ToBeLikeJesus

Question: How do we disciple a Couple?

A friend recently asked this question; “How do we disciple a couple?” Here’s my response…

“Actually, it’s pretty easy and the same as with a single person. You’ll have a lot of fun if the couple wants to follow Jesus.

Keep Jesus the center of discipleship – Read Colossians 1 and time how long it takes to read out loud. Now count the number of times Paul refers to Jesus. Follow his example. Talk about Jesus! Get them in the Word and reading Jesus daily. Help them pray and talk to Jesus daily. When you teach something, start with Jesus. When they ask you a question, start with Jesus. When there is an obstacle or struggle to overcome, start with Jesus. (Notice I started with Jesus) This is a learned skill and a discipline.

Pray for them – This would seem like a no brainer but I’m amazed on how we treat prayer as the last resort and not our first resort even in discipleship. I recently watched this video and it reminds me of what I think about my ministry when I am not declaring my absolute dependence on God in prayer. Real transformation is a miracle of God. We need to be asking Jesus for the real deal in our lives and the lives of others.

https://youtu.be/es0nPjLNsi0

Love them – Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends. (John 15.13) The trick is to LIVE while DYING. I’ve heard it said, “Its easier to die for Jesus than to live for Him.” Don’t know if that’s completely true but there’s a kernel of truth in that. I think the same goes for the couple that you’re discipling. You need to die to yourself and live for them. If at the end of the day they say, “we feel loved by Ryan and Chelsea,” you completed a huge part of the task.

Spend lots of time together – at least twice a week, four is optimal. Multiply your time together by doing life together; church, harvest, coffee, going to the store, take trips together, have fun, etc… Jesus probably spent 10,000 hours with His D’s in the span of 2.5-3 years. It would take us almost 30 years to do the same with 2 hours a week. He chose 12 so that they would be with Him (Mark 3.14). Side note: Jesus did most of His discipleship in the harvest. Food for thought.

Get close – Proximity increases time. If you live less than a 10min drive is optimal. 20min is doable. 40min…they might as well live in a different state :) Again, Jesus got His closest guys close (Mark 3.14).

Look for influence – If they are learners and doers, you have influence. If they are not, you’re just tickling the ears. Sounds like they are asking for your leadership. The rub comes when they have to make a choice of following you or the pastor, speaker, teacher, parent, etc… It’s ok for people to have multiple leaders in their lives but if it becomes a competition for time, goals, focus, and vision (and it will) they may need to make a choice on where they are going to have to throw in 99%. People are way too busy and spread way too thin in the American context to have the kind of focused and concentrated relationship that Jesus had with the 12. The tricky part of this is to warn them of this danger without demanding their allegiance or compliance. This is why I think Hebrews 13.7 comes before Hebrews 13.17. Ultimately, you want Jesus to call the shots in their life. He is the primary discipler. Your job is to facilitate that.

Cast vision – Jesus started with “follow Me and I’ll make you fishers of men.” (Mat 4.19) He ended with “There’s the world, sic ’em” (Chuck’s version of the Great Commission, Mat 28.18-20). Keep casting the vision for reproduction, multiplication, generations, and the ultimate goal of reaching the world for Jesus.

I said at the first “it’s easy”. Well, by principle. Now comes the hard part, doing it :) Jesus set a high bar and to me, these are the main principles. Some is better than none, so work your way little by little into these principles as you disciple them.

There is plenty more but you guys have the Holy Spirit, the Word, and lots of tools. You’ll have fun :) If you’re looking for more specifics, shoot me another email and I’ll tell you what Deb and I think :)”

What Robinson Crusoe says about Discipleship

I’m reading “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe. What can we learn about discipleship from this small excerpt as Crusoe disciples a native he rescued from cannibals? Great Lessons!!!

