Category: Spiritual Growth & Discipleship

By Robert Wolgemuth (summary by Jeffrey Bush)

These truths will set and keep us free:

1. God is holy — Ps 29:2; 99:5.
2. Nothing is too grand or insignificant for God’s care – Ps 37:23-24; 139:2-3
3. I cannot earn God’s acclamation, I can only receive His favor — Ephesians 4:1-6; 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
4. Jesus is the only way to God – John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5-6
5. For the believer, church is not an option, it’s standard equipment — Ps 133;
   Ephesians 2:19-20; 4:15-16; Hebrews 10:24-25
6. Regardless of things that have happened to me or difficult situation I find myself
   in, I am responsible for my actions – 1 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 6:7-8
7. He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. –
   Jim Elliott. — Matthew 16:25; John 15:13; Ephesians 5:2
8. The Master is the master of my destiny, and daily submitting myself to Him will
   bring me joy, purpose, and true riches — Psalm 37:5; 40:8; 1 Peter 5:6
9. Real men are free to express and feel deep emotions. When I do so, it shows I am
   a real man with a heart like God’s. — Ps 42:3; Ecc 3:4; Rom 12:15
10. I need real friends, faithful enough to speak truth and that I could speak truth to
    them. – Proverbs 13:20; 18:24; 27:6, 17; 1 Thessalonians 5:11
11. God’s grace is needed both for the phony everyone sees and the real scoundrel
    inside I know so well – Ps 51:10; Mt 7:21-23; Rom 3:23-24; James 4:6
12. God cares about His rules; I must do the same for my own good. — John 14:15, 23; I John 5:2-3
13. I cannot look at other more wicked men to make myself look better. I should look
    only to the perfect righteous One which is God. — Romans 14:4; James 4:12
14. Nothing I have done puts me out of the reach of God’s complete forgiveness. —
    Acts 3:19; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:7-9
15. My secret sins cannot be hidden indefinitely. They will be brought to the light. For
    good or bad, they impact those around me — Numbers 14:18; Proverbs 28:13;
    Luke 8:17
16. Living a holy life in dependence of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing, and is the
    pathway to happiness and pure joy. — 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter
    1:13-16
17. Pornography is deadly. As a married man, it is virtual adultery. Intimacy with Christ
    and shared expression in context of a monogamous marriage offer far greater
    satisfaction. — Ps 119:37; Mt 5:28; 1 John 2:16
18. An honest, open, and transparent relationship with my wife will be sweet and
    worth whatever it takes to get there — Colossians 3:12-14; James 5:16
19. God’s created order for sexuality is right and good. When we accept His way,
    repent of our own way, and rest in Christ, there’s fulfillment. — Ephesians 5:1-9; 1
    Corinthians 6:9-11, 18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Hebrews 13:4
20. Because I love my wife, her sexual fulfillment should be more important than my
    own. What is really good for her will be good for me. – Proverbs 5:15-19; 1 Corinthians 7:3-4
21. Instead of just doing good things for my wife, she needs to hear nice things from
    me, including the words, I love you. — Proverbs 25:11; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:19
22. God alone can give me ultimate happiness and fulfillment. As I seek Him, He will
    give me ultimate joy. – Psalms, 16:11; 40:11; 119:2; Mt 6:33
23. God has called me to provide spiritual leadership for my family. You do not have
    what it takes to do that fully, but if you ask Him, He will give you all you need. — Jeremiah 33:3; first Corinthians 11:3; James 1:5
24. God calls me to be a man who loves, serves, and protects his family by His grace
    and for His glory. — Luke 2:52; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Timothy 5:8
25. I must discipline, instruct, and encourage my children. Only God can change their
    heart, and that’s what I pray for. — Deuteronomy 6:7-8; Proverbs 22:6; 29:17;
    Ephesians 6:4
26. if Jesus is really all I want, He will be all I truly need. — psalms 16:5-8; Romans 8:31-32; Colossians 2:9-10
27. If I belong to God, all of my hours belong to Him as well. – Psalms 90:12; Ephesians 5:15-17
28. It is my God-given responsibility to provide and protect my family. Through my
    example, I can show them. They have a Heavenly Father that provides all of their
    needs. – Palm 107:9; 145:15-16; 1 Timothy 5:8
29. My faith and work cannot be compartmentalized. I should faithfully serve God and
    others in everything I do. — Colossians 3:23-24; James 2:26
30. I can never not afford to be generous to others. This blesses them and me. — Proverbs 11:24-25; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 9:6-8
31. I have been forgiven much, so I must forgive much. This truth must color the way
    when I respond. — Luke 7:47; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13
32. Pain and suffering are tools in God’s wise, loving hands. Doing His work helps me
    become more like His Son, and for that I need to give thanks. — Romans 5:3-4; 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:7-11; Hebews 2:10; 1 Peter 5:10
33. We live and serve in a world rigged against Jesus and if I live for Him, it is rigged
    against me as well. I have the confidence one day He will right all things, but until
    then He will help and sustain me. — 2 Chronicles 20:6; Proverbs 16:3-4; Is 46:8-11; 1 Peter 5:10
34. When the Holy Spirit lives in me, He will produce self control. — Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Timothy 1:7; Titus 2:11-12
35. I cannot run from the presence of God. I may try but will not succeed. My Father
    never loses sight of me. He will pursue me and woo me home. — Psalm 139:7-12;
    Proverbs 15:3; Is 57:15
36. Children are a gift from the Lord. He wants to use them to spread the gospel in
    this messed up world. When I embrace children as a gift, I partner with God in
    changing that world. — Genesis 18:19; Psalm 127:3-5; 3 John 4
37. When I receive God’s gifts to me with sincere wonder, gratitude, and humility, I’m
    free from comparing and competing. — Galatians 1:10; 2 Cor. 10:12
38. God sees every piece and ingredient of my life and declares “mine.” My
    wholehearted, joyful response should be, “I’m Yours.” — Psalm 40:8; John 17:6, 10; Romans 14:8
39. Following Jesus will never be easy or popular. My goal is not to be cool or
    relevant but a loyal follower of Jesus regardless of the cost. — Matthew 10:38-39; Philippians 1:20-21; Colossians 3:1-4
40. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and the grave. My end
    will not be the end, and it will be wonderful. — Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2

