Summer School with Jesus

Sermon-on-the-Mount

Over the next 10 weeks, I will be leading an online Bible Study that looks at Jesus’ expectations of a disciple. Immediately after Jesus selected the first twelve disciples, He took them up onto a mountain to teach them. He explained what it mean to follow Him. He taught that
- The attitude of a disciple is different than the world.
- The goals of a disciple are different.
- The principles of a disciple are different.
- The practices of a disciple are authentic.
- The road the disciple walks is narrow.
- The battle the disciple faces is fierce.
Each lesson will focus on one phrase or passage of this life-changing message of Christ.

You can have these lessons delivered to your email (or by RSS) by clicking on the “EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION” link to the right.
Each weekday, you will have a 10 minute lesson that includes a Bible passage to read, a challenging thought for the day, a prayer point,  and a F1LO principle to consider.
The first installment will be sent on June 3.

Leave a Comment

May 30, 2012 0 Comments Short URL Uncategorized

Status make-disciples-text

What it takes to be a Disciple-Maker (Part One: Spirit-led Disciple-Making)

Every Christian is called by Christ to make disciples, but not everyone can do it. Christians who just want to occupy a space for the Sunday morning service and live for themselves the remaining 166 hours of the week will never make a disciple for Christ. You have to BE a disciple in order to MAKE a disciple that follows Christ.

So, since you are reading this, I am willing to bet you are not in the shallow end of the Christianity pool. You want to be faithful to Christ. You want to see others grow in their knowledge and walk with Jesus. You believe in mentoring, probably because someone has invested deeply in you. So where do you start?

Jesus started with prayer. Jesus knew how to draw a crowd. But His greatest concern was with a few hand-selected disciples. So, He took 40 days off and went into the wilderness to pray and fast. It is no coincidence that the 40 day event is immediately followed in the Gospel narratives with the calling of the Twelve (See Matthew 4 and Mark 1).

I know you pray. But are you praying with sincerity about who God wants you to mentor? Maybe consider spending 40 days without food in the process (make sure your health insurance has a good hospitalization plan first). Be willing to let the Holy Spirit lead you and you will be amazed at His work in you.

Tomorrow we will look at HOW Jesus mentored His followers. His method was extremely simple. You will be surprised when I unveil it. Be sure to subscribe on the link to the right, so you do not miss this.

Status make-disciples-text

What is a Disciple? (Part Two: Spirit-Led Disciple-Making)

Church leaders converse of discipleship often, but do we know what we are talking about? Go to the Christian bookstore and you find a section on discipleship. One church lists the pastor’s sermons under the “Discipleship” tab. Is this what the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:19 is all about?

A friend named Rick Hughes has crafted a definition that is workable in this discussion:
A disciple of Christ is an individual who exhibits an increasing Christ-likeness exemplified by an undeniable love for God and others, a vibrant prayer life, a love of Scripture, an obedient lifestyle of personal evangelism, employment of talents and personal resources, spiritual gifts and service used for the benefit of the Kingdom, consistent manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, and extravagant worship that treasures Christ.

This is a comprehensive definition that explains the activities of a disciple very well. It captures the essence that discipleship is more than merely learning. I like the word apprentice in this context- someone studying and modeling the words, actions, and attitudes of a master.

We cannot talk about discipleship until we have a solid foundation of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. May I suggest a simple definition of a disciple? A disciple of Christ Jesus is one that follows the guidance of the Holy Spirit to accomplish whatever He wants, when He wants it, using whatever method, tool, or avenue in which He desires. Discipleship is leading others to do the same.

What is your definition of a disciple or discipleship? Post it in the comments below and we will analyze this topic together.

Link

Scot McKnight Interview: “The King Jesus Gospel” & McnKnight Responds to Critics

I am reposting a blog I just read that has a great insight on discipleship. 
Scot is asked by the interviewer whether being a disciple is a requirement for salvation.
Interesting topic for discussion.
Click this link to read the unedited interview:

February 29, 2012 0 Comments Short URL , Discipleship

Status make-disciples-text

What is Disciple-Making (Part 1: Spirit-Led Disciple-Making Series)

Leadership is not complete until someone walks in the footsteps of a leader. Disciple-making begins and ends with investing in people. It was no coincidence that we see a marked change in the original disciples from the end of the Gospel according to Luke to the first few chapters in Acts. Out of genuine love for His disciples, Jesus mentored them for this moment to shine. The Apostle Paul did the same for Timothy, Titus, and many other church leaders. A leader replicates himself because he loves his followers.

