seedfieldtalk.myfastforum.org

Register

paulvipond · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60 Location: Bury

What do you understand it to mean when Jesus commands us to "make disciples"?
What do you think Jesus' expectations of you are?
What does discipleship mean to you and what are you doing about?

What does "the church" need to do to help?
_________________
Make you walk in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus

admin · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:58 pm Post subject:

I suppose I know that I could never 'live up' to all the requirements of discipleship that I see in the Bible. This could lead to a lot of self condemnation but I try not to go down that route.

My daily prayer is that I will respond to each situation that arises with the love and compassion that Jesus displays and that I'll make the best use I can of the gifts he has given me. I think the best way for the church to help people is to make fellowship/teaching groups a PRIORITY.

Jannine Ebenso · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Nigeria

What do you understand it to mean when Jesus commands us to "make disciples"?

Disciple = follower; student

Making disciples = facilitating the change of a person from following his own self to following Jesus. Moving the point of reference from me and my knowledge / wisdom to Jesus - His divine Wisdom

What do you think Jesus' expectations of you are?

Holiness:

Eph. 1:4 For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight

1 Thess 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure but to live a holy life

Wow! Can I do it though? Well, I guess so, because He would not command us to do something that is impossible to do. Can't do it on my own, but with His power and His help throught the Word and the Spirit I can be holy Very Happy

Obedience:

John 14:23 If anyone loves me, he will obey my teachings

Not always easy to obey in difficult circumstances, but again He will give us the grace to do so.

What does discipleship mean to you and what are you doing about?

Discipleship = obedience

Personal Bible Study - setting time each day to look into His word, using commentaries etc for new understanding

Journal - not necessarily every day. But when thoughts, ideas, challenges, rebukes etc come I write them down

Small group - when I read Acts - this to me is 'the church' - a small body of believers who really take the Bible as truth - who read it; discuss it ; debate it; chew it and APPLY it. For me in Bury it is Regroup on Monday evenings; in Minna it is the small Navigators group that meets every Sunday evening.

Sunday Service - not necessarily my main source of teaching, but I have recently moved churches in Minna because I felt I was stagnating at the prevous one. Sunday Service is the place where I am encouraged in my faith by a larger body of believers; the place I can soak up the presence of God in communal worship with others; the place where we can encourage each other with testimonies; the place where in communal prayer we can push back the gates of hell.

What does "the church" need to do to help?
Encourage small groups - I agree with Janet 100%. Wink

paulvipond · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60 Location: Bury

In first century palestine the purpose of being a disciple was to become like his rabbi. So a disciple in Jesus' day was not just a student (western style) who knows what the teacher knows, but one who also does what the rabbi does and becomes like the rabbi is. [Which sheds some light on why Peter thought he should be able to walk on water].

So in our context how much of "discipleship" is understood as "knowing the right kind of stuff" and how much is about being the right kind of person?
_________________
Make you walk in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus

Jannine Ebenso · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Nigeria

I suppose apprentices are a bit like disciples? May not have the certifcate from uni but think and do as their mentors do and get the job done instead of intellectualising about it! Exclamation

I guess I now have an on-line small group! very exclusive - only 3 people!!!!!

J

paulvipond · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60 Location: Bury

Ah! but what people!

Happy Christmas

Love P & J

_________________
Make you walk in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus