Day 3 - Session 1: Chair 3 - The Worker

Participant Handout

Session Theme

Chair 3 workers are spiritual teenagers transitioning from dependency to maturity, learning to live in the Spirit’s power and embrace the journey of servanthood, sacrifice, and suffering that leads to fruitfulness.

Scripture Focus

Matthew 4:18-22 (Jesus calls four fishermen to be “fishers of men”)
Matthew 9:35-38 (The harvest is plentiful, workers are few)
Luke 5:1-11 (The miraculous catch - characteristics of workers)
Romans 7:15-8:2 (The struggle of the flesh and the Spirit’s victory)
Philippians 3:8-10 (Knowing Christ in His suffering)
Hebrews 12:1-3 (Fixing eyes on Jesus, enduring the cross)

Learning Objectives

Describe the characteristics of a Chair 3 worker using the Luke 5 fishing story
Explain the difference between living in the flesh (Romans 7) and living in the Spirit (Romans 8)
Identify one area where they need to embrace difficulty as part of their disciple-making journey

Teaching Block 1: Chair 3 - The Spiritual Teenager

Core Idea: Chair 3 believers are spiritual teenagers - full of energy and zeal, shifting from “me-oriented” to “others-oriented,” learning to serve in the Spirit’s power.

The biblical progression (1 John 2:12-14):

Stage	Biblical Term	Orientation	What They Do
Chair 2	Teknion (child)	“Me” oriented	Walk, talk, feed, potty training
Chair 3	Neaniskos (young man)	Others oriented	Peer care + peer share
Chair 4	Pater (father)	Multiplication oriented	Spiritual parenting, sending

The call: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19). Jesus deepened His investment in four men and shifted from general invitation to specific commissioning.
Four transitions Jesus made: Leadership (John to Jesus), Location (Nazareth to Capernaum), Message (“come and see” to “repent”), Calling (general to specific team).
The village young man: A believer for one year, feeling a burden for his neighbors, wanting to serve. He needs someone to channel that energy.

Scripture: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” - Matthew 4:19

Discussion Block 2: Five Characteristics of a Worker

Two groups of 5, reading Luke 5:1-11

(5 min) Scripture discovery: Group A focuses on verses 1-5; Group B on verses 6-11.
(5 min) Five characteristics:

Characteristic	In the Story	What It Looks Like Today
Available	Let Jesus use his boat (v.3)	Present and willing, even when tired
Faithful	Obeyed despite a fruitless night (v.5)	Does what Jesus says, even when it makes no sense
Teachable	Willing to try a new approach (v.5)	Humble enough to learn
Enthusiastic	Called in his partners (v.7)	Eager to involve others
Responsive	Left everything and followed (v.11)	Willing to change course for Jesus’s call

(5 min) Which characteristic is most lacking in young believers you know?

Teaching Block 3: The Critical Lesson - Living in the Spirit, Not the Flesh

Core Idea: The most important lesson of Chair 3 is learning to live in the Spirit’s power, not our own effort. Without it, workers burn out.

Spader’s airport story: Circled a stranger for 30 minutes, got “chewed up” by a PhD philosopher. Tried once more - the man had the same booklet in his pocket and trusted Christ. “I experienced God working through me.”
The danger: Young workers serve enthusiastically, then burn out. Why? Serving in their own strength.
Romans 7 vs. Romans 8:

Romans 7 (The Flesh)	Romans 8 (The Spirit)
29 times “I … I … I”	19 times “the Spirit”
Self-effort, self-reliance	Spirit-dependence
Frustration and defeat	Freedom and power

The exchanged life: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). A branch does not strain to produce fruit; it remains connected to the vine (John 15:5).

Scripture: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free.” - Romans 8:1-2

Discussion Block 4: Suffering, Servanthood, and Sacrifice

Three groups, each assigned one passage

(8 min) Read and discuss:
- Group A - Suffering: Romans 5:1-5 and Hebrews 12:4-11. What does suffering produce?
- Group B - Servanthood: Philippians 2:5-8 and Mark 10:42-45. What is the “mindset of Christ”?
- Group C - Sacrifice: Matthew 16:24-26 and Hebrews 12:1-3. What does “deny yourself” mean?

My key insight:

(7 min) Share one key insight per group. Theme: difficulty is normal and expected.

Teaching Block 5: Principles for Ministry to Chair 3 Workers

Core Idea: Four principles for navigating Chair 3 - the stage where many believers do not finish.

Principle 1: Chair 3 is not easy, but it is our joy

“Becoming like Him in His death” (Phil 3:10) involves willingness, intentionality, graciousness, courage, endurance, and entrusting.

Principle 2: Many believers do not make it - be aware

Jesus told Peter “Get behind me, Satan” when Peter tried to divert Him from the cross. The easy route is tempting but deadly.

Principle 3: Maturity takes time - it cannot be rushed

“Teen years are fun, but most everyone who is finished says, ‘I am glad that is done!’” Be patient with the process.

Principle 4: Relax and enjoy the journey

“Nothing came my way that He had not approved in advance. He was shaping my life.” (Spader)
Contextual illustration: A young worker with only five believers after two years. Family urges him to quit. The question: not “Is it working?” but “Am I faithful?”

Scripture: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross.” - Hebrews 12:2

Discussion Block 6: Where Are You in the Journey?

Individual reflection, then pairs, then closing prayer

Reflect honestly:
- Which chair do you tend to live in most days? _________________
- Are you in Chair 3? What does the struggle look like? _________________
- What is the hardest thing about your ministry? _________________
Read Romans 8:1-2 silently. Complete: “The Spirit is inviting me to stop ________ and start ________.”
Share one thing with your partner. Pray for each other.

Commitment: This week I will: _________________

Prayer: Thank God for “no condemnation.” Ask for the Spirit’s power to live the new way of the Spirit. Pray for each participant to embrace Chair 3 with joy.

Application Handles

When ministry feels overwhelming and you want to quit, remember that you are in Chair 3 - and that is normal. The struggle between Romans 7 (“I can’t do this”) and Romans 8 (“the Spirit can do this through me”) is the path to maturity. Stop trying harder in your own strength and abide in the Vine instead.
When a young worker you are mentoring faces failure or discouragement, help them see the five characteristics from Luke 5. Ask: “Are you available? Faithful? Teachable? Enthusiastic? Responsive?” Do not rescue them from every mistake - give them the chance to fail and succeed, and be there to pick them up.
When suffering or hardship comes in ministry, do not be shocked. Jesus endured the cross by focusing on “the joy set before Him” (Heb 12:2). Fix your eyes beyond the finish line. The suffering of Chair 3 is not the end - it is the doorway to the multiplication of Chair 4.