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A Secret for Thriving under Persecution

 

 

 

 

 

Even though Jesus laid aside his heavenly glory and power to become a human being, he understood that he still retained his authority over all things.

As our Lord approached his crucifixion, John tells us how Jesus was thinking.

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything... John 13:3 (NLT)

This agrees with what Jesus told his disciples when he charged them with fulfilling what is now called the Great Commission.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18 (NASB)

Even though Jesus had willingly become a human being who was subject to death and weakness, despite all appearances to the contrary, he tenaciously held to the knowledge that ultimately he was still in authority; even though, he had relinquished the power to enforce it. For that he depended upon the sovereign rule of his heavenly Father as implemented through the Holy Spirit.

As a result, he knew that nothing would happen to him that was outside of his Father’s perfect will and timing.

Various people wanted to put Jesus to death from the time of his birth. Many times during his public ministry the crowds turned on him, but they were not able to do anything until God’s perfect timing. (John 7:20, 8:30) Jesus knew the time chosen by the Father was approaching.

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33  I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33 (NLT)

Jesus told his disciples the he willingly chose to die as God’s Lamb. No one took his life from him. It was his decision.

"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18  "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." John 10:17-18 (NASB)

The night of his betrayal, it seemed that evil had gained control, but Jesus informed his attackers and followers that even this was part of the plan.

Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.” Luke 22:53 (NLT)

Jesus was in authority even at his weakest moment. His Father orchestrated everything.

But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24  But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. Acts 2:23-24 (NLT)

Father God carefully watched over every aspect of Jesus’ life and death. Nothing was permitted to interfere was God’s plan. Why is this important for us?

As we enter what will probably be a time of ever increasing pressure and persecution for the church, we must know that our lives and destinies are firmly protected and ordered by God.

Even when seemingly bad things happen to us, we must choose to believe the truth that God is working everything together for our good and his glory. (Romans 8:28) Jesus said that nothing – no persecutor, no demon, no apparently random occurrence – can snatch us out of our heavenly Father’s firm grip.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29  "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30  "I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30 (NASB)

Paul knew this amazing truth. It is one of the reasons he was able to so fearlessly preach the gospel over his lifetime, despite fierce resistance and persecution. He penned these amazing words.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 (NLT)

Paul lived these words, as have many other faithful followers of Christ down through the years. Our turn is fast approaching. No, it is here.

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Signs of the Last Days: Identifying the Antichrist Spirit

 

 

 

 

 

Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 1 John 2:18 (NLT)

Satan hates and opposes God and his rule, and those under his influence do the same.

The more a person abandons himself to the antichrist spirit, the more thorough is the satanic influence. The Bible informs us that an actual spirit of antichrist actively opposes the gospel and the spreading rule of Christ in the world. Over the centuries, certain leaders have embodied this spirit in a clear and dramatic fashion. They are always bloodthirsty men who go after Jews and Christians. Entire nations and cultures can come under this spirit. Eventually an individual will arise, whom Paul called the “man of lawlessness” (2 Timothy 2:3), who will be the ultimate incarnation of evil. What are the characteristics of the antichrist spirit? How can we quickly recognize its activity and ward off its influence?

Denial of the Validity of God’s Word.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 (NLT)

Denying the truth of the Bible is a primary way to circumvent God’s authority in our lives.

The serpent injected doubt into Eve’s heart, leading her to question and disobey God’s clear command, which brought death and destruction to the entire planet. This spirit is doing the same thing today. We see its activity in the media, our universities and public schools, the halls of congress, and in mainline denominations, where there has been an embrace of clearly anti-biblical positions regarding creation, marriage, sexuality, gender, and abortion, to name a few.

Once the standard of biblical truth is rejected, the door is open for all manner of deception and evil.

Denial of Christ’s Lordship

There can only be one Lord, and Satan desires to have that position in the world, even if its come through the worship of an antichrist figure. Jesus called him the prince of this world (John 12:31). At the cross, Satan tried to eliminate Jesus, the lawful heir to God’s kingdom, only to see our Lord return to life after three days.

The antichrist spirit still vainly attempts to strip Christ of his glory and honor by denying his identity as the risen Lord and persecuting his followers.

And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 1 John 2:22 (NLT)

Persecution of God’s Elect

Jesus taught that the devil came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), and that he was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).

Satan hates and seeks to kill God’s chosen people because they are destined to co-rule with Christ and share the glory of their Redeemer – King.

He tried to usurp that glory for himself, but was put out of heaven for his rebellion. It galls him to see God’s chosen people, all those born of the Spirit, be freely given everything for which he lusted. The devil is the quintessential bully. If he cannot have what he wants, no one else can either.

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. John 15:19 (NLT)

Massive Deception

Jesus taught us that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and there is no truth in him. He is a cunning master deceiver who knows how to boldly lie, as well as subtly twist the truth.

The antichrist will be a master of deception and intrigue in order to subjugate the masses (Daniel 8:23-25).

Jesus warned us that the end time deception will be so great that even the chosen of God will stand in danger of being swept away.

Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24  For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25  See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. 26  “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27  For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. Matthew 24:23-27 (NLT)

The Muslims believe that Jesus did not actually die, but swooned, was revived, and later was assumed into heaven, where he waits to return in order to join the Mahdi in converting people to Islam under pain of death. If that scenario plays out, we will need to remind ourselves of Jesus’ warning above. Whoever this person may end up being, it cannot be the true Lord Jesus. He does not serve Mohammad or Allah. Those who are not firmly grounded in the Bible and possess a love of the truth will be in grave peril.

