SONSHIP for Africa by John Wade Long, Jr. - Copyright © 1996–2003 World Harvest Mission USA–Africa - All Rights Reserved

SAM2003The New Millennium Edition

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Africa Renewal Coordinator

World Harvest Mission

Rev. Dr. “Johnny” Long

E-mail: johnwadelong@gmail.com

Website: http://www.grace4life.org

AUTHORSHIP, COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK INFORMATION

SONSHIP for Africa by Dr. John Wade Long, Jr., B.A., M.Div., D.Min.Copyright © 1996–2003 World Harvest Mission – All rights reserved

SONSHIP for Africa was written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Ministrydegree awarded by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary USA. No part of this manual may betranslated, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying or recording to any information storage and retrieval system without theprior permission of World Harvest Mission.

Any permissions granted by World Harvest Mission or its agents for the reproduction of thismanual or any portion thereof carries this stipulation: These materials may not be altered in anyway, and the authorship and copyright information must always be clearly displayed. For yourconvenience, the required information has been printed in the text of each lesson. Thank you forhonoring this request. – JWL –

SONSHIP TM is an internationally registered trademark for theChristian training materials produced by World Harvest Mission.

This work is dedicated to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ and is distributed by World Harvest Mission on a purely non-profit basis

he presence of the Holy Spirit within us reminds us of our sonship—the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, “ABBA, Father!”

That is our relationship to God, and the momentwe realize it, it transforms everything.

– Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The GOAL of this course is to bring glory to God the Father by our growing transformation into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The MEANS of this transformation is faith—our simple, childlike dependence on Christ our Great High Priest—the one who atoned for our sins, clothes us in his righteousness, so that in conscious union with him, the Holy Spirit enables us to bear fruit for his praise, honor and glory.

The FRUIT of this transformation will be an increasing intimacy and integrity in our relationship with God and others, the humility to confess and forsake our sins, a readiness to love, serve, and forgive others from the heart, ministry that flows from selfless motives, and all done with a passion for the glory of God rather than our own, in reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than our own.

Jerry Bridges – The Navigators“The Sonship teaching has been a tremendous blessing to me personally. It has helped me to understand what it means to live by the Gospel everyday. This material...needs to be widely distributed among Evangelicals.”

Bridges, a Board Member of World Harvest Mission, is the former Corporate Vice President of the Navigators, and author of The Pursuit of Holiness, Trusting God, Transforming Grace, The Disciplines of Grace, and other titles.

Dr. Larry Crabb – Christian Psychologist “No ministry today more effectively communicates the love of Christ to people. God

is using it to do a deep work in many lives.” Dr. Crabb, an eminent Christian Psychologist is the author of Inside Out, Men and Women,

Encouragement—Key to Caring, Finding God, and other titles.

Dr. Richard Lovelace – Professor of Church History“I have reviewed this carefully, and find here a great horde of edifying material, enrichedby popular, persuasive illustrations. I must rejoice to find so many of my own perceptions embedded in a powerful discipling movement on the growing edge of world Christianity.”Dr. Lovelace is Emeritus Professor of Church History at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts, USA. He served as the author’s doctoral mentor from 1995 to 1998. Arguably, heis Christendom’s foremost authority on spiritual renewal, and the author of the classic, Dynamicsof Spiritual Life, and its condensed version, Renewal As a Way of Life, and other titles.

The Purpose of SONSHIP TrainingLearning to Live and Minister by Grace

The Value of SONSHIP TrainingThree Noted Authors Speak Up

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To progress in the Christian life is to be always beginning again in the Gospel. — Martin Luther, 1521

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THE MAIN FOCUS

THE CHIEF GOAL

THE POWER

THE DYNAMIC

THE PRINCIPLE

THE MOTIVATION

HOLINESS IS

“THE FLESH”

THE DISCIPLER

THE DISCIPLE

THE DANGER

TWO DISCIPLESHIP METHODS

The Method Many of Us Learned

Behaving (the outside of the cup);Change at the fruit level;“Getting your act together”

Discipline

Human effort (Gal. 3:3); Moralwill-power; “To obey, try.”

Try harder. Get committed.“You are a disappointment.”

Obedience to God leads to a relationship with Him.