“I had, God knows, more sincerity than knowledge in all the methods I took for this poor creature’s instruction, and must acknowledge, what I believe all that act upon the same principle will find, that in laying things open to him, I really informed and instructed myself in many things that either I did not know or had not fully considered before, but which occurred naturally to my mind upon searching into them, for the information of this poor savage; and I had more affection in my inquiry after things upon this occasion than ever I felt before: so that, whether this poor wild wretch was better for me or no, I had great reason to be thankful that ever he came to me; my grief sat lighter, upon me; my habitation grew comfortable to me beyond measure: and when I reflected that in this solitary life which I have been confined to, I had not only been moved to look up to heaven myself, and to seek the Hand that had brought me here, but was now to be made an instrument, under Providence, to save the life, and, for aught I knew, the soul of a poor savage, and bring him to the true knowledge of religion and of the Christian doctrine, that he might know Christ Jesus, in whom is life eternal; I say, when I reflected upon all these things, a secret joy ran through every part of My soul, and I frequently rejoiced that ever I was brought to this place, which I had so often thought the most dreadful of all afflictions that could possibly have befallen me. I continued in this thankful frame all the remainder of my time; and the conversation which employed the hours between Friday and me was such as made the three years which we lived there together perfectly and completely happy, if any such thing as complete happiness can be formed in a sublunary state. This savage was now a good Christian, a much better than I; though I have reason to hope, and bless God for it, that we were equally penitent, and comforted, restored penitents. We had here the Word of God to read, and no farther off from His Spirit to instruct than if we had been in England. I always applied myself, in reading the Scripture, to let him know, as well as I could, the meaning of what I read; and he again, by his serious inquiries and questionings, made me, as I said before, a much better scholar in the Scripture knowledge than I should ever have been by my own mere private reading. Another thing I cannot refrain from observing here also, from experience in this retired part of my life, viz. how infinite and inexpressible a blessing it is that the knowledge of God, and of the doctrine of salvation by Christ Jesus, is so plainly laid down in the Word of God, so easy to be received and understood, that, as the bare reading the Scripture made me capable of understanding enough of my duty to carry me directly on to the great work of sincere repentance for my sins, and laying hold of a Saviour for life and salvation, to a stated reformation in practice, and obedience to all God’s commands, and this without any teacher or instructor, I mean human; so the same plain instruction sufficiently served to the enlightening this savage creature, and bringing him to be such a Christian as I have known few equal to him in my life.”

Lessons Learned

“I had, God knows, more sincerity than knowledge in all the methods…”
One of the keys in discipleship is to get started, even though you don’t feel like you know enough. (Jn 14.21, 17.7) We will never know enough. Share what you know. And in the sharing, more will come.

” …that in laying things open to him, I really informed and instructed myself in many things…”
I have found this to be true, the disciple-maker is usually the greater recipient of knowledge and joy than the disciple. (Act 20.35, 3Jn 1.4) Pour yourself into others and you will reap the harvest.

“…I had more affection in my inquiry after things upon this occasion than ever I felt before…”
The joy of learning to serve others by researching the Word of God on their behalf. If only people knew how exhilarating and self-satisfying it is to be motivated to learn in order to make disciples. (Phil 1.21-26, Mk 10.45)

“…but was now to be made an instrument, under Providence, to save the life…and bring him to the true knowledge of religion and of the Christian doctrine,…”
The wonders of being included in the greatest enterprise know to man, the advancement of the kingdom of God. And why wouldn’t God use angels or some other means; because He made us in His image and He wants us to become like Him as the lovers of men’s souls (Gal 5.1-2)

More coming soon…

Determining the Will of God

Vision Casting 101 – Be a Maker (Part 4)

“I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4.19

I like to make stuff. When I was a kid, it was model airplanes and tanks. Later as an adult, I did my fair share of home improvement. Now I making a digital world on my computer. But most importantly, Deb and I have made a lot of disciples, building into their lives greater love for Jesus and a desire to be just like Him. Isn’t that a part of our DNA? Just like Jesus; turning fish into fishermen, fruit into farmers, sheep into shepherds, and people into priests (Matthew 4.19, Luke 10.2, John 21.15-17, 1 Peter 2.9). We are “makers” by design and Jesus taps into our blueprint with His vision casting. Make disciples.

