ABC's Discipleship Manifesto
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Discipleship Manifesto Sermon
Discipleship Manifesto Sermon
Discipleship Manifesto
I walked through the door of a tiny building. As I enter, the walls were covered with trophies for bowling, little league championships, softball tournaments, etc. You name it, there was a trophy for it.
The Purpose of disciple making is that God would be glorified through the working of His people to know God and become more Christ-like in their daily lives. This process, called sanctification, is the working of the Spirit of God in the individual Christian to transform their lives in such a way as to “infect” others with a desire to become more like Christ. It is developed through the purposeful engagement of one person to another, in order to invest in the continuous transformational learning of God's word, for the purpose of growing each other in Christ ().
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Why make disciples?
Paul soon came out from the back room. He was the owner of Parker’s Trophy and Awards. A one man operation who made trophies for people all over Muskegon county and surrounding areas.
Paul was a member of Muskegon Bethel Baptist Church. He was a quiet, unassuming guy who was a hard worker both at his business as well as at his local church. I don’t remember a lot about Paul, but I do remember this: Paul was a disciple maker. How do I know this to be true? Because I didn’t go into his trophy house that day to purchase a trophy. I went in that day and for many weeks later, to learn about Jesus.
As imitators of Christ, we should follow His example of leadership and invest in others (; ).
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
You see, I had just trusted Christ as my savior and I didn’t know much about the Jesus of the bible. Paul did, though. And He was willing to share his time by taking a break from making and award for the best pie in the county, to help me understand who Jesus was. To help me understand what this huge, daunting book, called the Bible, actually says.
Glorify God through the transforming of others into the likeness of His Son ().
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Paul got connected with me at church. He didn’t know me very well, but he took a chance and asked me if I would like to meet with him regularly for a while. I jumped at the opportunity. Paul was purposed and intentional about making me a disciple of Jesus. I’ll never forget this. I was a baby in Christ, and Paul transformed his little trophy house into a discipleship making classroom. Not really. All he did was move his tools and trophies out of the way, opened his bible and began to move me to the right by showing me the rich truths found in God’s glorious truth! Believe me, our time together was nothing fancy. No high tech computer programs, no fancy videos, no elaborate PowerPoint presentation. It was just Paul, me, the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.
To rescue others from "the dominion of darkness" to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ (; ).
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Col
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
What are disciples?
My dear friends, this is our glorious privilege. We get to be Paul Parker in someone’s life. We get to invite them into our world and provide a Christ-Focused relationship with them. Paul gave me an hour each week for many weeks. Eventually we parted company. He, no doubt began to work with someone else in his little trophy house. He did his part in my life. He made his eternal investment and set me loose to engage in the next relationship God had for me. Eventually, I started doing what Paul Parker did with me. And this is how it should be. He was not a pastor, and yet he was a disciple maker. This is our duty! This is our calling! This is our God ordained privilege. We manifest Jesus to those who need Jesus the most…
This is what Jesus did with His life. He came to make disciples.
Forgiven sinners who are engaged in the transformative learning of Christ in repentance and faith (, ; ).
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Constantly making progress in Christ-likeness by learning the truth found in the word of God and transforming their lives in everything they think, say and do. (; ; ).
(ESV)
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
G
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
How are disciples made?
The Spirit of God working through His disciples, utilizing the Word of God to infiltrate and motivate the hearts of people ().
“Take my yoke upon you” - His yoke is way easier than our yoke because our yoke is one we simply cannot bear. This is the bad news portion of the gospel.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Equipping others for encouragement and transformational learning through...
“Learn from me” - This is what it means to be a follower of Christ. And this is what I would like to challenge our church with today!
Proclamation of the Word of God: giving proper instruction for the transformational learning of Christ (; ; ; ; ).
In the month of January, I preached four sermons that focused on Discipleship. After all, this is the theme of 2018. “Be One, Make One”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
After those sermons we developed a Discipleship Team whose task was to ensure that our culture was inculcated with a spirit of discipleship. From top to bottom, it was their task to figure out how how best to make this happen. We followed the instructions from a wonderful book called, “The Vine Project”. This text talked us through many things but the one challenge the group took on was to develop a “Discipleship Manifesto.”
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
What is a manifesto, you ask? Good question!
