We got together for our monthly men’s fellowship and kicked off our theme for 2010: Make Disciples. We had a wonderful time of table fellowship. The salad and pizza were prepared to perfection and served by Aaron Crew and Pat Brennan. Then, we spent some time in the Word and prayer, with the goal of making disciples, who love Jesus and bear His image to the Brunswick and beyond.
We took our text from Matthew 28:18 – 20:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Discipleship was a common practice in classical world, but a survey of the NT reveals that much more was required to be a disciple of Jesus:
- First, Steve and Lois Rabey remind us that: Jesus doesn’t call people primarily to a social or political movement or even first and foremost to a life or religiosity or ethical living. More than anything, He calls us to love God
- Jesus calls His disciples to “come and see,” inviting them to join Him in a calling that involves all of life. (John 1:35-39)
- The ultimate goal is to be like Jesus: Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
- We are called to a denial of self and a deliberate choosing of the cross
- We must forsake all to follow Him and exhibit a fervent, sacrificial love for one another in the Body of Christ
- Finally, we share an unswerving commitment to the Word of God and prayer
What are our goals for 2010… what are we aiming for? What can we expect to see by the end of this year, if we are making disciples?
- Greater depth and maturity in our relationship with the Lord
- More and richer relationships between men
- Healthy disciples, like healthy sheep, will reproduce – we expect to see new disciples
What are the values, character traits and content disciples at NCCF will be trained in?
- Prayer
- Bible study habits and skills
- Life skills, living in community and loving others
- Self-sacrifice and giving
- Evangelism
So, we’re spending a year pursuing this one initiative… this one defining goal. We will focus on what it means to be a disciple as modeled in the relationship between Paul and Timothy:
Philippians 2:19 –22 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
If you would like to have someone mentor or disciple you, speak to me the next time we meet or message / call / email me. I will see who’s available and pass that contact info along. If no one is available right now, I’ll steer you to some resources until a qualified mentor is available.
Bo Salisbury
Tags: discipleship, Jesus, Men
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:42 am
2 questions:
If we are already, informally making disciples…should we let you know who they are so that you’re aware of our partnering?
and
What if we have someone in mind that desperately needs the constant influence of a wiser, older, more mature brother or sister but they would be too shy to come forward on their own and ask to be mentored?
~S
December 26th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Happy morning after Christmas, Sadie! Good questions. On the first: yes, please keep me in the loop (offline, of course), so we can gauge how we’re doing in moving toward our goal. Second, I would spend some time encouraging them to seek out a mentor in a Biblical and non-threatening way. Most of us do not come from a “discipling culture” — we were taught, “just preach the Word.” While that is part of making disciples, I would have to agree with Richard Baxter:
“our private Meetings were a marvellous help to the propagating of Godliness… for thereby Truths that slipt away were recalled, and the seriousness of the Peoples minds renewed; and good desires cherished; and hereby their knowledge was much increased … some, who have been so long unprofitable hearers, have got more knowledge and remorse of conscience in half an hour’s close discourse, than they did from ten years’ public preaching.”
I think it is wise and completely consistent with this age of the Spirit, that being and making disciples is woven through the entire fabric of the New Testament, yet without any programatic instruction for us to follow in a wooden way. Rather, the method to meet the needs of the individual will be found out through loving interaction, time in the Word and prayer. This proves much more effective. So, I would label what you’re talking about as “informal” discipling, leading to a more structured situation. Try to lead that person to a mentor they respect and will compliment them… one who has the strengths the disciple needs to develop.
Good job!