discipleship - Note 2.0 - The Reimagine Network
2024-03-28T15:00:47Z
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GUEST-POST: "Christianity is no longer the norm"
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/notes/guest-post-christianity-is-no-longer-the-norm
2023-11-28T18:18:56.000Z
2023-11-28T18:18:56.000Z
Reimagine Curator
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC
<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>GUEST POST: "Christianity is no longer the norm"</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">By Curtis W. Freeman</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">...research professor of theology and director of the Baptist House of Studies at Duke Divinity School. </span><span style="font-size:14pt;">His book <em>Pilgrim Journey: Instruction in the Mystery of the Gospel</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">was published in September by Fortress Press as a sequel to <em>Pilgrim Letters: Instruction in the Basic Teaching of Christ</em>.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">This proposal for reordering in discipleship isn’t an attempt to be “seeker-sensitive,” in the worst sense of the phrase, giving nonbelievers less to disbelieve. It’s a realistic response to our society’s profound cultural and political shifts. It’s a recognition that Christianity is no longer the norm and, therefore, does not feel normal to many of our neighbors.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">We can no longer assume a basic familiarity with our faith that makes a sense of belonging, at least superficially, relatively easy to achieve. We must start with belonging in the sense of “faith as trust” in God and membership in God’s family, not belief in the sense of “faith as understanding,” because getting to the doctrinal affirmations is a much longer journey than it used to be. In post-Christendom, occasional church attendance is not a sufficient basis for making Christians—if that attendance happens at all.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Moreover, the disciple-making process is not about enculturating people into an affinity group of support and togetherness. It’s about cultivating a community committed to following Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). In a secular society, to believe and behave, we must be able to grasp that we belong not only to that community but to God who created us and demonstrated a profound love for us in Jesus Christ.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Belonging, then, is not simply a matter of church attendance or even membership. It’s a covenant relationship based on trust and commitment. It’s deeper than cultural similarities or consumer attraction to a congregation’s programming. It’s belonging to God and one another in the ties that bind our hearts in Christian love. It’s the fellowship of kindred minds. It’s bearing one another’s burdens and sharing the joy of blessings. It’s a common journey and a common hope.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/november-web-only/i-do-belong-help-my-unbelonging-discipleship-secular-age.html?utm_source=CT%20Pastors%20Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=132173&utm_content=14862&utm_campaign=email" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Read complete article here>>></span></a></p></div>
GUEST POST ~ "They just don't know how"
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/notes/guest-post-they-just-don-t-know-how
2023-10-28T13:45:19.000Z
2023-10-28T13:45:19.000Z
Reimagine Curator
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC
<div><h1><span style="font-size:14pt;">GUEST POST ~ "They just don't know how"</span></h1>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=280069&post_id=138117118&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=4wbyv&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo4MjI2OTY3LCJwb3N0X2lkIjoxMzgxMTcxMTgsImlhdCI6MTY5Nzc4MjAzNSwiZXhwIjoxNzAwMzc0MDM1LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMjgwMDY5Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.aBQxPzXSoPrlU1_h_gKzvLaVPyJEBqdpc4dyRRP93XQ" target="_blank">But How?</a></span></h1>
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<div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/3c04b041-102f-4fe6-bfff-9dd0244a7e70?j=eyJ1IjoiNHdieXYifQ.GforGe9BzsEd8kT1AhYyRqTJHvYZWmz0wgFAGS-UYXI" target="_blank">SCOT MCKNIGHT's BLOG</a></span></div>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">By Mike Glenn</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Every parent has made the mistake of asking their children to do something the child wasn’t quite ready to do. Maybe it was bringing in a bag of groceries before the child was quite strong enough to carry it by themselves. Maybe it was getting dressed before they understood the tag always goes in the back. The child understood what needed to be done. They just didn’t know how to do it. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">I’m afraid this is true in most of our churches. Every Sunday, our members leave the worship service, inspired by the sermon, committed to doing something differently in their lives, but not knowing how they are to do the new thing they want to do. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">The pastor said in the sermon we need to pray more. The members want to pray. They just don’t know how. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">They’ve heard a sermon convincing them they need to read the Bible more. Again, every member wants to. They just don’t know how. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Discipleship, for most of us, has become a matter of information. Our depth of discipleship is determined by how much trivia we know about Jesus and the Bible. If someone can rightly point out the wise men visited Jesus in a house and not the stable, they are considered to be a serious student of the Word. In other words, they are real disciples. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">This knowledge, however, never seems to transfer to the way these Bible quoting disciples actually live their lives. During my ministry, I have been repeatedly surprised to find my Scripture quoting members were some of the meanest people in the congregation. Why this disconnect?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Because we saw success in the church as people being able to quote the text, not necessarily live the Way. If someone could quote 1 Corinthians 13, they didn’t necessarily have to love their neighbor. They just have to know the words. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">This happens when we become overly concerned about good works actually saving us. So, we focused on “belief” which means being able to repeat the discipleship lessons we’ve learned. To be able to say it meant we obviously believed it. True belief is confirmed in the doing, not the talking. All of us would agree good works don’t save us, but we forget good works are the evidence of our salvation. What we know and believe about Christ blossoms into the choices and actions lived out in our lives. We love our neighbors because we do loving things towards them. We love Jesus if we do what He teaches us to do.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">That brings me to my point. How much time do we spend talking about how we do the disciplines of the faith we talk so much about? How many of us have spent time working with someone teaching them how to pray? How much time do we spend working with a class teaching them to read, study, understand then apply the learned truths to our actual living? How many times have our people left the church after hearing an inspiring sermon and realized they have no idea what to do with what they’ve just heard?