Given to Developing reproductive Christians

Third Generation Disciples

and Kingdom Builders

Reposted from  July 8, 2009 | Leave a comment

 

When I titled this blog, “Third Generation Miistries,” I had in mind the progressive nature of discipling the nations. Jesus (generation 1) raised up those who followed Him (the Twelve plus, called generation 2) and sent the for to preach to the 3rd generation. Paul did likewise as described in 2 Timothy 2:2 (although you can make a case for 4 generations of discipling). In any case, that is where the name came from.
In the years of disciple making the generations have been called various things. Disciples, disciplemakers and leaders of disciple makers. The title “laborers” has been used to generate the idea of a group growing laborers as leaders of disciple and disciplemakers. Whatever works as what you call them is only a verbal way of identifying them.
Recently, the church I attend has been referring to new believer and up as “Jesus’ Followers. ” This can be thought of as being all encompassing. Gordon MacDonald referseo the group that has the world on its heart by the title: “Kingdom Builders” . This is a great title for the work of making disciple makers. It moves the focus off of the DM and onto the task of building kingdom principles into disciples’ lives so that they pursue this vocationally or avocationally, and it really defines who they are and what they do. They build the kingdom of God, one generation after another and so forth.
Any thoughts on this are welcome.
Coach Charles

The Bridge Builder

The Bridge Builder

Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"
The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth, whose feet must pass this way."
"This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

Sinapup

Anotherblog

My Vision as of 11-4-2012

I have a dream that God will use me to raise up a great army of Christ-centered Christ followers.  These will learn and produce other reproductive disciples around the world.

I have a dream that God is raising up a world-wide army of Christ centered of  competent disciples who will reproduce other Christ centered, competant cisciples.

I believe that His last command before He ascended was Matthew 28:19,20 "as you go, make disciples."  I take this as non-optional.  It is fully God's intent to multiply disciples by using those who are part of His body, the church.  He also pointed out that the "field is the world, the harvest is ripe, the laborers are few, the time uncertain, the enemy is afoot and prowling".  As the line in that old song, "Give me some Men", so is my prayer that God will send laborers inot the harvest.  In Ezekiel God says that He is seeking men, when He said, "I sought for a Man among them..." (Ezek.22:30),  who would comply with God and His Word.

I am determined to be that man, are you willing to follow Him too?

Coach Charles

It must not be assumed that this is the only to say this, it revises as I live it.

Habit of a difficult nature

I am looking for clues to deal with bad habits.  My specific physical bad habit is chewing my finger nails.  No I know that I am not alone in this and I have had some times of relative success.  I would engage sound advice.

Coach Charles

Some Witnessing Questions

Here is are a few questions I got somewhere.  They aim at promoting a conversation without being provacative.  If you use them let me know how it went.

1. Do you have any kind of spiritual belief? 
2. To you, who is Jesus?
3. Do you think there is a heaven or a hell?
4. If you died at this moment, where would you go?
5. If what you believe is not the truth,  would you want to know it?

Encouragingly, Coach Charles

Genesis 25 Msg.

Even though Abraham remarried (to Keturah) he still bestowed all his property to Isaac and then gave gifts to the sons he had by concubines. In his 175 years, Abraham had learned much. "He died happy, at a ripe old age, full of years." Note, however, in the second paragraph, which is about Ismael, there is no mention of God. The third paragraph in this chapter talks about Isaac, his two sons, who were to be the foundation of much of the rest of the Bible. Isaac had two sons, of whom Jacob, though not a man of character, but extremly competent, was to be the heir through the King would come. His brother had shrugged off what would have been his, and later regretted it, as less than important. One wonders what would be if the brothers would just left where it fell out. Lord, help me to not make the mistake of replacing your plans with my desires.

Charles

A Few thoughts on a fulfilling life

Os Guinness in his book A Long Journey Home, p.67, lists these elements of a fulfilling life:

1. A sense of personal identity.
2. A strong sense of mission and purpose.
3. A deep sense of faith and meaning.

How do you do in these senses?

