Profiles of a Convert, Disciple, Worker & Leader

WHAT DO CONVERTS, DISCIPLES, WORKERS, AND LEADERS LOOK LIKE?

((Adapted from Leroy Eims, The Lost Art of Disciple Making, pp. 184-186)

 Profile of a Convert:

  • Gives evidence of possessing new life (2 Cor. 5:17)
  • Attitude toward Christ is now favorable.
  • Attitude toward sin is unfavorable.

Profile of a Growing Disciple:

  • As a follower of Jesus Christ, places Christ first in the major areas of life and is taking steps to separate from sin (Luke 9:23; Romans 12:1-2).
  • Continues in the Word through such means as Bible study and Scripture memory; is regular in applying the Word to life with the help of the Holy Spirit (John 8:31; James 1:22-25; Psalm 119:59).
  • Maintains a consistent devotional life and is growing in faith and intercessory prayer (Mark 1:35; Hebrews 11:6; Colossians 4:2-4).
  • Attends church regularly and demonstrates Christ’s love by identifying with and serving other believers (Psalm 122:1; Heb. 10:25; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:20-21; Galatians 5:13).
  • Is openly identified with Jesus Christ where he or she lives and works, manifests a heart for witnessing, gives testimony clearly, and presents the gospel regularly with increasing effectiveness (Matt. 5:16; Col. 4:6; 1 Peter 3:15).
  • A learner who is open and teachable (Acts 17:11).
  • A visible follower and learner of Jesus Christ, and demonstrates consistency and faithfulness in all of the above areas (Luke 16:10).

Profile of a Worker

  • Evidences growth in the virtues and skills outlined above (1 Peter 3:18).
  • Shows a growing compassion for the lost and demonstrates ability to lead others into a personal relationship with Christ (Matt. 9:36-38; Rom. 1:6).
  • Being used of God to establish believers who have become disciples, either personally or in a discipling group context (Col. 1:28-29).
  • Is currently engaged in the task of making disciples (Matt. 28:19).
  • Regular intake of the Word by all means and the quiet time are now regular habits (Philippians 4:9).

Profile of a Leader 

  • Is an equipped worker who evidences growth in the virtues and skills listed above.
  • Has been used of God to help disciples become workers.
  • Is banding and leading workers in evangelizing the lost and establishing believers.
  • Displays faithfulness and integrity in balancing life and ministry.

Time Element: Convert to disciple – 2 years; Disciple to worker – 2 years; Worker to leader – 3 years.

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Haggai

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Haggai

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Haggai

Haggai: Theme

Haggai 1:8

“Priority of God”

God directs his people to give priority to him and his house, and so to be blessed.

 “Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.”

Christ-Focus in Haggai

Implications from Haggai

Hooks from Haggai

Jesus’ food was to do God’s will and finish his work.

 Jesus said to them,

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

 – John 4:34

We can be confident that we will be blessed if we seek to serve God as our first priority.

 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

 – Matthew 6:33

If you had only one day left to live, what would you do?

What does your answer tell you about where your priorities lie?

 Do you believe that real fulfillment in life comes from doing what God wants you to do or what you want to do?

 What does the Bible say God wants you to do?

 How would someone else see that God is the first priority in your life?

 If someone followed you around followed you around during the course of your day, would your actions make it clear to that person that you placed priority on honoring God?

 Or would that person see no real difference between what your actions showed that you valued and what unbelievers’ actions did?

What specific changes could you make in your life so that you could be more actively engaged in building the Lord’s house?

 

9 Steps To Take While Waiting for a Pastoral Call

I had a very clear calling to pastoral ministry when I was seventeen years old. The steps below written by a veteran pastor are steps that I took by default – however, I could have benefited from Dave Harvey’s book immensely in my pastoral journey which began over thirty years ago [DPC]:

 What to DO While You Are WAITING for Your Ministry MARCHING ORDERS from God

by David T. Harvey

 *Start Now

A man listening for a call is never a man sitting still. A key sign of the summons is godly ambition that’s been channeled into action. That’s why, as a leader responsible for weighing in on external call issues, I’m not just looking at who a guy is and what he might do. I’m looking for what he’s already doing. That helps me gauge the degree of aspiration as well as desire— “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Tim. 3:1).

Brothers, there’s a lot you can do right now to prepare yourself in the summons (God’s call on your life to ministry – Harvey defines a “Summons” as: “a call away from one thing and into another”). Here are some ideas to get you started. For each one, I’ve included some specific “next actions” you can take.

