The Worthy Walk
Only let your manner of life be worthy[a] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1:27-30)
Jesus Christ emphasized that His sheep hear His voice, and those who are not His sheep do not. And how do we hear the voice of our Lord? In his seminal study entitled "Experiencing God," Henry Blackaby asserts that God speaks to His people through four channels, or modalities. First, he speaks to us primarily through his word-that is, the language of Scripture. Second, he speaks to us through listening prayer. Third, he speaks to us through godly counsel. And fourth, he speaks to us through circumstances. Disciples of Christ are intent on listening to the voice of God and receiving direction and guidance from him. In particular, disciples have an irrepressible appetite for the language of Scripture. On the other hand, for those who do not belong to Christ, reading the Bible is a duty and a struggle. Indeed, according to Paul in the 2nd chapter of his first letter to the church at Corinth, Scripture is foolishness to the non-disciple. This Discipleship Ministry is designed to assist in the formation of healthy, scripture-centered disciple-making congregations. The goal is to connect church leaders, elders, and pastors with the training, tools, and support they need to advance the gospel in their congregations. The discipleship curriculum is designed to train and enable congregations to enhance their disciple-making activities, whether it be reinforcing Sunday school of all levels, or reaching singles. (Rom. 6:11-13; 8:2, 4, 12-13; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:1-10; I Pet. 1:14-16; I John 1:4-7; 3:5-9).