Discipleship Philosophy and

Westlife Communities (Discipleship Groups)

Fall 2016

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ASIMPLEDEFINITIONAtWestlifeChurch,ourvisionistoKnowGod,BeLikeJesusandChangetheWorld.Webelievethatthisistheessenceofdiscipleship.InMark1:17,wefindthecallingofthefirstdisciples,whereJesussaid,“Comefollowme,andIwillmakeyoufishersofmen.”BeingadiscipleisthecalltofollowJesusandbelikeHim.Discipleshipisalsoaboutevangelism.Itisasmuchaboutothersasitisaboutyou.DiscipleshipisaboutbecomingmorelikeJesusbythepoweroftheHolySpirit.It’salsoaboutbecomingapersonwhoknowshowtopassontheGospelmessageandisactivelyengagedindoingso.Discipleshipisaboutgrowinginyourfaithandreachingpeople.INTERNALLYAtWestlifeChurch,welongtobeafellowshipofdisciplesofJesuswhoareunconditionallysurrenderedanddevotedtoHim.WepursueknowingHim,(intellectuallyandrelationally)andthroughtheworkoftheHolySpirit,wearebeingtransformed,renewedandsetfreefromsin,guilt,hurt,addictionsandmaterialpursuit.Weunderstand,webelieve,andweareputtingourfaithintheGospel:creation,fall,redemptionandrestorationcenteredaroundthepersonofJesusChrist.Astimepasses,wethinkandactmorelikeJesusundertheinfluenceoftheHolySpirit.Nolongerself-absorbed,weserveJesus,HischurchandHisworldinterdependently,inclusivelyandsacrificially.EXTERNALLYMostoftheChristianformatsandenvironmentsweregularlyparticipateindon’tconnectwithorevenmakesensetopeopleinourculture.Thescaryfactis,wedon’toftenthinkaboutthisbecausewefailtorealizethatdiscipleshipisasmuchaboutothersasitisaboutus.Wemusthaveanexternalfocus.Inallfacetsofourlives,wefunctionaswitnessesoftheGospelandthegloryofGod.Wearelivingexamplesofwhatit’sliketoliveinthefamilyofGod.WearecreativeKingdomagents,cooperatingwithJesusasHebringslight,peace,hopeandjustice;literallychangingtheworld.Weareonmission.Weembraceouruniquecallingsand“sentness”intoourcommunities,neighborhoodsandworkplaces.WerecognizethatitisimpossibleforustofollowJesuswithoutjoiningHimonHismission.Wearethesaltandlightoftheworld.

MISSIONALDISCIPLESHIPMODEL

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IntheBible,weseethatdiscipleshiptakesplaceincommunity.WhenJesusbeganHisministry,Heimmediatelycalled12disciplestobewithHim.Jesusdidn’tneedthissmallgroup,butHechosethem,lovedthem,equippedthemandempoweredthemforKingdomministry.TheywerefullydevotedtoHimandmodeledtheirlivesafterHis.AfterJesusroseandascended,HesenttheHolySpirittoempowerthemissiontocontinue.Theapostles,havingbeenfilledbytheSpirit,didcontinuethemissionandtheyalsocarriedonthemodelJesusgavethem.TheyformedacommunityofbelieverswholovedGod,lovedothersanddidwhatJesusdid.AsweseeinthebookofActs,theseearlybelieversdevotedthemselvestotheteachingoftheapostles,tofellowship,communion,prayer,radicalgenerosityandsupportingoneanother.Ontopofthat,theyproclaimedtheGospelmessageeverywheretheywent.StudyingthelifeofJesusandtheearlychurch,itbecomesapparentthatasmissionaldisciples,wemusthavethefollowingcharacteristics:

1) WeareprofoundlyconnectedtheFather,wearefullysurrenderedandlovinglydevotedtoJesusChristandwearecontinuallyfilledbytheHolySpirit,operatinginHispowerandbyHisprompting.WelongtocontinuallyencounterGodinourday-to-daylife.

2) WeengageinafellowshipofDiscipleswhereweareequippedandempoweredforKingdomministry.Weareonmissionwithotherdisciples.

3) WeassociatewithpeoplewhodonotyethavearelationshipwithJesusandwedolifewiththem,seekingwaystodemonstrateGod’sloveandsharetheGospel.Ifwedon’tassociatewiththosewhoneedJesus,thenwedonothavetherighttoinfluencethem.