Eph
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Manifesto: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer
Prayerful dependence on the Spirit of God: only the Holy Spirit of God brings life and true growth in the lives of his followers, and we need to be constantly depending on prayer to God for that progression of growth in Christ (; ).
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
1 Thes
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
1 thes
Now this group didn’t work unilaterally and make this up without input from the elders. They labored over writing this document and received the elders feedback. We then brought it to the leadership of this church and had them review it as well.
People as God's fellow workers: God chooses to use those whom He wills to reach the lost, and encourage other Christians to grow in His likeness. We are the instruments that God chooses to use to accomplish His will and bring glory to Him (; ).
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
Today I give you the fruit of their labor. The Allendale Baptist Church Discipleship Manifesto. This is our written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives and views of the Discipleship and leaders of ABC.
So what? Big deal! Isn’t this just another exercise in futility! Isn’t this just another document that will end up in a drawer somewhere never producing its intended results? Perhaps! In fact, I say that is exactly what will happen if we as a church refuse to do what this manifesto recommends for us to do. Now this Discipleship is not something that we made up out of our own minds, no! This is rooted and saturated in God’s Holy Scriptures.
o Persevering in everyday life, step by step: becoming a Christ-learner is a day-to-day transformation by the continuous renewal of our minds, patiently and perseveringly over time (; ).
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Remember, Discipleship is God’s idea! Discipleship is God’s tool to conform us to the image of Jesus. Remember, we first take His yoke upon us and we learn from Him!
Who makes disciples?
You cannot be Christ’s servant if you are not willing to follow him, cross and all. What do you crave? A crown? Then it must be a crown of thorns if you are to be like him. Do you want to be lifted up? So you shall, but it will be upon a cross. C.H. Spurgeon
So, it is our hope that this Manifesto infiltrates the warp and woof of this little church here in Allendale, MI. And the ideologies presented in this manifesto will so affect our values that our culture will become more and more one of the kind of discipleship that pleases our Lord!
All believers under the authority of Christ and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit make disciples.
“The Purpose of disciple making is that God would be glorified through the working of His people to know God and become more Christ-like in their daily lives. This process, called sanctification, is the working of the Spirit of God in the individual Christian to transform their lives in such a way as to “infect” others with a desire to become more like Christ. It is developed through the purposeful engagement of one person to another, in order to invest in the continuous transformational learning of God's word, for the purpose of growing each other in Christ ().”
Pastors, through their preaching, teaching, and example, use the Sunday sermon as a focal point to equip every believer to be a Christ-learner, who then, in love, helps others to learn Christ. (; :1-16; ; ).
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
There are five questions that this document attempts to answer. I would like to share those with you today. And it is my earnest prayer that you take each one of these answers and see if they are true in your life.
Where to make disciples?
Christ-learners can be made anywhere, from the family dinner table to the proverbial mission fields of the deepest regions of Africa (; ).
Here they are…
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
1. Why make disciples?
Our lives must model the image of Christ so as to reach everyone, no matter where they are, to draw them in to the community of Christ learners ().
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Summary
Jesus Made Disciples! - As imitators of Christ, we should follow His example of leadership and invest in others (; ).
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
God has drawn us together at Allendale Baptist Church to be a Christ-learning, disciple making community. To hear His word, His voice, and to let it transform our lives as we gladly respond to His teaching. By our faithful private study of the word of God and participation in the equipping courses of the church we are further prepared to be and make disciples. We are one church body with many different parts and gifts but we serve one God and we desire to make Christ famous by each playing our part to share Jesus with those lost in darkness. Repentance and forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed to all; there is no one unworthy of saving. We were all once lost. Now, having believed, we are free to serve others by prayerfully speaking Jesus to them moving us all one step closer to His light. We are all learning about Jesus and maturing in our faith. We all purpose to engage with family, friends, co-workers, community, and to the furthest reaches of this world. We will continue to learn Jesus, speak Jesus, model Jesus, and be Jesus' hands and feet until we see Him face to face. (; ; ; ; ; ).
Discipleship glorifies God! - Glorify God through the transforming of others into the likeness of His Son ().
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
1.3 Discipleship Rescues People from Darkness! - To rescue others from "the dominion of darkness" to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ (; ).
-
Discipleship Rescues People from Darkness! - To rescue others from "the dominion of darkness" to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ (; ).
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Rom 10
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 cor 3
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
What do we do with this Manifesto?