Call to Action: Write down three things you want to build into disciples this year.

Staying a Healthy Church

NPL’s goal is not house church, building church, simple church, legacy church, or organic church. It’s healthy church. I really love what Brett and Abigail have done the last two years with the church they lead. They take the church circles illustration and start over again by asking this question; “What functions of the church are we healthy in and what are not?” Healthy functions stay in the circle. Functions that need improvement are put on the outside and goals are set to improve in these areas. The discussion was filled with honesty, humility, and compassion. The Church Circles is not a “one and done” exercise. I like a church that is willing to walk in the light and beg Jesus to draw them closer individually and corporately.

Call to Action: Read Acts 2.36-47 and use the Church Circles Template to assess your church’s health. Click Here

Top 10 for 2019

In the past, I’ve challenged disciples to study the Gospels and line up their top ten priorities and use them as a guide for personal growth and discipling others. Over the years my top 10 have morphed but here’s my focus for 2019.

Chuck’s Top 10

Abide deeply in the Lord Jesus Christ and imitate Him
Be filled with His Holy Spirit
Be saturated with the Word of God & Prayer
Share the gospel abundantly
Grow in reproducing Christ-like discipleship
Gather as a healthy reproducing church
Multiply generational leaders
Implement a strategic model of ministry
Cast a strong vision to reach the world for Christ
Persevere in all circumstances

Call to Action: Write down your top 10 and review them at least once a month.

Vision Casting 101 – Be, Know, Do (Part 3)

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4.19

As a young sergeant, I was taught that there are three parts in leadership development; Character, Intellect, and Skill. We summed it up in BE, KNOW, DO. People try to prioritize and separate the three but the truth is you can’t. Part of who you are is what you do and part of what you do is what you know, and so on. I was a paratrooper who knew how to jump out of airplanes and did. Take any one of those away and I would not be a paratrooper. Jesus’s disciples are followers and fishers. Their identity is wrapped up in Who they know and what they do. There is no separation.

Call to Action: Find three verses for Be, Know, Do and talk about them with your Timothys

Vision Casting 101 – Following and Fishing (Part 2)

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4.19

Sergeant First Class Mike Ramsey. He was the one leader in the Army that I respected so much, I wanted to be just like him. Have you ever met someone like this? Put the shoe on the other foot. Have you ever met a leader with the expectation that you become just like them? That’s exactly what Jesus had in mind; to help His disciples become just like Him. And He begins His agenda with one simple vision cast; “Follow Me and I will make you a fisher of men.” Following was not the act of walking behind Him. It was an invitation to become, to be conformed, into the kind of man He was.

Call to Action: Do you believe Jesus wants you to become like Him? Why or why not?

Vision Casting 101 – What Do You Seek?

Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
(John 1.35-39)

Cecil and Jeannie asked my brother and I if we were interested in coming to their house for dinner. A month later we moved into their basement and lived with their family for the next year. It was the beginning of a mentoring relationship that would last for decades. And it all started with a simple question.

Cecil’s vision-casting began with a question. But that was only the first of many questions. As far as we were concerned, we were going to eat dinner with an older follower of Jesus. But Cecil’s invitation for dinner extended far beyond just having a nice meal and small talk. There was something Cecil was looking for; Did we want to see God? Could we see ourselves as Jesus’ ambassadors to a lost and dying world? Did we see ourselves as the generation to carry the torch of Christ to the next generation? In a sense, he was asking the same question Jesus did, “What do you seek?”

These questions were not answered that night. But over the next few years, Cecil would ask vision-casting questions over and over again in many different ways. And just like Jesus, he invited us to “Come and see.” Cecil’s agenda/vision was to turn us into passionate followers of Jesus and fishers of men.