(1) Be honest about your desires. If you “aspire to the office of overseer,” tell your pastor. If you don’t have a pastor, find a good church and get a pastor. It’s not humble to remain silent about your dreams. You’re not Mary treasuring “up all these things in [your] heart” (Luke 2:51). It’s far more profitable to share your dreams. Evaluation from others is going to happen eventually; why not let it start now?

A practical step: Write your pastor and share your sense of call and desire for ministry. Invite him to lunch to specifically discuss his feedback on your letter.

(2) Pray. Do you consistently pray about your calling?

A practical step: Schedule regular times of prayer, perhaps even personal retreats, where you’re able to both stoke your sense of call and lay it on the altar before the Lord.

(3) Start Serving. Calling is revealed in service. A young, called guy so often wants to find a role right now that matches his gifts. But at this stage, the summons is not a warrant to flex your gifts; it’s an invitation to be a servant wherever you’re needed. Feel called to preach to the masses? Great—go teach in children’s ministry. It’s a great place to start.

A practical step: Go to your church leaders and say, “Where does our church need the most help?” Then do whatever they need you to do. Serving in obscurity can do more to shape a future leader than a dozen years of combing evangelicalism for the perfect position.

(4) If you’re in college, pursue a vocational direction. Moving directly from college into full-time ministry is the exception, not the rule. Don’t assume you need a degree that will directly relate to ministry.

A practical step: Be a disciplined, well-balanced student. Pursue excellence and immerse yourself in the ministry opportunities that come with college life. Don’t hide in your Christian group—engage the campus as a witness for Christ. Learn to think and persuade from a biblical perspective. Choose someone who you think is a humble influencer of others, and ask a lot of questions.

(5) Pursue counsel and evaluation. Are you actively and consistently pursuing the wisdom of men who know you and sense of call?

A practical step: Keep taking your pastor out to lunch—invite his ongoing insight into your personal life. Also, cultivate accountable fellowship with wise men your age and older.

(6) Study. Are you deepening your theological well through a systematic study of sound doctrine and biblical theology?

A practical step: Ask your pastor for a book list to study. Then make a plan for how and when you’ll complete that study—and give it to your pastor so he can follow up with you.

(7) Mature. How does your life presently line up with the qualities of an elder as found in 1 Timothy and Titus? Where do you need to grow?

A practical step: Seek regular accountability and correction from those closest to you. If you’re married, begin with your wife. As Wayne Grudem says, “It is not optional that [pastors’] lives be examples for others to follow; it is a requirement.”

(8) Get your house in order. The path to pastoral ministry is often a sacrificial one. You may need to live lean and flexible. Are you prepared to make sacrifices to pursue your call? I know a number of men, for example, whose ability to act on an opportunity has been blocked by excessive debt. You should also care for your wife as you explore your call. If she doesn’t [confidently agree with your calling], then preparing for ministry means hearing her reservations, carefully considering her reuluctance, and humbly responding to her observations.

A practical step: Get rid of all the debt you can, and stay that way. If you’re married, make sure your call is an open conversation your wife can have whenever she wants. Explore any concerns she may bring. Discuss any objections with trusted friends and a wise pastor.

(9) Patiently persevere. Are you committed to waiting for God to bring you into ministry rather than anxiously brokering your own opportunities?

A practical step: Pursue a vocation that you can live on and grow in. Develop employable skills so you won’t be depending on the ministry for survival.

*Adapted from Chapter 10 of David T. Harvey’s excellent book published by Crossway entitled Am I Called?. David T. Harvey is responsible for church planting, church care, and international expansion for Sovereign Grace Ministries, having served on the leadership team since 1995. He has a D. Min. from Westminster Theological Seminary, is the author of When Sinners Say I Do, and is a contributing author to Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World.

Book Review: Am I Called? By David T. Harvey

Great Handbook For Helping You Confirm Your Calling to the Pastoral Ministry

 Dave Harvey has done a great service to the church-at-large- as well as for individual Christian men who are wondering whether or not God is calling them to serve the church in full time pastoral ministry. I finally have a book that I can hand out without any reservations to those who come to me and ask, “How can I know for certain that I have been called by God into the pastorate?”

In three parts: a) Approaching the Call; b) Diagnosing the Call; and c) Waiting, Harvey mines theological, and exegetically based advice with a plethora of helpful bullet points, questions to ask, evaluations, and practical steps to take as one wrestles with and pursues God’s vocational calling to the pastorate.

I especially appreciated how Harvey focused on applying the gospel to an individuals life and how he addressed key issues like character development, service and affirmation from the local church, and the importance of working with a plurality of leaders in the context of a local church – alongside the necessary theological training.

