Discipleship - Are you making disciples?

Your first question may be what in the heck do those two words mean - disciple and discipleship?  Let me break it down a bit.  Disciple is one who loves God, our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his heart, soul, and mind, and tries to become more and more like him through a life of faith and obedience. Discipleship is modeling and teaching Christians the precepts of the Bible—mainly prayer, doctrine, Christian living, and worship.  As a disciple of Christ, I myself have been discipled by many folk over the last year. If you walked up to each of them and asked "How has it been discipling Linda?” I guarantee many if not all would say they have not.  However, what I want to bring to light today is that even though you may not personally be directly involved in discipling someone or if you think no one is waching, think again!  God is always using His children to grow other disciples.  I realize my understanding of discipleship may not fit the exact defintion of others.  That's ok.  I may grow into that same understanding someday or I may not.  For now, it's right where God wants it to be. To demonstate my point I'm going to list out the people who have been instrumental in my walk over the last year and how they've impacted me. Not one of them has set down to "teach" or "train" me in a one-on-one session or in any formal training session. But, through their walks with Christ, God has used them to teach and train me in some very personal ways.


• Bob Weeks - My pastor. Through his sermons, his home life, and a few e-mail exchanges he has been instrumental in helping me grow in the word of God. God has used Bob on several occasions to answer questions and prayers that have helped strengthen my faith and walk in Christ. Bob influences my life more than what I can write in words here. His love for God and his gift of teaching has helped me know what it means to "take up the cross."  Bob has been so influencial in my life that I hope he and I parnter together until the end of my life.  He will always be someone that I hope to seek counsel from no matter where God leads me.

• Al Davvison - A man of great patience and peace. Al is gifted on so many fronts. He's the type of guy who has many spiritual gifts and all are very obvious when you meet him.  Al is flat out blessed.  However, Al has taught me how to instill patience in my walk. He carries himself in a peaceful way in that respect models how I apire to carry myself. 

• Mark Dearing - In 4 - 20 minute sessions with kids (yes, kids) during VBS sports camp, Mark taught me how to lead people to Christ. God used each of his short messages to clear up any doubts and questions that I had. In each lesson certain key points were impressed on my heart in such a way that they are with me today. God used Mark and Paige to help strengthen my confidence by leading my first person to Christ that week. To hold their hands and pray was an honor. So many of my prayers were answered that week. Because of that week, Mark has helped me share the gospel with a homeless biker at Wal-Mart, several homeless folk between here and Louisville and many others. My heart has been a blaze to share the gospel ever since.

• Melanie Dearing- she lives out the biblical role of a woman. She inspires me in my home where I'm most weak. She allows me to visually understand and apply womanhood as a mother and a wife. She is focused on Christ and I love that about her.  Her blog: http://dearingfamilycircus.blogspot.com/

• Tanya Burnette- Tanya latched on to the call God has on my life in just a few short meetings with her. She got my heart and has partnered with me openly and honestly. She is a woman who is firm in what she believes. She sees through all the "stuff". She doesn't live under false pretences (and works hard at that). God has brought us two together to do some great stuff in our community.  I look forward to growing closer to her in our walk with Christ.

• Susan Woodard - A woman of complete contentment. If I ever have the honor to lead Womens Ministry in any capacity, Susan will be called in to teach what it means to live a content life. Susan has helped me see what truly matters in a family and in your life. She was the first person God put into my life to show me it's not about labels, competing with neighbor Joe, having the best of the best, and all that continues on with all that. She has been instrumental in my life in so many ways but this is one of her strongest assets and influences on my life.

• Dusty Williams- He is another one who has wisdom, patience and peace. I truly aim to model my behavior/mannerism as controlled and peaceful as Dusty does. He and Al are my two models in behavior. I've only been around Dusty a handful of times but I have watched him interact and work as a Deacon in our church thousands of times. When I get angry and want to lash out, God uses Dusty's behavior to help remind me "This is my child and your model not the evil flesh that you want to unleash."

• Cathy Weeks - Pastor Bob's wife. Their relationship and life is always in the spot light. I'm constantly looking to her to understand how she handles it all. Her priorities. Her commitment to Christ. Her everything. I have no doubt in my mind that God will have our family serving Him in some capacity. Because of that, I look to her and Bob to see how they handle it to help prepare my family.

• Tami Williams - Because she embodies what I read about fellowship. She invited me in when she didn't really know me. She sought to get to know me when I didn't know but a handful of people. In a sea of hundreds of people every Sunday going every which way in our lobby, it's quite intimidating to try to fellowship.  Not including that I'm an outsider coming in to a small town.  She didn't hesitate and I strive to be that example to others.

• Heather Palacious - Last on the list but first in my book. God has used her internet ministry to witness to my life like no other. She was instrumental in pulling me out of my secular life. She helped show me how to live boldly for Christ. She sent me a bible that began my transformation in huge ways. She has been there for me, whether through text messaging, tweeting, Facebook or her blog, and has helped me to grow tremendously. She lives over +300 miles away. However, she is a great example of how powerful the internet can glorify God. There is so much about Heather and what she does through her internet ministry that has opened my eyes and heart to Christ. I can't even begin to mention it all. The one word that sums up all that she does and has shown me is, "WOW!"  Her blog: http://www.leadhership.net/

As a Christian, as someone who shows up to church on Sunday's, or as someone who claims to believe in God I ask you this - "What kind of images and impressions has your life cast onto other disciples? What kind of examples are you telling non Christians or new believers in life? Is it the same picture Christ paints for us? Does it match up to the word of God? Would Christ be happy with you?"  I would not be where I am at today, in my walk with Christ, if it wasn't for the people mentioned above. If any one of them lived in a false way then I would be living in a false way or set my expectations lower than what God wants. I'm not saying they are perfect and live a perfect life. But with reading the word of God and witnessing that word in motion through them, they have helped shaped my life and my family. They are disciples doing discipleship. You have no idea who is watching, who God is drawing near or how God is using you. I urge you as Christians to read the word of God and live right. Live as close to what Christ instructs for your life (Romans 13 is a good place to start!). You are shaping someone's life. You have a light that is leading others in some direction. Shouldn't that direction be directly pointed at Christ?