FOUNDATIONS

by | Dec 11, 2016

FOUNDATIONS

When we pray to receive Yeshua/Jesus as our Lord and Savior a radical exchange takes place and we’re “born again” (John 3:3) into the Kingdom of God. (Col. 1:12-14)  We’re then like spiritual infants who need to grow into toddlers, children, teens, and finally mature adults.  Our maturation process comes through studying and memorizing the Word of God, while asking the Holy Spirit to help us apply the Word to our lives.

We’ll all go through hardships in life and it’s during those times that our application of the Word to any given situation will do a great work in us to mature us as God’s children.

On the Mission Discipleship website are missions (teachings) to help disciples grow and mature. Discipleship is a life long process.  There are no “quick fixes.”  The bottom line is that being a mature child of God takes a lifetime.

We’re here for you along your journey as you go and make disciples. 

When we first launched the website the Lord put seven topics in front of us as top priority “missions.”

  1. Love
  2. Worship
  3. Being a Doer of the Word
  4. Fruitfulness
  5. Fellowship & Community
  6. Destiny & Purpose
  7. Evangelism & Discipleship

This website has free resources on all the above topics…and much more. 

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to carve out regular time in your schedule where you’ll be faithful to spend time with the Lord learning about these things and then sharing what you’re learning with someone else.

Grab a journal and prayerfully write down the things that inspire you that you’d like to share with others.

Here’s your first mission: 

 
DISCIPLINES OF DISCIPLESHIP

GATHERING TOGETHER

by | Dec 9, 2016

GATHERING TOGETHER
A Bible Study

 

Don’t hurry through this study. It’s to be done as in-depth as possible. A Lesson might take a week to complete. That’s OK. Take time with the scriptures and really meditate and “chew” on them, asking God for new revelation to come to you through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit and His Word.

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Topic: Gathering Together/Assembling

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1. Deuteronomy 4:9-10 Why is it important for us to assemble together?
2. Isaiah 43:1-21 Name all the promises and prophesies in this passage.
3. Acts 13:44 What did the people get together for?
4. Romans 10:7 How do we build our faith?
5. Timothy 4:1 What must we be very careful of?
6. Philippians 1:25 What are our 2 rewards for standing strong in the faith?
7. Psalm 150 What are we commanded to do? Where? Why? How? Who/What?
8. Hebrews 10:21-27 We all must face judgment. What 7 things are we commanded to do in this passage, which our not doing is equated with sin.
9. What can you do in your life to act on what God is telling you through these passages?

GITW – GOD’S WORD TO SINGLES

by | Dec 8, 2016

G.I.T.W.
Go In True Wisdom ~ Get In the Word ~ God Is There Waiting

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This set of Scriptures aims at refocusing your heart and mind, as a single adult, to seek after God. Take time to prayerfully meditate on these Scriptures and the messages they carry.

Colossians 3:1-6 It’s all about making a choice about what you’re thinking

Colossians 1:9-12 A prayer for you

James 4:6-10 God loves a humble heart

1 Chronicles 16:8-11 What to do when you’re attacked and at your weakest

1 Peter 1:13-16 Messiah calls us to holiness

1 Peter 4:1-3 Take a new view of suffering

1 Peter 4:12-14 Look at your feelings from God’s perspective

1 Peter 5:6-10 God has a reason and a plan for what you’re going through

2 Peter 1:2-11 The road to fruitfulness in Messiah

2 Peter 3:9-14 You have to make the choices NOW

Hebrews 12:1-16 How to run the race set before you

1 Corinthians 7:7-8 Don’t let the devil tell you that being single or alone is a bad thing – Use your time to get closer to God

Ephesians 5:1-21 Learn what is pleasing to the Lord

Ephesians 6:10-18 Put on the full armor of God

Philippians 1:9-11 A prayer for you

Philippians 4:6-9 How to use your mind

Philippians 4:13 Remember the source of your strength

Ezekiel 34:26 Look to God for all your blessings – Don’t try to get them out of other people

Psalm 51:7-15 By faith take His cleansing

Isaiah 61:6-9 Lean on God’s promises

Matthew 25:21 Let the words of Messiah inspire you

Romans 14:17 Seek first the kingdom of God

What comfort or encouragement do you receive from these scripture verses as a single adult?

What does G.I.T.W. mean to you?

