Doulos (slave) Discipleship
Question: Will you BE Student X, even when no one else will? Or only if your friends are around?
*Servant Leadership: Jesus washing the feet of His disciples* -John 13:12-18
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Dependent Discipline: 1 Timothy 4:7 "Train yourself for godliness."
Just as it's impossible for an airplane to fly with only one wing, so is it impossible for us to successfully pursue holiness with only dependence on God or discipline. We absolutely must have both.
Discipline, as I am now using it, refers to activities designed to train a person in a particular skill. In urging Timothy to train or discipline himself to be godly (1 Timothy 4:7), Paul borrowed a term originally referring to the training of young athletes. It later came to include both mental and moral training. Paul used it to refer to spiritual training. And Paul told Timothy, "Train yourself."
But we must not try to carry out our responsibilities in our own strength and willpower. We must depend on the Holy Spirit to enable us. At the same time we must not assume we have no responsibility simply because we're dependent. God enables us to work, but he doesn't do the work for us.
"Unless the Lord builds the house," we read in Psalm 127:1, "those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." Here the psalmist recognizes God's intimate involvement in the building and watching; he doesn't say, "unless the Lord helps the builders and the watchman," but, "unless the Lord builds . . . unless the Lord watchesU"
Yet it's just as obvious that the psalmist envisions the builders laboring and the watchman standing guard. The builders cannot put away their tools and go fishing and expect God to build the house. Neither can the watchman retire to his bed and expect God to sound the alarm if an enemy approaches. The builders must work, the watchman must stand guard; but they all must carry out their responsibilities in total dependence on God. (Excerpt taken from The Discipline of Grace)
Just as it's impossible for an airplane to fly with only one wing, so is it impossible for us to successfully pursue holiness with only dependence on God or discipline. We absolutely must have both.
Discipline, as I am now using it, refers to activities designed to train a person in a particular skill. In urging Timothy to train or discipline himself to be godly (1 Timothy 4:7), Paul borrowed a term originally referring to the training of young athletes. It later came to include both mental and moral training. Paul used it to refer to spiritual training. And Paul told Timothy, "Train yourself."
But we must not try to carry out our responsibilities in our own strength and willpower. We must depend on the Holy Spirit to enable us. At the same time we must not assume we have no responsibility simply because we're dependent. God enables us to work, but he doesn't do the work for us.
"Unless the Lord builds the house," we read in Psalm 127:1, "those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." Here the psalmist recognizes God's intimate involvement in the building and watching; he doesn't say, "unless the Lord helps the builders and the watchman," but, "unless the Lord builds . . . unless the Lord watchesU"
Yet it's just as obvious that the psalmist envisions the builders laboring and the watchman standing guard. The builders cannot put away their tools and go fishing and expect God to build the house. Neither can the watchman retire to his bed and expect God to sound the alarm if an enemy approaches. The builders must work, the watchman must stand guard; but they all must carry out their responsibilities in total dependence on God. (Excerpt taken from The Discipline of Grace)
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1CO 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
EPH 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. 1TIM 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 2TIM 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. PR 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. MATT 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciplesof all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." |
You have no idea where God is going to engineer your circumstances;
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1. A student is ill in the hospital. Who goes to see them?
Answer: Student X ! 2. A friend got into an argument with her parents and needs to talk with someone. Who is willing to be a peacemaker? Answer: Student X ! 3. There is litter that people left on the tables. Who bothers to clear it? Answer: Student X ! 4. Who is a Disciple? Answer: Student X ! 5. Who is Student X? Answer: X = Christ's Doulos (see Luke 10:30-37 on the right-side, and the verse below: MK 10:42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  |
*Each person in "DD" has already accepted Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.
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*Looking for F.A.T. people. (Faithful, Available, Teachable) -- 24/7
Faithful: 1. strict or thorough in the performance of duty: a faithful worker. 2. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc. 3. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant: faithful friends. 4. reliable, trusted, or believed. 5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate: a faithful account; a faithful copy.
(Conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of our Calling in Jesus Christ as a Christian representative in this world. Continual striving to grow in maturity. Growing in the Word. Compassionate. Accountable. Try to understand others. Empathetic. Thankful. Prayerful. Reliable.) Available: 1. suitable or ready for use; of use or service; at hand: I used whatever tools were available. Makes the time for themselves, as well as for the benefit of the other brothers and sisters. (Committed. Punctual. Present at the moment and politely giving attention. Hebrews 10:23-25, Proverbs 27:17) Teachable: 1. capable of being instructed or taught (having the right attitude, enthusiasm, self-controlled, focus, posture, alertness, engaging wholeheartedly, diligent, repentant when we fail, practice what is learned, think of long term effects )  *** If this is F.A.T. -- What are we fighting against in ourselves?
ungrateful (opposite of thankful) heart, bad/poor/negative attitude, selfishness, laziness, bitterness, self-centered, hatred, distracting others, setting a poor example, vulgar, procrastinate, undependable, inconsistent, irresponsible, not careful with our tongue in speaking, anger, entitlement attitude, violence, "it's-all-about-me", no self-control, hypocritical, rude, irritating, being a bother to others, being a flake, ill-mannered, short-sighted, untrustworthy, unstable, does not consider impact/effect of their actions, undependable, disloyal/traitor/backstabbing, gossip, slanderer, prideful/power-hungry, arrogant, only seeking "fun" and "activities", thinking we're better than others and putting others down to let them know we're better than them, immature, crass, foolishness in sinning, dishonest/liar/lying, 2-faced @ church vs school, addicted to the idols (anything that takes priority over God) of this world (could be movies, technology, music, drugs, sex, money, fame, power), concern for only self-image, and materialism.
A prayer of service
"O Lord,
make me an instrument of Thy Peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, harmony; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light, and Where there is sorrow, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life." The simple prayer of St. Francis of Assisi provides for us a mold in which to cast our own life's conduct and character. It provides a blueprint upon which to pattern our living in our thoughts, speech and actions within our day to day relationships with our fellow beings and with all life around us. It reminds us to check our lives in gratitude for Jesus first loving us. Draw your strength to serve from God. Testing World Views
Everything we learn from Scripture should be attached to a biblical system of thinking. We not only ask these questions in Bible study, but we should ask the same questions about LIFE -- what we listen to, what we read, what we watch in the culture. These questions help us to TEST and THINK about how these things influence our Christian Minds and Hearts. The “blank” represents anything you come into contact with.
a. What does this ________ teach us about God, his character, and his plan? b. What do we learn about ourselves, our nature, our struggle, and the purpose of our lives? c. What does this ________ teach us about right and wrong, good and bad, and true and false? d. What instruction is here about relationships, about love, authority, etc.? e. What does this ________ teach us about life, its meaning and purpose? f. What does this ________ teach us about the inner man, the heart and how it functions? g. What have we learned from this ________ that would guide the way we live and make decisions? h. How does this ________ help us understand and critique our culture?  |
 Goal: 1. We Meet together. We want to spur and encourage one another. Hebrews 10:23-25 Let
us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is
faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward
love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you
see the Day approaching.
*Pray for each other *Sharing lives (iron sharpening iron) testing world views. *Sharing ideas, stories, or anything that would build each other up. (Philippians 4:8-9) *Sharing what God is doing in our lives (BRC). *Encourage each other to be God's best in us! 2. To Love one another. If NIKE is known for their shoes and BMW is known for their cars. We as a junior high ministry want to be known for our Christian LOVE! To love one another as Jesus commanded. 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. -- 1 John 4:7-12 *Actively seek out opportunities to Serve one another (clean up,organizing activities) *Practice Christian behavior & Conduct. *Be humble. *Chivalry Code 3. Trained in the Word. Hebrews 10:23-25 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. *Know what we believe (WSC) *WTTB & Keywords-- OT & NT *"Growing as a Christian" 4. We want to share Jesus with others. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven andon earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to thevery end of the age.” -- Matthew 28:18-20 *Know what we believe (GOSPEL acronym & "Becoming a Christian) *More than a Carpenter *2+ cards *Sharing our faith  Job Descriptions of 5 N.C.O. (1st year), 5 C.O. (2nd year), and T.A.C. (3rd year & beyond)
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One of the disciplines we want everyone to walk out of jr
high with, is to be trained in regular time spent with God.
A sacred time each day with you and God.
*Your chain partner should already be asking the 3 questions at the top of the webpage.
*Always start with prayer. You are spending time with God.
1. Ask Him to reveal Himself and what He wants you to learn.
2. Ask for wisdom in how to apply what you have learned.
3. Do you see Jesus?
Starting 2010, we want to help each other (PARTNER UP!) to keep accountable. The benefit of QT is doing it daily.