AtWestlifeChurch,thismodelispursuedandnurturedthroughactiveengagementinaWestlifeCommunity.WHATISAWESTLIFECOMMUNITY?AtWestlife,discipleshipdoestakeplaceinourSundaymorninggathering.Butmorethatthat,itthrivesthroughanumberofdifferentgroupsthatwecall“WestlifeCommunities.”Numberingasfewas3peopleorasmanyas30,disciplesofJesuscometogethertobeequippedandempoweredintheirpursuittoKnowGod,BeLikeJesusandChangetheWorld.Whilethesegatheringsvaryinsizeandformat,thereareseveralkeycomponentsthatexistinourdiscipleshipgroups.

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Toexplorethisfurther,let’sthinkofdiscipleshipasthevehiclethatdrivesthemission.Thisparticularvehiclehas8keycomponentsthatcontributetoitssuccess:

1.Frame–ScriptureBiblestudyandapplicationarecriticaltothesuccessofadiscipleshipgroup.Itprovidesaframework&stabilityandkeepseverythingconnectedtogether.2Tim3:16…AllScriptureisGod-breathedandisusefulforteaching,rebuking,correctingandtraininginrighteousnesssothattheservantofGodmaybethoroughlyequippedforeverygoodwork.Psa19:7-8…ThelawoftheLORDisperfect,restoringthesoul;ThepreceptsoftheLORDareright,rejoicingtheheart;ThecommandmentsoftheLORDarepure,enlighteningtheeyes.2.FuelSource–PrayerGoddelightstoadvanceHispurposesthroughtheprayersandrequestsofHispeople.Agroupthatneverprayswillnotgetveryfar.Luke5:16…Jesusoftenwithdrewtolonelyplacesandprayed.1Thess5:17…Praycontinually.3.SteeringWheel–LeadershipIneveryvehicle,someoneisinthedriver’sseat.Thatpersonisinchargeofprovidingacommondirectiontothegroup.Prov11:14…Wherethereisnoguidancethepeoplefall.Exo18:21…youshallselectoutofallthepeopleablemenwhofearGod,menoftruth,thosewhohatedishonestgain;andyoushallplacetheseoverthemasleaders.4.Seats–FellowshipIfyouwanttotravelfar,itisbesttotravelwithothers.Ourgroupsmustbetrust-filled,grace-basedcommunitiesthatlove,serveandcareforoneanother.Heb10:24…Letusconsiderhowwemayspuroneanotherontowardloveandgooddeeds.John13:34-35…AsIhavelovedyou,soyoumustloveoneanother.Bythiseveryonewillknowthatyouaremydisciples5.Windshield–MissionWehaveanoutwardfocus,notlettingoursurroundingsquicklypassusby,butratherwatchingtoseewhatGodisdoingandaskinghowwecanjoinHim.Matt28:18-19…Thereforegoandmakedisciplesofallnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFatherandoftheSonandoftheHolySpirit,andteachingthemtoobeyeverythingIhavecommandedyou.6.Odometer–MeetRegularlyWeneedtostopforgas.It’simportanttopayattentiontohowregularlywegather.Ourgroupsmeetweeklyorbi-weekly.Heb10:25-…notgivingupmeetingtogether,assomeareinthehabitofdoing,butencouragingoneanother.

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7.Doors–OpenInvitationDoweneedtostopandletsomeonein?Ourgroupsarealwaysopentonewmembers.Wewanttofillthemupsothatwecanreproduceandaddanothervehicletoourfleet.Jam2:1...believersinourgloriousLordJesusChristmustnotshowfavoritism.8.RearViewMirror–AccountabilityToensurewearebecomingwhoGodwantsustobe,wearegettingfeedbackfromothersandbeingaccountableforourfaithjourneyandforoursin.1John1:7…ifwewalkinthelight,asheisinthelight,wehavefellowshipwithoneanother,andthebloodofJesus,hisSon,purifiesusfromallsin.

These8buildingblocks(Scripture,Prayer,Leadership,Fellowship,Mission,RegularMeetings,OpenInvitationandAccountability)combinetobuildapowerfuldiscipleshipvehiclethatpropelsusforwardinGod’sgloriousmission.

CONCLUSIONJustasvehiclescomeinallshapesandsizestomeetanintendeduse,ourgoalistooptimizeaccessibilityofWestlifeCommunitiesbyallowingflexibilityintheformat,locationandsize.GroupscanbeassmallasaSmartCaroraslargeasTourBus.Allthewhile,eachgroupwillmaintainthe8corebuildingblocksdescribedabove.ItistheferventdesireoftheleadershipofWestlifeChurchtoempowertheleadershipofeachgrouptodeterminehowtoorganizeandstructuretheirgatheringinawaythatissimple,scalableandSpirit-empowered.WestlifePastorsarechargedwithcoaching,encouragingandequippinggroupleaderstoconnectwithourchurchvisionandincorporatingthese8corecomponents.FormoreinformationonhowtogetconnectedtoaWestlifeCommunity,visitwestlifechurch.ca.