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 9  This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10  He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11  So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12  Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 (NLT)

Violence

At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. 24  He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. Daniel 8:23-24 (NLT)

Wherever Satan reigns, violence and chaos are the order of the day.

The antichrist spirit does not flinch from using violence to accomplish its purposes. That is why Jesus will violently destroy the antichrist, consigning him to the lake of fire along with his master, Satan.

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)

How Can We Protect Ourselves?

  • Faith. The first thing we need to know is that Jesus has all authority, which includes complete sovereignty over Satan, the antichrist spirit, world governments, and current events. Nothing gets by him. Nothing can touch God’s people without God’s permission, limitations, and oversight. In other words, we can trust the Lord, no matter how crazy things may get.
  • Allegiance. Declare your allegiance to the true Lord, Jesus, the Messiah King, both verbally and through water baptism. Make a firm commitment to worship, serve, and tell others about him. Take a stand on the validity and truthfulness of the Bible.
  • Courage. It will take courage to stand for truth when the spirit of antichrist mocks and threatens us. The Holy Spirit is our source of comfort and strength, who will see us through.
  • Community. God instituted the church to be a strong community of support. If you are not already of member of a community of believers, you must take this seriously. A wolf always goes after the lone sheep.
  • Mission. The best defense is a good offense. Make the Great Commission your personal mission in life. Make God’s glory your priority and his kingdom your focus. Everything else will take care of itself.
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Signs of the Last Days: What to Do When Our Nation Is Under Judgment

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever known someone whose life appeared to be a series of unfortunate decisions with one calamity following another? Once a person starts down that road, things can go bad very quickly, eventually putting him into such a deep hole that only a miracle can extract him. Why does one person have wisdom to properly sort through life’s options and come up with a good path; while others lack good judgment?

Wisdom is one of life’s great treasures. It gives us the ability to foresee the consequences of our actions, sort through options, and make good life choices, which produces a higher quality of life. Foolishness is wisdom’s opposite. A foolish person habitually opts for destructive and sinful life paths.

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. 14  For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. 15  Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16  She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. 17  She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. 18  Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. Proverbs 3:13-18 (NLT)

A  Nation Under Judgment

Wisdom is part of God’s character. If a person rejects God, he or she rejects wisdom. When a nation rejects God and his wisdom, it will reap the consequences of its foolishness.

The First Chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Romans explains how this drama plays out. God’s wrath is revealed to all who suppress the truth about God. (Romans 1:18-23) Paul argues that creation plainly reveals the greatness and character of God. Therefore, those who reject this clear revelation and refuse to honor God or be thankful are given over to what Paul calls “futile thinking” and “darkened hearts.” The result is that those under such judgment can no longer operate with wisdom, which inexorably propels them down destructive paths of their own choosing.

In other words, those who reject God bring upon themselves their own judgment.

People imagine that they can have their cake and eat it, too. They believe they can operate with wisdom and judgment while at the same time living independently from God, but this is not possible. Once we reject the source of wisdom, we quickly descend into foolishness and reap the destruction that comes from making increasingly poor judgments and choices. As Paul summarizes: “Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22)

Here are some clear signs of people under God’s judgment.

  • People give themselves over to lust and perversion. (Romans 1:24-27) Hollywood presents a world of gratuitous sex without consequences, which is a pure fabrication. There is no such thing. We always reap what we sow. (Galatians 6:7) Our nation’s embrace of pornography and other forms of sexual perversion is a dance with the devil, who is out to steal, kill, and destroy.
  • People reject and despise authority. Sin is basically a rebellion against God’s rule. Those who reject God’s rule find it easy to despise, belittle, and reject human authority, too. In the Bible, God always judged those who rail and rebel against his delegated authority. Stay tuned. You will see that play out before your eyes.
  • Leaders embrace hidden wickedness. The prophets of old called out the hidden wickedness practiced by Israel’s leaders. Today a massive uncovering of hidden wickedness among top echelons of our national leadership is being exposed.
  • Division. Jesus warned that a kingdom divided against itself will not stand. Our nation is extremely divided and vulnerable.
  • Violence. When a people becomes lawless, violence increases.

Conclusion

The United States is clearly under God’s judgment. We do not yet know what else God may pour out on a nation that has had every advantage and such a rich heritage handed to it only to turn its back on God. We can only hope for mercy for the sake of the multitude of citizens who still love and worship God.

So what can we do?

  • Repent. Those of us who love God and his truth must acknowledge our own sinfulness and constantly remind ourselves that, apart from God’s mercy and grace, we would be doing the same things as those who do not serve God. We can also acknowledge and ask forgiveness for the sins of our leaders and our nation, as did many of God’s people in the past.

America’s hope is bound to the prospect of millions of its people turning their lives over to the Lord Jesus and following his teachings.

