The Method of God

��Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,...teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.� Amen� - Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

As the Lord equipped the twelve, so He has ordered the twelve to do the same. The method: to teach His Word in a manner that each person is fully equipped and well informed without compromise. Proper discipleship is the key. The Lord is not looking for members who come and go. He is on a look out for those who would be willing to become His disciples. The requirements: humility and commitment.

The Tool of God

�And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.� - Acts 20:32 (NKJV)

The Lord can work great miracles. And truly, seeing them happen before our eyes is an awesome experience. However, miracles don�t build us up as much as they warm us up. Only the Word of God can. The indespensable tool for discipleship is nothing less than God�s written Word: the Bible.

Can the Bible be understood? Read: 2 Corinthians 1:13

Yes, it can. A lot of people think the Bible is just some mysterious book to be placed in an altar reserved only for the eyes of a special few. Wrong. The Bible was written to be read by all who can. And not only that; but more importantly to study with careful diligence. Only then can we reap the eternal benefits that it promises. Read: Joshua 1:8

Can the entire Bible be understood by just any type of person? Read: John 16:12-13

When we were younger, most of us did not begin by reading complex textbooks. In fact, we did not begin with reading at all. We listened to wonderful narrators while they illustrated and related to us colorful stories from children�s books. And if you can remember, even some parts of these stories required careful and detailed explanations for us to fully grasp what the frog, swan, or donkey was trying to say. The Bible is not that different at all.

The Bible is basically divided into two categories of teaching. Read: Hebrews 5:12-14

1. Milk (for babes or beginners in Christ)

2. Solid food or Meat (for those who are more mature and have enough spiritual teeth to chew on the subject before swallowing)

By carefully examining the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ here on earth�we can find these two basic categories in action. Read: Mark 4:33-34

He would use parables: stories that carried with them timeless lessons. They sounded simple, however, very few really got to grasp their true meaning. Jesus comments on this: John 3:10, 12; Mark 4:23-25

Over and over, He would teach through these wonderful parables. Some understood, while others refused to understand. What was the factor that determined this? What was it that prevented others from coming to terms with the real meaning of each story? Was it a matter of educational background? Was it a matter of financial status? Or was it something else? Read: Luke 10:21; Matthew 18:2-5; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

It was a matter of the heart: pride. A child who is unwilling to be taught or to listen will never learn. A child who continually refuses to accept that he/she is, will never submit. It is not a matter of mental capacity. Understanding God�s Word comes from the grace that He alone supplies to those are humble of heart. If we want to truly understand His message, we must change our approach. We must allow the Lord to carry us like a babe and to feed us like one. Read: Proverbs 15:31-33

So let us not be too anxious to know everything. It is enough to know that we are in Him and growing. To grow in Christ is our objective, not to take His place. When we try to act like something we are not, there lies the danger. Read: 2 Peter 3:16-17

Let us proceed with baby steps. And in time, we will be able to leap as high as God will allow us.

Lord, I am not proud.
I don�t try to act important.
I don�t try to do great things.
I don�t worry about things that are too hard for me.
I am calm.
My soul is quiet.
My soul is calm and quiet like a satisfied baby in his mother�s arms.
- Psalm 131:1-3 (Easy-To-Read-Version)