Posts Tagged ‘asbury’

Characteristics of a Disciple

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

For one of my classes, Equipping the Laity, we’ve been talking about what it means to be a disciple of Christ (as opposed to being a cultural christian). Below are some characteristics that we talked about (as expressed in Dr. Steve Martyn’s lecture, What is a Disciple?). As we were discussing, I thought to myself- how does my life reflect or not reflect these values/characteristics/traits that I would agree make up a true disciple of Jesus. It was challenging to me, especially in the area of “means of grace” (aka spiritual disciplines for those of you in the southern baptist world). If these are traits I hope and pray and labor towards for others in my future congregation/campus ministry, how much more should I be modeling and living these myself?

What about you? Which ones are challenging to you? Any that you hope to grow in? Any you disagree with? Or anything you would add to this list?

We want to make disciples of Jesus Christ who:

  • Understand the whole story of the Bible and where they fit into the history of salvation
  • Know how to enter into transformative study of God’s word
  • Are living in and practicing the means of grace and are experiencing ongoing transformation
  • Are walking in purity of heart and the freedom of the Gospel and are experiencing release from destructive addictions and collapse of prideful sin
  • Are living in life-giving relationships with others and are allowing the directives of the Gospel to define their roles in those relationships
  • Are seeking to accept and live into the gifts of ministry given to them by the Holy Spirit
  • Are taking the time for critical thinking/discernment and for thoughtful reflection/meditation upon the actions of God in their lives
  • Are missionally engaged for the transformation of the world
  • Understand that ministry is to be done and the Gospel spread through a community of committed disciples who love and honor one another and who seek to unfold the Kingdom within the context of ministry teams
  • Love God’s church and are faithfully engaged in worship and are building up the body of Christ
  • Are tithing their income (as a minimal standard) for the work of the God’s Kingdom
  • Are seeking to be stewards of all of God’s good gifts including creation, their physical bodies, their resources, and their very lives
  • See themselves as followers of Jesus Christ and full-time ministers of the Gospel of grace and understand they are to be servant leaders in the work of redemption

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Upcoming Semester Classes

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Starting today, I’ll be starting 14 hours of classes for the Fall Semester. To me this didn’t really sound like that much. However, I have had several people try and talk me out of taking this many hours. Almost-complete strangers expressing real concern for my sanity! I am keeping this many hours, but I will need you all to pray for me (did I mention I’m 6 months pregnant?!).

I have 32 books to read this semester (plus 5-6 journal articles per class), and have spent about $450 total. I bought a few of them on kindle, ipad version, and I’m eager to try it out and see how I like it. The only downfall to ebooks for classes are citing. Up until this point, I have loved MLA style, but it looks like if I switch to APA, then citing e-books will get much easier because I will only have to cite the page number if I’m using a direct quote. Anyway, I digress…

I will be taking:

Equipping the Laity: This one will be about discipleship in the church.

Christian Ethics: An intensive class that will occur over 2 weekends, the first weekend of Nov. and the first weekend of Dec. We have readings and assignments due during each class period, as well as an actual final exam!

Leadership for a Multi-Cultural World: Multi-cultural leadership in a North American context. I think I’m going to REALLY like the professor- Dr. Russell West.

Young and Middle Adult Development and Discipleship: The class I am most excited about, as it most directly applies to collegiate ministry!

Leading Groups and Organizations: my last online class, pretty self-explanatory from the class title! This is a PBL class (problem-based learning), so it will be a unique experience.

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