Tag Archives: community

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A Few Thoughts On Discipleship!

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DSC_0026Discipleship is one of those words that we toss around our churches like a familiar football!  We know that the word discipleship has something to do with being close to God, and we convince ourselves that this is enough.  We need to start thinking about discipleship and what it really means.  I think that true discipleship is one of the lost gifts that God has given to the church!  I am trying to get my head and heart around it, and must admit that I have a ways to go.  I thought that it might be helpful for me to share with you some of the things that God has been teaching and showing me!

How do you know when discipleship is happening?  Discipleship is the work of God in a person”s heart and life.  When a person experiences transformation through a relationship with God, their life shines Jesus to all of those around.  When you experience God’s love, you can’t help but to share that love with any and all around you.

I am afraid that many times in our churches we end up preaching a gospel that turns people into consumers of religion, rather than into disciples of relationship.  The problem is this:  Faith that does not grow into action is not really faith at all!  Bonhoeffer said:  “Only those who are obedient believe and only those who believe are obedient.  Faith is the only real obedience.”

A true disciple is a person who abides in Christ, produces fruit, practices obedience, lives with joy and gives love!  (John 15)  If you want to be a growing disciple, then you must submit to spiritual leadership and teaching, so that you can learn to live by the words of Jesus and follow His example of ministry, which seeks to find and grow other disciples.

Are you a disciple?  Would the life that you are living today prove it?  I have to go – because I’ve got some work to do!  I want my life to prove it!

Church, Uncategorized

Church Is About Community!

We make church about a lot of things, but if church is going to be successful for the Kingdom, it must become less about what most of us want it to be or think it should be and more about what God created, called and crafted it to be!  Church has got to be about community – inside and outside!

Church needs to be about community inside!  It needs to be a safe place and people that live dangerously through the power and grace of Almighty God!  Church needs to be a place where I can belong, even with all of my imperfections!  Church needs to be a place where I can work on myself, while helping and being helped by others!  Church needs to be a place where I am honest about who and what I am and who and what I am not!  Church needs to be a place where I am motivated, encouraged and grown for God’s glory and His Kingdom’s growth!  Church on the inside needs to be more about the inside of me and getting that into alignment with God and His plan for my life, so that I can go outside for His glory!

Church needs to be about community on the outside!  When I am becoming in my inside what I need to be on the inside of the church, I cannot be content with community on the inside, because in my heart and spirit I know that there is a world full of people that need exactly what I have received – living on the outside!  If the inside is right and growing, then I am compelled by a force greater than myself to step outside of myself to reach into other people’s lives and make a difference!  I can be a bridge from the inside to the outside and from the outside to the inside!  This difference or bridge-building will be made through love, acceptance and blessing, not hate, judgment and curses!

Community will come on the inside and outside, when we learn to love as we have been loved!  God help me to be loved by you, even though I am unlovable and help me to love others, especially when they are unlovable!