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Personal Discipleship

Personal Discipleship. Coaching-Mentoring-Directing. Spiritual Formation Insights from the Christian Community. [Barna, Growing True Disciples ]. Church as a locus of spiritual formation Lack of detailed assistance/guidance Small groups not an automatic solution

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Personal Discipleship

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  1. Personal Discipleship Coaching-Mentoring-Directing

  2. Spiritual Formation Insightsfrom the Christian Community [Barna, Growing True Disciples] • Church as a locus of spiritual formation • Lack of detailed assistance/guidance • Small groups not an automatic solution • Lack in clear objectives / measurable growth goals • 95% of believers indicated that if spiritual growth goals were identified they would listen and at least follow parts, if not all the advice • 55% indicated they would be more likely to pursue growth if matched with a mentor or coach • Most appealing growth activities are those least intrusive

  3. Distinguishing the Personal Approaches to Disciple-making [Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship] • Metaphor of discipler as “Coach” • Majority had positive feelings about their experiences • 30% claimed the coaching received was “life changing” • Only 1/7 adults interested in being coached again soon • Would people subject to spiritual coaching with someone they trust? (Barna, 59)

  4. Distinguishing the Personal Approaches to Disciple-making [Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship] • How a coach functions • Begin as players, then transition as play less and coach more • Vital emotional connection between coach / player • Ideally, coaching occurs on the job and in person • Summary functions of a “coach” • Impart skills • Impart confidence • Motivate people to bring out their best • Model the importance of learning the basics of a skill • Point people to other resources • Observe people in action • Evaluate people’s experience and give them feedback

  5. Distinguishing the Personal Approaches to Disciple-making [Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship] • Metaphor of discipler as “Mentor” • Mentors help others make sense of their lives • Draw disciple into proper sphere of life values/purpose • Characteristics of mentoring • Focuses on mentor’s character being absorbed into disciple • Helps disciple enter into true meaning of existence as God’s child

  6. Distinguishing the Personal Approaches to Disciple-making [Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship] • Metaphor of discipler as “Spiritual Guide” • Ancient and most Catholic of the metaphors • One person assisting another in working out their spiritual journey in very specific applications unique to that person (Hull, 221) • Structured ministry in which a gifted and experienced Christian, called a spiritual director, helps another believer grow in relationship with and obedience to Christ. (Demarest, in Hull 221) • Means of addressing the emotional education needs of our inner lives

  7. Distinguishing the Personal Approaches to Disciple-making [Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship] • Metaphor of discipler as “Spiritual Guide” • Distinctives of spiritual direction • Primary resources engaged for spiritual enrichment • Focus on interior life / practice of the spiritual disciplines • Dedicate time apart / attached to spiritual director • Utilizing a spiritual guide • Locate the proper guide • Choose the proper material to read • Retreat to healthy context for growthFind the Divine at http://www.findthedivine.com/index.html

  8. Building Discipleship Friendships One Conversation at a Time

  9. Basic Skills for Being a Friend/Discipler [Fryling, Disciple-makers’ Handbook] • Looking through another’s eyes • Being curious • Asking questions • Practicing hospitality • Laughing together • Praying together

  10. Using Conversations as the Building Blocks of Friendship Discipling [Henderson, Making Disciples One Conversation at a Time] • Four elements of an effective conversation • A clear goal from outset of the relationship • To help each other become all God wants us to be to grow to full maturity in Christ • Shared information that relates to that goal • Strengthening the relationship • Working on meaningful projects / common purpose • Agreement on the next steps toward the goal • Action steps – implementation plans for change

  11. Using Conversations as the Building Blocks of Friendship Discipling [Henderson, Making Disciples One Conversation at a Time] • Strategies for utilizing conversations • Wesley’s effective use of “close conversations” • How doth your soul prosper? • What advantage have you taken of the means of grace? • What opportunities have you had for service/witness and how did you avail yourself of them? • What temptations have you faced / how did you overcome? • Asking the good questions to dig down to reality • Guard the boundaries cautiously

  12. Using Conversations as the Building Blocks of Friendship Discipling [Henderson, Making Disciples One Conversation at a Time] • Strategies for utilizing conversations • Prayer together is foundation of redemptive friendships • Friend’s greatest need -- power of God in life • Leading from a position of weakness • Biography of struggles/problems is toolbox for discipling • Let friend know you are a fellow struggler • Never blame God for our misfortune or claim tragedy was actually good in itself • Don’t go into details of moral failures • Don’t cheapen grace by presenting it as a ticket to sin

  13. Into the World [Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship] Able and Willing to Make Disciples

  14. Modeling the Christian Life[2 Cor 2:15] • Jesus should be the obvious love of your life • Confidence in the Bible • Commitment to prayer • A desire to grow/learn • A lover of people

  15. Responsibility for Reproduction(2 Tim 1:13-14) • Two kinds of persons required to continue the spread of Gospel • Timothys: those willing to be discipled as next generation • Pauls: those who seek and find another in whom to pass along this treasure • Qualities required for ongoing reproduction • Faithfulness: The foundational quality or reliability • Passion: Infectious fire of a transformed life • Ability to teach: Interest and ability to explain, demonstrate

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