In life, humans seem to struggle with the middle of the pendulum swing. What I mean is that we tend to lean toward the left or right extreme of the pendulum swing. Too often balance is delicate and fleeting. Like faith and works (see James), head knowledge and behavior are…
There are many questions being asked by potential disciple-makers. Sadly, the lack of answers to these questions have produced much indecisiveness and immobility. Too often the result is no start and no disciple-making. How do we break through this potential roadblock? Prayerful decisiveness and activity. In the case of the…
Too frequently I find church leaders complicating the simple. Disciple-making is one place where I see complexity too often. Keep it simple! I want to suggest four simple steps for a disciple-maker to invest in his disciple(s) one-on-one or in D-groups (discipleship groups no larger than 5 including the leader).…
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…
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.