Discipleship “The strength and influence of the church is wholly dependent upon its commitment to...

DiscipleshipDiscipleship

““The strength and influence of The strength and influence of the church is wholly the church is wholly dependent upon its dependent upon its commitment to true commitment to true

discipleship.”discipleship.”

- George Barna- George BarnaGrowing True DisciplesGrowing True Disciples

What is Discipleship?What is Discipleship?

It is fulfilling the Great Commission:It is fulfilling the Great Commission:

““Therefore go and make disciples of Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have them to obey everything I have commanded you.”commanded you.”

Matthew 28:19-20Matthew 28:19-20


The Great Commission The Great Commission is not primarily about is not primarily about evangelism, it is about evangelism, it is about discipleship.discipleship.


““Christian Christian discipleship is a discipleship is a

process that takes process that takes place within place within accountable accountable

relationships over a relationships over a period of time for the period of time for the

purpose of bringing purpose of bringing believers to spiritual believers to spiritual maturity in Christ.”maturity in Christ.”

- International Consultation - International Consultation on Discipleshipon Discipleship


““Christian discipleship is a Christian discipleship is a processprocess””

Disciple-making is a “shift from program-Disciple-making is a “shift from program-driven ministry to people-driven ministry driven ministry to people-driven ministry … move from concern about quantity … move from concern about quantity (people, programs, square footage, (people, programs, square footage, dollars) to concern about quality dollars) to concern about quality (commitment, wisdom, relationships, (commitment, wisdom, relationships, values, lifestyle).”values, lifestyle).”

- George Barna- George BarnaGrowing True DisciplesGrowing True Disciples


““Christian discipleship … takes Christian discipleship … takes place within place within accountable accountable

relationships”relationships”““Disciple-making is not about replicable, Disciple-making is not about replicable, transferable methods, but about the mystery of transferable methods, but about the mystery of two walking together. Christian maturity is two walking together. Christian maturity is always a social, and never an individual reality. always a social, and never an individual reality. There is no such thing as my maturity. It is There is no such thing as my maturity. It is only only ourour maturity.” maturity.”

- Dr. James Houston- Dr. James Houston

Regent College, Vancouver, British ColumbiaRegent College, Vancouver, British Columbia

What is Discipleship?What is Discipleship?““Christian discipleship is … bringing Christian discipleship is … bringing

believers to believers to spiritual maturityspiritual maturity in in Christ.”Christ.”

““Too often disciple-making has been Too often disciple-making has been understood as preaching the gospel, helping a understood as preaching the gospel, helping a penitent pray the sinner’s prayer, or offering a penitent pray the sinner’s prayer, or offering a compelling case for Christian belief. Disciple-compelling case for Christian belief. Disciple-making surely includes all these things, but it making surely includes all these things, but it has as its goalhas as its goal Christian maturityChristian maturity.”.”

- Marshall Shelley- Marshall ShelleyEditor, Editor, Leadership JournalLeadership Journal


““The church in Africa is one mile The church in Africa is one mile long, but only one inch deep. long, but only one inch deep. Discipleship is not information, Discipleship is not information, but but character formationcharacter formation.”.”

- Dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo- Dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo

TheologianTheologian


““And the things you have heard And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to who will also be qualified to teach others.”teach others.”

2 Timothy 2:22 Timothy 2:2

Why Discipleship?Why Discipleship?

If you continue If you continue to do what to do what

you’ve always you’ve always done, you’re done, you’re going to get going to get what you’ve what you’ve

always gotten.always gotten.


Produce? Produce? Produce? Produce? What difference does What difference does it make? Just get it make? Just get busy and produce busy and produce something!something!


We need to ask ourselves some We need to ask ourselves some questions:questions:

1.1. What does a spiritually mature What does a spiritually mature believer look like? How do I believer look like? How do I recognize a disciple of Christ?recognize a disciple of Christ?

2.2. What is my corps doing to ensure What is my corps doing to ensure that we produce spiritually that we produce spiritually mature believers? Do we have an mature believers? Do we have an intentional disciple-making plan?intentional disciple-making plan?


““Disciples don’t just happen. Disciples don’t just happen. They’re developed through They’re developed through intentional planning and the effort of intentional planning and the effort of a community of believers. You, too, a community of believers. You, too, can make disciples in your church. can make disciples in your church. But it won’t just happen. You need But it won’t just happen. You need to decide what you’re going to do to decide what you’re going to do and how to do it.”and how to do it.”

