Week Three Day Two

Read James 3:1-12 and meditate on James's warning. How do these powerful words effect you? How might you need to adjust your approach to making disciples?

Yes.  These are powerful words.  But I have heard this passage all my life.  Its super important, but I think after time the effect wears off.  I know what I need to change.  I know I need to watch what I say, how I say things, who I say them to, and who they are about.  It is too easy, especially in my industry, to run my mouth about someone when they aren't around.  It is a work in progress.  This is a concious effort to change.  Second.  I need to have a cleaner mouth.  It just seems to come out.  It has gotten better since I have been cleaning up what goes into my head with music.

Week Three Day One

Take a moment to examine your heart. In all honesty, who do you want to make disciples? Do you struggle with wanting your actions to be noticed by others?

I don't know if I really want to make disciples.  That is a lot of responsibility.  I have always been the kind of guy that is happy to point in the right direction, to help guide them to someone else who has better answers.  In all aspects of life.  Have just enough information to know where to send them.  Because of this.  I don't struggle with wanting my actions to be noticed by others.  I prefer to work behind the scenes in a support role when it comes to important matters.  I have no issues being in the spot light when it comes to silly things, just not important things.

Week Two Day Six

Whom has God placed in your life to partner with in making desciples?

Dan Bates.  Craig Piefer.  Luke Tedder.  These guys do it every day.  Great source of knowledge. Plus.  We've been through it together.  Nothing but trust and respect for these guys.

Week Two Day Five

Whom has God placed in your life right now that you can begin making into a disciple of Jesus Christ?

I think the biggest one is my good friend. Dude is lost.  But has the faith.  He just needs some help getting out.  I've been trying for a while now, and he is showing some progress.  I am afraid to get to close because I don't want him to pull me down.  We used to party hard together, and that's not me anymore.  He still does at times, and I don't want to go down that road again.  However, I know its on me to help him.

In more general terms, I would say some of the people I play softball with.

Week Three Day Four

Luke 9:57-62

What excuses tend to keep you from following Jesus' command to make disciples? What do you need to do in order to move past these excuses?

This is a good question.  As the book brought up, I definatley think that I use "getting my life in order fist" as an excuse.  I know I have some issues, and I am working to clean those up.  I also have come to realize that these give me the credibility to minister and witness to others.  Some people need to know you've been there before they can listen. I have experienced myself.  I have met more genuine people sitting in a bar then I have in Church.  So many good friends in softball or over a beer that have stuck by me. 

I think that the other excuse that I would use is that I didn't know it was my job, according to Jesus.  Its too easy to pass it off to pastors and ministers  I remember my days at camp.  Those were good days.  And that was a great ministry.  Unfortunatly.  Thats where it ended for me.  I didn't carry it back to the real world.  My bad.  This book, however, is teaching me that my mission field is wherever I am.  I have been called to be exactly where I am.  And I need to embrace that.

Week Two Day Three

Have you identified yourself with Jesus by being baptized? If so, why do you think this was an important step for you to take? If not, what is holding you back from being baptized?

I have been baptized.  I remember it.  I was a child.  It was my choice.  I went forward at the end of the service to tell the pastor I wanted to be baptized.  This was an imporant step because it came from within.  Second, I was willing to publically declare my faith.  It meant I was showing obediance to Jesus by being baptized.  This is also an important step because it means you are now accountable for you actions to a larger group of people.  There are more individuals that know you're a Christian, and will help keep you in the right.

Would you say that you are ready to commit yourself to studying the Scriptures and investing in the people around you? Why or why not?

Absolutely.  I have a thirst and hunger for knowledge right now.  Not just for book knowledge, but specifically for Book knowledge.  I want to understand my faith more.  Be able to share it better and with more specific answers.  I already invest a lot in those around me.  I want to able to do that with a Bibilical foundation.

Week Two Day Two

Assess your church experience in light of Jesus' command to make disciples. Would you say that your church is characterized by disciple making? Why or why not?

I attend the Evangelical Free Church of the Palouse, and yes.  I would say that they follow the command to make disciples.  They put more emphasis on meeting in small groups, such as Sunday school and Life Groups that the important of the Sunday sermon.  Often, the Sunday service only scratches the surface of the topic, with the idea being for further study and discussion on your own.  And also in your Life Group.  They want individuals to encourage, teach one another, and learn from one another.  This makes it more real and more personable.  And it is a great way of disciple making.  Not every one has the courage to teach to large groups, but in smaller settings, anyone can teach.  Anyone can disciple. 

While I am not part of a Life Group yet, I am working on that.  I am attempting for round two of making contact today.