This is an ongoing work in progress. While I am writing these articles on discipleship, I am actually doing these same things with other men on a regular basis. Spiritual reproduction is my goal with them. I want them to be able to teach these things to another man that God gives to them. That is the principle of disciplemaking in 2 Timothy 2:2. "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."
Visualize if you would that you are sitting across from me in a restaurant, and we are having an exciting conversation about making disciples.
I would suggest getting a three ring binder notebook for your new disciple, print all these pages as you work with your disciple, so that they may reproduce this in the life of another.
The basics of the Christian life are just that.
The basic things we need to do to maintain our walk, and minimize the effect that the enemy has on our life.
They are pretty standard and taught piecemeal in most churches and Christian organizations.
It is good to keep the list short and sweet. Here it is.
1. Prayer with emphasis on the daily quiet time. Developing a consistency in this usually takes about six weeks.
2. Bible Study which differentiates between Bible reading. The main ingredient to Bible Study is that you are writing something down for future use by yourself and for sharing with others.
4. Scripture Memory. Navigator Topical Memory System This is by far the best system around. I started in 1960 and now over forty years later I have over three thousand verses memorized, including, Philippians, 1 John, Colossians, and the first three chapters of Proverbs from the Living Bible. This system teaches you how to memorize and how to retain those verses for the rest of your life. The enemy will do everything he can to stop you. My personal experience is that I have never known a man who consistently memorized verses all of his life to ever fall away permanently from the Lord. Many have tried, myself included, but the Word of God burned in my heart would not let me escape.
I will teach you the hand illustration which shows the intake of the word into our life and it's permanence and effectiveness.
5. Meditation-putting into practice all that God is teaching us through his Word. A verse you should memorize today is Joshua 1:8."This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."KJV Choose which version you want to memorize. I suggest the NIV. That was not around when I started. But that is what I memorize from now. By the way, that is the only verse in the KJV that mentions success. Blue Letter Bible To prove that to yourself and to make a lasting impression upon your mind, go to this link, type in success in the search and see if I am right. Wow! Men search everywhere for success, and there is the answer.
Well, there it is my friend. Just five things to work on. But it will take you the rest of your life, and it will cost you something.
What will it cost? Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
My friend, here is the tough question. Are you willing to pay the cost to be His disciple?
Here are the key verses to help you decide that.
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
The alternative is this.
2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Today I prayed for you that you would become a reproducing disciple.
Your brother, companion in labor and fellowsoldier. (in Philippians)
I welcome your comments and criticism as I develop these pages. If you want my views on any particular subject please let me know. I have not "arrived" but am a fellow pilgrim just like you.
Want to help reach the world for Christ-forward this site to a friend. Matthew 28:18-20
