Discipleship Articles & Downloads

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 - 11:43 AM CST

• Relationships Poster: “Love God/Love Others”
• Where Have all the Converts Gone? by John W. Kennedy. Discusses the role of relationships in the discipling process (both before and after conversion), and includes an interview with Alton Garrison, Assistant General Superintendent and Commissioner of Discipleship.
• Biennial Reports
  • Assistant General Superintendent (2005-2007)
  • Commission on Discipleship (2005-2007)
• Ben Comen Video – As you watch this touching video about Ben Comen, an 18 year old high school cross country runner who is afflicted with cerebral palsy, consider the various discipleship analogies that it contains. Perhaps the most compelling analogy is the role of the church and fellow believers coming alongside others in the discipleship process.
• Discipleship… Helping Jesus Followers Become His Closest Friends – This PDF provides a definition, describes characteristics, and lists core values of discipleship.
• Discipleship Round Table
  Watch the discipleship round table discussion which followed the Small Group Leadership Seminar during the 2007 General Council in Indianapolis, IN.
• Enrichment Journal—Discipleship: The Neglected Mandate (Winter 2008)
  Why are Christians not more like Christ? This is the crisis at the heart of the church today. The dismal state of discipleship in the church begs us to readdress this issue again. While most churches have programs for this purpose, most pastors fail to see the need for biblical discipleship that transforms the heart and turns ordinary Christians into extraordinary followers of Christ. Download this issue (PDF) to read compelling essays by Earl Creps, Brett Eastman, Stephen Lim, Greg Ogden, Shane Warren, Michael J. Wilkins, and others.
• Globalreach.org – Check out these free online discipleship resources. Most courses are available as printable documents. You are welcome to make as many copies as you would like. Others are available in audio or video formats.
• Seven Practices for Every Follower of Jesus (PDF)
• Needed: Healthy Churches and Healthy Disciples by Leroy R. Bartel
• Crisis, Cause, Cure: Discipleship in the Church by Charles T. Crabtree
  What will it take to reinvigorate a fading emphasis on discipleship? PDF version
• The Crisis of Discipleship in the American Church by Charles Crabtree
  Four important indicators must be carefully considered when assessing the state of discipleship in the church.
• The Secret of Happiness by Charles T. Crabtree
  Learn the secrets of authentic living from the Master himself. PDF version
• Moving Target: Reframing Discipleship for Postmoderns by Earl G. Creps
  Three shifts to reunderstand the challenge of discipling those who are navigating the postmodern turn.
• Balancing Our Out-of-Balance Structure by Darren Daugherty
  Churches can respond in many ways in today’s culture to make disciples of Christ, but there is one change many are unwilling to make.
• 15 Trends in Spiritual Formation by David Drury
  This article examines some of the trends in spiritual formation in evangelical churches in the United States and across the world.
• A New Kind of Teaching—with Authority (PDF) by Dr. Debbie Gill
  Jesus’ New Kind of Teaching—with Authority that amazed the people, penetrates ones character and spreads like a contagion; this New Kind of Teaching—with Authority not only may be reproduced, but must be reproduced, over and over again; This New Kind of Teaching—with Authority is called discipleship.
• Discipleship & Leadership (Download includes PPT and Notes) by Dr. Debbie Gill
  
