Discipleship at Crossnet

 

Jesus said,

‘If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free’ (Jn 8.31) and also, ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another’ (Jn 13.35)

 

Jesus commanded his own disciples:

 

‘Therefore go andmake disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’ Matt 28.19

 

At Crossnet we want to learn how to be and how to make disciples. Following Jesus is more than just believing certain things; it’s a whole lifestyle. We believe that this is best done, not just on programmes and courses, but by living alongside each other, encouraging each other to listen to the teaching of Jesus, to learn from him, and to understand what it means to love and obey him. We do this in different ways, but mostly through our small groups, huddles, pods and one2one’s. It means not just talking but learning and doing together. The philosophy is not to program people to do certain things in certain situations, but to encourage one another to be Christlike in all the situations of life that we find ourselves. We try to follow the leading of the Spirit and to trust that it is his work to transform us into Christlikeness.

 

Anyone who wants to be involved in discipling at Crossnet should look to cover the following areas, either in a one2one by mutual arrangement or in a huddle. This is not exhaustive, but a minimum of some of the things we think we should study, learn and live as disciples.

 

Topics to cover:

 

Covenant:

Covenant in the Old and New Testament

 

Kingdom:

What is the Kingdom of God? How do we seek his kingdom above all else?

 

The Life of the Spirit

Baptism in the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit and being led by the Spirit.

 

Jesus’ Teaching: the Sermon on the Mount

Relationships, handling anger, forgiveness, conflict, sex, marriage, money, love for our enemies

 

Evangelism

What is it and how do we do it?

 

Love in Practice

Truthful speech, the love languages, dealing with conflict

 

Spiritual Exercises

Understanding Spiritual exercises
Exercises of Abstinence – Fasting, Simplicity
Exercises of Engagement – Study, Prayer, Bible, Giving, Worship and  Celebration

 

Lifeshapes

The Circle, the Square, the Pentagon, the Semi-circle and the Triangle

 

Enduring hardship

Learning how to endure in hard and confusing times, living through a ‘desert’ experience and understanding the Cross

 

Recommended Books:

 

Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest             (London: Marshall, 1970)

 

Wesley Deuwel Mighty Prevailing Prayer (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1990)

 

Vincent Donovan Christianity Rediscovered (Indiana, USA: SCM, 1978)

 

Gordon Fee Paul, the Spirit and the People of God (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1996)

 

Pete Greig God on Mute (Eastbourne, UK: Survivor, 2007)

 

John Stott The Cross of Christ (Leicester, UK: IVP, 1986)

John Stott Issues Facing Christians Today (London: Marshall Pickering, 1999)

John Stott The Incomparable Christ (Leicester, UK: IVP, 2001)

 

Dallas Willard The Divine Conspiracy (London: Fount Paperbacks, Harper Collins, 1998)

Dallas Willard The Great Omission (NY,NY:HarperCollins, 2006)

 

Tom Wright Simply Christian (London: SPCK, 2006)

 

Phillip Yancy What’s So Amazing about Grace? (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan,1997)

 

Any other books that help!