DISCIPLESHIP

A Ministry of the Congregational Church of Holland

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

The Four Goals of Discipleship

1.     To Grow: A disciple of Jesus Christ will grow in three ways

        ·        In knowledge of God

        ·        In personal relationship with Jesus Christ,

        ·        In passion, delighting in God, for His glory

2.  To establish the Word of God as authority in the life the disciple

3.  To establish relationships within the body of Christ, the local church

4.  To establish the believer in ministry serving the Lord Jesus Christ

15 Books of Major Doctrine

1. Salvation

2. Perseverance

3.Ordinances
4. Trinity

5. Word of God

6. Prayer

7. Will of God

8. Local Church

9. Other Christians

10. Your Treasures

11. Dealing with Sin

12. Liberty in Christ

13. My Job and Employer

14. The Lost World

15. Ministry

Are you a Disciple of Jesus Christ?

The word “Disciple” comes from the Greek word mathetes (Mathetes) which means “a pupil of some teacher”.  The word implies that the student has accepted in their mind and life the authority of the teachings and practices of the “teacher”.  The teacher in our “Discipleship Ministry” is Jesus Christ, taught through the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

      Jesus is very clear, in the  gospel of Matthew 16:24    Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”   Twenty times in the Gospels Jesus say’s “follow Me”.

Do you feel God calling you as a disciple?

Is Jesus saying to you, “Follow Me”?

The focus of our “Discipleship Ministry” is to raise up believers who have a passion to know and serve God.  Through the ever sufficient Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, relationships between faithful men and women and the local church grow to understand the call placed on their life by God.

“Discipling is a relational process in which a more experienced follower of Christ shares with a newer believer the commitment, understanding and basic skills necessary to know and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”   The relationship that develops between discipler and disciplee is very similar to a mentor/mentoree relationship.  A mentoring relationship is a relational experience in which one person (the discipler) empowers another (the disciplee)by sharing their life experiences and the God-given resources they have been blessed with.  The resources include the mentors wisdom, experiences, life changing patterns, habits of obedience, and principles as well as a host of other things that arise in any relationship.  A mentor is responsible to meet many needs over the life of the relationship.  These needs may not always be spoken, therefore, it will require a personal commitment to have good communication skills on both parties.

      A mentor will see not just the receiving of knowledge but a transfer of that knowledge that empowers the mentoree to new works, new understandings and how to apply God’s Word in their life.   The mentor is familiar with changes that are consistent with growing in the knowledge of God’s Word.

Discipleship Mentors are strong in three basic areas.

1.  Character

A Discipleship Mentor is someone who is deserving of your respect and trust.  Spiritual maturity is another way of describing this very important characteristic.  A discipleship  mentor will be someone whose spiritual life is of such reality and depth that it will challenge others to grow spiritually.  They have the ability to listen and respond to questions, comments and concerns.  Discipleship mentoring requires a certain vulnerability, transparency, and desire to invest in others life while keeping in mind that they serve as a role model and example.

2. Resources

Discipleship mentors have much to offer.  They should benefit the lives of the disciplee by offering wisdom, advice, information, emotional support, help in challenging standards, protection, linking to resources, guidance in life issues and so on. 

3. Personal commitment

Discipleship mentors are willing to pray regularly with and for the disciplee.  They are willing to commit time and energy in developing the discipleee and their relationship.  And lastly, they serve as Christ served.  

Colossians 3:23  Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Jesus Christ whom you serve.

The Four Goals of Discipleship

1.    To Grow:

·        in the knowledge of God 

       A disciple of Jesus Christ will grow to know and love a personal relationship with God.  A disciple will have a passion for righteousness and God will be the desire of their heart. Jesus promises to all who hunger and thirst for righteousness, that they will be filled. 

Psalm 42:1“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for you, O God.”   

Ps 9:10    Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Isaiah 12:2   Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

·        in personal relationship with Jesus Christ

      A disciple of Jesus Christ will have a personal relationship with Him, and will grow strong in this relationship.  As the branch is attached to the vine, so will the disciple be attached to Jesus; he will be feed and nourished, and will produce much fruit. Jesus said in John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Ps 18:2    The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

·       In desiring God with passion, delighting in God, for His glory

C. S. Lewis writes, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

A Disciple of Jesus Christ will grow and come to see there is no experience this world has to offer that can be more delightful then the promises of God made to those who earnestly seek Him.

