Selecting a Disciple-Maker's Message
Liberty Theological Seminary
Written Assignment 2:
Selecting a Disciple-Maker’s Message
A Paper
Submitted to Dr. Bob XXXXX
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course
Discipleship Ministries
DSMN500
By XXXXX
6 Sept 2012
Introduction There are many well-meaning, devout, knowledgeable Christians who well never intentionally build even one world-impacting, world visionary, reproducing disciple. This is because they will never seriously pursue a systematic curriculum designed for the purpose of discipling another to his ultimate destination (Hodges, p117). This need is not reserved for pastors, as evidenced by the writings of Luke. Luke was a layman, a busy doctor with his hectic schedule. Yet, he made time to develop much of our new testament for the purpose of winning Theophilus to a personal faith in Christ (Hodges, p119). We likewise are to be about making disciples. A message is to be selected which is appropriate for the student, then communicated to him by the teacher (Mitchell, p276). A regimen must be in place which encompasses an organized, structured designed curriculum (Mitchell, p279). Yet we must not simply fill people’s heads with Biblical knowledge and principles (Barna 2001, p89). Because of the diversity of believer’s backgrounds and abilities, the message has been taught in random, rather than systematic methods (Barna 2001, p91). This incongruity has resulted in good information being lost if it is presented without context, or application to the believers’ life. The pursuit of effective discipleship is a lifelong calling that requires every resource one can ever muster (Barna 2001, p99). Discipleship must be intentional with the goal of imparting life transformation. Without planning, an attempt at imparting biblical knowledge may turn into a “society for protecting, preserving, and propagating pet theological hobby horses” (Aldrich, 1981).
Sources
The disciple-maker has four sources from which to
Written Assignment 2:
Selecting a Disciple-Maker’s Message
A Paper
Submitted to Dr. Bob XXXXX
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course
Discipleship Ministries
DSMN500
By XXXXX
6 Sept 2012
Introduction There are many well-meaning, devout, knowledgeable Christians who well never intentionally build even one world-impacting, world visionary, reproducing disciple. This is because they will never seriously pursue a systematic curriculum designed for the purpose of discipling another to his ultimate destination (Hodges, p117). This need is not reserved for pastors, as evidenced by the writings of Luke. Luke was a layman, a busy doctor with his hectic schedule. Yet, he made time to develop much of our new testament for the purpose of winning Theophilus to a personal faith in Christ (Hodges, p119). We likewise are to be about making disciples. A message is to be selected which is appropriate for the student, then communicated to him by the teacher (Mitchell, p276). A regimen must be in place which encompasses an organized, structured designed curriculum (Mitchell, p279). Yet we must not simply fill people’s heads with Biblical knowledge and principles (Barna 2001, p89). Because of the diversity of believer’s backgrounds and abilities, the message has been taught in random, rather than systematic methods (Barna 2001, p91). This incongruity has resulted in good information being lost if it is presented without context, or application to the believers’ life. The pursuit of effective discipleship is a lifelong calling that requires every resource one can ever muster (Barna 2001, p99). Discipleship must be intentional with the goal of imparting life transformation. Without planning, an attempt at imparting biblical knowledge may turn into a “society for protecting, preserving, and propagating pet theological hobby horses” (Aldrich, 1981).
Sources
The disciple-maker has four sources from which to
Bibliography: Aldrich, Joseph A. 1981. Life-Style Evangelism: Crossing Traditional Boundaries to Reach the Unbelieving World. Portland: Multnomah Press. Barna, George. 1990. The Frog in the Kettle. Ventura: Regal Books. Barna, George. 2001. Growing True Disciples. Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich.1959. The Cost of Discipleship. New York: Touchstone. Hodges, Herb. 2001. Tally Ho the Fox. Germantown, TN: Manhattan Source, Inc. Mitchell, Michael R. 2010. Leading, Teaching, and Making Disciples. Bloomington, IN: CrossBooks. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001. London: Good News Publishers.