Tonight we kicked off the roots series by talking about the word "disciple." What? Yeah, Disciple. Why we as a church, or "christian society" have focused more on making "converts" rather than taking the call to make disciples seriously. The focus was on taking a look at what a disciple looked like according to the bible and how that translates to us today in 2009. What does a disciple look like in 2009? How do we make disciples in 2009? After hearing some people share about modern day discipleship experiences in their own lives and sharing some ideas about how we could disciple each other and those around us, a consensus started to come together.
It's not about putting a bulls-eye on peoples backs and moving on once they've said a prayer or joined our church. It's not about rules. It's not about a certain type of system. It's not a class. It's not a talk. It's life. It's a lifestyle. In the words of Ryan Mac and Allan Castleberry, "it's about love." We gotta do life with each other. We have to ask questions and go "deep" (ask Nathan Castleberry about why that's in quotes). We have to pour out Jesus on people and let Him pour into us through other people. We have to humble ourselves and seek discipleship. We have to get over our insecurities and feelings of inadequacy and make disciples.
It's reproducing the Jesus in us. It's investing time and effort in relationships. It's never-ending. The life of a disciple is just that... life.
Matthew 28:19
In the girls group it was really cool to see the beginnings of some discipleship among us. We discussed basically the idea of support and love that we have been shown through out our lives by those who have discipled us.
ReplyDeleteSome of the girls expressed a great desire to stop just getting people to church and to really invest they're time and love in specific people, and that was really fun and exciting to see.
I am super excited to see what this group grows into, and for the next "root" to plant itself and make an impact. I can def. see that discipleship has.
When we talked about the differences between discipleship and converts it reminded me of "Soul Patrol". Before I became a Christian I was very active in my church and youth group; every Wednesday after school the pastor and a roup from the youth would go knock on doors and "soul-win" individuals. You know lead them through the sinner's prayer sothey could become a christian. Obviously, I wasn't a Christian yet so I had a misconstrued idea of this. One instance in particualar, a friend and I knocked on the door and three young brothers stepped out and we ledc them through the prayer then 15 minutes later we hopped back on the bus where are youth pastor had a pen and paper, we said "3" (which he tallied off) and took our seats in the back of the bus. I never saw those kids again, but I wonder what they think today about Christ. My goal that day was not to make disciples it was to achieve a number.
ReplyDeleteThe girls connect group talked about how peer-to-peer discipleship has been some of the most influential discipleship of our lives. Over the past few days I've had girls from our group come to me asking for pray, and me going to them asking for prayer. What that looks like for us is stopping right there. Getting on our knees and praying/praising/loving our Father together. Living life together. Learning from each other. Sharing. Guiding each other. LOVING each other.
ReplyDeleteDiscipleship is starting to happen with the girls, and it's an awesome - powerful- crazy - life altering experience.
But when it comes down to it - discipleship can't happen unless we are willing to be vulnerable. So do it. Dare to be vulnerable.