Apicontent

You answered:

You don’t think you are intentionally involved in disciple-making as a way of life.

Follow the Master

Disciples are students who closely follow and learn from their master to become like him.

Every Christian is a disciple of Jesus. We devotedly love and closely follow Jesus our Lord and Savior, learning from our Master to become more like Him in every way (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2).

Jesus’ final words to his followers were: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

We make disciples because God commands us to do so.

Making disciples involves helping others on their spiritual journey. It begins with those who don’t know Jesus and His love for them. So, loving them well and sharing your faith is an integral part of disciple-making. The process continues when they become Christian. Helping them grow in their relationships with God is also an important aspect of disciple-making.

By making disciples, we are helping others become who they are designed to be and fulfill God’s unique purposes for their life.

God’s Call to Good Works

Ephesians 2:10 states: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” These good works flow out of his love poured out into us. Jesus-followers scattered across the globe (the Church) are meant to embody the love for God and love for others not only individually but also as a community. In fact, to do good works means to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35).

Before we can do these good works, we first have to embrace that the Church is God’s handiwork. It’s His. He made it. It is good. It was made for a purpose. The corruption of sin can certainly distort or even obscure how the Church reflects who God is, but even the worst soiling of sin can itself become an opportunity for the transforming power of the Gospel to shine forth. We the Church are God’s handiwork and we’re created to do good works!

We as the Church do the good work of loving God when we worship Him, obey Him, depend on Him, and testify to His greatness through our collective words and actions. Something amazing happens when the Church is united in love for God. As is explained in Ephesians, “And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). We become a place where we and others can experience God’s presence!

From Generation to Generation

Two thousand years ago, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. There was forgiveness, healing, and restoration. There was new life and new creation in Christ. God’s grace and truth turned the world upside down.

This good news fully revived and overflowed from those who first heard it. So much so, that disciples who had been paralyzed with grief and crumbled expectations suddenly didn’t care if the political powers that be killed them! They were preaching in the streets, healing the sick, selling their possessions, and giving away money—advancing this good news simply mattered more than anything else in life (Acts 2) because the risen Lord was with them through the Holy Spirit. The scared-then-unreasonably-bold followers of Jesus together—as a group—answered God’s call to love God and love their neighbors as themselves.

Because of their good works, the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world over the years. Today, if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that is because believers who came before you were faithfully obedient to their call to good works (of loving God and loving others).

When you make disciples, you are continuing the work the Lord Jesus began with His twelve disciples and making it possible for the next generation to experience the amazing love of God and peace and freedom in Christ.

The next phase of your spiritual journey begins by asking the Lord to lead you to a few individuals whom you can disciple. Then lead them through “The Adventure of Living with Jesus” study.

This foundational study will help lay a solid foundation for their relationships with Jesus.

Contact Us

We can also help you! Our JO App ministry team is available to train and coach you as you disciple others. Contact us via the “Messages” in this app. You can access “Messages” from the main menu.

You answered:

You are not intentionally helping others come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

God’s Power for Salvation

You have the amazing privilege and responsibility of telling others about who Jesus is and what He has done for all of us!

What is the most important thing that has ever happened to you? If you are a Christian, it is when you decide to receive Christ into your life as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life!

Your sins are forgiven. You are born again as a new creation. God is now your heavenly Father. Jesus is the Lord of your life. The Holy Spirit empowers you to live fully an abundant new life Jesus promised. Your life has a direction. You are here for God’s purposes.

This is good news to share with others!

In Acts 1:8 Jesus said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NLT). These verses are for all believers!

A witness is someone who tells what he or she has personally experienced. To be a witness of Jesus is to tell others about your own experience of who Jesus is and what He has done for you.

You are a unique person with a sphere of influence no one else has. As you ask the Holy Spirit to direct you, you will find opportunities to witness everywhere!

Peter wrote these words in the New Testament: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV).

God Is Drawing People

People are searching for answers to their problems in life. Whenever they tell you about their problems, they are looking for solutions. We have found the answer in Jesus Christ!

Jesus sent out His disciples with the message of the Gospel, saying “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give” (Mark 10:7-8).

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

God is sending you to go into His harvest field. You don’t have to wait for people to come to you.

When you are led by the Holy Spirit, you can expect to share with the right persons and see His power work in their lives.

The great evangelist Bill Bright once said: “Successful witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”

You needed Jesus. So do your friends and loved ones. The world needs Jesus.

Continue your spiritual journey by selecting the title below.

You answered:

As a follower of Jesus, you have not been regularly and intentionally helping others grow in their relationships with God.

Growing as the Body of Christ

God wants you to grow so that you can realize the full potential of your new life in Christ and fulfill God’s purposes for your life.

One aspect of your relationship with God is to help others grow spiritually. God wants you to be His junior partner in helping others realize their full potential as new creations in Christ and fulfill His purposes for their life!

In fact, others will be helping you grow in your relationship with God as well.

We are meant to grow not only individually but also communally. The body of Christ (church) will not be healthy unless all of its members are growing.

God directs us to encourage, instruct, and spur one another toward spiritual maturity. The New Testament is full of “one another” commandments.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:16)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Encourage, Instruct, and Spur One Another

The Church does not thrive on a few spiritual superstars. The Scriptural passages above call everyone into the foundational work of building each other up. It is not solely the church leaders’ work to help Christians grow spiritually. In the Church, everyone encourages, teaches, and motivates one another, and should do so with the warmth and equality of teammates. No one in a congregation is more important than another, but everyone shares the important responsibility of encouraging.

It is important to help others grow spiritually because Christian discipleship requires teamwork among Christians with the Holy Spirit as the Master Teacher.

As the Holy Spirit impresses upon you the importance of helping others grow, we encourage you to become actively involved in a local fellowship of believers and to obey the “one another” commandments of the Lord.

Select the title below to start your discipleship journey.

You answered:

Even though you are a follower of Jesus and know how the Holy Spirit guides and empowers you in life, you don’t think you are growing in your relationship with Jesus.

Willing But…

If you are frustrated because you want to grow but don’t know how to, we recommend starting with “The Adventure of Living with Jesus“.

If you feel you are stuck, start your journey with this article, “Desert Time with God“.

If you have not thought much about growing as a believer, continue reading!

Why Grow?

Have you ever considered why Christian growth is so important?

Spiritual growth is emphasized as if it were an “end” — the ultimate goal for a believer. But it is a means to an end.

For example, consider physical, mental, and emotional development. When children don’t develop normally, they are unable to experience many of life’s opportunities. Their potential is diminished because of their physical, mental, or emotional limitations. And they may not even realize what they are missing!

The same is true about spiritual development. God has created every person to experience an intimate relationship with Him and to fulfill His eternal purposes. And yet underdevelopment will keep us from this full experience. There are things only spiritually mature believers in Christ can experience.

God desires your growth so that you can realize all that God has for you and fulfill His eternal purposes. Your Christian growth honors and glorifies Him. That is why you want to grow in Christ.

Purposeful Living

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

Just think, the Ruler of the Universe created you for a specific purpose!

He designed you with specific abilities. He placed you in a particular family and environment. All so He can accomplish what He has planned for you.

The King of the Universe has a plan for your life — a plan resulting in eternal significance — a plan that will bring Him great glory. But it requires your spiritual development.

With the fullness of the Holy Spirit, you can have a glorious destiny. But it involves growth.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV)

Ask God to open your eyes to the realities of what He has planned for you. As you gain increasing glimpses of your new potential as a new creation in Christ, you will become more willing to let go of those things that prevent you from experiencing the abundance He has available for you.

God has a wonderful plan for your life. Will you pursue Him and His purposes?

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (Ephesians 4:17, NIV)

It’s Your Future!

Are you willing to embrace the future God has designed for you? If so, commit yourself to a lifestyle of discipleship and keep in step with the Holy Spirit for Christian growth.

Here is the starting point of your journey with the JO App. Select the title below to start!

You answered:

You know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior but don’t know the Spirit-filled life.

Spirit-filled Life

If you are not familiar with the Holy Spirit or have never heard of being filled with the Spirit, read on!

If you are not sure how to be filled with the Spirit or what that means, this is a good place to start your journey!

The Holy Spirit is the most important Person in our Christian life.

The Holy Spirit has been sent to everyone who is in Christ (Christian). True Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who guides them into all truth.

Even Jesus who was fully God (100% divine) lived as fully man (100% human) and was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1). Jesus performed all the miracles not as God but as a human being filled with the Holy Spirit.

This is why He said: “I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

As Jesus returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit came to be with His people (believers in Jesus) forever.

