Disciples who Make Disciples

Discipleship is a term we throw around in church. If you have spent any time at church, you have heard someone mention that we need more discipleship! The question is, what is biblical discipleship? Is it simply a class, a small group or a program? Is it something more? The goal of discipleship is to become like Jesus (aka: sanctification). But many miss what discipleship really means because of their own definition.

Two extremes in understanding discipleship:

 Intellectual Bible Nerds: All they want to do is go "deeper" in knowledge (modern day pharisees). The tendency is to sit around a cup of coffee and debate for hours about the eschatological understandings of church history. Their superior "knowledge" puffs them up. I went to Bible college with some people in this category. The same people who would debate theology for hours would sleep in on Sundays and wouldn't serve at a local church. The danger arises when they completely miss a deeper commitment to reaching out to a lost with the gospel.

Lazy Bible Illiterates: All they want to do is hang out and talk about their problems, issues and "prayer requests" (aka gossip). The tendency is to discount personal Bible study because they are too busy serving others. They discount the importance of studying and knowing their Bible. This person will rarely teach the Bible but use books about the Bible. They think the Bible has lost its relevance and is too hard to understand. The danger arises when they completely miss that in order to become like Christ, you must know His Word.

The biblical model of discipleship is much more than these extreme examples. Jesus calls us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and love one another (Matthew 22:37-40). A disciple is one who makes disciples. It is the deep love for God's Word AND people. A disciple is transformed by Jesus through salvation and grows daily to make more disciples. The motivation is to know God's Word because you want to know God! The growth of the relationship with God will then pour out. It will pour out in small decisions and in every relationship. The Holy Spirit will give strength to help make disciples. Instead of being a reservoir of knowledge, we need to be a river of hope to this world. We are the channel to be used by God to reach out to a lost and broken world. Disciples who make disciples get messy. Let's roll up our sleeves and go deeper in our love for God's Word and for people.

Running but going Nowhere

I like to see progress. Lately, I have been trying to get back into basketball shape. Yes, church league (we are talking elbows, middle-aged "uncle ricos," and young college guys). The last few days I have been running on the treadmill to get in shape. Running on the treadmill makes me feel like I am going nowhere but I was losing energy! In my life, I have been asking God to reveal to me the specific areas I am holding back from Him. It is wasted energy but lead me nowhere. If I'm honest, what I focus my mind and heart upon will consume my energy. Do I want to run as hard as I can after things in life that drain my love for my relationship with God, wife, family and friends?

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 about the eternal race!

 ²⁴ Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! ²⁵ All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ²⁶ So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. ²⁷ I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Paul writes earlier about giving up his rights for the gospel. Paul realized that life fulfillment is found in being faithful to God's call. Eternal focus helps us expend energy on what is most important. The world calls for us run after fame, pleasure, money, acceptance and pride. Paul encourages us to deny our selfish desires. We are to train daily to fill our mind, will and emotions with His promises. Eating healthy is crucial to establishing long-term vitality. The same is true in our mindset. What we focus upon will become the "nutrients" that fill our hearts.

A few questions to ask:

- What am I running after in my life? Is it eternal or temporal?

- Am I consumed with myself or or loving others?

- Am I thankful for the "small" blessings in life?

iCHRISTmas Album!

I don't know about you, but I enjoy music. My wife is a singer/songwriter and loves to honor Jesus with it. She diligently writes her own music every week. I am thankful she is using her gifts to bring glory to God (of course, I am biased!) She just finished a Christmas album this past week. iCHRISTmas is an acoustic EP completely recorded on the iPhone 4.

Also, you can download her "New Day" Album on I-Tunes

To go and download it click on the link below!