Restoring the Image (Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 3:10-11)We have been talking about techniques that have to do with the number of people that are being discipled at any given time. Let’s press on to the various tools that may be used in order to help a person become like Jesus.

One of the most common tools used is a curriculum that focuses on the basic disciplines of the Christian life. This is a great tool but it does not cover all the venues that help a person follow Christ. Let me challenge your thinking. When a person listens to a sermon and he is moved into his heart and his thinking to become more like Jesus, is he not being discipled? The answer is obviously yes. So a sermon is an acceptable tool for discipling people.

Can a person be discipled by someone who’s dead? This sounds a little squarely, but think about all the authors that have written tremendous books about following Jesus. Many of us have been mentored by people like DL Moody, Hudson Taylor, Dawson Trotman, and Bill Bright. Are they not part of the disciplemaking process? We could even include the writers of Scripture as some of our primary disciplers.

And what about music? Does it inspire us to follow Christ more closely, to become like Him? In the Middle Ages music and art were the primarily tools used to disciple people who were mostly illiterate.

I would submit to you, that anything that helps us follow Jesus and become like him, is an acceptable tool or method for discipleship. But remember the tool or technique must have its effect. If my methods are not helping people to follow Christ more effectively, then I need to change my methods.

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image

(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing

(Part 3) – We Need a Savior

(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father

(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son

(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship

(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued

(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship

(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers

(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life

(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling