Discipleship: Where Do I Start?

Discipleship is a wonderful discussion among many churches because of its importance and value. It's a conversation many enter looking for the next best method; an "a-ha!" moment. The truth, however, is that discipleship is something that is supernatural and found in the ordinary. When the best thinkers of the church begin to communicate that discipleship happens in the context of everyday life, I see many people discouraged because I know they're thinking that there must be a better way. 

But if we look to the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and observe the life and ministry of Jesus we see that He was incredibly faithful to 12 men in daily life.  Then, upon his ascension, Jesus then commands his disciples to make disciples and teach them everything they have observed; to do what He did with them. Remember that part? 

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20; emphasis mine)

I think part of the reason many become discouraged in discipleship (or discipleship-making) is because they're overwhelmed and concerned with what to do first or where to start. So, before jumping into anything, let us look to the example of Jesus because everything that happened in between the start of his public ministry and His ascension is the content of discipleship. 

Here are 4 things for you to consider as you enter into discipleship relationships: 

1. PRAY

Begin with prayer. 

"During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and he chose 12 of them..." (Luke 6:12-13)

After Jesus had spent some time with many of the men who would later become his disciples, He first prayed. So, if you find yourself in a season where you're looking to disciple one or two (or more) people--ask yourself who are you already in community with and then spend time in prayer over them. Ask God to give you discernment on who to approach. 

2. COMMUNITY

When I say "community," I am not only talking about the people in your small group or community group, but those you're around. For example, I run a small private gym so I'm in community with several athletes who don't know Jesus (yet). Who are you in community with? 

This is important because for two reasons: (1) Jesus said to go out and make disciples NOT Christians and (2) there is a misconception that discipleship only happens within the walls of the church and that's not true. People will say, "then isn't discipleship evangelism?" to which my answer is not necessarily--evangelism happens in the context of discipleship, not the other way around. 

My athletes know that I love Jesus and love to talk about Jesus and I have developed on-going relationships with them because they see me in the ordinary. They are open to hearing the gospel because, as one of them stated, "if you're good at coaching me how to deadlift, then I'm good with you telling me about Jesus." 

My wife, Rebecca, is a hairdresser and has a listing of regular clients who sit in her chair every few weeks and have developed a great relationship with her; she has them in her chair anywhere between 45 minutes to 3 hours and many of them don't know Jesus--it's a wonderful opportunity for the gospel in community! 

3. OBEDIENCE

Here's what I mean when it comes to obedience:

When you're looking at discipleship within the context of the church, then you're looking for men or women who are actively pursuing Jesus; they're obedient and need someone to come alongside of them to help them grow and guide them in the faith and in life. 

When you're looking at discipleship outside the walls of the church, you're looking for men or women who are simply having a hard time when it comes to life. Remember, as you have established relationships in community, coming alongside of them with the foundation of the gospel presents itself with opportunities to further share the gospel. If you have developed a relationship with someone, do you only share the gospel once? Or do you look for creative opportunities to share the gospel in word and deed? 

The difference between these two situations is that you can use some "christian-ese" in one while in the other, you might lose them! 

4. INVESTMENT

Any way you look at discipleship, it means that you're going to be investing into people which means it will require vulnerability and knowing that you will fail them; they will fail you. Remember, your value and identity is found in the person and work of Jesus--always. Next, this is the ordinary. Investment happens as you welcome others into your life. 

Remember what Jesus did with his disciples? Everything. He ate, traveled with, hung out, prayed for and with, taught, and laughed with them. Investment means that we are bringing people into our lives in order to make disciples for the sake of the gospel and advancing the Kingdom. 

Discipleship can be scary and I think that's because it forces us outside of our comfort zones, requires vulnerability, and half of the time we don't know what we're doing. All of that is normal and good for you because as you disciple others, the Spirit is at work discipling you in the same areas. 

This week, think about those you're in community with and pray for them, then ask the Lord to give you clarity and discernment about being more intentional with a few of them. Discipleship is important because it's not only what Jesus said to do, but how the church continues to spread. 

From This Day Forward: Compassion

So, you're looking at getting married, yeah? 

That's awesome! I do not claim to be a marriage expert by any means, but the Lord has allowed my wife and I to (1) encourage and counsel many young couples throughout their engagement and early seasons of marriage and (2) allowed us to grow through seasons of our own in a short amount of time.

