By Stan Rodda: I remember those early days when my children started to feed themselves. It was an awesome day and felt like I had gained so much of my freedom back. As babies, my wife and I would feed them one bite at a time. If you’re a parent, you remember those days or are still living them. But as they gain some independence and start feeding themselves, it feels like you’re getting your life back.

The natural growth path for a human is to grow to be able to self-sustain. To feed and care for themselves. This also works when you think about your kids growing and finally being able to take themselves to the bathroom or take a shower. These are little moments of progress that all parents celebrate as their children grow and mature.

And that’s what we want to experience as disciple makers also. We want to experience the joy of someone we have discipled taking steps of obedience. Feeding themselves for the first time. Taking a risk like a first walking step. Learning how to clean themselves up after they have fallen down. That’s where the real joy is in disciple making. In order to get there, we have to help our disciples know how to measure and track their own obedience. The sooner they can do that, the sooner you will see them growing and maturing.

One tool that is helpful in measuring obedience is called “The Wheel.”

The Wheel

“The Wheel” focuses on four key areas of a disciple’s life to help them learn how to walk in daily obedience. The four key areas are:

Daily Prayer

Daily Scripture

Intentional Fellowship

Gospel Shares

How it Works

When I am obedient in all four of these areas, my discipleship tire is full. I roll along down the highway with no issues. When one of them is a little off, I end up with a flat or out of balance. Either way, I’m not operating at full capacity.

So imagine these four areas are supporting the overall healthy and vibrance of your life as a disciple and that of someone you are discipling. As a disciple I want to leave these core areas out daily. Then I want to train someone I am discipling to do the same. That’s where the “Thermostat” comes in.

The Thermostat

Technically, there are four thermostats. Each one with seven dashes representing the days of the week. If I read the Bible 5 days this week, then I circle or put a mark that shows I was in scripture 5 days in the past week. Then I measure the other three areas. What I come out with is either a nice full tire, or a flat.

Please note: the purpose of this tool is not to be legalistic in our approach to discipleship. It is meant to be a helpful tool for new disciples to learn how to walk in daily obedience. As a disciple maker, it is so encouraging and exciting when you meet with someone you are leading and they have used this tool to show you progress they are making in daily obedience.

So use the Wheel and Thermostat as you make disciples. It helps to lead others into steps of obedience and also trains them to disciple the next generation in daily obedience.

What questions do you have? How would you adapt these for your context?

Download the Wheel and Thermostat

Let’s take Kingdom territory!

Source: Disciple Making And Obedience

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By Doug Holliday: John 14 concludes with Jesus and the disciples leaving the Upper Room, so Jesus’ teaching and prayer in John 15-17 happens somewhere between the Upper Room and the Kidron Valley opposite the Mount of Olives. On the walk down toward the valley, before crossing over and entering the olive grove in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, Jesus stopped, perhaps at a vineyard, to teach.

“’I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.’”

??John? ?15:1? ?NIV??

Who was with Jesus at this moment? Just the Eleven? Judas had already left during the Last Supper. Additional disciples? John Mark was there when Jesus was later arrested in the Garden, fleeing as the crowd grabbed his cloak to leave him running away naked. Women followers? They were there as He was condemned and crucified.

On the walk toward Gethsemane, Jesus identified four levels of fruit-bearing for those who are “in Him.” Why was Jesus obsessed with fruit at this particular moment?

1. No Fruit

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit…”

John 15:2a NIV

Though some might think this refers to the unbeliever, Jesus specifically said that this branch that bore no fruit was in Him. Is it possible for some who belong to Jesus to go through seasons where they bear no fruit? Evidently so.

2. Some Fruit

“…while every branch that does bear fruit…”

John 15:2b NIV

Though there might be seasons where those who are “in Christ” bear no fruit, the norm is clearly that Christ-followers do live fruit-bearing lives.

3. More Fruit

“…he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

??John? ?15:2?c ?NIV??

In order for most Christ-followers to move toward a more fruitful spiritual life, some “pruning” will be required. Pruning doesn’t sound fun, right? Pruning can be painful, but pruning is necessary. Pruning is the removal of those things that would diminish our fruit-bearing capacity.

4. Much Fruit

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

??John? ?15:5, 8? ?NIV??

The progression of Jesus’ metaphor shows the Father’s desire for our lives. He will always be at work in us to glorify Himself by accomplishing His plan through us.

