THE DISTINCTIVE CADENCE OF DISCIPLE MAKING AKA Living by Design Rather than by Default What This is About 1. Introduction Do you want to open this door? 2. Discipleship and Disciple Making The original Web site- DiscipleMaking.Unplugged 3. Get this before leaving College or before marriage What’s in your tool Box? 4. Following Jesus Come and See! 5. Knowing God Knowing About or Knowing God 6. Culture: Secular and American Christian Where am I? 7. Work: Your Job This Really isn’t like Going to Class 8. Lifestyle changes (adjustments) I’m not sure I like Change 9. A successful or wasted life Who determines the Criteria? 10. Ministry Who has the Time? 11. Evangelism I would like to Share but… 12. Leadership My Skills are Somewhere else 13. Values This is Really Important 14. Beliefs Belief Based on Truth 15. Vision Seeing What God Sees 16. Financial considerations What’s in Your Wallet? 17. Project Life You mean there is More? 18. Resources and Heart Attitudes Need Help? What do these phrases mean? * The following phrases will be repeated throughout each section of this paper. “Developing Perspective” This means there is something we need to see, learn, unlearn or understand.
Transcript
THE DISTINCTIVE CADENCE OF DISCIPLE MAKING
AKA Living by Design Rather than by Default
What This is About
1. Introduction Do you want to open this door?2. Discipleship and Disciple Making The original Web site-DiscipleMaking.Unplugged3. Get this before leaving College or before marriage What’s in your tool Box?4. Following Jesus Come and See!5. Knowing God Knowing About or Knowing God6. Culture: Secular and American Christian Where am I?7. Work: Your Job This Really isn’t like Going to Class8. Lifestyle changes (adjustments) I’m not sure I like Change9. A successful or wasted life Who determines the Criteria?10. Ministry Who has the Time?11. Evangelism I would like to Share but…12. Leadership My Skills are Somewhere else13. Values This is Really Important14. Beliefs Belief Based on Truth15. Vision Seeing What God Sees16. Financial considerations What’s in Your Wallet?17. Project Life You mean there is More?18. Resources and Heart Attitudes Need Help?
What do these phrases mean?
* The following phrases will be repeated throughout each section of this paper.
“Developing Perspective” This means there is something we need to see, learn, unlearn or understand.
“Whispers from Others” These are insights from others that help us understand more.
“Thinking and Beyond” Questions to stimulate learning and understanding.
Developing Perspective DO YOU WANT TO OPEN THIS DOOR?
…On your Mark
Jesus knew he had 3 years in which to leave a few men and women with a heart to love God with everything they had, to gain skill to pass on what he taught and demonstrated to them and to see how they could reproduce new followers who would impact the world they lived in and beyond.
How did Jesus go about being certain his disciples were ready to make disciples who would reproduce the process? You and I are here as a result of a strategy that has worked for centuries. We can’t duplicate Jesus’ invitation to have someone come travel with him for three years but we have to identify the critical truths he passed on to these men and women and figure out how to do it in our culture. We can make disciple makers in our culture but there is a cost that most are unwilling to pay.
My first attempts began in my sophomore year in college. I knew very little but I was a step ahead of the guy I was helping follow Jesus. I had learned how important sharing not just material and techniques, but also life in as many ways as possible. I played handball, ate meals with my mentor, spent time in his apartment, travelled in his car. In short, we did as much together as possible and I was always listening and watching how he did what he said. This was a crucial learning principle I only really learned later on.
Jesus used a phrase many times in the New Testament, which should make us stop and see if we really do want to open this door. He would say “If any man would…let him…” There was always a promise and a cost attached to following him.
Developing Perspective THE ORIGINAL WEB SITE-DISCIPLING UNPLUGGED
Discipleship and Disciple Making
There are three scriptures that help understand the design Jesus lived and taught while he was on earth. Matthew 22:36 &37; 28:18-20 and later Paul picked it up as seen in 2 Timothy 2:2. These verses summarized show us that we are to love God with everything we’ve got-mind, emotions, and thoughts. Then we teach those we are disciple making to practice or help the commit 100% to Jesus’ way of life. We are to be on the look out for faithful people who are able to teach (disciple) others.
Dawson Trotman asked a poignant question-“who do you know by name who is going on for Jesus because of your investment of your life in them?” This was not to make us feel guilty but to arouse us to what Jesus’ agenda and expectation was for us.
We will check the Original Web Site “Disciplemaking.unplugged.org to see what we can learn from an “unfiltered life” story. Think about if you were there listening and watching-what would you think
about? What would you learn that you would not be ever learn from a notebook or class?
In this document the focus will be on the unchanging purpose of God and a focus on a college ministry-Campus Ventures (CV).
Living by Design does not mean: rules, strategies, steps, programs, etc. It can include some of this, but Jesus must be the design and strategy. He lived out every aspect of how to love God and help others learn to follow him (Disciple Making). It is only as we live as God intended that he is glorified. Isaiah 26:8 and 43:7 both speak to the issue that we were created to bring glory to God. To give our life to achieving, accumulating or accomplishing anything but this, we have missed the point of life and these pursuits never bring peace or joy to our life.
The most significant thing we should focus on is: knowing, loving, trusting and obeying God. It is because our God is a God of relationship who wants a real relationship with us, that we actually can know, love, trust and obey him. This distinguishes Christianity from every religion in the world.
Design is affected by interruptions (opportunities in disguise). Think about how interruptions wreck rules, steps, strategies, etc. Why do some people view some things as interruptions rather than opportunities?
Many people prefer to live by rules, strategies, steps…because it becomes easy to measure your growth-you simply keep the rules. If this were true, the religious types of Jesus’ day would have been ” top shelf” when it came to how Jesus saw things. Instead, Jesus had most of his difficulty with these people. Certain cults measure dedication and maturity in the same way. Many religions of the world have the same handbook. None have an understanding of a dynamic relationship with God. When you live by the design of Jesus being the strategy, it means you are depending on developing a deeper or intimate relationship with Jesus and as you do, you learn to follow him as he speaks to you. God never changes his intention and purpose in history but always challenges our structured way of living out Christianity.
Your gifts, passions and personality help shape your design. Think about how yours does. Do you know what your passion is, your gifts and personality and how it affects God’s design for you in becoming a disciple and making disciples? Not everything is done the same way. Remember the little lady with two pennies, Jesus said she gave more than anyone one Sabbath day.
Thinking and Beyond
Think about moving into a town in the Western part of Idaho. God has put on your heart to plant a church there. How would you go about doing that? You have a job at a bank and don’t know anyone except your boss. Would you do a search online to see how others have done it or would you spend time asking God what is the best way to get started? Your answer reveals whether you are thinking or living by design or default.
Living by Default means you check with the manual and how it has always been done. You rely not on a relationship with God but rather trust the way it has always been done. Would you meet with a few people on Friday night or is Sunday the appointed Biblical day? Would you rent a building or meet in a home or school? How about a bar? How would you decide?
E.M. Bounds said “The church is looking for better methods but God is looking for a certain kind of man or woman-a Disciple” This is still true today.
What part of your day do you reserve for getting to know God better?
How would you describe your desire to live like God intends you to live? How would your neighbors or people you work with describe your desire? Examine Mark 5:43-how does this relate to motivation?
How would you describe your motivation for following Jesus and making disciples? How would your spouse, co-worker, roommate?
Becoming a disciple of Jesus is the beginning. As a person is becoming a disciple they will find others who either become Christians or they are already a Christian and want to grow spiritually. Either way, the rest of why we are on our planet is to make disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 is the basis of our call to make disciples. We are to teach people to “practice” everything Jesus did. Disciple making is helping another know truth, but practicing the truth is the heart of disciple making. John 13:17 highlights the necessity to do (practice) not just know or understand what Jesus did. We will see later that the only way to teach someone to practice how Jesus lived is to have the classroom in real life on life experience rather than a sterile classroom in a building.
Whispers from others
E.M Bounds said “The church is looking for better methods but God is looking for a certain kind of man or woman-a disciple.” This is still true today.
“In the first century there were no classes on disciple making, they just made disciples.”
Caesar Kalinowski speaks to the issue of discipleship and disciple making with regard to the American church:
Most have never been discipled/apprenticed into their faith where it transforms their life. For them to make disciples without receiving the time with a disciple maker makes it practically
impossible to do that. There is therefore hardly any disciple making happening in American churches. We are not attempting to disciple people. We just haven’t put in the time. Also, we have not accurately defined terms or truth first century Christians understood-terms
Ephesians 4:11 & 12 indicate that a pastor is charged with equipping those in the church to do the work of ministry-to become skilled in “making disciples” and other aspects of church life. It does not mean it is limited to learning how to become a good “committee leader.”
My equipping did not come from a pastor of a church but rather from a College campus worker and another student. For two years this student poured into my life those truths I needed to disciple another after he left college. My first attempts after leaving college included helping disciple a man twice my age and then another man who worked in the warehouse I managed for a chemical company. I met one to one with these men sharing with them how to do the same thing with another man.
