Discipleship Tip
The Great Commission has three participles: “go,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” and one imperative verb, a command: “make disciples.” The main idea is to make disciples. The participles tell us how to do that: we make disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching. So the goal of discipleship is to make disciples, teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-19). Being a disciple and making disciples is a direct command from our Lord Jesus and the primary purpose and responsibility of the church and every born-again believer. Everything we do in church or ministry should have discipleship as the ultimate core goal. Our going, baptizing, and teaching needs to be discipleship-centered. What we do each time we gather, whether church services, Sunday School, children’s ministry, women’s ministry, men’s ministry, VBS, outreach, etc., all need to focus on making disciples.

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Grow in grace and truth,

Doug and Suzie Morrell
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Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations … -Matthew 28:19

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Jesus Christ did not say, “Go and save souls” (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but He said, “Go … make disciples of all the nations … ” Yet you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. The missionary’s great essential is remaining true to the call of God, and realizing that his one and only purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus. If I follow any other method, I depart altogether from the methods prescribed by our Lord— “All authority has been given to Me … Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-19).

Everywhere I go there appears to be a lack of consensus regarding the Biblical definition, understanding, and application of discipleship as it appears in the Gospels and the Epistles. The Great Commission has three participles: “go,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” and one imperative verb, a command: “make disciples.” The main idea is to make disciples. The participles tell us how to do that: we make disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching. So the goal of discipleship is to make disciples, teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded.

Making disciples according to Jesus is accomplished by going out right where I am today (first participle), initiating people into the life of discipleship by ‘baptizing’ (second participle), and achieved by ‘teaching’ (third participle). Teaching is the continuous obligation of the church in the life of a new convert as they develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Teaching is the process of getting the person to know Jesus in a life-long, deeper, and more intimate way – teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded. Scripture is an absolute essential element in the process of Holy Spirit-inspired transformation of knowledge, conduct and character. Discipleship is the corporate responsibility of the church and the personal privilege of every believer as they are gifted. Discipleship is a life-long process, beginning at the point of salvation, and participated in and contributions made by a variety of believers throughout the life of the disciple.

Discipleship is a commitment to Jesus Christ – a call to be with, know and enjoy Him as Savior AND Lord. It is lived out in the context of our everyday, getting up, eating, and going-to-work life. It is a relationship with God (vertical) and others (horizontal).

A “disciple of Christ” is someone who has been called first to know Christ, then to follow him, and then who makes disciples. Discipleship involves being with, being like and following Jesus (formed, conformed, and transformed). Mark best summarizes a disciple in his gospel: “And He went up to the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed the twelve, that they might be with Him, and that He might send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons” (Mark 3:13-15).

Being a disciple and making disciples is a direct command from our Lord Jesus and the primary responsibility of the church and every born-again believer. Everything we do in church or ministry or in the marketplace should have discipleship as the ultimate core goal. Our going, baptizing, and teaching needs to be discipleship-centered.

Our grandparents were raised in a culture that understood and taught biblical Christian values.

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Remember, the process of discipleship takes a lifetime. Disciples, regardless of age, are students. And we’re all studying for finals.

Live Christ Deliberately!

Doug Morrell
CORE Discipleship Ministry

When was the last time you impressed God?

You remember the story. Jesus went about doing good, and came home to Capernaum to do good there, too.

When Jesus entered the city, a centurion came to Him, asking for help. The centurion was a Gentile, a Roman, an officer of the army and someone familiar with rank and file. He understood authority.

The centurion appealed to Jesus above other known possible means:

“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

As the centurion recognized God’s grace, a humble man became more humble. The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”

This man’s genuine faith amazed Jesus! This hated Gentile’s faith put to shame the stagnant piety of many of the Jewish religious leaders.

To the gracious He will show Himself gracious:
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. – Matthew 8:5-13

Christ admired the centurion, not for his greatness, wealth, position or power, but for his faith. It was not surprising to Jesus – He knew the centurion’s faith for He made the man and provided the grace; but it was rare and uncommon, and Christ spoke of it as wonderful. He taught us what is lovely and worthy of admiration – the beauty of holiness. The rich in faith are the ones that impress Him.

Are you impressing God in your family, faith, and place of business?

Grow in grace and truth.

By Tom Pryor
March 7, 2009

America’s recession can be resolved with an infusion of trust, not cash.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “Our distrust is very expensive.” While he’s been dead 127 years, his statement holds true in 2009.

In “The Speed of Trust”, author Stephen Covey describes the cost of distrust as The Trust Tax. “When trust goes down, speed will also go down and costs will go up. When trust does up, speed will also go up and costs will go down.”

