So, today we listened to Chuck Lenhart speak. Chuck is a missionary in China and speaks Chinese as well! He is truly a man of so much wisdom and knowledge. I loved everything that he said today and i just felt like i was sucking up everything he was saying today.
I loved what he was talking about in his second point. He said, "as we are going in our purpose we begin to write down the vision, speak the vision as God begins to make it clearer to you." Then he said, "live in the letter of God's vision for your life." I love that Chuck made this point. I know that God has such a plan and purpose for my life and all i want is to be in God's will to do what he has called me to. As i write down the vision that God is giving me and as i grow in the passions that he has placed on my heart i am going to begin to allow God to write the letter on my heart that he has for me. And so much lately, God has been writing that letter on my heart. God has opened up so many doors for me and is talking to me more than ever before. So the vision is the huge part and i just loved how he expressed that!
One of the other things that i really like was when he talked about just stirring up the fires of passion in your ministry. Right now, as God is stirring up a fire of passion in me to disciple young adults and work in a discipleship ministry i want to work with co-workers and people around me who are also stirred in the same way i am for a passion for discipling young adults. Along with stirring up the fire of passions in your ministry, Chuck also said this, "continually be stirring up yourself to see the world through Christ's eyes and not your own." What a statement that is to me. I want to be a leader and a person who is able to look at people the way God looks at them and not be so quick to judge someone on how they look or who they are. I want to focus on seeing people through God's eyes and i know that that isn't easy but i want to do my best to be able to see people how God sees them. So God i am asking you that you would help me to see people through your eyes and show them your love like never before.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Ack Ackerman Response
Ack Ackerman was a man who is the Director of the Men's House at Adams County Rescue Mission. He made one statement that i feel was very strong for me. He said, "God loves us and cares about us but the reason we go through things is because it builds our character."
This statement hits me because a lot of times i don't understand why i go through things, i don't understand why i have to be the one to deal with pornography when i did at one point in my life, i don't understand why all through my years i felt like i had to act like everything was ok on the outside when everything wasn't ok. Looking on it, God loves me and when i look back on certain situations i see how it grew me in my faith and in my walk with God. I want to be a leader to young adults where i can stress to them that i want them to know that there is a reason to why we go through the things we do. Ack is someone who helps men see that in my opinion. He helps them see that there is a reason they are going through certain things and that's where we show them that God loves them and cares about them and God is going to bring us through the situation no matter what.
I want to disciple young adults and teach them to be more Christ-minded. I want them to know that struggles are just a part of life and it's also part of walking with Christ in my opinion. God is teaching me that i will pull you through the hardships and even though i may not see it now, it will grow me in my faith and in my walk with God.
This statement hits me because a lot of times i don't understand why i go through things, i don't understand why i have to be the one to deal with pornography when i did at one point in my life, i don't understand why all through my years i felt like i had to act like everything was ok on the outside when everything wasn't ok. Looking on it, God loves me and when i look back on certain situations i see how it grew me in my faith and in my walk with God. I want to be a leader to young adults where i can stress to them that i want them to know that there is a reason to why we go through the things we do. Ack is someone who helps men see that in my opinion. He helps them see that there is a reason they are going through certain things and that's where we show them that God loves them and cares about them and God is going to bring us through the situation no matter what.
I want to disciple young adults and teach them to be more Christ-minded. I want them to know that struggles are just a part of life and it's also part of walking with Christ in my opinion. God is teaching me that i will pull you through the hardships and even though i may not see it now, it will grow me in my faith and in my walk with God.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Mark Chester Response
I enjoyed Mark Chester. I like that he compared Discipleship to kind of like a weight loss or self-help because is done in so many ways. I actually kind of found it funny that that's how he compared it.
Another thing he mentioned was about the media. We don't realize how much people are actually saved through watching television or through watching things online. Because the media is so big in our day and age, we need to figure out a way that we can anoint through the media.
In Romans twelve it talks about how God has put a gift in each person. When God created each of us he gave each of us certain gifts. We have to take into consideration that when we want to learn from someone else we learn but being someone is completely different. You want to learn from people, not be them. God has given us the gift of learning so we need to put our minds to it, and be open to learn.
Mark said, "Victory doesn't rest in our techniques, it rests in the Lord." I really like this quote and here's why. We don't gain victory through our techniques, it's by the Lord that we gain our victories. See, Jesus is the only one who is actually able to give us the victories. God is the only one that can change hearts, we can't do that and Jesus has all the victories already, it's not with my techniques that we get the victories.
One thing that not just Mark said, but many of our other speakers have said, is that discipleship is all about relationship. When you have relationship personally with somebody it builds something even more with people. When you are able to be real with people it shows them that they can trust you, i also think it allows them to be more open and honest with you and willing to listen to what it is that we have to say. When we build relationships with people we are able to show them that that's the kind of relationship that Jesus wants with them as well.