Coach Charles
perfectlifecoach.com

New Name for seeing my website

Go to  Perfectlifecoach.com

That's all folks.

Do what you do best or make it the best

1. What one thing, more than any other, will make today a great day?

2. What is the most important one thing for me to get done today?

3. Who do I need to call or hug or talk with to make today the best it can be?

4. What temptation or distraction am I likely to face today, and how will I respond if it happens?

The above are borrowed, from whom I do not know.

5. Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind.

Coach Charles
perfectlifecoach.com

Having a Mentor

Do you have another person in your life who deeply cares for you, and who is not married to you, yet has substantial input so as to influence how you are in the world.  We all need help, if for no other reason that we don't know it all ourselves and thus others give us much support, love and advice.  Some times this is a teacher, a pastor or collegue.  Who mentors you?  Who are you mentoring/

I have had a long series of mentors, learning much from each othem.  I am a better person because they cared and generously gave me their life.  In the few times where I tried to get there by myself, I struggled, and failed, often miserably.  But when I had someone to be accountable to, I was greatly stinulated and encouraged.

I think that I can clearly say that I am today because I rode on the shoulders of those who gave themselves to me and for me.

Jesus Christ is the chief of these and I am still pursuing Him.  Would that you too seek Him.

Coach Charles
perfectlifecoach.com

Another blog

http://thirdgenerationministries.wordpress.com/

Coach Charles
perfectlifecoach.com

A good coach can enable you to become your best. I would like to be that coach. It will make a difference.

Coach Charles
coach-charles.com

Lack of direction

All too often, according to my interaction with businesses for the past twenty years is the problem of having a concise, clear sense of direction.  Often the problem is that there are conflicting goals that interfere with accomplishing any of them or doing anything worth doing.  If you go everywhere at the same time, you go nowhere.  Have fun, because that is all that is left.

I do coach businesses and can help you get out of this position, if this your problem.

Coach Charles
perfectlifecoach.com

Expectations from your life coach

What to Expect from Your Life Coach.

 

I don't remember where I got this, but it helps understand what I do:

A life coach is a valuable asset and often proves to be more than worth whatever cost in time, effort and money it demands.  It is a way to engage people in their own development, to improve what they actually are doing, achieve personal success, aims and meet challenges in life and work.   Life coaching is an alternative to making all the mistakes yourself and is effective in all kinds of ways, from personal life, career, sales, to corporate and business life.

 

How does a life coach  do this?

 

A life coach….

…listens to you.  They guide the conversation some, but are not imposing their values on you.

…is interested in your life, wishes, dreams, opinions, beliefs and goals.

…is there to encourage and to support you in your daily efforts to achieve your goals. …will guide you through sorting out what is important to you NOW and what can be put off or eliminated.

…will help you design a course of action for achieving your aim.  They will facilitate individual steps of action to help you on your way.  It is all about you, and not about the coach.

…will be absolutely honest with you, about your life, goals and direction when you need it.

…provide accountability.  They will ask you how you are doing.

…will provide a fresh perspective.  This encouragement to look at it differently is often key to accomplishment.

…will trust you do make your own decisions.  A coach is not there to fix you, or heal your past, but to help you engage your future, starting now.  They, therefore will support your decisions, not make them for you.

 

What more could you ask for?  Incidentally, most coaching is life coaching, even if it is called business or professional coaching.  So, if you consider yourself a business person or a professional, a life coach can be in there with you for your future.

Coach Charles
coach-charles.com

Over the years I have used many kinds of structure for my personal prayer time.  At one time it was the outline:  Monday pray for missions, Tuesday pray for Teachers, pastors, Wednesday for the world, Thursday for Tasks, Friday for friends, etc. 

These days I have some broader catagories: the first of which is on Sunday I pray for North America and the specific missionaries and workers I know who work there.  As I usually pray for the US daily, the catagory includes Canada and Mexico with Central America included.