When trust is nonexistent, The Trust Tax is 80%. In the absence of trust, transactions between people and organizations take longer to consummate plus add costly contracts and oversight. Conversely, when trust is high, The Trust Tax is nonexistent. Deals are accomplished immediately with a handshake.

The root cause of America’s economic and cultural woes is lack of trust.

Trust can be restored. In his chapter on the topic, Covey says “Though it may be difficult, in most cases, lost trust can be restored – and often even enhanced!” Restoring trust takes time, creativity, commitment, hard work and significant changes.

I propose the following actions to restore trust in America:

1.     Restore Trust. Move Bernard Madoff from penthouse to prison immediately. Restore trust that rich criminals receive treatment no different than poor ones.

2.     Replace Trust. Replace 50% of the SEC lawyers with forensic accountants and certified fraud examiners. Lawyers overlooked finding Madoff’s Ponzi scheme multiple times. The AICPA, IMA and other professional accounting organizations need to return trust to investment transactions. They should propose and implement an auditing process investors can trust.

3.     Summit for Trust. President Obama should ask Stephen Covey to host a Trust Summit. To regain trust, the primary goal of the summit is to define the actions, not words; everyday Americans want to see performed by their government officials, financial institutions and business leaders.

4.     Turnover for Trust. Congress should pass legislation for President Obama’s signature that requires the Chairman of the Board, CEO, COO, President and 55%+ of the board of directors to resign if their company accepts bailout money from the US Treasury Department. Conversely, increased turnover in Congress will build trust. It’s time for term limits in the Senate and House of Representatives.

5.     Pray for trust. E. M. Bounds’ advice written one hundreds years ago still rings true today: “There is no place where trust grows so readily and richly as in the prayer closet.” Trust requires a firm foundation of faith and trust in God.

6.     Invent Trust. President Obama should ask Doug Hall of Eureka Ranch to host an Entrepreneurial Summit. Grow trust by growing businesses. Doug’s mantra is “If you’re not unique you better be cheap.” Doug has the unique ability and experience to empower, encourage and equip Americans to create a pipeline of new products, services and businesses.

7.     Measure Trust. Ask Dave Ramsey to create a TICO score. TICO will be a numerical measure of trust for individuals and organizations. Instead of FICO scores that focus on credit worthiness, TICO will focus Americans on growing trust worthiness.

Faith trumps hope. Trust is faith that has become absolute, approved, and accomplished. We all have a role to play to regain trust. Let’s begin today.

…someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go” (Luke 9:57).

How many times have I boastfully said: “Here am I Lord, send me” while thinking to myself, “As long as Your plans do not conflict with my business plans.”

And Jesus reveals me for what I truly am (John 2:25). It is there that I realize the depth of my depravity and the grandeur of His Kingdom possibility. It is there, if I am willing, that the King of Kings can either destroy my lofty aspirations or I continue in my treason. He says, “…the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

There is no place for loyalty to anything or anyone above Christ Jesus. When He calls, I must answer or find myself in resolute conflict and absolute misery. Obedience is the key that unlocks the door of inner turmoil.

And then there are those times when the time is seemingly inappropriate to me, but divinely orchestrated. From all appearances, my response may seem to be in agreement, but upon honest scrutiny, my disobedience is cloaked with a conjunction: “Lord, I will follow You, but … (Luke 9:61).” My reservation becomes my restriction. My disobedience becomes my diversion and I miss the opportunity of joining my Father in His work.

Recently I heard it taught that Jesus was a homeowner, therefore, the teacher went on to explain, Jesus was a man of prosperity (this particular prosperity teaching seems to pop up every so often). Now, the point is not to argue the vice or virtue of prosperity, but I am opposed to wresting Scripture to validate carnality. Without question, my flesh wants nothing more than to be pampered and fed and satiated and to grow fat and lazy and comfortable. Yet, Jesus said: “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

If we are to follow Christ, we must lay aside the thoughts of wanting great things, making great things, and having great things in the world – even if what we purpose appears to be noble, and right and honorable. On more than one occasion I have attempted to do great things for God, but in the end, it was all about me and meeting some hidden desire within or to satisfy my thirst to be remembered across the centuries. We must deny ourselves, and take up our cross.

A disciple is called to be a minister and must not entangle himself with the affairs of this world (2 Tim. 2:4). There is no excuse for disobeying the call of Christ.

Jesus said: “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’’ (Luke 9:62).

Those who begin with the work of God must resolve to go on with it, or they will make nothing of it. To look back is to draw back and drawing back is a very dangerous position. He that endures to the end shall be saved.

We are haunted by the idea of eternity so we must ask ourselves will we be remembered by how devotedly we served, how fiercely we loved, how bravely we fought, how deliberately we died or by how many sales we have made and how much real estate we own?

We are pilgrims, sojourners, ambassadors, disciples – simply passing through foreign, enemy territory. When God calls, start going and never stop.