In order to do our part to make that happen, we can:

  • Pray for God’s mercy upon our nation.
  • We should pray for others to repent. Repentance is the doorway into God’s blessings. We should pray for God to pour out a gift of repentance upon our leaders and people, enabling us to turn away from sin.
  • Share the Gospel in the hope that the Spirit of God will open the hearts of our hearers and bring them to repentance and faith.
  • Dedicate ourselves to God and his mission. The time is short. The time is over for pursuing the “American Dream” and selfish lifestyles. Instead, let’s pursue God and his kingdom.The kingdom of God will be the only thing left standing after judgment is poured out on the earth.

Jesus is coming back. Let’s spend what time we have left making the wise choice to serve him with all our hearts! Let’s dedicate ourselves to obeying the Great Commission!

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Signs of the Last Days: Arrogance

 

 

 

 

 

What made Hitler and Napoleon attack Russia despite all sound wisdom and advice to the contrary? What was behind Satan’s thinking that he could defeat God? What motivates atheists to deny God’s existence, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary? One word – arrogance.

"The arrogance of your heart has deceived you... Obadiah 1:3 (NASB)

When we choose to spurn God and his wisdom and try to navigate life independently, God gives us over to darkness and deception, making us incapable of good judgment.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Romans 1:21 (NLT)

Those who reject God, arrogantly assume that they have the intelligence and ability to guide their own destinies. They desire to control their environment and, ultimately, other people. This is what is behind what some call the Babel principle of ever increasing government control.

Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” Genesis 11:4 (NLT)

Never for a moment do ungodly people suspect that they are actually being led into a deadly trap by someone who is insane.

Satan is stunningly clever but not wise, and masterfully deceptive, but without good judgment.

The arrogance of evil people relentlessly pushes them to go too far, so that their entire plan collapses.

They never foresee God’s amazing creative wisdom until they have been defeated by it.

Satan tried to displace God and was defeated, and now he wants to drag as many fools (those who say there is no God – Psalm 14:1) with him into the lake of fire as he can.

He is working feverishly to lead the nations into a gigantic revolt against God. The lemmings are preparing to march in lockstep off the cliff as you read this article. God will only put up with this arrogant folly for so long. Finally he will “put his foot down.”

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. Matthew 25:41 (NLT)

The Antidote

Here is a simple five-step plan to neutralize the poison of toxic arrogance.

  • First, there is only one cure for the deception of arrogance. It is summed up in one word – repentance, which means to change the mind. We must humbly admit that we have been arrogant fools and ask God’s forgiveness.
  • Second, the next very important step is to surrender our lives to Jesus, the only one wise enough to direct our paths.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
  • Third, ask God for his wisdom, and he will give it to you. (James 1:5)
  • Fourth, pray for a love of the truth that will allow you to navigate the perils of the deception that will come upon humanity in general in the Last Days.
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9  that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10  and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11  For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12  in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 (NASB)
  • Finally, trust Jesus completely. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)
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Signs of the Last Days: Disrespect for Authority

 

 

 

 

 

Today we see the normalization of complete disrespect for our president. There is an epidemic of disrespect for all forms authority in our nation, which, is a clear sign that we are living in what the Bible calls “perilous times.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) How did we get here and can we escape?

The Bible teaches that God is the ultimate authority in the universe by reason of his being the Creator. He deserves to be respected, honored, obeyed, and worshiped.

If we accept that God created us, acknowledging his authority is logical. In order to get around the obvious, Satan injects his lies into our minds. Since Adam and Eve would never be convinced that God does not exist, the devil’s initial deception in the garden was to cast doubt upon the goodness of God in order to justify the repudiation of his authority. Lies always have a goal in mind.

The devil’s strategy has always been to drive a wedge of distrust and bitterness between us and God.

Human beings have a very poor track record when it comes to falling for Satan’s lies. It is even worse in the Last Days because God is turning us over to massive deception by the devil.

He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11  So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12  Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (NLT)

Thanks to systematic anti-god propaganda in our schools, many do not even believe that God exists, settling for the irrational proposition that all the complexity of life around us arose by chance out of nothing. God is not even part of a great number of people’s world view. He is not acknowledged, honored, feared , or obeyed. This is how we got to where we are today.

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21  Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22  Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. Romans 1:19-22 (NLT)

The Way to Escape

The gospel addresses our treachery against God and his rule. Jesus came to restore humanity and creation to its proper order of joyful dependence upon the Creator.

The sentence for the crime of treason against God is self-imposed death. Sin is a form of suicide because we cut ourselves off from the Source of Life. Sometimes this death works quickly; other times it is slow and drawn out. Nevertheless. sin always ends in death. (Romans 6:23)

Jesus, the one person who always obeyed his Father in heaven, died in our place, so that we can be reconciled to God and come back under his benevolent rule.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he was elevated to the highest status of Lord of Lords. (Philippians 2:9-11) All we have to do to be saved is humbly admit that we have been wrong in trying to go it alone apart from God and and acknowledge that Jesus alone is Lord of our lives. This makes sense when we consider that man’s original and ongoing basic sin is rejection of God’s right to rule our lives. This is how we escape the horrors of God’s eternal judgment for being rebels. (Acts 2:40)

Showing Respect to Delegated Authority

God shares his authority with humans in order to bring some order to the earth and its inhabitants. Chaos and anarchy are the products of sin, and are never a desired state of affairs. Anarchists who wish to overthrow the existing government use chaos and unrest to usher in the slavery and oppression of totalitarianism.

All human authority derives from God and, for that reason, is to be respected, even if we cannot obey some of its laws for reasons of conscience.