One of the highlights for me was reading the biographical stories at the end of each chapter on the pastoral calling in the lives of some well known and unknown pastors of history: Thomas Scott, Charles Simeon, Lemuel Haynes, Martin Luther, David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, James Montgomery Boice, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, John Bunyan, and John Newton.

I highly recommend this book for young men who are wondering if they are called, those pastors who are struggling with their calling, and pastors and elders who are looking to invest in young men to develop as future pastors and church planters in the context of planting gospel driven churches around the globe.

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Zephaniah

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Zephaniah

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Zephaniah

Zephaniah: Theme

Zephaniah 2:3

“Coming Judgment”

God announces to Judah the approaching day of the Lord.

 “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.”

Christ-Focus in Zephaniah

Implications from Zephaniah

Hooks from Zephaniah

The Son of Man is coming to judge.

 “because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

 – Acts 17:31

Let’s encourage one another to live in the light of Christ’s imminent return.

 “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

 – 1John 2:28

Do you look forward to the Lord’s return, or do you fear it?

 What might be causing fear?

 Do you want God to remove sin from the world, or would you like to play with it a little longer?

 What makes sinful behavior attractive to you?

 In what will you take confidence on the coming day of judgment?

 How is your relationship with Christ?

 Is it growing deeper or are you growing apart?

 What is causing this?

Andrew Murray’s Formula for Going Through Trials

Anchors to Throw in a Time of Testing

 In Bible college at Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, Oregon (now Multnomah University) almost three decades ago I was going through a very difficult trial. Since that time I have encountered “trials of various kinds” as James calls them in his epistle. My godly father (now 89 years old) sent me a cut out containing the following advice from Andrew Murray. I have kept this cut out in my Bible ever since and have referred to it countless times:

*(1) He brought me here. It’s by His will I am in this straight place. In that fact I will rest.

(2) He will keep me here in His love and give me grace to behave as His child.

(3) Then He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends for me to learn.

(4) In His good time, He will bring me out again—how and when He knows. So let me say: I am

(a) Here by God’s appointment.

(b) In His keeping.

(c) Under His training.

(d) For His time.

*From a Sermon by Andrew Murray on Acts 27:28-29 entitled “Anchors to Throw in a Time of Testing.” Andrew Murray was a Dutch Reformed Church missionary sent from Scotland to South Africa. Andrew pastored churches in Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town and Wellington, all in South Africa. He was a champion of the South African Revival of 1860.

In 1889, he was one of the founders of the South African General Mission (SAGM), along with Martha Osborn and Spencer Walton. After Martha Osborn married George Howe, they formed the South East Africa General Mission (SEAGM) in 1891. SAGM and SEAGM merged in 1894. Because its ministry had spread into other African countries, the mission’s name was changed to Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF) in 1965. AEF joined with SIM in 1998 and continues to this day.

He died on January 18, 1917, four months before his eighty-ninth birthday. He was so influenced by Johann Christoph Blumhardt‘s Möttlingen revival that he included a portion of Friedrich Zündel’s biography at the end of With Christ in the School of Prayer. Over the years he has influenced many, including Jessie Penn-Lewis, a key figure in the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival. His writings have greatly influenced the writings of both Watchman Nee and Witness Lee.

Book Review: Loving the Way Jesus Loves by Phil Ryken

Jesus’ Loves Like No One Else – Perfectly! 

One of the biggest battles that we all face (if we are honest with ourselves) is that we are incurably selfish, self-absorbed, and idolatrous at the very core of our hearts. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he addresses this core reality that leads to all the problems or symptoms affecting the church due to this foundational problem – a lack of love for God and for one another. Phil Ryken has written a very convicting, and yet practically helpful book that exegetes from the context of 1 Corinthians 13 (Biblical Exegesis) but also walks you through the Gospels (giving a Biblical theology of love) and demonstrates how Jesus exemplifies the genuine love that is being described in Corinthians.

The reason that this book and applying this book and the Bible is so challenging is captured well by Ryken mid-way through the book where he writes:

“Unfortunately, many of our attitudes and actions are exactly the opposite of what they ought to be, and as a result, our hearts are constricted. This is one of the reasons why 1 Corinthians 13 is such a challenge for us. All of the things it tells us that love does are almost impossible for us to do, whereas all of the things it tells us that love never does are things we do all the time. This is because we love ourselves more than we love other people or even God.”

Ryken brilliantly and helpfully shows how Jesus does what we can’t do – love perfectly like Him. He shows how each aspect of love in 1 Corinthians 13 (e.g., patience, kindness, not envious, etc.,) is modeled from the Gospels in the life, death, resurrection, and future coming of Christ and how we can be receivers and reciprocators of this kind of love. Though the book is very convicting, it is also very encouraging because it demonstrates that in the gospel – even when we fail to love like Him – he never fails to love us in the deep ways described in 1 Corinthians 13.