Another thing he mentioned was about the media. We don't realize how much people are actually saved through watching television or through watching things online. Because the media is so big in our day and age, we need to figure out a way that we can anoint through the media.
In Romans twelve it talks about how God has put a gift in each person. When God created each of us he gave each of us certain gifts. We have to take into consideration that when we want to learn from someone else we learn but being someone is completely different. You want to learn from people, not be them. God has given us the gift of learning so we need to put our minds to it, and be open to learn.
Mark said, "Victory doesn't rest in our techniques, it rests in the Lord." I really like this quote and here's why. We don't gain victory through our techniques, it's by the Lord that we gain our victories. See, Jesus is the only one who is actually able to give us the victories. God is the only one that can change hearts, we can't do that and Jesus has all the victories already, it's not with my techniques that we get the victories.
One thing that not just Mark said, but many of our other speakers have said, is that discipleship is all about relationship. When you have relationship personally with somebody it builds something even more with people. When you are able to be real with people it shows them that they can trust you, i also think it allows them to be more open and honest with you and willing to listen to what it is that we have to say. When we build relationships with people we are able to show them that that's the kind of relationship that Jesus wants with them as well.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Complete Book of Discipleship Review
This book is so good! I was enjoying so much of it and God was really speaking to me through it as i read the book. I didn't even get that far into the book and on page 45 it has Hebrews 12:1-3 written out and as i read it today i totally felt like it really reflects our Master's team. Right now we need to literally throw off everything that is hindering us and get rid of it for good. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and run the race that God has marked out for us. I know that's what God is calling me to do, but i also believe that's what God is calling our team to do. Bill Hull makes a statement that reads, "Jesus calls us to - a life of following Him - a life of humility, sacrifice, submission, and obedience." I can't believe how much God is stressing this to me about me personally and our team once again. I just can't help that God keeps bringing it up. Hebrews 12:1-3 was even brought up again in my further reading.
Salvation is such a lifelong journey and i love that Bill Hull mentioned this because our walk with Christ is a journey. It's not hard, but you just have to fight through and go as hard as you can go. When you feel like you are ready to give up, you don't because God has already won it and going through your journey is what God uses in your life.Your journey is how God sanctifies you in the way that he does and that's why we go through things we don't understand that Jesus can sanctify us all the more and make us whole again because that is how much our God loves us!
Another awesome quote was, "But a disciple's heart consistently yearns for and desires to please God." Wow! I mean come one, that's what i want my heart to be is that i would consistently yearn for my king and to please him only and nothing else. God has spoken to me such as i read the book and i love what God has been doing. I could probably write much more but those were just a few of the things that God was speaking to me through this book. I loved the book though and thought it was absolutely great and Bill Hull was truly anointed by God when he wrote this!
I read 33% of The Complete Book of Discipleship
I read 33% of The Complete Book of Discipleship
Friday, October 7, 2011
Andy Landers Response
So what i have to say about what i received out of this class with Andy Stanley was amazing! He was such a good speaker and i have enjoyed all of them! Andy is the Director of Youth With A Mission and he also runs the Discipleship Training School in Louisville, KT.
One of the things that Andy Stanley talked about was his underlying philosophy for his program. One of those philosophies is Hearing and obeying the voice of God. I can surely attest to this because God is speaking so much to me especially within my calling. I've always had a passion for missions and i know that God has put that passion and desire in me but I have heard God starting to narrow down my calling in this way. I truly believe that God is calling me to work in a discipleship ministry where i am able to disciple and evangelize young adults and still be able to work in missions with that. I know that God is perfecting this calling and clarifying details to me and i am soooooooo EXCITED for what God is doing!
I loved one of his other philosophies which was I + A =T. What does this stand for? It stands for Information + + Application = Transformation. To explain these further Information is what exactly is the truth that God is giving to you or to us and for me that truth is that God has given me a passion for evangelism. Application is how exactly do i live this out and just thinking about this i'm trying to figure out how to walk this out, especially the calling that God has placed on me. A statement that Andy made says this, "The application of truth is what do i need to do right now to live this out. " That is really any truth that God is giving you, how are you going to live it out, what steps are you going to take kind of thing. Transformation is this, "someone who is different now, walks away saying I heard the truth and i did it and now i'm different. " I want to learn to apply this to my life more, I feel like i have such a huge spark in me and i am just so on fire for God right now and what he is doing and what is to come! Andy really really spoke so many things that were so good and God has blessed me above and beyond to hear and obey God's voice and to hear the truth even when i don't want it!
One of the things that Andy Stanley talked about was his underlying philosophy for his program. One of those philosophies is Hearing and obeying the voice of God. I can surely attest to this because God is speaking so much to me especially within my calling. I've always had a passion for missions and i know that God has put that passion and desire in me but I have heard God starting to narrow down my calling in this way. I truly believe that God is calling me to work in a discipleship ministry where i am able to disciple and evangelize young adults and still be able to work in missions with that. I know that God is perfecting this calling and clarifying details to me and i am soooooooo EXCITED for what God is doing!