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He is responsible for our fruitfulness. He grafts us into the vine. He cultivates, cares for, and prunes us. He produces the spiritual fruit.

We have one responsibility. Abide. Remain. Stay connected to.

Not “connected to” in the sense of salvation, but rather connected to in the sense of relationship. Abide, as in “be with.” As we spend time with Him, in His Word and in prayer, we are abiding in Him. Our daily time alone with the Father is our spiritual lifeline.

Abiding cannot be separated from the work of the Holy Spirit. The two chapters in the Bible that record Jesus’ most significant teaching on the Holy Spirit are John 14 & 16, and Jesus’ challenge to abide is sandwiched right between them. This is not by coincidence.

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, who would not just be with them but would actually live in them. 

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

??John? ?14:16-17? ?NIV??

Abiding with Jesus would be possible after Jesus departed because He would send the Holy Spirit, who would be a permanent fixture in the disciples’ lives. This is how Jesus would fulfill His promise to the disciples to “never leave you or forsake you.” He promised to not leave them as orphans.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…. When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”

??John? 14:18, ?15:26? ?NIV??

Abiding with Him is accomplished as we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us (Word) and guide us (prayer).

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will TEACH you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

??John? ?14:26? ?NIV??

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will GUIDE you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

??John? ?16:13? ?NIV??

Spiritual fruit is produced by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. “The fruit of the Spirit…”

How does the Holy Spirit manifest this fruit in our lives?

1. Supernatural Power in Answered Prayer

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

??John? ?15:7? ?NIV??

2. Supernatural Joy in Loving Obedience

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

??John? ?15:11? ?NIV??

3. Supernatural Love through Great Sacrifice. 

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

??John? ?15:12-13? ?NIV??

4. Supernatural Friendship through Divine Intimacy. 

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

??John? ?15:15? ?NIV??

5. Supernatural Impact through Divine Appointment

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

??John? ?15:16? ?NIV??

The kind of fruit Jesus is speaking of here in John 15 is the spiritual harvest, disciple-making fruit. “Go and bear fruit” is the same message Jesus would later give, “Go and make disciples.”

6. Supernatural Strength to Endure Hardship

“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”

??John? ?15:20? ?NIV??

Here in John 14-16, on the night before Jesus would go to the cross, He revealed His “Spiritual Secret” to His disciples. Jesus’ spiritual secret is this: Abide

Abide in Christ.

Abide by walking in the Spirit.

Abide by being filled with the Spirit.

Abide and glorify the Father by bearing much fruit.

By Doug Holliday

The post The Supernatural Fruit of Abiding in Christ appeared first on Sonlife.

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Source: The Supernatural Fruit of Abiding in Christ

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By: Stan Rodda

It’s amazing the places you can learn truths about disciple making when you are aware enough to pay attention. I was reminded of a disciple making truth recently when I was watching my 15 year old son workout. He has been wanting to get bigger, faster, stronger. He’s a high school boy and made JV lacrosse at his high school. He wants to grow as an athlete and I’m sure wants to look good for the girls at his school as an ulterior motive. We don’t have a lot of weights at our house and I don’t have a gym membership anywhere, so I encouraged my son to get creative. And creative he got.

He has been making weight plates out of concrete mix and five gallon buckets. He is using zip ties and small dumbbells to tie to a barbell for shoulder and bench press. He’s watching everything on YouTube he can to learn about getting stronger and faster. He implements everything he sees and gives it a try. Over the last year or so of watching him do this, I am beginning to see the signs. He is a little bigger. He’s gotten a lot stronger. He’s definitely faster. The results are starting to show up. But it has taken a year to even begin to see.

That’s where the disciple making truth comes in…

When it comes to disciple making, you must think marathon, not sprint!

Hebrews gives us a glimpse into this truth.

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer an perfecter of our faith. [Hebrews 12:1, 2 CSB]

I get it. You want results…TODAY! You’re direct. You’re hard charging. You have goals and a vision for your church or ministry. You want to take your neighborhood, city, state and globe for God by tomorrow afternoon. I want results too. Results show you that you’re headed in the right direction and that you’re doing right things. I’m with you.

Unfortunately, like many things, disciple making doesn’t work that way. When I want to lose weight and get in shape, I must plan for the long haul. I can’t eat right for one day, do a few pushups, run around the block and expect my body to respond the next morning. I won’t wake up with chiseled pecs, six-pack abs and rippling biceps. I’ll wake up sore and hangry. I must get after it again that day, and then the next day, and the next day, and…you see where this is going.