Jesus had an agenda/vision too. When He asked the disciples “What do you seek?” I’m sure Jesus knew exactly where He was going with them. His vision was far more than these fishermen could even imagine for themselves. They responded with a seemingly mundane question to answer Him; “Where are you staying?” Really!?! This is completely understandable considering these guys were at the front end of discipleship and probably didn’t fully understand the magnitude of the journey they were about to embark on. They didn’t even know the right questions to ask. And Jesus was not put out by the underwhelming request even though He was the Messiah, Creator, the King of kings. His invitation to “come and see” was a gracious opportunity that would go well beyond seeing the geographical location He was living.

The two disciples spent the rest of the day with Him. Jesus’ vision had begun. In time, He would turn them into His passionate followers and fishers of men. But it all started with a question; “What do you seek?”

Vision-casting is all about helping people answer the question. “What do you seek?” As disciple-makers it is our responsibility to lift up the eyes of the disciples to look beyond what presently exists and see what is possible when one follows Christ. They may not see it in the beginning. In fact, they probably won’t. But as we see the vision for them and keep reminding them of their identity and purpose from the Scriptures, they will be able to see the glorious hights the Master is calling them to.

Call to Action: Ask someone you are discipling; “What do you seek?” Don’t try to fill in all the blanks for them, but use Scripture (John 1.35-39) to lift up their eyes and see the next steps in the journey to glorify God. It should be a very interesting discussion. :)

A Blast from the Past: Success and Failure

Bullseye Discipleship – The Ultimate Aim

We are sure that the bullseye in discipleship is Jesus Christ. He is our ultimate aim. Our goal is to help people become like Him and completely dependant on Him.

A young single person was sitting in the back seat of our car on the way to a retreat and, as is our custom, Deb and I grilled them on their walk with Jesus. They went on and on about the quality of their spiritual life and finally, I asked this question; “How does Jesus fit into all of this?” They responded very matter of factly, “Oh, yeah, that too.”

Now we were super kind and patient with them but, in my head, alarm bells were going off. WHAT!?! THAT TOO!?! First of all, Jesus is not a “that” He’s a He. Secondly, you just relegated Jesus off to an inconsequential appendage of your spiritual life. And if we are not careful, we can do the exact same thing with the most well-meaning discipleship program.

Jesus is the Bullseye

I hope you noticed that in almost every blog post, I use Jesus as the primary example. In fact, I get my definition of discipleship straight from Jesus Himself.

*“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master…”
(Matthew 10.24-25a)

**“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
(Luke 6.40)

Our aim in spending time, proximity, influencing, and casting vision all has to do with the objective of helping the disciple of Jesus become like Him and fully dependant on Him. That’s why I use the word “apprentice” to define a disciple rather than just a follower or student. An apprentice’s aim is to become like the teacher. I think apprentice conveys a much better definition.

One last point. I never call the men and women I’m discipling “my disciples” (even though there is biblical precedence – Act 9.25). I may call them Timothys, my guys, or mighty warriors. But I never call them my disciples. Why? Because I want our aim to be crystal clear. Their goal is to become like Jesus, not me. The name disciple is a term of endearment that belongs to the Master and to the Master only. Besides that, could you imagine a bunch of little chuck woods running around? :oops:

Are you making disciples of Jesus?

Call to Action: In a conversation with your Timothys, count the number of times Jesus’ name comes off your lips. Read Colossians 1 out loud and time the reading. How many times does Paul refer to Jesus in that short amount of time?

A Blast from the Past: The Main Thing is to Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

*Matthew 10.24-25 is in the context of describing persecution. If they persecuted the teacher, they will persecute the disciples.

**Luke 6.40 is in the context of warning. Jesus is exhorting the people and making the point that if one follows hypocritical leadership, they will become a hypocrite too.

Even though in these two contexts Jesus does not explicitly define a disciple for the purpose of definition, Jesus makes His definition of a disciple quite clear; One becoming like his teacher.