• Discipleship Coaching by Dr. Debbie Gill. (Download includes PowerPoint, Teaching Notes, Student Notes, and Answer Key)
• Spiritual Gifts, The Great Commission & Gender: A Biblical Theology (Download includes PowerPoint and Teaching Notes), and watch video by Dr. Debbie Gill
• The Vision of the Commissioner by Dr. Debbie Gill (sermon series by a former Commissioner of Discipleship.)
  • Part 1: Knowing Is Not Enough—it’s living the life that counts! (Download Audio MP3)
  • Part 2: The State of Discipleship in the Denomination—Discipleship Descriptions, Diagnosis & Prescription (Download includes: Audio, PowerPoint and Notes.)
  • Part 3: How I Got Hooked on Relational Evangelism and Discipleship
    (Download includes: Audio, PowerPoint and Notes.)
• Discipleship Ministry Plan by James Hall
• Go and Make Disciples of All Nations by Greg Herrick Th.M., Ph.D.
• Commission on Discipleship Message by Robert Johansson
  During the 2007 Annual Commission on Discipleship meeting, Robert Johansson, Senior Pastor at Evangel Church in Long Island City, NY, shared on the need for more intentionality and the importance of relationships in the disciple making process. Listen or download his message.
• Where Have all the Converts Gone? by John W. Kennedy
  Discusses the role of relationships in the discipling process (both before and after conversion), and includes an interview with Alton Garrison, Assistant General Superintendent and Commissioner of Discipleship.
• Why Churches Don’t Disciple, and How Yours Can by Stephen Lim
  Flawed ministry paradigms sabotage the church’s efforts at disciple making. Consider this approach that is sure to improve the quality of disciple making in your church.
• Becoming a Healthy Church by Stephen A. Macchia
  A Holy Spirit-directed process of discovering God’s unique thumbprint for your church must include hope for tomorrow.
• So Many Christian Infants by Gordon MacDonald
  Why are we so good at leading people to faith and so bad at prodding them to maturity?
• Making Disciples Jesus’ Way: A Few at a Time by Greg Ogden
  Here is a simple, reproducible way to grow disciples that will forever change your practice of ministry and leave your church with self-initiating, reproducing disciples of Christ.
• The High Cost of Discipleship (PDF) by Stephen F. Olford
• Free online tool for making Jesus-focused disciples by Vipool Patel
  Do the people you are making into Jesus’ disciples have a basic understanding of Jesus’ commands, core teachings, character, crucifixion, and interactions with real people? Are you sure?
• The Healthy Church: A Commitment To Loving And Caring Relationships by Pablo Polischuck
  Here are six concrete guidelines that form the ingredients of an integrated, caring, and loving congregation.
• The Role of Spiritual Leadership in Discipleship by Shane Warren
  A pastor’s role as spiritual leader in the discipleship process is imperative if it is to be effective.
• Disciple Making for Changing Times and Changing Churches by Michael J. Wilkins
  Consider these essential features of biblical discipleship that must characterize our attempts to develop a disciple-making ministry.

Crisis in Discipleship/State of Discipleship

Crabtree

We face a serious crisis in discipleship according to Charles T. Crabtree, retired assistant general superintendent and former Commissioner of Discipleship. In "Discipleship in the Assemblies of God," Charles T. Crabtree outlines the Crisis, the Cause, and the Cure. Listen to message. Or, download Audio or Article (PDF).

These graphs (PDF) compare reported conversions to water baptisms, and the growth rate of attendance, membership, and adherents.

The Crisis of Discipleship in the American Church by Charles Crabtree. Four important indicators must be carefully considered when assessing the state of discipleship in the church.

From the State of Discipleship Report and his new book, Transformational Discipleship, retired Assistant General Superintendent and former Commissioner of Discipleship, Charles Crabtree, made an impassioned plea for listeners to apply a sevenfold discipleship strategy that he outlined and said we must take discipleship more seriously if the Assemblies of God is going to be viable in the future. Watch, listen, download video, or download audio of the message, or read the full sermon text. Read a synopsis of the message from The Council Today.