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Paul reminds the Philippians to do whatever they have seen him do. I used to think this was an arrogant boast on behalf of Paul, but when I became a father, I understood his statement. I can’t remember the number of times I would say to one of my boys, “Do it like this. Watch me.” They learned to wash their hands, brush their teeth, tie their shoes, comb their hair, read their Bibles, love their wives and yes, become fathers to their own children by watching me. I had to show them how to do the things I wanted them to do and how each desired action should be done. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Why are we surprised we would have to be shown how to love our neighbors, pray, or study the Word? After all, we should remember, none of these actions come naturally.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">I guess the only thing more surprising is realizing how little of our time is devoted to helping new or young believers actually do what we’re asking them to do as followers of Christ. No one is born being good at being a disciple. No one is born knowing how to pray or study Scriptures. All of us have to be taught. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Every good teacher I know is very patient. None of this stuff is easy. There will be days when our young disciples are brilliant. There will be other days when they don’t have a clue. Teaching – and learning– these skills takes a long time. In fact, learning them well takes our entire lives. The second quality good teachers have is intentionality. They have a goal for their student and they are determined to get their student to achieve that goal. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">To know and not do, a wise man said, is the same thing as not knowing. Knowing the Word is proven by living the Way. Discipleship happens when disciples live out the teachings of Christ, not when we have memorized the words. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">So, ask yourself, how well are you teaching the application of the teachings of Christ to those you are discipling? (You are discipling someone aren’t you? Every disciple makes a disciple…but that’s another blog). If your disciple can’t do what they believe they should be doing, it may be because they don’t know how. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Most people are living the best way they know how. The great thing about Jesus is He has a better “how.” Make sure your friends know how to do His “how” the way He would do it. This makes all the difference. </span></p></div>
GUEST POST ~ #Reassess Your Gospel
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/notes/guest-post-reimaginethegospel
2023-08-01T20:06:42.000Z
2023-08-01T20:06:42.000Z
Reimagine Curator
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC
<div><p class="p2"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>GUEST POST ~ #Reassess Your Gospel</strong></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Question:</strong> What if the Gospel message we’ve been proclaiming is not the FULL picture?</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;">If an important aspect of the Gospel is overlooked, do you think it would affect the Church and our Mission?</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;">You betcha!</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><u><strong><a class="m_8983610973561505387au" title="Link: https://everydaydisciple.com/447" href="https://go.everydaydisciple.com/c/s/5Dw/6vPf1/6/WLr/SDv/6XDV79/z6Ml0vvlrU/P/P/Es" target="_blank">In this episode of the Everyday Disciple Podcast</a></strong></u><strong>,</strong> I continue with Part 2 of this short series on the "two lenses" of the Gospel: Power and Purpose. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;">Most Christians have never been taught the Purpose of the Gospel...in other words, "why" God sent his Son to save us. This changes everything!</span></p>
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<td align="left" valign="top"><center><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://go.everydaydisciple.com/c/s/5Dw/6vPf1/s/WLr/SDv/6XDV79/sobxRHXxtA/P/P/Es" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/VGVsjv0v1kbxmvsKIIUsAUo-mJF5gFk2jBXJ1KCAWWieXfEWegXwjcLZLRDkWZxwLOJi7adk0Kk14l1fsYWZOaETiNVpDmjViinEDp5caP4VKUIgHNw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://i.ontraport.com/28236.631664e76b7f5ebdd3990707650306c5.JPEG?profile=RESIZE_584x" alt="28236.631664e76b7f5ebdd3990707650306c5.JPEG?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="459" /></a></span></center></td>
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<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>In this episode You’ll Learn…</strong></span></p>
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<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Why the Gospel is so much more than a message about how to have a nice afterlife.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">How the Gospel propels us well beyond sin management and behavioral modification.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">How not embracing both "lenses" of the Gospel has led to the lack of discipleship in the Church today.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">The danger in not keeping both the "how and why" of the Gospel central to all we do.</span></li>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">From this episode:</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>“It is when we grasp and wrestle with both perspectives that we have a gospel that both places our salvation squarely on the work of Jesus on the Cross and sends us out to be his body, his family of redemption, and restoration in the world. It is when the world both hears the good news and witnesses a demonstration of restoration that they are most inclined to believe. This is a BIG Gospel!“</em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Each week the Big 3 will give you immediate action steps to get you started.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Download today’s <a href="https://everydaydisciple.com/big3">BIG 3 right now</a>. Read and think over them again later. You might even want to share them with others…</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Subscribe and leave an honest review for <a href="https://everydaydisciple.com/subscribe">The Everyday Disciple Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.</a> </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Transcript</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Caesar Kalinowski: <a>00:00:01</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>There's a risk of distorting the Gospel when we view it through only one of these two lenses.</strong></span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">If we view the Gospel primarily as the power that sets us free, we could end up focused on our own personal salvation, getting outta hell and going to heaven someday.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Which can become a very human-centered Gospel.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">However, if we view the Gospel as purely focused on the restoration of all things, we can tip over the other way and believe and start proclaiming a social Gospel.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">This is seen in the churches that are centered primarily on doing good works and acts of service and large social projects.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">In their cities, but they rarely move toward a proclamation of the Gospel that includes sin, repentance, and salvation found in Christ alone.