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Discipleship training Lesson #15-Perseverance in the midst of the rat race!
Importance of Small Groups
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.
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The Purpose Driven Church Link
Navigator Bible Studies
Importance of Small Groups!
Many years ago in 1959, I made two right decisions in my life. One was choosing the right woman to marry and the other was deciding to invest my life in discipling men to walk with the Savior.
Shortly after rededicating my life to the Lord in 1960, I was surrounded with a group of men who began to spend time with me. At first we were in small groups and we talked about establishing the basics in my young Christian life.
The basics consist of a consistent devotional life or quiet time, Bible Study, Bible reading, scripture memory, witnessing, and a developing prayer life.
We met week after week, and I observed these men in their struggle to walk with the Lord. They shared their strengths and their weaknesses. Slowly I began my walk, and I began to look for a man with whom to share my new found faith.
The likely target was my roommate at the Air Force barracks, Brian Langley. Brian began to notice changes in my life, and we began to talk about the Lord. Brian, who was from Truro, Nova Scotia, soon began to see the truth, and asked Jesus into his life. I began to teach him the things that I was being taught. Many years later, I tracked Brian down through the Internet and we correspond by email and talk on the phone all the time.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to be connected to a small group of like-minded folks, who can nurture you, and help you through the tough times in your life. And out of most of those groups, God will usually knit your heart together with one or two men, who can really help you "connect all the dots".
After over fifty years of doing this, I have over 100 men who have helped me, or whom I have helped, and through the magic of the Internet and inexpensive long distance, we can continue our relationship on into eternity.
I have stumbled and fallen many times over the years, and many of these men have been there to help me get up and get back into my walk with the Lord. Pity the poor man who tries to make it on his own. He will almost surely fall.
But visualize yourself in 2051, forty years from now. What legacy will you have created for yourself? Today commit yourself to joining a small group who will encourage you. If you do not have any in your church, then go start one yourself.
The enemy is going to try and take you down, and he will use discouragement and disagreements with your loved ones to do this. Perseverance was the goal of Paul, when he wrote, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7.
So today is the first day of the rest of your life. Resolve to spend the rest of your life connecting with the men that God brings across your path.
Your friend,
Jim
1. Make a list of people who you can begin to pray for whom you might want to be in a discipleship relationship in a small group.
2. Grade yourself A-B-C-D-F in the following areas: consistent devotional life or quiet time, Bible Study, Bible reading, scripture memory, witnessing, and a developing prayer life.
3. Share your strengths and weaknesses with your discipleship partner. Talk about how you can build on your weaknesses.
Discipleship As A Lifestyle
Discipleship Training-Lesson #1-Recruiting
Discipleship Training-Lesson #2-Feeding a New Believer
Discipleship Training-Lesson #3-The Basics
Discipleship Training-Lesson #4-Prayer
Discipleship Training-Lesson #5-Daily Quiet Time
Discipleship Training-Lesson #6-The Eyegate and the Eargate
Table of Contents-Discipleship Training Lesson #7 and following.
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.
Forward this site to a friend.
Matthew 28:18-20
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