Ron BennettRon BennettIntentional DisciplemakingIntentional Disciplemaking

Discipleship TrainingDiscipleship Training

Developing disciples Developing disciples who will lead The Army who will lead The Army

into the futureinto the future

Discipleship TrainingDiscipleship TrainingWritten by Dr. Charles Lake, pastor Written by Dr. Charles Lake, pastor of the Community Church of of the Community Church of Greenville, IndianaGreenville, Indiana

Available from our Trade DepartmentAvailable from our Trade Department


ADVANCED COURSEADVANCED COURSE

Four Levels: Nine Sessions Each (36 Four Levels: Nine Sessions Each (36 sessions)sessions)

BASIC COURSEBASIC COURSE

Four Levels: Nine Sessions Each (36 Four Levels: Nine Sessions Each (36 sessions)sessions)

Discipleship TrainingDiscipleship TrainingTOTALTOTAL

BASIC and ADVANCED (72 sessions)BASIC and ADVANCED (72 sessions)

Material for 2-4 years of Material for 2-4 years of quality quality

discipleship trainingdiscipleship training


COSTCOST

??

ONLY ONLY $15$15 PER PER COURSECOURSE

$30$30 for 2-4 years of Discipleship for 2-4 years of Discipleship

Training!Training!


Strengths of Discipleship Training:Strengths of Discipleship Training: It is corps-based and long-range.It is corps-based and long-range. It trains future spiritual leaders in It trains future spiritual leaders in

the corps.the corps. It is written from a Wesleyan It is written from a Wesleyan

doctrinal view.doctrinal view. It is well-designed and structured.It is well-designed and structured. Easy to implement with minimal Easy to implement with minimal

preparation – “doable!”preparation – “doable!”


Advantages of Discipleship Training:Advantages of Discipleship Training: Covers most discipleship issues in a Covers most discipleship issues in a

sequential/cyclical/spiral manner.sequential/cyclical/spiral manner. Promotes/develops biblical habits.Promotes/develops biblical habits. Similar to AA type programs - Similar to AA type programs -

accountability with support and caring.accountability with support and caring. Can be used at many different levels and Can be used at many different levels and

places -corps, social service centers.places -corps, social service centers. It is available in Spanish – SA edited It is available in Spanish – SA edited

versionversion

Discipleship TrainingDiscipleship TrainingPossible Weaknesses of Discipleship Possible Weaknesses of Discipleship

Training:Training: Readings are long, sometimes Readings are long, sometimes

difficult.difficult. Memorization may be difficult.Memorization may be difficult. Structure could be difficult if leader Structure could be difficult if leader

is not flexible.is not flexible. Could be seen as a program, rather Could be seen as a program, rather

than a process based on than a process based on relationships.relationships.


“We are thrilled to be promoting the Lake materials in our division. Most of our corps are without a discipleship plan for new converts, let alone continued progressive and purposeful instruction for their soldiers. The Lake material is the answer for many corps to this question of how to get our congregations ‘off milk and into the meat’ of a vibrant Christian walk rooted in the Word of God.”

Catherine HayesLeader Development Director, PENDEL


“For a long time, I have been convinced that the weight of the Great Commission is grounded in serious discipleship. And I've also known that a key piece of that discipleship is the devotional life. Finally, a tool has arrived that will meet this need in a practical way.”

Major Colin DeVaultMajor Colin DeVaultCarlisle, PACarlisle, PA


““The real effectiveness will not be known The real effectiveness will not be known for a while, but my experience in for a while, but my experience in facilitating groups at my corps is that this facilitating groups at my corps is that this is beginning to change the culture of the is beginning to change the culture of the corps in a wonderful and powerful way in corps in a wonderful and powerful way in that people are becoming more Christ-that people are becoming more Christ-like! In addition we anticipate new like! In addition we anticipate new leaders emerging and more participation leaders emerging and more participation in the ministries of the corps.”in the ministries of the corps.”

Bob FerrantelliBob Ferrantelli

Leader Development Director, Central TerritoryLeader Development Director, Central Territory


Two other studies available from Two other studies available from Trade:Trade:

For New Christians: For New Christians:

““Running the Race”Running the Race” (9 sessions) (9 sessions)

For Mature Christians: For Mature Christians:

““Doing What Comes Unnaturally”Doing What Comes Unnaturally” (9 (9 sessionssessions))

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