Doing ones duty; Guilt; I mustbe right and look good.

Doing more and doing it better;Keeping the rules

Assumes that it can beconquered through discipline

Models success and competence;Wants to appear strong.

“Dudley Do-Right” & “SuzieSunshine”—perfect models ofhow to do more and do it better

May glory in the flesh and degenerate into legalism. Cangrow proud of its success— with a consequent lack of love

SONSHIPBelieving (the inside of the cup);Change at the root level;Obedience from the heart

Love (I Tim. 1:5; Gal. 5:6)

Faith in Jesus gives the Spirit(Gal. 3:5); “To obey, trust.”

Believe more. Submit. “You are God’s child.”

A relationship with God leads to obedience to Him (Jn. 15:5).

Love for God; A passion forHim to look good (get glory)

Believing the Gospel more;Loving like Christ (Rom. 13:8ff)

Warns that it never loses itspower. We fight it by faith.

Models Repentance; “Strengthis made perfect in weakness.”

The Chief of Sinners (1 Tim. 1:15);A Big Repenter—loving, bold,gracious, and full of faith

May abuse freedom and degen-erate into “cheap grace.” Cangrow proud of its repentance—with a consequent lack of love

In The Compelling Power of Love, Jerry Bridges explains why we need to “practice discipleship in the in the atmosphere of the Gospel”—the discipling strategy of SONSHIP for Africa. (p. iv)

(Seen at its worst and done poorly.) (Seen at its best and done well.)

© 2002 World Harvest Mission by Dr. John W. Long, Jr. SONSHIP for Africa

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Compared and Contrasted

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ICTURE in your mind a time line of your life—from birth to death. Put on that line only

one point—the day you trusted Christ as yourSavior. That point divides your life into two segments—you as an unbeliever and you as a believer.

Now think of one word that summarizes the message you needed to hear as anunbeliever. I suggest that word wouldbe Gospel. The Gospel that is the powerof God for salvation. As unbelievers,the one message we needed to hear andrespond to was the Gospel. (Rom. 1:16)

What about the second segment of our lives—as believers? Is there one word that,more than any other, summarizes the message we need to hear as believers? Probably severalwords might come to mind, but I suspect theycould all be captured under the word discipleship.After all, Jesus did commission us to “go andmake disciples of all nations.”

Under discipleship I would include the spirit-ual disciplines of the Christian life such as a dailyquiet time, Bible study, prayer, attendance at church,fellowship with other believers—every activity thathelps us grow spiritually. I would also includeworship of God and obedience to Him. Finally, we should include service or ministry—evangel-ism, discipling others, and using our spiritual giftsin the body of Christ. That’s a full plate, but theone word, discipleship, captures them all.

That is the typical way we view the Christianlife—the Gospel for the unbeliever, and thechallenges of discipleship for the believer. I havecome to realize, however, that way of looking atthe Christian life is inadequate. It doesn’t producejoyful, whole-hearted believers who know what itmeans to live by God’s grace every day of their lives.Instead it tends to produce dutiful, but somewhatguilt-laden disciples, who know they fail to live up to all the challenges of their calling. Or worse,

it produces modern day Pharisees who are self-righteous because they are disciplined.

If our typical Gospel for the unbelieverand discipleship for the believer” paradigm (pattern)is inadequate, what is the better way? I believe the most important message we need to hear as

believers is the Gospel. This doesn’tmean we don’t need challenge andinstruction in the various expressionsof discipleship. It means we need to practice discipleship in theatmosphere of the Gospel.

Someone has said, “Disciplinewithout desire is drudgery.” What is

it that puts desire into the discipline of disciple-ship? What is it that will motivate us to joyouslyfollow Christ? It is the Gospel; the Good News that all our sins are forgiven through the death ofChrist, and that His perfect righteousness hasbeen [and is being] credited to us.

The Apostle Paul teaches us this in 2 Corinthians5:14-15 when he says that “Christ’s love compels us...to live no longer for ourselves but for Him whodied for us.” The love of Christ was the compellingmotivation for Paul. It forced him to live, not forhimself, but for Christ. This should also be ourmotivation. It is the Gospel that keeps the loveof Christ before us. To the degree that we livedaily in the atmosphere of the Gospel—to thatdegree will we be compelled by Christ’s love.