You won’t have a disciple making movement tomorrow after one day of talking about it. You aren’t necessarily going to win your city to Jesus by this afternoon just because you talk about making disciples one time. As with most things, results simply don’t show up that way. You have to push again today, and then the next day, and then the next day, and…you see where this is going.

After six months, a year or five years of this constant pushing toward movement, you will start seeing results. It might take time, but the effort expended to get to this level of spiritual maturity and depth will make a much healthier disciple making movement in the long run. In order to get there, I must constantly be asking God, “What’s my next step? What step of obedience can I take today?”

Obey Today

When you spend time with God in your secret place, in the quiet, early morning hours (or whenever you spend your time with God), ask the question, “God, what step of obedience would you have me take today?”

What sin do I need to confess?

What attitude do I need to change?

What in my life must I change to walk in better alignment with You?

When God gives you the answer…obey! Confess your sin. Change your attitude. Make amends where needed. Love your spouse differently. Love your kids well. Change how you lead. Whatever it is that God is asking you to do in your own discipleship, take the step of obedience.

You can only lead a disciple making movement as far as you are willing to obey God in your own personal life!

Help Your Disciples Obey Today

Share with your disciples what God is telling you to do. Share your plans for obedience and ask for accountability. Then ask them how God is speaking to them.

What next step is God calling them to reach?

Who is God asking them to share with?

When is God asking them to do it?

Help them hear God’s voice and obey in their own life. As you are moving toward obedience, growing spiritually and reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus in your own life and as God does the same in the life of your disciples, you will see depth and growth. You will see the movement beginning to form and grow. It will take some time, but it will absolutely be worth it.

The journey toward a disciple making movement looks so much more like a marathon than a sprint! May you hear God’s voice today and obey. May you help someone you are leading do the same.

Let’s take Kingdom territory!

Source: Think Marathon, Not Sprint!

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by Stan Rodda: When it comes to prayer, everyone starts somewhere. You might be reading this and have been following Jesus for many years. Your prayer life might be strong and transformative. If so, that’s awesome. I’m excited for you. But new believers don’t start near the finish line. They start where everyone starts…at the beginning.

Let’s imagine you’re new to disciple making and have just started walking with a new believer. You want to model for them your own prayer life and quiet time with Jesus. You want them to see it in action so that they can grow. But starting where you are might be a challenge. Five minutes of prayer might be a real stretch for them, while you’re used to an hour or more of quiet time daily.

Here’s a simple tool that you can share with them and help them grow spiritually. It’s a great tool to add in to the prayer parts of PLUMPO (a framework for your quiet time). And to make it simple to remember, the acronym spells the word pray. So let’s walk through P.R.A.Y.

Praise

There may not be a better place to start a prayer than by praising God for who He is. Train a young disciple to focus their earliest thoughts on God’s goodness. Avoid going straight into prayer asking God for things and to show up like a magic genie. Maybe read a Psalm about God’s greatness as part of your prayer of praise. As you develop new skills in prayer, you’ll be more fluid with this. But no matter what, start prayer by focusing on God and giving Him the praise and glory due His Name!

Repent

Repentance isn’t a one-time thing that we do when we are saved. It’s an ongoing discipline in the life of the disciple. Train your young disciples to spend time in repentance. Maybe they recently read something in Scripture that they are realizing they need to work on. Maybe they have believed God didn’t care about them for a long time. Repentance is laying that before God, bringing that lie into the light and then asking God to replace that lie with truth. Then in repentance we begin to live in a new truth that God does care.

Train and walk with them as they discover things in themselves that need repentance.

Ask

This is your opportunity to bring things to the feet of God. Maybe it’s a sick family member and you are asking for healing. Maybe you have a broken relationship and you are asking God to restore it. Or maybe you are asking God to reveal Himself to you and lead you in wisdom and discernment. Whatever it might be, this is our opportunity in prayer to bring our requests with confidence to the throne room of God.

Yield

I like the word surrender here also. PRAS just doesn’t have the same ring to it however as PRAY. So I use “yield.” Regardless, it means the same. Now that I am aware of who God is, have given Him praise, have repented and laid things at His feet, now I’m moving forward in surrender and obedience. It is usually my will to do my will, but in prayer and in surrender to Jesus, I am yielding my will to the will of God. His desires and paths for me are far more important. I will surrender whatever it takes to walk in unity with Him.

