Reflections on Baton-Passing

Bev — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:44:16 +0000

On Sunday, March 3, 2013, we experienced our first Baton-Passing Ceremony with over 100 recipients who have completed and/or started a new “quad.” We shared reflections how discipleship from generation to generation has affected our learning, growth, and changes in life since we began in 2010 with Greg Ogden’s book, Discipleship Essentials.

“I have learned I can do it! I’m into the Word so much more, and I know what I am here for.”
“I have learned that through the process of Discipleship Essentials that lives change. I’m excited to disciple others. I have become focused on God’s work.”
“God has taught me obedience to the leading of His Holy Spirit. I’m finding I can do it! I’ve always wanted to go deeper with the Lord. It’s finally happening.”
“I am becoming more accountable and focused.”
“I see my importance in the discipleship process. I’ve grown in my commitment. I’ve become bolder.”
“I love the connection within our group. They are the first friends I go to for prayer. It has been wonderful to hear and share for different perspectives of our chapter themes. Discipleship Essentials gets me into the Word. I am more confident in knowing His story.”
“I’m praying for others more often with an open heart to those in need.”
This is encouraging me to speak up and share with others and to have joy and not fear in doing so.”
“I have learned that through the process of Discipleship Essentials that lives change. I’m excited to disciple others. I have been become focused on God’s work.”
“As a disciple in God’s Word, I see my mission is to pass on the baton and disciple others. I’m growing in patience with others and love as God is patient and loves me me. Witnessing is not just leading people to Christ but caring and discipling them in their faith to grow and help others grow in God’s Word together.”
“This gives me encouragement to pursue a new career path I believe the Lord has revealed to me.”
I have experienced the power of an almost daily walk with Christ. I have learned to share more time and energy and food.”
I learned that under the joy of spending time with God and with sisters in Christ. I’ve become closer to God and closer to others. I’ve experienced the importance of making disciplers among those in our church fellowship, being known and knowing each other in Christ.”
“I like intentional discipleship. Relationships are intentional as well. It happens on purpose.”
“I learned that men are most often alone and worshiping alone. I have grown as I am not alone and that I can worship with others and enjoy it. I have changed and I am involved more deeply in the lives of others and in our worship. We should not hold back or introducing others to begin discipling. The material we love is perfectly suitable for high school and above.”
“We have to do God’s work (make disciples). This is not a country club.”
“I was coasting. It’s time to take action and get involved in God’s calling.”
“I’m learning to be closer to God and to be a loving wife to my husband that God wants me to be. It is also teaching me how to lead others to Christ. We are living in a temporary home. Since starting my triad in January I have seen the Lord working more and more in me.”
“I’ve learned to be more intentional about sharing the things God has been teaching me and not keeping it to myself. That is selfishness, and I grow as I share and see others grow in return.”
“Discipleship Essentials causes me to have a deeper more meaningful relationships with other people in my life that I’ve known for years but have not really invested time in a relationship with them.”
“Developing my relationship with other men is what has happened. I’m being able to share my faith with others.”
“I need to be more compassionate. I need to carry the baton to others. I need to get myself out of the way and let the Holy Spirit work.”
“I’m learning that his Word is all I need to fulfill His purpose. My priorities have changed. Being a disciplemaker is a greater adventure with God and deeper relationships.”
“Be ready to change your plans. ‘You should be in one’ had no or little effect, but ‘Join me on this one’ had much.”
“There is a blessing of commitment of friends who were just acquaintances before. Serving together has been a change in my life.”
“Discipleship might be looking around at the relationships that you already have an being intentional with them. This is a big responsibility.”
“How great God’s love is! I have grown in the Word. God has shown me how he has a part in his church for each one of us.”
“The fellowship with my three other lovely ladies has given me a way to open up and allow myself to seek prayer. This is holding me and making me accountable to disciple by learning how.”
“The extent God has gone to have a relationship with me is what I’m learning– how much He loves me and is desiring a daily walk in the Word.”
“The accountability of other members is a deeper level of studying and challenging my mediocrity as a Christian.”
“I have had a much more intimate relationship with God, and I’m not afraid to disciple.”
“This has allowed me to share my faith and passion with a like group of ladies who desire to learn and to follow the Lord. This gives me an excitement in my ‘mature years.’”
“I need to be openand vulnerable and to be willing to invest in lives, even people I might not have normally reached out to. I’ve learned I need the discipline of regularly meeting with others to be accountable.”