Ps 63:1  O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

2.  To establish the Word of God as the final authority in the life of the disciple.

        A disciple must learn from and live with the Word of God as their final authority in all matters of life and faith.  Habits of obedience need to be established and learned from the Word of God.  As James wrote in 1:22 “But prove yourselves doers of the Word and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”  Therefore, a disciple of Jesus Christ will have a passion for the teachings of Jesus; obeying His Word in daily living and in all decisions.  

John 8:31-32    So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, " If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;  32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."  

John 15:7-10  7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  8 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so  prove to be My disciples.  9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.  10 " If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 

3. To establish relationships in the body of Christ

        A disciple of Jesus Christ knows the value in establishing relationships with the “local church body” and to be committed to the local church where he/she will serve Christ.  The body of Christ is a family that serves one another and bears one another’s burdens.

Hebrews 10:24-25   24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10   9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Proverb 27:17   17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

4.   To establish the disciple in ministry

      A disciple of Jesus Christ will feel the call from God to serve God in the local ministry and to share Christ with the world.

      Ephesians  4:11-16   11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as  evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

10 Commandments of Mentoring and Discipleship Relationships

1. A Relationship with God at the center;     With God at the center, a discipling relationship will work in harmony with each other to prepare the disciple to live a life of faith in service to God.  Not all mentoring relationships will be life long, not all will be close and intimate.  But, all discipleship relationships if God centered, will grow as they are guided by the Word of God and nurtured by the Holy Spirit. 

2. Purpose;  From the beginning, both parties should have the same understanding of the purpose for the relationship.  Communication of the purposes are essential. Mentoring can be disappointing at times especially when our purposes are not fulfilled.  Clearly communicate in writing if necessary the purpose of the relationship.

3. Regularity;  The relationship must strive to meet regularly and be consistent with times and places. Both should be holding each other accountable for staying focused in this area.

4. Accountability;  mutual accountability regarding ones responsibilities to the task at hand or lessons learned is an important mentoring dynamic.  But, it doesn’t just happen, you must plan for it and make it apart of your meetings.  Encourage contact during the week and be open to phone calls, emails etc.

5. Communication;  Set up a communication system in the beginning.  Make available phone #s emails, times to call, what ever fits your particular life style.  If there is one thing that breaks down a good relationship is poor communication.  Both are responsible for good communication, do not become unavailable.

6. Confidentiality;  The most important commandment there is.  Do not speak outside about your meetings unless you have permission.  Breaking this trust can destroy a relationship.  Guard this privilege carefully.

7. Life of the relationship;  Look at this relationship as a season.  There is a beginning and an end.  Try to keeping in mind your task and shoot for the goal of completion.  There is no time limit, but, there should be a focused attempt to stay on track.  Remember we are preparing to serve God, why delay?

8. Evaluation;  No mentoring relationship is perfect.  From time to time reevaluate your relationship and it’s progress.  Make the changes that need to made, your time will be wiser spent and more fulfilling.  Break out of the mold if it no longer fits.

9. Expectations; As you progress along, are both expectations being meet?  Do not come to the end of your time together to learn that you did not fulfill a certain expectation.  Again, have these clearly spelled out.

10. Closure;  Closure has to do with bringing a satisfactory end to a  mentoring relationship with a new beginning in ministry.  Remember, you began with the end in mind, so plan for the end.  All disciplee’s should be preparing for ministry, celebrations and new beginnings.  Join in the celebration and praise God that another saint is being raised up to serve .   

The 15 books of doctrine that are covered in discipleship

1. Salvation

2. Perseverance

3.Ordinances

4. Trinity

5. Word of God

6. Prayer

7. Will of God

8. Local Church

9. Other Christians

10. Your Treasures

11. Dealing with Sin

12. Liberty in Christ

13. My Job and Employer

14. The Lost World

15. Ministry 

Common questions asked regarding discipleship

·       Who should be discipled? 

Every born again believer that has been saved by the grace of God.  We are all saved for good works Ephesians 2:10, and we all must be able to give an account for the hope that is in us 1 Peter 3:15.  In order to do this we must present ourselves approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth 2 Timothy 2:15

·       Who do I notify if I want to be discipled?

Place your name on the sign up sheet at the discipleship ministry board or see any Pastor or Elder.

·       How long does the discipleship process take?

Every discipling relationship is different.  The average time to study the 15 books properly is anywhere from 6 months to one year or even longer.  There is no set time.  The important thing to remember is that a proper understanding of the Word of God is essential.

·       Do I pick who disciples me?

Not always.  The right match must be prayed about by both discipler and disciplee.  If you feel called to one particular discipler, ask that person if they would prayerfully consider discipling you.