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's when we grasp and wrestle with both, both of these perspectives, that we have a Gospel that places our salvation squarely on the work of Jesus on the cross, and sends us out to be his body, his family of redemption and restoration in the world.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's when the world both hears the good news and sees a demonstration of restoration that they are most inclined to believe.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">This is a big Gospel, the Gospel of the kingdom that Jesus was talking about.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Announcer: <a>00:01:21</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Welcome to the Everyday Disciple Podcast, where you'll learn how to live with greater intentionality and an integrated faith that naturally fits into every area of life.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">In other words, discipleship as a lifestyle.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">This is the stuff your parents, pastors and seminary professors probably forgot to tell you.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And now here's your host, Caesar Kalinowski.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Caesar Kalinowski: <a>00:01:39</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Welcome to the Everyday Disciple Podcast.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The power of the Gospel is really much bigger than we proclaim.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Gospel is by faith in Christ and Christ alone</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The power of the Gospel saves us and sets us free in so many ways, but often that's where we stop; we don't proclaim the full Gospel, which includes the second lens, which is the purpose of the Gospel.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And if we don't also embrace the purpose of the Gospel, It shines a light on why maybe the church has been really shy on making disciples in recent years. I, praise God, there's a resurgence of, of interest in this, but I really think if the church is not making disciples as our primary mission and really embracing it as a lifestyle, it's a Gospel issue at its core.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">God in Christ has given us both. The amazing good news. The of message of reconciliation, the Gospel power.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">But he's also given us the Ministry of Reconciliation, a Gospel purpose. This is the other lens.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">We've gotta help our people see Gospel has a purpose for our lives. It just doesn't save us and leave us there.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Two Corinthians five, 17 and 19. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation and he has committed to us this message of reconciliation.”</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Ephesians two 10 then says, “we are God's workmanship created in Christ to do good works, which God and prepared in advance for us to do.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Do our folks know that they have good works prepared in advance for them to do?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">That's what the Gospel purpose is.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And that good works probably is not ushering or handing out flyers at the door or just working in children's ministry or doing everything in our box.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Do they realize their purpose is so much bigger than that now to.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Coming into this purpose of the Gospel sort of brings us into the reason for our salvation and the second lens.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And so to get this second lens of the Gospel, we need to look at the, at the Gospel through the lens of a story.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">If you look at it as a story creation, Fall redemption restoration.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And man, I could speak for days on how, on how to help form your people in understanding their own story and telling their story and helping to listen to other people's stories through those lenses.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">But if you look at scripture, not thematically, where we see the power of the God, the power of the Gospel, but you look at it this way as a storyline, what does it appear?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What's it heading towards?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Restoration. The restoration of all things.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I mean, the story starts in a garden and everything is amazing and there's two trees and it ends in a garden and everything is amazing and there's two trees and they're both the tree of life and it says God will come and dwell of his people. And it all will be restored.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">No more sickness or pain or death or decay or any of that. It all gets restored.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The purpose of the Gospel is ultimately about restoration, and we'll see in a minute why restoration brings about God being glorified in all things.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">See, the Gospel is not just about my individual happiness and God's plan for my life.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's about God's plan for the whole world.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">That's my number one prayer. For my kids, for people in our community, I want them to understand that God seriously does have a plan for the whole world.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">This American dream life where we pretty much as the church look just like our culture, except we hide our sin better and we wedge a little bit of Jesus and church going and a little bit of mission in now cause it's a cool term. Other than that, we're not that different. That is not what Christ died on a cross for.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">God has a plan for the world, and he's got a purpose for your life.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">A friend of mine who works in some of the hardest places in the world with the persecuted church asked me one day: “Caesar, is the life you're living worth, Christ dying for? Is the life you're currently living worth him dying on a cross?”</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">t's like, ouch, ouch.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And what he was getting after, what he was getting after is, oh, there's so much more. There's so much more than just stacking up and amassing and piling up stuff and in church attendance and ushering and maybe tithing and oh my gosh, if you go to a midweek group, you're freaking rockstar Christian. There's way more than that.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">When we repent of our sin and we receive the new life that God has offered us, we begin this journey of restoration inside and out, and not for just for us. So we'll have a happier life, more peace, less strife. But this restoration begins in us for the whole world. For the whole world.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Now, a word of caution here.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">There are those that believe that the church, by restoring stuff, accomplishes the bringing about of the kingdom. That's not what we're saying here, and we've gotta be careful that we don't tip our people into that. The kingdom is established by the king. Jesus is the king. The restoration is his work. We submit to that work.