After nearly 2000 years, churches still have work to do on their discipleship strategy. Many churches today have no strategy. Or if they have a strategy, it is simply come and choose from what we have to offer. The problem there too often is the lack of intentional development. On…
My previous two posts, Turn Sermons into Discipleship Experiences and Turn Lessons into Discipleship Experiences made me think of Deuteronomy 6: 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with…
A new year is an appropriate time to reflect on what God has done in your life during the previous year. It is good to pause and reflect on strengths and weaknesses, progress and challenges, new goals and adjustments needed. Often a consistent set of questions or review categories are…
From the beginning, let me be clear. I am not trying to judge or brand anyone. I am simply asking a question for mutual self-assessment. Allow me to clarify the terms: CONVERT. The root of the word points toward “one who turns” or “one who changes.” A convert has turned…
My sons are young adults. One lives a couple hours away; the other lives nine hours away. But when we are together in person or connecting by phone or electronic means, I am often amazed at how much I hear me in them. I hear my dry humor. I hear…
While attending the National Disciple Making Forum earlier this month, I attended a breakout session entitled, “How to Use the Power of the Gospel Daily to Bring Transformation in Discipleship” led by Monte Starkes and Charles Hooper of Perimeter Church in Atlanta. They recommended what they called the Gospel three-step…
Who is involved in your disciple-making? There are three important “Who’s” of disciple-making. Let’s look at each of them: WHO: Jesus. When we follow Jesus, He promises to make us fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). We are all apostles (sent ones) who are sent to make disciples of all nations…
What materials are you using for one-on-one disciple-making? What materials are you using for D-groups (small disciple-making groups of four or less)? Please press Comments and share what you are using and how you are using those materials. This blog is not in the business of promoting or selling products,…
You are having a conversation with another Christian. He says, “My boss expects me to lie to my customers. I don’t know what to do.” The conversation is a teachable moment, a discipleship opportunity. What if you seriously asked, “What does the Bible say?” What if you sent him home…
I am attending the Discipleship Track at Exponential in Orlando, Florida. The Forum panel includes some major names in discipleship: Robby Gallaty, Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, Alex Absolom, Ariyana Rimson, and Bill Hull. Their focus has been walking through discipleship arenas/spaces (from Discipleship That Fits): public, social, personal, transparent, and divine.…
Two encounters are critical. First, the leader encounters God in His Word and is changed. Second, the leader guides the group to have a life-changing encounter.
In John 13:34-35, three times Jesus said, “Love one another.” Your group is the ideal place to practice and launch the kind of love for one another that shows the world that we are His disciples.