Nor Cal / Nev College Ministries

WHY DISCIPLE STUDENTS?

Today's college student is in great peril. There are forces at work on
the campus that have an attractive exterior, but are actually harbingers
of destruction. These forces are not unique to the campus environment,
but they are defined and promoted on the campus. They have become the
idols of our American society, and today's student is being trained to
serve as their prophets. The idols of materialism, individualism, relativism
and secularism are worshipped without shame. The God of the Bible has
little relevance to these students who have made idols of their own choosing,
idols that fit into their own world view. It is apparent that the calling
of a campus pastor is to present to these self-indulgent students, Jesus
who is altogether beautiful both inside and out.

Therefore, proclamation of the gospel of Jesus is essential. This student
generation needs Jesus as Lord of their lives. We shudder within when
we consider a world led by people nurtured upon the world view of today's
student. If we fail to respond to the desperate need of today's university
students, the church shall reap a whirlwind of apocalyptic trouble, and
these students will remain enslaved in their sin.

The action needed is not only an unapologetic and convincing proclamation,
but an adamant adherence to the primary injunction of the Great Commission.
We must "disciple the nations." Not only do students need new life, they
must be shown how to live that new life.

Jesus referred to this process as bearing fruit. It is wonderful to see
a new branch grafted into the Vine. How much more so to go beyond that
and see those grafted into Jesus bearing the fruit of their new life.
"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves
to be my disciples" (John 15:8). If the new life from the gospel is to
remain visible and active, then deliberate and purposeful discipleship
must occur on the campus. Most of today's students are far afield from
a Christian world view. With our help they must come to understand it,
accept it, grow in it and know how to reproduce it in others.

Many campus pastors share the common experience of never having been
deliberately or purposefully discipled themselves. It is one thing to
call strongly for discipleship. That is something to which we can all
say a hardy "Amen!". The problem comes when we assume that discipleship
occurs just because we talk about it often. It is another thing to know
what discipleship entails and how to accomplish the task. If we have never
been personally discipled ourselves, we will be unsure as to how to disciple
another. Therein lies the purpose of this manual. Let us first examine
six essentials of discipleship.

GODLY CHARACTER REFLECTED THROUGH RELATIONAL GROWTH

Our world is facing a leadership crisis. We see the crisis in the political
arena, in the sports world, the military and, tragically, among church
leadership. The crisis has not occurred because we lack people with the
necessary leadership skills. The crisis exists due to the lack of depth
of character with our leaders.

The good news of the gospel involves the transformation of believers
into new creatures in Christ Jesus. This inner transformation is a central
issue in the discipleship process. A true disciple of Jesus is characterized
by the fruit of the Spirit, by a desire for holy living and integrity.
A disciple is one who is enabled to walk the talk.

Yet, growing up into the image of Christ cannot happen in a vacuum. Being
righteous before God is a relational issue. You cannot sin unless you
transgress some relationship, be it either before God or another person.
Stated more positively, living a righteous life will manifest itself in
our relationships. It is impossible to disciple aside from the community
of God's people. One-on-none discipleship does not exist. GrowinginJesusdemands
our full participation in the life of the body of Christ.

What should abundant life look like between members of the church? They
must be honest and forgiving, also respectful and peaceable. They must
speak the truth (even sometimes when the truth may not be popular) in
love (even when love may not be felt).

Disciples are affirming people. They look to see all the potential and
possibilities that Jesus sees in another person and sincerely affirm their
brother and sister. Disciples are vulnerable people-they don't hide their
true selves. Disciples risk and trust because Jesus did. Disciples are
known quantities.

Therefore, one of the essentials of the discipleship process is that
it occur in a relational context. Just as Jesus chose twelve men "that
they might be with hin", so discipleship must occur in fellowship where
believers can be known and be able to know others well. The wisdom of
Solomon stated this principle well, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man
sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). By a dear focus on discipleship, a
local community is transformed corporately as well as individually.

A PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY THAT IGNITES A GLOBAL VISION

Jesus tells his disciples that they will become his witnesses not only
in Jerusalem, but eventually to the ends of the earth. To Jesus, discipleship
did not hinder the evangelization of the world, but discipleship was in
fact the means to evangelize the world. Jesus came to reach the world
with good news and saving, healing power. He did so by discipling twelve
men in the message and method of the Kingdom of God. The point here is
simple, but is often missed. Jesus intended to reach the world, and he
accomplished his goal through discipleship. For us, any goal less than
world outreach is too small a goal. Discipleship is Jesus' method to reach
that goal. If we are faithful to disciple in our Jerusalem, the message
and power of God's salvation will go around the world.

Where more unquestionably could this occur than on the universities of
our world. One man who saw this dearly and exhibited a world vision was
Charles Habib Malik, past president of the General Assembly of the United
Nations. Listen to his words, "The university is a clear-cut fulcrum with
which to move the world. The problem here is for the church to realize
that no greater service can it render both itself and the cause of the
gospel, with which it is entrusted, than to try to recapture the universities
for Christ.. More potently than by any other means, change the university
and you change the world."

The Chi Alpha Philosophy of Ministry is a world reaching philosophy.
It places its primary focus upon the community of Christ becoming all
it can be in Christ. The community on campus is to express itself in Worship
to God, Fellowship with one another, Witness to the lost, and Discipleship
at every level of relationship in the community. For di scipleship to
become truly effective, the community must comprehend its incredible potential.
A lifetime of faithfully discipling a few at a time wilL have a global
impact.