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. Romans 13:1-2 (NLT)

Submission (obedience) to authority is a fundamental pillar of any society. Without it, things degenerate quickly into lawlessness.

The apostle Paul was under the oppressive dictatorship of Rome; yet, he wrote the above admonition to obey delegated authority. He encouraged respect toward the very government that eventually put him to death for his faith.

The only time we should disobey God’s appointed authority is when and if it directs us to violate our conscience or God’s commands. When and if we find ourselves in a place of conscientious objection, it is never an excuse to become disrespectful.

Once, when Paul had been hauled before the anti-Christ Jewish council, he said something disrespectful toward the high priest without realizing who he was. Here is the account from Acts.

Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?” 5  “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’” Acts 23:4-5 (NLT)

Even though a ruler unlawfully violates the law, we are not released to be disrespectful. Paul quoted Exodus 22:28, which forbids disrespect and speaking evil of rulers.

So where does that leave us today as we read and watch our citizens routinely insult and denigrate the highest office in the land? Like Paul, the apostle Peter wrote that such days would come.

He [God] is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. 2 Peter 2:10 (NLT)

God will not be mocked. Eventually those who rail against authority will suffer the consequences of their sins. We can count on that. What is perhaps more important for us is to make sure that we do not join them in their rebellion against God’s order and authority. Why should we choose to bring God’s judgment into our own lives?

In our nation, where every law abiding citizen has the right and duty to participate in the political process, it is incumbent upon us to speak out, but always with respect.

We can be strong in our convictions without crossing the line into rebellion against God’s delegated authorities.

Prayer

God, please forgive me for the times I have spoken against your delegated authorities. I now see that to do so indirectly pits me against you. Teach me how to speak up against injustice, when I see it, without becoming unjust myself. Show me how to conscientiously object to ungodly laws without becoming a rebel. Help me to come under the lordship of Christ in every area of my life and show others how to do the same. Let me bring honor and glory to your name. Amen.

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The Lord’s Supper – A Reminder of Our Mission

 

Among other things, the Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder of our 

We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, 75  in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. Luke 1:74-75 (NLT)

The Exodus marked the beginning of the nation of Israel. It was launched on Passover, which, fifty days later was followed by the first Pentecost at Mt. Sinai, where God gave the Law. The church was launched by the fulfillment of Passover at the crucifixion of Christ Jesus, which was followed three days later by his glorious resurrection and fifty days later by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church on the New Covenant fulfillment of Pentecost.

The Lord’s Supper serves to remind us of what Jesus accomplished for us and what he expects from us.

Gospel Memorial
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24  and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25  In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26  For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NLT)

Communion is a ongoing gospel memorial to Jesus, the true Passover Lamb. Just as the blood of that first Passover lamb was smeared on the door posts and lintels of the homes of the Israelites to protect them from God’s judgment; Jesus, our Passover, shed his blood to deliver us from God’s judgment against our sin. We deserved condemnation and death, but it fell on Jesus instead.

Communion is a symbolic proclamation or announcement of the good news that Jesus died for our sins.

Those who understand and believe the gospel message, receive the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection by faith. The Jews celebrate Passover with a feast once a year, but Christians remember what Jesus accomplished as the true Lamb of God over and over again throughout the year.

Mission Reminder
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.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)

God set Israel free from the oppressive power of Pharaoh and Egypt in one glorious event, but bringing them into the land of promise and transforming them into a nation that would bring glory and honor to God was much more difficult and is still ongoing.

Setting people free is easier than getting them to use their freedom to serve God from the heart.

Today followers of Christ are faced with the same challenge as the Israelites of old. Will we use our freedom in Christ to serve God or just go do our own thing? We have a distinct advantage over the Israelites, however: the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, giving each of us the internal desire and ability to serve him.

Jesus is not only the risen Lamb of God who suffered and died for our sins. He is also the ascended glorious Lord of lords, who poured out his Spirit on the church to commission and empower her to fulfill the Great Commission.

When we share communion, it is a chance for us to recommit ourselves to serve the Lord with all our hearts by taking the gospel to the ends of the earth and making disciples as we go.

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Ferreting Out Legalism: Part 3 – The Blame Game

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the third article in this series entitled Ferreting Out Legalism. In the first one, I took a look at how legalism attempts to measure spirituality instead of trusting in the finished work of Christ. The second article examined how legalism seeks to manipulate and control people through fear. This one focuses on how legalism focuses blame on individuals and groups in order to promote the false narrative that it is possible to earn our salvation.

Identifying the False Narrative

Psychologists recognize that we often deride and malign others in an attempt to bolster our own position or image. We sometimes project on others the things of which we are guilty ourselves. This is a form of denial. We imagine that we are guiltless, or least better than the person we judge, and feel comfortable accusing them, without realizing that, in so doing, we condemn ourselves.

Paul highlighted this sinful tendency in his letter to the church in Rome.

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. Romans 2:1 (NLT)

Our propensity to judge others for the things for which we are also guilty reveals that we have not accepted the truth about our own sinfulness.

