Topic : Discipleship

• A disciple continues in the Word, loves others, bears fruit, and puts Christ first.

Church Discipleship, Vol 11, No 1, the Navigators

• Charles C. Ryrie, So Great Salvation, (USA: Victor Books, a Division of Scripture Press, 1989), pp. 103ff

After a distinguished performing career, virtuoso violinist Jascha Heifetz accepted an appointment as professor of music at UCLA. Asked what had prompted his change of career, Heifetz replied: “Violin playing is a perishable art. It must be passed on as a personal skill; otherwise it is lost.”

We need to listen to this great musician. Living the Christian life is a highly personal experience. We can’t pull it off merely by watching skilled veterans “perform.” We need hands-on instruction.

Today in the Word, February 8, 1997, p. 15

The ultimate goal of the Holy Spirit’s work in the believer’s life is to produce spiritual maturity reflected in consistent Christlike behavior and attitudes Gal. 5:22-23; Luke 14:25-33; Col. 1:23-29). Therefore, obedience to the Word of God, while not necessary for obtaining eternal salvation from hell, is the essential responsibility of each Christian (Rom. 6:23-23; Heb. 5:13,14; I Cor. 2:14-3:4). However, the Bible does not teach that this obedience will be manifested in all believers. If a believer does not yield to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in his experience, failure will result, evidenced by sinful acts or even prolonged disobedience (I Cor. 10:1-13; Gal. 5:16-21).

Grace Evangelical Society Affirmation of Belief (brochure), Grace Evangelical Society, Irving, TX.

A study conducted by The Roper Organization for High Adventure Ministries in 1990 found that the moral behavior of born again Christians actually worsened after their conversions. Examined were incidences of illegal drug use, driving while intoxicated and marital infidelity.

The problem can be solved, says one researcher, with a new commitment to accountability and discipleship.

New Man, November/December, 1994, p. 13

Relationship building is a process which takes time; when that time is invested, trust and vulnerability grow. We offer these questions as part of this building process, knowing that when used in love and wisdom they will help men open their hearts to each other.

1. Have I been with a woman in the past week that could be viewed as compromising'

2. Have all my financial dealings been filled with integrity'

3. Have I viewed sexually explicit material'

4. Have I spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer'

5. Have I spent quality time and given priority to my family'

6. Have I fulfilled the mandates of my calling'

7. Have I just lied to you'

Source unknown

G. C. Morgan wrote concerning the special three: “There can be no doubt that these men, Peter, James, and John, were the most remarkable in the apostolate. Peter loved Him; John He loved; James was the first to seal his testimony with his blood. Even their blunders proved their strength. They were the men of enterprise; men who wanted thrones and places of power...Mistaken ideas, all of them, and yet proving capacity for holding the keys and occupying the throne. What men from among that first group reign today as these men'

On four special occasions, Jesus admitted them to experiences from which they learned precious lessons. On the occasion of the raising of Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:51), they were granted a preview of their Lord’s mastery over death ... On the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1), they gained clearer insight into the importance of His impending death ... On the Mount of Olives (Mark 13:3), they marveled at His prophetic discernment ... In the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:37), they glimpsed in the sufferings of the Savior something of the cost of their salvation...”

J. O. Sanders, Enjoying Intimacy with God, Moody, p. 19

In Rebuilding Your Broken World, Gordon MacDonald suggests twenty-six questions to help develop accountability and invite feedback. If we desire to grow, we should submit ourselves to a spiritual mentor and answer these questions honestly.