Business leaders understand the value of intentional mentoring. It is embraced by corporate leaders and first-year laborers alike. Mentoring builds stronger organizations and ensures a brighter future. Yet, long before Donald Trump hired his first apprentice, Jethro mentored Moses, Moses instructed Joshua, Samuel guided David, and Solomon shared his wisdom with his sons. Unfortunately, discipleship in many churches has been redefined and reduced to a video course to watch or a class that is offered at the least opportune time during the week. A Christian leader must be a disciple-maker in order to be obedient to the call of Christ. Gene Wilkes says, “Servant leaders are not a success until they mentor successors to carry on the mission.”

A few years ago, I began a list of people who have invested in my life through disciple-making since I became a Christian in 1992. At present, the Lord has brought to my memory twenty-eight people who helped to build my foundation of theology and ministry. Most Christian leaders can point to at least one believer who has made a significant difference in their lives through mentoring.

It is time to take inventory: Who are you leading? Are you intentional in this investment? Do you believe God will use you to change someone else?
This week, we will continue to define disciple-making. Click on the subscription link on the right sidebar so you do not miss this teaching.
Status make-disciples-text

Spirit-Led Disciple-Making

Can I claim to be a follower of Christ if I choose to live for myself? I have no right to say that I am a disciple of Christ unless I possess the “mind of Christ.” (see 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 ) But the call of our Lord is no less than to die to self and live for Him. This begins with the words that I say, the things that I do, and the attitude which I display.

Can I claim to be a follower of Christ if I neglect His primary call for my life? His teaching in Matthew 28:19 to “make disciples” goes far beyond the original eleven followers. This command extends to me. Can I be a disciple, or apprentice, of Christ and fail to do that which our Lord Himself did?

Most Christians agree that making disciples for Christ is a difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes heart-breaking task. We simply cannot change others or make them love Christ. That is why we have the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the One who equips us for “making disciples” of others.

Discipleship in church settings has often taken the form of classes, programs, or sermons. While I refuse to limit the ability of the Holy Spirit to use anything for the glory of God, these methods have proven to have little impact on the Body. Maybe the answer is something much more personal and simple. Maybe disciple-making is relational and best accomplished in the midst of daily life. This was the method of Christ.

In the next few weeks, I will be writing on this subject of discipleship. I am going to use the four pieces of “Spirit-led Connecting” to show that these elements also apply to the ministry of disciple-making. But I want to leave you with one warning: You are making disciples- either of yourself or of Christ. Someone is watching you and is following your life. Are you leading them to Christ?

Status externally focused

Get Out of Church! (Review of the Externally Focused Church by Rusaw/Swanson)

If non-Christians are not knocking down your door to get into the church, maybe your focus is wrong. I am not suggesting a seeker-friendly service or gimmicks to get people in. According to Rick Risaw and Eric Swanson, getting people into church means we must first get out of church. In their book, The Externally Focused Church, the authors have offered the tools necessary for reaching our communities with the Gospel of Christ in an effective and practical way.

I first heard of this resource, published by Group, last year when interviewing pastors of churches who had very high percentages of members involved in active ministry service. These pastors saw their ministry in light of the community and they were more concerned about mobilizing the people for impact outside of the walls of the Sanctuary. Several stated that they had been challenged by The Externally Focused Church.

Church leaders have a choice: focus on the membership or focus on the community. I am not trying to create a false dichotomy here, but one will serve the other. Either our churches exist to reach the community or they exist to serve the members (a consumer mentality). Most churches fall into the latter and most churches are also declining in membership. Rusaw and Swanson resurrect an idea from the past- all the way back to the first church.