Jesus told a parable (Matthew 18:21-35) about a servant who owed his master an enormous debt for which he no means to pay it back. Rather than condemn this bankrupt servant to debtor’s prison, the master freely forgave the debt. Apparently this was an affront to his pride, and the servant refused to accept that he was unable to pay back the debt. He immediately set about trying to do just that by collecting much smaller debts that others owed him. When a fellow servant was unable to come up with the money owed, the forgiven servant had him thrown into debtor’s prison. When the master heard about this, he became furious and had the previously forgiven man also placed in the same prison.

The root of the first servant’s problem was his pride kept him from seeing that he was a spiritual pauper, who had to fully depend on his master’s mercy.

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3 (NLT)

We undercut the mercy shown to us when we refuse to forgive others.

By default, our pride makes us all gravitate toward legalism.

The false narrative is that we can improve ourselves and become acceptable to God, if we try hard enough.

Some of us have been engaged in a lifelong remediation project in the hope that one day, hopefully soon, we will finally arrive at our destination – perfection. The Bible teaches that this is the surest way to frustration, anger, and depression. Pursuing perfection can totally demoralize us or turn us into mean spirited self-righteous judges.

The more we try to measure up to the demands of God’s righteousness using our own resources, the greater will be our failure.

Paul discovered this and wrote about it in his letter to the church in Rome (Romans 7:14-25). Until we come to realize how bankrupt we are, we will feel comfortable accusing and condemning ourselves, our leaders, the church, and anyone else, and, by doing so, unwittingly ally ourselves with Satan, the Accuser. (Revelation 12:10) Misery loves company.

The Price We Pay

When we judge others in an accusatory and condemning way, we heap judgment upon ourselves.

And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3  Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Romans 2:2-3 (NLT)

Jesus also warned us about the flashback effect of improperly judging others.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT)

No one likes to be judged; yet, we often do it to others without regard for the negative consequences. Judging others restricts them and us. Judging invites God’s judgment into our own lives. Judging others strips away our joy and peace. When we judge someone, we lose the ability to help them or be helped by them. When we judge and condemn those in authority, we may open the door for divine judgment to fall upon us. I am truly concerned about those who call themselves Christians and who seem to feel very comfortable railing at our president. (Acts 23:5.  If you are not familiar with the stories of those who decided it was fine to attack and criticize Moses, you should read those accounts – Numbers 16. It is sobering.)

Examples

  • Sometimes I am surprised when church leaders say that the current broken state of society is the church’s fault. This presupposes that if we do everything right, everyone else will also do the right thing, which is totally false. Jesus did all the right things when it came to discipling his apostles: yet, one of them betrayed him. It certainly was not Jesus’ fault. God created Adam and Eve and gave them a perfect environment; nevertheless, at the first opportunity, they betrayed their Creator to follow Satan. Was that God’s fault? Of course not. Perfect parents, if there ever were such a thing, cannot guarantee that their children will turn out well.

The false narrative is that if we can perform well enough, we can guarantee an outcome.

If we accept the lie that the church is responsible to change the world through its performance, we fall into a legalistic trap that will lead to frustration, demoralization, or self-righteousness.

  • Some people teach that God always physically heals us when we ask him. They cite scriptures that bolster this position and insist that God is always true to his word. Therefore, if we do not receive our healing, the fault must lie in us. Elaborate schemes are developed to insure that we receive our healing. People are taught to deny that they are sick, since God has healed them already. They are encouraged to repeat over and over the verses that promise healing, in the hope that faith will grow and God will be persuaded by our persistence. I remember once when I heard that the family of a man dying from cancer would admit no one who did not hold the same belief about positively confessing healing. People who properly discerned that it was his time to die were not allowed to console and encourage him as he approached the threshold into eternity. I thank God for his promises. I thank him that Jesus paid the price for my healing. I believe that we should trust him to do just what he promised, but I also realize that it is in God’s discretion and timing how he dispenses his grace and gifts. Everyone dies eventually, and only God knows when it is our time. Jesus holds the keys of hell and death. When that moment arrives, nothing is going to stop it from happening. Likewise, before it is time for us to die, nothing can take us out by stealth.

Surrendering our lives and health to a loving and sovereign God is the surest way to peace and being able to discern what the Spirit is speaking to us about our situation.

(You can read more about this important topic in my book Seeing God’s Smile, which can be purchased on Amazon.

Conclusion

Life is so much easier and more joyful when we admit that we are spiritual paupers who depend on the mercy of God and have no right or business condemning others. There is a proper form of judgment, but it never includes condemnation. It is important that we refrain from judging ourselves, too. We get enough of that from the devil and other people.

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Ferreting Out Legalism: Part 2 – The Control Factor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legalism and control are twins that depend on each other. God gave us freedom when he created us, but we traded our liberty for bondage when we fell for the devil’s false narrative in the garden. By pursuing what was presented as freedom from having to depend on God, we were trapped in bondage to sin and death. Jesus came to set us free once again, which we can experience if we are willing to voluntarily surrender ourselves to his benevolent lordship. Freedom is found in God. it is an unearned gift that came at great cost to our Lord. It’s opposite is the bondage of sin.

Freedom is based in truth. Bondage is founded on a lie. 

The gift of grace provides freedom; whereas, legalism, which is founded on the lie that we can and must earn our right standing with God, always produces darkness and slavery to sin. Truth produces freedom. Lies produce slavery.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NLT)

At the government level, the bondage of sin produces the darkness of totalitarianism.

Totalitarian governments prey upon the fears of the populace by offering security in return for the surrender of personal freedoms.

