How to Disciple A New Believer
Justin Buzzard writes about a simple way to disciple new believers in your small group using just your Bible.
2 days ago
Discipled to Disciple
part 2: The Spark
Last week I wrote about looking around to see if people were pouring their lives out for others, who in turn would pour their life into someone else. The answer, sadly, was no. Or better put, not yet. What I see when I look around me is a people ready to burn white hot for the Lord, and the Holy Spirit ready to blow a fresh wind across the face of the church and fan the flame. All we need is a spark. I believe that spark is a discipleship vision.
What would happen if believers across the country and around the world would read the gospels … check that… . read the whole Bible with one question in mind: what am I commanded to do? What should I do in response to what I have read? Of course we could start with Matthew 28:18-20 … but that’s only one of many. Take a few minutes and look at these verses:
- John 8:31-32
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - Luke 9:23
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. - 1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. - 2 Timothy 2:2
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also
These are just a few selections. There has been a lot of ink spilled about what the big theme or main idea of the Bible is. I am not qualified to jump into that argument. Here’s what I can say: God has given us everything by giving us Himself. Now he asks us to live lives that honor him and help others to do the same.
Imagine how different the Church (that’s big “C” Church … the Bride of Christ … all of God’s people) would look if we all took this message to heart. What if we all found someone and started reading the Bible with them. We started praying with and for them. We encouraged them to find someone else to do the same thing with. I am confident that the Holy Spirit would do His work and we would see the beginning of something incredible. We would see a fire like we have never seen. And it all starts … with a spark.
by Michael Smith
Community Pastor
Fellowship Bible Church of NWA
mismith@fellowshipnwa.org
Five Things Mentors Should Model
Mentoring is part of discipleship. Here are five things a mentor can pass on to the man or woman with whom they are meeting.
From Casey Cease, writing at theResurgence.com: Sometimes you just feel like you are stuck and get started. Here are five things to remember when you find yourself there.
Truth Travels the Road of Relationships
Part 3: It’s Out There. Now What?
photo via http://fortheloveofhistruth.com
We’ve been talking about how truth travels the road of relationships. At this point in the process we have established a relationship with someone, and we have broached the subject of spiritual things. To borrow from a current twitter meme: it’s that awkward moment when the relationship has gone somewhere new. Now what?
Your friend’s response will be somewhere on the spectrum that ranges from “I hate Jesus and I hate you. Never speak to me again,” to “I was hoping someone would offer me the chance to pray and receive Christ today. Looks like you are that person.” Most likely, the response will be enigmatic and somewhat tepid. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1) Now that you have brought Jesus into the relationship you can truly be yourself with this person. Transparency is the key in any relationship, and your friend having a chance to see you do your best to walk with Jesus, even when it’s not too pretty, could well be the most compelling form of the gospel they have encountered.
2) You are a messenger, not a savior. The Holy Spirit is the real Evangelist. You have gotten real with your friend and you can continue to be real, but you won’t be able to talk them into the kingdom. Or twist their arm. Or high pressure sell them. You can be there for them and pray for them, but you have to trust the Lord with the results.
3) Talk about Jesus. If he really is the most important thing in your life, you should be able to talk about him as much as the other important things in your life like Dancing With the Stars and the NFL Draft.
If we are real and winsome, we can be ourselves, give the Spirit room to operate, and with time and prayer, see some gospel fruit.
by Michael Smith
Community Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church of NWA
mismith@fellowshipnwa.org
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Jesus
in Luke 11:11-13
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Peter
in Acts 4:11-12
The bottom line is that gospel ministry is a privilege, a stewardship. It was here long before we arrived on the planet and will be long after we are gone. I’ve learned that the sooner I get over myself, the easier and better it is for me to lead. You’ve got to die to yourself.
Daniel Darling
(via his blog)
Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization.
Truth Travels the Road of Relationships
Part 2: Stuck in a Rut
There is a road that truth can travel on: the road of relationships. When we build a relationship with someone we build a road that the truth of the gospel can traverse. Without the road, it is very difficult for us to share the gospel with someone. Last week we talked about the two ditches on each side of that road.
The ditch that most of us slide into is the ditch of building a good, smooth road, but never unleashing the gospel of Jesus Christ onto that road. So how can we avoid that trap? Here are a few principles:
1) Bring Jesus into the relationship early. That doesn’t mean that you have to challenge your new friend with a “decision opportunity” in the first 10 minutes of your relationship. What it does mean is that you mention the single most important thing in your life, your relationship with Jesus, casually and winsomely early on in the relationship. Your new friend might or might not say anything, but they will know that Jesus is part of who you are.
2) Turn the conversation to spiritual things. The easiest way to do that is with questions. A famous person dies. You ask “Do you ever think about what happens when you die?” Or maybe it’s as simple as bringing up your Community Group when they ask what you did last night. Sharing an insight from your quiet time might be a good way to spark some conversation. Remember, you don’t have to force it: just let the things you are already doing be part of the relationship.
3) Be prepared to give an answer. My friend calls it a gospel layup. “Why do you carry food to give the homeless?” “Why are you helping me rake my yard?” “What is your deal? You aren’t like everyone else?” These are opportunities for the gospel layup. Take a cue from Nehemiah: say a quick prayer and then answer honestly and boldly. Not about yourself, but about Jesus and what he has done for you that compels you to act the way you do.
Next week: It’s out there … now what?
by Michael Smith
Community Pastor
Fellowship Bible Church of NW Arkansas
mismith@fellowhsipnwa.org
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