So we will not let each other get behind by more than a week.
A sacred time each day with you and God.
*Your chain partner should already be asking the 3 questions at the top of the webpage.
*Always start with prayer. You are spending time with God.
1. Ask Him to reveal Himself and what He wants you to learn.
2. Ask for wisdom in how to apply what you have learned.
3. Do you see Jesus?
Starting 2010, we want to help each other (PARTNER UP!) to keep accountable. The benefit of QT is doing it daily.
So we will not let each other get behind by more than a week.
A small group can ask each other the following: 1. What do you like about the passage? Then everyone shares. 2. What bothered you about the passage? What was hard or difficult for you? Everyone shares. 3. What'd you learn about God? Everyone shares. 4. What did you learn about yourself, or people from the passage? Everyone shares. 5. What are you going to do about it? Write it down. Share. 6. Who are you going to tell about it? Share.
***Next week, you come back, and start with how you did with step 5 and 6. And everyone shares, and if everyone hasn't done it, the whole group waits again. This will vary from group to group, b/c you don't want people leaving for feeling TOO much pressure. But this does bring true accountability in love.
Laws of the Learner
L = Learner "Cause to Learn" - The teacher should accept the responsibility of causing students to learn.
E = Expectation "Expect the Best" - The teacher should influence students' learning by adjusting expectations.
A = Application "Apply for Lifechange" - The teachers should stimulate lifechange in students by properly
applying the Scriptures.
R = Retention "Master the Minimum" - The teacher should enable students to enjoy maximum mastery of the
irreducible minimum.
N = Need "Build the Need" - The teacher should surface the students' real need before teaching the content.
E = Equipping "Equip for Service" - The teacher should train students for a life of service and edification.
R = Revival "Revive the Heart" - The teacher should encourage an ongoing personal revival in students' lives.
*** NOTE: every Christian should constantly be training for being equipped to revive the heart of others.
***Next week, you come back, and start with how you did with step 5 and 6. And everyone shares, and if everyone hasn't done it, the whole group waits again. This will vary from group to group, b/c you don't want people leaving for feeling TOO much pressure. But this does bring true accountability in love.
Laws of the Learner
L = Learner "Cause to Learn" - The teacher should accept the responsibility of causing students to learn.
E = Expectation "Expect the Best" - The teacher should influence students' learning by adjusting expectations.
A = Application "Apply for Lifechange" - The teachers should stimulate lifechange in students by properly
applying the Scriptures.
R = Retention "Master the Minimum" - The teacher should enable students to enjoy maximum mastery of the
irreducible minimum.
N = Need "Build the Need" - The teacher should surface the students' real need before teaching the content.
E = Equipping "Equip for Service" - The teacher should train students for a life of service and edification.
R = Revival "Revive the Heart" - The teacher should encourage an ongoing personal revival in students' lives.
*** NOTE: every Christian should constantly be training for being equipped to revive the heart of others.
*Always start with prayer. You are spending time with God. 1. Ask Him to reveal Himself and what He wants you to learn. 2. Ask for wisdom in how to apply what you have learned. 3. Do you see Jesus?
You have no idea where God is going to engineer your circumstances;
no knowledge of what strain is going to be put you, either at home or abroad,
and if you waste your time in over-active energies
instead of getting into soak on the great fundamental TRUTHS OF GOD'S REDEMPTION, you will SNAP when the strain comes; but, if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting ROOTED and GROUNDED in God on the practical line, YOU WILL REMAIN TRUE to Him, whatever happens...
--Oswald Chambers
"Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world..."
--John 18:36
Leading Games
The Seven No No's -
Do these seven things and your games will stink!
1. Tell the crowd that you're going to play a game!
Best way to ruin a game is tell kids that you're going to play a game! Youth groups across the nation consistently use this pathetic transition: "okay, we're going to play a mixer now!" First of all ... does the average jr. higher off the street know what a mixer is? Yeh! It's the thing their mom uses to stir cake mix. When starting a game ... just start doing it. For example: "hey, before we get started today I want everyone on this side of the room to scoot one foot that way while my staff run this rope between you ..." Just start it. Ten minutes later kids will be looking at each other saying, "hey ... we're playing games!"