A CARING HEART THAT MINISTERS TO HUMAN NEED

Poverty, ignorance, alienation, disease, aggression, greed.. .The list
could go on and on. Jesus is the answer! Each one of these abberations
break his heart. What do they do to our heart? It is true that the problems
of the world seem overwhelming. The desire to insulate ourselves from
the problems and the problem people is a very human tendency. But to position
ourselves in isolation, unmoved and untouched by the needs around us,
strips Christ from Christianity.

What motivates a discipler? Compassion, the kind only Jesus has and only
he can give. A discipler who lacks a pastoral heart that can be touched
by human longings can be dangerous. To be entrusted with the words of
life and then treat them as some kind of new law to enforce upon others
does grievous harm to the cause of Christ.

Scripture tells us that "love covers a multitude of sins". Experience
tells us that love covers a multitude of ineptness as well. A discipler
who truly cares and shows it will be responded to in like manner. Love
that is patient, kind, trusts and hopes is God's love. As Paul says, "Love
never fails." We should have as a motivation the pursuit of excellence
in ministry. But excellence in ministry skills without real expression
of love is very confusing and can be damaging.

THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS THAT STEM FROM A HEALTHY HERMENEUTIC

Discipleship must stay on track. Cur sideboards are Christ the living
word and the Bible the written word. We must learn how to hear both properly.
We cannot focus on one over the other, for the illumination of the Spirit
assists us in understanding the Scripture, and the Scripture guides us
in interpreting the Spirit's communication to us.

One of the most essential skills we must learn and then teach as disciplers
is how to study the Scriptures inductively. God's Word is our authority
for all our faith, belief and practice. We must learn how to feed ourselves
and then show others how to feed themselves upon God's Word. We must disciple
in such a way that people maintain their dependence upon Christ alone.
It is improper to create a dependence upon the discipler to the degree
that the "disciplee" gives away the responsibility over the decisions
which affect his life. A discipler must equip fellow believers to "stand
firm.. .with the belt of truth buckled around your waist."

The discipler must, as well, pray that he will grow in spiritual discernment
and in the ability to judge prophecy. The risen Lord stilgl desires to
speak to us today. The Spirit stiglls wants to address the specific situations
in our glife, and we must have a firm grasp of Scripture and spiritual
discernment to stay on track. Thus, attention must be given to learning
proper Biblical interpretation skills and our ear must be tuned to hear
the voice of the Lord. These must be pursued together without elevating
one over the other.

COMMITMENT THAT IS MAINTAINED THROUGH GODLY ZEAL

An indispensable ingredient to discipleship is commitment. Someone has
compared the lack of commitment to that of a slipping clutch on a car.
The driver has years of experience,-the car iswell tuned and powerful,
the road is smooth; but the clutch will not engage.

It can be the same in discipling relationships. The discipler can be
well trained and all parties can have good, warm Christian hearts; but
without commitment, the discipling process will fail. Commitment must
be taught, expected and modeled.

One note of caution here. Commitment for the sake of commitment alone
can become quite tedious. This occurs when we focus on the program to
the exclusion of the people. Jesus called his disciples to incredible
commitment. However, it was not to a great cause alone. He called them
into relationship with the Father and with himself, and called them to
do the works of the Father. A person doing the works of the Father is
one filled with God's zeal. That person burns to fulfill God's will. Godly
people become committed people who will last.

It was the zeal for the Lord that motivated Jehu to destroy the idolatrous
dynasty of Ahab. May we be able to say as Jehu, "Come with me and see
my zeal for the Lord" (2 Kings 10:16). Commitment without zeal can be
drudgery, and zeal without commitment can be erratic. But commitment that
is fed by a zeal for God is powerful in the discipling process.

MINISTRY SKILLS THAT DISCIPLE TRANSGENERATIONALLY

Thus far in talking about the essentials of discipleship we have mentioned
character, vision, heart and zeal. All of these reflect the inner quality
of the Christian discipler. Too often these are overlooked while focusing
on the abilities and skills a disciple may display. The leader in the
workplace is often made the leader in the church. It's often a good choice
but sometimes a terrible mistake. Jesus tells us not to watch what goes
into a person but what comes out from within that person. The issue of
the essential character of the discipler is primary. That is why it has
received so much focus.

But that is not to say that ministry skills are unimportant. On the contrary,
ineptness is no virtue nor any type of blessing. Love may be able to cover
it, but it can't hide it. A discipler must make a commitment to grow in
effectiveness in the Lord's work.

Some of the skills we will look at later in the manual include Bible
study, prayer, needs assessment, goal setting, time management, and spiritual
disciplines. The goal of a discipler is to teach these and other ministry
skills in a transgenerational manner.

Have you ever had someone tell you, "I know how to do that, but I don't
think I could tell you how to do it."? This is true for so many people.
They can be great achievers, but they don't have the slightest idea how
to tell others how they do it. We must invest as much in thinking through
how we do ministry as we do in actually ministering.

Transgenerational ministry skills come with instructions attached. Not
only should I tell you how much you need to study the Bible, but I must
have a method to help you get started. And beyond that, the method I teach
you needs to be one that you can easily teach another. If I can help you
in understanding Scripture and at the same time do so in a manner that
equips you to teach another, I have just discipled someone a generation
removed from me - thus a transgenerational ministry skill. We must teach
not only what needs to be known but how to know it. It is the goal of
this manual to assist you in development of transgenerational discipleship.

As stated earlier we all say a loud "Amen" to the need to disciple. The
six goals just listed present the scope of this manual. It intends to
highlight the major issues in campus discipleship. Our hope is that it
will assist you in more capably fulfilling the Great Commission to "disciple
the nations" in your specific setting.