I highly recommend this book in order to come to a deeper understanding of godly love, Christ’s love for us, and how to grow more in your love for God and others. Ryken has given us a Biblical Theology of love manifested in Christ, and reiterated in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth – something we desperately need to apply in today’s church as well. One of the great features of the book is that it contains a very thorough study guide in the back of the book for discipleship or small group discussion.

*I received a free copy of this book by Crossway Publishers and was not required to write a positive review.

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Habakkuk

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Habakkuk

 “From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Habakkuk

Habakkuk: Theme

Habakkuk 3:19

“Comfort in God”

God is my only comfort in life and in death in a world of seemingly unchecked evil.

 “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”

Christ-Focus in Habakkuk

Implications from Habakkuk

Hooks from Habakkuk

Jesus offers true comfort and rest to those who come to him.

 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 – Matthew 11:28-30

In any trouble, we may find comfort in God and in his care for us.

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

 – 1 Peter 5:7

When things go wrong, where do you turn for comfort?

 What are the amazing things God has done for his people, and for you, in the past?

 Does God change?

 Do you really believe that God knows what he is doing?

 Do you believe that you know best?

 Are you able to believe in God’s power and wisdom when things don’t go as you want?

The Gospel in 60 Seconds or Less by Mark Dever

*The Biblical Gospel (Good News) in a Nutshell

 “In our church in Washington, I always ask our prospective members to tell me the gospel in one minute or less. How would you do that? What would you say the message is?

 Here’s what I understand the good news to be: the good news is that the one and only God, who is holy, made us in his image to know him. But we sinned and cut ourselves off from him. In his great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law himself and taking on himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in him. He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted Christ’s sacrifice and that God’s wrath against us had been exhausted. He now calls us to repent of our sins and to trust in Christ alone for our forgiveness. If we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.”

*Adapted from Mark Dever’s book The Gospel and Personal Evangelism published by Crossway Books, p. 42.

 

Mark Dever (PhD, Cambridge), author of several books and articles, serves as the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC. Along with his pastoral responsibilities, Dever is also the president of 9Marks. He is coauthor, with J. I. Packer, of In My Place Condemned He Stood: Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement.

What Does A Biblical Disciple Look LIke?

*11 Characteristics of A Biblical Disciple by Francis M. Cosgrove

(1) A disciple is a learner – open and teachable. – Proverbs 9:8-10; Matthew 4:19; John 6:60-66.

(2) A disciple puts Christ first in all areas of life. – Matthew 6:9-13,24,33; Luke 9:23; John 13:13; 2 Corinthians 5:15.

(3) A disciple is committed to a life of purity and is taking steps to separate from sin. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:22-5:5; Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Titus 2:12-14.

(4) A disciple has a daily devotional time and is developing in his or her prayer life. – Psalm 27:4; 42:1-2; Mark 1:35; Luke 11:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; James 1:5-7; 5:16.

(5) A disciple demonstrates faithfulness and a desire to learn and apply the Word of God through hearing it preached and taught, reading it frequently, Bible study, Scripture memory, and meditation on the Scriptures. – John 8:31; Acts 2:42; 17:11; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15

(6) A disciple has a heart for witnessing, gives his or her testimony clearly, and presents the gospel regularly with increasing skill. – Matt.28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 5:42; 14:21-23; 22:14-15; Rom.1:16; 1 Cor.15:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 2:4.

(7) A disciple attends church regularly to worship God, to have his or her spiritual needs met, and to make a contribution to the body of believers. – Ps.122:1; Acts 16:5; 1 Cor.12:12-27; Col.1:15-18; Heb.10:25

(8) A disciple fellowships regularly with other believers, displaying love and unity. – John 17:22-26; Acts 2:44-47; 4:31-33; Ephesians 4:1-3; Hebrews 10:24; 1 John 1:1-3

(9) A disciple demonstrates a servant heart by helping in practical ways. – Mark 10:42-45; Acts 6:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:15; Philippians 2:25-30; 1 Thessalonians 2:8-9

(10) A disciple gives regularly and honors God with his or her finances. – Haggai 1:6-9; Malachi 3:10-11; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Philemon 14

(11) A disciple demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit by an attractive relationship with Christ and those he or she relates with. – Acts 16:1-2; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 2:18-23; 2 Peter 1:5-8

*Adapted from Essentials of Discipleship by Francis M. Cosgrove, pp. 15-16