Spiritual Development Seminars (SDS)
Often, people refer to life as a "game", and if it is, it's most like a baseball game—slow and dull at times, punctuated by moments of intense excitement and best enjoyed by those who spend the time to learn its intricacies and appreciate its unique pacing. Just as in baseball, our goal in Adult Ministries is to help everyone "get around the bases" and win. At Clayton Community Church, one of the key ways we can help you win is through the Spiritual Development Seminars program. The SDS program is a series of four seminars. You can think of each one representing a base in baseball.
SDS 101 - Community
First Base is SDS 101, Commitment to Membership. During this seminar, we discuss what it's like to be a part of God's family and the CCC family. We explain how CCC started, our Philosophy of Ministry, our Priorities and our Plans for the future. It's a great time to find out why we do things the way we do and to have your questions answered. People who wish to become official "members" of CCC are asked to sign a membership covenant (or promise).
SDS 201 - Maturity
Second Base is SDS 201, Growing in Christ. This seminar focuses on practicing the habits of spiritual growth: Prayer, Time in God's Word (bible reading & study), Worship and Stewardship. This is a very practical, "hands on" time focused on the "how to" of developing greater spiritual maturity, or discipleship. We've created a maturity covenant to help remind us of these habits. Completing SDS 101 is a pre-requisite for participation.
SDS 301 - Ministry
Third Base is SDS 301, Serving Christ. At CCC, we believe God has given each believer specific spiritual "gifts" for use in ministry. While there are many valuable areas of service, and not all use our spiritual gifts, we are each most satisfied when serving in an area that suits our "giftedness". One of our long-term goals is to create an environment where everyone involved in our church is able to identify his/her gift(s) and find a way to use them in Ministry at CCC. SDS 301 is designed to do just that—to help you identify and understand your spiritual gifts and find a way to use them in ministry, expressed in a ministry covenant. We don't want to fill "slots" that need volunteers, we want to help people play the positions God picked for them. Everyone who's completed SDS 201 is welcome to participate.
SDS 401 - Mission
Home Plate is SDS 401, Sharing Christ, which focuses on transforming our individual ministries into a life-long mission. As in baseball, you don't score until you've rounded all the bases and crossed home plate. Our Philosophy of Ministry focuses on four biblical keys: Outreach, Community, Maturity, and Service. The Spiritual Development Seminars are important ways that CCC can help each of us to become more mature in our relationship with Jesus. It helps us foster a common understanding of the mission of CCC and function as a community and ultimately helps us learn our best and most fulfilling area of service. SDS 301 is a pre-requisite to taking this class.
This is where the baseball analogy breaks down, because the SDS program has room on the team for everyone who wants to play, and you can't make an "out". So, this leaves you with the question, "Are you in the game?"