Real-Life Discipling Through Adult Sabbath School By Bonita Joyner Shields

Growing Growth: (intransitive verb) – To spring up and develop to maturity – To increase in size by assimilation of material into the living organism – To develop from a parent source Growth : (transitive verb) – To cause to grow

Disciples Disciple: – ‘One who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another’ – ‘A follower’ – ‘One in the service of another’

Discipleship is a process. The process of discipleship from initial commitment to Christ to mature discipleship is very similar to the learning cycle used by educators to promote transformational learning.

Learning Styles

How We Perceive Experiencing Sensing/Feeling Intuition Conceptualizing Thinking Intellect

How We Process Active REFLECTIVE Doing OBSERVING

Four Learning Styles Experiencing Sensing/Feeling Intuition DYNAMIC RELATIONAL Active (Asks What if?) (Asks Why?) REFLECTIVE Doing 4 1 OBSERVING 3 2 PRACTICAL analytical (Asks How?) (Asks What?) Conceptualizing Thinking Intellect

The Process of Discipling

Growing Disciples: The Process Connecting: Growing in relationship with God, others, and oneself Understanding: Growing in knowledge and Jesus and His teachings Ministering: Growing in participation in God’s mission of revelation and reconciliation

Growing Disciples: The Process

Equipping: Growing the body of Christ by walking alongside other disciples in order to support, nurture, and strengthen others to experience the journey with Jesus of connecting, understanding, and ministering.

Growing Disciples: The Commitments

Connecting As a growing disciple, I commit to: – Developing a dynamic and deepening relationship with Jesus through His Spirit. – Developing an individual identity complete in Christ. – Developing Christ-centered relationships within my family and within the local and global body of Christ. – Developing positive relationships with those outside the body of Christ with whom He wants to be reconciled.

Connecting As a growing community of believers, we commit to: – Developing a dynamic and deepening relationship with Jesus through His Spirit through the corporate worship experience. – Developing a corporate identity complete in Christ. – Creating an environment in which deepening of relationships can take place between believers as well as with those whom we invite into our midst to experience His Spirit and His grace.

Understanding As a growing disciple, I commit to: – Learning that Christ calls me to be His disciple. – Learning that God is the source of life. – Learning about the human fall from God’s original plan, and its consequences. – Learning that God has provided everything that is needed for the redemption of human beings. – Learning that God has provided everything needed for the restoration of human beings into the image of God.

Understanding As a growing community of believers, we commit to: – Encountering God through Scripture by preaching and teaching according to the biblical worldview. – Providing opportunities for believers to discover what being a disciple means. – Learning to hear God through Scripture. – Speaking to God through prayer. – Following Him through obedience to His Word.

Ministering As a growing disciple, I commit to: – Seeking opportunities to minister to others in daily life. – Recognizing and responding to the needs of God’s suffering children locally and globally. – Sharing my story of Jesus with community members, friends, and co-workers. – Supporting ministries of the local and global church with my personal resources. – Embracing the evangelistic mission of the church.

Ministering As a growing community of believers, we commit to: – Creating an environment that fosters ministry. – Recognizing and responding to the needs of God’s suffering children locally and globally. – Sharing the story of Jesus with those in our sphere of influence. – Supporting ministries of the local and global church with our corporate resources. – Embracing the evangelistic mission of the church.

Equipping As a growing discipler, I commit to: – Helping other disciples to engage in a transformational devotional life. – Helping other disciples to build Christ-like relationships. – Helping other disciples to study and obey God’s word. – Helping other disciples to live a contagious, holistic Christian life. – Helping other disciples to discern where God is working in His world and in their lives. – Helping other disciples to use their spiritual gifts in fulfilling a personal call to mission and ministry.

The Four Focuses of Sabbath School

Sabbath School should answer four questions: 1. Why do we come to Sabbath School? 2. What should we learn in Sabbath School? 3. How should that learning affect our lives? 4. What if we put that learning into practice?

The Four Focuses of Sabbath School Sabbath School should answer four questions: 1. Why do we come to Sabbath School? (Fellowship) 2. What should we learn in Sabbath School? (Bible Study) 3. How should that learning affect our lives? (Mission) 4. What if we put that learning into practice? (Service)

Real-Life Discipling in Adult Sabbath School Together Growing Adult Bible Fruitful DisciplesStudy Guide__ Connecting (Why) Motivate Understanding (What) Explore Equipping (How) Apply Minister (What if) Create

Sabbath School is where we.... Connect with Jesus and others. Learn more of Him through His Word Apply this knowledge to our lives. Minister His love to others.

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