Seriously… a must read!

​Changing from the inside
The important distinction with Christian discipleship is...... that we are not only called to learn the teachings of Jesus Christ, we are also called to live them. A disciple who bases his or her life on the teachings of Christ “like a person building a house, who dug a deep hole to lay the foundation on rock” (Luke 6:48). When we make our initial declaration of faith and ask Christ to be our Savior, He will begin changing us from the inside, giving us the ability to understand His word and the desire to live it.

This change happens in many ways. Here are a few examples of how God changes us from the inside:

• Read the Bible: As we read God’s Word, we learn about Jesus and how He lived. We begin to understand what it means to be like Jesus. We learn to put Him first in all things (Mark 8:34-38).
• Pray daily: We become equipped to listen to the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. He helps us resist temptation and overcome trials (Ephesians 6:10-18).
• Serve with purpose: We learn how to examine our thoughts, actions, and words—always comparing them with Scripture. We want to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only (James 1:22).
• Be in relationship: We begin to understand what it means to “abide in Christ.” As we abide, the Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These aren’t things we can conjure up on our own. They are produces by the Holy Spirit—a change from the inside out (Galatians 5:22-23). We start loving other people through action (John 13:35).
• Invite/share: We long to share our faith with others and tell unbelievers about the changes Jesus has made in our lives (1 Peter 3:15).

And while it is true that when we become Christians we’re called to make disciples of others, we have to remember that discipleship has to start somewhere. Nobody becomes a disciple-maker overnight. God knows our hearts, He understands that we’re going to have to take baby steps to get from point A to point B. So don’t let all that “make disciples” talk frighten you away from seeking Christ and becoming His disciple.

Remember that with the power of God on our side, we are capable of so much more than we could ever imagine. “Those who know your name will trust you for you have not forsaken those who seek you, LORD” (Psalm 9:10). The defining trait of any Christian disciple is faith. Faith in God will give us the power to become disciples, and to make more disciples by leading others to faith.
Thanks to all about Jesus’ resources  Discipleship Definition and our friend Lorei who is taking time to research this tools!

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