Making Disciples

[eldermike]

A) Do you know what this means? explain

B) How do you do it? What qualifies as discipleship training in your church.

 

[Lanakila]

Well it is definetly more than leading someone through the sinners prayer. It is teaching them to observe all things that Jesus has commanded. That is part of the job of the church, but in my experience church operated, and run programs of discipleship have some problems. Our church has new believers classes. When I was first saved a lady took me under her wing, and taught me about the Bible, giving, church attendence, ect, ect. But the church didn't assign her to me, it was a natural care she had for me. Often in church run programs the natural part goes out the window.

 

[Bruce S]

A) Do you know what this means? explain

B) How do you do it? What qualifies as discipleship training in your church.

I have been reading a book recently, THE MASTER PLAN of EVANGELISM, by Robert E. Coleman.

This title is a must-read for personal ministry

[font=verdana,arial,helvetica][size=-1]Reviewer: alex.forrest@furman.edu from Greenville, SC [/size][/font]

The Master Plan of Evangelism is a wonderful examination of the personal ministry of Jesus Christ. Coleman succinctly dissects the method of Jesus, namely that of personal discipleship, in a way that will help ordinary Christians model it in their own lives. Jesus' method was one of multiplication, of pouring His life into twelve disciples, who were to do likewise. This is the call fo each believer today, and Coleman's book is very instructive and motivating in building a vision of personal ministry.

Essentially, it mirrors what I have seen in other areas of my life. Jesus was really a LOUSY outreach minister [by today's standards], at his death, [the book is right on this one] he, although God in the flesh, had only a few thousand who had been effectively evangelised to the point of being a follower AFTER his death. Now, don't take this wrong, but he really didn't TRY to convert and keep converted those he preached to, and healed. He DID pour endless effort into 12 men, and a few woman, perhaps a dozen or so other close followers. THEM he worked with, day and night. He knew he would be gone, dead, not able to carry on his work, so he, being God and knowing how this would all play out, worked to train these men to be his initial ambassadors, they in turn, decipled others, and they more themselves.

It was only with INTENSE work, over an extended period that a man/woman can be brought to the full fruition, be completely able, to do likewise with others.

He makes the point, along with Billy Graham, [who wrote the foreward] that Evangelism meetings, where people go to the front, give thier lives to Jesus, are for the most part, massively dissapointing when long term followup studies are done. New Christians need INTENSE, ONGOING, SUSTAINED decipleship to make it, and grow.

Excellent book.


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0800786246/qid=1067544515/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-3505747-7395105?v=glance&s=books

 

[eldermike]

Bruce,

Your right on target!
It's about relationships, not programs