Tag: discipleship

August Books – Packets of Wisdom!

I enjoy reading and I learn a lot from books. I believe that books are packets of wisdom. Every new month, I post a list of the books I read in the previous month and the books I have bought or borrowed to read in the next month or sometime in the future. I hope that I would be able to inspire you to read some of these books and share some good books that you have read with me. At the same time, I hope that this habit would inspire me to read more :).

Completed in August

Here are the books I completed in August. This means that I finished reading the book or listened to it on Audible. It does not mean that I started reading or listening to it in August. I may have started earlier. If I finished the book, it means that I liked it and got a lot from it. I don’t read books just for the sake of it.

Currently Reading

These are books that I am currently reading or listening to on audible. Yes, I read more than one book at a time. When I need to learn more about a subject, I usually pause the book I am reading and I start the new book. There are some books I read on a schedule. Right now I am reading Church History on a schedule.

Hope to start reading

These are books that I have already purchased or borrowed and I look forward to reading.

Have you read any of these books? Do you know some good books that you think I should read? Please suggest them in the comment section below. I got some recommendations last month and I look forward to more. Thanks.

Do you know God has no grandchildren?

The word church refers to the family of God. And in that family every human is a child. Not everyone human on earth is a member of God’s family but everyone on earth is a potential member!

Jesus told a story in Luke 15 that shows to us that everyone on earth is either a child in the family of God or a child that that is lost due to rebellion.

You are a child of God. You have access to God as your father. Let’s rejoice in this truth and give our all to prayerfully call all the lost children home!

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” John‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This is a good time to remember that no spiritual leader can ever become father to a church. We have one Heavenly Father.

However, there are situations where we see a person become a father figure to a child of God. They take responsibility for the total well being of the child of God and mentor them spiritually. In this case we can call that person a spiritual father of that individual, like the relationship of Paul and Timothy!

This is true especially when the leader was involved in the salvation process of the newer believer.

“I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:14-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Paul here is encouraging the Corinthian church to understand that he loves them like a father. That they should live fully for God like he does!

You are a child of God! Live fully for Him!

Churches are people not buildings 😁!

We need to update our dictionaries. The only way we can achieve that is for all of us to stop referring to buildings as churches!

“As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:4-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Buildings don’t get encouraged!

Let’s stop saying we went to church! Let’s just stop and let’s correct ourselves when we forget. Let’s even try to explain to people around us who are not yet disciples of Jesus that churches are people not buildings!

Maybe in a few years we can change our dictionaries!

July Books – Packets of Wisdom!

I enjoy reading and I learn a lot from books. I believe that books are packets of wisdom. In the first week of every new month, I would post a list of the books I read in the previous month and the books I have bought or borrowed to read in the next month. I hope that I would be able to inspire you to read some of these books and share some good books that you have read with me. At the same time, I hope that this habit would inspire me to read more :).

Completed in July

Here are the books I completed in July. This means that I finished reading the book or listened to it on Audible. It does not mean that I started reading or listening to it in June. I may have started earlier.

Currently Reading

These are books that I am currently reading or listening to on audible. Yes, I read more than one book at a time.

Hope to start reading this Month

These are books that I have already purchased or borrowed and I look forward to reading.

Have you read any of these books? Do you know some good books that you think I should read? Please suggest them in the comment section below. I got some recommendations last month and I look forward to more. Thanks.

Do you know the joy of loving your enemy?

Whenever I think of enemy, I think of the devil! But beyond that I think of the man and his gang that killed my dear mother (Story here). So when I read what Jesus says about loving your enemy I am so happy that I now know what it means!

““But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:27-28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Naturally, it is absolutely impossible to love your enemy who wants you dead or who spits on you during a pandemic. It is impossible to do good to those who hate you. To do good to people who are trying to get you fired from your job. It is impossible to bless those who call you names, make fun of you and enjoy seeing you humiliated.

All these are impossible when you think that these people are different from you. When you think that these people are wicked and you are better. These things are impossible when you have not experienced the unconditional love of a Heavenly Father.

Friends, although this words are commands from Jesus, they are also what Jesus does inside us. This is a description of the kind of love that is available when we are united with Jesus.

There is great power in this kind of love. There is freedom, there is joy! To love your enemy is to want them to experience a heart that is free from hatred! These days, because of what Jesus has done in my heart, I know that I could be the one hating another person. If not for Jesus, I could be the one fighting for positions at work!

If you allow Jesus to love through you, and allow Jesus to reveal the truth about your unregenerate heart to you, love will flow from your heart to anyone who doesn’t know Jesus! You would pray for them and bless them because hatred and every other thing apart from love is poison!

Oh! It’s so good to experience and share the unconditional love of God!

Are you doing the works of an apostle?

An apostle is one sent out for a special mission. A missionary is an apostle. They go from place to place to plant churches and break new grounds.

