Download or read book Practicing Discipleship written by Nicole L. Johnson and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2009-06-01 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite a plurality of doctrinal statements on war, peace, and nonviolence, some United Methodists sustain a commitment to nonviolence. Through qualitative research, Practicing Discipleship draws out lived theologies of nonviolence in order to understand how nonviolent United Methodists define, ground, and practice nonviolence, and to give that voice opportunity to challenge church doctrine and thereby the wider church. An analysis of statements from the Book of Disciplines and the Book of Resolutions reveals the plurality of Methodist teachings on moral issues related to war and peace. While such plurality is indicative of the inclusive tradition of United Methodism, Johnson shows that it also causes confusion, thus hindering the vitality and authority of the church's witness. This study's qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with twelve nonviolent United Methodists reveals a lived theology rooted in Scripture and theological reflection: it points particularly to a christocentrism that posits nonviolence as central to Christ's teachings and example. While study participants affirm the tradition of openness in the United Methodist Church, they also call for more tangible and extensive support for and education about nonviolence as a faithful option for Christians. Through amicable and constructive practical-theological dialogue, doctrinal plurality, and ecclesial openness are affirmed as appropriate and possible only within the context of the church's profound commitment to serious discipleship, which includes transformation toward nonviolence. Implications of this interaction include developing and adopting a more truthful conception of a nonviolent ethics, moving toward broadly conceived Christian formation in nonviolence, and fostering ongoing ecclesial dialogue about difficult moral issues of war, peace, and nonviolence.

Download or read book DiscipleShift written by Jim Putman and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2013-04-23 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Question: What is the God-given purpose of the local church? Answer: Relational discipleship. DiscipleShift walks you through five key "shifts" that churches must make to refocus on the fundamental biblical mission of discipleship. These intentional changes will attract the world and empower your church members to be salt and light in their communities. Over the last thirty years, many influential church leaders and church planters in America have adopted various models for reaching unchurched people. While many of these approaches have merit, something is still missing, something even more fundamental to the mission of the church: discipleship. Making disciples—helping people to trust and follow Jesus—is the church's God-given mandate. Devoted disciples attract people outside the church because of the change others see in their Christ-like lives. And discipleship empowers Christians to be more like Christ as they intentionally develop relationships with non-believers. Through biblical and professional insights, Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington discuss the transformational effectiveness of making disciples and just how to do so, in practical terms. You’ll learn: The specific roles of a disciple-making pastor. The components of person-to-person discipleship. How each ministry in your church leads to discipleship. How to implement discipleship in your church. Disciple-making leaders will not produce perfect churches, but they will create effective churches.

Download or read book Deep Discipleship written by J.T. English and published by B&H Publishing Group. This book was released on 2020-09-29 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everyone is being discipled. The question is: what is discipling us? The majority of Christians today are being discipled by popular media, flashy events, and folk theology because churches have neglected their responsibility to make disciples. But the church is not a secondary platform in the mission of God; it is the primary platform God uses to grow people into the image of Jesus. Therefore, as church leaders, it is our primary responsibility to establish environments and relationships where people can be trained, grow, and be sent as disciples. There are three indispensable elements of discipleship: Learning to participate in the biblical story (the Bible) Growing in our confession of who God is and who we are (theology) Regularly participating in private and corporate intentional action (spiritual disciplines) Deep Discipleship equips churches to reclaim the responsibility of discipling people at any point on their journey.

Download or read book Practicing the Way of Jesus written by Mark Scandrette and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2011-05-04 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We tend to think about God in isolation, but Mark Scandrette contends that Jesus offers something more. Here Scandrette draws from his experience as a spiritual director and leader of an intentional community, plus the best thinking on kingdom spirituality, to help your group experience a vibrant life lived together, in the way of Jesus.

Download or read book Teach Like a Disciple written by Jillian N. Lederhouse and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2016-11-11 with total page 117 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although much has been written about P-12 teaching from a biblical perspective, this study focuses on Christ's relationships with a diverse group of individuals: wealthy and poor, women and men, unschooled and well-educated, loud and quiet, influential and powerless, those whom Jesus knew well and those who were strangers to him, those of his own faith and culture as well as those outside of it. These individuals are remarkably similar to the students we teach in our public and private school classrooms today. Each interaction between Jesus and an individual focuses on what we can learn from the student and Jesus as well as what we, as teachers, can apply in our profession. As in our own practice, some students learned their lessons well; others failed. For some, we are uncertain when or if they achieved Jesus' objective for them. Whether we are novices or experienced educators, we can learn through these instructive relationships how to be teachers who follow Jesus' example in seeing our students' potential, holistically caring for them, and ultimately having a positive impact on their lives. Through exploring these biblical relationships, we can gain a better understanding of how to teach like Christ's disciple.