PRAY is a simple tool to help you get started in your own daily quiet time. If you are new to faith and you are reading this, I highly encourage you to give this tool a try as a framework for your prayers. Leave me a comment and let me know how it goes. If you’re someone who has followed Jesus for a long time, I encourage you to take this tool and share with a new believer or a disciple you are leading.

Let’s take Kingdom territory!

Source: A Simple Tool to Get Started in Prayer

The post A Simple Tool to Get Started in Prayer appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Stan Rodda: There are moment when I feel like my belief and faith are stronger than ever. Then tragedy strikes, chaos, a fight with a family member, a global pandemic. Something terrible shakes everything. How quickly I jump to, “God, are you really there? Why is this happening?” I amaze myself sometimes how quickly I ask these types of questions.

John the Baptist did the same. Jesus’ cousin and the man who paved the way for Jesus. He went before Him and preached repentance, that the Kingdom was near, that people should turn from their sin and he baptized them. John even said, “I’m not worthy to tie His sandals.” This man had serious faith in Jesus.

And then tragedy hit. He speaks out against Herod’s new marriage to Herodias after divorcing his own wife. Herod is furious that John would speak out against him and so has him thrown in prison. While in prison, John begins to question. Matthew 11 records him asking his own followers to investigate Jesus. He says to them, “Are you really the One we have been waiting for?” He questions in his despair the identity of Jesus.

And Jesus responds to John and says…

the blind see

the lame walk

the deaf hear

lepers are cleansed

the dead are raised

good news is preached to the poor

Great stuff is happening, John. Jesus goes so far as to tell those listening that of all men born, no one is a great as John. In the face of his doubt and questions, Jesus shares great news, confirms His identity to John and then offers John amazing grace. There’s no one like John. Even at his worst.

Maybe you’ve been there before.

Maybe you’re there now.

You’re in your own prison. Your own place of questioning, pain and doubt. Jesus, are you really who You say You are? Why is all of this bad stuff happening? I’m nervous and afraid. Are you really the One?

May you hear the good news of Jesus afresh today. That the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and good news is preached to the poor. Great stuff is happening in our time. And beyond that, Jesus is so gracious toward us. Knowing that our spirit is so willing, but our flesh often fails us. Jesus offers us grace and mercy when we doubt. I am so grateful for His grace.

What are some practical ways to work through your doubts?

Abide in Christ Daily

In John 10, Jesus invites us to abide with Him. I would encourage you to continue drawing near to the Father through Scripture reading and prayer daily. those who are abiding in Jesus are the ones who bear fruit. Stay faithful in your abiding.

Don’t Trust Your Feelings

This one is difficult for me personally. I’m an emotional person who feels all my feels. But our feelings are so deceiving. How we feel about something is not always how it is in reality. Especially when it comes to Jesus. We may feel like He is distant, but Scripture says He is close to the broken-hearted.

Connect in Community

Sometimes one of the best steps we can take is to walk through our doubt with others. We can hear stories of those who have been there before us and how God has lead them through. Having people to share your feelings with who can speak truth and say those feelings may not be reality. It can be a difficult step, but I encourage you to be vulnerable enough to share your true feelings with others around you and allow them to guide and lead you through this season.

No doubt there are more ways to walk through seasons of doubt well. What would you add to the list?

Source: Grace In The Face Of Doubt

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by Stan Rodda: Something really interesting jumped out at me as I was reading Matthew 10 the other day. The first four verses of that chapter stood out to me unlike ever before and God showed me something I need to think more about. He drew my attention to finishing well in life and ministry through one name, Judas Iscariot.

Summoning His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas an dMatthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. [Matthew 10:1-4 CSB]

This is super cool. The disciples were given authority and power, to cast out demons, to heal every affliction, sickness and disease. How powerful is that? What would it have been like to experience that? And those that were chosen to bear this authority and power, are listed by name. And the very last name listed struck me; Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Maybe I’ve never thought about this before. Maybe I’ve just forgotten. Judas was given the power and authority to cast out demons, cleanse lepers and heal the sick. He was a part of the miraculous alongside the other disciples and Jesus Himself. For years he walked in this circle. And I thought to myself, “How did it get to the place where he kills himself?” How does a guy like that with power and authority end up betraying Jesus and hanging himself in a field, dying alone.

