The Way Of Discipleship

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 11:1, NIVJesus walked the shores of Galilee and called ordinary fishermen to drop their nets to follow Him. "Follow me" wasn't a suggestion, but a summons from the very Son of God. In response, they left everything known and comfortable to live with Jesus, learn from Jesus be launched by Jesus to go and make disciples in His name. Their lives and this world has never been the same.Jesus still calls ordinary people by name to follow him. The problem is many churches today are filled with people who claim to believe in Jesus, but whose lives don't reflect his character and calling. Many fans. Few followers. Many believers. Few disciples. That needs to change. Which is why the leaders of Grace Church focused their efforts in 2010 to launch the Way of Discipleship to aggressively respond to the Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations." The Way of Discipleship is a time-bound, intentional relationship focused on learning and embracing 11 essential practices to following Jesus Christ. The Way of Discipleship is engages one person (a discipler) who invites another person (a disciple) to follow them as they follow Christ. The Way of Discipleship shapes our character (who we are) and our calling (what we do). Like a tree, the Way of Discipleship roots us in Christ, provides stability to weather the storms of life and branches out to bear fruit in our lives. This resource is a tool to facilitate this relationship over a period of one-to-three years to integrate these practices into one's life and prepare the disciple to replicate it into another relationship. It will be costly, but the cause is worth it more than anything else the world has to offer.

Vatican II’s famous declaration that "the church on earth is by its very nature missionary” has often been taken out of context and used to support all manner of church initiatives. But, the conclusion of the statement—"since . . . it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit"—is of monumental importance. In The Way of Discipleship, theologian Anthony Gittins describes the eternal mission of the Trinity, historically brought "down to earth" in the ministry of Jesus, and then continued to the ends of the earth by those called and sent as disciples throughout future generations. Gittins explains that Christian discipleship must be the living out of Jesus' own example in many different times and places. He encourages people of all ages to follow the invitation of Jesus to be missionary disciples. The Way of Discipleship explores several New Testament examples of Jesus' call and commissioning, distills the principles involved, and then recontextualizes the stories so that they pose a direct challenge to disciples today. In this way, Gittins builds up a picture both of "the Way" of Jesus himself, and of the way in which today's disciples can loyally follow his call to mission.

This book explores in depth six Gospel scenes so as to discover in these the essential elements of Christian discipleship. It describes the basic requirements for receiving the Word of God effectively in our hearts: namely, that we "become wet clay in God's hands", so that God can impress upon us any form he chooses. It also contemplates the vital position of the Mother of the Lord in the life of his disciples. The author shows that the call to discipleship is above all an invitation to intimate companionship with Jesus, as we read in Mark: "Jesus called to him those whom he desired... in order that they might be with him" (3:14-15). What we normally call the "active apostolate" can never be an end in itself, but only the fruits of a life of prayer and adoration. These are what must be at the heart of a disciple's life, which can never be swept up by mere activism.

Examine five crucial elements of discipleship based on Jesus' ministry.

This book presents the conditions to become and remain a disciple of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus had never intended to make converts. He has always wanted to make disciples. He has given the opportunity to those who are truly born again to become His disciples if they so desire. Thus, He has divided all true believers into two classes: the disciples the non-disciples. This fundamental choice is clearly presented in this book. The last part of the book presents the pitfalls that the disciple encounters on the way to the heavenly calling and these include the trap of fundamental disobedience, the love of the world, the love of self, the impurity of thoughts, entangled emotions, and many others. Read this book. And may it bless you abundantly.

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.

Revelation is probably the most read, but least understood book of the Bible. History is replete with examples of how not to interpret it, and books featuring end-of-world prophecy claims based on Revelation consistently top the bestseller lists. But how can the message of such an enigmatic book be applied to our lives today? In Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson drives home the challenging and practical message of Revelation in thirty carefully crafted sermons. Paying careful attention to the original context of Revelation and the circumstances surrounding its composition, Johnson shows that the book is not a "crystal ball" but rather a "discipleship manual." Thoroughly researched and yet accessible, this collection of sermons is a helpful resource for pastors and small group leaders who are looking for models to help them preach and teach the message of Revelation in a time when there is much confusion about the end times. Darrell W. Johnson serves as Scholar-in-Residence at The Way Church and Canadian Church Leaders Network in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A popular conference and retreat speaker, he has also served as the preaching pastor for a number of congregations in North America and the Philippines, as well as serving as Adjunct Professor of Preaching for the Doctor of Ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a Teaching Fellow at Regent College. His other books include Experiencing the Trinity and Fifty-Seven Words That Change The World.

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.