for learning about the Cooperative Program. Kentucky Baptists faithfully give to the Cooperative Program. We pray they will have a better understanding of their CP investment through this church training kit. Since 1925, the Lord has been using the resources of Southern Baptists to make an impact for the Great Commission. The need to reach Kentucky and the world for Christ is as great as it has ever been. We’re praying God will stir up the people in your church family to continue to pray, give and go as we work together to spread the good news. 1 This leader’s guide will help you teach through the Cooperative Program Training Kit. You may choose to work through the content in four sessions or you may choose the one session option. Option 1 If you choose the four session route, you’ll find there are four lessons in this book that include an introduction to the training video, what the listener will learn in the session and follow-up discussion questions. A listener’s guide is available on the USB drive in the kit or at kybaptist.org/cptraining. Option 2 If you choose the one session route, you’ll find the leader’s guide at the end of this booklet. There you’ll find an introduction to the training video, what the listener will learn in the session and follow-up discussion questions. The listener’s guide is available on the USB drive in the kit or at kybaptist.org/ cptraining. 2 What you will learn Introduction in session one Jesus calls His disciples to play an active role in What happens to fulfilling the Great money given through the Commission. Partnering Cooperative Program? through the Cooperative A portion of our money Program is one way we stays in Kentucky for the can respond to Jesus’ call. work of the Kentucky Baptist Convention Mission Board staff as they help churches with trainings, consultations, resources and disaster relief. 3 Funds are also used to help the KBC’s agencies and institutions: • Sunrise Children’s Services • Crossings Camps • Clear Creek Baptist Bible College • Oneida Baptist Institute • Woman’s Missionary Union • Kentucky Baptist Foundation 4 The The other portion is forwarded Cooperative to the Southern Baptist Program - Convention and used for the work of the International The financial fuel Mission Board, the for reaching every North American person for Jesus Mission Board, six seminaries Christ in every and other SBC town, every city, organizations. every state and every nation. – sbc.net/cp 5 Discussion questions • How does our church focus on obeying the Great Commission? • When you think about the Cooperative Program, what comes to mind? • Have you ever been personally involved in the work of the KBC or SBC? • Why are churches stronger when they work together? The Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:16-20 6 Introduction What you will learn Jesus sends His disciples in session two to their hometown, their The Kentucky Baptist region and the world. Convention was created Through the Cooperative by churches, for churches, Program, we can help to help churches reach reach our state, the nation Kentucky and the world and the world with for Christ. the gospel of Jesus Christ. 7 The KBC provides consultants The KBC’s gospel-focused and strategists to help local disaster relief provides churches develop evangelism nationally recognized and missions strategies as well as support on a physical and assistance in worship planning, spiritual level for people children and student ministry, during devastating natural church planting and more. disasters. 8 The KBC funds regional Agencies and institutions of the campus ministers at all Kentucky Baptist Convention of Kentucky’s regional include Sunrise Children’s Services, colleges and partners Crossings Camps, the Woman’s with missionaries serving Missionary Union, Clear Creek across Kentucky. Baptist Bible College, Oneida Baptist Institute and the Kentucky Baptist Foundation. 9 Discussion questions • Where is our church’s Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and uttermost as mentioned in Acts 1:8? • Which KBC ministry struck you as significant? • Does our church have a plan to reach our community, the state, nation and world for Jesus Christ? “All giving through the local church should impact the Great Commission in some way.” – Todd Gray, Executive Director-Treasurer, Kentucky Baptist Convention 10 What you will learn Introduction in session three Jesus says the harvest of souls is plentiful, but Kentucky Baptists are workers are needed. helping to train and send church planters across Through the Cooperative Kentucky and North America Program, workers are through the Cooperative trained and sent for the Program. They are also harvest of helping existing churches souls. become healthier and have a greater impact for Christ through revitalization efforts. 11 What are the four tent pegs of the Kentucky Baptist Convention? • A high view of Scripture • A commitment to the Great Commission • A commitment to the Baptist Faith and Message • A partnership through the Cooperative Program 12 In 1919, Southern Baptist Convention leaders began to work toward meeting the financial needs for all of the missions and ministries of the SBC and of the individual state conventions. Out of this effort, the idea of cooperative giving was born and the Cooperative Program was launched in Murray, Ky., in 1925. 13 Discussion questions • How can we obey Jesus’ call to pray for workers to be sent into the harvest? How can we join in the harvest of souls? • Why are the four pegs of the Kentucky Baptist Convention important? • What are the benefits of our church being a part of something that is greater than just us? 14 Introduction Jesus is worthy of the What you will learn worship of the nations. in session four Through the Cooperative Program, Kentucky Experts believe nearly 42% Baptists are making an of the world’s population impact on Kentucky and has never heard the gospel. the world for Christ. As of 2021, that’s about four billion people. 15 Through the Cooperative Program, there are more than 3,600 fully-funded missionaries being sent to the nations. The nations are being impacted by the gospel as people are becoming disciples of Jesus and partnering to plant new churches through the work of the Cooperative Program. 16 “A church giving through the Cooperative Program will not only change tomorrow for the person who’s never heard the gospel, it will change eternity for many of those who hear the gospel and believe in Jesus Christ.” – Paul Chitwood, President, International Mission Board 17 Discussion questions • Are you surprised at the amount of people in the world who have never heard the gospel? Why or why not? • How can our church work to take the gospel where it’s never been heard? • How can our church move forward in our partnership through the Cooperative Program? 18 One Session Overview Introduction Jesus calls His disciples to play an active role in fulfilling the Great Commission. Partnering through the Cooperative Program is one way we can respond to Jesus’ call. What you will learn in this session What happens to money given through the Cooperative Program? A portion of our money stays in Kentucky to help the work of the Kentucky Baptist Convention Mission Board staff as they help churches with trainings, consultations and resources. It is also used to help Sunrise Children’s Services, Crossings Camps, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, Oneida Baptist Institute, Woman’s Missionary Union and Kentucky Baptist Foundation. The other portion is forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention and used for the work of the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, six seminaries and other SBC organizations. The KBC provides consultants and strategists to help local churches develop evangelism and missions strategies as well as providing help in worship planning, children and student ministry, church planting and more. The KBC funds regional campus ministers at all of Kentucky’s regional colleges and partners with missionaries serving across Kentucky. 19 The KBC’s gospel-focused disaster relief provides nationally recognized support on a physical and spiritual level for people during devastating natural disasters. What are the four tent pegs of the Kentucky Baptist Convention? • A high view of Scripture • A commitment to the Great Commission • A commitment to the Baptist Faith and Message • A partnership through the Cooperative Program Experts believe nearly 42% of the world’s population has never heard the gospel. As of 2021, that’s about four billion people. Through the Cooperative Program, there are more than 3,600 fully-funded missionaries being sent to the nations. The nations are being impacted by the gospel as people are be- coming disciples of Jesus and partnering to plant new churches through the work of the Cooperative Program. Discussion questions • Why should the Great Commission be a priority to our church? • How is our church’s Cooperative Program investment used? • What struck you about the ministries funded through the Cooperative Program? • Why are churches stronger when they work together? • How can our church move forward in our partnership through the Cooperative Program? 20 kybaptist.org/cptraining.