The goal of such governments is total power, wealth, and control. Sometimes more sinister ends are pursued, such as Nazi Germany’s plan to exterminate the Jews or China’s plan to snuff out the church. Once freedoms have been forfeited, the true nature of the totalitarian government emerges, resulting in the suppression of truth and anything that sets people free on the inside, such as faith in God and free speech. Propaganda replaces the sharing of freedom producing truth and ideas. Thought and speech are monitored to make sure everyone is toeing the line and marching in lock step. Where freedom exists, people are able to worship, speak, and assemble as they see fit. They are also allowed to have the means to defend themselves.

Totalitarianism also exists at the church level. The principle is the same as in government.

The church preys upon the ignorance and fear of the people and offers them a clear path to security with God at the price of surrendering to church control.

Keep the rules and kiss the ring, and you can go to heaven.

The Roman Catholic Church maintained such control over most of Europe during the Middle Ages. As with governments, the goal was power and wealth. To achieve this the church developed elaborate schemes to hold the populace in check. The church was presented as the only gateway that common people had to reach God. They were taught that the church held the key to obtaining and maintaining a right standing with God.  Only the priests could provide the sacraments that kept open the door to God – baptism, confirmation, holy communion, confession, matrimony, holy orders, and the last rites. Common people, called the laity, were taught that they had no direct access to God, making them dependent on the the mediation of the priesthood. All of this is contrary to the New Covenant.

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)

The Reformation set dynamite to this Roman church’s totalitarian structure, opening the gates to the masses to approach God directly without needing the mediation of the church or the priesthood. The Word of God became the standard for judging what is right and wrong and acceptable to God, replacing the Catholic Church’s insistence that church tradition and the infallibility of the papacy trumped the Bible.

In the brave new world of the Protestant movement, people’s freedom to worship according to the dictates of personal conscience was restored, at least partly, which introduced a greater degree of personal accountability. Reformers took advantage of this freedom to explore and develop their own versions of what it meant to follow God, resulting in an explosion of new sects and denominations. But the Reformation did not deal with the inherent desire in humanity to control others. Soon the Protestants were seeking such control over the new sects, even to the point of persecution. Some things never change.

Today, in America, where at the moment we still have freedom to worship as we see fit, we usually find legalistic control at the denominational and local church levels.

We are free to associate with whatever church we choose, but sometimes we may find ourselves being manipulated and controlled within the church of our choice. Here are some of the things to which we should be alert in our quest to ferret out and free ourselves from legalism.

Insistence of the Acceptance of Non-essential Doctrines and Positions

An essential doctrine is one that is required for us to be called a Christian. If God does not require it for entrance into heaven, it is not essential here on earth either.

Any church or leader that requires members to adhere to doctrines that fall into the non-essential category should be questioned as to why? If we are satisfied with the answer, we may wish to stay. If not, we probably should leave.

Church leaders sometimes use their influence to pursue personal “pet” projects. For example, the United Methodist Church has aligned itself with the LGBT and transgender positions, forcing its members to choose between adhering to traditional biblical morality and leave the church or stay with the denomination as it careens away from biblical truth. Those members who have no firm anchor in God’s Word will likely be swept away by the church’s improper use of its influence and power. If you are in a church that is more loyal to a popular societal position than to God’s truth, get out before you partake it its judgment.

The Exaltation of Leaders

Totalitarian regimes, even in the church, always have a privileged ruling class. Jesus taught that a qualifier for leadership in his kingdom is being a servant.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

If you see that your church improperly exalts its leaders, it should serve as a red flag. It is always appropriate to honor our leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Timothy 5:17), but never to put them in a separate status above the rest of the church.

The Attempt to Control Personal Decisions

Our forefathers in America during the Great Awakening defined slavery in a broad sense as not being allowed to follow the dictates of our own conscience. They were willing to fight and die to secure this freedom, but today we meekly acquiesce when the government routinely strips us of making personal decisions, such as during the coronavirus lock down. During what was called the Discipleship Movement a few decades ago, church members were told not to make everyday family decisions, such as buying new appliances or a car, without checking in first with whomever was in their discipleship up line.

It is never a good thing to make decisions for other adults because it strips away dignity and hinders personal and spiritual growth.

Paul made it clear that we are never to seek such dominance over the faith of others.

But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm. 2 Corinthians 1:24 (NLT)

If you are in such a church, get out before you get used to being a slave.

The Attempt to Control Thought and Speech

Our society is currently being assaulted by the thought and speech police who run Big Tech and who censor and seek to manipulate political outcomes in violation of our First Amendment rights. We are being told what words we can use, what positions we can have, and with what political party we should align.

The church sometimes has been duped into adopting a false sense of guilt and responsibility built on a false narrative.

For example, we are told that refusing to embrace the LGBT position is tantamount to a hate crime. However, if the Bible is true, we must love those who embrace that sinful lifestyle and proclaim that this way of doing life is in direct opposition to the purposes and plan of the Creator and will ultimately end in death and destruction. The gospel does not condemn us in our sin, but offers a way out. We condemn ourselves if we refuse the offer. God’s judgment against sin stands. The only remedy is faith in Jesus. The church is to operate in the dynamic tension between loving people who have been deceived and captured by sin while holding to the biblical position that all sin will be judged. Jesus did this, and the Holy Spirit can help us to share the truth with love, too.

