discipleship is NOT

When we say the word “discipleship,” we all might have something different in mind. We all have our idea on what disciple is and what it should look like. Before I dive into my definition I would like to discuss what I believe discipleship is not. When I say it is not these things, I mean that it is not these things:

A Bible study group or Sunday school class. These programs could be considered part of discipleship, but they can no way be the entire discipleship process for a person. We cannot be formed simply in a classroom. Each person is different. Some are spoon feeders and others meat eaters. There is no form fit discipleship for everyone.

A follow-up class for “new believers.” A 12-week class for newbie’s or an 4-week Jump Start course of Christianity doesn’t create disciples. Many discipleship programs stop at class. If we are to foolish to think that we can farm people through a class and be spiritually mature we are filling our churches with people who have a false sense of what Christianity is about. Faith is lives out in a family. Discipleship is a community process.

A programmed ministry of the church. Discipleship takes place within a community of believers who are living out their faith. Discipleship is not the job of a formal ministry of a local church. If I have a friend who begins their journey with Christ, and I say to that friend, “Now just attend this discipleship ministry and you will be peachy.” I am not helping my friend in their spiritual journey.

A cookie cutter approach to living the Christian life. Discipleship is not a do-this-do-that-and-you-will-be-the-perfect-Christian kind of package. It is highly specialized. God works with different people in different ways. He molds us through different processes. We become his followers through different experiences.

When we consider the process of discipleship we must rethink what discipleship is in the church in order to properly help people in their spiritual formation.

goulash of discipleship

Goulash is a mixture of random ingredients that make up a tasty meal. This is a recipe of random discipleship ingredients for FUEL leaders inspired by FUEL leaders.

Be a disciple that is discipling disciples and be willing to be discipled [goal, Mt.28:19-20].

We are devoted to discipleship that changes lives [core value].

You are like the One [or one] you follow. The Eastern mindset of Jesus’ day was, “Follow Me, I will show you as we do it together.” The Western mindset of today is, “Follow me as I tell you how to do it.”

You have to be creative when reaching spoon feeders and meat eater [1 Cor.3:1-4].

Discipleship is messy [especially when one doesn’t want to be discipled].

Discipleship is tough because it takes time.

Discipleship is not about information, but transformation.

Discipleship is a process, not a program.

Expect unbelievers to act like it.

Confront sin by calling it what it is.

Until you care to know them, they will know you care.

If you give an inch, they will take a mile.

“If you haven’t failed, you haven’t tried anything.”

Sharpen regularly your tools of the trade.

You are not babysitting, rather spiritual parenting.

You are a spiritual coach cheering victory in Christ.

You cannot change Christ’s child, alone.

Two words: Grace and Truth [John 1:14].

inside the fire

Our theme for FUEL Student Ministries in 2009-2010 is inside the fire. You are aware that there are times of trial or testing for even just standing up for your faith at school or wherever. In Daniel 3:28 when king Nebuchadnezzar says, “praised be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago… who were willing to give up even their own lives rather than worship anyone but Him”

These dudes were lights in their world and it is our choice to shine (or stand inside the fire) in such a way that others around us will say “praised be the God of [insert name] who will do anything for their God.” Thus our vision and passion this year is to challenge one another to be bold to stand out and stand in the fire for our God.

FUEL Student Ministries kicks off again on September 2nd @ 6:30pm. We are looking forward to an exciting Fall and hope many will join us in the action.

Shakamak 09

It was a lot of fun teaching the Word at Shakamak Bible camp this summer. This week I spoke to a group of 200 teenagers at Shakamak Bible Camp. I love camp.

The theme of the camp was “extreme makeover: spiritual edition” which had a thrust of encouraging the teens to live within the refining fires of God’s plan. I was encouraged by the number of teens desiring to live for God. We had a great group of senior campers. It was a privilege to talk with many about their lives, faith and God. I am encouraged there are so many teens that desire to walk with God and make a difference for Him. I am praying that God would use these teens to shake their schools, work places, homes and youth groups from Christ. Fear God, not man.

get deep

This weekend we had our ReFUEL Retreat [RR08]. Each year our teens gather together at Camp Lutherhaven for a winter break weekend.

