2010 – Disciples who make Disciples – Part 1

Discipleship is all about the Holy Spirit transforming us as we experience 'life on life.' God, with us doing our parts, doesn't make disciples in nice tidy environments. It is messy and it is in community. Teaching and worship happen in the BWCK (Big White Chocolate Kiss, our building), comfortable and safe; on the other hand, discipleship – growth in the qualities and nature of Christ – happens mainly 'life on life.' IT happens DOING LIFE TOGETHER.
I am going to spend the few days writing responses to eight different concepts about discipleship developed by Jeff Vanderstelt of Soma (Greek word for body), a collection of missional communities that is very Biblical in its development of disciples. We will all be experiencing a lot of SOMA training over the next year, so here we go on a ride of Biblical fun, adventure, and chiseling (thank you Brian & Ronnie for the unbelievable Christmas Eve skit).

Concept 1 – Faithfulness
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to RELIABLE men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
Watch your life. Put sin to death. Develop people who want to watch God move powerfully in your life – who want to and are willing to do whatever it takes to help you be faithful. This includes both rebuke and encouragement. This will develop both of you. One person is great; a life coach, a mentor, a partner is necessary. A family is also necessary. Until you have decided that your faith in God is the most important thing in your life – FAITHFULNESS – making disciples who make disciples will not happen through you.

Concept 2 – Community Context
The 'one anothers' (Click Here to see them all) must be lived out in authentic community. This cannot be done to any effective degree in hundreds of people. These must happen in our immediate families or the Bible calls us the worst of sinners. But also, we with intention must build missional cell families. This community context will build disciples most effectively. What we cannot do with hundreds, we will do with a few faithful to the King and dedicated to one another. This the THE THING at The Bridge.

Tomorrow, we will only look at Concept #3 – the Familia.