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's amazing that he chooses us as plan A to accomplish that.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">There is no Plan B that I could find in the book yet, but we, we, we, we, we do not want to tip into, well, we bring about the kingdom.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">If we could just get enough stuff cleaned up around here. That's not what we're talking about.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What was the plan Jesus gave us for accomplishing the purpose of the Gospel, the restoration of all things?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's found in Matthew 28: “Go and make disciples.”</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thanks Jesus. Thanks for clearing that up for us.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">How is going and making disciples gonna bring about the restoration of all things and ultimately the glorification of God in all things?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">When cities. When cultures, when nations are restored as the Gospel restores the hearts of the people in that culture.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What if increasingly in the cities, there was more and more teachers, educators, administrators, principals, people on the school boards that were truly disciples of Christ. And they, they, they were, they were bringing about kingdom restoration by bringing about Disciple making to that people group.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The mission is always to a people group.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's never a, it's never a, it's never a construct or a building or a system. It's always the hearts of the people in it.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What if the business, what about, what about industry and business in this city or any city that you live in was completely devoid of disciples.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">You know, owners are mistreating employees around the world. But, but what if, what if business was increasingly full of disciples?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What if seriously, many of you and many of the people in your churches were taught and trained and released and sent and supported to start and run businesses for the sake of the community, for the sake of being a display of the Gospel?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Do we really believe the Gospel has a purpose and it's moving towards the restoration of all things, which is always gonna be, and always has been, and always will be about people healthcare.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Can you imagine if the government was increasingly full of disciples of Christ service organizations?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's gonna be disciples who make disciples in every area of culture. That is what brings about restoration. That's why the purpose of the Gospel restoration of all things gets accomplished by the plan, go and make disciples.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Is that central to your churches? The mission is Disciple making.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Whatever you do on Sunday, whatever your budget line items look like in your budgets this fall, whatever you do midweek, whatever you do, if it doesn't somehow prop up, promote expedite and accelerate the multiplication of disciples who make disciples, you're going the wrong direction. And I don't care how long your church has done it. I don't care how many other guys are doing it. I don't care how many videos are up on Verge or resurgence or any of that. If it's not making disciples who make disciples, we're going the wrong way.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">This is where it gets really good.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">See when this happens, when disciples increasingly are filling up. Every little nook and cranny of culture in your neighborhood and your neighborhood and media over there in that city and this family that went to LA and is doing it in film and in government over here when every little nook and cranny is reached by the Gospel.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">When disciples of Jesus fill the earth, and this is the point. The restoration of all things will fill the earth with God's glory when everything is full of Jesus.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">That's why it's all about making disciples.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Psalm 72: “May the whole earth be filled with his glory.”</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What does glory really mean? In Hebrew, the word glory means weight; weighty.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">God is the most glorious. He's the most weighty one in the universe. He's I am. So to bring God glory to glorify is to, is to manifest that hidden essence that amazingness.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Jesus, it says was the glory of the Father, the exact representation of the Father. He was the glory of God. That's what we're to be. That's what God is doing in us, this glorification process.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The purpose of of the Gospel is that the whole world would be filled with Jesus. That's the purpose that brings about the restoration of our cities.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Not more church services, not better preaching, not lots and lots of hands outs, not lots of world aid. Jesus filling all things. And that happens through disciples making disciples. Making disciples that fill the world is the plan that accomplishes the purpose. That's why it's so critical that we focus on that and, and I want to call you to that.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Let me read this Ephesians one, starting in 18. Paul's talking to the church and about the same kind of stuff says.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I pray also that the eyes of your heart … love that term … The eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he's called you.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">That power of the Gospel is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated at his right hand in the heavenly realms. Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, far above all the media muck and educational woes and healthcare issues.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">That's how powerful this power of the Gospel is.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Jesus is the message. Jesus is the Gospel. Jesus is the point. The P, he's the power. His life, death and resurrection fulfills or fills full. Both the power and the purpose of the Gospel.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Gospel saves us and restores us, and then sends us out to make disciples who make disciples.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And how many of us are content to let people sit in our churches and listen to our awesome preaching week after month after year after life? They've never been a part of a community that lives on the mission of making disciples together.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">If we want to give our people a full Gospel and they can kind of think through it this way, with these handles, what happens if a person or a people only get a steady diet of the power of the Gospel to set them free?