I will further this soon.

Coach Charles

Books and Resources on Disciple-making
* indicates I own this book, *K = Kindle edition

1. Bill Hull, The Disciple-making Church*
2. Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship*
3. Christopher B. Adsit, Personal Disciple-making*
4. Lamin Sanneh, Disciples of all Nations*
5. Walter A. Henrichsen, Disciples are Made Not Born*
6. Robert E. Coleman, The Master Plan of Discipleship*
7. Betty Lee Skinner, Daws*
8. Jim Petersen, Lifestyle Discipleship*
9. Leroy Eims, The Lost Art of Disciple-making*
10. Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines*
11. Greg Ogden, Transforming Discipleship*
12. Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials*
13. George Barna, Growing True Disciples*
14. Scott Morton, Down to Earth Discipling*
15. Mike Breen, Building a Discipling Culture*
16. Mike Shamy, & Jim Peterson, The Insider, Bringing the Kingdom...*K
17. T.J.Addington, Leading from the Sandbox *K
18. Kyle Idleman, Not a Fan...*K
19. Dennis McCallum, et al, OrganicDisciplemaking *K

Coach Charles perfectlifecoach.com

Fellowship of the Unashamed

Fellowship of the UnashamedPosted on March 6, 2012 Leave a comment (An African martyr’s last words)

"I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.I’m finished and done with low living, sight-walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.I won’t give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up and stayed up for the cause of Christ.I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear. “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.” (Romans 1:16)

Submitted by Coach Charles

What does God expect of me?

What do I imagine or think God demands of me?

I have His Word to shape my life, my thoughts and my destiny.

I have His Spirit to guide, stimulate and order my thinking and doing.

I have the world which demands a solution with or without Him.

I have His promises by which He clarifies, defines and establishes me.

I have a heart which can respond to either the right or the wrong.

I have a Savior Who expects, yea demands that I follow Him, while allowing, is some sense a choice.

I have a destiny to play out for Him, before Him or I can play for others, my choice again.

I have His final command to "go and make disciples, teaching the what He told me.

How about you? Where are you going, for whom are you working, loving, serving?

Coach Charles

The Audiance of One

I play before an audiance of One, the Lord God.

All the rest are extras,

Everything else is rhetoric.

The audiance of One is the only audiance I have.

What is this audiance of One?

It is He with Whom I have to do.

If I please Him, nothing else matters....

If I don't please Him, nothing else matters.

I choose to play only for Him.

I do this because of what I am,

rather than

I am because I do.

There is nothing higher than playing for Him.

-Charles

 

Really, you a disciple of Jesus?

The above is my question. The real answer is that a disciple is a "called one," and so becomes a "follower of the Way." Os Guinness, Rise to the Call.

"Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him and for Him. First and foremost we are called to Someone (God), not to something or to somewhere (such as the inner city or Outer Mongolia.

"Our secondary calling, considering Who God is as Sovereign, is that everyone, every where and everything should think, speak, live and act entirely for Him.

"Bewaare of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competition of devotion to Jesus is service for Him.... The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him."

"Do we enjoy our work, love our work, virtually worship our work so that our devotion to Jesus is off center? Do we put emphasis on service, or usefulness or being productive in working for God -- at His expense? Do we strive to prove our own significance? To make a difference in the world? To carve our names in marble or the monuments of time?

"The call of God blocks the path of all such deeply human tendencies. We are not primarily called to do something or to go somewhere; we are called to Someone. We are not called first to some special work, but to God. The key is to be devoted to no one and and to nothing above God Himself. As Oswald Chambers said, 'The men and women our Lord sends went out on His enterprises and ordinary human stuff, plus dominating devotion to Himself wrought by the Holy Spirit.' The most frequent phrase in his writings: 'Be absolutely His'."

From Rising to the Call by Os Guinnes.

Coach Charles