By Lou Priolo (summary by Jeffrey Bush)

• Bitterness comes from not being able to forgive others.
• God says that bitterness is a root, so there must be seeds. The seeds are usually a
  hurt.
• How do you know if you are bitter or not? According to Proverbs 14:10, the heart
  knows its own bitterness — you know if you are bitter or not.
• Bitterness is seen in multiple ways: you cannot resolve a conflict, cold shoulder or
  vindictive, outburst of anger (overreacting, emotionally), snide comments or remarks,
  speaking to someone as though they are inferior, mean joking, criticism, intolerance,
  hypersensitivity, impatience, endurance to our prayers, inability to love, God and
  others, etc.
• Forgiveness is costly. It cost you the offense that you forgive.
• The offense that you forgive, however bad it may seem to you, is not as bad as the
  sins Jesus forgave you for in salvation
• God goes on record to say that He will remember your sins no more.
• Forgiveness is not a feeling, it’s a promise. When you forgive, you are promising not
  to hold the offenses of the other person. This is what Jesus did for you.
• Forgiveness is immediate. Trust takes time.
• Forgetting is a result of forgiving.

By William MacDonald (summary by Jeffrey Bush)

• Jesus is not looking for those who will give their spare evenings to Him, but rather commit their lives to Him. 

• To be His disciple, we must walk as He walked – John 15:8

• The way we use material possessions speaks of our spiritual stewardship. 

• A disciple cannot be divided between two worlds. He can love God or mammon, but not both. This passage (Matthew 6:24) was written to disciples, not to lost people. 

• The disgrace of the church today is that there is more zeal in suicide bombers and cultists than amongst God’s children. 

• God is looking for people completely controlled by the Holy Spirit. 

• No one has ever trusted God in vain. 

• Any disciple that decides to walk by faith can be assured that his faith will be tested. 

• Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, the disciple should desire to saturate himself in the Scripture. It is his lamp and light, his chart and compass. 

• Prayer that cost nothing is worth nothing. 

• The way of unity is through humility. 

• The Bible is center in world evangelism. 

• More can be accomplished for God by a few dedicated disciples then by a great army of self-satisfied religionists. 

• To be a true disciple is to be Christ’s bond slave.

• A Christian either leaves his fortune upon death, or he goes to it in Heaven.

• A Christian can make money as long as he doesn’t fall in love with it. 

• God is not seeking power from us rather weakness. 

By Robert E Coleman 

• Within a short time, the message was being spread by from a small group of men to becoming a universal church in the known world. 

• It’s is usually not the missionaries that makes the greatest impact on a foreign field, but the people within that culture that get saved and share with others.

• One does not need to be a superstar to affect the world for God; anyone willing to follow Christ can affectively lead others. 

• The purpose of God’s gifts is not to produce pride rather to perfect the saints in the body.

• Paul said follow him like he followed Christ. Paul was not the picture of perfection rather an example of trying to live like a disciple of Christ. 

• Witnessing was not a technique or ministry rather a lifestyle. 

