by Bobby Harrington: Words matter. Definitions matter, especially with regard to words and concepts we find in Scripture. A particular word may carry different definitions and meanings, depending on one’s perspective, and this is true for discipleship language.

That means we can use the same language about discipleship as someone else, and each of us be talking about totally different things.

But what does God’s Word say? And how do our definitions line up with his realities? This is an important discussion for discipleship and disciple making, so at Discipleship·org, we worked with our partners to agree upon specific definitions for important words in the church.

We have to be clear on definitions so that we can be clear on our success.

That’s why we offer these four key definitions for the church today:

Disciple – someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus (Matt. 4:19).
Disciple making – entering into relationships to help people trust and follow Jesus (Matt. 28:18–20), which includes the whole process from conversion through maturation and multiplication.
Disciple maker – a disciple of Jesus who enters into relationships with people to help them trust and follow Jesus.
Discipleship – the state of being a disciple.

KEEP READING BLOG

I also wanted to share with you a special post by Dave Clayton, which is an excerpt from a Discipleship·org resource book about prayer, fasting, and revival called Revival Starts Here. He spoke at our National Forum last year (and he will speak again this coming year), His message about why we need revival today is powerful. Hundreds of churches and tens of thousands of Christians have found this resource useful as they join together for church-wide and city-wide prayer. Check out the blog: “Why We Need Revival Today.”

KEEP READING DAVE’S BLOG

For King Jesus,

Point-Leader, Discipleship.org

Sign up for the 2019 National Disciple Making Forum in Nashville, TN

November 7-8 by clicking here.

New Blogs

“Building an Evangelistic Culture”

by Robby Flack

READ THE BLOG

“What Are the Elements of a Level 5 Disciple Making Church?”

by Bobby Harrington

READ THE BLOG

“Principles of Spiritual Growth: The Spiritual Disciplines”

by Tim LaFleur

READ THE BLOG

New Podcast Episodes

LISTEN NOW

S6 Episode 15: Culture Is Supported Through Systems — A Disciple Pathway (Craig Etheredge)

S6 Episode 14: Culture Is Shaped at the Top — The Disciple Making Pastor (Chris Moody)

S6 Episode 13: What Is Culture? (Craig Etheredge)

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Source: Weekly Update: What Do We Mean by “Disciple,” “Disciple Making,” and “Discipleship”?

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By Dave Clayton

In February 2016, Sydney and I began a friendship with a couple named Muriithi and Carol Wanjau and their three amazing children. I could fill an entire book with stories about this incredible family, but for the sake of time and space, I’ll share just one. The Wanjaus have been positioned by God in Nairobi, Kenya, and they lead one of the most amazing networks of churches I have ever seen. Our friendship with this family began that year when we got to spend several weeks with them and many of their global leaders who had gathered in Nairobi for a time of training and fellowship.

Sydney and I were blown away by what we saw during our time there with our Kenyan brothers and sisters. Their love for God, their passion for reaching the lost, and their commitment to living holy, counter-cultural lives were just a few of the things that blessed our hearts and challenged our thinking in ways we never expected. To top it off, the prayer life of our Kenyan brothers and sisters impacted me in a profound way.

This is an excerpt from Revival Starts Here: A Short Conversation on Prayer, Fasting, and Revival for Beginners Like Me by Dave Clayton. Learn more about this book and order here.

One day, as Sydney and I were riding to the store with Carol, we were picking her brain about the spiritual vibrancy of their church network. We wanted to know why the Christians in their circle seemed to be so alive for Jesus. She was quick to remind us that there are no “silver bullets” when it comes to spiritual development, but she went on to share an important spiritual rhythm that has transformed their churches and community for the better. I will never forget what she said:

“Dave and Sydney, much of what you see here is the simple result of prayer and fasting. We consistently practice the communal act of self-denial [fasting] so we will have the strength and clarity that is needed to live faithfully for Jesus in a culture that is obsessed with self-gratification.”

That moment in the car with Carol is when many of the puzzle pieces began to click in our hearts. Little did we know that our family had arrived in Kenya on the last day of a month-long fast that the Wanjaus and their churches lean into every January. In fact, they spend nearly three months out of every year devoted to the Lord in prayer and fasting. Young and old, male and female, rich and poor, children and adults—all who are willing and able—commit themselves to a full-throttled pursuit of God above everything else through prayer and fasting.

The result of that devotion is inspiring to say the least.

Dave Clayton, author of this blog, is speaking at this year’s National Disciple Making Forum November 7-8 in Nashville. Get your ticket here.

I remember leaving Kenya thinking to myself, If that is the kind of faith that prayer and fasting can help produce, then why have I given such little attention to this particular dimension of life with God?

