tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670425954609557512.post2441879347638469067..comments2023-09-02T07:59:55.010-07:00Comments on The Bottom Line: What Is Biblical Discipleship And Growth (Part 3)Cameron Buettelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217501740084187739noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670425954609557512.post-42612697158967684972011-04-08T16:42:34.268-07:002011-04-08T16:42:34.268-07:00Ticks every box Cameron. I must reflect however on...Ticks every box Cameron. I must reflect however on the process of discipleship. I have asked the question in the past of pastors as to what they do in this regard and they pull out little study books and say that discipline and study is important. In all cases where I have asked this there has also been a keen concern, wrestling and frustration with the inactivity of others. I'd have to disagree with this approach because the flesh is weak with all people and are either too distracted with other things, or for those that can easily discipline themselves, their own fleshly determination can also carry them away into ecclesiastical and theological study where there is no life and personal transformation whatsoever. I have sat in a number of pastor's offices over the years and just about all of them have an entire wall plastered with books which I'm sure never really did much to enhance their Godliness or Repentance. (As for some of them it never did anything for their correct theology either - this is therefore not a good example to be setting). I really do believe that it is not possible to manufacture acceptable discipleship qualities, as the substance of it comes from (as you have rightly pointed out from Ezekiel) self loathing, self fear, Godly fear, remorse, and an overwhelming God given desire and determintion to take the Kingdom by force because of a vision of the perfection available in Jesus Christ (in this life) which is infused in us by the hearing of the Word of God. Forget the commentaries and the study guides - we need to get audio bibles and just hear it (as if direct from the horses mouth) rather than read how someone else interprets it. In the NT, disciples spent time listening to their apostles and reading publically their letters from beginning to end - not cherry picking texts or hearing what Mary's fourth cousin twice removed had to say which is what so many do in preference. The only way a man will submit to the hearing of the Word with determination is by first having their Spirit Broken - which (as Paul Washer advocates) is the prayer that we should pray in behalf of my children. This is the way to biblical discipleship - in God's timing, by brokenness, and transformation by the washing of the word. <br />Cheers<br />DaveDavid Fordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670425954609557512.post-1014706233080551772011-04-08T05:24:56.698-07:002011-04-08T05:24:56.698-07:00Amen! Excellent message.Amen! Excellent message.Michael Lawmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03919034430085510082noreply@blogger.com