Discipleship Matters – Growing Deeper as a Disciple

I AM ABLE TO CONSTANTLY PUT CHRIST FIRST IN MY LIFE:
What is currently the first, most important driving force in your life? How would your life change if Christ was first?

A STORY:
Peter lived in a beautiful home in Southern California. His children were in sports, and he was very busy in his work. His wife worked full time and loved her work. They were members of a church and found that with all the activity they could only get into church once a month. They loved doing family outings, and they saved lots of money so their kids could attend college in the future. They liked praying but found themselves caught up with entertainment, parties and many social activities. Often, he found himself worried about the future. They rarely had time to read the Bible. They found themselves living the “American dream.” In his coaching session, the coach asked about his relationship with Christ. His answer was, “I find myself so busy with all that life has to offer I can’t find time to spend meaningful time with God personally. I have pursued all these activities and relationships thinking this would be my fulfillment. The reality is that I am finding my life empty, and my heart is not filled up. What should I do?” The coach asked, “Would you be willing to look at a passage that speaks to this issue in your life?” He agreed.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Colossians 1:10-20 (NIV):

10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. When you read verses 10-14 from Chapter 1 what do you feel?
2. Describe your experience of being transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of the Son he loves.
3. What comes to your mind when you think of Kingdom? List the qualities you see about the Son in verses 15-20.
4. Which quality about Jesus stands out to you?
5. What are the implications of this perspective on Jesus?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
6. How do we bring these qualities to reality in our own experiences?
7. Which one would you like to meditate on first?
8. What conclusions can you draw about who Jesus is and what part he should have in your life in the Kingdom of His Son?
9. What do you know about the American Dream?
10. How does it influence the place Christ plays in your life?
11. What practical step can you take to ensure that Christ has His rightful place in your life?
12. When can you put this step into action?
13. What can I do to help you achieve this goal?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I KNOW WHY I AM HERE:
What is your life purpose? How does God play a role in it?

A STORY:
My neighbor told me about some friends she walks with about their question “What is the meaning of life? How do I make sense out of my life?” This occurs to all kinds of folks who question their personal worth. Often, they have experienced turmoil through family, marriage, childbearing, or employment. Recently someone we were discipling was asking that question. We started with:

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Jeremiah 29:10-12:

This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What did you discover in this passage about God’s promises?
2. How do promises in the Bible work for us today? For You?
3. What study have you done on the promises of God?
4. How do you feel when you hear the phrase, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord?”

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
5. What do you think His plans are for you?
6. How does knowing that he gives you a future and a hope impact you today?
7. How do you combine his promises and his plans to see more clearly what he wants to do
through your life?
8. How does that make you feel when you see how much He values you?
9. What practical steps in the near future can you take to see His plans and promises for
you?
10. How does that give you strength in your sense of meaning in life?
11. How can you convey meaning through your life to the lives of others who also lack that sense of value?
12. When will you get started on this journey?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I AM COMFORTABLE COACHING “BEAUTY AND CREATION”:
How have you experienced the glory of God in creation? What element of beauty do you appreciate the most?

A STORY:
My workplace just increased my hours. I come home late, and my wife is frustrated with needing my help in watching the kids. The finances are tight and everything in the house seems to be breaking down. I seemed to be overwhelmed and find myself not sure where God is and how to enjoy and walk with him.

DIGGING IN THE BIBLE:
Psalm 19:

For the director of music. A psalm of David.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7 The law of the LORD is
perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. As you read this passage what do you discover about the creation that God has provided for you?
2. What verses in Psalm 19 do you like the most?
3. This passage also describes thoughts about the word, the statutes, the fear of the Lord,
etc. and how it ministers to us. How have you experienced this work of the Holy Spirit?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
4. How do you make the Word of God more precious to you?
5. How does God’s Creation and his Word give you new perspective on your life?
6. How can you make the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart more attuned to God’s spirit?
7. What would be your steps?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I CAN COACH THE WAYS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
How does the Holy Spirit work? What experiences have you had with the Holy Spirit? How have you seen Him working in your life?