The thought occurred to me that Judas simply didn’t finish well. Maybe it was the pride of a man that made him feel that he could never fall. Maybe there was more to it than that. But the reality is that Judas was a man, just like me. He was human, just like all of us. And it can be very easy to look down on him for what he did, but there is a certain reality to all of this.

Father, may I never become so prideful that I think I’m above Judas. That I’m above finishing well.

I’m no better than Judas. I have the same capacity of Judas to come up short in the end. To not show up when I should have. I have the same capacity to not end well in my parenting. I have the same capacity to not end well in my marriage if I don’t pay attention. I’m not above the sin of pride and not finishing my life and ministry well. I’m not above ending poorly in my finances.

Maybe you find yourself in a place like that right now.

1. Your Marriage

Maybe your marriage has been lifeless for decades. Finishing well is the humility to admit you need a counselor. That professional help may be the only thing that saves your marriage.

2. Your Parenting

Maybe you only have a couple months left with a Senior who is graduating soon. But this year you don’t get to finish the way you thought because graduation parties and prom are cancelled. Finishing well with them may look like confronting past mistakes before they leave the house and head to college. How do you finish well as a mom or dad in the last couple months before your child leaves the house.

3. Your Ministry

Maybe you are in a ministry that makes you feel like you’re drowning. I have been there and it’s not easy. Maybe God is beginning to release you from that place, but you still have to finish. Finishing well looks a lot like humility, to let pains and hurts go that need to be let go. Forgiving when it’s difficult. Your biggest call and act of obedience right now in ministry may simply be, “Finish well.”

May I encourage you as you strive to finish well in your season of life.

Pursue Humility Like Your Life Depended On It

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. [Philippians 2:5, 8 CSB]

Jesus, may I become more like you. Obedient to death. Finishing well. Have the humility to admit that I don’t have all the answers. I’m no better than Judas. I’m no better than Thomas who doubted. I’m no better than Peter who denied. I’m not above them. I have the same capacity to sin and for pride to keep me from finishing well as any other believer in history. Father, give me humility to realize I have the same capacity as these people.

The humility to admit I need counseling.

The humility to admit I need accountability.

The humility to admit I need coaching.

Pursue Jesus Like Your Life Depended On It

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. [John 15:5 CSB]

Are you caring for your time with Christ? Are you daily connecting with Him in Scripture and prayer? Not the kind where you’re really trying to finish a sermon, training or class. Not that kind. The kind where you are completely open and truthful with King Jesus! Where you open yourself up to obedience and transformation. Jesus, what do you have for me in Scripture today? How may I obey you today?

King Jesus, draw near to me as I draw near to You! I am desperate without You. I can do NOTHING without you. You are my entire life!

If you’re struggling to finish well in a season of life and don’t have anyone to talk to, please reach out. We all need community and accountability to finish well in life. May God grant each of us the humility to finish well.

Let’s take Kingdom territory!

Source: What Judas Taught Me About Life & Ministry

The post What Judas Taught Me About Life & Ministry appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Stan Rodda: When it comes to apologetics, defending our faith in Christ, there is one very popular verse that many of us know. You probably are already quoting it in your mind. You’ve already jumped to 1 Peter 3 in your head and you’re repeating it on auto pilot in your favorite translation.

But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. [1 Peter 3:15 CSB]

Yep, that’s the one. For the majority of my life, this verse has been cited to mean…

Stay up on your apologetics, daily meditating at Ravi Zacharias’ feet.

Be ready to argue down anyone who dares question a 6000 year old earth

Know your carbon 14 dating stuff so you can shut down anyone who questions you

If you aren’t completely up to date on archaeological research and how it supports Scripture, you’re done for, you’re barely even a Christian anymore

To me this approach has always come across as confrontational. We are preparing Christians to debate and argue with anyone at any time. I’m seeing the remnants of this now on Facebook and other social platform feeds. Do you see it? Christians in an online world in a rage, defending the faith against all enemies both foreign and domestic, screaming evidences for young earth in ALL CAPS, the flood actually happened and if you question it, good luck in hell. And now our sermons have shifted, begging believers to stop doing the very thing we have prepared them to do because of the damage it is causing.

I believe it’s time to rethink 1 Peter 3:15 when it comes to disciple making. Let’s do that by looking at two stories; the personal stories of Chris and Tyler.