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What, what are we potentially in danger of them becoming? Man-centered, it's all about you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life. You need to make a personal decision to accept him into your life as your personal savior. And you have a personal walk and a personal faith.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">See, it can become this amazingly powerful Gospel that has the power that has saved us, is saving us, will save us, can become very man-centered. It's kind of about you and your happiness and avoiding hell.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And we sort of paint heaven like, you know, a trip to the dentist office where we're all just kind of waiting to go in and hoping to God Jesus returns before it's our turn to get our teeth cleaned.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">We have to have the purpose that no, no, see, you have been saved and you do inherit this amazing inheritance in Christ for a purpose.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Folks, I, I gotta let you know, and, and it's gonna cost everything you have. Jesus said if you don't lose your life, you won't gain his life.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">If you try to hang onto your American dream life, you'll lose it.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">If we only preach the power of the Gospel, the restoration side of things, we, we can't end up with a very social Gospel. In churches that are busy, busy, busy, get it done, restore everything, fix everything, have every kind of feeding thing, every kind of this sheltering, housing, cars, ministry, we do it all. And people do it without the power and it becomes law and it becomes a heavy yolk.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">But if you have Gospel power connected to his Gospel purpose of making disciples to make, make disciples, that's a powerful Gospel.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And we've gotta give our people these both lenses and, and we work it and, and we need to work it into everything, not just the Gospel series or not just a tag on the end of the message, but our people need to hear and understand.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The power they have in Christ that's transforming them now for the purpose of making disciples to fill the earth with God's glory, call your folks to this point, them to the power that raised Christ from the dead that now dwells in them.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">God's Gospel power will accomplish his purpose when we believe that.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's that powerful and necessary that we embrace this fully.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Both the power and the purpose of the Gospel.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I hope it's causing you to do a little thinking and scrutinizing, you know, how have we been proclaiming the Gospel and how often and are we leaning one way or the other?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I hope you will embrace this and proclaim the biggest of gospels.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">As big as the Gospel is to all your people, and as you make disciples, they will really understand both the power and the purpose of the Gospel.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Okay, let me get to today's big three. As always, I like to summarize the show in some ways and say, Hey, if nothing else, don't miss these three things. They're sort of head, heart, and hands and a bit actionable at the end here.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Don't miss these three things first.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Gospel is not just about our individual happiness or God's plan for my life. It's God's plan for the whole world.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">When we understand both lenses of the Gospel, it propels us well beyond a Christianity that is focused on sin management and behavioral modification, and it sends us out to be a part of the restoration of all things.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Second, the more we embrace both the power and the purpose of the Gospel, the more the church will engage in making disciples of Jesus and filling the world with his glory. Calling people to God's eternal purpose is a powerful way. To help them see all of life as an opportunity for mission. It's way bigger than chasing the American dream or whatever dream wherever you're living. And I just wanna remind you, it's not enough to call people to church attendance and participation in Christian events. The adventure we were created for awaits.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">And then third God in Christ has given us both the message of reconciliation and the ministry of reconciliation. Don't forget, don't miss it.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's important that we hold both of these aspects of our mission intention together. Focusing on one without the other is not a complete understanding of nor participation in God's eternal purposes for his church. It's just too small.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">So ask yourself, which do I tend to lean toward or proclaim more often?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The power. Or the purpose and, and whichever it is, then ask the spirit to guide you in a fuller embrace and proclamation of the Gospel in all of life.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">He will, the spirit will do, that God is going to accomplish.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">He is accomplishing his eternal purpose to fill the world with his glory, and he's doing it through his family, through us. The redeemed.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's amazing, right?</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">How powerful is this is how big this is.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I wish I had heard this, uh, years and years and years ago. I wish this was proclaimed from the rooftops and the seats and the pulpits of every church and everywhere.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Heath Hollensbe: <a>00:35:40</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thanks for joining us today.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">For more information on this show and to get loads of free discipleship resources, visit everyday disciple dot com.</span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://everydaydisciple.com/episodes/embracing-how-why-god-saves-us-gospel-power">← Embracing How and Why God Saves Us – Pt.1</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://everydaydisciple.com/episodes/praying-for-your-child-future">Why You Want to Be Praying For Your Child’s Future →</a></span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://missiopublishing.com/collections/primers/products/the-gospel-primer">Take your Community Group through the Gospel Primer!</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://everydaydisciple.com/">Everyday Disciple: FREE Discipleship Resources and Training.</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.missiopublishing.com/">Missio Publishing – More Missional Books and Resources</a></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thanks for Listening! </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">© 2020 Lifeschool Podcast | Powered by <a href="https://www.podcastwebsites.com/">Podcast Websites</a></span></p>
<p class="p2"> </p></div>
GUEST - POST ~ Knowing God. A Two-Sided Coin?
