Discipleship
What We Believe
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to enter an intentional process of spiritual growth which will allow each person to love God completely, love self correctly and make disciple makers through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Our Goal
We want to see each person find their identity, value and worth in God’s Kingdom.
Values
God’s Grace is Genuine
Even though we are all sinners, God loves us just as we are. God’s grace is not based on our actions or performance. God’s grace is complete and sufficient. - Romans 5:6-8
God Loves All
No one is out of reach of the love of God. There is simply nothing that can separate us from God’s love. We are all sinners who need forgiveness and healing. - 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Romans 3:23
Be Courageous
We must be courageous to allow ourselves the vulnerability to be healed, transformed and discipled into God’s full image. - Joshua 1:6-9
Recognize Your Wounds
We must take an honest look at ourselves without pride and false humility. It is difficult to relive and confront places of brokenness in us, but it is part of the process. - Proverbs 3:5-8, Lamentations 3:22-40
Transformation Takes Time & Depth
The process of transformation requires overcoming challenges, takes time and is sometimes painful. God desires to lead us through this process and help us to become what He created us to be. God is genuine in his desire and has no other agenda except for our good. - John 14:22-26
God Desires Abundant Living
Jesus came that our joy may be complete and we may have abundant life. - John 10:7-10
Priorities
Love the Lord Your God with all Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength
Matthew 22:36 - 38 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.” - God defines this entire process. Truly Jesus spoke eternal truth in Matthew 6:33 when saying that if you prioritize God and His Kingdom all other things will be provided.
Healthy Love of Self and Family
Matthew 22:39 – 40 “The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” - Healthy love of self is a big part of the healing process… often we cannot love ourselves well because we have sin that separates us from God and others. It is only through the process of healing that God can restore our worth and value, therefore we can choose to put God first and not be worried about our insufficiencies.
Making Disciples that Make Disciples
Matthew 28:18-20 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Behaviors
Decide to Follow Jesus
Joining a disciple group to learn to follow Jesus through teaching, modeling, encouragement and accountability
Shift My Time to Kingdom of God Priorities
Being transformed by the renewing of our minds
Spend Quality Time with God Daily
Being strengthened through the personal disciplines
Develop Spiritual Gifts
Serve in your uniquely created giftedness
Make Disciples which Make Disciples
Definitions
Disciple
Self-initiating, reproducing follower of Jesus.
Group
Small group of people seeking God together. Each group (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) is a unique group of participants and disciplers. Group size is to be no smaller than 4 total (including disciplers) and no more than 10.
Abundant Life
This is a place of complete peace. Through healing and spiritual growth a person is forgiven, cleansed, restored and filled with God’s Holy Spirit. The abundant life is seen in Galatians 5:22-23. Also, in abundant life a person is fulfilling their ultimate purpose.
Spiritual Growth
The slow process of intentionally growing closer to God. This involves daily personal worship and quality time with God as well as growth in relationship with other Christians, through God’s Holy Spirit.
Love Self Correctly
This is shown in the healthy relationship cycle. As we receive forgiveness from God we realize our identity is in being God’s child. We have our needs met from God, and therefore are able to love self with correct identity and not try to get our needs met from other people.
Transformation
As we grow in relationship with God we are transformed from our old self to a new creation. The old self is gone, and now there is a Holy-Spirit filled person living in abundant life.
Wounds
Wounds are places of brokenness inside of us. We all have them. These can be inflicted by other people or self-inflicted. Sin creates wounds and chasms between us and God as well.
Stewardship
God is our Lord, which means He owns everything. We are His children, and stewards of everything of which He provides and blesses us. We own nothing in this world, it is all God’s. Our purpose is to manage it how He sees fit.
Decision Filter
An intentional process through which we make decisions. This helps us to not be distracted by other things, even if they are good… they may not be the best, or what God is calling us to do.