Stop Arguing People to Jesus

Chris (not his real name) came to me around a year ago, confessing his frustration with trying to reach his co-workers for Christ. He shared many of their conversations and many ended up in heated debates over who had the best argument for any given topic surrounding apologetics.

He was upset at the lack of results. We talked multiple times for many hours. Eventually it hit him, “I can’t argue someone to Jesus.” Nope, that’s not going to work. At least not at a rapid enough rate to make a dent in the current cultural tsunami headed away from Jesus. We have to do this differently.

Tyler (not his real name) is an environmentalist, evolution believing, democrat voting, self-identified “none.” He and I started having faith conversations around six months ago. As he explored, he immediately jumped to the common questions. “Well, if I talk to you about this, am I going to have to change my beliefs about evolutions? And what about how I vote? I have deep convictions about voting to save the environment from climate change.”

Where would you begin? Likely with some sort of argument beginning to break down evolution. And if you went after how he votes first thing, you’re probably going to lose the opportunity to share Jesus. I don’t know anyone saved who was argued out of how they prefer to vote. Even a guy with no current framework for religion or faith in his life, was expecting our conversations to be somewhat confrontational and to debate these deeply held convictions and beliefs.

Start Helping People Experience Jesus

My response to Chris was to disciple him and help lead him to his own personal experiences with Jesus. In his daily quiet time, what was God doing in his life personally. As those become a part of his story, he needs to learn to share that. Because someone can argue circles around many believers when it comes to certain topics like evolution, but they can’t argue with our story of transformation and what Jesus is doing in our lives.

I think my response to Tyler took him by surprise. My first response was, “Tyler, I believe that someday you will stand before God. And when you do, He won’t ask you how old the earth is. He also won’t ask you how you voted. He will ask you what you did with Jesus. Are you open to discovering Jesus with me?” He said, “Yes.”

For six months we have read nearly the entire New Testament. Daily texting each other talking Scripture and next steps. Weekly I would say, “What do you believe God is calling you to do as a result of what you’ve read? What do you hear God, Jesus, the Spirit, saying to you?” Slowly he began to hear God and to experience Jesus in his own life through the daily practice of abiding in Christ. Scripture and prayer. Daily obedience. Daily surrender.

You Don’t Transform People, God Does

I have been guilty of being good enough with Scripture, to get someone twisted around just enough that eventually they concede to my point of view. I took a lot of pride in the fact that I had that kind of knowledge in the past. However, I bear a huge spiritual and eternal responsibility for people I have baptized or “lead to Christ” who were only following me out of fear and not because of what God was up to in their lives. I’m responsible for that spiritual manipulation. I pray I never do it again.

Even Jesus didn’t manipulate people. Think about the rich young ruler. A great conversation and a simple request. Here’s what God is calling you to do next. Sell everything and follow me. Nope, can’t do it. And Jesus was sad for him, but He didn’t manipulate or coerce him. I know Jesus could have manipulated, reasoned, debated Judas into not betraying Him. But that would have circumvented God’s will. Jesus allowed it to be as it was and didn’t spiritually or emotionally manipulate people

I now ask Chris what he believes his next step is. What is God up to in your life through your daily quiet time? What do you hear Him saying to you and what are you going to do about it?

Chris is now discipling a friend from out of state through daily Scripture and texting. He is asking different questions now and not trying to force or coerce submission to an intellectual debate. We both have a long way to go, but I can tell you he is seeing God at work far more through him to others now than when he was simply trying to use his own intellectual power to debate everyone he came into contact with.

On Sunday, August 25th, 2019, I baptized Tyler into Jesus Christ. After six months he said “Yes” to Jesus. I’ll never forget the day that I read his text, “I’m ready.” I have been in ministry almost 17 years and he is the first lost person I have wept for at the decision to make Jesus, Lord. Why? Because God did it. All the other years I’ve been trying to control and manipulate what God was up to.

I didn’t manipulate or coerce Tyler. I allowed him to wrestle with God and let God transform his life. I prayed for him like crazy along the way, but I let God do the work. And when the timing was right, God had His way. Tyler is a new man. You can see it in his face. I love that guy!

1 Peter 3:15 is so fresh for me now. It’s not an intellectual or theological debate. It’s all about hope and what God is doing in my life. Read it again and see if you see the difference.