• No one today will take serious their command to make disciples until they first pick up their cross. 

• If the people of God are going to affectively share the gospel, their life must reflect what the gospel represents.

• If aspiring leaders are going to learn the meaning of the Christlike life, we have to be together enough for them to see it lived out.

• Truth was not taught in revelations, it was caught by in their shared lives. 

• Impacting others through shared lives can be accomplished easier through smaller groups within the church. 

• If discipleship is going to happen, the leader must seek it out instead of expecting the sheep to come to him. 

By Richard S. Taylor 

• The world belongs to the disciplined. 

• Disciplined character belongs to the person who achieves balance by bringing all his faculties and powers under control.

• Habit is character. 

• To the Christian, discipline means discipleship – following Jesus, with one’s self denied and one’s cross resolutely carried.

• Disciplined character also means the mastery of moods.

• Discipline is the mark of maturity.

• Without discipline the character will remain weak and infantile. 

• Habit must be kept to the role of a servant; otherwise it becomes the master, and the personality begins to vegetate.

• Mature self-restraint is a yielding to sanctions within, imposed by the conscience and judgment; certainly that is the goal. But the first step toward that goal is learning to yield to sanctions without.

• It has often been conceited that he who cannot control himself is not fit to control others. It is just as true that he who cannot follow is not worthy to lead, and he who cannot obey orders is not qualified to give them.

• If you need to reinforce your motivation, then ponder soberly and honestly the end result of drifting through life as an undisciplined person.

By Sally Clarkson 

• You do not have to be a Bible scholar to love others well. 

• Enjoy the blessings of sitting at the Master’s feet and gathering others to sit there with you. 

• Teatime can be a time to stop, sit, and steep on the Word of God. Let your soul be refreshed. As a result, you will be able to share with others.

• When you become a host, you become responsible for all those under your roof. Invite others to partake of what you have and what you know.

• Everyone needs friends and fellowship, but go look for it instead of waiting for others to open the doors to you.

• Your house does not need to be perfect rather open for others to come in.

• When you serve and help others, God will give you the friends that you need.

• Relationships are built on time together.

• Becoming a safe person, one that could be trusted, is vital for relationships and discipleship.

• Hospitality and friendship are paths to share the love of God with others.

• Be sure you are being spiritually nourished and refreshed so you can nourish and refresh others. 

• Discipleship is not about looking good, or your knowledge or experience; it’s about being faithful to serve. 

• Sometimes you need to move your own things aside for a divine appointment God has for you and someone else. 

By Dennis Rainey

• A man stepping up does the following five things: 

1. 1. 1. 1. Protects his Passion. He does not touch or mess with a woman that is not his wife. He protects his eyes.
         2. Provides for his family. 2 Thes. 3:10
         3. Protects his family. If there’s a thief that comes, the man steps up and protects his family. Proverbs 4:10–15 says a father passes on wisdom to his son.
         4. Serves and leads his family. 
         5. Follows God‘s design for true masculinity. Micah 6:8. The core of a man’s life should be his relationship with God. 

• Too many boys are growing up without fathers. So they grow up looking mature, but they are not. 

• A boy must know his identity, who he is to God. That he’s accountable to a Creator God. 

• A boy must know God has a plan for his specific life. 

• They will get their life’s mission from their dad. 

• A boy without a father figure is like an explorer without a map. 

• Don’t leave your son to find out life on his own. 

• Every boy needs a father who is a role model. Be involved and intentional as you raise your son. 

• A boy doesn’t know that today’s foolishness is tomorrow’s shame. 

• Your greatest pressure as a dad is to withdraw from your son when he kicks back against you. 

• Many fathers help their son know how to work and drive but not how to avoid sin traps, character, convictions and become a man. 

• A dad needs a relationship with his son. Relationships are built on trust and transparency. 

• Stepping up to be a man is not a one time decision but a journey of a million steps, its a lifetime process. 

• Nothing comes to the man that is passive, except for failure.

• Real men accept responsibility instead of passing blame; they find solutions instead of making excuses. 

• Being a man requires initiative and initiative requires action. 

• Doing nothing is the easiest thing to do, it’s what the majority of people do. Take a stand to teach your son to respect, your daughter to dress correctly, your own eyes to not wander and loving your spouse. 

• Praying with you wife is one of the most powerful things you can do as a man. 

• No amount of success at work can take the place of failure at home. 

• We were made to generationally outlive ourselves by mentoring other young men. 

• “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”— Edmund Burke

• Protect your marriage, your relationship with your wife. 

• If there’s ever been a day for men to put their hand to the plow and not let up (with their wife and family), it’s today.