Picture of a Disciple of Jesus

 What is discipling?

 Discipling is an intentional relationship in which we walk alongside other disciples of Jesus Christ in order to encourage, equip and challenge one another in love to grow toward maturity in Christ. This includes equipping the disciple to make disciples who make disciples.

 Focus: The mission of the church is to
MAKE DISCIPLES.

Key ingredients in relationship? You can’t be a disciple alone.

1. Relational transparency,
2. Truth of God’s Word, and
3. Life-change accountability.

Who is a disciple?

A disciple is one who responds in faith and obedience to the gracious call to follow Jesus Christ. Being a disciple is a lifelong process of dying to self while allowing Jesus Christ to come alive in us. A disciple is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus (Matt 4:19). A disciple is motivated by the love of Jesus (John 13:34-35).

Respond to the call.
Follow Jesus.
Die to self.
Put Jesus first.

The gospel today can say, "Just trust Jesus, have your sins forgiven, and you will go to heaven when you die." What's wrong with that picture? What happened to repentance and accountability?

How do we stay connected to Christ?

It's not about trying harder. Jesus lived by the power of the Holy Spirit. That's your model, too. The Christian way of life is impossible! Not dependent on human power. Supernatural!

Disciples develop disciplines that are the lifeline that keeps us tethered to Christ. (Notice that these words come from the same root word of being a follower.) Practice the presence of God. These practices put us in the presence of Christ so that He can speak to us. Spiritual disciplines:

• Quiet time is a time of personal rendezvous with Jesus, God's Word, meditation (chewing on the meaning and application). Jesus modeled getting a solitary place (John 15:5). Start small. Go slow. Go deep. Take time to communicate with God.
• Bible Study is soul food of the body, the revelation of God’s mind to us. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 the Bible is set apart from other "inspired" writings.
• Prayer is a constant transparent dialogue, God talking to you, and you expressing your heart and challenges to God.
• Worship is the central purpose of the church, different from the central mission. The basic practices keep us rooted in the presence of God who wants to spend time with us in fellowship together in the Body of Christ.

A sign that we are growing as disciples is that we have adopted a lifestyle of discipling others.