Live Christ Deliberately,
Doug Morrell

Depth of character is realized under pressure. Anyone can be a Christian when things go well at work, but how do you do when a little pressure, a little pain, a little discomfort, criticism or gossip, a sick child, loss of income, are applied? When your fruit is squeezed, what kind of juice comes forth? We must remember that it is God’s will, “that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3; Romans 8:29), to make you whole, mature and complete, not to make you happy, but to conform you into the image of Christ Jesus – the true blessing. We should see our struggles as opportunities for growth. God will not leave you alone with your problems; He is as close as you will allow and will help you grow.

James, Jesus’ brother, wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). James does not say IF we face trials, but WHENEVER. We are either in a storm, just coming out of one, or there are storm clouds brewing on the horizon. Storms are a normal part of the journey.

We are never to feign happiness in pain, but if we are growing in Christ-likeness, we should be demonstrating a more eternal, positive perspective (considering it pure joy), because we are realizing that we are training for reigning. Instead of focusing on the problem, we should focus on what we should be learning (Romans 2:7; 5:3-5; 8:24,25; 2 Corinthians 6:3-7; 2 Peter 1:2-9).

In an interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren said:

People ask me, “What is the purpose of life?” And I respond, “In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity.” We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body – but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillion of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act, the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn’t going to make sense.”

We need to ask: “Am I going to live for my work? More real estate? Upgrades? Poplularity? Am I going to be driven by business pressures, jealousy, or do I realize God’s purpose for me where I am right now?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, “God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better and I want others to see you in everything I am and do today. When we realize that God put us here for His glory, His purposes, life becomes very interesting and fulfilling. Maybe that’s why we’re called human beings and not human doings.

Live Christ Deliberately,
Doug Morrell

From God’s Word, we discover that God builds using 3 important keys.

“Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3)

1. God Builds Revelationally:

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29)

In the Old Testament, “know” means more than knowledge. It implies an intimate relationship. The communion between God the Father and God the Son is the core and the heart of their relationship. For anyone else to know God, God must reveal himself to that person, by the Son’s choice. We are blessed that Jesus has clearly revealed God to us, his truth, and how we can know him.

Christ’s mission was to reveal God the Father to people. His words brought difficult ideas down to earth. He explained God’s love through parables, teachings, and, most of all, his life. By examining Jesus’ actions, principles, and attitudes, we can understand God more clearly.

“Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

God’s plan was hidden from previous generations, not because God wanted to keep something from his people, but because he would reveal it to everyone in his perfect timing. God planned to have Jews and Gentiles comprise one body, the church. It was known in the Old Testament that the Gentiles would receive salvation (Is. 49:6); but it was never revealed in the Old Testament that all Gentile and Jewish believers would become equal in the body of Christ. Yet this equality was accomplished when Jesus destroyed the “dividing wall” and created the “one new man”.

2. God Builds Generationally:

“Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.” (Mth. 1:1-17)

God builds generationally, thinking not only of this generation, but thousands of generations to come. Like many of the patriarchs of our faith, you may never see the fruit of your life. It may come forth in generations to come. We are to build for the future. This implies we must see beyond our current limited vision and discern what God is building and join Him in His work. We must resist the desire to build only for our lives, but focus on those who will take the work given by our Father and who will then continue to build upon it.

“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” (Prov. 13:22)

3. God Builds Relationally:

The beginning of the Bible’s restoration emphasis is found at the beginning of all things, in the Book of Genesis. God created man in His own image, male and female. Man enjoyed the image of God, the intimacy of God, and unbroken fellowship with God.

But man chose to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In that moment, he decided to take his life into his own hand. With that tragic decision, man lost everything precious God had given. Immediately, God provided clothing made from an animal skin. This clearly revealed God’s plan of redemption and restoration for fallen man. That first sacrifice, providing clothing, pointed toward the ultimate sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus Himself.

“He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables.” (Mark 4:11)

Some people do not understand God’s truth because they are not ready for it. God reveals truth to people who will act on it, who will make it visible in their lives. When you talk with people about God, be aware that they will not understand if they are not yet ready. Be patient, taking every opportunity to tell them more of the truth about God, and praying that the Holy Spirit will open their minds and hearts to receive the truth and act on it.

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Luke 10:22)

Live Christ Deliberately,

Doug Morrell

I am a part of the body committed to doing “whatever it takes.”

I have Holy spirit power. The die has been cast. I’ve stepped over the line.

I am out of the comfort zone. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, or back away. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, chincy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, and my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or burn up till I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up and stayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops.

And when He comes to get His own, He’ll have no problem recognizing me, because I have dedicated my life to be a part of the body committed to doing “whatever it takes.” -Author unknown

Live Christ Deliberately,

Doug Morrell