I’m convinced there are times when God will use someone else’s life to ignite something wonderful and new inside us. Like a match in the hand of God, their life becomes the spark for igniting a new season of wonder and growth deep within us. I often thank God for our friends in Kenya and the way he used them to ignite a hunger for prayer and fasting in our family and church.

This is an excerpt from Revival Starts Here by Dave Clayton. Learn more about this book and order here.

Dave Clayton is a follower of Jesus, husband to Sydney, and dad to Micah, Jack, and Judah. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he helps lead Ethos Church, Onward Church Planting, and Awaken Nashville. Dave is passionate about making disciples, planting churches, and awakening a movement for the glory of God, the joy of the church, and the good of the multitudes who don’t yet know Jesus.

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Source: What Led to a Prayer and Fasting for Revival Movement in Nashville

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by Bobby Harrington: At last year’s National Disciple Making Forum, Shodankeh Johnson poignantly described how prayer and fasting has fueled a rapidly growing disciple-making movement in West Africa. His stories were incredible, and many of us walked away convicted.

As American leaders, we also walked away wanting to lead our churches to start fasting and praying like the churches in Africa, but most North American Christians do not know how to fast and pray.

That’s why Dave Clayton wrote the book, Revival Starts Here: A Short Conversation on Prayer, Fasting, and Revival for Beginners Like Me.

Discipleship·org partnered with Dave Clayton and HIM Publications to produce this resource on fasting and prayer. The subtitle says it all—it’s a short, inspirational, and practical book to help your church learn how to get into the habit of fasting and prayer. It’s written for entire churches to go through together as they pray and fast for revival in their city, but individuals can read it, too.

Purchase this Discipleship·org resource from HIM Publications by clicking here:

ORDER BOOK HERE

We partnered with Dave Clayton’s Awaken Nashville campaign to provide this book to over 20,000 Christians in the Greater Nashville Area. Dave’s vision is that Nashville churches would fast and pray for every home in our city to reach the lost. Participants commit to pray for a list of names, and together, we are praying for every household in the whole city for thirty days.

Dave announced the city-wide prayer at last year’s National Disciple Making Forum, and now over 410 churches in our city have come together and some 30,000 Christians have committed to fasting and praying (at various levels) for the month of February. Together they will pray for over 450,000 households, the homeless, and even college students—every day for thirty days.

It is exciting that the people of my church are joining with thousands of others as we watch this movement grow and hear the stories of what God is doing. We’re also greatly encouraged to see what churches can do when they come together for the great cause of reaching lost people for Jesus.

You can order eBooks, audiobooks, or paperback copies by clicking here.

For King Jesus,

Executive Director, Discipleship.org

Sign up for the 2019 National Disciple Making Forum in Nashville, November 7-8 by clicking here.

New Blogs

“Disciple Making Movements (Part 1)”

by Roy Moran

READ THE BLOG

“Whom Should You Disciple?”

by Craig Etheredge

READ THE BLOG

“The Discipleship Gospel”

by Bill Hull and Ben Sobels

READ THE BLOG

Podcast Episodes

LISTEN NOW

S05 Episode 64: The Challenges of Changing Your Ministry Culture (Dann Spader, Doug Holliday, Calvin Russell, and Joel Zaborowski)

S05 Episode 63: How to Begin a Student Ministry Team (Joel Zaborowski)

S05 Episode 62: How to Disciple the Whole Person (Calvin Russell)

The post New Book on Fasting and Prayer: Revival Starts Here appeared first on Discipleship.org.

Source: New Book on Fasting and Prayer: Revival Starts Here

The post New Book on Fasting and Prayer: Revival Starts Here appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Bobby Harrington: This is part of a two-part blog series. If you haven’t yet read Part 1, which contains trends 1-5, read it by clicking here.

As I mentioned at the open of the last blog — the first five trends in Part 1 — we’ve seen some great, encouraging, and inspiring trends over the last year among disciple-makers, leaders, and churches. We are grateful to God for each of them.

Now I want to transition from describing current trends to prescribing actions based on the needs that we are observing. We encourage you to consider how you can adopt the following practices. We believe they are foundational to the long-term effectiveness of the discipleship-first tribe.

Download a beautiful PDF with all 10 trends by clicking here (coming soon).

6. Get people into God’s Word

People need God’s Word. The North American church needs to re-iterate her emphasis here. In generations past, this has been the norm, but not any more. In order to be faithful to God, we must maintain a high view of God’s Word — the inspired, reliable, trustworthy, and even infallible (when properly defined) Word of God. His Word is our ultimate and final authority.

God’s Word — spoken and written — changes lives, and it works like nothing else.

…

Source: 10 Top Disciple Making Trends for 2019 (Part 2)

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