Think about this: A married man not in school spends about 80% of his time working a job and family time if they have children and he sleeps. After some recreation, shopping, and other necessary life commitments they have about 5% of a typical week left for investing in people for eternity. A single man or woman has some more for helping people become more equipped followers of Jesus. Availability is the critical word in all of this.
Developing Perspective…more
There are two tracks usually taken to make disciples who make disciples. One is the one the majority take and the other is very hard to find. Only one greatly helps to accomplish the challenge of Matthew 22:36,37 and 28:18-20. Jesus told all of us to “teach people how to practice everything he taught the early disciples.”
Sharing Life Together Track (Resources-The Distinctive Cadence of Disciple Making )
This track could be understood by an answer Jesus gave to some inquiring men one
day. In a response to where he was staying Jesus simply said “Come and See.” He could have been more descriptive but he chose to introduce them to and element of making disciples not usually found in our “more practical” style of disciple making His prescriptive was to base his disciple making on a relationship with him. As they followed him, they would learn how to disciple others through that relationship with him. They would talk with him and then listen for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit for what to do next.
This strategy of disciple making others, foreign to most today, was normal for Jesus and will be for those following him. It does not cancel out the “disciplines” to be learned but rather introduces color into the process. It adds an element of excitement and adventure to our relationships with Jesus, others and life.
Whispers from Others
Don Miller captures the force and energy of this track when he says “We will never feel loved until we drop the act, until we’re willing to show our true selves to the people around us.”
“We are hardwired for connectivity. Meaning is found in community not individualism.” Simon Guillebaud
Developing Perspective…more
Jesus and Paul demonstrated this as they spent time with those they were discipling. The gospels and Paul’s letters illustrate this. Both Jesus and Paul lived in the environment of those they were helping in order to help them understand how to make disciples in that environment. See 1 Thessalonians 2:8-10 for an example of how Paul did this.
The idea here is that more is “caught” rather than “taught.” There is more learned in recreation and athletics as well as a work project than sitting in chairs. Anyone can memorize a verse on forgiveness but watch someone who just fouled someone hard in basketball and then ask forgiveness. The level of learning in the game is not forgotten and there is an example that is more easily understood.
Dawson Trotman used to say with regard to discipling people, “tell them why, show them how, get them started, keep them going, and check up on them.”
Disciple making in this context is reproduceable in real life because it has been learned in real life. This is more authentic. This is real stuff that people understand.
It takes more time this way but there are no shortcuts to disciple making.
Learning means it is visible in you rather than just gaining information. “Teaching is more than telling and learning is more than listening.”
There is more opportunity to be with “wolves” when disciple making is done in the world or a neighborhood context.
There is more relational connection when disciple making is done in the context of doing life together.
Training, teaching and equipping is done in various dimensions of life experiences. Some of those would include: Job Marriage Parenting Recreation Hobbies-biking, hiking, climbing, fishing, hunting, camping skiing… Eating-in homes and out together, Andrew dinners Fun stuff-parties, concerts, trips Battling together-developing relationships with non-Christians, evangelism Work projects Traveling together Shopping together Relationships-spouse, kids, relatives Using your house or apartment in ministry Studying and Praying together Faith building opportunities Financial Aspects-generosity, helping people in need Leadership opportunities Attitudes-observations based on real life Ownership Issues-loaning a car, book , etc. Leading a one to one relationship and small group Application oriented-it is related more to change in a life than completion of an assignment Community opportunities Team focus rather than group focus
There is a lot of stuff that can be learned in all of these life activities that can’t be learned in a room for 2 hours.
Developing Perspective…more
There are some challenges to life on life and community disciple making:
Geographical separation -In urban areas people often live several miles apart. It’s hard to drop by for a power drill or some sugar unless we are closer.
Independence . The American lifestyle is strong in promoting this way of living but we must learn the Biblical value of interdependence. Independence is indirectly reinforced in one time events while community provides more opportunity to depend on one another.
Selfishness -We like calling the shots with how we use our time or finances but living with others in community calls for selflessness.
Conversation and dialog is what life on life and community value. Doing disciple making this way takes more time.
Trust is essential in disciple making and it is earned and learned slowly. Sharing life together allows for trust to develop much more than being in a classroom setting.
The path of discipleship is discernable but usually crooked. Each person is different and life interrupts well-defined strategies as well as being messy.
Jesus is the strategy and the Holy Spirit brings the words of Jesus to mind in how to apply truth to each person.
In life on life disciple making, fewer people are worked with and it looks slower than having a group of people going through discipleship groups.
Another Thought In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul discusses spiritual gifts and how we should allow the practice of them. How does this relate to loving God fully or making disciples?
Growth as a Christian and making disciples does not look the same for each person. A person with the gift of mercy will probably be discipled differently than someone with the gift of exortation. A person with these gifts will also disciple another person differently. There is something to learn from people with differing gifts. In fact, God made it this way because no one will learn everything about God but we get different glimpses of who God is and what he is about in the world through people with different spiritual gifts. Understanding this helps in not trying to force someone to learn and grow in set strategies.
And Another thought Galatians 5:25 says “Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit.” This is the design behind discipling others that is usually missed. Only the Spirit can show us what another person needs and when they need us to talk with them about it. A disciple making strategy that is fixed in terms of steps or definite order often misses the life breath of the Spirit of God. To lead without the Spirit’s voice to us is to try and control the disciple making relationship. This does not negate the need to discuss specific life topics with people but releases us to depend on the Spirit. This brings freshness, excitement and adventure in a disciple making relationship.
The Event Track (Resources: The Distinctive Cadence of Disciple Making)
Without being too harsh or critical, this track of “Disciple Making” could be
more accurately described as “Comfortable Predictability.” The events or groups may vary but they have the same ingredients that do not usually arouse an excitement, sense of adventure or certainty in being equipped to initiate disciple making relationships with others. Over a period of time this approach not only becomes comfortable but also becomes the fabric of what the Christian experience should not look like.
An event track most often includes:
Sunday services or a weekly Christian meeting. Weekly small groups with a defined format. Special training sessions (conferences, discipleship groups, etc.).
The institutional maintenance of many American churches drains people’s time for significant interaction with non-Christians and disciple making.
The focus of event training:
Knowledge or information and some understanding of the Bible. “How To’s” such as: Quiet Time, Scripture Memory, Bible Study, Prayer, etc. These are
excellent disciplines but they can be learned without an outcome of making disciples who also make disciples.
The Event track can easily produce:
More theory about the Christian life rather than life experiences. What is learned is not as easily reproducible and is usually divorced from real life situations.
Individualism rather than Community and Team Disciple making. Little if any Disciple Making. There are few if any life experiences shared. More focus on Christians rather than non-Christians. Abstract ideas and principles. The completion of studies, reading and assignments.
Not everyone has the opportunity to be discipled while in college. For those not in college, you should consider moving to a place where an individual, group or church can help you develop an understanding of the necessity of these things being in your life. You need someone to come along side of you and help you. This takes time, discipline, availability and perseverance. After a person leaves college or is married, time is a precious commodity and the discipline to stick with it becomes more challenging. And Walt Henrichsen says this and more in Many Aspire Few Attain.
This is why in Campus Ventures -CV (A Christian ministry on University and college campuses), we focus on helping a student become a committed follower of Jesus who loves God and people and therefore is on a track to become equipped to make disciples for the rest of their life.
The following represents basic Christian living we believe every person needs in order to develop a foundation that will help them in the challenge of continuing to follow Jesus and making disciples in the secular world they are moving into. It is not a magic formula but has proven to be helpful in many students’ lives. It is possible to communicate what is needed in a 2 year and 4 year college experience. The staff should determine from their relationship with God and students what will best begin building a spiritual foundation for students they invest their lives with. Remember that discipleship is a narrow road but not usually straight and there are always a few rocks on the road. The order of topics taught reflects what the staff has prayed about and determined to be what God wants done.
This could be thought of as the CV Ministry Grid. The lens of “The Distinctive Cadence of Disciple Making” should be a filter in which to process a semester strategy or a seasonal strategy in the case of those not in a school environment. Large Group Meetings, Discipleship Groups, Small Group Bible Studies, Leadership Teams, Retreats and time with staff can help but is limited without life experience with students.
Remember the paradigm Jesus demonstrated-He loved the world, helped many and trained a few.
ESSENTIAL OR HELPFUL SURVIVAL PACKING
Look at it this way: This is stuff you need to have packed or understood if possible before you leave college. If you don’t attend college or only do so for a shorter time, you’ve got to find someone or a ministry where you could learn some of these essential survival pieces that will help you become a more effective disciple maker. These are written with college and university considerations but could be adapted.
Within the First 2 Years Building A Foundation
A student has no doubts about assurances of salvation, God answering prayer, God’s commitment to guide us in life, gaining victory over sin and temptation and understanding that God always forgives them.
Learning that God is a God of love. Beginning to develop and nurture an intimate relationship with Jesus. Becoming more sensitive to and listening to the Spirit and growing in hearing God speak to
them. (Remember that Jesus did what the Father was doing. He joined the Father where he was at work.) THIS IS THE STRATEGY IN FOLLOWING JESUS AND MAKING DISCIPLES God wants us to learn.
