Bryce has been playing in a fall baseball league recently. Initially he was having trouble hitting the ball, so I scheduled a few batting lessons with a local coach. During each lesson, the coach would explain ways I could practice with Bryce each day between lessons. Almost every day after school, Bryce and have been …
Tag Archives: discipleship
Batting Practice and Spiritual Growth
Bryce took a batting lesson last week. I listened carefully so that I could work with him in the days following. The coach was very clear in his instruction and patient in his approach. I knew that one lesson wouldn’t suddenly turn my seven-year-old into a major league slugger. Everyone knows that even the most …
Summer Memories
For some reason certain seasons of the year evoke different types of personal reflection. For instance, there is something about summer that lends itself to reflecting on family -particularly children. Maybe it’s the fact that school is out and the kids are having a blast. Or maybe it’s the way that summer is just a …
The Time I Used the Heimlich
Not long ago, my son and I were eating in a local restaurant. All of a sudden, a lady at the table next to us stood up and started shouting, “Somebody do the Heineken! Somebody do the Heineken!” I was pretty sure the word she was looking for was “Heimlich,” but this wasn’t a time …
Nature vs. Nurture in Discipleship
Do these names sound familiar? –OJ Simpson, Martha Stewart, Michael Jackson, Timothy McVeigh, Scott Peterson, The Menendez Brothers, Jeffrey Dahmer, Lindsay Lohan, Casey Anthony, Justin Beiber, Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Donald Trump, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie. What is it that we so desperately want to know about them? For some reason, we are all fascinated …
Defining Discipleship
I once heard a man say, “The moment you define discipleship, you lose it.” I get what he is saying. Discipleship can’t be placed in a formula or a “one-size-fits-all” solution anymore than a concept like parenting can be. So, my goal is not to describe a step-by-step process of discipleship or to describe a …
Are You Hitting the Target?
Like a target, goals give any endeavor direction and meaning. So what kind of goals should a disciple-maker have? While this isn’t an exhaustive list, its a great starting point. Goal 1) For my disciple to become Christ-like. To be Christ-like, a disciple must obey Christ’s teaching as summed up in the Great Commandment and …
Is Discipleship a Starting-Line or a Finish-Line?
Some people think of planned discipleship as a finish line. They think if they can just complete a discipleship program with someone, that will get the person across the spiritual finish line to a place where they are fully mature. Nothing could be further from the truth. First, discipleship is not a program with a …
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5 Tips For Cultivating Discipleship In Your Church
1) Pastors should identify the disciple-making that is already happening within their Church. Disciples are being made in every church -the only question is “disciples of what?” Although not all of the discipleship is intentional or profitable, the good news for pastors is that they do not have to create the momentum –it already exists. …
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Planned & Unplanned Discipleship
What does biblical discipleship look like? Is it found in a Sunday school class? Or perhaps in a worship service? What about Bible study groups? While all of these may contain discipleship, discipleship is not necessarily contained in them. Discipleship could be divided into two main categories: planned and unplanned. Planned discipleship specifically calls aside …