I had too many sandwiches when I was young. I now cringe whenever people compliment me, as I wait for the blow to fall. Have you had any previous conversations with these people that were ONLY positive? If you haven't, Pavlov says a compliment iis only preparing for an attack...
Yes personally would not have this conversation with someone I don’t know well unless there were incredibly special circumstances. Your point is taken.
I would like to know a little more about your role as Discipleship Pastor and what that looks like. Are you individually discipling all the new believers in your church, or do you assign mentors to them? Etc
Oh no I do not disciple all of them myself. I lead many disciple makers! I have people I am discipling yes, but not nearly all of our people. Our church disciples people through group Bible studies, classes, men's and women's ministry and Regeneration recovery ministry right now. We are looking at a couple of smaller intensive options as well. How are you involved in disciple making at your church?
I am a part of them sometimes. We have several long-term disciple makers who handle them as they come up in their own discipleship pipeline. Discipleship can start as simple as a group of 2-4 ladies meeting for coffee/meal every so often. Then when you meet you ask each other a few questions: how are you growing in your faith (have you been reading your bible/praying/etc)? How have you been serving Jesus/showing God’s love to others? How are you teaching someone else about following Jesus? (could be a child or co-worker, etc). What tough situation are you currently in right now that we can pray about? What is the next step of faith in that situation?
An unmentioned, probably poorly understood, notion is that my job is giving information, not causing change. Change comes from the Holy Spirit.
And sometimes, for one reason or another, change doesn't come at all. That also takes the pressure off.
Another thing that takes the pressure off: by not waiting for them to repent before my eyes, I'm expressing the truth that I understand how it's supposed to work.
I had too many sandwiches when I was young. I now cringe whenever people compliment me, as I wait for the blow to fall. Have you had any previous conversations with these people that were ONLY positive? If you haven't, Pavlov says a compliment iis only preparing for an attack...
Yes personally would not have this conversation with someone I don’t know well unless there were incredibly special circumstances. Your point is taken.
I would like to know a little more about your role as Discipleship Pastor and what that looks like. Are you individually discipling all the new believers in your church, or do you assign mentors to them? Etc
Oh no I do not disciple all of them myself. I lead many disciple makers! I have people I am discipling yes, but not nearly all of our people. Our church disciples people through group Bible studies, classes, men's and women's ministry and Regeneration recovery ministry right now. We are looking at a couple of smaller intensive options as well. How are you involved in disciple making at your church?
Thank you for your reply! Does it usually fall on you to make these corrections/have conversations with people who you are not directly discipling?
We don’t have a discipleship ministry at our church - yet. It’s something I’ve pondered for quite a while, but not really sure how to make it happen.
I am a part of them sometimes. We have several long-term disciple makers who handle them as they come up in their own discipleship pipeline. Discipleship can start as simple as a group of 2-4 ladies meeting for coffee/meal every so often. Then when you meet you ask each other a few questions: how are you growing in your faith (have you been reading your bible/praying/etc)? How have you been serving Jesus/showing God’s love to others? How are you teaching someone else about following Jesus? (could be a child or co-worker, etc). What tough situation are you currently in right now that we can pray about? What is the next step of faith in that situation?
An unmentioned, probably poorly understood, notion is that my job is giving information, not causing change. Change comes from the Holy Spirit.
And sometimes, for one reason or another, change doesn't come at all. That also takes the pressure off.
Another thing that takes the pressure off: by not waiting for them to repent before my eyes, I'm expressing the truth that I understand how it's supposed to work.
Both good points!
Thank you for mentioning me, but thank you more for some great counsel we can all use.
This keeps us from rushing into these conversations when we are not fully prepared, both emotionally and spiritually.
So well said.