Incorporating A Religious Logic Into A Discipleship Program

This qualitative study proposes an Evangelical discipleship program that considers Khmer Christian and Khmer Folk Buddhist pursuits in supernatural power. In Chapter 1, I argue that Christian discipleship practitioners in Cambodia should deeply consider Khmer convert perceptions of supernatural power. In Chapter 2, I further strengthen this position by highlighting the ways Khmer Folk Buddhists search for supernatural power, as explained in literature. In Chapters 4 and 5, I organize the Khmer perspectives I received in interviews into conceptual frameworks that illustrate Khmer Folk Buddhist and Khmer Christian religious logic paradigms. In Chapter 6, I compare these logics to create an appropriate Evangelical discipleship program that addresses supernatural power pursuits in Christ-centered contexts.

If you are looking for a "program in a box/book" to transform your Christian education and discipleship programs at the congregational level, you will need to rethink your presuppositions as you read and work through the ideas in this pivotal work. A twentieth-century mentality will not carry you very far into the movement contemplated by Tidsworth and Harrison. This is an urgent call for the church to realign with the nature of the twenty-first-century world of which we are a part. If for no other reason, this book is a significant read. The authors support their discussion with clear biblical and spiritual insights. The chapters also provide some good contemporary background from others who are writing and thinking about church development. Reading this book will help bring the reader up to date on leadership, church culture, change, and the general state of God's church in the twenty-first century. All around us we hear moaning about how the church has lost its place in the world. Disciple Development Coaching is a highly relational movement that has the potential to empower all Christians to find their places in the world. It also locates the responsibility for the church's mission in the hands, hearts, and minds of all disciples. The chapters are set forth in a highly linear and logical manner as the authors explain thoroughly their proposal. It is a "working read." The reader must place herself in the text and move through exercises in the context of a training manual. Yet, this is not a method or program. The entire foundation is relational, almost natural. One wonders why we didn't figure this out a long time ago. The relationship between the coach and the disciple is a movement through conversation with a major emphasis on listening and empowering the disciple to develop competencies already available in his frame of Christian reference. The coach and the disciple ask, listen, explore, design, commit, and support in a shared experience that has a natural move back and forth. There is no beginning or end; it is a relational process that is part of an intentional long-term way of life.

Today, we have many ways of defining success in life. Some define it as being a sports hero, others as being wealthy, others as being popular and well liked, and still others as being happy. How does God define success? He defines it as being spiritually mature! How do we become spiritually mature? There’s only one way, and it’s called discipleship. However, statistics show that discipleship is in a state of crisis today. Many Christians are not growing in Christ and are stuck in the process of reaching spiritual maturity. A Barna study reveals that almost nine out of ten senior pastors of Protestant churches assert that spiritual immaturity is one of the most serious issues facing the church. Sadly, what discipleship meant in the time of Christ and what it means today is vastly different. Moreover, the importance Christ and the Apostles gave to discipleship is also stunningly different than the importance many Christians and churches today give it. Unlike the disciples who had much of Scripture memorized, a whopping 81% of Christians today don’t read their Bibles regularly. Unlike Christ’s disciples who were “Fishers of Men,” 61% of believers today have not shared their faith in the past six months. And sadly, unlike Christ and the Apostles who made discipleship the central focus of their ministries, 81% of pastors today have no regular discipleship programs in their churches. Discipleship is being neglected today, and the consequences are crippling many Christians and churches. This book hopes to change that! Chapter 1 focuses on the state of discipleship today and exposes the sad truth that it’s in crisis mode. Chapter 2 reveals 13 key factors contributing to the lack of discipleship today. Chapter 3 defines biblical discipleship based on central phrases Christ used in His ministry. Chapter 4 brings to light 14 essential components of the discipleship-making process that must be understood and practiced in order to attain spiritual maturity. Chapter 5 provides practical, “how-to” help for growing in Christ. It includes self-assessment tests for measuring your level of spiritual maturity in each essential component of discipleship and gives hands-on, useful ideas for taking steps toward spiritual maturity. Discipleship is a command for all believers and is our highest calling. This book provides biblical help for fulfilling this calling and seeks to discover what God says about genuine growth in Christ. It’s both an informative book and a “how-to” book. It deals with the barriers that are hindering discipleship, and offers practical help for overcoming these barriers and attaining spiritual maturity. So, are you ready to grow? Would you like to be pleasing to God? Would you like to fulfill the reason for which you’ve been created? Would you like the full blessings of God in your life? Would you like to become spiritually mature? Would you like to hear Christ’s words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when you arrive in heaven? If so, this book is for you.