Learning what following Jesus means and doesn’t mean and is learning to do that. God’s agenda is becoming their agenda. Developing an active faith-really believing God for specific things. Understanding and learning to commit to the authority of the Bible. Learning how to make applications of scripture to their everyday life. Developing various skills for personal growth-Quiet Time, Scripture Memory, Bible Study,
Prayer, Illustrations like: The Wheel, The Hand and The Bridge. Beginning to participate in a small group and learning what community means. Beginning to understand that: disciples are made by a community of like hearted followers
of Jesus as well as in one to one relationships. They are involved in both. Developing a life objective from scripture.
Within the Next 2 years Continuing the Process
Learning how to develop Godly character and is accountable to someone for help and encouragement.
Becoming skillful in sharing the gospel with others. Learning what a disciple is and understands a profile of a disciple from scripture. Is
committed to becoming that kind of person. Understanding that a disciple who makes disciple makers is a calling for everyone. (Making
disciples is not complicated but it is costly.) Understanding the place of no compromise and holiness in a growing disciple’s life. Committed to the “Heart Attitudes” of Campus Ventures. Learning to share life with a group of like hearted followers and how this is what church and
disciple making is all about. Exposed to some of the Campus Ventures key beliefs and values. Dealing with the necessity to move to a location after leaving college where they can join an
active disciple maker or disciple making church. Beginning to gain knowledge and input on the American culture, materialism and
consumerism.
The Resource Section contains detail for each of the above aspects of the CV Ministry Grid.
It is not only preferable but critical that a student is well on their way to incorporating and developing this foundation prior to marriage due to the amount of time and commitment involved in having a
successful marriage. Many heartaches will be eliminated if both partners are on the same page with developing this foundation.
Thinking and Beyond
Do you know how to help another person incorporate these aspects of discipleship and disciple making into their life?
Do you want to know how to join God and be used by him to help another person follow Jesus?
Where could you get some help in learning how to disciple another person?
Jesus’ introduction to his ministry began with simple but impacting words to a few guys-“follow me, I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18-22
What did Jesus mean? How should we define “follow me?” It is critical to define it correctly or we will be entangled in a trivial pursuit of religious activity. Following Jesus must mean something.
Remember-A believer in Jesus and a follower of Jesus are not the same thing. What we do reveals what we believe regardless of what we say we believe. A belief remains mental accent when it does not change our lifestyle. Matthew 7:22 & 23 are verses that remind us that we can do many spiritual things and not be known by Jesus and it results in separation from him.
Think about the rhythm of Jesus’ life-He was in public a lot, with people, serving, proclaiming truth, ministering, healing, withdrawing for periods of time, fasting and praying and in solitude, etc. What does this suggest in following him?
Discipleship and Disciple Making basically are essential aspects of following Jesus.
Think of the rhythm of Jesus’ life-To be with people, serve people, proclaim the gospel, minister to people, heal, withdraw for periods of time, fasting, praying, solitude… What’s attractive in the rhythm of Jesus’ life to you? How would you describe the rhythm of your life?
What would you be thinking as Jesus says these words in Matthew 4 if you were fishing? If you are on the beach listening? What if he spoke this to you as you had breakfast today?
When Jesus speaks to you, you will have to alter something in your belief system. Something in your life will change. You and I have to follow Jesus if we are going to ask someone else to do that.
Following Jesus is basically doing what he did and what he tells us to do, being focused on what he was focused on, thinking like he did, committed to what matters to him, relating to secular culture as he did
Whispers from Others
“We have the Holy Spirit. To follow him, we must be willing to go beyond our current understanding of what we know.” Bill Johnson
Thinking and Beyond
Can you be a Christian and not follow Jesus? (Ask an Indonesian Christian, a Chinese Christian or a first century Christian, then think of this response some people made to Jesus and his reply to them “Lord, Lord, didn’t we do…” “I don’t know you”-Jesus Matthew 7:21-23.
What did Jesus do that we don’t want to talk about? What did he do that we rarely talk about? Why?
How would explain how Discipleship and Disciple Making must be “built in to our life rather than tacked on”?
What does it mean to say that Discipleship and Disciple Making must be the DNA of the church?
What do you think that would look like
Another thought on this is Hebrews 13:8. Jesus and what is on his heart for everyone is exactly the same as it was 2000 years ago. What he said and expected of those he talked with while he was here is the same that he expects today. And there is Luke 9:23 where he elaborates on following him. Those who truly follow him die to comfort, security, reputation, health, family, friends, wealth, self…i
Jesus really meant what he said. It is easy to agree with this and not live it out in our life. Just like flirting, we choose to go only so far in following Jesus. But we need to be honest-to do this is not to follow Jesus. We must remember that a believer in and a follower of Jesus are not the same thing. What we do or how we live reveals what we really believe regardless of what we say we believe.
The cost is great but the reward is joy and freedom unlike anything that can be found in our world. Where does this lead? Jesus said “…come and see” to men wanting to know where he was staying. He speaks the same thing to you and I as he invites us to follow him. We make the decision and begin to realize the freedom from whatever has us trapped. Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18 speak to this. But get ready for a little mystery and adventure in your life. One of Jesus’ favorite verses must have been Isaiah 55:8 & 9. The Word on the Street version translates part of this as “my methods are not in any of your manuals.”
How far is it from Boise, Idaho to Lincoln, Nebraska? Quite a trip to get there. How far is it from “what if” to “even though”? Some things take longer to get to. Learning to follow Jesus is one of those but the sooner we start, the more we experience the life he designed us for.
Learning to follow Jesus will never happen in a 2 hour event in an environment separated from where we do life the rest of the week. Where do you think you could learn patience from me? In a Bible study or riding with me on a two lane road in Idaho’s mountains? Learning from others how to follow Jesus is primarily enhanced through relationships rubbing up against each other in messy life situations.
Think about the risk of taking no risk in life.
Another glimpse of what it means to follow Jesus is seen in Matthew 8:18-22. What do you see in the teacher’s comment and Jesus’ reply? How about one of the disciples’ comment in verse 22? What do you understand here? Not understand? How do you come to a place where cost is an irrelevant consideration for you? John 6:43-67 might confuse you or scare the hell out of you but unless you and I wrestle with this cost we will never follow Jesus. These people that day clearly understood what Jesus was after and they wanted no part of something that would wreck their safe, comfortable , predictable lifestyle. Things have really changed today or have they?
We have many teachers and a curriculum wthout electives. Some of the teachers God uses in our life to show us what following Jesus really means are:
Pain CS Lewis said pain is the greatest teacher we have. Ecclesiastes 7:2 speaks to this. Darkness-We learn to trust where there is no light. Isaiah 50:11 Confusion-“I don’t know what to do” we say. Isaiah 30:21 is our encouragement. Frustration-our goals are not being realized, no one is listening to me, they are not changing, I
can’t get this right. Wrong or shallow focus-Matthew 6:19, Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 5:19. We must be focused on
what really matters which will go against the American Dream. Worry/Anxiety-It seems we have to go through this before we learn to trust God for what we
need. Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:6 and Hebrews 11:6 Accumulating the wrong stuff-Matthew 19:21. We must learn to give up control of everything.
Psalm 73:25 is a cure if you mean it. Forgiveness in relationships-Matthew 18:21,22 Broken relationships can be a challenging
teacher.
“Jesus’ invitation to people to follow him was far more costly than people were ready to accept and he was ok with that.” author unknown
A discussion should be made for what “Cheap Grace” is. I will only say that a complete discussion of this is included in the book The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer . Romans 6:15 & 23 gives a capsule of what is needed to understand. The basic thought in understanding this is to recognize that cheap grace focuses on forgiveness without requiring repentance. It is focusing on grace without discipleship and falls short of what the gospel is about. Had Jesus only mentioned grace without the cost of following him, we would have an incomplete gospel and we probably would have never had a calendar with AD or BC in it.
Thinking and Beyond
Why do you think Jesus as the most significant leader the world has known, had a reputation for having most of his listeners leave and have nothing to do with him? What does this say about how thrilled people are when so many keep showing up in church services? Are we missing the authentic message of Jesus?
When Jesus said “follow me” who was he talking to? Do you believe he was talking to every person who has ever lived on the planet including you and I?
Why would people think this was only meant for those in the first century? Why do they live as though it was?
How do the words “all authority” used by Jesus in Matthew 28:18- 20 change the equation for everyone? For you? What do the words “as you go” mean?
Why is it critical that you define the words “make disciples” correctly? What are some common definitions you have heard? How would you define it?
Another thought from Mark 6:30-44 This was a challenge to look at Jesus in a way these people may not have had before, to wonder, to realize the depth of what “follow me” meant. “You give them something to eat.” What would go through your mind? What do you think these men learned that day? What do you see here you haven’t thought about?
If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.
One of the main reasons we do not want to go “all in” with Jesus is that we do not want to give up control! We might say that we are doing 4 out of 10 things Jesus wants from us. Jesus says “I want it all.” We need to remember Matthew 28:18-Jesus has all authority. He has compassion but also determination. Jesus loves us too much to not tell us the truth about following him.