What do we do with this Manifesto?
2. What are disciples?
Not Just Sinners, but Saints - Forgiven sinners who are engaged in the transformative learning of Christ in repentance and faith (, ; ).
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Saints on the Move - Saints who are constantly making progress in Christ-likeness by learning the truth found in the word of God and transforming their lives in everything they think, say and do. (; ; ).
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
3. How are disciples made?
By the Word of God - The Spirit of God works through the people of God, using the Word of God to infiltrate and motivate the hearts of people ().
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
heb 4
By Equipping the Saints - Equipping others for encouragement and transformational learning through...
Preaching and Teaching - Proclamation of the Word of God: giving proper instruction for the transformational learning of Christ (; ; ; ; ).
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Prayer - Prayerful dependence on the Spirit of God: only the Holy Spirit of God brings life and true growth in the lives of his followers, and we need to be constantly depending on prayer to God for that progression of growth in Christ (; ).
Work - People as God's fellow workers: God chooses to use those whom He wills to reach the lost, and encourage other Christians to grow in His likeness. We are the instruments that God chooses to use to accomplish His will and bring glory to Him (; ).
Perseverance - Persevering in everyday life, step by step: becoming a Christ-learner is a day-to-day transformation by the continuous renewal of our minds, patiently and perseveringly over time (; ).
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Phil
4. Who makes disciples?
Every Believer - All believers under the authority of Christ and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit make disciples.
The Pulpit Ministry - Pastors, through their preaching, teaching, and example, use the Sunday sermon as a focal point to equip every believer to be a Christ-learner, who then, in love, helps others to learn Christ. (; ; ; ; ).
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
5. Where are disciples made?
Anywhere and Anytime - Christ-learners can be made anywhere, from the family dinner table to the proverbial mission fields of the deepest regions of Africa (; ).
In my Circle of Influence - Our lives must model the image of Christ so as to reach everyone, no matter where they are, to draw them in to the community of Christ learners ().
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1 Cor
Summary of the Discipleship Manifesto
“God has drawn us together at Allendale Baptist Church to be a Christ-learning, disciple making community. To hear His word, His voice, and to let it transform our lives as we gladly respond to His teaching. By our faithful private study of the word of God and participation in the equipping courses of the church we are further prepared to be and make disciples. We are one church body with many different parts and gifts but we serve one God and we desire to make Christ famous by each playing our part to share Jesus with those lost in darkness. Repentance and forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed to all; there is no one unworthy of saving. We were all once lost. Now, having believed, we are free to serve others by prayerfully speaking Jesus to them moving us all one step closer to His light. We are all learning about Jesus and maturing in our faith. We all purpose to engage with family, friends, co-workers, community, and to the furthest reaches of this world. We will continue to learn Jesus, speak Jesus, model Jesus, and be Jesus' hands and feet until we see Him face to face. (; ; ; ; ; ).”
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Why do we need a Discipleship Manifesto?
Because Discipleship is God’s Only Plan for His Church
Because We, His People are Easily Distracted from His purposes - The goal is this document will keep us on track. It is our hope, my hope that every ministry...
Nursery Ministry
Children’s Ministry
Youth Ministry
Equipping Classes
Finances
Worship Services / Family Chats
Connection Groups
Visitor / Outreach
Greeter / Usher
Counseling
Missions
Buildings/Grounds (Including Building Team)
Church Planting / Revitalization
Men’s Ministry
Women’s Ministry
College/Career Ministry
Audio/Visual Ministry
Music Ministry
Because We must be found doing what He asked us to do when He returns.
"Christianity without discipleship
is always Christianity without Christ."
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose.” ~ C.S. Lewis
"All who are called to salvation are called to discipleship, no exceptions, no excuses!"
~ Bill Hull
Paul Parker was doing what the Lord asked him to do. It wasn’t fancy, spectacular or high tech. It was him, me, our bibles and his willingness to share his life and understanding of God’s truth with a young, cocky, hungry, new believer in Christ. Paul helped move me to the right!
Friends, this church is made up of individual people. We are whole and we are individuals. As a whole, we must embrace a discipleship mindset if we are going to be please to the Lord and thrive as a body.
But this decision must be made in each one of your minds, individually.
I have decided to be a disciple maker. Will you join me? If you don’t know how, that’s okay! I will make sure you know (you have to talk with me about it though).
"Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer