In many churches discipleship is synonymous with education. They may have discipleship programs, but the focus of these programs is teaching and building up church members with knowledge. While holistic discipleship is not only about education, it is a primary area of development in the discipleship process.
These pictures are from my trip back to Louisville Zoo. The animals there are so photogenic and were very happy to pose for some photos.
As we talk about discipleship, it can be tempting to jump right to the newest and shiniest theories and ideas in the realm of spiritual development. This would be a mistake, because the church has a rich history of thoughts and ideas
Why even care about discipleship? With so much else going on in our lives, we must be very careful with how we invest our time and energy. Is discipleship even worth the significant investment it demands?
As we explore discipleship, it’s important that we get on the same page about what a disciple actually is. What do we mean by discipleship what does a disciple look like? It’s important to define the target before we begin pursuing discipleship.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” These were the last words that Jesus said to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. It’s this command that is at the core of the church and its mission here on earth. We are to make disciples, but that’s easier said than done.
C.S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce” was a joy to read from beginning to end. It presents a compelling view of the afterlife that challenges our own preconceived notions about the spiritual realm. While it’s not mean to be taken as gospel, it does present a sound theological argument in a style that anyone can grasp and comprehend.
Red Rising has become one of my favorite book series. With compelling characters, a tense plot, and a fully realized world, this story is guaranteed to keep you engaged. It’s a great dystopian sci-fi novel that I enjoyed every minute of.
Christ’s hope was for His church to be unified. Just looking around today will tell you that isn’t quite the reality. The church today struggles with disunity than ever before. Christena Cleveland addresses this very issue in “Disunity in Christ.” Within it, she explores and reveals the forces that keep us separated and what we can do fight for unity in our churches.
I returned to the Cincinnati zoo to take more photos of the wonderful animals that call it home. It was a cloudy day, but many of the animals were active and ready to pose for their pictures.
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