Today, I'm looking writing about compassion because everyone could use a little more and have noticed that it's not as talked about and should be. But before jumping in, we must establish a foundation--compassion is an attribute that stands upon a foundation; that is, the gospel.  

THE GOSPEL

There are two things I want you to cling to in light of marriage. First, marriage is something that first comes from our identity in Christ. This is paramount and you may think I know this, but do you? Our identity in the person and work of Jesus must be the place where we most clearly see our value. Consider the words of Paul to the church in Corinth: 

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)
 

Many consider marriage as a pathway to completion and I promise you will be sorely disappointed. Our identity must rest in the person and work of Jesus first. If our purpose in life is to glorify God then our joy comes from Him working in and through us--what do you think the purpose of marriage will be? 

Second, marriage is a display of the glory of Christ. I wanted to marry my wife because I saw the Holy Spirit at work in her life as she served Jesus and she saw the same in me; this is what led us to spend the rest of life together. When we became one, we became (or suppose to) a visible demonstration of the work of Jesus and a visible demonstration of our need for Jesus. Marriage, friends, is a testimony of how well you know the truth of the gospel. 

COMPASSION

Patience, humility, and authentic friendship come from compassion; they are results of it. Compassion means to suffer and walk alongside of others--most notably in times of inconvenience. 

Here are two examples to illustrate my point, one from our life and one from counseling: 

My wife has a rough past and Jesus has rescued her from all of that, but that doesn't mean she doesn't struggle with things from the past--sometimes, it's depression or fear. Before we got married I wanted to make sure I knew as much from her past as I could to do a few things: (1) speak the gospel to her when she hears lies from the enemy, (2) shut up and open a bottle of wine, and (3) walk with her through those times as slowly as she needed me. 

While we have had several victories because of our compassion toward one another, there are times where I jack it up because moments like these come at an inconvenience to me.

"Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, 'This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late." (Mark 6:33-35)

The disciples were ready to head out, but Jesus stayed because the people had a desperate need. Do you have and show compassion to your spouse in times of need? 

We're counseling a young couple looking to marry and the woman has also experienced a rough past. The man is big on "getting things done" and that may have its perks, but as we have discovered that in the area of compassion is where his patience tanks. The result is a distance between them emotionally and spiritually.

"We've already talked about this" is one of the worst things to say and alludes to a dangerous way of thinking; a lack of genuine care and interest in your spouse (or future spouse). 

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:3-5) 

Compassion in marriage is for the purpose of glorifying God--pointing our needs toward Him--and is a demonstration of Him; meaning, it's missional. And marriage is only as strong as the foundation it rests upon.

Is your foundation the finished work of Christ or in the idea that you got this? 

Journaling

I really enjoy writing. I enjoy writing for a few reasons: it's a creative outlet and it helps me to better articulate my thoughts. While I'm not an expert, I found my joy in writing at a very young age--somewhere in elementary and up until college, I would stick to seasons of writing here and there. It wasn't until I decided to actually finish college and through the encouragement of a few professors that I decided I would stick with it and it has been extremely therapeutic and profitable. 

Today, I'm constantly writing something down by hand--whether it's through my journal or during a meeting on a pocket notebook, writing helps me to slow down and process what I'm reading or the tasks for the day. Specifically, I wanted to gauge journaling in this post. Every time I sit to read my bible or study through a book, I keep my journal and jot my thoughts, process, and prayers down. All of the men I disciple, I encourage to journal; some are journal every day and throughout their studies while others tend to be a little more sporadic. 

I wanted to give you a quick encouragement to try and pick up journaling; particularly as you crack open your bibles or as you study through a book. It will be of much benefit for you though I will admit, it is a discipline of some sort. If you don't think journaling can help you in light of meditation or prayer, check out the book of Psalms. The psalmist begins several of his prayers crying out to God and over time (especially within that same psalm) you see a development of devotion and worship. 

Many of my journal entries begin with me crying out to God and as I write, I find that I begin to preach the gospel of His grace to myself. Journaling is a wonderful reminder to me of what I know to be true about God. So, if you find yourself where you're having difficulty in prayer, collecting your thoughts, or even memorizing scripture, let me encourage you to pick up a journal and give it a month--see how your prayer life and devotion develop over the course of those short weeks. Slow down and write it all out. 