I loved one of his other philosophies which was I + A =T. What does this stand for? It stands for Information + + Application = Transformation. To explain these further Information is what exactly is the truth that God is giving to you or to us and for me that truth is that God has given me a passion for evangelism. Application is how exactly do i live this out and just thinking about this i'm trying to figure out how to walk this out, especially the calling that God has placed on me. A statement that Andy made says this, "The application of truth is what do i need to do right now to live this out. " That is really any truth that God is giving you, how are you going to live it out, what steps are you going to take kind of thing. Transformation is this, "someone who is different now, walks away saying I heard the truth and i did it and now i'm different. " I want to learn to apply this to my life more, I feel like i have such a huge spark in me and i am just so on fire for God right now and what he is doing and what is to come! Andy really really spoke so many things that were so good and God has blessed me above and beyond to hear and obey God's voice and to hear the truth even when i don't want it!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Unchurched Friend Interview #1
1. What are you reasons for not going back to a church that you visited once or any church?
didn't get into the sermon
2. Was there something that kept you away from a church or from not going back to a certain church?
No
3. What do you think the purpose of church is?
to learn about god
4. Did you feel welcome when you walked into church? If not, why?
yes very welcomed
5. Do you think there are areas in the church that could be improved or made better? If so, what could be improved?
no
6. What would make the enviornment of the church more inviting to you?
Everyone greeting everyone and talking to each other
7. Do you believe in the one true God? If not, how come?
yes i do
8. Is there a way that the pastor and teachers at the church could make it easier for you to understand what they are preaching about?
yes by things that happen in daily life
9. Do you think that a Christian should go to church on a regular basis? If yes, why, if no, why?
yes, because its one day a week and shows god you care
10. Do you think that going to church every sunday could change your life around?
yes would make me a better person and have better choices in life
This interview made me realize some things. For one, some of these answers really surprised me and when i say that i mean it in this way, i didn't realize that's what people thought in life. I mean i have always heard people that have done these interviews and people have answered that way but i think to actually hear it from someone i know makes it more real to me. I don't have a hard time believing that people say that going to church once a week shows God you care but at the same time it just shocks me because if that's what people really think then it challenges me to come up with a response to that, a way to lead that person to Christ. Being a better person doesn't do anything for us. It's the fact that faith without works is dead but that means that you can't have one and not the other. Faith is believing in what you cannot see but you see the effects of it (not just in other people's lives but in your life personally of what God is doing for you). God leaves signs and shows you who he is, he reveals things to you and i want to be able to come up with responses to say to people of the answers that they give me. I think that the purpose of church too isn't just to learn about God, it's to grow in your walk with God, to dig deeper into the plans and the purpose that God has for you. This interview has opened up my eyes quite a bit to want to be able to respond to someone's answers like this and it even makes me think on some of the questions myself.
didn't get into the sermon
2. Was there something that kept you away from a church or from not going back to a certain church?
No
3. What do you think the purpose of church is?
to learn about god
4. Did you feel welcome when you walked into church? If not, why?
yes very welcomed
5. Do you think there are areas in the church that could be improved or made better? If so, what could be improved?
no
6. What would make the enviornment of the church more inviting to you?
Everyone greeting everyone and talking to each other
7. Do you believe in the one true God? If not, how come?
yes i do
8. Is there a way that the pastor and teachers at the church could make it easier for you to understand what they are preaching about?
yes by things that happen in daily life
9. Do you think that a Christian should go to church on a regular basis? If yes, why, if no, why?
yes, because its one day a week and shows god you care
10. Do you think that going to church every sunday could change your life around?
yes would make me a better person and have better choices in life
This interview made me realize some things. For one, some of these answers really surprised me and when i say that i mean it in this way, i didn't realize that's what people thought in life. I mean i have always heard people that have done these interviews and people have answered that way but i think to actually hear it from someone i know makes it more real to me. I don't have a hard time believing that people say that going to church once a week shows God you care but at the same time it just shocks me because if that's what people really think then it challenges me to come up with a response to that, a way to lead that person to Christ. Being a better person doesn't do anything for us. It's the fact that faith without works is dead but that means that you can't have one and not the other. Faith is believing in what you cannot see but you see the effects of it (not just in other people's lives but in your life personally of what God is doing for you). God leaves signs and shows you who he is, he reveals things to you and i want to be able to come up with responses to say to people of the answers that they give me. I think that the purpose of church too isn't just to learn about God, it's to grow in your walk with God, to dig deeper into the plans and the purpose that God has for you. This interview has opened up my eyes quite a bit to want to be able to respond to someone's answers like this and it even makes me think on some of the questions myself.
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