GOSSIP & CONFLICT RESOLUTION

by | Dec 7, 2016

GOSSIP & CONFLICT RESOLUTION

 

Everyone has experienced the harm of gossip before. Whether the people talking didn’t mean direct harm, the result of gossip is always broken trust and hurt feelings. Gossip can be defined as information about the behavior or personal life of other people, often without the full truth revealed or known. God’s Word warns us to stay away from people who gossip and to guard our words when we speak about others!

Scripture also uses the word slander which means making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation. Slander can destroy someone’s marriage, job, wealth, and family. The tongue has power and we must be careful with how we use our words. The Bible tells us what words we should speak, and which we should not.

Scriptures about Gossip

2 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:29; James 1:26; Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 11:13; Proverbs 17:9

Gossip is usually the result of people not applying the biblical principles for conflict resolution; and thereby falling into a trap that brings harm to themselves and division to the Body of Messiah – hampering their and our (collective) ability to move forward in the anointing and authority of the Kingdom of God.

Yeshua’s instructions about conflict resolution:

Matthew 18:15-17

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.


Practical application

God uses the differences between us to help us grow.  The choice is ours on how successful our growth is.  We can work through things together and grow in humility, love and unity, or we can choose to avoid conflict resolution and harbor hurts which will divide us and keep us from being all that God intends, individually and collectively.

It takes discipline to make the right choices with regard to conflict resolution.  It’s not easy, but it’s well worth the effort.

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Heb. 12:11)

Open and honest communication are keys to victory in personal relationships. Even when things bother you that you think aren’t a big deal, it’s important to communicate with each other in order for your relationships to remain pure and undefiled.  Humble and open communication will deepen our relationships with each other so we can be more united in Christ, and more loving.

We are ministers of reconciliation. The scriptures clearly state that we’re to take that position in reference to man’s relationship with God.  I truly believe that we’re also to take that position to aid man’s relationship with man, as well.

Godly communication, discipline, humility, reconciliation, forgiveness…these are all such big keys to the success our relationships with one another.  They can have such a positive effect on our relationships and on the other side of the coin their absence can completely poison our relationships.


Communication Tools:

Confrontation is often something we avoid because we don’t want conflict.  But truthfully the conflict will be there whether we confront it or not. And because conflict is something that comes between two people to divide them, it breaks our unity until confronted and resolved.

Conflicts need to be handled in “tool box” discussions where certain rules of communicating (tools) must be adhered to in order for people to be heard, and issues to be dealt with in a godly way.

  • When someone communicates that something you do bothers them act in love by being sensitive to their feelings.
  • Listen to one another with a desire to understand, and not just desire to defend yourself and respond. This isn’t always easy, but God’s Spirit (Spirit of self-control) can help you.
  • Think the best of each other and give the benefit of the doubt in questionable situations.
  • Approach each other without accusation. When something bothers you, communicate how it made you feel without accusation.
  • Give the other person a chance to respond to your feelings.  This is very helpful in honoring each other and reconciling problems.
  • Ask for forgiveness when you’ve done or said something that hurt your brother or sister.
  • Verbalize your forgiveness on the other end. There’s a tremendous amount of healing power within words of forgiveness.  They truly are words of life.
  • Seek to build one another up instead of tearing down. Our tongues are so powerful. Guarding them is essential. Think before you speak and listen to the words that come out of your mouth. Repent if you hear yourself tearing others down with your tongue.
  • In humility look to yourself as the source of conflicts first. Be open to God showing you things He wants you to repent of. Prayerfully seek the Lord when something negative is pointed out about you. This isn’t easy, but it’s essential for the growth of our character.
  • Each of us, as humans, has wounds that we may not know about, or realize. These are often the reason conflicts arise in the first place. We must rely on God and each another, to aid in our individual healing processes. Desire recovery and growth. Be intentional about your healing.
  • Seek the Lord for healing and don’t just “stuff” things inside of yourself.
  • If there is something going on between you and someone else, the longer you wait to deal with it the more difficult it will be to work through the problem. It takes prayerful wisdom to know the right timing of dealing with things, but scripture is quite clear. “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” (Matt. 5:22-24) “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matt. 18:21-22)
  • Strive to speak the truth in love and not be afraid of conflict. Conflict, when handled correctly is actually an opportunity to grow closer. By acting on and applying these godly forms of communication strong bonds will be built that will glorify God. “..but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:15-16)
  • Open and godly communication, coupled with humility with the goal of reconciliation, is a recipe for unity. Unity is paramount because without it our own lives and ministry efforts will not be anointed by God. (Psalm 133)
  • Seek to identify things that come between us and to recognize them for what they are. We can’t change each other, but the Holy Spirit can. Because of that, pray that the Holy Spirit works in all your conflicts.
  • Don’t get emotional, defensive or manipulative in conflict; but open your ears and hearts and listen to each other objectively in the midst of the conflict. This allows for reconciliation in conflicts and the restoration of unity, which are of utmost importance in the body of Messiah.
  • Sometimes there are wounds that are inflicted upon us by what people do or say that trigger things from our past. It’s important to really get to know ourselves and each other, being sensitive to the hidden psychology of our personalities.
  • It’s a natural thing to want to avoid confrontation at any cost. It does you and the person you’re in conflict with a great disservice by not opening up and talking about adverse things that were said or done. By not confronting we aren’t really loving our brothers and sisters the way that God wants us to.
  • There’s a side to love within the Body of Christ that calls us to desire to see our brothers and sisters grow more into the likeness of Christ. Quite often it takes confrontation to address some issues. Godly confrontation is a big part of our responsibility in our relationships with one another.