If you're wondering where to start, preferably I like to use Moleskin journals because they can take a beating in my bag which means they're durable and have good paper. But if mokeskin is too hipster for you, that's cool. You can always get a spiral notebook or other journals for a lower price. 

And if you're looking at a great resource for spiritual disciplines, then I highly recommend you check out Donald Whitney's book Spiritual DIsciples for the Christian Life. While journaling is not a spiritual discipline, it is profitable and throughout his book, Whitney writes of the benefits of journaling in light of spiritual disciplines. 

Reading List: The Fall '16

Any time that you have spent on my blog (Thank You) and you will see that I love books. In fact, at times I'm still bewildered at my love for books because up until the time of Jesus calling me to Himself, I never enjoyed reading. I did it because I had to, but never really did any reading on my own and outside of the classroom. In fact, before my conversion the only books I had ever come to enjoy were Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Cinderella Man by Jeremy Schaap, and Nothing's Sacred by Lewis Black. 

As a new Christian, I learned that I could read quickly and retain the content well. I thoroughly enjoy reading my Bible and journaling my thoughts, prayers, and process. During my infancy of my walk with the Lord I began to ask what other people were reading and I was presented with a few decent books here and there--a few that I wouldn't recommend, but the more I read and ask questions, the more I began to dive deeper into theology and its application as it relates to life today, not merely the study of it. 

Today, I thought I would hook you up with the "Fall 16" reading list (in no particular order). These are books that I have either already read this year or books that I will be reading as the end of the year approaches. I have been greatly inspired by many of these books and their authors and am eager to get to the pages of others; hope you enjoy. 

1. Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry by Paul David Tripp
I first read this book a few years ago while living in Denton, TX and it simply convicted the crap out of me. Paul Tripp not only gives light to the realities of pastoral ministries, but the temptations that many pastoral leaders battle as a result of the pressure put on them by themselves or others in addition the dangerous places leaders go when they step away from accountability and the preaching of the gospel to themselves.

2. Gospel Eldership: Equipping a New Generation of Servant Leaders by Robert H. Thune
I read this book earlier this summer and absolutely fell in love with it. It was deeply convicting to me as a pastor and leader; journaling and following through with the exercises help me tremendously. Bob Thune essentially breaks down the call to pastoral ministry by providing scriptural references that provide a start to what is to come and then he challenges (or encourages) you by asking questions that force you to evaluate your heart on your life, marriage, and leadership in light of the gospel. I'm not walking through this with several other men and it's been very fruitful. 

3. A Theology of Biblical Counseling by Heath Lambert
I stated reading this book a few weeks ago and so far it's a great read because as the title suggest, it's a walk through of counseling from a biblical perspective with sound doctrine. I think many have picked up books on counseling by christian authors and they're essentially self-help books or pockets of good advice absent of the gospel. Lambert makes the argument that counseling is a theology and by expanding on it's biblical implications we can better serve others who are in need. 

4. The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson
I will be the first to confess, I am horrible at repenting. By this, I mean, I struggle with setting time aside and actually repentant. When I drop the ball, I aim to quickly resolve the situation but am also genuine about it. However, I am quick to forget about repentance; it's like Catholic guilt--working off my sin which isn't' biblical. This book has helped me dive into the depth that is repentance and how it relates to my relationship with the Lord and as Watson argues is a means of grace. 

5. Holiness by J.C. Ryle
I have not started this book yet, but J.C. Ryle is a beast. He was a bishop in Liverpool during the 19th century and into the early 20th century and had a good reputation with the working class. What I have loved about his writing from articles or blurbs is that he's incredibly systematic--by this, I mean that his thoughts are well organized and detailed coupled with truth and grace. I love that in a person because it shows that they're not one or the other. Many who are systematic can be cold and abrupt and many who are only warm and gracious tend to shy away from the truth. J.C. Ryle is a great example of both gifts. 

6. Taking God At His Word by Kevin DeYoung
I recently wrote a review on Kevin's book. You can check it out here. In short, it's a great quick read that covers the doctrines of the sufficiency, clarity, authority, and necessity of scripture in a manner that is both simple and practical, but also weighty enough that if you choose to further study these doctrines, he provides sources. 

7. Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God by Joe Thorn
I wrote a review on this book a few months back, you can check it out here. In short, I'm a big fan of Joe Thorn and what I love about his books is that he writes them in the form of a devotion--short and to the point regarding the topic at hand so that you can rest and meditate on what you just read. 

8. Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole by Eric Mason
Dr. Mason makes a great point when he says that there isn't enough written about men and the gospel--if there were, the problem with prolonged adolescence would be fixed. I couldn't agree more. Dr. Mason's book is a great exhortation to men who find themselves lost in their adolescence at age 28. In other words, you're not a kid anymore! However, there are some things that we must consider before jumping on some of these "boys who can shave." There is real hurt and struggle-Dr. Mason provides great insight on the gospel as it relates to the whole man.

9. Friend of Sinners: An Approach to Evangelism by Harvey Turner
I do not have the gift of evangelism. I can evangelize, but evangelism is a struggle for me. Harvey Turner's new book is a must have because he is creating what he has told me to be a "gospel ruckus." This book was very challenging to me in light of evangelism to where it challenged me to step out in some areas and also reassured me that I'm doing okay in others. If evangelism is an area where you struggle with, I highly recommend it. Review coming out next month. 

10. The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions by Arthur Bennett
Right now, this is my go-to book for prayer and meditation. I love hearing stories of the Puritans and their prayer life; I'm envious because I wish to have a deep life of devotion and prayer. The Valley of Vision is an excellent source for extended prayer and learning on what more to pray on and how to pray.  

11. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
I'm currently reading this book and I am loving it. It looks a little intimidating because it's a little thick, but rest assured Donald Whitney keeps you engaged on the importance of Spiritual Disciplines and what they actually are (the reading of God's Word, prayer, etc.). While I haven't finished it, I highly recommend you pick up a copy because it deeply convicting and a helpful reminder of what we as Christians do what we do; it's not random but purposeful. 

12. A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, and Mission Around the Table by Tim Chester
I haven't started this book yet, but have been wanting to read it for some time. I found it at a Half Price books while in Dallas and immediately picked it up. I have read a few excerpts from the chapters in this books and they've been encouraging, especially for our missional community. Essentially, Chester's argument is that sharing a meal together is not only missional but theological--an important part of Christian fellowship. 

13. Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
C.H. Spurgeon is one of my favorite theologians and as soon as I learned about him, I picked up everything I could. Morning and evening is an absolutely wonderful devotional. It takes you through the entire year and you read an excerpt in the morning and the another in the evening before going to bed. The purpose is to rest, apply, and meditate on the grace of God throughout our life; the daily. 

14. Am I Called? The Summons to Pastoral Ministry by Dave Harvey
I wrote a book review on this book several months ago, you can check it out here. This book was one of my favorites on pastoral leadership and ministry. In fact, I had my interns read through it and then submit a response. I think one of the most valuable chapters, to me, comes at the end where Harvey argues that a man waiting for a call is not a man sitting still. I think that's deeply profound especially after he's expanded on the biblical qualifications for men in pastoral leadership/ministry. 

15. Kingdom Come by Sam Storms
I just got this book in the mail the other day and I'm pretty excited about it. I'm a big Sam Storms fan and have had the privilege of meeting him a few times and he's absolutely gracious and kind. This book came as a recommendation that I saw on Joe Thorns Facebook page on the eschatology (the end times). In the past, I've held a very simple position on my perspective of eschatology and that is that one day Christ will return. Truthfully, I still hold that that perspective and I also wish to grow a deeper and better understanding of eschatology and I think this book will provide that insight. 

16. Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches by Russell Moore
Russell Moore is such a great write and a great representative of the Christian Faith. I love his books and there's actually one I've read that isn't mentioned here (maybe another post), but Adopted for Life is one I'm very excited to dive into because my wife and I are passionate about adoption. Our story is that we are not able to have biological kids, but God has provided us with a vibrant and amazing son (Chango) and we look to adopt more kids in our future as our family grows. For me, when I first understood what adoption meant it was like the gospel was even more crystal clear. I think this is going to be a fantastic book on the subject of adoption. My wife and I along with a few other friends are looking to raise awareness on adoption this fall in addition to starting a ministry of adoption in our church early next year. 

That's all I have. It's lengthy but I hope it helps! What have you read this year? Any books on your list before the year ends? Comment below!

Finances: The Scary "F" Word

Earlier this spring, my wife and I taught a 5-week class on marriage covering topics from communication to finances. The class had a great turnout with plenty of interaction and discussion. At the end of our time, we invited all who spoke and taught for a Q&A session followed by asking the class to give us feedback on their experience. We had a great response and one area that received a lot of attention was the discussion on finances.

