VisionQuest Outfitters

Waitress Changes Church Beliefs

corediscipleship — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:42:55 +0000

A church is defined by what it teaches, believes and stands for. You might think, “Well our church is known for its love.” Perhaps, but if you really want to know how your church is perceived, ask a waitress. On any given Sunday, these hardworking servants serve the servants. Get ready for a gut-check. They may tell you that your organization is only interested in political or social issues. They may tell you that the Sunday crowd is large, noisy, demand everything and leave nothing in return. Or they might say that your church is defined by the core objective and prime directive Jesus gave us: loving God – loving others and making disciples.

Want to really change things? I would suggest that you humbly ask your church leaders to focus on the same mission and commission that our Founder gave us. Is your church really known for its love and making disciples? Ask a waitress.

The Secret To Winning | CORE Discipleship

corediscipleship — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:10:40 +0000

Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning is a habit and so is losing.”

God has a prosperous future for His children and each of us are to run the race set before us. The problem is that most of us don’t know or we forget that we’re in a race. The Apostle Paul tells us: “You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.” (1 Cor. 9:24-27, The Message)

It’s not luck – no such thing for those on the journey. The person who consistently does the right thing will eventually win. Winners have a better attitude than losers. A bad attitude is a choice. For instance, my day may not be going any better than yours. My debts may be greater than yours. But I can choose to have a positive outlook based on God’s redemptive nature (God can redeem our failures and mistakes). God truly wants nothing but the best for you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11)

Whatever you do, do it with excellence and in grace. Build to last. The destiny of the diligent will never be the company of the obscure and insignificant. The Bible says, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” (Prov. 22:29)

One of the great enemies of God is a life-style that embraces mediocrity – in essence, an undisciplined life. The heart of being a disciple is being Holy Spirit self-controlled and disciplined. As a result, others see Christ demonstrated long before they hear Him preached.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Mth. 5:16)

1. Consistent winning is the key
Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Living Christ deliberately takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation. As disciples, we are running toward our heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of Bible study, fellowship, communion and prayer equip us to run with vigor and stamina. Don’t watch from the grandstand; don’t just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Get on the field and in the game and train diligently – your spiritual life depends upon it.

The Christian life was never promised as an easy way to live. We must have a purpose and a plan because times will be difficult and Satan will attack. But we never persevere without the promise of a final prize – a promise God will keep.

Winners say: I have a plan.
Losers say: I have an excuse.

Winners say: Let me do it for you.
Losers say: It’s not my job.

Winners: See a solution for every problem.
Losers: See a problem for every solution.

Winners: See a green around every sand trap.
Losers: See 2 or 3 sand traps around every green.

Winners: See a difficult situation, but see possibility.
Losers: See a possible situation, but it’s too difficult.

Winners say: Problem, look how big my God is.
Losers say: God, look how big my problem is.

God wants to lead you into the promised land. Winning does not make the attitude – the attitude makes you a winner. Have a positive attitude. God will work everything out for those who are in His purpose: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

2. Winners learn from their mistakes:
Tom Peters says, “Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast.” Losers hate this philosophy because it causes them to plan, test and take responsibility. You must be able to evaluate, make adjustments, and change anything that isn’t producing Christ-likeness.

3. Winners compete with themselves:
When George Patton was 29 years old serving as a tank commander colonel in World War I, he demonstrated a winning attitude. One particular morning, the fog was so dense no one could see to maneuver the tanks. He got out, walked 30 yards in front of the tanks and led them. What made him a winner was his desire to do whatever was necessary to win.

We are all different. If two of us are the same, one of us is not necessary. Set goals in your personal life, your business, your marriage, your ministry. Better yourself. If someone looks at you today, they should be able to see improvement over last year.

Your success should never be based on another’s failure. Every person is valuable. When you compete with someone else, they control your life. Remember, we’re on a journey. Where I am on the journey is not where you are. There are people who lose in relationships consistently because of their sharp tongue, their critical spirit, their insecurity, their bitterness. These things can be corrected. Winners realize there’s not much difference between winning and losing: usually it’s measured in terms of inches, a point or two, or in milliseconds. Losers think it’s a huge difference.

God tells us: “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” (Deut. 30:19)

God wants us to have life and blessing! Not death and curses. He wants us to succeed and prosper – to live life abundantly. It’s all about choice. Your choice.

