Posts tagged as:

discipleship

Grow: Reproducing through Organic Discipleship

November 4, 2009

Grow: Reproducing through Organic Discipleship

I saw a note from Ed Stetzer (@edstetzer) on Twitter today about Winfield Bevin’s e-book on discipleship.

Here is a description of Grow: Reproducing through Organic Discipleship from Bevins:

Many churches have a linear discipleship program where they try to funnel everyone through the same process. Sadly, many times churches simply use the latest program or book in hopes that what works for a large church across the country in a different context will work for them. Organic discipleship is the opposite. Organic Discipleship is an organic understanding of the spiritual formation that begins and ends with the gospel. Just as the physical body has to have an organic structure to hold it together while allowing it to grow and develop, likewise the body of Christ must have an organic structure that can do the same. Organic discipleship is not a program or curriculum; rather it is about learning the natural rhythms of discipleship within your church context.

Did you catch that, Organic Discipleship is an organic understanding of the spiritual formation that begins and ends with the gospel.

Oh how sweet is the Gospel that saves and transforms! This is a message that Christians and churches need to hear.

Read Grow: Reproducing through Organic Discipleship. It is available in a free PDF version or buy it in print.

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The cost of following Christ (Luke 14:25-35)

August 12, 2009

My devotional for Luke 14:25-35 is up today on the Vertical site.

How often do we talk about the cost of following Christ? Not often enough. It is uncomfortable. It is a message that has serious consequences. Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood these consequences. In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, he wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids come and die.”

In wrapping up His contrast between the “apparently faithful” and the “truly faithful”, Jesus gets specific on the cost of discipleship. He calls us to unrivaled allegiance. We are called to have no other loves before Him.

We are called to deny our immediate pleasures, forsake everything, and carry our own cross unto death. If we are not serving our purpose, we are of no use. Feeling a bit uncomfortable? Me too.

The apostle Paul understood the cost, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”. (Philippians 3:8 ESV) His life reflected the supremacy of Christ. Ours should too.

We have been bought with a price and our Redeemer is calling us to repent and follow Him above anyone or anything else. Are we truly following the Savior or do we just appear to be doing so? How are you protecting the supremacy of Christ in your life?

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