If I am a disciple of Jesus, then I should reproduce disciples of Jesus.
I want to share what I have learned to be primary. I am not suggesting adding something to your life. I am asking you to do what should be primary in your life.
Too often we are hoping to get someone "to say the prayer" yet this prayer for salvation is only a piece of being a follower of Jesus. Our task as assigned to EVERY believer of Jesus is to walk with other in reproducing Jesus in our lives.
This is the main thing. This will include learning: how to pray, how to study and apply scripture to our daily lives, how to do spiritual warfare, how to apply theology in practical ways to our lifestyle. This is mean digging deep, being real with personal struggles.
Why am I coming on so strong? Because I fear the western church could be accused of "child neglect". We want new people to be born in Christ but we put little time in helping them mature in Christ. This makes for weak new followers and reflects weakness is long time followers.
Do you want to grow? Disciple someone and you will discover the joy of learning and being stretched. You will feel overwhelmed and way over your head. Praise God, because then God can work in you and through you as you partnership in growing with someone who is counting on you.
Join me in this process.
Blog lessons: Bits and Bites
Each lesson will have a visual, a Bible text, short input and questions that can guide your discussion as partners in discipleship. Remember I am giving you a starter and not attempting to be some type of guru, know it all. Your job is to be real and authentic with each other in the areas the texts and lessons bring up. Your task is to answer the "So What?' question. So what does this require of me? So what does the Spirit desire of me? So what does God want me to do with this truth?
The partnership keeps you accountable and allows you to sort out the challenge that come with obedience. It also allows you to learn how to go about talking about this subject with others you disciples.
Extensive Bible Studies on A Few Lessons
As a pastor, I can't resist adding additional texts and resources. Feel free to use or change.
As Dr. John Maxwell said years ago at a conference of his I was attending: "We are all building on others work. If you hear a story of mine you want to use and credit me the first time, excellent feel free. The next time say, 'I heard it said' and then the third time just say "I was thinking'." There are few ideas or thoughts completely free of others influence yet many authors do not have such a generous view of material uses. I will attempt to give credit where credit is due, if I can remember. I've been at this for 30 years so some sources have been lost, which I feel bad about but I will share my adjustment to the work of saints who have gone on before any of us and invite you to do the same. Just don't take thing you find here and go make money off of it. That's tacky.
Next Steps...
Will you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance toward whom you should journey with? You don't need a pastor's approval, you already have God's approval and command so will you get started?