“Externally focused churches are convinced that good deeds and good news can’t and shouldn’t be separated,” the authors state. This book provides a perfect balance between the proclamation of the Truth and caring for people outside the church. Preaching without compassion is empty and unfruitful. Likewise, a “social gospel” approach does not impact lives for eternity. Rusaw and Swanson recognize that Christians “…are not social workers but kingdom builders!”

The Externally Focused Church embraces a relational model of evangelism. Effective outreach occurs when church leaders “…recognize that the gospel is most powerful when Christians are living in face-to-face relationships with those in their community.” The vision of the church is clear and the programs typically interface with existing organizations and community events. Externally focused churches are active in assisting schools, hospitals, civic organizations, businesses, and other non-profit agencies that benefit the community. Serving others opens the door for sharing the Good News of Christ.

There are several key benefits to this book. First, there is an uncompromising vision that every Christian ought to be involved in reaching people for Christ by serving. Jesus had a servant’s heart and we are called to no less today. Second, a simple outline for sharing the Gospel with others is presented. This plan is personal and powerful, focusing on the work of God in the Christian’s life. Third, it gives an honest evaluation of the Body of Christ at this current moment. Lastly, the book has an abundance of testimonies and examples of actual congregations reaching their communities. Weaving these stories into the content makes this book easy to understand and sparks a wealth of ideas for the reader to consider.

Church leaders need to heed the warning given near the end of the book: “If we keep heading in the same direction, we are likely to get where we are headed.” If we choose to ignore the community into which God has placed our congregations, we will find that the people in the community will ignore our church.

Status outreach

Recipe for Effective Outreach (Spirit-led Outreach Series)

Cookie cutters are great tools for chocolate chip dough. This mentality, however, is a real detriment to volunteer ministry. Trying to fit every member of your church into the same ministry mold will only cause frustration- for the leaders and the volunteers. This is not God’s design for any category of ministry, especially outreach.

Of all the ministry areas, outreach seems to be the most likely to inherit a “one size fits all” mentality. You would not expect this from your music leadership. If a woman wanted to join your orchestra who is a master of the cello, you would not hand her a trumpet and say, “Sorry, all we need right now is a third trumpet player.” While this may seem absurd, many evangelism programs have this exact approach to outreach.

In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul is emphatic about two teaching points. First, he explains that we can know the will of God, the specific ministry direction that God has planned for our lives. Second, Paul vividly demonstrates that the Body of Christ is richly diverse while at the same time gloriously unified (for example, in 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle speaks of diversity 48 times and unity 24 times!) Our unity comes in the mission, to reach people with the Gospel message in Christ. The diversity  comes in the gifts that the Spirit has given each believer in order to effective carry out the task.

Too often I see church leaders attempting to reverse this teaching. The vision of the church and the mission are unclear (heading in a multitude of directions simultaneously) but also trying to get everyone to use the same gift (usually that of the pastor or senior leadership). It is no wonder that the average church has less than 20% of their membership actively involved in ministry. Spiritual gifts are the key to effective outreach. When one uses that which he or she has been given by God to do the task in which God has called he or her to do, God works in miraculous ways.

Over the next few days, we will look at a few examples of how spiritual gifts can be used in the ministry of outreach. Even though I believe in a multitude of spiritual gifts, I will focus on those listed in Romans 12 as an example. If you are looking for a way to transform or rejuvenate your church’s outreach, then take a closer look at spiritual gifts. Otherwise you can expect no better results than your current level of impact on the community and a small base of volunteers. I agree with Alan Hirsch, who said, “The most selfish thing a church can do is not to grow.”

Have you considered using your spiritual gifts for outreach?  If so, I would love for you to share a personal story with me. You can leave a comment or email me at jeremy.amick@yahoo.com.

Follow One. Lead Others.

Status outreach

The Life and Times of the Lone “Reacher” (Spirit-led Outreach Series)

There she goes. The Lone “Reacher.” Riding off into the sunset after a long, but eventful day of sharing the Gospel. She is a seasoned evangelist who can take down almost any argument against God. There are few who are like her. Maybe that is a good thing.