Pre-Conversion Discipleship

• Alpha
  A program for introducing the basics of Christianity to those interested.
• How to Reach Unchurched People in Your Community
  Host this one day seminar developed by Church Growth, Inc., or download the PowerPoint and the workbook for self study.
• Good News, Bad News
  Four evangelism authors who practice what they preach tell what they’ve learned about bringing others into the Kingdom.
• What Can I Learn From Being Evangelized by Other Religions?
• Evangelism or Disciple Making? by Charles Arn
  Nearly every pastor can testify that not all decisions result in disciples and responsible church members.
• Overcoming the Obstacles to Evangelism by Myron Augsburger
  Integrate evangelism into every hour of the week, so that Christ is carried into people’s lives, into our work, play, and socializing.
• Sunday School: A Recipe for Discipleship by Wes Bartel
  What should an effective discipleship ministry look like in the 21st century? There are at least four necessary ingredients needed to create an effective Sunday School or Christian education ministry.
• Evangelism for the Ordinary Church by Steve R. Bierly
  Just because your people don’t like to evangelize doesn’t mean they can’t share their faith.
• The Pastor and Biblical Intimacy Interview with Henry Blackaby
  Read what the author of Experiencing God has to say about how walking in an intimate relationship with God impacts the pastor’s life and ministry.
• An Interpersonal Communication Model: The Engel Scale Explained by Bill Bright and Mark McCloskey
• For Pete’s Sake by Becky Brodin
  When you’re sharing your faith, could you be talking too much?
• "Let Me Ask You Something." by Becky Brodin
  Asking questions is often the best way to connect with a non-Christian.
• "What Makes You So Different?" by Becky Brodin
  Here are four ways to have an impact for Christ in the workplace before you say a word.
• A Time To Sow, A Time To Reap by Robbie Castleman
  Sometimes patience is the key to a fruitful harvest.
• Moving Target: Reframing Discipleship for Postmoderns by Earl G. Creps
  Three shifts to reunderstand the challenge of discipling those who are navigating the postmodern turn.
• Developing a Missional Mindset by Don Detrick
  To face new challenges and opportunities both in embracing our past and engaging our present, we must develop a missional mindset.
• What’s The Use? by Tim Downs
  If no one responds, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
• The Power and Potential of Small Groups by Brett Eastman
  Principles that have unlocked amazing growth and community outreach for church after church can happen in your church too.
• Looking For The Lost by H. Dennis Fisher
  How concerned are you for the salvation of the lost? What do your own actions reveal about that concern?
• Waiting For The Harvest by H. Dennis Fisher
  Sometimes patience is the key to successful evangelism.
• Hope in America’s Crisis by L. Alton Garrison
  Misconceptions hamper the future of missions in America. But there are ways church leaders can overcome them and stand together for national revival.
• Matchmaker! Matchmaker! by Judy Gomoll
  What would happen if you began to see evangelism as introducing someone to the Savior—rather than as salesmanship?
• Beyond The Holy Huddle by Jonathan Graf
  Being ‘salt’ and ‘light’ can be as simple as sweeping off your neighbor’s porch.
• How Beautiful Are the Feet by Dan Greene
  Jesus has sent us to scale the mountains of misunderstanding and bring the good news to the ends of the earth—and that includes the people down the street!
• Turning Decisions into Additions and Additions into Disciplers by Jim Hall
  New believer disciple making is indispensable if churches are to curb the alarming spiritual death rate among them. Consider these practical steps that will turn decisions into additions and additions into disciplers.
• From Neighbors To Friends by Lynn Hallimore
  How a small group of Christians built bridges on their block.
• Prayer at Work by Lynn Hallimore
  The most overlooked way to influence your coworkers for Christ.
• Building a Church That Transforms Lives by Eddie Hammett
  Explores creating disciples in a busy world through pre and post conversion methods, and describes the pulpit, program, person-to-person, and process approaches.
• Evangelism is NOT a Dirty Word by Eddie Hammett
• Biblical Principles and Practices for Effective Personal Witness by Randy Hurst
  These principles provide a biblical framework for teaching personal evangelism that can become an integral part of any believer’s lifestyle.
• Response Evangelism: A Spiritually Natural Approach to Witnessing by Randy Hurst
  An indepth look at the importance of personal evangelism with practical suggestions for effective witnessing.
• The Cycle of Evangelism and Discipleship: An Unending Process by Randy Hurst
  The cycle of evangelism and discipleship is an unending process of reaching and retaining people who become citizens of Christ’s eternal kingdom.
• Where Have all the Converts Gone? by John W. Kennedy
  Discusses the role of relationships in the discipling process (both before and after conversion), and includes an interview with Alton Garrison, Assistant General Superintendent and Commissioner of Discipleship.
• You Can Host An Evangelistic Bible Study by Bob Jacks
  All you need to reach the people around you with the Good News is a living room, a few paperback Bibles, and faith.
• Don’t Beam Us Up Scottie by Ian John
  We’ve got to leave the safe, secure environment of the Enterprise.
• Barry’s Witnessing Again? by Kima Jude
  Some people seem to attract seekers like a magnet. What’s their secret?
• A Winning Team by Linda Wakefield Kelley