4. Winners will always pay the price:
The value of your dream is determined by how much you are willing to pay for it. Michelangelo was not the best painter of his time. He had a bad back and a sinus condition. No one else was willing to do whatever it took to succeed. He laid on his back painting a ceiling for nearly 2 years and completed the Cystine Chapel. All the other “great” painters of his day are forgotten in obscurity.

In 1949, Jonas Salk wanted a cure for polio. He worked 16 hours a day, six days a week for five years and gave us the now-famous Salk Vaccine against polio. Jonas played to win.

Lou Gehrig played 2,130 consecutive games. Every finger in both hands was broken as well as him having 17 additional fractures in his body. But he played nonetheless. Of all the players in baseball history, none possessed as much talent and humility as Lou Gehrig. His accomplishments on the field made him an authentic American hero, and his tragic early death made him a legend. He played to win.

Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players in history, played the 1997 Championship Game against the Utah Jazz with the flu even when he could have stayed at home. 40 million dollars is not what kept him on the floor. Michael played to win.

The principle: Pay now or pay later. If you pay now, you can play later. Losers play now and end up paying later. Winners pay now, so they can play later. Yes, it will be lonely, risky, sacrificial, and responsible. You must determine what you value and the price you are willing to pay. To get something you want you must give up something else. You can’t sacrifice unless you have a choice.

I’m sure Jesus did not feel like going to the Cross so I could have redemption. I’m glad He did not base His decision on how He felt.

Everyone wants authority without responsibility. The church is filled with people who want the benefits, the titles, the perks, but who don’t want responsibility. In God’s economy, there is no authority without responsibility. If you don’t take responsibility for your family, you don’t have authority over your family. In fact, the first mark of sin was failure to take responsibility. Adam said, “It’s not my fault … you gave me the woman” (Gen. 3:12). Our sin nature always wants to blame others. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! If your marriage is failing, take responsibility and get help. If your business is failing, take responsibility and get help. If your ministry is failing, take responsibility and get help. You have a choice. You’re not a victim. Choose life and blessing.

5. Winners make hard decisions no one wants to make:
Most people don’t want to make tough decisions because they are afraid other people won’t like them anymore. So what? What made Esther great was her ability to make tough decisions. A whole nation survived because of her decisions. She risked it all and she did not have to. It’s been said, “When I’m tempted to not confront a difficult person or a difficult situation, I am guilty of embezzlement.” If we don’t, we’re cheating God. Ultimately, the choices we make will be our responsibility before the Lord. It’s called accountability. If you’re waiting for the perfect church, the perfect marriage, the perfect business, you’ll be waiting a long, long time. Work with what’s in your hand today.

How You Can Learn To Win:
Start today with what you have. Be faithful in the little and never despise the day of small beginnings. Some of God’s greatest gifts came in small packages and changed the world forever.

Feel responsible TO others and not FOR others. Invest your resources as the stepping-stone for others. Teach others to fish, don’t just give them fish.

Realize the emotional reward you have as a giver. A generous person is fun to be around.

Evaluate your life in terms of giving. Don’t ever base your life on what you accumulate. Leave behind a legacy of principles and character not just money and resource. Plant good seed. If you don’t like the crop that came up last year, plant something different today.

What you give is what you really keep.

Give because it’s right. If you give to someone who can’t repay you, you’re on the right road.

Understand the reason for receiving (2 Cor. 9:10). God gives seed to those who sow. He gives bread to those who don’t sow. You can either sow or eat what’s given to you.

Enjoy the rewards of being a giver. Have you ever noticed that the harder you work the “luckier” you become?

The true measure of a person is through giving. The reason we want to grow is not to just have more real estate, bigger homes or larger ministries … it’s to be a blessing to many. You are blessed to be a blessing. Start blessing!

Keep an eternal vision. Think global, act local. Benefit others. Bless someone today.

Live Christ Deliberately!

Doug Morrell

CORE Discipleship

http://www.corediscipleship.com

CORE Discipleship: Until Christ Is Formed In You

corediscipleship — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:41:53 +0000

Life is growth. When a child is not growing, we know immediately something is wrong. Growth is not optional, but essential (Gal. 4:19; Eph. 4:15).

We talk about discipleship, but how closely does our discipleship process model that which we discover in the Gospels and Epistles?

Discipleship is a lifelong process of growing in Christ-likeness. It begins when we are born again and continues until we die. Lots of ups and downs, starts and stops, detours and occasionally, pinpoint accuracy. We tend to think that growing in Christ primarily involves intellectual ascent. However, although learning is essential and knowledge is required that’s only a part of the process. Learning and knowledge must lead to new character and conduct reflective of Jesus. Moreover, it is only through the transforming power by the Holy Spirit and our obedience that disciples can truly enjoy abundant life (John 10:10).

