Effective September 1, 2024, our English Sunday Service will begin at 11:15 AM in the SANCTUARY.
Discipleship: the process of becoming more like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This new start time allows our congregation a more “unrushed” Sunday morning experience. This adjustment is the first phase in a series of focused changes on a Discipleship Pathway we are planning across all our ministries of Simplicity, Seeding, Sharing and Seeking. Here’s an example of how this journey could potentially look like as ministry leaders are starting to have conversations on each area:
For the Sunday worship portion it is a sacred time to come before the Almighty God in praise and awe. It’s a moment where we are shaped to be more like Jesus through our worship and the Word of God. We aim to create a space that impacts your walk with Jesus, offering time for conversations, connection, and prayer.
As we make these changes, we seek to cultivate a non-anxious, breathable environment for worship. We hope this will help you grow in your identity as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20) and inspire you to worship God in every aspect of your life throughout the week.
More on the Discipleship Journey
Matthew 28:19-20
Definition:
Disciple: A disciple is someone who knows and obeys Jesus and his teachings.
Discipleship: A disciple’s journey to be with Jesus, be more like Him, and do as He did.
Journey: A disciple-maker coming alongside someone where they are at with mutual intentionality, time sensitivity, measurable goals and an accountable learning journey to grow as a disciple.
Disciple-maker: An individual who has been discipled and is on a journey to follow the example of Christ. As such, this disciple helps others start and continue their journey as well. (1 Cor. 11:1)
How:
Be with Jesus — Learning to live in faith
Be more like Jesus — Building a life of faith
Do as Jesus did — Sharing a life of faith
Discipleship journeys are usually done one-on-one or in small pods of 3-4. At the beginning, a set goal/learning outcome and duration are usually outlined. The goal and learning outcome should be achievable in less than six months. Once the goals are complete, the pod can choose to continue to grow in another area/goal or disband the pod. An expectation as a disciple is to one day become a disciple-maker, whether it is in their family, church, peer group, or community.
Building Blocks of a Discipleship Journey
Tools and resources to guide an individual to become a disciple and a disciple-maker.
Discipleship Assessment
“Who am I becoming? Immortal horrors or everlasting splendours?”
An individual’s growth in their love for God and others should also produce tangible growth in these areas:
Spiritual Disciplines:
Sabbath, Prayer, Fasting, Solitude, Generosity, Scripture, Community, Service, Witness. (PTW: My Spiritual Health survey online)
Character Traits (Christlike identity):
Are they growing to be more Christlike? How do the people around them experience their presence?
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)
Humility, Mercy, Compassion, Peacemaker, Integrity, Simplicity, Justice, Hospitality. (Matthew 5:3-12)
Missional Involvement:
Understanding and application of their spiritual gifts.
Where and how do they invest their time/presence, at home, at church, in their community/neighbourhood?
How do they express their love to their family, the church, and their community?
How do they participate in making disciples?
What is their level of passion for bringing others into a relationship with Jesus?
The Gospel:
What is the Gospel? [How do they explain the Gospel? Can they explain the gospel?]
If you would like to know how to get started on this discipleship journey or would like to have a further conversation on discipleship contact: [email protected].
Appendix A: Building Blocks
Practicing the Way Outline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y9srVILCXLPW2Zqzz_I15vOLZs2ULX6CiYtQacDiy5g/edit?usp=sharing
Simple Discipleship Outline:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BPOd_WlghqrIhXTM1bb9xCGTKb94NMi37xyaOzs5gTE/edit?usp=sharing
30x60x100 curriculum:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N5tyWXa4NpDpNCWg9m6vhBciddTjp-Rh/view?usp=drive_link
Alpha / Marriage + Premarital Course:
https://www.themarriagecourse.org/
The Bible Project:
(Eng SCCEFC) Baptism Class:
https://sccefc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1013052
Bible Study: How to read through the gospel template (Let’s Read):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o7teFR2VckG_Glfqa5ymQVibUV8ycjuuizoGd0I6K1M/edit?usp=drive_link
Following Jesus: A 30-Day Guide Exploring Christian Disciplines:
(photocopy version atm)
Appendix B: Other Resources
Gospel-Saturated Life
The Prodigal God
The Reason for God
Crazy Love
Follow Me
The Jesus I Never Knew
Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine
Connected to God
The Knowledge of the Holy
The Deeply Formed Life
The Pursuit of God
A long obedience in the same direction
Sacred Rhythms
Surrender to Love
The Life You’ve Always Wanted
God in my everything
Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World
Exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit
Celebration of Discipline
Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Understanding the Bible and Christian Theology
Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters
N. T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides (various books of the Bible)
Contact Pastors for specific topics
Missional Living
Helping without Hurting
Radical
Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples
The Marketspace: Essential Relationships Between the Sending Church, Marketplace Worker, and Missionary Team
Something Needs to Change: An Urgent Call to Make Your Life Count
Work as Worship series (RNM)
No shortcut to success (Mission ministry focus)
Missionary Bios
Engaging Others Toward Discipleship
Simple Discipleship
Emotionally Healthy Discipleship
What if Jesus was serious?
Community
I am a church member
Life Together
Rediscover Church
Center Church
A Church Called Tov
Fulfilling God’s Call on their Life
Courage & Calling
Crafting a rule of life
Every good endeavour
Your Calling Here and Now: Making Sense of Vocation
Leadership
Wisdom from Babylon: Leadership for the Church in a Secular Age
Strengthening the soul of your leadership
People of a certain character
Appendix C: Further Readings
Strawser, Eun Kyong. Centering Discipleship : A Pathway for Multiplying Spectators into Mature Disciples. Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2023.
Guindon, Brandon. Disciple Making Culture : Cultivate Thriving Disciple-Makers throughout Your Church. HIM Publication, 2020.
Comer, John Mark. Practicing the Way : Be with Jesus, Become like Him, Do as He Did. Colorado Springs, Colo.: WaterBrook, 2024.
Allin, Dana. Simple Discipleship : Grow Your Faith, Transform Your Community. Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress, 2019.
Miller, Tim E. 30x60x100 : Making Disciples and Developing Discipleship Curriculum. DTN Inc., 2022.
Davis, Charles A. Making Disciples Across Cultures: Missional Principles for a Diverse World. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2015.
Breen, Mike. Building a Discipling Culture : How to Release a Missional Movement by Discipling People like Jesus Did. Greenville, SC: 3DM Publishing, 2017.
Rhodes, Matt. No Shortcut to Success : A Manifesto for Modern Missions. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway, 2022.
Discipleship.org