SO WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP?

 
Discipleship is very simply the process of making disciples. Here at Lifebrook we take an intentional approach to this process; the process of moving someone from being dead in their sin without God to a growing and maturing relationship with the one true God of the universe. This begins with evangelism and stops with passing from this life to the next. The goal of discipleship, at least defined by those who call Lifebrook home, is to create disciples who live in such as way, it is as if Jesus Christ was living their lives for them.

THE 5 “SETTINGS” OF DISCIPLESHIP

 
In his book, Discipleship That Fits, Bobby Harrington of Discipleship.org defines 5 “Contexts” in which Discipleship occurs. We call these “contexts”, “settings”; but they could also be called “spaces” or any other descriptor that fits.
 

The Public Setting

Exists where people gather in the hundreds around a shared outside resource. In this environment the focus is on engaging with the outside resource, rather than building relational depth with others who also happen to be there.
 
Jesus modeled this in Matthew 5:1-2, John 6:1-2, and Mark 6:34 as He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, fed the 5,000, and displayed compassion for the shepherd-less. At Lifebrook we have Sunday Morning to utilize this setting of discipleship.
 

The Social Setting

Is the range between twenty and seventy people, where we share snapshots of who we are and thereby seek to build affinity with others.
 
Jesus modeled this in Luke 10:1, Matthew 9:9-13, and Luke 19 as He sent the 70 out, ate with Matthew’s tax collector friends, and attended a party at the home of Zacchaeus. At Lifebrook we have our MEN’s and Women’s Ministry, Lifebrook Student Hangout, and our Wednesday Night services.
 

The Personal Setting

Forms in groups of four to twelve, where we can feel able to share private information between good friends.
 
Jesus modeled this in John 13, Matthew 8:23-27, and Mark 8:27-33 as He washed the disciples feet, calmed the storm around the disciples boat, and the confession and rebuking of Peter. At Lifebrook our Alpha groups and Emotionally Healthy Discipleship tables are specifically designed to be no larger than 8 people. We also have several small groups that meet in homes and coffee shops.
 

The Transparent Setting

Is when you are with just one or two others, making a group of two to four people, your closest of relationships. This setting is characterized by complete openness and candor, nothing is held back.
 
Jesus modeled this in Luke 9:28-36, Mark 10:35-45, and Matthew 26:36-38 during Transfiguration, as He handled James and John’s request, and as He requested prayer support at Gethsemane.
 

The Divine Setting

Represents God’s direct interactions with us, His people, at a one-on-one level. Our focus shifts from cultivating relationships with others to being alone with our Creator and Redeemer as He encounters us in our inner world.
 
Jesus modeled this in Mark 1:36, Luke 6:12, and John 5:19 as He woke early to pray, sought God the Father before calling the Twelve, and as He does only what He sees the Father doing.

EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY DISCIPLESHIP

 

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

A plan for discipleship that deeply changes our relationship with God
 

The EH Spirituality Course:

  • directly addresses the reality that emotional maturity and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.
  • equips people to develop a personal, first-hand relationship with Jesus by incorporating stillness, silence and Scripture as daily life rhythms.

The EH Spirituality Course moves people through 8 powerful life changing sessions:

  • The Problem of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality
  • Know Yourself That You May Know God
  • Going Back in Order to Go Forward
  • Journey Through the Wall
  • Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief and Loss
  • Discover the Rhythms of the Daily Office and Sabbath
  • Grow Into an Emotionally Healthy Adult
  • Go the next step to develop a “Rule of Life”

 

Why the EH Spirituality Course?

An estimated 85% of Christians are stuck in their relationship with Christ

Only 1% of church leaders say that the church is doing well in discipling new and young Christians

Only 20% of church-goers participate in any type of discipleship activity

Only 1 in 4 Christians study the Bible to find God’s will for their lives

 

Emotionally Healthy Relationships

A plan for discipleship that deeply changes our relationship with others
 

The EH Relationships Course:

  • equips people with 8 practical skills to love others well as mature followers of Jesus.
  • transforms the culture of our churches by offering new language, new tools, and new strategies to break through relational roadblocks.

The EH Relationships Course includes powerful skills developed over 20 years:

  • Check Your Community Temperature Reading
  • Stop Mind Reading and Clarify Expectations
  • Genogram Your Family
  • Explore The Iceberg
  • Listen Incarnationally
  • Climb the Ladder to Integrity
  • Fight Cleanly
  • Develop a “Rule of Life” to Implement Your New Learnings
 

Why the EH Relationships Course?

People need practical tools to actually do the Bible’s teaching to love well
 
People need practical tools to actually do the Bible’s teaching to love well

Our ability to resolve conflicts maturely remains one of the most pressing problems in our churches

Most people in our churches have a disconnected spirituality. “Increased” love for God is not translating into increased ability to love others

The quality of love inside the church is not really that different from the quality outside the church