Download or read book Ordinary written by Michael Horton and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2014-10-07 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Radical. Crazy. Transformative and restless. Every word we read these days seems to suggest there’s a “next-best-thing,” if only we would change our comfortable, compromising lives. In fact, the greatest fear most Christians have is boredom—the sense that they are missing out on the radical life Jesus promised. One thing is certain. No one wants to be “ordinary.” Yet pastor and author Michael Horton believes that our attempts to measure our spiritual growth by our experiences, constantly seeking after the next big breakthrough, have left many Christians disillusioned and disappointed. There’s nothing wrong with an energetic faith; the danger is that we can burn ourselves out on restless anxieties and unrealistic expectations. What’s needed is not another program or a fresh approach to spiritual growth; it’s a renewed appreciation for the commonplace. Far from a call to low expectations and passivity, Horton invites readers to recover their sense of joy in the ordinary. He provides a guide to a sustainable discipleship that happens over the long haul—not a quick fix that leaves readers empty with unfulfilled promises. Convicting and ultimately empowering, Ordinary is not a call to do less; it’s an invitation to experience the elusive joy of the ordinary Christian life.

Download or read book The Activated Disciple written by Jeff Cavins and published by Ascension Press. This book was released on 2018-11-05 with total page 53 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Are you ready to take your faith to the next level? If you yearn for a life that moves beyond believing and practicing your faith, if you want to radically live your faith, if you want a more profound relationship with Jesus Christ, then it is time for you to become an activated disciple. The Foundation of discipleship is imitation. True discipleship requires such a close relationship with God that every area of your life is transformed. It is about opening yourself to God and inviting him to dwell within you, becoming holy as he is holy, loving as he is loving, disciples of Christ become the instruments God employs to transform the world. - Move beyond simply believing and practicing your faith and begin radically living it! - Overcome obstacles that keep you from being the disciple you are made to be.
- Be a positive influence and an instrument of transformation in the Church.

Download or read book Discipleship that Fits written by Bobby Harrington and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2016-02-09 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For far too long, the church has tried to make disciples using a one-size-fits-all approach. Some churches advocate 1-on-1 discipling, others try getting everyone into a small group, while still others training through mission trips or service projects. Yet others focus all their efforts on attracting people to a large group gathering to hear biblical teaching and preaching. But does one size really fit everyone? Based on careful biblical study and years of experience making disciples in the local church, Bobby Harrington and Alex Absalom have identified five key relationships where discipleship happens in our lives. In each relational context we need to understand how discipleship occurs and we need to set appropriate expectations for each context. Discipleship That Fits shows you the five key ways discipleship occurs. It looks at how Jesus made disciples and how disciples were formed in the early church. Each of the contexts is necessary at different times and in different ways as a person grows toward maturity in Christ: Public Relationships: The church gathering corporately for worship Social Relationships: Networks of smaller relationships where we engage in mission and live out our faith in community Personal Relationships: Small groups of six to sixteen people where we challenge and encourage one another on a regular basis Transparent Relationships: Close relationships of three to four where we share intimate details of our lives for accountability The Divine Relationship: Our relationship with Jesus Christ where we grow through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit Filled with examples and stories, Alex and Bobby show you how to develop discipleship practices in each relational context by sharing how Jesus did it, how the early church practiced it, and how churches are discipling people today.

Download or read book Family Discipleship written by Matt Chandler and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2020-08-28 with total page 189 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The most important disciple a parent will make is within their own home, and yet this is the most difficult disciple to make. Family Discipleship by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin helps readers develop a sustainable rhythm of gospel-centered discipleship through a guided framework focusing on moments of discipleship in 3 key areas: time (intentional time gathering your family around gospel activities or conversations), moments (leveraging opportunities throughout the day), and milestones (celebrating significant life events). Each section provides parents with Scriptures to consider, questions to answer, structures to implement, and ideas to try out as they seek to see Christ formed in their children. Here is a book that begins with the end in mind, offering ideas and examples of what gospel-centered family discipleship looks like, helping parents design their own discipleship plan as they seek to raise children in the love and fear of the Lord.

Download or read book The Meaning of the Cross written by Peter Newman and published by . This book was released on 2013-02-05 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book reveals the meaning of the most momentous act in human history - the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This epoch event was predetermined by God from before the beginning of time to accomplish His eternal purpose. Although there is no truth of greater importance to God's people than the meaning of Christ's death on the cross, it is astonishing that there is no truth of which there is greater ignorance among professing Christians. Although they know they are saved by faith, very few Christians know how to live by faith. Consequently, they trust Jesus as Savior and hope one day to go to heaven but, in between, they struggle vainly to live in this sin-sick world by the best of their ability and often mistake their self-effort for faith. This is not only tragic, it is alarming because God's people can be ignorant about a lot of things, but if they are ignorant about the cross, they are in real trouble. As God said in Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The author clearly explains the glorious mystery of the cross, which is the key to understanding the whole gospel. Salvation is only the beginning and not the end of God's purpose for His people, for the cross of Christ is the door that leads to eternal union and intimate friendship with God.This book also contains an appendix with practical answers to thirty frequently asked questions regarding the meaning and application of the cross of Christ. All proceeds from this book go to support Christian evangelism and provide aid to members of the body of Christ in need.