In Together We Equip, you will discover the biblical foundation for equipping others. Equipping others in ministry is a process you bring with you as the leader! Its both personal and public. Its you as an individual and your church. This book will challenge you to take responsibility to grow spiritually, engage the culture, and share the gospel. Further, you will discover the impact of discipleship in the local church by examining mentoring small groups and preaching as relevant means to equip others. In the later chapters of the book, seasoned church ministry leaders with years of experience in making disciples through equipping ministry of the local church share many practical ways to equip others and lead church ministries: childrens ministry youth ministry collegiate ministry mens and womens ministry adult and senior adult ministries. Many ministry leaders do not know how to make disciples. They know, accept, and believe the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 1920). Yet they struggle with practical approaches and methods to carry out a viable equipping ministry. The book will help you elevate the importance of personal growth, making disciples, and assist you to align your age-graded and gender-based ministry leadership development.

Reframing Spiritual Formation takes seriously the realities of an increasingly secular, pluralistic and spiritually thirsty population base most churches face with fear, yet are called to reach and disciple. Hammett provides succinct overviews of the challenges and opportunities these realities bring to the doors of churches and their leaders. His primary focus is on facilitative questions and practical ideas for discipling the churched and the unchurched who are seeking grounding and meaning in this rapidly changing world.

For many people, church is there to meet their needs--with programs designed with them in mind. Strategic Disciple Making teaches these churchgoers to develop a servant's heart. Readers will discover that they control the destiny of their church. If they seek personal contentment, they must grow as disciples, and church expert Aubrey Malphurs explains the true meaning of the word. This refreshing resource offers a radical "how-to" for renewing faltering faith. It is perfect for burned-out ministers and downcast church leaders who want a more authentic discipleship experience.

For far too long, the church has tried to make disciples using a one-size-fits-all approach. Some churches advocate 1-on-1 discipling, others try getting everyone into a small group, while still others training through mission trips or service projects. Yet others focus all their efforts on attracting people to a large group gathering to hear biblical teaching and preaching. But does one size really fit everyone? Based on careful biblical study and years of experience making disciples in the local church, Bobby Harrington and Alex Absalom have identified five key relationships where discipleship happens in our lives. In each relational context we need to understand how discipleship occurs and we need to set appropriate expectations for each context. Discipleship That Fits shows you the five key ways discipleship occurs. It looks at how Jesus made disciples and how disciples were formed in the early church. Each of the contexts is necessary at different times and in different ways as a person grows toward maturity in Christ: Public Relationships: The church gathering corporately for worship Social Relationships: Networks of smaller relationships where we engage in mission and live out our faith in community Personal Relationships: Small groups of six to sixteen people where we challenge and encourage one another on a regular basis Transparent Relationships: Close relationships of three to four where we share intimate details of our lives for accountability The Divine Relationship: Our relationship with Jesus Christ where we grow through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit Filled with examples and stories, Alex and Bobby show you how to develop discipleship practices in each relational context by sharing how Jesus did it, how the early church practiced it, and how churches are discipling people today.