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/notes/guest-post-knowing-god-a-two-sided-coin
2023-06-27T21:20:50.000Z
2023-06-27T21:20:50.000Z
Reimagine Curator
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC
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<p align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>GUEST - POST ~ Knowing God. A Two-Sided Coin?</strong></em></span></p>
<p align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>KNOWING GOD</strong></em></span></p>
<p align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><img class="CToWUd" style="background-color:transparent;font-size:13px;" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/f_dKc6MBGYJMf3YBFSvRKwqTRf8VN4_LGWOGYVOAyFMuVt4k8n3V4g1CiMDZ0kc7g9N2jZCqz_x0WJ2RNmr-6x9rjQ9-ViFIpo-OtM_fEuxcHE7YzVZ-TRKPsvYGBtejU-NZex_RcvQC=s0-d-e1-ft#" alt="f_dKc6MBGYJMf3YBFSvRKwqTRf8VN4_LGWOGYVOAyFMuVt4k8n3V4g1CiMDZ0kc7g9N2jZCqz_x0WJ2RNmr-6x9rjQ9-ViFIpo-OtM_fEuxcHE7YzVZ-TRKPsvYGBtejU-NZex_RcvQC=s0-d-e1-ft#<a href=" width="500" height="325" /></span></p>
<p align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;">We're living in dark and desperate days, my friends.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">When you live in days like that, you need the facts because knowledge is power. Knowledge tells us what our opponent is all about, and how to fight that opponent. Knowledge is a very good thing. In the biblical Greek, there are two words for “to know.” One is the word oida, which means “to have knowledge of.” It’s a great word that influenced the European culture which in turn influenced our culture. The great danger of that word is we can think that when we've come to know in the mind and know the facts, that will be sufficient for us.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">There is another Greek word for “to know” and it’s ginosko. It means “to know by experience.” This is the word that influenced the Hebrew culture. It basically says that we have no right to say that we've come to know something until we've experienced it. Let me give you some examples. I know about Abraham Lincoln. I've read a lot of books and they're encouraging to see a man of integrity, passion, and courage, who would fight for his nation. But I only know about Abraham Lincoln, because I have never met him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Here is another example. I know about a kiss ― where two mouths come together to exchange tongues and saliva. That doesn't sound very appealing, but I've also experienced it, ginosko, with my sweet bride, and it's wonderful. You see, to just know about love is not enough. I need ginosko. I need to experience love. I share that with you because, in dark and desperate days, we need to know God. You see, it's not enough to oida, to know about God. You can read your Bible and learn that God is omnipotent and He's omnipresent and He's omniscient. He knows all things. He's all-powerful. He's everywhere. This is all wonderful, but in reality, if God is only a concept in my mind it does nothing for me.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">What good is it to know that He's omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent unless He's all those things to me by experience? My friends, in dark and desperate days, don't settle for knowledge about God. You need the experience of God — the ginosko. This is what Paul was hammering home to the Philippians in his own life. He said, “This is my one thing. I press on because I want to know Him.” He didn’t use the word oida. He didn't want to just know about Jesus. He used the word ginosko. He wanted to experience Him — to experience the power of the Resurrection because death was coming at him every day of his life. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Every day there's loss and sorrow, grief, hurt, fear, and anxiety, and it can paralyze us. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<h3 align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;">We need the power of the Resurrection to raise us up from the death that we are encountering today.</span></h3>
<p align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">My friends, the wonderful thing is, He wants to be known! He wants to be experienced. He wants to be all that He is to whatever you need in the moment of faith. He wants to supply all your needs. He wants to save you with His Life and give you hope. In the midst of a dark world, pursue a relationship with Him. Talk to Him as you read His word. Ask Him to teach you. Ask Him to open your eyes to the glory of what He has provided. May you understand the height, length, breadth, and depth of how much He loves you. Bless you, in Jesus’ name.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Frank Friedmann | Our Resolute Hope</span></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
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<div align="center">IOM America Website: <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FqS-liHbD86fkR9LDTpUizcbMK_mnmIdyvRsZIik95jJ4x3D3jzySdKJ7eePHaAXhytmWyi0H1MxHceXWnJ_E3CubShQsczG8HAq7NK164ijbCe1Rd4q_uMcYOamqbXxBel5xNy7f7dHStpmTDfJww==&c=2uVALj5NJOG8qYnoppXi5ic1xd2iWwv4uRNHaNtvkVGLz4jDlVwS-g==&ch=OAinfXWpWDRd4hbHfhoS2_32J0Iy41yEgy8ukgCEKb79p7AkRJld7A==" target="_blank">HERE</a> IM Worship Center: <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FqS-liHbD86fkR9LDTpUizcbMK_mnmIdyvRsZIik95jJ4x3D3jzySfnTcfbWhQDITfq3yey8zVacHyRXonJbB7DMkH_hE9HniDEeY0iFgXZJjUDi1Scmml4UhDJGuS3Miaza3V1gfWSYVfW9AwY1WdCB7H0zJSKRs_EPZ2ajrC4=&c=2uVALj5NJOG8qYnoppXi5ic1xd2iWwv4uRNHaNtvkVGLz4jDlVwS-g==&ch=OAinfXWpWDRd4hbHfhoS2_32J0Iy41yEgy8ukgCEKb79p7AkRJld7A==" target="_blank">HERE</a> IM Media Center: <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FqS-liHbD86fkR9LDTpUizcbMK_mnmIdyvRsZIik95jJ4x3D3jzySYWOCMCDP_wmESCpmzZ92zG5ftY95IWZHNnDojNn25EKKXvPNx3IknsDVE5hdKvhGtGOTcyQ9GR__mIhuJAb7sP0LBNt-DESbxTOLHjGMVCj&c=2uVALj5NJOG8qYnoppXi5ic1xd2iWwv4uRNHaNtvkVGLz4jDlVwS-g==&ch=OAinfXWpWDRd4hbHfhoS2_32J0Iy41yEgy8ukgCEKb79p7AkRJld7A==" target="_blank">HERE</a> Donate