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Safe Haven for Teens is a organization that focuses at this time on providing teens with a safe place to hang before school, where they get a free breakfast and a place to talk. In the summer we will be moving into providing a afternoon place for the teens to hang where they can do art, skate board, music and hang out. |
Disciples of Jesus
In the Gospel accounts, the word Christian cannot be found. As we study the accounts of Jesus in the Gospels, we find that He referred to His followers as disciples. It is interesting to note that the word "disciple" occurs 269 times in the Bible whereas the word "Christian" can only be found three times. Sometimes in today’s culture, the greatest turnoff someone will find in presenting the gospel to a non-believer is by referring to themselves as a "Christian." However, there is a totally different interest when someone presents themselves as a "disciple" of Christ. The question needs to be asked as to why most people do not refer to themselves as disciples anymore. According to George Barna, Jesus is looking for people who are absolutely serious about becoming anew – individuals who are fanatics, zealots, mesmerized, passionate about the cause, completely devoted to mimicking their model down to the last nuance.
Dallas Willard, states that most churches today do not make discipleship a condition for being a Christian. They do not promote the need or necessity to follow Christ by His example, spirit, and teaching as a condition of membership. Willard also notes that when people are presented with the importance of Christ’s Lordship they are just as enthusiastic as someone choosing an option on a new car for white-wall tires or stereo equipment, meaning that it would be something that would be easy to live without. In the following paragraphs, we will try to overview what it means to truly be a disciple of Jesus. We will also learn the important of discipleship and how to form a discipling relationship with others.
The interesting thing about human beings is that we are all disciples of someone. We as humans were created needing to learn from someone. From the moment of our birth, we are learning who we are and what our behaviors should or should not be from the people around us. It is interesting to watch any young child develop some of the mannerism of his or her parents, whether they are good or bad. Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, it is important for us to learn how to live our lives based on His teachings and mannerisms. In doing this, we begin to become His disciples. As a disciple of Jesus, I am with Him, by choice and by grace, learning from Him how to live in the kingdom of God. I am learning from Jesus to live my life as He would live my life. I am not necessarily learning to do everything He did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner that He did all that He did. The best way to learn these important truths is by following the examples of other believers – such is the importance of discipleship, also called mentoring. As a disciple of Jesus, I am captivated by Jesus and trust myself to Him as His apprentice. He then leads me to a genuine understanding and reliance upon God in every aspect of my life. It is also important to remember that the progression takes some time, and it is supposed to come in part through the efforts of others among His people who are prepared to train us so that we are able to do, and routinely do, all the things He said we should.
There are many different ways churches and organizations try to disciple each other. Neil Cole, who is associated with Church Multiplication Associates, has developed the example that will be presented here. The program he uses is called Life Transformation Groups, based on Scripture found in Proverbs 27:17: "Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Another name for this type of discipling is an Accountability Group.
The Biblical reasons for this group are five-fold. The first is the need for community found in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" The second Biblical reason is accountability found in 1 Timothy 5:19, "Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses." Third, the need for confidentiality can be found in Matthew 18:15-17, in which the Lord specifically designated that two or three is best for the confession of sin. Fourth, flexibility, it is easier to coordinate the schedules of a few rather than a group of fifteen. Last, the concept of reproducibility, as found in 2 Timothy 2:2, states that it is easier to reproduce a smaller group than a large one.
The basic overview for these groups includes that they meet once a week, they consist of two to three people, they are gender specific, there is no curriculum, and best of all, there is no leader. The most important task is that sin is confessed in mutual accountability. When a group meets, the members begin by reading through a set of questions to stimulate the conversation of character and confession of sin. The group commits to reading Scripture together each week; the goal is to create an internal appetite for God’s word. It is strongly encouraged that each group commits to reading 30 chapters of Scripture each week. When the group comes together, each one reports if he or she has completed the reading assignment. If one person did not completely read through all 30 chapters, the current assignment is continued until it is completed. At the closing of each meeting, a strategic prayer focus is created. Each member will write down specific prayer needs and the names of two people that the Lord has laid on his or her heart who needs Jesus.
The exciting thing about the Life Transformation Group is the idea that anyone can form a LT Group, whether they have been a believer for a long time or not. All the members in the group can benefit from learning together. There is much joy to be found in learning to live your life fully and completely for Jesus. There are so many believers who have settled for a mediocre relationship with Jesus that tends to get lost in the status quo. It is important to hold onto the truth that though the daily walk of a disciple may be difficult, we are never forced to travel this journey alone. I know for myself how absolutely essential it is to have a group of brothers and sisters whom I can be held accountable to. I have found such freedom and joy in being able to be totally honest with them and see that they can love me even in my dirt. The greatest gift, though, is being able to love and support them in the midst of their difficulties. I have found such deep and meaningful relationships that are on a more equal footing than one of a leader and a follower. I believe the traditional model of discipling and mentoring is changing. The Life Transformation Group presents a new model where any two people can learn and grow with one another regardless of how far along they are in their walk with the Lord.
If you are interested in the Life transformation pamphlet, contact the Vineyard Central Church office.
References used:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together.
Neil Cole, Accountability Groups.
C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters.
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy.
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