If we find ourselves in a church that tries to control thought and speech, we must flee and find somewhere that allows people to pursue God in accordance with their own conscience and understanding of God’s Word.

Healthy churches teach biblical truth and encourage their people to check it out for themselves.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Acts 17:11 (NLT)

Conclusion

In writing this article, I have made the presupposition that the reader understands that freedom does not preclude the proper function of godly authority in the church. The road we travel has two ditches to avoid: antinomianism and legalism. We live in a dynamic tension between freedom and control. True freedom is allowing God’s Spirit to control us. He uses people to help us along the way, especially church leaders, who are responsible before God for their flock. They are charged with teaching God’s truth, encouraging the weak and faint hearted, rebuking the headstrong when they plunge into sin and error, and even on occasion administering church discipline.

We must live in a dynamic tension between properly listening to those whom God placed in authority in our lives, while maintaining personal responsibility before God for our thoughts and actions.

Likewise, church leaders must always evaluate how far their authority can be properly exercised without damaging their people’s relationship with God. As with government, less is better.

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Ferreting Out Legalism: Part 1 – How do we measure up?

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the business world people are always looking for ways to measure success. Investors have come up with elaborate measurement systems to evaluate stock values. Corporate executives want to prove their effectiveness as leaders by showing measurable success. Since the goal of most businesses is profit, success is usually measured in this regard. However, if profitability is the only aspect of success, it is likely that important values will be sacrificed in the pursuit of the bottom line.

We live in a time when a large segment of the church has adopted corporate policies and methods from the business world with corresponding ways to measure success. The modern church growth movement is largely responsible, but it is part of human nature to want to gauge how we are doing on our spiritual journey. The Three Bs have been used by measurement minded pastors for years: bodies, bucks, and buildings. Rate of growth, numbers in attendance, and new baptisms are sometimes factored into the body count. Many times pastors try to leave their mark on congregations and their resumes by being the instrument for pulling off a building project, often saddling the congregation with debt and the pressure to maintain a high level of attendance and giving.

Measuring success by these three parameters pressures church leaders to corrupt the gospel.

Jesus set the bar very high for his followers and often “thinned the herd” by reminding them of the high cost of discipleship. Churches that major on attendance often struggle between preaching God’s unadulterated truth and being seeker friendly enough to keep people coming back. The pressure to keep church income high enough to cover the cost of staff, programs, and facilities can put pressure on leaders to overlook the sins and offenses of large donors and to target the most prosperous segments of society in violation of Christ’s clear command not to do this. (Luke 14:13-14) Measuring success by financial gauges can also lead to an unhealthy emphasis on money that drives some people away from the church and the gospel.

What does this have to do with this series topic, “Ferreting Out Legalism?” Legalism is a broad term that can be defined in various ways. In a biblical context, its opposite is salvation by grace through faith alone. Christ perfectly accomplished everything needed for our salvation. We do not need to add anything to it except our allegiance to Christ and trust in his promises.

Legalism, however, always measures a person’s spiritual status by demanding the addition of something to simple faith in Christ’s perfect work on our behalf, whether it is insisting on adherence to some outward standard of behavior or submitting to some form of control.

The early legalists insisted that Gentile believers not only must declare allegiance to Christ but also had to be circumcised, which was the Old Covenant proof of belonging to God. Paul decried this demand as an affront to what Christ had already accomplished through his death and resurrection. The proof that God did not require this addition to the gospel was that the Holy Spirit was given to believing Gentiles who had never been circumcised. If God accepted them without being circumcised, how could the church not?

Paul refused to allow the legalists to define Christianity in terms of adherence to outward standards.

For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20  My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21  I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. Galatians 2:19-21 (NLT)

A simple way to identify legalism is to ask ourselves if some standard is being used to measure our devotion to Christ other than our inner faith and outward verbal confession of allegiance to him. (Romans 10:9-10)

Legalism can be as obvious as a church forbidding its members to smoke cigarettes or as subtle as insisting that they make some sort of public statement in favor of a political hot button topic. It can be as easy to discern as insisting that only a priest can forgive our sins or as hidden as making non-essential doctrines a litmus test for church membership. Anything that attempts to measure our performance, demands that we adhere to some outward standard of behavior, or seeks to control us through spiritual means smells of legalism.

Trusting in God’s grace means we set our focus on Christ himself rather than evaluate our own spiritual development.

Think about it: can we ever really know how we are progressing spiritually? Isn’t trying to do so a trap? Paul wrote about this.

As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4  My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 5  So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 (NLT)

By now I hope you understand that this article is only for serious disciples. If you are looking for an excuse to give yourself over to some form of sin in the name of freedom from legalism, you are going down the wrong path and in serious danger. But if we are honestly pursuing Christ, we need to be encouraged to disregard every man made report card.

There is no effective way to measure how we are doing spiritually because it has already been accomplished by Christ on our behalf.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
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Why Apprenticeship Works Best for Making Disciples

 

 

 

 

 

Those who take seriously the need to produce disciples who can disciple others have come up with all sorts of strategies to get this done – everything from seminary to in house training by the local church. Any discussion about making disciples begs the question: “What exactly are we trying to accomplish?” I have heard ministers who went through seminary complain that they never learned the practical side of things that would have helped them navigate the “real world.” Do we really think that filling a person with biblical and theological truth is all they need? Should we not be preparing people to live out the teachings of Jesus, including the Great Commission, and teach others to do the same? Isn’t that what making disciples is all about?