Finances are a big deal and if we do not steward them well we can find ourselves in the result of some poor decisions that will inevitably affect our lives and the lives of those around us. In light of that, I wanted to give you 3 practical approaches to finances. In the weeks to follow, I will flesh out better details in each of these areas as I prepare to teach a class on Finance and the Gospel. My hope is to help you set a few easy goals and to challenge you in light of the gospel. 

Before starting, reflect on this question as you read this post: What is it that you value?

VALUE

As we think about what we value, we should quickly come to find where our heart lies. Money is a gift that we have been given to steward and while that carries responsibility, it can be very liberating. Consider what Jesus says about money and our hearts:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:19-24)

Further, consider Awake by Mumford and Sons where they sing "and where you invest your love you invest your life." Money is a gift and reminder of what Jesus has done for us in our lives therefore our heart must not rest in how much we make or what's in savings, but in the person and work of Jesus. 

Here are 3 practical things to think through regarding money and the gospel: 

GIVE

Giving is a response to the grace we have received so be sure to give generously and sacrificially. Tithing is not just a command, but an evaluation of our heart. When Jesus calls us to give to the church money that's already His, He's asking you to put to death your selfish desires. It's not about giving enough to stay holy, but giving to be more like Jesus.

Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice by voluntarily dying in our place for our sins. When we give, it's not just because we can, but because we have been given so much more. 

My friend and pastor Mike used to work for a big-time medical equipment company and was making serious bank and several months ago he left that line of work to plant a church taking a significant pay cut. When I asked him what he's learned over the past few months when it's come to money he said, "if you have it, give it away. One day you'll have it and the next you won't so be sure to give it away-no strings."

After tithing to our church, paying our bills, and saving a little, my wife and I pray about how much to set aside so we can give away--whether to bless someone or when an unexpected emergency comes up for our friends and family, we can help. 

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

SAVE and SPEND

This section is an entire blog post on it's own, but for the sake of time and length, here's what I'll say...

On saving: be sure to stash money on the side whether it's $10 or $100 a month. Make a plan and be consistent (monthly automatic transfers are the best here). As you save, be sure to keep your savings with an open hand (remember giving generously and sacrificially). When you open a savings account, you're making a wise decision and we must remember the gospel in light of our wisdom--keep an open hand. 

On spending: be sure to spend with wisdom and intentionality. A good idea is asking what you value tangibly. Money is a gift from God and the reality is that God hooks us up with good gifts. Gifts are not a sin.

So, what's your thing? For example, my wife and I love to travel and we intend to spend intentionally for trips we take. For us, this means saying "no" to a lot of things when we're home so that we can afford to save money for trips. An individual value for me are cigars. I say "no" to beer and eating out because to me, cigars are way better. Figure out what your thing is and spend wisely.

BUDGET and DEBT

Much like saving and spending, this will probably be its own post at some point and before jumping in, here's what you need to know about budget and debt: they're results of what you've been consistent in (spending or saving). 

On budget: budgeting is your reminder that this is real life. In fact, we should take this time to remember the great theologian Mike Tyson when he said "everyone has a plan until they're punched in the face."

When you begin to budget: (1) make a plan on what you need to spend and your goal for savings, (2) be consistent, and (3) life happens. Sometimes, the money you've been saving to go to New York needs to be used because of an unexpected emergency or circumstance. Remember that savings is an open hand. 

On debt: to the best of your ability, avoid debt. I'm talking about debt that comes from a lack of wisdom. In other words, you spend money compulsively, don't set goals, and think savings are for those who don't want to live life. Here's the truth about debt: (1) debt restricts giving, (2) debt can show a lack of trust in God; that He doesn't give you everything you need, and (3) it ties up or restricts movement for the future.

CONCLUSION

Money is an awesome gift that comes with serious responsibility; it can quickly go from being a gift to god. Value is just as important so we shouldn't begin with what our tangibles are rather with who Jesus is. Begin with the beauty and freedom of the gospel; obey and serve because you have first been loved.

As you begin to pray for wisdom and guidance, make a plan and set small goals about your future and Jesus will provide for you--not always monetarily, but you'll be taken care of and your eyes will be on Him because at the end of the day, that's the whole point. 

Recommended Reading: Money: God or Gift? by Jamie Munson