So, if current research as reported by Barna is even remotely accurate, why are there so few New Testament-like disciples? I believe it is because we do not decide to be Jesus’ disciples.

What Jesus desires is that we be transformed into “the measure of the full stature of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).

How do we begin? Ask. We must ask Jesus to become more like Him, to see Him more clearly, to see as He sees, to feel as He feels, to have His heart in all matters of life.

There cannot be a disciple without a decision and there cannot be a disciple without discipline. We are born-again in an instant, but discipleship takes a lifetime. It begins with a decision. The disciple’s hymn becomes, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

The cost of discipleship is great, but the opportunity is greater still.

Seasons: Something to think about

corediscipleship — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:11:18 +0000

From bondage to spiritual faith

From spiritual faith to great courage

From great courage to strength

From strength to liberty

From liberty to abundance

From abundance to leisure

From leisure to selfishness

From selfishness to complacency

From complacency to apathy

From apathy to dependence

From dependence to weakness

From weakness back to bondage

Charles R. Swindoll, Come Before Winter, 500.

Free Discipleship Resources For The Journey

corediscipleship — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:11:42 +0000

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.

Free Discipleship Resources
* Discipleship eBooks
* Free Discipleship Sermons
* CORE Discipleship Process
* And much more!

Featured Free eBook: Chrysalis – Believer’s Guidebook

This 64-page book contains the basic teaching every new believer should know. If you’re a new Christian, coming back to Christ after a period of doubt, trying to process the “big picture” or just need a refresher course, this guidebook is for you.

Click here to visit our website

Grow in grace and truth,

Doug and Suzie Morrell
Founders/Directors CORE Discipleship
–
CORE Discipleship
CoreDiscipleship.Com
Go. Disciple. Baptize. Equip.™

Office Discipleship

corediscipleship — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:45:48 +0000

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.

Faith Begins At Home

corediscipleship — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:34:46 +0000

The role of the Church is not to make sure that others can just see the light shining bright from the church building. Rather, the role of the Church is to equip people so that their lights shine in their homes and in their communities.

The Bible says:
Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.” (Deut. 6:5-9, The Message).

If you have children, you can live faith at home in such a way that your home becomes a shining light. It’s never too late to start. Begin with your own at-home Bible study, prayer and worship, and the outflow of these things will impress those around you.

Statistics show that parents are 2 to 3 times more influential than any church program. Search Institute conducted a nationwide survey of more than 11,000 participants from 561 congregations across six different denominations and found this:

• Twelve percent of youth have a regular dialogue with their mother on faith/life issues.
• Five percent of youth have a regular dialogue with their father on faith/life issues.
• Nine percent of youth have experienced regular reading of the Bible and devotions in the home.

Faith really does begin at home. I want to encourage you to begin practicing your faith at home today. If you need assistance or easy-to-use home faith resources, visit DiscipleLand or CORE Discipleship for help.

Becoming a Church That Transforms Children Into Disciples

corediscipleship — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:16:18 +0000

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

Where can you find the support you need to raise children who love God and who embrace a biblical viewpoint? As a resource to help you in your discipleship training, it is my privilege to introduce DiscipleLand.

DiscipleLand provides Bible curriculum that helps transform children into dynamic disciples of Jesus Christ—children who know God intimately, who love Him passionately, and who serve Him selflessly.

If you are a pastor, I fully endorse DiscipleLand. Of all the children’s ministry materials we have reviewed and used, I have never experienced a children’s Bible curriculum that embraces the Great Commission such as this. Please consider reviewing for your church or feel free to forward to those responsible for your children’s ministry.

Introducing DiscipleTown:
DiscipleLand has just released their new Kids’ Church curriculum! Karl Bastian, the Kidologist, partnered with DiscipleLand to create a one-of-a-kind, customizable curriculum for elementary-age children. Through DiscipleTown’s teacher-driven lessons, children can develop essential “how-to” skills for victorious Christian living.

DiscipleTown: High-energy creativity + Biblical richness = a totally new approach to Kids’ Church!

Order Today!

Download Your FREE DiscipleTown Lesson!

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

How To Impress God

corediscipleship — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:28:32 +0000

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.

The Economics of Trust

corediscipleship — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:28:44 +0000

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.