If we are going to be motivated by Christ’slove as Paul was, then we must put away the thinking that the Gospel is primarily . for unbelievers. We must learn to live every-day in the atmosphere of the Gospel, and in thejoy and motivation that brings. Then we will goforth to be even more committed disciples ofHim“who loves us and freed us from our sins...” [Rev. 1:5]

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Jerry Bridges has been with the Navigators since 1954 and has been a valued member of the Board of Directors of WorldHarvest Mission (“the Sonship people”). Jerry is the author of The Pursuit of Holiness, Transforming Grace, Trusting God,The Disciplines of Grace and other titles. This article was first published in the Winter 1993 Harvester, a quarterlypublication of World Harvest Mission (edited for SONSHIP for Africa).

THE COMPELLING POWER OF LOVEby Jerry Bridges

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SONSHIP FOR AFRICA: The Discipleship Course for SONSHIP FOR AFRICA: The Discipleship Course for DisciplersDisciplers Authorship, Copyright and Trademark Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . coverEpigraph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iThe Purpose and Value of Sonship Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiThe Uniqueness of Sonship Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiiThe Compelling Power of Love - J. Bridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ivTable of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

PART I. THE GOSPEL AND SONSHIPPART I. THE GOSPEL AND SONSHIP

S-01 Orphans vs. Sons S-01 Orphans vs. Sons -- The Terms “Orphan” and “Son” Defined Orphans vs. Sons: A Spiritual Safari from Orphanhood to Sonship . . . . . . . . . . . . . S1-1Orphans vs. Sons List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S1-9Orphans vs. Sons Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S1-11The Siberian Humility Test - H. Dockery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S1-12The End of the Struggle - S. Voke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S1-13Sonship Testimony - J. Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S1-15The End of My Struggle: A Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S1-17Materialism and Heresy Plague Churches: Nigeria (Christianity Today) . . . . . . . . S1-18The Tongue Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S1-19

S-02 A Daughter Becomes a SonS-02 A Daughter Becomes a SonA Perfect Mess: Sonship Testimony - R. Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S2-1My Time Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S2-5Christians Come in “Flavors” - J. & R. Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S2-7 Sonship is for Daughters Too! - J. Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S2-9My Father’s Shirt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S2-11

S-03 S-03 Walking in Fellowship wWalking in Fellowship with ith Our Our FatherFather: Using the Means of GraceJoe & Jesus - B. Manning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S3-AWalking in Fellowship with Our Father: Using the Means of Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . S3-1

Part 1 - Private Worship: The Christian’s Devotional Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S3-4 Notes on Prayer - J. Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S3-11 A Prayer Workshop (Small Group) & Personal Prayer Planning Worksheet . . . . S3-14Part II - Public Worship: A Primer - It’s Purpose (Heart) & Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . S3-15

PART II. JUSTIFICATION AND SONSHIPPART II. JUSTIFICATION AND SONSHIPS-04 Law, Legalism and the Gospel S-04 Law, Legalism and the Gospel

Law, Legalism & the Gospel at War - Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S4-1Law, Legalism & the Gospel Compared - Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S4-2Solving the Mystery: What is True Holiness? (Three Levels of the Law - Chart) . . . S4-3The Look of Love: Authentic Christlikeness (The Love Pyramid - Chart) . . . . . . . . S4-4Love Fulfills the Whole Law (Matthew 22:40 Illustrated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S4-5Law, Legalism & the Gospel: Discussion & Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S4-6Sonship for Africa & the Moral Law ( The Sum of Saving Knowledge) . . . . . . . . . S4-7

S-05 Understanding the Sinfulness of SinS-05 Understanding the Sinfulness of SinThe Sinfulness of Sin: Sin, Law & The Gospel in the Daily Life of the Christian . . . . S5-1The Sinfulness of Sin Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S5-3Worksheet for the Sinfulness of Sin Workshop (Scripture References) . . . . . . . . . S5-5

S-06 Active vs. Passive Righteousness S-06 Active vs. Passive Righteousness - - An Ethiopian Proverb Active vs. Passive Righteousness: Finding our Resting Place in Christ . . . . . . . . . S6-1An Outline of Galatians & Study Questions - J. Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S6-11

