Okay I’m a church planter/pastor/missionary (hope I got all the buzz words and descriptors right.) I became a follower of Jesus Christ in the Spring of 1984. I do not remember any courses that anybody enrolled me into to become a follower who was growing in my faith. I do remember being a part of a Sunday School class and from time to time going to some summer Bible Study groups or other Bible Studies but not alot and NOT everyday.
During these early years of following Jesus Christ, I do not even remember how daily Bible Study came about in my life other than through some intentional modeling from my Sunday school teacher and hearing sermons about having what we called a quiet time. I was lead to Christ by an amazing pastor/missionary who was missional here in America and in Africa with his wife and family. I think hind sight 20/20 my Pastor was watching out all the time to make sure I was growing, praying for me and even already knew God had a call on my life for what we called in those days the ministry. Along with some amazing Holy Spirit obedient Christians who just spent time with me very intentionally and studied the scriptures with me as it related to things I was struggling with as a 20 year old. those people came in different shapes and sizes if you will in other words they where not all beautiful cool people although they where!
As I went back off to college a second time and chose to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University it was there that as I got involved with the PBAU campus ministry that I heard about the need to be discipled. So I signed up who did not want to have a better walk with Jesus?
Question #1. Is that what discipleship is all about? A person having a stronger walk with Jesus Christ?
So a I was paired up with an older guy on campus who has in leadership (who was a good guy.) We meet once in the dorm and he gave me a work book and said by next week to finish the first chapter. And start memorizing Romans the 6th Chapter. I think he was disappointed when I showed up the next week and had not completed the assignement and had no idea how to memorize scripture not to mention – was a BAD Disciple. Needless to say I failed out of discipleship that semester and several other attempts that followed at a semester discipleship course.
It was close to end of my college career summer before my senior year and once agin God brought a older college student who was married into my life and he discipled me with no material (not against material) that I can remember. But held me accountable to some sin problems in my life and spending quality time with God. It was a huge time of growth in my life.
Question #2. What does a person need to know or learn to be a disciple?
I will continue this story in the weeks to come. I’m on a journey in practice not just thought to continue to be a disciple and to be used in the process of making disciples that God uses to reproduce disciples?
Talk with you soon. Please share your thoughts as I un-rap this composition.
It’s hard to believe but it is almost the middle of May! I have a lot of great things happening in my life since I first blogged “Can I Change!” the first one can be found or read here! As 2010 started in January there where some disciplines and areas of my life that needed to change.
1. my weight
2. amount of time I spend watching tv
3. time in prayer and bible study (more time invested and more discipline)
4. finally doing something about a messed up right hip that has bothered me for 7 years and causes me to limp (which I do not even notice.)
5. improving as a father for my two teen-agers (now one of which is a young lady) and a 11 year old!
6. learning to love my wife with more acts of service
7. working and living in financial freedom vs. debt!
So i did a little check up a while back which was Can I Change Part 2 you can read it here!
So how am I doing NOW, weight wise I have lost a little ground, in other words gone back a step or two actually added back 5 pounds (the scale is not driving my fitness) so I’m working on refocusing on some of the disciplines I was doing a little better at eating wise and getting more time in the gym! So number 1 I took a step or two backwards still on the track I would give my self a – C! As far as the TV I’m improving and and refocusing on reading some books instead of to much time in front of tv, I would give myself a – B! Time in prayer and Bible Study, man I just do not know I can be content with where I am verses where I could be? – No idea grade wise I will continue to ask God! Number 4 – good news I’m headed back to orthopedic surgeon Wednesday/May 2nd! We will see what happens.
Numbers 5, 6, 7 – man I need some more change! I will share some more info about these areas in the weeks a head (just a great way to keep you coming back to this amazing blog with all it’s wisdom, HA!) please pray with me and for me! Please pray for Ariah as she graduates from Grady High School in two weeks and starts Kennesaw State University in the Fall and That God would change me!
2 Corinthians 5:17 TNIV • “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
I have been following Jesus Christ since April 5, 1984. January 27, 2010 I will become another year older, as a matter of fact I will turn 46. In the past I think God has made some BIG changes in my life. And I think God is still changing me and I think God wants to see some more change “new is here!” I have made some new years resolutions in the past of hopes of seeing some change, some change I have kept for a while others things did not change or not last long at all. I have learned I do NOT have the power to make changes in my life or make the change last. I know by saying that some people would probably say that’s lazy or it sounds like you are making excuses.
Renewal is rooted in faith, not in resolutions! I cannot make a new me or a new u, but Christ can make you new and me new. (via @KayWarren1) from twitter.
I think Kay Warren is right and renewal is rooted in faith and the work of the Holy Spirit is the supernatural power that changes us through – DISCIPLINE. Not that our discipline changes anything but we have to become DISCIPLINED about the change. I have been praying for a while about some areas I think God wants to change in my life. And for me I feel like it has come down to just being obedient to God or not, so I’m going to jot some of this down in my blog for some accountability.
Really it’s between God and me, but I also believe some of these are things maybe I have tried to not to pay attention to in the past or have hoped to that they might go away. Maybe laying it all on the table would allow me to become completely obedient to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life in 2010.
So I will be blogging about some of the change that I’m praying for God to do in 2010 in my life, family and ministry, in the following weeks as well as other God stuff and life. And I have faith it will happen and the old things will leave the building!
we started a new series last week @ 1027chruch.com “coming home to community.” last week we talked about the sweet spot of community happening when we follow Jesus! by studying his word, praying and obeying the Holy Spirit, this week we will look at what happens when community is on mission with Jesus! i cannot wait till sunday.
i have the privilege of being coached right now in my life by rainer kunz. in case your wondering, he is the guy holding the fish and i’m not the fish. rainer is a church planter in washington state. he planted westside sound community church. he also does national coaching with and for bob logan’s coaching system.
i have had coaches/mentors in my life. as a matter of fact i have the privilege of having a life/mentor coach a godly man in dallas in my life for many years. i’m thankful for men who have made be more like Jesus and thankful for you rainer and to have a new coach doing some god work in my life, family, 1027church, and UAII.
thanks rainer. sometime you will have to take me fishing in your hood!
Chris thanks for your friendship and thanks for allowing my family and i come up to the Triple “C” in NC. It was great to be at driven and hang with Charlie, Carson, Josie. Thank you Cheryl for hosting us and the food was great. Thanks for being such a good leader.
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