“I’ve learned to be more open and share my feelings of my faith. I have learned and grown and it has truly changed my life.”
“I have learned meeting with a couple of guys is an absolutely essential part of spiritual growth that I need. I’ve grown in my relationship with Jesus and grow in my relationship with my guys. My priorities have changed I’ve made much more time to meet with others.”
“We need each other to grow.”
“What it truly means to follow God is what I’ve learned. I’ve grown much closer to God and stronger in my faith. This has changed my view on so much. I’ve become so much of a stronger, more peaceful person.”
“What have you learned? One the most impactful lessons was learning about choosing to be filled with the Holy Spirit. How have you grown? Acceptance of responsibility that is my role to carry his Gospel forward even more than I am now. What has changed in your life? Intentionally building disciplers, not just disciples.”
“A commitment to spending time in the word with other men keeps me accountable for growing in Christ. There are deeper relationships.”
“I am trusting in him to disciple me. It’s not me but allowing the Holy Spirit to grow more of fruit of the Spirit. I’m gaining energy to reach out and commit to the Lord and have joy in answers of my lady disciples.”
“I’m learning to turn my life totally over to God. He is the master planner, not me. This brings me peace every day.”
“I’m learning that intentional discipleship is essential to the Christian life–it’s a commitment to others–and this has grown my prayer life.”
“We are united in spirit and have an appreciation and respect for others! I’ve grown in Christian maturity. My future focus has changed.”
“I’m learning obedience and spiritual responsibility. Now I have an intentional role. I learned I can do this and others can do this.”
“Consistency—intentional, meaningful discipleship causes deeper relationships and leads to more meaningful discipleship.”
“There’s a difference between accepting and believing in Christ and becoming intentionally a disciple and living a Christian life. The difference between doing church and living a Christ-centered life together is how I’ve become more disciplined about reading God’s Word.”
“This study has shaped and changed my view of ministry and outreach.”
“A closer relationship with my Lord causes me to pray every morning and throughout my day. I’ve learned that all of us are important in the body of Christ. I’m leading a triad, something I thought I could NEVER do, but it is the Holy Spirit working through me and in my life. I’m answering questions and thinking,” Where did that come from?—it’s not me but the Holy Spirit! My journey is so much richer.”
“You can become friends with people you haven’t known before spiritually and share your different opinions. I’m thinking about the Lord more and trying more to follow his way. I’m being faithful in showing up in having a relationship with people I don’t know well yet.”
“I’ve learned to trust God. I have grown to have God in my life DAILY! I’ve changed to make the commitment to Christ.”
“He spoke to my life. I have to believe what he said and His Word. He changed my perspective on my calling.”
“I’ve learned the importance of being a disciple. There is a beauty in this small group of three or four. This is the third time around and the Lord keeps adding to my notes.”
“There is a responsibility of discipleship and accountability of fellow disciples.”
“God’s amazing grace!”
“I have made a more formal commitment to others to carry out my faith in the life of others. I have also learned a process to carry out Christ’s mission.”
“I’m having a deeper relationship with Christ and the other ladies in our group.”
“I have learned many new verses. I have grown in fellowship with brothers in Christ. I have become a disciple for the King.”
“There is an accomplishment of deeper friendships and love in the body. What I’ve learned is that my will changes character. Growth? I have stayed strong. What has changed? My love for my wife making her love life to the fullest and SMILE.”

Discipling Fathers

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:51:29 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about discipling fathers?

25-Money: Surviving Economic Drought

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:49:59 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about money and surviving economic drought?

24-Sharing the Wealth

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:48:47 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about sharing the wealth?

22-Spiritual Warfare

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:47:52 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about spiritual warfare?

23-Walking in Obedience

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:45:56 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about Walking in the Obedience?

21-Ministry Gifts

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:43:28 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about ministry gifts?

20-The Church

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:42:28 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about the church?

19-Witness

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:41:26 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about witnessing?

18-Justice

Bev — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:40:03 +0000

What caught your attention and what do you want to apply after hearing or reading about justice?