INTRODUCTION TO DISCIPLESHIP

This Basic Study is a compilation of material that has proven to be useful in helping people get into the Word of God in order to learn first-hand God’s purpose and plan for their lives. It also has been a helpful tool for Christians to use in teaching and training others about the basics of the Christian walk. This material is not the key to a successful discipleship ministry. Only the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit can disciple anyone to maturity in Christ. However, God has chosen us as His instruments in leading and teaching others about the One who can do a miraculous work in and through their lives—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The command to go and make disciples (Matt 28:19-20) is a precious responsibility and should not be taken lightly. The majority of your time should be focused on your own walk with the Lord and prayers for those God has entrusted to you. Then the material can be very helpful to your discipleship ministry. 

PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY:

1. To give you a short but comprehensive view of the Christian life. 

2. To help you understand and develop the basics in the Christian walk. 

3. To introduce you to the process of discipleship and its commitment. 

4. To help you evaluate your own walk with God, and to set priorities and goals in different areas of your life. 

5. To strengthen your personal relationship with Him.


TO MAKE YOUR DISCIPLESHIP GROUP EFFECTIVE YOU MUST BE “F.A.T.”:

Faithful - Available - Teachable

1. Be Faithful by making your discipleship group and material a priority. 

2. Be Available to your leader and the meeting times.

3. Be Teachable so you learn about God’s plan for your life.

THIS IS OUR CALL IN LIFE:

Treasure Christ.  Make Disciples.

 
 

This wheel illustrates the basic Christian life and graphically represents the reality of our mission statement.  At the Centerpoint of who we are and all we do is a deep love for God who sent his son Jesus Christ to give his life on the cross for us.  He displayed his love for the Father and us on the cross.  We can be saved because Christ took our sins on the cross.  We know we can live because Christ died for us on the cross.  We can know God loves us because He sacrificed his Son on the cross for us.  We know how we should surrender our lives to God and others by the example of Christ on the cross. The cross is the center point of Christianity.  It is the answer to every question.  It is the example to live by. It is everything we must understand about God.  This is why loving Christ, his life, and death, must be at the center of our lives as Christians.

The ultimate end of treasuring Christ above all things is to glorify God and desire to reproduce that love in others through a process call discipleship.  As we remain in Christ, God promises us that we will bear fruit – that fruit being other disciples.  The entirety of our lives should be to these two ends:  Treasuing Christ and Making Disciples.

What connects these two ends?  How does Loving Christ result in Making Disciples?  

As we love Christ above everything, there will be four core values that arise in our lives.  It is through these four core values that we live our lives and make disciples:  Word, Prayer, Missions, and Community.  How are these core values related to loving Christ and making disciples?

At Our Core:

  • WORD

    • Instructs us how to love Jesus above all things and make disciples of all nations.

      • 2nd Timothy 3:16-17, 1st Peter 2:2-3, John 17:17, Joshua 1:8-9, Numbers 23:19, John 15:7-11, John 4:23, Psalm 19:7-14, Matthew 28:19-20, 2nd Timothy 2:2, Luke 9:23, Matthew 10:37, 1st John 4:10 

  • PRAYER

    • Empowers us to love Jesus above all things and make disciples of all nations.

      • Philippians 4:6-7, John 15:7, Matthew 7:7, Luke 18:1-8, 1st Thessalonians 5:17, John 16:24, Matthew 6:9-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, Jeremiah 33:3, James 5:14-16

  • MISSIONS

    •  Invites us to love Jesus above all things and make disciples of all nations.

      • Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Matthew 4:19, Romans 1:16, 1st Peter 3:15, Matthew 5:16, Colossians 4:2-6, Ephesians 2:10, Isaiah 6:1-8, 1st Chronicles 16:23-24, Matthew 24:14, Acts 13:2-3 

  • COMMUNITY

    • Enjoys loving Jesus above all things and making disciples of all nations together.

      • Hebrews 10:24-25, 1st John 1:3, 1st Peter 1:22-23, Romans 12:10, Galatians 6:2&6, Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 3:13, 1st John 1:7, 1st Corinthians 1:10, Acts 4:32-37, John 13:34, Galatians 5:13, Proverbs 27:17

Just as the driving force in a wheel comes from the center, so the power to live the Christian life comes from Jesus Christ the Center. He lives in us in the Person of the Holy Spirit, whose expressed purpose is to glorify Christ.  As the love of Christ and power of Christ fills us, so also will his desires.  We will desire the Word, Prayer, Missions, and Community.  Lastly, as we abide in Christ and the four core values become a reality in our lives, we will share in Christ’s passion to make disciples that will last.

Join us in this journey to love Christ above all things and make disciples of all nations.  This is why you were made.  To glorify God, enjoy the treasure of his Son, and give your life away so others may know as well!