But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. [1 Peter 3:15 CSB]

My hope is not in my intellectual ability to wear you down on a given topic.

My hope is not in my theological knowledge to trap you into admitting I am right.

My hope is not in the earth being 6000 or 5 billions years old.

My hope is not in fossil records.

My hope is in the risen Jesus Christ and how He is transforming my life in 2019.

My role is simply to point people to an experience with Jesus Christ themselves and to love them along the way. If my apologetics are in the way of loving people and discipling them to salvation, then I am no better than the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.

What are your thoughts when it comes to apologetics and disciple making?

I am going to be opening myself up to train pastors in some of these disciple making principles. If you are interested in training, please contact me and let me know. I will contact you when the first trainings are underway.

Source: Our Apologetics Must Surrender to the Transformative Power of Jesus Christ!

The post Our Apologetics Must Surrender to the Transformative Power of Jesus Christ! appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Stan Rodda: We are getting to that point in the summer where I start to worry for my friends in ministry. It’s late in the summer and we are not okay.

If you have been in ministry for about six or seven seconds, you know how depressing that dashboard can be on Monday morning. So many families away enjoying vacation. You’re home, hard at work, trying to maintain through the summer. It can be one of the most discouraging seasons of the entire year for someone in full-time ministry.

This is about the time we could all use some encouragement to finish the summer strong and head into the Fall.1) STOP LOOKING AT YOUR NUMBERS!Okay, you aren’t going to do this exactly. Who am I kidding? But let’s make a deal. When you look at those numbers, instead of thinking about how more should have been there, think this…”What an honor. God has given me the opportunity to be faithful with ____ of His children. God, thank you for those You have blessed and allowed me to lead.”2) Slow Down And Pray More!Honestly, summer provides an opportunity for all of us to slow down a little bit. I’m not talking about slamming on the brakes and then giving yourself whiplash trying to start back up in the Fall. Keep going, but slow down enough to pull over to the side of the road and enjoy the view.You’ve got more time in the summer with more people gone and a little less people strain on your time. Use that time to pray more leading toward September. Pray more and rest. Beg God to be sufficient enough for your weakness. Like me you probably carry weight to, “make it happen,” that you aren’t created to carry. God will still be God in July, August and September.

3) Look For Little Wins!

One of the most encouraging things for me is remembering when the summer seems to drag on, God is still faithful. There is always someone, a story, a family, somewhere that God is using. Find their story and share it with others. Motivate your staff that God is still working even in July.

If you struggle to find those kinds of stories reach out to small group leaders, team leaders, staff and ask them to share what they know. The stories are there, but we need to find them. These stories can be incredibly encouraging and a great reminder that God is still at work in His people.

4) Give In To A Hobby!

There is so much to say here. The short and sweet is simply, “Find something you enjoy doing and go do that thing.”

A hobby should be fun and energizing for you. To some degree it doesn’t really matter what the hobby is, but you need to give in to it a little bit and re-energize yourself.

Ride a bike

Go swimming

Hiking

Walking

Whatever your hobby…just do it!

5) Encourage Another Pastor!

Whether it’s the pastor at the other church down the street or you have a friend in ministry in another state, take a few minutes and encourage them. Reach out in an email or give them a phone call. Ask them how you can pray for them and sincerely ask about how things are going in their ministry. For me it seems that when I give some of my energy to encourage someone else, I somehow end up being encouraged. I think God is good to us that way.

This is not a manipulation thing. We aren’t being fake about our encouragement to another. I’m saying you should be sincere in encouraging someone else in ministry. I believe God honors that and His power and strength energize us for the work we are facing. But don’t play manipulation games with God as if you can trick Him into blessing you or something. That’s not a good idea. It’s also a terrible idea. Basically, don’t do that.

Be genuinely encouraging to another pastor who may be struggling this summer also.

To be honest, I don’t think any of this is rocket science. My guess is you all know this. Maybe as you read through this you’re nodding your head in agreement, or silently in your mind saying, “Stan, you’re such a simpleton. I already know all this.”

Well, there’s a huge difference between knowing and doing. So I’m trying to focus on the latter. Go do these things. Knowing them intellectually literally changes nothing. But if you want to see a change in you and your ministry in the long days of summer, then you should go out and actually do them.

Be encouraged this summer!

God is good.

God is faithful.

He is working.

Source: Five Encouragements For When You Hit The Dog Days of Summer in Ministry!