A STORY:
Where is the Holy Spirit? This question was asked recently by a believer in a church. He wanted to know what the Holy Spirit was doing. He had been in church for a long time and heard many things about the Holy Spirit from the gift of spiritual gifts, to infilling, to baptizing. He wanted some concrete answers and experience. He wanted to know how to experience the work of God through the Holy Spirit.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
1 Corinthians 3:16:

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What passages have you studied in your understanding of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life?
2. What does it mean that we are the temple of God?
3. How does the Holy Spirit dwell in us?
4. How can you grow stronger in understanding the ways of the Holy Spirit?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
5. What experiences have opened your eyes to His presence?
6. How did Romans 8:16 work for you?
7. Describe experiences in which you have heard His spirit bear witness to your spirit.
8. How do you think you can turn up the volume of the Spirit speaking to you?
9. When would be a good time in your day to focus on this?
10. How would you in this next month want to practice the presence of the Holy Spirit? Be specific.
11. How do you go about recording your experiences with the Holy Spirit?
12. When can we hear what he is saying to you?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I KNOW GOD AND ALLOW HIM TO TRANSFORM ME:
What is your concept of God? What are your expectations of Him?

People claim to know God, but it does not change their actions. HOW CAN KNOWING GOD CHANGE ME?

James 1:22, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.”

A STORY:
Coaching the triangle of daily actions from concept of God.
A number of years ago, someone shared an illustration that helped me see why my concept of God was so important to my daily actions. I learned that understanding God does not stop with just a concept. It moves to my being able to discern and “see” what is unseen. I was shown this illustration that is like a triangle divided into three parts. At the foundation of the triangle you will see the words “Concept of God,” in the middle you will see the words, “Basic Beliefs,” and at the top of the triangle like an iceberg, you will see what is visible in what we would call, “Outward Actions.”I learned that In the coaching session, you can draw out the diagram or describe it over the phone so the coachee can draw it out. I learned that I could also send him or her a prepared document with the picture. I will show you how I worked on this.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
List some of the qualities of God that come to your mind. Try to put a Scripture by some of these.

Infinity Omniscience Mercy Loving Righteous
Eternity Omnipotence Kindness Giving
Sovereignty Judgement Goodness Joy
Omnipresence Grace Provider Peace
Triune

Example: Joy – Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

This list is not exhaustive, but it will get us started. From here you can discuss a particular behavior or one with which the coachee struggles. Here is an example of the steps: #1 Identify the qualities of God that you want to look at. Enter them in the bottom of the pyramid space. (For example, God’s omnipresence. Matthew 28:20…. I will be with you always to the end of the age.) From there move to the next level up of the pyramid and record how this concept of God shapes your basic beliefs. Next move to the top of the pyramid and record what will be your outward action steps.

Hierarchy: The Pyramid
Title:________________________________

Base: God’s omnipresence (Concept of God)
Mid: Write in the next space your basic beliefs.
Top: Define your resulting behavior / actions

Hierarchy: The Pyramid
Title:_________________________________

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What is one area of your life that you are struggling with?
2. Tell me some history about this issue.
3. How does encountering God and seeing His work in your life affect this area of life?
4. Let’s look at the list of God’s characters and determine which areas may relate to your
issues? Let’s explore God’s Joy Neh. 8:10
5. Let’s study the verses in relationship to that character. Place Joy of the Lord in Concept
of God.
6. What basic beliefs form in your life as a result of knowing God ‘s Joy in this way?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
7. How can these beliefs change your outward actions?
8. What would be the motivation to change if you based your decision on your growing knowledge of the character of God and how he wants to transform your life into the image of His son?
9. What are some character qualities of God will you study in the days ahead?
10. When will you get started?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I REGULARLY EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF JOURNALING

A STORY:
Many times, as I have been with believers they seem to have had the joy squeezed out them like the juice from a piece of fruit. All of life’s experiences have pummeled them and there is little room for joy. This was an experience that was happening to Tom. He was having job challenges, marriage stress, raising children, and other various and assorted challenges. He asked about this and we went to several passages from the Bible.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Philippians 4:4:
“Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.”

James 1:2-5
“Count it all joy when you experience various trials knowing that the testing of your faith brings about endurance…”

Romans 15:13
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all Joy and Peace as your trust him, so that you can overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What does it mean to rejoice?
2. How do trials test your faith?
3. How does joy and peace work together?
4. How does God use trials to test your faith?
5. How does someone count it all joy?
6. What is the “Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
7. What do you experience as your read these passages?
8. What verse impacts you the most?
9. How does it impact you?
10. What do you hear God saying to you?
11. What resources does He have to help you with these challenges?
12. Which challenge would you like to take on first?
13. What do you see God doing in you through this challenge?
14. What would be your future desire in this circumstance?
15. What step do you need to take first to experience His joy?
16. How will you record this joy in a journal?
17. When will you get started?

I have found help using a book called Joyful Journey. The daily experience of journaling your thoughts and bringing the Lord’s point of view into the experience. It is wonderful to know that he is with us in every experience and he wants you to record your thoughts and feelings and then let him speak to you about what he is seeking to do in your life. He is excited to see you! That always brings joy!

