2008 August « jasongordon[dot]org

Discipleship

I came across a writing by Dietrich Bonhoeffer this morning that read like this:

Discipleship means adherence to Christ.

I know the definition of adherence but I wanted to look it up to be precise. Dictionary.com defines adherence in one of the possibilities as “attachment.” When I think about discipleship, this is the picture I get. I want to be attached at the hip to Christ. But adherence to Christ never stops. I don’t unattach myself from him at the end of the day, week or worship service. True discipleship happens when we abide in Christ. When we remain in Christ. Check out John 15:4,

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

When a branch becomes disconnected from the plant it shrivels up and dies. It has no life line, no connection to the life source. Christ is our life source, our growth vehicle. If we do not constantly stay connected to Him, we will die. It may be slow and even at times we may not recognize it is happening, but it is. Unconnected lives die. They die emotionally, spiritually, and physicially.

The key to discipleship: remain attached to Christ. Adherence + Abiding= discipleship

Asking the Extra Question

Let’s be honest, small group studies can be boring. Don’t get me wrong, there are fantastic studies out there that will lead some of us on to the next step of our journey all by themselves (with the Holy Spirit, of course!). But, most studies are written for the broadest audience possible and by doing that miss the mark for most.

What can make or break a small group gathering is a facilitator’s ability to “ask the extra question”. Asking the extra question is all about going off the page. It is all about doing preparation for facilitating the group discussion. It is about allowing yourself to be connected to the prompting of the Holy Spirit’s leading as you lead the discussion.

Its that extra question that could be the difference between the single mom with relationship issues finally breaking free from the chains that strangle her or continuing to allow them to break her. Each of us that has led a group knows when the question comes. We’ve heard it in our heads but couldn’t get our mouths to say it. Personally, I have been able to convince myself not to ask the question because I was afraid of the reaction I might get, or what if no one answers. I have come to understand that not asking the extra question is more damaging than asking the extra question that might make people feel uncomfortable. At some point groups have to move beyond the nicey-nice stuff and onto real community. The extra question is key to helping people move beyond their baggage and onto the life Christ has for each person.

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Thoughts on being a follower of Christ, father, church planter and pastor.

Posted in August 2008 …

Discipleship

Asking the Extra Question

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