2. Don't be prepared
Time is always crucial because attention span is short. In this fast food, microwave, quick cut, MTV, minute rice, Taco Bell generation, kids are used to having what they want, stimulating their eyes, ears and mouth EVERY SECOND. Now if we stand up to play a game that required two marshmellows with a piece of string tied around them ... if you walk up with a bag of unopened marshmellows and uncut string that is NOT ALREADY TIED ... you've already lost. Have everything ready.
If you've never done the game before ... test it. So many times I thought I was the "Game Master" and all of a sudden I'm up short in front of a bunch of kids. Not a pretty sight. Test it!
3. Don't have your staff playing with them
Hopefully your staff are there to hang out with kids, not to be just a chaperone. Chaperones are no fun and no kid wants a relationship with one. Your staff should get on the teams with the kids and participate as much as possible. I have students to this day that still remind me of times we annihilated another person with Q-tips when I was on their team during a Q-tip war. Fun memories make lasting impressions.
4. Explain the game for more than 30 seconds
As we talked about above on #2, time and attention span are short. Part of being prepared for a game is knowing how to explain it quickly. Give the basics, maybe with a visual example and jump straight into "ready, set, go!" Don't be afraid to start a game even when some are still confused. Your staff can help push these people along once you start.
5. Take more than 30 seconds to divide teams
Same principle as above. Have a quick tactic planned to divide teams fast. Always try to use natural divisions: grade levels, gender, half of the room, etc. Only # off as a last resort!
6. Have someone without ability or even a personality leading the game
Game leading isn't something you should just throw on a new staff member. They should be trained in the basics and given an opportunity to lead a game every once in a while. You'll find that some people just aren't gifted in being up-front. Don't use these people. A key to a successful program will be putting staff people in areas that they are gifted and feel comfortable.
By the way ... if something goes wrong, play it off. Games will go sour- it's a fact. If they do, use the opportunity to make fun of it. If a game goes wrong and the leader is funny about it, kids will still have a good time ... and that's the point, right?
7. Make sure the crowd can't see those playing the game.
"Of course" you say. But how many times have I seen some cool crowd breaker where a kid is getting dowsed with syrup or a girl is about to suck a jelly bean out of some jello and ... I couldn't see cause some stupid game leader was standing right in the way! If you're leading a game ... STEP ASIDE! If you're in a level room and you have a visual game ... elevate it somehow! You get the point.
Do these seven things and your games will stink!
1. Tell the crowd that you're going to play a game!
Best way to ruin a game is tell kids that you're going to play a game! Youth groups across the nation consistently use this pathetic transition: "okay, we're going to play a mixer now!" First of all ... does the average jr. higher off the street know what a mixer is? Yeh! It's the thing their mom uses to stir cake mix. When starting a game ... just start doing it. For example: "hey, before we get started today I want everyone on this side of the room to scoot one foot that way while my staff run this rope between you ..." Just start it. Ten minutes later kids will be looking at each other saying, "hey ... we're playing games!"
2. Don't be prepared
Time is always crucial because attention span is short. In this fast food, microwave, quick cut, MTV, minute rice, Taco Bell generation, kids are used to having what they want, stimulating their eyes, ears and mouth EVERY SECOND. Now if we stand up to play a game that required two marshmellows with a piece of string tied around them ... if you walk up with a bag of unopened marshmellows and uncut string that is NOT ALREADY TIED ... you've already lost. Have everything ready.
If you've never done the game before ... test it. So many times I thought I was the "Game Master" and all of a sudden I'm up short in front of a bunch of kids. Not a pretty sight. Test it!
3. Don't have your staff playing with them
Hopefully your staff are there to hang out with kids, not to be just a chaperone. Chaperones are no fun and no kid wants a relationship with one. Your staff should get on the teams with the kids and participate as much as possible. I have students to this day that still remind me of times we annihilated another person with Q-tips when I was on their team during a Q-tip war. Fun memories make lasting impressions.
4. Explain the game for more than 30 seconds
As we talked about above on #2, time and attention span are short. Part of being prepared for a game is knowing how to explain it quickly. Give the basics, maybe with a visual example and jump straight into "ready, set, go!" Don't be afraid to start a game even when some are still confused. Your staff can help push these people along once you start.
5. Take more than 30 seconds to divide teams
Same principle as above. Have a quick tactic planned to divide teams fast. Always try to use natural divisions: grade levels, gender, half of the room, etc. Only # off as a last resort!