When you read something in the Bible do you say ”I’ll think about it” or do you say “I’ll do it.” These responses are worlds apart..
One of the main costs of following Jesus relates to time. Being about people isn’t about doing more but rather doing less. You must make time to invest in another person. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 make it clear that we can be involved in our culture more than we should. The Word on the Street captures it “Trained combat teams don’t get sucked into the daily soap opera of normal life. No, the only thing that counts is the nod of approval from their officer in charge.” We must be ok with not being normal!
Another cost is being real and vulnerable (this is sharing the good, bad and ugly). You can really only be completely real when you share life with another person. Structured time is ok but is greatly limited in what can be taught and learned in being real and vulnerable in the coffee shop, the bar, or on the ski slope. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 reveals Paul’s heart for those he discipled.
Thinking and Beyond
Which of these: Availability, Preparation, Vulnerability, Prayer, Sharing life holds the most serious challenge for you? Why? How will you begin to work on these?
Matthew 8:18-22-What do you see in the teacher’s comment and Jesus’ reply? How about one of the disciple’s comments in verse 21 and Jesus’ response in 22? What do you understand here? Not understand? What challenges you about this? Have you come to a place where cost is an irrelevant consideration for you? Do you want to get to that place?
Developing Perspective…more
There are also Costs of not following Jesus we should remember .
To not follow Jesus wholeheartedly is to miss the blessing and benefits of knowing Jesus intimately. (To not go through with your wedding vows, you miss the intimate relationship with a spouse.)
You miss the intimate relationship with the Creator. You miss the power of God working in and through your life. You miss the peace and fullness of knowing you are right with God. It is easier to make wrong decisions when you are not following Jesus. John 6:63 says the Spirit
gives life and the flesh counts for nothing. Living according to the flesh equals the world you see with your eyes; it is a distortion of life versus decisions made from an eternal perspective.
Thinking and Beyond
What are some costs you have experienced in following Jesus and discipling others? What did you learn through these? What do you think are reasons some people seem oblivious to thinking about costs while others stumble or stop when it gets hard?
Developing Perspective…more
Selecting who you should disciple is very important. As Walt Heinrichsen said years ago in a booklet “Many Aspire but Few Attain.” Not everyone who says they want to get with you for becoming a disciple may have in mind what is really involved.” So, you have to be selective. But how do you go about it? I would suggest you look for a “FAT and Hungry” person (One who is Faithful, Available, Teachable and has a Heart for God and People). “A few thoroughly trained are more effective than many superficially trained.”
Consider this when selecting someone to invest your life in :
1. Look around after a meeting for someone how hangs out and asks questions or just seems to want more. Think about this person-have they been faithful, are they available and teachable, do they give any indication they really want to know and love God and people? These are clues to their heart you need to know.
2. Spend some time in prayer when you begin to think they might one you could help. Luke 6:12-16 show that Jesus prayed before choosing the 12.
3. Permission- Tell them why you want to meet with them. Are they interested? Have an agreement with them to help them become a Godly man or woman who makes a difference in life and the lives of men and women. Tell them it will mean being real with each other and that you and them will work on various assignments together. You will each hold one another accountable to what you commit to. Be upfront with everything. Do everything you can to make them really think about whether they want to do this. Give them a day or two to think about it and contact you if they want to make these commitments. Remind them that these commitments are more to Jesus than you. And remember, you are discipling them to follow Jesus not you.
4. Plan- Think through some things you know they need to know, understand, be and do. There will be some skills they need to learn. There are some beliefs, perspectives and values they are going to need to be committed to. Remember, you are helping them fill a “tool box” for personal growth and ministry. Part of the plan is to ask them what they know they need or want to look at during your time together. Above all, remember that Jesus is the Plan or Strategy. People are different and learn differently. You will have to talk with God about this person and what is the best way to help them. What works with one will not necessarily work with another. Remember Isaiah 55:8 & 9-God does not always do it the same way.
5. Whose Disciple? As mentioned before, you are discipling them to Jesus because the truth is they will be gone from you in a short time. They have to learn how to begin to hear God speak to them. Remember John 16:12 & 13. Their future is with Jesus. Ask some questions like What did Jesus say about this? What do you think Jesus would do about…?
6. Persevere- Helping another person learn to follow Jesus is like running a marathon and not a hundred meter sprint. You will need to allow some down time for them as well as for you. Each person’s pace is different. Keep working with them if you can, if they or you move away. You can e mail, face time, skype or phone.
7. Relax-it is God’s ministry not ours. We can challenge, encourage and set the pace but God does the work. 1 Corinthians 3:6 shows that God is responsible for helping a person grow.
Five things to do with the person you meet with :
1. The Word - Always share something together in the Bible when you meet. This could be verses you are memorizing, something from a Bible study or something from a Quiet Time. Make sure you memorize scripture together and are doing some kind of Bible study together. This is how God speaks to you. You want the person you are helping to see what a relationship with God is like. You also need to see how this relationship with God is developing in their life.
2. Observe - Always be on the lookout for how they talk, react to stuff that happens, how they listen to others, how they treat people who disagree with them, how they are with men and women. Observation brings up many teachable moments.What are they passionate about? What makes them angry? Do they like to argue? Why? Are they unusually quiet?Mark 9:33-36 give an example of how Jesus was observant with those he was discipling. He used their arguing to help them think and learn something.
3. Listen - Don’t monopolize the conversation. You learn when they talk not when you do. Learn to ask good questions and listen to their response. Ask questions that reveal motives, fears, growth, anxieties and trust issues.Think about the questions Jesus asked people. He wanted them to learn something about themselves and God.“Who do people say I am?” “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:13-16“Why are you afraid?” ”Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40
4. Encourage - Be heavy on encouragement especially at the beginning of your relationship. Why? Correction will be needed but major on encouraging them. Progress in the right thinking or right living is the goal rather than how fast they are going. Remember, people grow at different paces.
5. Pray Together- They will learn how to pray as you pray with them. Pray about everything so they learn that you can talk with God about anything. Keep a prayer list of requests they have and what you have observed in your times together. Help them begin to keep a prayer list.
6. A Good Technique - “Tell them why, show them how, get them started, keep them going and check up on them.” Dawson Trotman said this. For example, tell they why a Quiet Time can help them, show them how you have one, give them a passage of scripture to think about and write something about, and ask them later about it.
God’s interest is not only in your helping others but also in you- Consider Luke 8:22-25
“God responds to outrageous faith.” What is the craziest thing you are trusting God for? Dawson Trotman once said “Most of the time we are praying for toys when God wants us to pray for countries.” I remember a guy I met with who told me that we should be praying for God to give us a hotel for a refugee ministry. That is what faith is all about.
But we don’t often get into situations in which we can’t control or deal with on our own. We need to get into situations in life that remind us of our need for God. Look at 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 to see what situations Paul must gave gotten into that stretched his faith.
People who live by faith will struggle in ways that those who live to make their lives work will never know or understand. I remember when we moved to Boise, Idaho and some of our friends asked us why. All I could say was what God told Abraham once “I will show you why you are moving there, trust me.” God always has something up his sleeve we are not expecting but it takes faith to believe him.
Consider Genesis 22 when Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac or 1 Samuel 17:37 and the story of David and the giant-God delivered him from the bear and lion, why shouldn’t he deal with the giant also? David learned to have faith as the primary ingredient for making life work. We must learn this ourselves as well as help the one we are discipling to live with this indispensable aspect of the Christian life. This is a huge challenge in the American Christian culture as most don’t really know anything about how to nor why to live by faith when we can usually work it out ourselves.
Faith is an illusion as long as we are safe. But walking with God is one of the most dangerous things you can do. (Take a look at Hebrews 11)
A Big Controversy – Life Insurance-Do you believe we should have it or trust God to provide? How would you decide this one? Or help another decide this? Where does faith fit into the American Christian lifestyle?
Think about it this way- What are you believing God for today that you weren’t a year ago?
The reason we will not develop outrageous faith is because we really don’t know God like we should so we are not sure if he will come through! This is why an intimate relationship with God is the most critical aspect of the Christian life to develop. Henry Blackaby once said “We must first know God, then we will love God which leads to trusting God and then we will find it easier to obey God.” If we miss the first three and just tell people just to obey God, quitting becomes easier.
Consider Matthew 13:53-58
Mark Batterson said “Instead of faith, we usually reset to a default of logic.” And “God can’t reveal his faithfulness until we exercise our faith.”
What are some boundaries you have set up with regard to faith? You must begin to resolve this in your life before you begin to help someone else do it. The person we are discipling probably has no experience of having to do much of anything with faith.
Many Christians in America can pretty much get it done without God. They don’t need to believe God for anything. If we’re hungry, we go to a fast food place, if we need nails, we have several hardware stores, if we need a shirt, there are Penny’s and Sears, if we don’t have cash, plastic will do.