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by Stan Rodda: Every person who calls on the name Jesus Christ, is invited into an entirely new way of doing life. A brand new Kingdom that Christ is building called the church. That Kingdom has a mission which requires workers. The mission of the Kingdom being to make disciples that will make disciples.

Paul in the New Testament speaks to one of those he had discipled, Timothy, and encourages him in his Kingdom work.

Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. [2 Timothy 2:15 CSB]

We are called to be Kingdom workers. Not just to work, but to be diligent and work hard. So what are the distinguishing factors of a Kingdom worker? What do they look like anyway? There are 5 key distinguishing factors that point out a Kingdom worker, a disciple who is making more disciples.

Know God’s Will

One of the dangers when it comes to knowing God’s will is that once we have a direction, we can be inclined to run without looking back. The real key to knowing God’s will is to be attune to His voice on a daily basis. It is the person who is abiding in Christ on a daily basis.

Said in the negative; when we do Kingdom work without connecting afresh with God, we begin to work from our own power. We know God’s will for us is ultimately to make disciples who make more disciples. Yet sometimes God’s will for us is to rest and abide in Him for a season. If we trudge ahead without listening to the voice of God, then we begin doing work in our own power and we get too far in front of God

Kingdom workers will allow God to go before them. Get back to hearing from God on a daily basis.

Obey God’s Will

Once you hear God speak to you through prayer and scripture, it’s time to obey. We must break this belief that a disciple is a student who simply learns stuff. We are called to obedience to God. So let’s get practical. Let’s assume…

God calls you to rest!

Within 24 hours, you need to make a plan to take time to rest. Make plans with a spouse, reserve a hotel, go to the beach, whatever it means for you to rest, but obey within 24 hours.

God calls you to change how you treat your spouse!

What do you need to do in the next 24 hours to love, honor, respect your spouse more like God would have you to? Obey God’s will.

God calls you to something that doesn’t make sense!

You guessed it. Make a plan and obey within 24 hours. Whatever it is that God is calling you to do, move toward obedience with urgency, as quickly as you can. Knowing is not enough or Jesus would have said, “Teach them to know everything I said.” His words are a stark contrast to how we normally define a disciple or Kingdom worker, “Teach them to obey all that I have commanded.”

What do you need to do in the next 24 hours to walk in obedience to Christ?

Conquer Yourself

Each of us has a dark side. There’s a dark side to our leadership and to our egos when it comes to disciple making. As we grow in our Kingdom work, we must conquer ourselves. Paul said it this way…

Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control. [1 Corinthians 9:27 CSB]

What habits do you need to change in order to bring your body under strict control? This is not meant to be used as a fitness plan to look good at the beach. It is meant to bring to mind the things in our lives that we need to control so that we can be used in powerful ways by God in Kingdom work.

What does this mean for how you use your eyes and what you allow your eyes to consume? What about how you eat and care for yourself? What about how you can easily slip into workaholism? What in your life is out of control and needs to be conquered?

Hard Work

If you asked me, I would take liberties with scripture and say that hard work overcomes a multitude of sins. Every Kingdom worker and disciple maker is called to build, work hard, on the foundation that Jesus Christ has laid. There is coming a time when our work will be tested. A Kingdom worker shows themselves faithful through hard work. Here’s how Paul says it in 1 Corinthians…

Each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. [1 Corinthians 3:13 CSB]

There is coming a day when our work will be obvious. What we have done with what Christ has given us. Work hard for the day your work will be revealed.

Hold Firm

Our hope is in Christ. He was faithful over His household, the church. And now we are called to hold firm to the hope we have in Him.

But Christ was faithful as a Son over his household. And we are that household if we hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast. [Hebrews 3:6 CSB]

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Drop to your knees and put your face to the ground. Beg the God of the universe to keep you for the work He is calling you too. Hold firm to the hope you have in Christ. Be resilient and steadfast. Never let go of Jesus because a war is coming your way. It’s the spiritual battle for the souls of men and women. And when you engage that war as a Kingdom worker, as a disciple who makes disciples, our enemy will clamp down his attempts to shut you down. And when the war comes crashing down on you, you’re going to want something more solid than you to hold onto.

Hold firm to the hope you have in Christ.

These are five distinguishing factors of a Kingdom worker. What factors come to your mind?

Source: 5 Distinguishing Factors Of A Kingdom Worker!

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