to IOM America: <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FqS-liHbD86fkR9LDTpUizcbMK_mnmIdyvRsZIik95jJ4x3D3jzySYcpzvJV7opMRk0TLTKh6uTWOKYhbItoOs4DouofKvMDtsYno8cuLlZ9FHGeUE36zAVWh6H4iEVVuKnJywASqGn-8TwRVUgLJrlHKENNOk40&c=2uVALj5NJOG8qYnoppXi5ic1xd2iWwv4uRNHaNtvkVGLz4jDlVwS-g==&ch=OAinfXWpWDRd4hbHfhoS2_32J0Iy41yEgy8ukgCEKb79p7AkRJld7A==" target="_blank">HERE</a> End Times Documentary: <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FqS-liHbD86fkR9LDTpUizcbMK_mnmIdyvRsZIik95jJ4x3D3jzySYunG0Aoj3MShL6ZL0h6yGvNcnqym5Q8OcvDzzxjj4fFPfBZN43-mwNcqIiksW08PckSTvWYYUwLKCJhfXWLUmJLHYjP0EJVPYCKwcfnd3-dd1tls_EKKP-ZB1i-cyJBKw==&c=2uVALj5NJOG8qYnoppXi5ic1xd2iWwv4uRNHaNtvkVGLz4jDlVwS-g==&ch=OAinfXWpWDRd4hbHfhoS2_32J0Iy41yEgy8ukgCEKb79p7AkRJld7A==" target="_blank">HERE</a> IM Podcast: <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FqS-liHbD86fkR9LDTpUizcbMK_mnmIdyvRsZIik95jJ4x3D3jzySZ6md7v2KWyqIdtxVBwXpAU9Tgdi4tPa6TxoQcIKEdu_i29fcHD8cqAfQapeM_Zb4iRKIQ00AnAEMYjK28Bvg5TbWZ0tTdsn224RH46ys3vb&c=2uVALj5NJOG8qYnoppXi5ic1xd2iWwv4uRNHaNtvkVGLz4jDlVwS-g==&ch=OAinfXWpWDRd4hbHfhoS2_32J0Iy41yEgy8ukgCEKb79p7AkRJld7A==" target="_blank">HERE</a></div>
<div align="center">Our honor is to provide you with endless resources for your spiritual growth!</div>
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<td align="center" valign="top"><span class="m_-4804854398215831487footer-column">IOM AMERICA<span class="m_-4804854398215831487footer-mobile-hidden"> | </span></span><span class="m_-4804854398215831487footer-column">P.O. Box 71<span class="m_-4804854398215831487footer-mobile-hidden">, </span></span><span class="m_-4804854398215831487footer-column">Sterling, KS 67579</span></td>
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GUEST POST: #Reimagine How to Ask Good Questions in Discipleship
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/notes/guest-post-reimagine-how-to-ask-good-questions-in-discipleship
2022-05-08T20:10:19.000Z
2022-05-08T20:10:19.000Z
Reimagine Curator
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC
<div><p><span style="font-size:2em;"><em><strong>GUEST POST: How to Ask Good Questions in Discipleship</strong></em></span></p>
<div class="entry-meta entry-meta-divider-dot"><span class="posted-by"><span class="meta-label">By </span><span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://discipleship.org/author/matt-4000/">Matt Dabbs</a></span></span></div>
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<div class="entry-content single-content">
<p> </p>
<p>Jesus is our model for disciple making. In the following article, Matt Dabbs, an experienced disciple maker and church planter, shares what he has learned about a crucial component of discipling people, and that is, asking questions. </p>
<p>We often think of discipleship—which is the state of being a disciple—as something that leans heavily on bible education. But Jesus shows us that there is so much more, especially the way he asked good questions.<br /> – Bobby Harrington</p>
<p>In John 5:6 Jesus asked a paralyzed man, “Do you want to get well?”</p>
<p>The answer doesn’t take a masters degree to figure out. Of course a paralyzed person wants to get well. However, there is more to this question than that. Does this man want to take on a life that is required of him when he is able and has full agency? More will be expected of him on the other side of healing. The truth is, some people would rather stay with what they already know than get better. Health can be far scarier than paralysis for some. It is important that he owns the answer to Jesus’ question before Jesus heals him.</p>
<p>Or, how about Matthew 8:26 where in the middle of a raging storm Jesus asks his disciples, “Why are you so afraid?”</p>
<p>Again, the answer is obvious… or maybe it isn’t. The sentence right before the question is, “You of little faith.” They are with Jesus. They don’t need to be afraid. However, fear is a natural human emotion that is understandable in those kinds of circumstances. Instead of saying, “Don’t be afraid,” he asks them ‘why’ they are afraid, and it is important that they wrestle with their own answer to Jesus’ question. They might not all have the same answer!</p>
<p>Both the paralyzed man and the disciples in the boat have something in common. They are both learning and growing in their faith and Jesus is working with them.</p>
<p>Like Jesus, when we disciple people, we need to use questions. Unfortunately, this doesn’t come natural to many of us. Try this–the next time you meet with someone (or a group) you are discipling, take a mental note of how many times you use declarative sentences versus interrogative sentences (periods vs. question marks). The next time you meet with this same group, try to convert some of your statements into questions.</p>
<p>So much of our teaching can be done most effectively when we let people wrestle with things rather than by simply telling them things. When you feel like telling someone who you are discipling something, make sure you aren’t short-circuiting their learning process. Stop for a moment and consider if what you are trying to teach them might best be learned by converting your statement into a question–then work through their answer with them.</p>
<p>When all of our instruction ends in periods rather than question marks, we can create disciples who are far too dependent upon us for the answers. The reality is that it can feel good to have people depend on you for answers and wisdom, but if the goal is for them to learn, then it isn’t about what makes you feel good as their guide, but rather, what it takes to grow them closer to Jesus. We can also feel like we aren’t a successful teacher if the person you are discipling doesn’t get it right away. We can buffer that anxiety a bit when we ‘tell’ rather than ‘ask,’ because it is much harder to determine if those being discipled get what we have taught when we tell rather than when we ask.</p>
<p>Here are ten questions to add to your disciple-making repertoire:</p>
<ul>
<li>What is the Holy Spirit trying to teach you in this moment?</li>