It is through the Holy Spirit in us that God performs His miraculous deeds that are even greater than what Jesus did. In fact, it is impossible for Christians to live the abundant life Jesus promised apart from the Holy Spirit.

Many Christians try to live a new life in Christ in their own strength and are frustrated by their powerless lives. To live a Christian life in our own strength and effort is the work of the flesh. Jesus says: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63). Christians can live a life worthy of God’s calling only by the Holy Spirit.

Be Filled with the Spirit

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is God’s command. He likens it to being drunk with wine. Just as alcohol can influence and control you when you are drunk, you are rather to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not automatic but a decision of faith Christians must make moment by moment.

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit as a way of life, you will naturally bear the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—because you abide in Christ. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. We who remain in Jesus—and Jesus in us—bear much fruit, because apart from Him we can accomplish nothing (John 14:5).

Learn “How to Be Filled with the Spirit” and practice the fullness of the Spirit in your daily life.

We recommend you start with the following series (under “Personal Growth” > “Building Blocks for Maturity”):

You answered:

You believe in God and His moral standards. You don’t measure up to them and cannot go to heaven on your own merit. But you don’t believe that Jesus is the solution.

Jesus, the Cross, Forgiveness, Sin

“Jesus died on the cross so I can have forgiveness for my sins.”

This statement covers a lot. Let’s break it down.

Maybe, you don’t believe that Jesus is a real person. If so, “Was Jesus a Real Person?” is the starting point of your continued journey, exploring the person of Jesus.

You accept that Jesus is a historical figure but doubt that He died and rose again. If so, the next leg of your journey starts with “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?“.

Or, you disagree about sin. What is sin anyway? You may be saying, “I am not a sinner even though I am not morally perfect.” Take this route on your journey to examine what’s so evil about sin: “Sin That Has Destroyed Humanity“.

Forgiveness? You may be thinking that you don’t need it. Or you may be feeling that what you have done is beyond forgiveness. “Certainly, God will not forgive me for what I have done.” If so, we invite you to continue to read the next section.

Jesus Is God’s Way to Heaven

Jesus said about Himself: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

If we agree that Jesus was a real person in history, we are faced with the astonishing claim of Jesus that He is the only way to God (heaven).

God sent His Son to die on the cross for you. Jesus freely offered His perfect life in exchange for yours. He took all of your sins and paid their penalty in full with His own life.

No matter what you have done to yourself, to your family and loved ones, to others, or even to your community and society, the wrongs you have done are ultimately sins against God. The Judge of all creation, who is true and holy, guarantees forgiveness of your sins in Jesus His Son.

The death of Jesus on the cross was for the forgiveness of our sins (offenses against God our Father and Creator), and His resurrection made it possible for us to be spiritually born again as a new creation in Christ.

God has given you a path to life and freedom because He loves you.

Learn more about God’s love for you to “Accept God’s Love.”

You answered:

You know that God forgives your sins (rebellion and disobedience against God) because Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins. But you have never invited Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior.

Your Decision

If you want to submit yourself under the rule and authority of Jesus as your Lord and to believe in Him that He alone is your Savior from all of your sins, we invite you to make that decision now.

God already knows your heart, but it is good to voice your decision and express your commitment to Jesus as if to declare it to heaven and earth. You can say to Him something like this:

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for all my sins—past, present, and future. Thank you for giving me eternal life, which you made possible by your death and resurrection. I receive you as my Savior by faith, and desire you to be Lord of my life.”

But remember, it’s not the words you say but the attitude of your heart that is important.

When you trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior and turn over the control of your life into His hands, God forgives all of your sins and gives you new life in the Holy Spirit who will dwell in you as a seal of this new covenant.

I am not ready

You acknowledge that Jesus is the only way back to God. You also believe that Jesus died for your sins and that you can experience God’s love and forgiveness through Jesus.

But you feel you are not ready to turn your life over to Jesus.

If so, we encourage you to find out why you feel you are not ready. What is holding you back from trusting Jesus with your life?

Remember, God is love. God is absolutely good. He is life and also light. Those who are in fellowship with God have everything!

Jesus wants to be your Lord and desires you to be in fellowship (relationship of love and trust) with God because He loves you.

To learn more about God’s unconditional love for you, read “Accept God’s Love.”

Also, we recommend Daily Inspiration. Select “Glimpses of Jesus” (blue panel on the dashboard) and learn more about Jesus.