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I AM FAMILIAR WITH AN “HOUR OF POWER”

A STORY:
When I was a young sailor on board ship, my Navigator leader asked me if I had heard a message by Fulton J. Sheen on “the Hour of Power.” I said no. He invited me to listen to this preacher and I remember his message and some of the quotes.

“He said, did you know that I am not here to entertain you or educate you. I am here so you can experience the power of God.” He then said, “I want you to know that I have power! He paused, then he said,” Do you know why I have power?” He then said, “I have power because every day for the last many years I have spent an hour with God before his throne seeking His face and drawing on the power of God” He then referred to Jesus in Matthew 26:40:

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Matthew 26:40

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? He asked Peter.

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What is the context of this passage?
2. How do you think Jesus felt when he found them sleeping instead of praying?
3.What did he want for the one hour?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
4. What has been your experience so far in your time with God?
5. What are the evidences of His power in your life?
6. What would you like to see in the spiritual power meter of your life?
7. How would you break down the time with the Lord?
8. When would like to get started to your hour with the Lord?
9. How will you record your results and words from the Lord?

NOTE: You can go to the Web and look up a website by Dick Eastman on “Hour That Changes the World”. This will give you some resources to strengthen this hour in your life.

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I KNOW HOW TO SPEND A DAY WITH THE LORD

A STORY:
When I was in the Navy, the local Navigator invited me to go and spend a day with God. I said in my heart, “Wow, that is a long time. What am I going to do for an hour?” He shared with me that as Jesus was busy in ministry and caring for people, he would get away to have special time with God.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Mark 1:35

A great while before the day, Jesus went out into the mountain to pray…

What did he do during this time?

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What does it mean a great while before day?
2. What was the reason for going to the mountain?
3. What are some examples of prayers of Jesus from the Scripture?

NOTE: The Navigators have a tool called How to Spend Extended time in Prayer? You can click the link or look it up directly on the internet or go to the http://www.navigators.org website and look under “Resources”. Then download it and be prepared to discuss with a Coach.

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY: (check out download at end of worksheet)
4. Were you able to download the instruction on the extended day with the Lord?
5. What was your response to this plan?
6. When will you put this plan into your schedule?
7. What can I do to be of help in your time?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY: (after your time with the Lord)
1. What did God speak to you about?
2. How did you respond to his direction?
3. How did you feel about the spacing if the time during you extended time?
4. How was the instruction helpful?
5. What will you do about his instruction for you?
6. When will you put this into practice?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I CAN SPEND SOLITUDE AND SILENCE WITH GOD

A STORY:
Sally had just finished her discipleship study. She looked perplexed as she pondered the request in the study book. The study used words like contemplative and deeper and gave some suggestions about how to set time up. She felt it was a little contrived. She wanted to understand the path to go deeper. Often we invite people into this pathway but they need helpful tools to plan this into their schedule. But first let us look at a story from the Bible and see if we can gain an insight on to how a person goes deeper with God.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Let’s look at I Kings 19:5-13:

Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The Angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened bythat food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the
cave.

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What can we learn from this story?
2. What did Elijah feel as he was facing a difficult ministry and life situation?
3. How did God speak to Elijah?
4. How long did you think it took for God to speak?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
5. What is the question you want to ask God?
6. How much time will you need to answer this question?
7. How long will you wait to hear what God might say to you?
8. What should you do in action response to God? What did Elijah do?
9. How will solitude and silence help you?
10. When will you schedule this time?
11. How could you pray Ephesians 1:16-17 for yourself as you pursue this direction?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Discipleship Matters – Deepening Your Walk with God/Intimacy with God

I KNOW HOW TO DEEPEN MY CONTEMPLATIVE TIME WITH GOD

A STORY:
Recently in some books on emotional health one of the issues in growing healthier in our emotions and love for God is to take a look at several passages and people in the Bible who seemed to have caught this key practice in their lives. The first is Daniel. I remember as a boy thinking of how Daniel modeled his devotion to God throughout the day. I was challenged to do that in College, on my Ship in the Navy and throughout the rest of my life.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Daniel 6:10 (NIV):

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. How do you experience this passage?
2. What is the back drop of Daniel’s action?
3. What is the motivation behind 3 times a day?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
4. How would you like to make that a practice in your life?
5. What do think would be the results?
6. When will you start that habit and for how long?

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE (part 2):
Exodus 20:8 (NIV),

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What has been your experience with Sabbath?
2. Why do you think this is so important to God?
3. How could this become important in your life?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
4. What would you do if you took a Sabbath? (24-hour period of rest)
5. What kind of rest would you like to experience in your future?
6. How would you go about putting this into practice?
7.When would you like to start

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com