Remember “the Mystery” in disciple making or helping another. We have to learn to ask Jesus what he wants us to do or talk about with the one we are helping. The Spirit will bring to our mind before and throughout our conversation what to say or questions to ask. He is the Strategy! A plan we come up with does not usually involve faith.
When I am Discipling Someone:
1. I usually start with asking them about the good, the bad and the ugly of how their week is going. I want them to be specific. I will also share about my week.
2. I ask them how did they win and lose this week (even though winning and losing are not the issue I am looking for).
3. Who did they meet this week-Christians and those not Christians. I encourage them to use a 3x5 card to write their names on so they can pray for them.
4. If they had an assignment last time we met, I ask them about it.5. Not every time but several times I want them to share a verse they are memorizing. I will share
one also.6. We will pray together.7. I will give them something to think about or an assignment to complete.
Occasionally, I want to:
1. Do some kind of work together for someone who has a need. Work is a great teacher of character.
2. Do something fun together.3. Go to war together-sharing our faith or talking with people about various issues.4. Eat together or have a beer or coffee.5. Have them meet with another man who is a growing Christian and helping another grow so they
can learn from them also.
Journal
I like to remember what we talked about and what I learned in our time together so I will jot down things like: What we talked about, needs I observed, questions they asked, things to pray about and an assignment I gave them.
The early disciples woke up with Jesus about every morning for 3 years. They probably wondered what kind of rabbit he would pull out of a hat today. They may have wondered how he was going to challenge their faith or confuse them. But, they knew it probably would be an adventure, expose wrong thinking, involve controversy, have some element of excitement or scare the hell out of them.
Anyway, they were learning how to make disciples without really knowing it yet. Take Matthew 8:1-4 for example. Jesus is going to do the last thing they would ever consider-touch a leper. What do you think was going through their minds as he touches this man? Who is the leper in your culture? What about the “if you are willing” comment of the man? What’s your reaction to healing miracles? Why do we have problems believing in miracles in America? Are these stories exceptions or examples for us? How big is your God or the person you are discipling? Why does this matter?
Whispers from Others
“God always chooses the route that brings him the most glory.” Seminary Professor in Fort Worth, Texas
Thinking and Beyond
How would you describe your faith in helping a person become a disciple maker? What does excitement look like in your relationship with those you are helping follow Jesus? How do you think journaling could help you in discipling another person? How could you increase the variety in the time you spend discipling others?
Developing Perspective…more
Making disciples is a call to radical living, a call to focus your life on what really matters, a call to live in the freedom and joy of listening to and obeying the God of the universe, and an opportunity to have a living relationship with Jesus. There is nothing more exhilarating than helping someone know Jesus and develop a real relationship with him and to know how to pass it on. Do something incredibly daring with your life-make disciples.
Whispers from others
“If you are not seeing the things you learn translating into the things you do, then something is out of place.” Frances Chan
“Without lifestyle discipleship, the church will be less relevant in a society where its echo is already much louder than its voice.” DiscipleWater
Developing Perspective KNOWING ABOUT OR KNOWING GOD
Knowing God
God is committed to us knowing who he is, not who we imagine him to be. Hosea 6:6 and Job 42:2 & 5 set this perspective. The Message in Hosea says “I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.” Knowing someone and knowing about them reveals whether there is a personal relationship or not. This is the primary reason God has, in us knowing him-he wants a personal relationship with us.
It also takes time, faith and intentionality to know God better. Think about any good relationship you have with someone. That was developed over time and many interactions with them.
God is all powerful and we must remember this during the rough spots in life. It requires trust and we don’t know what he does so we must trust he knows what he is doing or allowing. Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 28:18 speak to this.
Paul adds in Philippians 3:7-10 that his all- consuming goal was to know Christ Jesus the Lord and become like him. He considered everything he had done, achieved and become before knowing Jesus and considered it to be trash.
God so wants us to know him that he is not knocked off the throne with our hard questions. He relishes them because in his answer, we learn more about who he is. Check Habakkuk 1:2-4
To know God we must abandon our wrongly learned thinking, dreams or desires. God uses the pain of knowing we have to re-learn what really matters in order to know God better.
Two resources to consult are: THE CAMPUS VENTURES “LIFE ON LIFE MANUAL’ Knowing God section and CHARACTERISTICS OF JESUS AS THE FATHER ON EARTH compiled by Bill Ewing.
This summary statement clearly presents the problem of helping people become real followers of Jesus. Simon Guillebaud states in a devotional book Choose Life 365 Readings for Radical Disciples “…we embrace a pale diluted distortion of true authentic discipleship; and in what has become an entrenched entitlement culture, giving up ourselves is about as countercultural and counterintuitive as you can get.”
Culture could be thought of as a system that defines meaning. It purports to describe what is important, right and should be followed if one is to have meaning in the world. It can be simple or variously complex but if it is off track with the Bible, it is wrong. In the case of Christianity, it can be a distortion of a lifestyle required by a follower of Jesus. Followers of Jesus will influence both secular and Christian culture if they live as Jesus did.
Consider how a person’s or culture’s definition of success determines a lifestyle of complete conformity in order to have value in that culture. Our definition if wrong, carries heavy costs. Consider Mark 8:36, Luke 18:11 and 2 Corinthians 10:12 in this regard.
Accumulating stuff rather than experiences that give life a distinctive flavor seems to be a goal of most today. If we only accumulate experiences –like trips to various places, the trip can result in the same empty feeling inside that accompanies getting more stuff. Wealth is part of many culture’s definition and generosity that comes from having much is highly valued. But what about generosity that comes out of having little? The widow who gave a couple of pennies one day should always challenge our understanding of what is really important in life.
Having fun is in God’s playbook but as John Piper says In Don’t Waste Your Life “America is the world’s first culture in jeopardy of amusing itself to death.” Think about how many companies are listed on the Stock Exchanges that are gaming related. There are many!
We have become friends with the shallow focus most Americans have given their life to. People who attend churches have not been vaccinated from this virus.
You might think twice about opening a sewer drain because the smell might make dirty socks smell sweet. We cover sewers up for a reason-we don’t want to be reminded what is in them. But what about opening up what is under our American or Western culture? What is hiding under the surface? There are many things in there we might not want to admit are there, but combined they define what most Americans believe to be what is important and should be valued.
Jeremiah 2:13 has as many implications for us today as when it was written a few years back. These two statements “…They have forsaken me and have dug their own cisterns” (wells) accurately describe what is the basis of why we are so off track with our perspectives of our culture. Take some time to seriously think about how these affect your typical day.
Here are some of the “not so hidden” foundation builders of our culture:
1. Materialism/Consumerism-It is so easy to not really believe what Jesus says about this because verses like Matthew 6:24 and Luke 12:15 seem to be so unrealistic. Closets, storage bins, rental storage units all testify to our insatiable desire to have more stuff. Visit a refugee family and you will see how much most Americans value “more.” Some of these refugees come to America with two or three suitcases, which is the total of their belongings. However, they often quickly begin to accumulate the same things most American’s value. Paul, in Philippians 4 clearly had come to a place of contentment with what he had. How do you define contentment? We better be sure we know the truth about how Jesus defines it!
2. Selfishness-Judges 21:25 describes an often repeated explanation of why we chase what we want. Philippians 2:21 is a verse we will argue against repeatedly. But what does it really mean to look out for the interest of Jesus and not ours?
3. Pleasure (all kinds of things fit into this pursuit). For a real “downer” check out Proverbs 21: 2; Jeremiah 8:6c and Ecclesiastes 1:8,14; 2:1,2,4,10,11,12,17. We might not like this but these verses accurately describe what is under the surface of our culture.
4. We so easily explain things that reflect our perspective rather than the truth of the Bible. To read Ecclesiastes challenges our thinking about home ownership and landscaping projects. Maybe the issue is our motive in these things but we need to be careful not to justify our perspective rather than wrestling with God about his.
5. Comfort, security and safety really define us more than how Jesus views these things. 2 Timothy 3:12 indicates that if we life a Godly life, all of these above pursuits will be threatened. Romans 8:5 is thrown in for extra credit.
6. Wealth-This one we don’t talk about with even our close friends. Who have you shared with how much you have invested in your portfolio, your 401K account or annunity? We don’t talk about this but we illustrate wealth’s importance in our life through our lifestyle in many ways. Ecclesiastes 2:7 and 8 don’t let us off easy.
7. Education-Ecclesiastes 2:12 gives some insight here.8. Relativism-The belief that different things are true, right, etc., for different people or at different
times. Jesus speaks to this in John 14:6 and 17:17. We must determine our source of truth because we will choose something to believe and we will either experience the joy of choosing the right one or be totally frustrated with the wrong ones.
What other thoughts do you or others believe form the foundation for our culture?
Each of us must listen to God and understand how counter-cultural Jesus really was in order to more completely follow Jesus. He will speak clearly to us at various times in our lives and in more than one
way. But we need to always think through: Luke 9:23, Galatians 5:10-21, Philippians 4:11 and 2 Corinthians 10:12 before reasoning out our own thoughts about living the American Dream.
Some of the best advice I was ever given was to read 2 chapters of Ecclesiastes and take a long walk. It still forms my perspective on life better than most advice I have received.
