Discipleship in Real Life

Discipleship in Real Life

Key Passages – John 15: 1-11; Colossians 1: 28, 29; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 4: 21-24; Ephesians 4: 15, 16; Hebrews 13:17a

Definition – Discipleship is that lifelong process in which a person grows accustomed to living from Christ by…

-Learning biblical truth, thereby gaining discernment

-Practicing obedience (hearing AND doing)

-Praying 

…alongside other Christ followers (especially the local church)

…under the direction of church elders.

Ingredients of discipleship

• The Word
• Explanation and encouragement 
• Time
• Prayer
• Presence ® ® Examples
• Church
• Elder

Methods

• Child rearing – Deuteronomy 6
• Lessons/ sermons – “What is that in your hand?”
• 1-1 – Read and discuss
• 1-1 – Catching up/ 101
• Singing
• Focused/ Topical studies – e.g., motherhood; election…

Tools

• Various books
• What to cover
  • Basic facts and practices 
  • Basic doctrine
  • Overview of biblical story
  • Other Christian practices
  • Specific and hot button issues

Tips & Tricks

• Approach
  • Matter of prayer
  • Candidates
    • Consider the point of this study
    • Seekers – all
    • New to the faith – all
    • Solid but lacking information
    • Solid but needing encouragement
    • Specific topic
    • Two peers trying to understand more
    • Be judicious about 1-1 meetings if there’s not regular attendance at common gatherings
    • Some are not ready for a 1-1 study
    • Pray people toward being ready
  • Look at the calendar; Set time limits both for meeting time and duration of meetings.  Recommend once/week.
  • “Officially” ask and give time to consider
  • Lay out ground “rules”
    • Try not to cancel
    • Be on time
    • Do your homework

• Before and at the meeting
  • Remember that the overflow of your spirit is big-time.  Yet, this truth could be applied the wrong way…
  • …Don’t cancel 
  • Minimize the chit-chat
  • This is a directed conversation
  • Discuss questions and 1-2 specifics from the homework
  • Read and discuss/explain a related Bible passage
  • Pray
    • Think this over
    • Incorporate the scripture and be specific
    • Incorporate arguments
    • Including for needs of the church
  • Assign homework
  • Stick to around an hour.  Max 1.5 hours.

• Between meetings
  • Pray daily+ for this person
  • Go out once or twice and shoot the breeze
  • You are not this person’s therapist or Christ.  You’ll want to be careful not to encourage dependency
    • Present yourself as a fellow learner
    • Then…fellow-learn! 

• As the meetings conclude
  • At the last meeting present next steps or next reading
  • Encourage in the spirit of Ephesians 4: 15, 16
  • Bring the elders up to speed
  • Try it again in a year?

• Don’t be passive aggressive if your partner doesn’t “shape up” like they’re supposed to! ® ® “Some planted, some watered…”

The Shape of a Disciple

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