  How four couples work together to reach their neighbors
• Connecting Points, Chapter 4: The Premise (PDF) by Steve Lambert and Randy Helms
  Discusses the role of relationships in both the pre-conversion and post conversion stages of discipleship. Includes a summary of the Engel Scale of Conversion Stages.
• Keeping Away From The Joneses? by Sherri Langton
  A self-confessed introvert tells how she reaches out to her neighbors.
• Lifestyle Evangelism for the Pastor by Mark Lauterbach
  Given a pastor’s lifestyle, is lifestyle evangelism even possible? One pastor’s refreshing discovery.
• Introducing Jesus by Beth J. Lueders
  4 evangelistic small groups that are fruitful and fun
• Common Ground by Dennis McCallum
  How to build bridges to people who believe that truth is different for everyone.
• Our Commitment to “Growing Saints” by Major Denise McGarvey
• Lessons at the Well by Cathy Miller
  Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman shows us how to reach our unbelieving friends.
• Bridge Events That Reach Secular People by Steve Mills
• Preparing Your Church to Evangelize by Doug Murren and Mike Meeks
  Getting a big crowd to a special event is one thing; getting them to church is another.
• Are You Tentmaking Or Just Camping Out? by Grant Nauman
  Ever think of yourself as a missionary to your own community? Here are three ways to have an impact for Christ wherever you live and work.
• Let Love Live by Dary Northrop
  The principle of Christ’s love transformed this church’s entire approach to ministry.
• Take the Gospel into Your World by Jim Petersen
  Christians have a lot to learn about taking the gospel to secularized people.
• Discipleship Pathway by Steve Pike
  While church planting in Utah, Steve Pike, the Director of Church Planting for the Assemblies of God U. S. Missions, used these stages for discipling the unchurched and pre-converts of his community. These stages are not necessarily experienced in the order they are laid out. However, each of the stages represents a necessary category of the discipleship process for each person. For example, “Go and Enjoy” is the process wherein a Christian intentionally leaves his/her “comfort zone” and ventures out to find “places of enjoyment” they can share with a pre-convert. This “Go and Enjoy” encounter becomes the seed bed for the formation of a redemptive relationship where the Spirit of Christ in the Christian influences the pre-convert toward faith in Christ. Also available is a portion of BootCamp training material, How Will We Do It?, which Steve provides to introduce the concept of the discipleship pathway. If you would like more information about this concept please contact Steve at spike@ag.org.
• How do the Unchurched View Us? by Dr. Thomas S. Rainer
  Their seven most common responses about the churched.
• Ten Surprises About the Unchurched by Dr. Thomas S. Rainer
  Understanding their hearts and minds.
• How To Talk About Jesus Without Getting Weird by Randy D. Raysbrook
  Evangelism can be as natural as conversation.
• One-Verse Evangelism by Randy D. Raysbrook
  Here’s an uncomplicated new way to present the Bridge illustration, using only one verse.
• Fish Stories by Michael Ridgeway
  What bait are you using to reach people with the Gospel? What does the Great Commission really call us to do? “Discipleship is an inseparable part of evangelism—it begins before and continues long after conversion.”
• What Tomorrow’s Laborers Are Learning Today by Paula Rinehart
  All those who will be finishers have in common a certain conviction, a certain quality, and a certain hope.
• Navigating the Changing Waters of Leadership by Alan Roxburgh
  What do cultural shifts mean for the work and witness of churches?
• Risky Business by John D. Sloan
  Are you willing to take a chance with people who don’t seem like a sure bet for success?
• 14 Ways to Love Your Neighbors by Stephen W. Sorenson
  Here are some easy, practical ways to get to know the people who live around you.
• Ready to Answer by J. Mack Stiles
  It takes more than the right arguments to lead people to faith.
• The Surprising Rewards Of Witnessing by J. Mack Stiles
  What will you miss if you don’t share your faith?
• The Gospel In The Workplace by Robert J. Tamasy
  You spend nearly half your waking hours with the people at your job. How can you influence them for Christ?
• Evangelism by The Ounce by Paul Thigpen
  Small but effective ways to share your faith.
• Taking Men Alive by Charles Gallaudet Trumbull
  This article offers us timeless help in answering these questions: What should I be thinking about when I am trying to help a nonChristian become a believer? How can I develop tact in speaking about Christ? What do I say about sinful habits in a nonChristian’s lifestyle? How can I help him be interested in my message?
• Premature Harvest by Rick Weinert
  Personal evangelism means planting, watching carefully, and waiting.
• The Role of the Pastor in Evangelism by Scott G. Wilkins
  Personal and corporate involvement in evangelism.
• Invisible Neighbors by Jamie Winship
  How one policeman learned to love those he had once overlooked.
• The Lost-Restoring a Sense of Urgency by George O. Wood
  What do the three stories–the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son–from Luke 15 reveal about the heart of the gospel?
• The Fine Art of Reaching People by Howard Young
  As with any creative art, the genius of reaching people cannot be traced to one single factor. Instead, it is a composite of many things that are thoughtfully and expeditiously performed.
• "It’s True For You, But Not For Me." by Jeff Yourison
  How to help friends see the flaws in their belief systems.
• "But they’re so Different…" by