Whispers From Others
“Need must be created, discontent stirred up. To Americans, usually tragedy is wanting something very badly and not getting it.” Henry Kissinger
The challenge to the American church is the busyness of Western culture. “We try to squeeze our schedule into the ministry of the church. We are too busy because we have bought into Western culture’s dream, what the good life is and what success is like.” Paul Tripp
“What sorts of values drive the schedule of our individual and family lives?” Paul Tripp
There simply is not enough time to do ministry due to our insatiable desire for larger, better or more of everything.
Thinking and Beyond
Take some time and think about the above 8 Foundation Builders of our culture. Get some time with one or more people and discuss how your lives reveal an accurate picture of what Jesus had in mind as you consider this.
Consider the aspect of consumption: How did we go from “necessity” to “pleasure, improvement, upgrade, saving money on purchases… How did consumption go from “provision” to “identity” or from “contentment to dissatisfaction”? Check out 1 Timothy 6:6-8. What’s the exchange rate for swapping stuff we “must have” with contentment? What does God have to say about love “affairs”…with money or stuff?
The resource RESTLESS CONTENTMENT by Dave Medders has a section on Culture on pages 2-16 that contains a broad sweep of the issues to understand.
Developing Perspective THIS REALLY ISN’T LIKE GOING TO CLASS
Work-Your Job
Some Biblical perspectives first: Genesis 2:15-God made man to work in the Garden of Eden. Exodus 20:9-11- We were made to work 6 days and rest on the 7th day. There are limits God placed on work. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13-Paul worked so as to not burden anyone else. We should work when we are able and not be idle.
Some attitudes we should have regardless of what kind of work we do include but are not limited to:
1. Excellence-Mark 7:372. Diligence-Proverbs 13:43. Wholehearted-Colossians 3:234. Not being lazy-Proverbs 24:30-345. Glorify God in everything we do-Isaiah 43:76. Work is satisfying-Ecclesiastes 5:12
Is work sacred or secular? Whatever God originates is sacred and work should be viewed this way. If you conclude that your job is secular, you easily conclude that it doesn’t matter how you do your job or the attitude you have because the job really isn’t that important. Colossians 3:17 should destroy this argument.
Can a person be called to a certain job or is called only related to a full time Christian vocation? Someone once said “it isn’t what you are doing that makes something spiritual but rather who told you to do it.” Check out 1 Corinthians 7:17 for work being a calling.
We have an opportunity to develop an influence in the workplace, which builds a bridge to share the gospel with our co-workers. (adapted from CRU)
A quality walk with God develops character in you in your job. Quality work on the job builds a Godly reputation with those you work with. Quality relationships build bridges to share how Jesus can make a difference in life. Quality ministry helps to build disciples among those you work with.
Thinking and Beyond
What do you think about the “sacred” and “secular” issue in viewing work?
How would you determine it was time to change jobs? How long should you stay in a job in which you do not feel productive?
Determining Perspective I’M NOT SURE I LIKE CHANGE
Lifestyle Changes (adjustments)
Much of the time we like to do what is familiar. There is something about a routine that is good and to consider changing can bring all kinds of questions and issues to our mind. Jesus was never interested in the status quo and he knew that when he spoke anything, if a person was going to follow him, there would be major adjustments to be made.
In Luke 6:27-31 in the Message Translation there is a phrase “If you are ready for the truth…” That is what Jesus says to us all of the time and if we say “yes”, we better get ready for a change in our lifestyle. In the next part of this verse, Jesus adds “I say this…” It is when we are ready for the truth that Jesus speaks to us. If we are only considering it, he will probably be silent.
We like to attend church services because they don’t demand anything of us and they don’t usually reveal much of who we are. We go, and then return to our normal life. The talk may be about lifestyle change but it usually is forgotten in a few days. The problem is that Jesus really does mean what he says and if we are going to follow him, our lifestyle must change. Having other people who really love us in our life can help us to make those changes.
New believers in the New Testament and in several countries in our world know that if they become followers of Jesus they will be involved in evangelism, disciple making and church planting. What if that was a lifestyle change we had to make? How would we dance around that one?
Thinking and Beyond
How does your lifestyle define what is important in your life? What would your spouse, roommate, fellow workers say is important in your life?
What are some of the significant distractions in your life that keep you from living as God intended?
Say no to something every week.
Determining Perspective WHO DETERMINES THE CRITERIA?
A Successful or Wasted Life
At the end of your life, what will you have had to do to consider your life a success and not wasted? Until you and I have asked and answered this question, we are not ready to live the next 50 or 60 years. Everyone gives themselves to some purpose and if our purpose in life is rooted in the Bible we will experience fulfillment, meaning, correct thinking and living. If not-down a rathole.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 reminds us of two important things-the entire duty of man is to fear God and do what he says. Or as The Word on the Street says “…respect God and live his way…”
Isaiah 43:7 reminds us that we are made to honor God and so live that others will want to do the same.
Ephesians 5:15 and 16 in the Phillips Translation says “Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don’t be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of the Lord.” (See the Life on Life Campus Ventures Notebook for additional thoughts).
Whispers from Others
John Piper says “Don’t coast through life without a passion for eternal significance.” And adds “We are more American than Christian.” Also “You don’t waste your life by where you work but rather by how and why.”
Thinking and Beyond
Explain the relationship between a life objective and everything we do in life.
Write out a Biblical life objective that you will live by. Get a few people on the same page who will do the same and discuss it and how you all plan to live differently.
Do you have your ladder on the right wall? How do you know? What if at the end of your life you realize it was the wrong wall?
What do you think about in your spare time? How does that define your life objective?
Developing Perspective WHO HAS THE TIME?
Ministry
There are many aspects to consider with regard to ministry. The “Ministry Section” of the Campus Ventures Life on Life Notebook contains many considerations concerning ministry. Some of the main considerations that must be made in the secular world have to do with:
1. Understanding who is a disciple. Until we have a grasp of the profile of a maturing disciple it is difficult to think about making disciples. The “Profile of a Disciple” is in the Resource Section. This profile is not to be considered as absolute and it takes varying amounts of time to see it in our life as well as those who we disciple.
2. Understanding that God has equipped each of us with varying gifts which will determine how we go about discipling people as well as who we connect better with. 1 Peter 4:10 says that each of us have a gifting from God. Regardless of our gifting, disciple making is a calling and not a gift. Check out Matthew 28:18-20 again.
3. Disciple making is enhanced when a group of like hearted people help others in their learning how to follow Jesus. A “one to one” aspect is important but the team aspect is equally important and maybe more so in ministry.
4. The Time issue is huge. We not only have many cultural distractions but many people have a job, a spouse and have children that take a major amount of time out of available disciple making ministry time. A job, spouse and children are not distractions but rather are responsibilities we have. They are a priority and become a fertile disciple-making field for us. But priority means before, not in place of. Each of us can disciple at least one person outside of our family responsibilities but this will require a commitment to believe Jesus included us in the Great Commission of Matthew 28.
5. Much ministry happens through God “interrupting” our schedule by bringing someone into our life for a day or a few years. Ministry also happens in “unexpected” ways. God has a sense of humor and we will never understand many of the ways he works.
6. We can help people know who they are, what they are to do, how they learn to think and what kind of perspectives they should have.
7. More ministry should happen in ordinary life situations rather than “designated ministry times.”8. We need to look to see where God is at work and join him. 9. Everyone wants a revolution but no one wants to take the trash out. Be a servant of others.10. Formulas can offer false hope; they can be based on our perspective and not consider God’s.11. Think less about starting something and more about sharing your life with others travelling the
same road you and I are on.
Whispers from Others
“We need to look to see where God is at work and join him. “ Henry Blackaby
“To meet the local gangstas we are going to have to live where they live and hang out where they hang out. We need to move into their neighborhood.” Unknown
“Don’t be afraid to rethink everything you are doing.” Unknown
Thinking and Beyond
Most of the people you meet after college have not had the training and equipping a college ministry often provides. When talking with them about discipleship or disciple making there are some common themes that come up that are reasons they are not involved in this ministry God has called all of us to.
The issues brought up include but are not limited to:
1. What to do to either grow spiritually or to help another person grow. Most are not sure where to begin in finding someone who they could help grow.
2. Where to get the time to do what is necessary to effectively disciple someone. Marriage, children, children’s sports or other events… all steal time from effectively discipling another.
3. Most people do not have access to material to help with discipling another person.
It is challenging enough to share how Jesus has changed our life by living the Christian life so others can see a difference Jesus really makes. But when it comes to opening our mouth and speaking about that difference and how it can change another person, we easily panic or don’t consider it at all. Why do we so consistently refuse to tell people about Jesus?
We have an enemy who opposes us because he opposes Jesus. We live behind enemy lines but easily forget until someone tells an off color joke or makes a comment about “those Christians!”
Today we need a generation that can state the gospel in terms this new generation identifies with. It has to get to their problems because they have tried all kinds of stuff to solve them and can’t.