1. How is your relationship with God right now'

2. What have you read in the Bible in the past week'

3. What has God said to you in this reading'

4. Where do you find yourself resisting Him these days'

5. What specific things are you praying for in regard to yourself'

7. What are the specific tasks facing you right now that you consider incomplete'

8. What habits intimidate you'

9. What have you read in the secular press this week'

10. What general reading are you doing'

11. What have you done to play'

12. How are you doing with your spouse? Kids'

13. If I were to ask your spouse about your state of mind, state of spirit, state of energy level, what would the response be'

14. Are you sensing spiritual attacks from the enemy right now'

15. If Satan were to try to invalidate you as a person or as a servant of the Lord, how might he do it'

16. What is the state of your sexual perspective? Tempted? Dealing with fantasies? Entertainment'

17. Where are you financially right now? (things under control? under anxiety? in great debt?)

18. Are there any unresolved conflicts in your circle of relationships right now'

19. When was the last time you spent time with a good friend of your own gender'

20. What kind of time have you spent with anyone who is a non-Christian this month'

21. What challenges do you think you’re going to face in the coming week? Month'

22. What would you say are your fears at this present time'

23. Are you sleeping well'

24. What three things are you most thankful for'

25. Do you like yourself at this point in your pilgrimage'

26. What are your greatest confusions about your relationship with God'

Leading the Way by Paul Borthwick, Navpress, 1989, pp.171-172

• The Word became flesh—and then through theologians it became words again. - Karl Barth
• A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing. - M. Luther
• It is better to train ten people than to do the work of ten people. But it is harder. - Moody

Source unknown

Picture a large manufacturing plant in your town or city that produces shoes. The management has invested great sums of money and many man-hours into the plant to produce the finest shoes possible. Money has been spent on salaries for the employees, machinery for shoe making, and materials from which the shoes are to be made. The plant is now in operation with hundreds of workers scurrying to and fro. Machines are running full blast, and activity is at a maximum.

One day the president asks the production manager, “How many shoes have we produced so far?”

“None,” the manager answers.

“None?” the president exclaims. “How long have we been in operation?”

“Two years.”

“Two years? And still no shoes?”

“That’s right,” the manager says, “No shoes, but we are really busy. In fact, we have been so busy that we are all nearly tired out. We’ve been very active at our jobs.”

The management would probably be very concerned, fire somebody, try to find out what the problem was.

If we now put a cross on top of that building and transform it into the church on the corner—your church, we find much activity going on. Men and women are working hard. The budget is higher this year than ever before. The objective, however, is to produce disciples. Has all that money and man-hour in your church gone into the production of disciples for Jesus Christ'

Source unknown

Kierkagaard: “And I looked around and nobody was laughing” says this, “I went into church and sat on the velvet pew. I watched as the sun came shining through the stained glass windows. The minister dressed in a velvet robe opened the golden gilded Bible, marked it with a silk bookmark and said, “If any man will be my disciple, said Jesus, let him deny himself, take up his cross, sell what he has, give it to the poor, and follow me.”

So Great Salvation, Charles Ryrie, Victor Books, 1989, pp. 103ff.

The yoke and the cross are twin symbols of Christian experience. The cross speaks of leaving the world for Christ; the yoke speaks of learning in the world from Christ. The one speaks of sacrifice; the other service. The disciple must bear both; he cannot choose to take one and leave the other.

The Prairie Overcomer

Clarence Jordan, author of the “Cotton Patch” New Testament translation and founder of the interracial Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, was getting a red-carpet tour of another minister’s church. With pride the minister pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decoration. As they stepped outside, darkness was falling, and a spotlight shone on a huge cross atop the steeple.

“That cross alone cost us ten thousand dollars,” the minister said with a satisfied smile.

“You got cheated,” said Jordan. “Times were when Christians could get them for free.”

Michael Jinkins

Source unknown

At the close of life, the question will not be,

“How much have you gotten?” but “How much have you given?”

Not

“How much have you won?” but “How much have you done?”

Not

“How much have you saved?” but “How much have you sacrificed?”

It will be

“How much have you loved and served,” not “How much were you honored?”

Nathan C. Schaeffer

Bibliotheca Sacra, 137:547:267

• Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip, p. 108

Paul W. Powell, in The Complete Disciple, described this condition: "Many churches today remind me of a laboring crew trying to gather in a harvest while they sit in the tool shed. They go to the tool shed every Sunday and they study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and then get up and go home. Then they come back that night, study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and go home again. They comeback Wednesday night, and again study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and get up and go home. They do this week in and week out, year in and year out, and nobody ever goes out into the fields to gather in the harvest.

Paul W. Powell, in The Complete Disciple