So how does an apostle equip the church? What does an apostle do that we all can do and should do?

An apostle is specially gifted in starting things that continues when they are no more there. Because an apostle usually starts new churches, they have considerable strength in all of the other works of ministry! The apostle is a muti-purpose minister.

To do the works of an apostle, you should be able and willing to share what you have learned with a group of people who will be able to continue without you!

For many years I thought that only an apostle is gifted enough to plant churches regularly but I knew and taught people that every disciple of Jesus could start a small group within the local church!

I also taught people that these small groups should be considered as smaller churches!

What I did not realize was that I was asking people to do the work of an apostle. You may not be an apostle, but you can and should do the work of an apostle.

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” ‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Start discovery bible study groups every where you have the opportunity to do so! Do not teach the group, lead the group to discover and obey the truth in the Bible. When you do this you are doing the works of an apostle!

If you would like to know how to start a discovery bible study group please let me know in the comments section below.

Are you doing the work of a teacher?

Teachers are very precious to us in all works of life. And they are even more special in the body. Teachers are gifts to the body of Christ.

They make complex doctrines and scriptures simple and easier to obey! They help us see more clearly what God has done for us in Christ Jesus! Not everyone in the body is a teacher but we all can and should teach one or two people what we have learned!

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” II Timothy‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Every disciple of Jesus Christ is expected to teach another disciple to obey every thing the Lord Jesus commands.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Tomorrow I will complete this series on the gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11-12. The Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teacher are to equip us to do the work of ministry as well as edify us!

Are you teaching someone all that you are learning about obeying Jesus?

Are you doing the work of a prophet?

Prophets are gifts to the body of Christ just like everyone. A prophet is specially gifted to know the mind of God concerning the church, the world and people around them. They spend quite an amount of time with God daily. And the speak the mind of God to the people of God.

Are all prophets? Of course not. But we are all expected to do the work of a prophet to some extent. Every disciple is called to spend time with God and learn to hear from God. We are also encouraged to speak words of encouragement, edification and comfort to the people around us.

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭14:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When you spend quality time with God, you are investing in your spiritual development. You also learn to discern God’s voice and His plans for you and for the people that He placed around you. And God will give you words of encouragement for them.

“But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭14:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We cannot all be prophets, but we can all do the work of a prophet in some little way or the other. The prophets are gifted to us by God to equip us to do the work of the prophet and to train new prophets. Glory be to God.

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Are you doing the works of an evangelist?

Sharing good news is normal to us as humans! That’s why we have viral videos and posts. If you get something very good or very bad or very funny etc you don’t want to keep the experience to yourself! Even very quiet or reserved people share things with people who are close to them!

As a believer and a follower of Jesus, the best thing that has happened to you should be your salvation through Jesus! And I’m sure you were excited to share it with some people when it happened.

But then, maybe many people thought you were crazy or you got too busy! Whatever the case, it is important to remember that there are many people all over the world that are just waiting for someone to introduce them to Jesus! They want to meet Jesus in you! The need the love and acceptance that Jesus has for them.

“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” II Timothy‬ ‭4:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As a disciple you are expected to share the good news of the kingdom of God! You don’t have to be an evangelist to do the work of an evangelist. The very life of Jesus is in you and you can expect the grace on you as you share your story or the scriptures with people that live or work around you.

For years I was of the wrong opinion that I needed to convince people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Now I have learned that I am not expected to convince them! I am called to love them, share the truth with them, and trust that if I continue to water the seed with love, the word is powerful enough to convict them because the Holy Spirit continues to work long after I have shared with them!

Have a goal of having a meaningful spiritual conversation with those who are not saved every week and pray for the lost every day!

This is how to do the work of an evangelist!

If you want to learn how to do the work of an evangelist with ease, take my free BiVo Minister Course!

Are you doing the works of a pastor?

A pastor is one who cares, guides and helps the saints to nurture and develop their spiritual lives! A pastor also equips the saints to do to others what he or she does for the saints!

Every believer is expected to do the works of a pastor. At the basic level, you are called to do the work of a pastor to your family and the other brothers and sisters that are around you. The primary work of a pastor is to care for others spiritually. However, we only name them as pastors when this becomes a major part of their ministry!

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Not every saint is a pastor but every saint can and should do the works of a pastor to the few people around them! This is how the ministry of the pastor is discovered and encouraged! Every believer must have another believer that they are serving like a pastor would have!

So what makes a pastor different? Why call a person a pastor? Because that person has a special grace to pastor more people with relative ease! He or she is gifted in not only helping others to grow but also in training them to do the works of a pastor.

Doing the works of a pastor does not make you a pastor just like drawing stick figures does not make you an artist! Also playing football with friends in the park does not make you a footballer.

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Who are you discipling? To whom are you doing the works of a pastor?

You are a gift to the body of Christ!