6. Have someone without ability or even a personality leading the game
Game leading isn't something you should just throw on a new staff member. They should be trained in the basics and given an opportunity to lead a game every once in a while. You'll find that some people just aren't gifted in being up-front. Don't use these people. A key to a successful program will be putting staff people in areas that they are gifted and feel comfortable.
By the way ... if something goes wrong, play it off. Games will go sour- it's a fact. If they do, use the opportunity to make fun of it. If a game goes wrong and the leader is funny about it, kids will still have a good time ... and that's the point, right?
7. Make sure the crowd can't see those playing the game.
"Of course" you say. But how many times have I seen some cool crowd breaker where a kid is getting dowsed with syrup or a girl is about to suck a jelly bean out of some jello and ... I couldn't see cause some stupid game leader was standing right in the way! If you're leading a game ... STEP ASIDE! If you're in a level room and you have a visual game ... elevate it somehow! You get the point.
8th grade: ------------ Jasmine Koo Angela Shin ---------- Sabrina Park
7th grade: Tom Choi Samuel Park Percy Chung Irene Yu Rebecca Lim
Samuel Lee Kylie Choi 6th grade: Samuel Koo John Shin Jin Chang Kirsty Choi
7th grade: Tom Choi Samuel Park Percy Chung Irene Yu Rebecca Lim
Samuel Lee Kylie Choi 6th grade: Samuel Koo John Shin Jin Chang Kirsty Choi
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THIS IS THE PAST.... WHERE WE CAME FROM... WITH MISTAKES AND ALL...
In the video "This is Your Life"above says, "Are you who you want to be?" ... if not, you can still CHOOSE to change.
In our Discipleship group ... we're going to try and do better and better to work at it!
2008-2009 Year 1 Discipleship: "The start of Easy Company"
We wanted to build SERVANT leaders in the jr. high ministry. We knew it would not be easy to pour addition time and energy to start this group, but we knew it was necessary. And so it began. Modeled after the camaraderie seen in Band of Brothers -- soldiers who supported each other through the tough times and the mentorship seen in the raising of the next generation in the Naruto Anime. So before Friday Night Bible Study, we met for and hour to share lives and studying the Bible and the Westminster Shorter Catechisms to systematically understand our Christian faith. The Discipleship dedicated themselves to reading through the BRC (Bible Reading Calendar).
We also want to practice our faith as we live our day to day lives. So after practicing different life skills (ie basic training, committment, faithfulness, teachable, available, chivalrous, dependable), and learning to trust one another, we had a lock-in and outdoor training to see our training in action. Pictures in the blog under July 2009.
Discipleship started with ten 6th graders, but ended with a core of 5 that stuck through it. Eugene Park...Sabrina Park...Jasmine Koo...Angela Shin...Jacob Song.
We also want to practice our faith as we live our day to day lives. So after practicing different life skills (ie basic training, committment, faithfulness, teachable, available, chivalrous, dependable), and learning to trust one another, we had a lock-in and outdoor training to see our training in action. Pictures in the blog under July 2009.
Discipleship started with ten 6th graders, but ended with a core of 5 that stuck through it. Eugene Park...Sabrina Park...Jasmine Koo...Angela Shin...Jacob Song.
2009-2010 Year 2 Discipleship
The 5 students who made it through "basic training" became our N.C.O.'s (Non-Commissioned Officers). Each N.C.O. represents a squad.
Trainings were moved to Saturday mornings every other week from 7-9am. What do we do?
1. Start with prayer.
2. Becoming a Christian & Growing as a Christian Step 2
3. Westminster Shorter Catechism Year 1 & Bible Proof Texts
4. Squad Prayer Meeting (a. take attendance. b. Share 2+ cards (praying for witness opportunities for 2 non-Christian friends). c. Share prayer requests and pray for each other. d. Practice and fill out Review Questions which help us reflect on our understanding of the catechisms. e. Practice the catechisms with each other.
5. Keep each other accountable as we practice Christian Living.
Trainings were moved to Saturday mornings every other week from 7-9am. What do we do?
1. Start with prayer.
2. Becoming a Christian & Growing as a Christian Step 2
3. Westminster Shorter Catechism Year 1 & Bible Proof Texts
4. Squad Prayer Meeting (a. take attendance. b. Share 2+ cards (praying for witness opportunities for 2 non-Christian friends). c. Share prayer requests and pray for each other. d. Practice and fill out Review Questions which help us reflect on our understanding of the catechisms. e. Practice the catechisms with each other.
5. Keep each other accountable as we practice Christian Living.