DISCIPLES: Being, making and nurturing them!

THE GREAT COMMISSION: MATTHEW 28:19-20 “GO, THEREFORE, AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.”

”GO…AND MAKE DISCIPLES…” WHAT IS A DISCIPLE? AND HOW DO YOU MAKE ONE?

DISCUSSION/REFLECTION HOW DID WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST GET PASSED ON TO YOU? WHAT WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STEPS IN THAT PROCESS FOR YOU? ARE YOU A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST? WHY OR WHY NOT? WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF DISCIPLE-MAKING CURRENTLY IN YOUR CHURCH? WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES OF THAT PROCESS?

Discipleship is: “It is the on-going life of a disciple (believer in Christ) that involves following the Savior and becoming more like him. People become disciples through evangelism. Then they grow as Christians through the process of discipleship…growth in every aspect of his or her life.” – Aubrey Malphurs, Strategic Disciple Making: A Practical Tool for Successful Ministry

How would we go a step further and define a United Methodist congregation? “The church is a community of all true believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is the redeemed and redeeming fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by persons divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s own appointment. Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the church seeks to provide for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.” -- Preamble to the Constitution of the UMC

And what is a United Methodist disciple of Jesus Christ? United Methodists by tradition call people to experience the justifying and sanctifying grace of God and encourage people to grow in the knowledge and love of God through the personal and corporate disciplines of the Christian life. United Methodists by tradition seek to “reform the nation, particularly the Church, and to spread scriptural holiness over the land.” United Methodists emphasize the link between doctrine and living, faith and works, holiness and social action, mission and service inspired by faith.

DO NO HARM – DO GOOD -- ATTEND TO THE ORDINANCES OF GOD The first Methodist societies in England had general rules. You could be a member if you had “a desire to flee from the wrath to come and to be saved from your sins.” And, it was “expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire for salvation, first: by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind…; secondly: by …doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all…; thirdly: by attending upon the ordinances of God (e.g. the sacraments, worship, studying Scripture, etc.)

FOUR STEP PROCESS according to the Practice of Ministry Course: The primary task of the local congregation is a four-part formation process that shows how people progress from spiritual immaturity to spiritual maturity. It involves a sequential movement, yet is carried out in the ongoing life of the congregation and its mutual ministries. The formation process of the primary task involves: Discovering and inviting people Relating them to God through Jesus Christ Nurturing them in the development of their faith Sending them as disciples for the transformation of the world.

1 – EVANGELISM: People are sought and invited to experience the community of faith The church puts a priority on witnessing for Christ and inviting people into a relationship with God. Evangelism is not a program - it is our on-going response to God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ – it is who we are! The congregation lives out its attitude toward unchurched persons every day in the communication it offers, in its involvement in the community, and in the unique way it expresses and practices hospitality.

2. MEMBERSHIP: People are brought into the body of Christ and a specific community of faith. There is a clear, simple, understandable definition of what it means and what is required to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It signals the individual’s choice to make a public proclamation of faith and begin the journey of discipleship. There is a clear understanding of what is expected of a member of the community of faith and how accountability happens for practicing that faith and living out personal ministries. The community of faith celebrates this decision and covenants with the new members to live out a life of discipleship together.

3. DISCIPLESHIP: People are taught the spiritual disciplines and how to live lives following the example of Jesus Christ. Bible study is central as the stories of Jesus and the people of faith give example, inspiration and direction to the disciple. Opportunities for critical thinking, sharing and reflection bring beliefs and Bible teachings in contact with life experiences and the community of faith. Scripture, Reason, Experience, Tradition Small groups provide support and accountability for the journey of discipleship and build the community of faith. Preaching and worship also teach way of discipleship.

4. MINISTRY: People are equipped for service and supported as they serve within the church and through outreach ministries. Calls to lay and ordained ministry are nurtured and responded to by the community of faith with affirmation and support. Each disciple is supported in discerning his or her spiritual gifts for ministry in the church and world. There is an expectation that all members/disciples use their gifts in service to the community of faith and in the work of transformation of the world.

Faith Formation 2020 Critical Uncertainties 4 Scenarios Faith Formation 2020 Critical Uncertainties Will trends in U.S. culture lead people to become more receptive to organized religion, and in particular Christianity or will trends lead people to become more resistant to organized religion and Christianity? Will people’s searching and hunger for God and the spiritual life increase over the next decade or will people’s need for God and the spiritual life decrease.

Faith Formation 2020 Matrix Dominant Cultural Attitude toward Organized Religion Receptive Low High People’s Hunger for God and the Spiritual Life Resistant

4 Scenarios Receptive to Scenario #4 Participating in Church Life, but Faith and the Spiritual Life Are Not Important Organized Religion Scenario #1 Vibrant Faith and Active Engagement in the Church Community Low Hunger Scenario #3 Unaffiliated and Uninterested Resistant to for God High Scenario #2 Spiritual but Not Religious

FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR FAITH FORMING CONGREGATIONS RADICAL HOSPITALITY CLEAR MESSAGE CENTERED LEADERSHIP “MULTI” LEARNING HOLY SPIRIT TIME

Radical hospitality Create and sustain a safe community. Be open to ALL. Be accessible to ALL. Evaluate everything from an “outsider’s” perspective. Living hospitality teaches hospitality – and grace – to all generations within the community and those who enter from outside.

Clarity of message Simplify the congregation’s mission/message so that all can learn, know and remember it. Clarify the message in ways easily understood by all ages and cultures. Multiply the message so that it is heard regularly and often and in every way possible. Use a unified lesson plan for worship, education time, youth groups, fellowships, meetings, small groups, etc. The message has integrity only in relation to the reality lived by the congregation. The way the congregation lives and has its being communicates and teaches.

CENTERED LEADERSHIP Pastor, staff, lay leadership, boards, committees, members have unity of purpose centered in the message that is apparent to all. The congregation’s mission/message determines priorities, decisions, use of resources, etc. Diversity of perspective is handled through discussion, prayer, and consensus-building. All generations within the community and those outside learn the message through the witness of unity.

“MULTI” LEARNING Learning happens through multi-generational experiences – passing faith from one to another. Learning happens through multi-cultural experiences – all are enriched by the diversity of gifts to be shared. Learning happens through multi-intelligences or learning styles through speech, art, physical play, drama, journaling, music, nature, solitude, inter-personal and intra- personal experiences. Learning happens in settings suited to one’s developmental stage of life and life experience. Learning happens in an hour, in a weekend, in a week, indoors, outdoors, in service, in worship, in private, in public, at home, at church with friends, alone, on-line, in the car, on holy days, and every day. Learning happens best holistically: faith AND action, local AND global, compassion AND justice, etc.

Holy spirit time All need periodic spiritual experiences that change one’s life through an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Faith through intellect and emotion is not enough. Prayer, Bible study, meditation, and other spiritual practices center all of life and orients decisions, perspective, and attitude in the Way, the Truth and the Life. Spiritual encounters happen in different ways and in different places and settings for different people. The congregation helps provide, support, interpret and celebrate Holy Spirit time for its members.

FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR FAITH FORMING CONGREGATIONS RADICAL HOSPITALITY CLEAR MESSAGE CENTERED LEADERSHIP “MULTI” LEARNING HOLY SPIRIT TIME