While some people enjoy the solitude of a personal conversation about the Gospel, it is an error to think that all outreach must be done alone. This may explain why some people have been hesitant, at best, when opportunities come. I do affirm that every believer ought to be trained to share the Gospel and make an intelligible defense for the hope we possess. But maybe there is a better starting point than simply tossing a lone sheep into the wolf den.

I find it interesting that Jesus sent out the disciples 2 by 2 in their first outreach expedition. (Note: Luke 10 gives us the details of this assignment and also adds that 58 more disciples were included in this mission.) Why pair the disciples, when theoretically twice the work could be done if the disciples go “solo?” The truth is we were created by God to need one another. The Body has many interconnected and interdependent parts. The best ministry experiences are shared.

This is an important point for church leadership to understand. While a leader may have the ability to accomplish an outreach task single-handedly, that does not mean he or she should. I once met a church leader who was very effective in equipping others for ministry. He advised me, “Never do ministry alone.” There are tasks that I could accomplish faster and more efficiently by myself. But have I made the most of this opportunity to bring glory to God and edify the Body of Christ? Lone “reachers” can make a difference in the lives of some people. Leaders who mentor add exponential value to the Church by training an entire generation to reach the world for Christ. Those mentored will then teach others how to do the same.

Status outreach

The Jesus School of Outreach (Part Two) (Spirit-led Outreach Series)

Outreach is not easy, but it is simple. The message and the task are clear. “I am sending you as sheep among wolves.” When Jesus wanted to get the attention of the disciples about the dangers of outreach, He went all out. When they preached the good news of Christ, they rarely experienced a warm hug and a “thank you.” Today, we are continuing our look at how Jesus trained His disciples for outreach in Matthew 10.

How does Jesus teach His followers to handle these perils and “occupational hazards” of the Christian life?

1. First of all, Jesus gave them a warning that outreach is not always fun. Real danger is involved. “People will hand you over to sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues.” Imagine if someone were to make an announcement in your worship service this Sunday that there was a new ministry team forming. To be a member of the team you will likely be beaten, imprisoned, separated from your family, persecute, and may even die. But you are also told this is a very rewarding ministry. What would you do? Jesus wanted His followers to know that the cost of outreach is high. Ten of the Twelve would indeed be killed for their faith in Christ.

There are parts of the word today that this scenario would be a guarantee. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ live daily under the real threat of persecution. We should pray for them. But we must be willing to do the same, even if a threat is not imminent. Leaders must be honest about the cost of following Christ, but also provide the support and encouragement followers need in times of difficulty.

2. Jesus gave them confidence. He said, “But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.”  (Matthew 10:19-20) When the followers of Christ walk in obedience to Him, the Spirit of God takes over in a person’s life. This is the state of discipleship that the Apostle Paul speaks of in Galatians 2:19-20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Confidence in outreach comes not from having a well-polished presentation of the Gospel. It comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us. He provides the words, and you provide the mouth (hands, feet, heart).

Leaders today must help followers of Christ understand and develop the courage that is necessary for effective outreach. We should help people by teaching evangelism tools, such as how to share one’s testimony of faith. Yet, we should teach and model a complete reliance on the Holy Spirit. He freely gives wisdom and guidance to those who let Him work through them.

3. Jesus gave them a challenge. “The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39)
Is this what the disciples signed up for? When Jesus gives a challenge, He withholds nothing. A disciple of His must have a supreme and unfaltering love for Him. Daily, he or she must be willing to die to self. Dave Guzik states, “‎”When a person took a cross in Jesus’ day, it was for one reason: to die, because the cross didn’t negotiate, didn’t compromise, didn’t deal. There was no looking back when you took up your cross, and your only hope was in resurrection life.”

Leaders must realize that following Christ and reaching the lost is not an option for a Christian. Leaders should not be hesitant to challenge people. Leaders, from the motive of love, should encourage people to walk with Christ without fear. Leaders understand that “God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” (2 Timothy 1:7) The power, courage, and wisdom that is necessary for outreach is given by God.

School is out for now, but there is plenty of “homework” to do. Christ has provided everything we need to accomplish His work. Who does God want you to reach out to today?

Next Up: Don’t Be a Lone “Reacher.”

Older Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 81 other followers