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PART III. THE MEANS OF SANCTIFICATIONPART III. THE MEANS OF SANCTIFICATIONS-07 How to Change & Lead Others to ChangeS-07 How to Change & Lead Others to Change

How to Change & Lead Others to Change: Introduction - J. Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7-1How to Change & Lead Others to Change: Chart & Quotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7-5Law & Letter vs. Gospel & Spirit: Sound Advice for Gospel Preachers - M. Luther . . . S7-7Sanctification by Faith: A Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S7-9

S-08 The Normal Christian Life -S-08 The Normal Christian Life - A 17th Century Nun’s PrayerThe Role of the Spirit in Sanctification - J. Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S8-1Two Ways to Live: In the Flesh or By the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S8-3Imitation Fruit & the Fruit of the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S8-4Keeping in Step with the Spirit & A “Walking in the Spirit” Workshop . . . . . . . . . . S8-5

S-09 Doing Battle with Our Sinful Nature -S-09 Doing Battle with Our Sinful Nature - The Context of Holiness - J. I. PackerThe Paradox of Growth in Holiness: An Introduction to the Cross Chart . . . . . . . . . . S9-1The Cross Chart: The Paradox of Walking in the Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S9-3Why Our Eyes Are Not Fixed on Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S9-4A Romans 7 Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S9-5Who Am I? Self-Awareness & The Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S9-6How to Act Like a Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S9-7

PART IV. THE FAITH-ACTIONS of SONS & DAUGHTERSPART IV. THE FAITH-ACTIONS of SONS & DAUGHTERS - - “Sonship in Shoes” “Sonship in Shoes” Life in the Family, The Church and Before a Watching WorldLife in the Family, The Church and Before a Watching World

S-10 Repentance as a Way of LifeS-10 Repentance as a Way of LifeRepentance as a Way of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S10-1Repentance - C. H. Spurgeon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S10-10Repentance Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S10-10Proud People vs. Broken People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S10-11Walking in the Light: One Ugandan Pastor’s Powerful Testimony . . . . . . . . . . . . . S10-13

S-11 The Love Project: Aiming to Love the Imperfect People In Your LifeS-11 The Love Project: Aiming to Love the Imperfect People In Your LifeThe Love Project: Aiming to Love the Imperfect People in Your Life . . . . . . . . . . S11-1

S-12 Forgiveness as a Way of Life S-12 Forgiveness as a Way of LifeThe Cruelty of Apartheid & the Wonder of Amazing Grace - J. Krabill . . . . . . . . . . S12-AForgiveness as a Way of Life - Lesson - Discussion & Workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S12-1The Rwandan Genocide & Radical Forgiveness (YWAM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S12-11I’m Still Learning to Forgive - C. ten Boom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S12-12

S-13 Constructive ConflictS-13 Constructive Conflict - - African Proverbs on ConflictThe Daily Nation: Worshippers Hurt in Fight at Church - M. Warindi . . . . . . . . . . . . S13-AConstructive Conflict: Learning to Fight Like Christians so that God Wins. . . . . . . S13-1The Conflict Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S13-9Becoming Nothing: A Painful Example of Constructive Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S13-11The Daily Nation: News Reports of Church Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S13-13

S-14 Law vs. The Gospel in Our Home & Family RelationshipsS-14 Law vs. The Gospel in Our Home & Family RelationshipsLaw & the Gospel in Our Home & Family Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S14-1Five Levels of Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S14-11Naughty Nicholas - Law vs. Gospel Parenting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S14-13

S-15 Gospel MaS-15 Gospel Manners: Christian Love & African Culturenners: Christian Love & African CultureGospel Manners: Christian Love & African Culture - J. Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S15-1

S-16 S-16 Brokenness:Brokenness: A New Model for Your Future Ministry A New Model for Your Future MinistryBrokenness: A New Model for Your Future Ministry (A Reading) - J. Long . . . . . . S16-1An Effective Servant of God - P. Brewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S16-17Five Dangers of Becoming a “Sonship Expert”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S16-18

APPENDIX 1: APPENDIX 1: Your Testimony, Feedback and Personal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1APPENDIX 2:APPENDIX 2: Authorship and The Africa Renewal Team of World Harvest Mission . . . . . . A-3

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