8:38 Worship

1 Samuel 16:7 New International Version (NIV)7 But the LORD said to Samuel,

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People

look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks

at the heart.”

1996: Making disciples of Jesus Christ2008: for the transformation of the world

No long enough to just:Nurture people

Strengthen peopleTeach them the Good News

Offer a variety of services and programming

Our primary & defining purpose is transformation!

Do United Methodists

really want to be Christian disciples?

Do United Methodists really

want to be Christian disciples?

Less than 10%

Ironically 86% of those responding to Rev. Dick believe they ARE living as

Christian disciples.

They define ‘discipleship’ by:1) Simply believing in Jesus2) Try to follow His teaching

Is that discipleship?

Key characteristics of discipleship follow similar pattern:

71% thing believing in Jesus is the definition of a disciple and

1) Going to church2) Praying

Are the two primary (and only necessary) characteristics.

Disciples can do more if they want to but don’t need to

The ShiftCore change of behavior and practice

1) daily, regular worship & prayer2) Sharing faith is coupled with Bible

study3) Teaching is paired with learning

4) Doing good for others replaces being kind to others

5) Holy Communion important6) Openness to strangers, poor,

marginalized important to this 13%

The problem:The 7-13% of people most

committed to discipleship end up in leadership in our churches…

which means they serve on committees that tend to serve the needs of the 87% who have little

or no desire to be disciples!

What happens when church leaders get serious about

discipleship?1) People not interested in

discipleship leave2) Conflict (in the short term)

increases dramatically3) The system (Conference leadership) works against the

shift

Christian discipleship is about living a

particular kind of life in the modern

world

1 Samuel 16:7 New International Version (NIV)7 But the LORD said to Samuel,

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People

look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks

at the heart.”

“Come as you are”

MeansCOME AS YOU

ARE!!

Three resources:Walk Across the Room – Bill

Hybels

Not A Fan – Kyle Idleman

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations – Bishop Robert

Schnase

1 Samuel 16:7 New International Version (NIV)7 But the LORD said to Samuel,

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People

look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks

at the heart.”