Download or read book Transforming Discipleship written by Greg Ogden and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2016-09-01 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greg Ogden recovers Jesus' method of accomplishing life change by investing in just a few people at a time. In this revised and updated edition Ogden sets forth his vision for transforming both the individual disciple and discipleship itself, showing how discipleship can become a self-replicating process with ongoing impact from generation to generation.

Download or read book Financial Discipleship written by Peter J Briscoe and published by . This book was released on 2020-07-03 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is an invitation to join Jesus in an exciting journey of financial discipleship. A disciple is a person who has an ongoing, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and who gladly shares what he or she has learned with others. Financial discipleship is so important because what we do with our money reflects our heart's priorities. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also." A financial disciple has a clear vision, to see every follower of Christ in every nation faithfully living by God's financial principles in every area of their lives, both personally and in their work, family and community. He or she desires to know Christ more intimately, to be free to serve, and to help fund the work of the church. Join us in the journey of financial discipleship!

Download or read book Teaching for Discipleship written by Mike Carotta, EdD and published by Our Sunday Visitor. This book was released on 2015-06-05 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Points out why now is the right time to emphasize the call of discipleship, the challenges involved in making "necessary adaptations", catechetical dynamics that distinguish this from our past approaches, and practices that can help all of us keep heart.

Download or read book By What Authority Do We Teach written by Robert W. Pazmiño and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2002-04-29 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "To reject power and its legitimate use is ultimately to reject God's gift and intention for Christians as we live in the world," writes Robert W. Pazmino. He defines what authority is and how it is perceived by and operates in various Christian communities. He applies these factors and the need for confident, authoritative teachers specifically to the ministry of Christian education. By What Authority Do We Teach? completes a trilogy covering key elements of evangelical education. Also in print are Foundational Issues in Christian Education, an agenda of theological, sociological, psychological, curricular, and other concerns; and Principles and Practices of Christian Education, which integrates conversion and connection into the teaching task.

Download or read book Building the Body written by Gary L. McIntosh and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2018-01-02 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Just as a physically healthy person--at an ideal weight and with good blood pressure and cholesterol numbers--might not actually be fit enough to run a 5k, so churches can appear healthy--with no obvious issues, maintaining a healthy size--and yet not exhibit fitness. A fit church is one that is not satisfied with merely coasting along with no problems. A fit church is actively making disciples, maturing in faith, developing strong leaders, reaching out to the community, and more. Building the Body offers pastors and church leaders twelve characteristics of fit churches and shows them how they can move their church through five levels of fitness, from beginner all the way to elite--just as an athlete, through training and practice, can become the top in his or her class. Includes comparison charts at the end of each chapter so readers can clearly see where their church currently falls and concluding "Complete the Progress Chart" so that they can see what their goals should be for the future.

Download or read book Singing into Splintered Spaces written by E. Janet Warren and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2022-12-07 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contemporary society can be described as splintered: busy and noisy, but also empty and in need of healing. Christians are called to sing the Lord’s song anew to the world but are sometimes confused about whether to prioritize loving God or loving our neighbor. This collection of essays shows that both are needed: mission and spiritual disciplines are actually intertwined and reciprocal. Some contributors to this volume take a theoretical perspective; others write from their experience in ministry. Disciplines discussed include classic ones like prayer and study, as well as novel ones like cruciformity, mindfulness, and neighborhood engagement. Written in accessible language with multiple anecdotes, this book aims to inspire both the practice of spiritual disciplines and the practice of mission. Join us as we journey from the Philippines to American nationalism to a prayer truck in inner city Hamilton, as we engage in quiet contemplation as well as compassionate action. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we dance rhythms of resting and responding, listening and leading, praying and proclaiming. Whether through solitude, discipleship groups, inviting strangers to dinner, speaking out against idolatry and injustice, or simply being present, we join Jesus as he repairs the splintered spaces of our lives.

Download or read book Introducing the Practice of Ministry written by Kathleen A. Cahalan and published by Liturgical Press. This book was released on 2010-08-01 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ministry is often examined in terms of who the minister is, not what the minister does. But the vocation to ministry must be understood as a call to identity as well as to practice, one that is rooted in Jesus' life and ministry as well as the Spirit's charisms. InIntroducing the Practice of Ministry Kathleen A.Cahalan defines ministerial leadership as carried out through the practices of teaching, preaching, pastoral care, worship, social ministry, and administration for the sake of nurturing the life of discipleship in the community of believers. In her examination of charisms for each of the practices of ministry, Cahalan presents readers with a Trinitarian foundation, noting that the practices of discipleship and ministry have their origin in the very practices of God." Kathleen A. Cahalan is associate professor of theology at Saint John's University School of Theology, Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota. She is author of Formed in the Image of Christ: The Sacramental-Moral Theology of Bernard Häring (Liturgical Press, 2004) and Projects That Matter: Successful Planning and Evaluation for Religious Organizations (Alban Institute, 2003). She is the past-president of the Association of Practical Theology. "