Intentional Discipleship

  A disciple of Jesus is someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus. We find Mark 1:17 (Matthew 4:19) to be a helpful verse that can serve as a useful framework around which we can place the teachings of the New Testament on what it means to be a disciple. “And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (ESV) Notice the three key characteristics of a disciple:      He/she follows Jesus      He/she is being changed by Jesus      He/she is committed to the mission of Jesus The diagram at the beginning of this post is a simple way that we sometimes picture how people grow as disciples:      Head – in the mind the decision to follow Jesus has been made (now he/she needs to connect in discipling relationships)      Heart – in discipling relationships we are changed by the Spirit to be more and more like Jesus (now he/she needs...

 When the angel visits Joseph to tell him that the unborn child carried by Mary is not the product of an illicit romance but rather the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, one crucial detail of this revelation is in the stated purpose of this miracle. The angel even tells Joseph what the baby’s name should be! The child will be called Jesus, a derivation of Joshua, which means “God saves.”  This is why the Son of God becomes incarnate—to save sinners.  This is the whole point of Christianity, and thus the whole point of Christmas. Jesus did not come primarily to set a good example, though he certainly did that. And he did not come to give us solid ethics teaching, though he did that too. He didn’t even come primarily to perform signs and wonders, though he undoubtedly did many.  The primary reason for the incarnation was that God might justify sinners through Christ’s sinless life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection.

In Second Peter 1:5-9, Peter addresses his readers who are already believers and encourages them to add certain virtues to their faith. These virtues serve as important steps in their spiritual growth and development. Let's look at each step in more detail: (1) Add goodness to faith (1:5): Peter emphasizes that true faith goes beyond mere intellectual belief or affirmation. It should be accompanied by genuine goodness, which involves transparent trust and ready obedience. This means that believers should actively pursue acts of kindness and righteousness, rather than being passive in their faith. (2) Add knowledge to goodness (1:5): While some knowledge is necessary for faith, Peter urges believers to go beyond the basics. He encourages them to deepen their understanding of God's Word and His ways. A growing knowledge of God's truth is stabilizing and motivating, equipping believers to live in accordance with His will. (3) Add self-control to knowledge (1:6): Knowledge a...

  BEING THANKFUL When was the last time you focused your prayer on being thankful? Often, prayer becomes a one-way conversation to God with a list of our needs. This resource is all about praying from a heart of gratitude. At the beginning of your day or at the end of your day, start the habit of thanking God for your blessings and praying these verses out loud. Invite a friend or your family to join you for 30 days of thankful prayers. Then, continue to foster a thankful heart and way of life. Create a gratitude journal—adding specific praise verses and prayers that are personal to your own life. Day 1 Father, thank you for your love for me ( John 3:16 ). Day 2 Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice and for the gift of salvation for me ( Philippians 2:6-8 ). Day 3 Father, thank you for both your mercy and your grace for my life ( Hebrews 4:15-16 ). Day 4 Father, thank you for your Word and the ways you communicate through Scripture to guide my life ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ). Day 5 Holy Spir...

  CREATED FOR HIS GLORY 10/8 - Discipleship books 11/12 - Created for His Glory units 1-4 11/26 - Small Group Followup 12/10 - Created for His Glory units 5-9 12/24 - Small Group Followup 1/14 - Created for His Glory units 10-13 1/28 - Small Group Followup 1/26 Evening activity & Dinner

  The Significance of Love 31 Days   The Preeminence of Love Day 1     The Greatest of These  ( 1 Cor 13:13) Day 2     Loving Faith (Gal 5:6) Day 3     The Fruit of Love (Gal 5:22) Day 4     Rooted in Love (Eph 3:17) Day 5     The Dimensions of Love (Eph 3:18) Day 6     Full of Love (Eph 4:16) Day 7    A Life Full of Love  ( Eph 5:2) Day 8     Love Given by the Holy Spirit (Col 1:8) Day 9     Clothe Yourselves in Love (Col 3:14) Day 10   Protected by Love (1 Thess 5:8) Day 11   Pursue Love  ( 1 Tim 6:11) Day 12   God is Love  ( 1 Jn 4:16)   The Example of Jesus Day 13   Unchangeable Love (Jn 13:1) Day 14   Divine Love  ( Jn 15:9) Day 15   Self-Sacrificing Love  ( Jn 15:13) Day 16   Inseparable Love  ( Rom 8:35,37) Day 17   Cons...