Acts 13
1. Motivation (v.3): The motivation for Paul and Barnabas was not selfish ambition but rather the Holy Spirit’s leading. As people who want to disciple people, we need to understand it is the Holy Spirit that guides us and equips us.
2. Preaching (v.16): We cannot preach anything else but the word of God. Our lives and ministries need to be built on the word; and specifically, the good news. Paul’s first message after being sent out by the Holy Spirit was a preaching of the good news! A ministry not built on The Cross will not stand.
3. Discipleship is a process: don’t make the mistake of trying to rush people to discipleship. Understand it’s a process!
4. You don’t follow your disciples, your disciples follow you: there was never an instance when Jesus followed his disciples around. Jesus didn’t ask, “Ok, so, what should we do now?” The disciples followed Jesus! Jesus always had a place he was going, VISION. What’s your vision?
5. Urging not forcing: at the end of the day, people are people and will make their own decisions. You cannot force people to do anything. All we can do as leaders is urge you, invite you, to do certain things, or not do certain things. Never let yourself become a leader of force, but rather of urging. (forcing put’s the power in your hands to change people, urging puts the power in God’s hands to change people
6. By Grace: this is all done THROUGH Grace! I refuse to ever become a leader with a “burden” for a ministry I shouldn’t have to carry. It is done through Grace. Paul and Barnabas told the followers, “by God’s grace, remain faithful”. OUR GOAL as disciplers should be this, by grace produce faithful people. Think of it this way, first is the cross, then grace, then faithfulness, then fruitfulness. In that order. Discipleship can only be done through grace. Receive that today! Blessings!
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