 

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

by | Dec 4, 2016

The purpose of Bible study is the growth of your knowledge of God, and His ways; and a deepening of your worship of Him. An added benefit is that as you come to know Him, you’ll come to understand yourself, as well.

THE 3 QUESTION BIBLE STUDY METHOD

 

Pray for God to guide your study, to show you new things and give you new understanding as you read and study His Word.
Get a journal (any kind of notebook will do.) Dedicate it to writing what you learn from the Bible.
Pick out a short passage of scripture (5-6 verses a day) and read it. Example: Genesis 1:1-5 1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning–the first day.

Question 1: What is the passage about?

Write down a list of the facts of the content of the passage. For example who are the people, if any? What are they doing? Where does it take place? When? Etc.

Try to write a brief sentence summarizing the content of the passage. Example: v.1: beginning – God – created – heavens – earth v.2: earth formless – empty – darkness over surface of deep – Spirit of God hovering over waters v.3: God said – Let there be light – light v.4: God saw light good – separated light from darkness v.5: God called light day – darkness night – evening – morning -first day In the beginning God saw light as good when He created and spoke light onto the dark earth.

Question 2: What do you learn from this passage?

Ask yourself questions like the following: Is there a warning, a command, a promise? Is there an example to follow or an example not to follow? What is the main truth of this passage? Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth? Why is this passage in Scripture? Why did God put this passage in the Bible? What dos this passage reveal about the character of God (His attributes, ways of relating to people, emotions, His views about something, reasons to love Him more, etc.) Are there specific things for which to pray? Is there a new thought to me? An encouraging thought? etc.

Not all of the above things will be in every passage you study. You may have other questions that come to your mind as you read. These are only suggestions to get you started. Write down your conclusions. Concentrate on one or two (maybe three) things that are especially meaningful to you personally. Example: God creates things and is able to speak things into existence; God judges things as good or bad; before God spoke over the earth it was formless and empty; It was when God separated light from darkness that He created the first day.

Question 3: How can I apply what I learned to my life? Be specific and directive. Don’t be easy on yourself. Make the question “nail you.” Ask yourself a personal question that demands action, i.e.: NOT “will I spend more time in God’s Word?” BUT “How (or when) can I set aside time to study God’s Word?”

Then write the answer to your question i.e.: “By setting aside the time from 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. daily to read one passage (chapter, section, etc.) of Scripture and to write out the facts, lessons and practical applications I discover there.”

Examples:

In what ways do I create good and bad things when I speak?

In what areas do I need to ask God to separate light and darkness in my life?

In what way can my life be compared to the story of creation where God brought light to the formless and dark earth, allowing Him to see it as good?
Summary:

Question1: What Does it say?
Question 2: What Does it mean?
Question 3: What Does it mean to me? Your study must be structured.

You cannot just jump into a passage without knowing what’s going on in the history and with the characters so study the bible in order.
Choose a book and study the entire book. Do not jump around. Ask God for where to begin.