This year our retreat was all about ‘getting deeper with God’. The image of a deeply rooted tree is something that appears often in Scripture and relates to our relationship with God. How do you know if you are growing spiritually? Here is a great article that asks 10 questions to ask to make sure you are growing spiritually.

girls eat bugs

The best part of this week is the opportunity to dress up and eat so much candy that your teeth fall out. I swear Halloween was invented by dentists for the sole reason: having job security. I do have proof for that, but it sure does seem logical!

For Halloween this year I was a bug catcher (not the unibomber as it may appear). Sarah was a butterfly.

10 reasons why Rubber Chickens make great pets

1.    They’re House Trained
2.    They don’t eat much
3.    You don’t have to walk them
4.    They love to travel
5.    It’s easy to train them (to play dead)
6.    They make a great conversation piece
7.    They’re cute and they love to cuddle
8.    They don’t make noise or wake you in the middle of the night
9.    You’ll never have to take them to the vet
10.  Chicks love them

deep

I cannot believe that our summer has already evaporated. Where did it go? Tonight, we kick off our FUEL school year. I am so excited. This is going to be a great fall!!

Our theme of getting DEEP has its roots in Colossians 2:6-7, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

I am reminded of the willow tree in my grandparents backyard in Greendale or the tree stand my dad and I would hunt out of in Presque Isle. These trees were ginormous. It is said that trees have as many roots underground as there is tree above ground. It takes a lot for big trees to stand upright especially through storms and seasons. I am particularly drawn to lonely trees that tower above empty fields. They have to weather the elements. Their roots must be strong and deep.

As children of God we also must have deep roots. The world is full of doubts and questions about God and Christianity. Is there any truth? Is faith reliable? Can I trust anything? Over the past few months I have seen in many of our young people desire to know the truth and live a substantial faith. We all want answers to deep questions, but more so, we desire answers that affect the way we think and live. I desire answers that keep me rooted when the storms of doubt hit hard like a hurricane.

This fall we will be answering real deep questions about the faith. If you could ask God one question what would it be?

DEEP: getting deep with God & God getting deep in me.

shakamak

Wow, I am still trying to catch up on sleep from Shakamak Bible Camp this past week!!

All I can say is AWESOME. That word totally gets over used and has diminished in value, but it truly expresses who God is and what He accomplished this week at Camp.

Great speakers: Pink Davis delivered some passionate theology in the AM on redemption, reconciliation, and regeneration. Jason Thompson clearly proclaimed in the PM the awesomeness of God in salvation and security.

Great Counselors: the counselors really made my “el director” duties rather easy. They stepped it up and were right in there getting muddy with the teens.

Great Teens: we had near 220 campers and 120 senior camps. Nothing to whine about…they were incredibly fun, attentive and boisterous.

Great God: overall over a dozen committed their lives to Christ for the first time, and many dealt with specific sins in their life that they’ve been struggle with!!

Thanks for another great week of summer camp!

camp potawatomi

We just finished our first ever week of Potawatomi Bible Camp. We had 51 campers!! What an answer to prayer to see the vision we [Dan Nave, Scott Tiede, and me] prayed about over a year ago come to fruition.

We were able to see God do some amazing things this week. Uncle Charlie of Children’s Bible Hour was our speaker. It was a joy to watch this aged man related to the kids. We had 3 campers begin a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior!! It made the week so worth it.

We had to end camp a day early because of the an issue with bats inside the cabins. We were told that the bats would not be a problem when we arrived earlier in the week. Sunday afternoon we had a larger work crew help clean the cabins and chase any varmints out of the cabins with great success. Campers arrived later on Monday afternoon. Monday night we had a few cases of bats in the cabins. Tuesday we plugged holes, but that night we again had more bats. In fact, there were more that 20+ bats in one of the cabins. We had a DNR naturalist come that afternoon that shared with us bats are harmless and are not the rabies-infested-beasts we claim them to be. Out of protection for the kids we decided it would best to let the kids go home early. No more guano!!

Lesson: It doesn’t take a week to see God work nor do bats and bugs distract His Spirit from impacting lives!! Praise the LORD for a great week of Camp!