As Satan tempted Christ, so he tempts us today. Pointing to the glory of the kingdoms of the world, he says, “All these things I will give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Although always with an air of piety, the consumer-driven church is lured into following the counsel of Satan while rejecting the example of Christ. He who is a deity emptied himself of his privileges and became a man. And not just any man but the lowest of men—a servant. He died not just any death but the cruelest of deaths—on a cross, as a condemned criminal. Such a vision of Christ’s humiliation should consume all of our self-interest and pour contempt on all our pride. But the vision of the exalted Christ should all the more compel us to renounce our own self-importance and self-seeking. The enslaving power of self-love does not only attach itself to the church, transforming its spiritual life into empty forms, turning its so-called good works into monuments of self-glory and changing its sacred mission into a search for the significance and fulfillment of self. It also enslaves the individual Christian by exalting the self to preeminence. Thus, it defeats real happiness by producing pride, discontent, envy, bitterness, unforgiveness, ambition, anxiety, and a whole host of other destructive qualities that exist for no other reason than to defend and maintain the self that we have erroneously, and to our own injury, exalted to preeminence. Self-love will never be made subordinate until we get a glimpse, by divine grave, of something far lovelier. Other idols may be replaced by even more enticing ones, but the idol of the self can only be laid aside by the all-entrancing vision of the loveliness of Christ.

Soul Survival is the book for every pastor, teacher, Christian, convert and ministry. Get this compact book with literally all the basics outlines to nurture and strengthen believers for a victorious life. I have been a pastor to converts and young people for over ten (10) years and this is one of the most resourceful book you will ever find. This book is scripture based and very inspiring to its readers. It's an excellent step by step guide that teaches "How to overcome temptation," "How to remain free," "Seven steps to hell" etc. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in discipleship and following the Lord's example in nurturing new believers. Reverend Devon Hylton, Pastor Harvest Army God's Revival Center SOUL SURVIVAL: Builds faith Teaches clearly Lays solid foundation Gives sincere milk Offers strong food Transmits knowledge Communicates deep truths Imparts wisdom Impacts readers Increases growth Strengthens man Relates insights on living Logical in counsel Biblically based A practical manual Euphema Collins is the wife of Dr. K. D. Collins, founder and Bishop of the Harvest Army Church International in the Bronx, New York, USA. For years she has been the Host Pastor and corner stone support in the ministry. She is a teacher, pastor and TV evangelist. She has spent over twenty years ministering to thousands of souls and raising up believers to be effective ministers of the gospel. She is a woman of grace and deep devotion. Euphema has earned her M.A. degree and doctoral studies at International Bible College and Seminary. Her love for God's people has taken her ministry worldwide and has granted her favor among women internationally.

Covenant Discipleship Groups have a long history of helping Christians grow as disciples. Based on the early Methodist class meetings, Covenant Discipleship Groups provide a way for Christians today to be accountable disciples of Jesus Christ. Q&A's Q: WHAT IS A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: Covenant Discipleship Groups consists of up to seven persons who meet together for one hour each week to hold themselves mutually accountable for their discipleship. They do this by means of a covenant that they have written. Q: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: Covenant Discipleship Groups are intended solely for mutual accountability and prayerful support for living as disciples in the world. They are not where our discipleship happens but where we make sure that it happens. Q: WHY DOES THE GROUP NEED A COVENANT? A: The covenants we make with one another help us keep our covenant with God. We make covenants with one another because we live in a world that has yet to accept God's salvation. We constantly face temptations to turn away from God, and we need some means of mutual support. John Wesley and the early Methodists understood this need and saw that nothing short of binding themselves to mutual accountability would suffice. By the grace of God, they agreed to watch over each other in love. Q: WHY JOIN A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: By joining with other Christians in a weekly meeting, members of Covenant Discipleship Groups learn to center their lives on Jesus Christ by following his teachings and supporting one another in living out the basics of Christian discipleship. Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IN A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: You will become more aware of God's grace in your life. You will find new ways of serving God and your neighbor. You will find your understanding of God's will greatly enhanced. Q: How WILL THIS BOOK HELP ME? A: This handbook is primarily a practical reference manual for starting, developing, sustaining, and incorporating Covenant Discipleship Groups into the mission and ministry of the church.