The seminary route assumes that Christian leaders are formed primarily by consuming, digesting, and regurgitating significant amounts of prescribed information about theology, the Bible, ethics, counseling, and a variety of related topics in a location that is generally separate from the local church setting. It is a classic “Greek” methodology which treats knowledge as an abstract, divorced of action. The presupposition is that the highest good is right thinking about doctrine. Unsurprisingly, this is the surest route to produce self-righteous heresy hunters and anti-God Pharisees. It is also a proven way to convince people that the doing part of being a disciple is not that important. Attending multiple church services per week replaces evangelism in the priority list. I contend that using the classroom approach to making disciples actually produces good church goers and Bible students, not true disciples who take seriously the Great Commission.

Interestingly, the classroom approach was not the strategy Jesus used.

Jesus trained and equipped apprentices using a combination of oral teaching, ministry demonstration and inclusion, and sending out to do what was taught and demonstrated.

Jesus’ goal was to produce men and women who had a vision and understanding of how to “go” to the world carrying the words of the gospel in the power of the Spirit, and who were equipped and able to minister healing and deliverance, while standing up to the hostilities they would receive from the Jewish leaders and Roman state. Do we really have a better plan?

Jesus was criticized by the “seminarians” of his day (the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees) for not having been properly taught. His main men were considered to be ignorant fisherman. His sermons were simple affairs filled with stories and examples drawn from the lives of common people. There is no record that Jesus taught his apostles any sort of a “systematic” theology, used any written manuals of instruction, or developed a formal system for making disciples. He seemed to operate “by the seat of his pants” (doing what he saw his Father do – John 5:19) as he took his followers with him on ministry trips and used the opportunities that presented themselves to instruct them on a variety of topics as needed.

I believe a case can be made for the effectiveness of disciple development by using what seem to be “random” opportunities for teaching, demonstration, and discussions related to real life situations that we all face on a daily basis.

The classroom approach usually assigns a prescribed “course of study” that seeks to include all the basic things that a disciple should know. Once the student completes this course of study satisfactorily, he or she receives a certificate or diploma acknowledging the accomplishment. This in turn may become their “ticket” for being hired into the ministry. Jesus did not do this. How did he know when his disciples knew enough to survive and thrive as his ministry representatives? The answer is that he trusted the Holy Spirit to teach them what they needed to know as they went forward – a kind of on the job training.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26 (NLT)

Most people, especially new followers of Jesus, have enough “issues” going on in their lives that those of us who are engaged in discipleship development will never lack something to talk about when we get together with them. We gain traction in the transformation process when we apply Christ’s teaching to the real life issues they currently face.

Most of what we need to know in order to properly love and serve our Lord is fairly simple. It’s the application that is challenging. Most disciple development should consist of putting simple truths into practice, not perfecting deeper and deeper theological understanding. Of course there is a need for solid doctrinal training, but it is not the core of disciple development.

Putting Christ’s teachings, including the Great Commission, into practice in everyday life must be our focus.

A great plan for working with most individuals might be for them to be responsible for reading portions of Scripture on their own and making notes of anything they want to discuss. When a disciple maker meets with his or her developing disciples, the first thing to talk about might be what is going on in their lives that is a challenge. This should not be some formal or hurried endeavor; rather, it should be done perhaps over a cup of coffee in casual conversation. The disciple maker should be genuinely interested in the life of the person with whom he or she is working; otherwise, the whole process will be somewhat of a sham and never get below the surface. There is too much superficial Christianity already – people who know what the Bible teaches but do not put it into practice.

The disciple developer will be amazed how many teaching opportunities there will be in the context of talking about everyday matters. Once that “stream” has dried up, if there is still time, discussion can center around what the disciple has been reading in the Bible. Of course, the entire thing should be “organic” and develop as led by the Spirit. You may end up praying or discussing theology. Who can say? That is what makes each encounter interesting.

If you are developing a potential leader and someone who likely will be teaching others, more attention should be given to teaching sound principles of doctrine. A book that lays out this sort of thing could be assigned for reading and discussed. Ultimately there should be a hunger in the disciple that will propel him or her to seek deeper understanding. You can lead a horse to water…

Lastly, but by no means least, developing disciples should participate in ministry, outreach, and developing the next generation of disciples.

If we produce Bible scholars who are not fishing for men and making disciples, we are teaching people to disobey Christ.

If we fail to develop men and women who in turn make their own disciples, we have failed in the Great Commission. Churches have been fairly successful at developing churchgoers, but our God given mandate is to focus on disciple development instead. The goal and strategy for the two are entirely different.

Disciple development has to be hands on, organic, Spirit-led, and Christ-focused. It must include following Christ’s teachings in everyday life and ministry to those around us.

It also must have a multi-generational approach to disciple development. If the church is going to grow and multiply as it should, this sort of development must be practiced by all followers of Christ. We cannot afford to spend years developing seminarians who may not even know how to reach and disciple the Jesus way. Jesus turned over the keys of his kingdom to “regular” people after a mere three years of apprenticeship. This is amazing and very challenging to those of us who prefer to develop ministry systems.

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