RiverLife Weekly #38: Disciple Making Foundations
Welcome to a new year in 2021! I believe this season is about developing and enriching the foundations of disciple making in RiverLife. This really involves 3Ms.
1. Our Motivation is Love
Fulfilling God’s purpose is motivated by a deep love and care for God and others. Any venture for God requires a life of loving and living intimately with Christ.
Disciple making begins with loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. The Spirit calls us to this life of loving intimately. Consider the words of Jesus to make disciples of all nations—teaching them to observe ALL I’ve commanded (Matthew 28). To do this, Jesus already pointed us to the starting point: we begin with the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37–40).
In being loved by God and growing in our love for Him, we learn to love others.
2. Our Mission is Collaborative
Jesus calls us into a collaborative mission to make disciples of all nations. This co-mission involves evangelising those who do not know Christ, baptising those who respond in faith, and maturing every member of the body from God’s Word (Matthew 28:19-20).
First is making new disciples through vital relationships with non-believers. Second is nurturing spiritual formation. We mature to embody Kingdom values.
Jesus expects you and I to go, baptise and teach His commandments. Be encouraged that we travel through the power of the Spirit in the company of others on this journey.
3. Our Model is Relational
The beauty of the early church is a simple pattern of disciple making rooted in a family framework. The framework is a family where members are born as participating and contributing members. Parents nurture children into adulthood as the church nurtures Christians into mature disciples.
The goal of disciple making relates to the person of Jesus – transformation into Christlikeness. This is a relational outcome. This is the same reason that our Disciple Making Road Map* is a relationship process. Disciple making is a life-on-life impartation that takes place in the context of strong, healthy relationships.
Undergirding all of this is the Holy Spirit’s active presence, working in and through us as we listen and follow His leading. It is here that the fullness of the Spirit becomes real, His gifts are realised and intimacy with Him is experienced.
Pastor Ben KC Lee
Welcome to a new year in 2021! I believe this season is about developing and enriching the foundations of disciple making in RiverLife. This really involves 3Ms.
1. Our Motivation is Love
Fulfilling God’s purpose is motivated by a deep love and care for God and others. Any venture for God requires a life of loving and living intimately with Christ.
Disciple making begins with loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. The Spirit calls us to this life of loving intimately. Consider the words of Jesus to make disciples of all nations—teaching them to observe ALL I’ve commanded (Matthew 28). To do this, Jesus already pointed us to the starting point: we begin with the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37–40).
In being loved by God and growing in our love for Him, we learn to love others.
2. Our Mission is Collaborative
Jesus calls us into a collaborative mission to make disciples of all nations. This co-mission involves evangelising those who do not know Christ, baptising those who respond in faith, and maturing every member of the body from God’s Word (Matthew 28:19-20).
First is making new disciples through vital relationships with non-believers. Second is nurturing spiritual formation. We mature to embody Kingdom values.
Jesus expects you and I to go, baptise and teach His commandments. Be encouraged that we travel through the power of the Spirit in the company of others on this journey.
3. Our Model is Relational
The beauty of the early church is a simple pattern of disciple making rooted in a family framework. The framework is a family where members are born as participating and contributing members. Parents nurture children into adulthood as the church nurtures Christians into mature disciples.
The goal of disciple making relates to the person of Jesus – transformation into Christlikeness. This is a relational outcome. This is the same reason that our Disciple Making Road Map* is a relationship process. Disciple making is a life-on-life impartation that takes place in the context of strong, healthy relationships.
Undergirding all of this is the Holy Spirit’s active presence, working in and through us as we listen and follow His leading. It is here that the fullness of the Spirit becomes real, His gifts are realised and intimacy with Him is experienced.
Pastor Ben KC Lee
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