People desperately need to see something they question but understand that there is a significant difference in us. Take a look at 2 Corinthians 2:15 The Word on the Street says it like this-“we walk into a room and people’s heads turn: they get a sense of something different.” Paul adds more comments in Colossians 4:5 &6.
We need Christians who know the difference Jesus is making and how to connect the gospel with this century. This creates a visible fear and sense of inadequacy in most people. There is the added fear that someone will ask a question we are unable to ask or that their argument may be stronger as to why they don’t believe this stuff. They might even cuss and that would really twist our brain in knowing what to do next.
If we really believe a person will spend eternity apart from God and that hell is far worse than any hell experienced on earth, we would at least stumble through some presentation. But we really do need some modeling and training. Where will it come from?
There are two pages in the Campus Ventures Life on Life manual that can help a person begin to think about how to begin-see pages 27 and 59.
Thinking and Beyond
1. Try finding something in someone’s life and compliment them and arouse curiosity through your genuine interest in them.
2. Where can you spend some time with some people who you know are probably not following Jesus? (Do some work there and be consistently there.)
3. How about planning a block party for your neighbors and enjoy getting to know them. (let them bring their beer.)
4. Get some 3x5 cards and put people’s names on them who do not know Jesus. Regularly pray for them and an opportunity to share the gospel with them.
Developing Perspective MY SKILLS ARE SOMEWHERE ELSE
Leadership
At one time or another all of us are called on to be a leader. It may be with a spouse, children in our home, at work or in a church setting, etc. One of the most critical aspects of leadership is to understand that a servant leader is the basis of leadership in the Bible. A good leader shares or teaches what they know and admits what they don’t know.
The early followers of Jesus talked about what they knew. 1 John 1:3 shows us this. Paul also had some strong words for people but admitted that he didn’t know everything in 2 Corinthians 12:2. Even Jesus admitted that he did not know when the time everything in the world would be over. Check out Matthew 24:36. God is looking for people to lead who never speak an inch beyond their experience. There is no weakness in admitting we don’t know. But, that is also no reason not to lead.
There is an abundance of material re leadership in the Campus Ventures Life on Life Notebook so I will not repeat it here. (The Leadership material is from page 71-84.)This can be downloaded free on the Campus Ventures/Foundation For Christian Discipleship web site-campusventures.org.
General Stan McChrystal has great thoughts on leadership:
1. A leader must build confidence, influence and persuade followers .2. A leader must win the trust of people then unleash their initiative.3. Followers must believe in your competence, values and what you stand for.4. “Will your leader come after you if you are in trouble?”5. If people see different behavior from what you promised, the confidence in the leadership of
the organization is undermined.6. Leaders must have: a. Personal discipline to do what they say. b. Empathy-trying to see it
through the other person’s eyes. There must be the willingness to look from their perspective not necessarily the agreement of the perspective.
Whispers from Others
“Good leadership is neither timid nor proud…ready to challenge and ready to be challenged.” Anonymous
“When a leader makes himself smaller and smaller, the people no longer see the leader, only the vision.” Anonymous
“Stop dancing around people and start leading a dance that everyone can follow.” Shawn Murphy
When you take a walk in a mall, or walk along a harbor and stare at all of the personal boats people have, or watch the newest cars or gadgets displayed on TV, your values are being created, challenged or exposed to you and others. We all value something or many things. Our values will be increasingly challenged in our American culture as well as throughout the world.
According to 1 John 2:15 and 16 there is a world system that is in direct opposition to God’s system for how life is to be lived. The world says “I have the right to do what I want to do, be what I want to be and have what I want to have.” This may be the American way but it couldn’t be further from God’s perspective on life.
Hebrews 13:8 reinforces the truth that Jesus spoke about, lived and was. And, it never changes because Jesus never changes.
God is determined to reverse our values that value stuff we want. Look at the challenge in Mark 10:21.
There is a discussion of 10 values that we must be committed to in order to live in the entitlement culture present in America today. These values are discussed in the Campus Ventures Life on Life Notebook.
Thinking and Beyond
1. What role does accountability have in the development of Godly character and having Biblical values?
2. What are some of the values in your life that would raise curiosity in the life of a non-believer? Which ones would make them think you are just like them?
3. How do you know you are committed to making disciples as a value?4. With regard to people, how would you describe your cultures value of the individual? How
does God’s value of an individual differ?5. In what ways does the Bible deal with life as it really is in the 21st century?
It is not enough to believe something, we must believe the truth or we live for the wrong reasons and waste our life. So how does one know what is truth? Jesus did have something to say about that. In John 14:6 he set himself apart from every religious, philosopher, or teacher to ever live. One word distinguishes Jesus from all religious teaching-relationship. Every other system is “information” to be believed or practiced. Jesus says that accurate or productive belief is all about a relationship with him. That relationship opens vistas not approachable through study or a certain commitment level.
Think about all of the “I am’s” of the Bible-they all connect to Jesus. Jesus said he is the bread of life, the light of the world, the gate, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the way, the truth and the life, the vine. No one else would dare to make this claim. No one else has a calendar based on him like Jesus. His credentials are beyond, and just in case that was not enough, he created the world.
What all of this means is that we can believe that he will always tell us the truth about everything we need to know and live as he intended.
Thinking and Beyond
1. Think about Matthew 13:58-In what way are you not believing God? What has been a recurring difficult area of life to believe and trust God for you? Why?
2. What does it say about whether I believe Jesus is serious when I read something he said?3. How aware are you in seeing how your or the church’s paradigm has so entrenched you and
is keeping you from actively believing Jesus’ outrageous statements?4. How have you substituted “hope” for “prayer”? How does this qualify for a lack of faith and
unanswered prayer? Jesus responds to us when we are straight with him.5. What could God be trying to get you to see in his persistent silence to something you have
Developing Perspective SEEING WHAT AND HOW GOD SEES
Vision
The most serious thing that can happen to a person is when God speaks to them. It adds something to your life that was not there before. You are able to see something you didn’t see before. It may be something about God, yourself, the culture you live in, the church group you are involved with or various other things. One thing for certain however is that you now see differently. We begin to see the world from God’s perspective.
We can learn from people of vision. Look at these people in the Bible:
1. Moses-Exodus 14:13-16-Moses had a strong heart for God and meeting with him. If I have vision, I will have a consistent relationship with Jesus.
2. Joshua-Numbers 13:2, 25,30-Joshua was bold and confident. If I have vision, I will have an active confidence in Jesus. I will risk whatever it takes to remain on the cutting edge.
3. Elisha-2 Kings 6:15-17-Elisha saw something this servant did not. If I have vision, I will look beyond circumstances, barriers and hardships.
4. Jehoshaphat-2 Chronicles 17:1-6; 18:4; 19:8,9-Jehoshaphat was a man of prayer. If I have vision I will pray meaningfully and my schedule will reflect prayers priority in my life. I will live for eternity.
5. Nehemiah-Nehemiah 2:11,12,17 and 18:4-6. If I have vision, I will know the heart of God and will listen to God for how to accomplish his vision in my life.
6. Philip-Acts 8:26-27-If I have vision, I will actively listen and watch for God’s activity as Philip did.
We are born to reproduce and not just be active. Check out Isaiah 58:10-14.
As a person grows in vision several things mark their life: They seek to band others together with a similar objective of making disciple makers, they are committed to the development of people with a Godly character, they distinguish between activity and productivity, they see the potential of the individual and how they could affect the world they live in.
There are several ways to grow in vision. Here are three:
1. Get to know the Word of God. “The difference between vision and wishful thinking is the Word.”
2. Get around people who have vision. Vision is caught more than taught.3. Read biographies of people God has used: David Brainerd, Jim Elliot, Corrie Ten Boom,
Dawson Trotman, Charles Finney, Hudson Taylor and many others.
Whispers from Others
“The measure of a person is determined by what it takes to stop them.” Anonymous
“The difference between wishful thinking and vision is a word from God.” Anonymous
“The harder we press into enemy territory, the harder satan fights.” Anonymous
“A few people thoroughly trained are more effective than many superficially trained.” Max Barnett
Thinking and Beyond
1. What do you think about this? We should risk more than others think is safe; care more than others think is wise; dream more than others think is practical; expect more than others think is possible.
2. The execution of a vision is what really matters. Look at Ecclesiastes 7:8.3. How do good intentions, regular worship, and even the study of the Bible not prevent
blindness in us?4. Are people who get around you or your church group captivated by the message of Jesus
and his alternate vision of life?5. Are you OK with living being misunderstood by a majority of people? Why or why not?
By the way, number 1 above is a code of The United States West Point Military Academy
Developing Perspective WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET?
Financial Considerations
What is it that most people are secretive about? I would say money is high on the list. How many people do you know who talk openly about how much money they make with their job, or how much they have in savings or the amount of life insurance they have?
One time Jesus mentioned that you can’t serve money and God-see Matthew 6:24. It seems many people live to disprove his statement. But Jesus knew that one of these would take control and it would be impossible to try to serve both. It is crazy to disagree with Jesus when he says in Matthew 24:35 that heaven and earth would pass away but his word would not.
