Disciple-shift

Since the beginning of this year you had been hearing numerous presentations, reading blogs on discipleship.  Is there a noticeable shift towards discipleship as a culture taking place in your life and the life of our congregation?  We are all called to be followers and disciples of Jesus and to go make disciples.  Are you being disciple?  Are you in a growing relationship with other disciples?

Whenever branch grows over a boundary it gets trimmed closer to the root.  Asa movement we had been moving in all kinds of directions for 175 years, and we need to be reminded of our roots in Jesus, of our radical Biblical practices.  This past week pastors discussed the disciple-shift in our province, and it appears that more explanation is needed for the local leaders, many do not see the need to change how we did church for the past few decades.  Indeed, the theology must be in place before practice will change.  The church had introduced the new Doctrine on Discipleship – No.11, called “Growing in Christ” in 2005.  The last General Conference in San Antonio emphasized the need for discipleship by adding a line to the Church Board job description – to develop Discipleship Plan before Evangelism and members nurture. What does hold us from it?

Perhaps, instead of teaching we must model discipleship.  Discipleship is not what happens in Sabbath School, or at a Board meeting. It is sharing life together in Christ.  We are disciples of Jesus and Jesus told us to make others His disciples.  This is simple theology of discipleship.  Disciples making disciples!  There is no other alternative Christianity.  Anything that is not discipleship is fraud, human invention.  Disciple0making is one and only Method of Jesus.  Apostle Paul would paraphrase this in his “one another” formula – serve one another, love one another, care for one another.

One thing I must communicate – discipleship in our church is not a fad, it is not something we will try for a year or two.  Discipleship is shifting our culture back to the roots of Christian Way as Jesus introduced it.  Discipleship is here to stay in our church as our movement is maturing from pursuing recognition of the world as a legitimate church, to becoming a Remnant movement of Definitely Devoted Disciples of Jesus. And it starts with personal choice to have a spiritual mentor, spiritual father/mother.  Even if you are in age and not a child, there is someone who may come along and disciple you to grow.  And the next step is to practice discipleship in our families.  Our children are our first disciples.   Then our circle of friends – being together disciples of Jesus.  Welcome to the church of Disciples!

Leadership Excellence needed - Discipleship is the only answer!

Friends, as we are envisioning the mission, the essential requirement is a healthy leadership team.  Ellen White says “generally the people rise no higher than the minister” (Manuscript Releases, 168), and that means not just pastor, but elders, leaders in general.  On another occasion she penned “Men in responsible positions should improve continually. They must not anchor upon an old experience and feel that it is not necessary to become scientific [learned, trained] workers. (Testimonies for The Church Vol.4. p93).

As we discuss discipleship plan for our church we are envisioning discipleship on all levels.  Here’s the preferred picture of desirable future, or simply, the Vision – elders are coaching, encouraging, supporting directors of various ministries.  As overseers they are “cheerleading” directors of ministries and their team. At the beginning of each year the elder discussed with a ministry leader their roadmap and plans, as the year progresses, the elder meets with their disciple in coaching session to talk about progress and improvements needed, at the end of the year the elder celebrates results with those he or she coaches.

In addition, elders are visiting with members in their parishes annually and interviewing every member about their spiritual growth, about their use of spiritual gifts, about their involvement in service, and presenting with ministry opportunities, connecting all people to be engaged in meaningful service.

The lead pastor is coaching elders, providing support, training and resources for elders to lead their parishes.  The pastor is also interviewing elders.  When coaching, mentoring, or simply – discipleship becomes our norm, then we can talk about warmth, spiritual environment, and total members involvement in our church.

Do you have a coach?  Are you being discipled by an elder? Are you coaching someone? Are you discipling people on your team, your children, people who are looking up to you? 

Discipleship is not about sitting in the pews once per week on Sabbath and hearing a lecture.  It is about doing life together, it is about serving others, it is about walking alongside people in different seasons of their life.

Remember that the Message of Jesus has to be shared through the Method of Jesus – discipleship!  Jesus told us to go to be His disciples (John 8:31) and to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

Spectators, Believers OR Disciples ? Which one are you?

Recently in my discussion with a church leader a word “spectator” was used and the solution seemed to be to engage more people in Sabbath worship hour.  Yet I disagreed.  Because even participation in a program, scripted or not, is still a performance and not lifestyle.

Evangelistic program can produce new believers.  Persuasive speech produces conviction.  Worship program produces participants, and people feel they contributed by being involved.  Yet none of it is what Jesus asks us to be! 

Discipleship is not what happens during the annual program, or a weekly ritual.  Discipleship is a person-to-person work.  Discipleship is teaching the lifestyle.  Disciple makers are doing the work of discipling outside of Sabbath worship hour, and outside of the church ground. Discipleship takes place at home, in a workplace, in real life, as we share Christ’s presence in difficult life situations, as we walk with Christ into troubled lives and shine life of home and new beginnings.

Organize Branch Sabbath School in your house, start a Bible Study group, invite your neighbour to eat together, organize a small group to impact community in need.  That is where discipleship will happen!

David Toney had been giving away copies of a little book titled “Total Members Involvement” (TMI).  There are few chapters dedicated to step-by-step disciple-making process.  Please read it prayerfully!  Reflect on it.  Ask yourself “Am I a disciple?” and do whatever it takes to be one!

We cannot improve on Christ’s method of presenting the Gospel – mingling with people, desiring their good, being a friend, and caring for peoples’ needs – this is Discipleship Method!

Doing Life together, being real in a real world, taking time to connect with people in their environment, going out of our comfort zone to help people with their lives – that’s discipleship!

And if you do not have people in your life to disciple, to care for – go looking for candidates!   Take the initiative to invite people into your circle of care, into your circle of influence.  Jesus called the twelve.  He could have done everything by Himself, yet He called the twelve to give us example of care, of mentoring, of transforming people through investing your life and time into them. 

Have you learned how to “fish for people”?  Do you know how to make friends?  Discipleship is not about giving Bible Studies only.  It starts with friendship, with winning people’s trust and confidence.  And becoming friends takes time! Be patient, find time, make time.  Share all the blessings you receive following Jesus with your friends so they will also be blessed.  And remember – it’s not about you, but about Jesus!