The Gary Ward school of discipleship

As if....

Can't Jesus still disciple people then? Does he need my help? Not likely.

He is risen, alive and more than able to disciple you in the normal course of day to day living. Jesus instructed his followers to make disciples. this doesnt mean do the discipling. It means bring them into a position where they can be discipled under Jesus. How can a man know the inward workings of the heart? They can't but Jesus can, and does.

Dont be fooled by organisations who offer internships and courses. Sadly, many rely on your money to pay for over budgeted projects that originated to provide some blokes' salary and make him look good. You may not be aware of this but some churches offer you to pay for courses from Open College Network Style training AND recieve money from the college bodies when you complete!

I guess this isnt wrong if the project tells you that this is an education facility but many pass this lucrative business off as a spiritual aid to discipleship.

You need your bible, a dialogue in prayer, your fellowship of believers and someone who can answer your questions.

And time.

(that can be a tough one!)

Look at the parable of the seed that grows all by itself in Mark 4. This is like someone who comes to Christ and through the normal day to day running of life, the Holy Spirit can bring about all the discipleship that is needed.

Discipleship is spending time with Jesus. Most discipleship programs act as if Jesus is not alive and is incapable of doing his job with his people. Sadly, there are those whose discipleship programs are actually control mechanisms to keep people attending and giving. This is another example of the problems relating to institutionalising the church.