<li>How do you navigate this decision in a way that upholds your integrity?</li>
<li>How can I really help you? (Matt 20:32)</li>
<li>What do you need most from God right now?</li>
<li>What is keeping you from doing what you know you are supposed to do (obedience)?</li>
<li>What good thing is God doing in your life today that we can celebrate together?</li>
<li>What is on your mind/what are you thinking in your heart? (Luke 5:22)</li>
<li>What is one thing you are going to do with what you just learned?</li>
<li>Who is someone with whom you can share what you learned?</li>
<li>What is God doing in your life right now?</li>
</ul>
<p>These are a few questions that can work in concert with your learning to convert your statements into questions. This allows the person you are discipling to have some investment in and ownership of the conversation and the process they are walking through. Questions allow people to turn from passive recipients of a disciple-making process to active and engaged participants. The level of growth and maturity you can see through shifting from declaratives to interrogatives can be huge!</p>
<p>For King Jesus,</p>
<p>Matt Dabbs</p>
<p> </p>
<p> = = = = </p>
<p>This article is one segment of "Mini-Course" 101: ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP...</p>
</div></div>
The Power of the 72: Ordinary Disciples in Extraordinary Evangelism
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/notes/the-power-of-the-72-ordinary-disciples-in-extraordinary-evangelis
2022-03-05T20:16:44.000Z
2022-03-05T20:16:44.000Z
Reimagine Curator
https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC
<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>"Quote/Unquote" • #ReimagineEVANGELISM...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10172128484,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10172128484?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="234" height="318" /></p>
<div class="gmail-YysZRb"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size:12pt;">John Teter, a</span>uthor of <em>"The Power of the 72: Ordinary Disciples in Extraordinary Evangelism"</em></strong><br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail-YysZRb"><em style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">"I love the biblical model of anonymous but faithful disciples who engage their world </em><em style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">with the news -not the advice- of the gospel."</em><em style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10172146678,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10172146678,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10172146678?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="357" height="569" /></a></em></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"The 72 were the answer to (Jesus') earnest prayers to the Lord of the harvest. But let's be honest. they must have been terrified. T</em></span><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>heir anonymity allows us to pause and wonder if we could be among the seventy-two disciples; the 72 were unknown rookies just like you and me"</em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>"The 72 were sent to demonstrate the same explosive power of God that raised Jesus from the dead...They were sent with great energy and zeal to love, serve,</em></span><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>and bring new life to the city...operating as a team. Standing alone, the newly appointed evangelists would have had a difficult time embracing and overcoming </em></span><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>the challenges. </em></span><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>Each evangelist was given an immediate partner. Each two-person ministry team was part of a much bigger thirty-six person evangelism battalion. </em></span><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>Together, there were seventy-two personalities, seventy-two diverse perspectives, seventy-two prayers, and seventy-two voices."</em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>"My research has identified the benchmark events present in process conversion:</em></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>1) trusting a non-Christian; </em></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>2) experiencing God and the good news of the gospel; </em></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>3) hearing and understanding the good news; </em></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>4) receiving a clear call to follow Jesus."</em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><em>"Ministry success is not based on how many come, but on how many go."</em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;">Responding to Luke 10:1-2, you say, <em>"He didn't begin with ministry strategy. Jesus started with prayer."</em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"After Jesus taught the 72 to pray earnestly for more kingdom workers...Jesus taught them how to eat with non-Christians while being detectivesinvestigating </em></span><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>the spiritual foundation of their new friends."</em></span> </div>
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<h3>CONTENTS</h3>
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<p>Introduction: Welcome to the 72<br /> <br /> <strong>Part I: Theology</strong><br /> 1. Faith Comes First<br /> 2. Sent to the Poor<br /> 3. Wolves, Bears, and Crushing Pressure<br /> <br /> <strong>Part II: Application</strong><br /> 4. How People Become Christians<br /> 5. Earnest and Powerful Prayers<br /> 6. Friends: Secular to Sacred<br /> 7. Experience: Healing and Hearing<br /> 8. Conversion: Rejoice with Me<br /> <br /> Epilogue: A Final Benediction</p>
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<div><a href="https://www.ivpress.com/the-power-of-the-72" target="_blank">More/Purchase >>></a></div>
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