What needs to be discussed and understood is what it means to “serve” one of these. Serving carries the idea of giving one’s complete attention to, a one hundred per cent commitment to something. That being the rationale, it makes sense that you could not divide your time trying to do both. But money does seem to drive almost everything in American life and Christians have some tough decisions to make if they are serious about following Jesus.
We are taught to save, but the more you save, the less you have to give. The less you have it seems the more you will know how to share. Again Mark 12:41-44 comes to mind. We all need to learn to give until we feel the pain.
We need to learn what is enough and not allow others define it for us. What would it absolutely mean to live with what we need and not what we want? Are we so fearful to even live this way for a week, a month, a lifetime? 2 Corinthians 10:12 is very chilling verse that should demand we alter how we are processing life.
Thinking and Beyond
1. Write out a personal application toward: Earning, Giving, Borrowing and Lending, Spending money. Share your thoughts with someone.
2. Develop a budget that reflects your commitment to eternal things. Have someone give you their thoughts. Start with your spouse if you are married.
3. Consider fasting once a month to learn discipline and to say no to your desires. Why not give what you would have spent on food to some charity?
4. Consider having a 3rd world month in which you live on a standard like those in third world countries. If you don’t know what that’s like, take a mission trip to one of those countries.
5. Make a point to never get in debt for depreciating assets. A car might be an exception-but maybe you could get one that costs less.
The purpose of Project Life is to help students who have left college or others in the secular world to learn how to follow Jesus where they live and to make disciple makers in their work place, through a body of believers, or with whomever God leads into their life. The essence is to Figure out Life and Faith together.
Most students or others who enter the workplace do so handicapped to different degrees when it comes to making disciple makers. Some have had some discipleship training in college or a local church but much of this is usually quickly lost when entering this new world where most Christians don’t speak their language.
Most students are vocationally driven rather than ministry and community driven and usually end up in towns and cities with no like hearted people. Unless a student has the gifting or calling like the apostle Paul, they will soon be ineffective and most of what was learned in college has been placed somewhere on their bookshelf.
I have come to a conclusion that unless a student moves to a town or city where there is a local church actively raising up disciple makers or there is a person in that location who is helping others become disciple makers and make a difference, they will lose what they learned in college. This is tragic and raises the question as to why so much investment is put into students who will put aside what they learned in college. It doesn’t make any sense. Students must be trained for a lifetime of following Jesus which means the equipping they must have after college is as significant or more than when they were in college.
Project Life is an extension of training a student receives while in college. It is currently set up for a 1-2 year commitment in Boise, Idaho. During that time the further disciple making is tailored to the individual’s needs and concerns. Those involved are met with individually a couple of times a month as well as in a group setting once a month. There are also others throughout America who are able to help students continue a strong walk with God and help others follow Jesus.
Thinking and Beyond
1. What are some elements of personal growth and disciple making a person away from the campus environment should have some help with?
2. What kinds of decisions does a person need to make to live by design and not default?3. What are some of the most significant things a follower of Jesus should accomplish after
leaving college?
Resources NEED HELP?
1. The Bridge of Life Evangelism Illustration2. Biblical Heart Attitudes-Campus Ventures3. Characteristics of Jesus as the Father on Earth (Attributes of God) Bill Ewing4. Character Qualities5. Determining a Person’s Needs6. Disciple Making Suggestions7. Essential or Helpful Survival Packing8. The Distinctive Cadence Of Disciple Making9. The Hand Illustration10. Profile of a Maturing Disciple11. The Wheel Illustration12. Campus Ventures Life on Life Notebook (download from CampusVentures.org web site)13. Restless Contentment Notebook (order from Dave Medders)14. Dave Medders Topical Blog Index (order from Dave Medders-Topical Blogs from 2008-
2017) 15. Resource Books on Discipleship and Disciple Making
Blogs-Topical Index from Dave Medders 2008-2017(Many are available on Facebook “Gate and Door Café” and [email protected] or can be ordered from:
Dave Medders 3561 N. Cole Road #201 Boise, ID 83704
5. Choose Life 365 Readings for Radical Disciples Simon Guillebaud Monarch Press
6. The Cost of Discipleship Dietrich Bonhoeffer The MacMillon Company
7. Daws Betty Lee Skinner Zondervan
8. Don’t Waste Your Life John Piper Crossway Books
9. The Forgotten Ways Alan Hirsch Brazos Press
10. Growing in Discipleship Harold Bullock National Student Ministries SBC
11. How Jesus Trained Leaders Dr. Maxfield Garrott BSU Oklahoma University
12. Iron Sharpens Iron Howard Hendricks Moody Press
13. The Lost Art of Disciple Making Leroy Eims Zondervan
14. Many Aspire Few Attain Walter Henrichsen Navpress
15. My Heart Christ’s Home Robert Munger Intervarsity Press
16. More or Less Jeff Shinabarger David Cook Publishers
17. The Need of the Hour Dawson Trotman Navpress
18. Organic Church Neil Cole Leadership Network Publications
19. Passion and Purity Ruth Elliot Revell Press
20. The Power of a Mentor Waylon Moore Missions Unlimited
21. Reimaging Church Frank Viola David Cook Publishers
22. Real Church Does it Exist Can I Find it Larry Crabb Thomas Nelson Publishers
23. UnChristian David Kinnaman Baker Publishing
24. What Every Christian Should Know About Growing Leroy Eims Victor Books
Who Put this Stuff Together?Material in “Living by Design rather than by Default” was compiled by Dave Medders with assistance from several others who are seeking to “Love the world, help many and train a few” who will do the same.
Dave has worked with students in Texas, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Mexico and several other countries for about 45 years. He currently lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife Frannie. Dave oversees Project Life (a ministry of Campus Ventures to help students transition into the secular work world) and they both work with refugees from several countries who have moved to Boise.
Resources Blogs + Book Summaries
Blog = 1 Book Summary Blue Cards = 2 White Cards = 3
Values 1 2 Value of people 2 Victory 1 Vision 2 Vulnerable 1 2 3
Waiting 1 2 Wanting life 3 Warfare 1 2 Wasted life 1 Weariness 3 Western world 2 Will of God 2 Winning 2 With them 1 Why 3 Worry 2 3 World 2 World view 2 Worship 3
Youthful spirit 3
But Before Leaving This… If we are going to more effectively develop followers of Jesus who develop followers of Jesus, we must be alert to a few other essentials. Consider the following disciple making aspects of what we learn from Jesus’ life.
1. Jesus said in John 17:3 that eternal life was knowing God. Earlier, David said in Psalm 63:1 as he shared his heart with us that he earnestly sought God, thirsted for him and longed for him. The implications of this is clear-our focus must begin with helping those we help to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus developed this longing for his men as he spent time with them. Those we help must begin to develop this heart for intimacy with Jesus while in college. We are discipling them to Jesus, not us. We must be intentional in helping others find their nourishment in Jesus for themselves.
2. Without an understanding and practice of the critical aspect of prayer in our personal life, our intentions may be good but our effort will be ours and ineffective. This must be an integral and huge part of our weekly schedule. It really takes priority over everything else. Consider Mark 1:35; 6:31-32; Luke 4:32; 5:16; 6:12-13 and 11:1; and Colossians 4:12. We cultivate a listening heart in prayer. Leroy Eims always said that there are 4 steps to following up a new Christian-prayer, prayer, prayer and the Word.This strategy not only is for each of us personally but also for a group or team. Instead of taking a few minutes to pray before a retreat or meeting that will last a few days, we should seriously spend several hours in prayer first in order to listen to God and what is on his heart for us.
3. Some of the above scriptures also mention another observation of how and where Jesus spent a good deal of his time. He valued solitude and silence. We must build into our life patterns of withdrawal or a dis-engagement in order to give full attention to God. This can’t be a coffee shop but must be a place free from distractions. In Campus Ventures, the staff is challenged to take a day away with God each month. This is crucial but we usually have to learn this one. We deceive ourselves when we think a 5 minute prayer will cover our busy week. The listening heart is not developed with this 5 minute approach. In addition to these days away, I would recommend 2-3 days alone with God every year. Unhurried time with God develops God’s vision and perspective for us and to help in discipling others.
4. The above observations lead to one of the most difficult changes that must be made in our lifestyle in order to effectively hear God and help others. Our pace of life must change. This is hard to grasp in our Western culture and busy ministry lifestyle. Jesus never said “let’s run to Galilee.” If our agenda is going to be God’s agenda for us, we are going to have to slow down and build space into our regular routine. As mentioned above, this applies to group meetings also. Matthew 11:28-30 should be an encouragement for us. Jesus’ yoke is not what we have made it to be. Read through John 4 and notice the pace of Jesus’ life. The result of this particular encounter was that a whole village was introduced to the Messiah.
There are many other instances of how Jesus lived that should alter our busyness and hectic lifestyles. Take one of those days away or a few hours to look at these verses:Matthew 11:28-30 Mark 1:35 and 6:31-32 Luke 4:42 5:16 6:12-13 10:38-42 11:1John 5:17-19 15:5 Col. 4:12 Heb. 12:1-2
