   3) Preparing for Adolescence

           §  Age: 9-12

           §  Church Leader: children’s pastor

           §  Parent seminar: preparing for Adolescence

           §  Church event: 4^th and 5^th grade retreat

           §  Family celebration: road trip

           §  Core competency: identity in Christ, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Disciplines

   o   4) Commitment to purity

           §  Age: 12-15

           §  Church Leader: Youth Pastor

           §  Parent Seminar: Commitment to Purity

           §  Church Event: Commitment to purity weekend

           §  Family Celebration: Purity ring celebration

           §  Core Competency: Biblical purity, healthy relationships, identity in Christ

   o   5) Passage to adulthood

           §  Age: 16

           §  Church Leader: Youth Pastor

           §  Parent Seminar: preparing my child for adulthood

           §  Family Celebration: Passage to adulthood ceremony

           §  Core competency: roles of men and women, spiritual gifts and service, basic tenets of the

                 faith

   o   6) High School Graduation

           §  Age: 17-18

           §  Church Leader: Youth/Student Pastor

           §  Parent Seminar: Preparing my child to leave home

           §  Church Event: Senior Summit

           §  Family Celebration: Blessing

           §  Core Competency: Defending my faith, God’s plan for my life, dating, marriage, life skills

   o   7) Life in Christ

           §  Age: 17-death

           §  Church Leader: Senior/All Pastor’s

           §  Core Competency: Prayer, Scripture

           §  Milestone 7 is about discipleship, further developing a personal walk with Jesus

   ·      Do we need to rethink our mission statement?

   o   Such a shift in thinking is met with resistance and apathy.

            Establish the Home as the model of spiritual growth. (Deut. 6:4-9)