We, at Central Christian Church, have stated that our main thing -- our strategic aim is to fully disciple the next generation. Not just people who are younger than us; but any and all who have not made a commitment of Christ and professed their faith. To do this, we must welcome them, we must build relationships with them. And most importantly we must "disciple" them.
This is called Intentional Faith Development.
Before we can assist another; we'd be best served by making it our own desire and aim.
Can you say, "Intentional Faith Development"? More importantly can you describe how you are doing your "Intentional Faith Development"?
How is prayer part of the plan? Bible Study. Worship. Relationships. Mentoring another. Having a spiritual mentor. Did I mention, Bible Study, prayer, daily devotionals, and such.
It’s easy to say that we want to grow in our faith – I don’t know many congregations that don’t say they want to grow spiritually, grow closer to God, be more faithful disciples. But what is harder is to ask ourselves how intentional we are about developing our faith? It’s easy to say we want a deeper faith.
Here is the issue, I think....
....if we’re just waiting for this deeper faith to happen to us, we’re missing the key part of this fruitful practice. Faith development must be intentional. We must choose it. We must commit to it. We must see the path and take it on purpose.
For the congregation I pastor, Central Christian, Waterloo -- if we are really serious about connecting others to Jesus Christ as Savior, to make the Gospel a passion of every ounce of our lives....to sacrfice and stride, work and toil, going far out of our way to bring another into God's kingdom. If this is not our greatest desire of our hearts....then....is it truly Intentional Faith Development or the aim to "fully disciple the Next Generation?"
Like most churches, we talk it up very well....but do we really develop plans and programs and small groups and studies...is spirituality and faith development really why we do this "church" thing. And if so....do we spend more time looking at others; instead of realizing, it begins with me. If it is not me and my heart's desire....this Intentional Faith Development...if it gets a bit of time and thought.....but it isn't what drives me, what I read, what I want to know, a hunger to grow and mature, a do or die desire to share its joy and purpose and passion with another....is it really.
We talk it up well....but do we live it.
We need more Bible Studies. Why don't people come to Bible Study. Why aren't "those people" doing more. Maybe you should start by asking yourself, am I? Am I doing what I preach. When was the last time you attended a Bible Study or prayer group. When was the last time you study and researched and poured with absorbing desire a passagae of scripture...like a great novel....you could not put it down or out of mind.
If you are a leader....are you leading a Bible Study? ...or at the very least attending one.... and striving and working to bring another and another and another.
It is not intentional; until it is your intent to do it intentionally.
Instead of complain and moan....just do it. Go to a Bible Study. Form a support group. Find a mission task and team. Pray for a particular issue--not yours, someone elses. Become an expert on a spiritual issue or book of the Bible. Don't denounce it or moan about it or croak that no one is doing it....you do it...and model for others how it changes every part of your life for the better.
There should be a stampede for Bible Study....Prayer Groups...instead of the relentless begging and cleverly marketing appeals to get the same two or three.
It will not be Intentional Faith Development until that is the defining activity of your life. Is your faith and call absorbed in the energizing pursuit of Intentional Faith Development. If not. Why? The resources are all around. Nothing has to be invented. Take your Bible open a page and read. Get with another and pray. Listen to people who are struggling. Go to the church and...do something....clean out a closet.....sort books.....organize a dinner for college students....go visit a homebound member or neighbor.
Is your focus on the intentional part? Do you want to grow spiritually? Do you want a more meaningful relationship with God? Do you want to be a disciple? What are you doing about it? How are you intentionally working to make that happen? What choices are you making, or not making, that contribute, shape, impact the kind of spiritual growth you want to see in your life?
To fully disciple the Next Generation....is just another way to say....I am serious, exciting, and transforming my life and faith walk by doing it. Intentional Faith Development.
Do be warned....it will change you. For the better. You'll act different, feel better, whistle more, and see more good in life. It may feel awkward at first; but soon you'll realize....wow...this is how life is really meant to be.
How intentional is your faith? If you look over your spiritual journey, in the last week, month, year, what choices do you see yourself making? What paths did you choose, or not choose, that led to a closer walk with God? What commitments did you make, or hesitate to make? If you look to the week, the month, the year ahead, what would you like to change? How can you draw closer to God?
There are so many things we have so little control over. We probably especially feel that these days, when the economy seems so unstable, when the leadership of the country is up for grabs, or even when we faces more personal crises – illnesses, loss, struggles that we just can’t plan for in advance. Those are things we can’t change. But what we are in control of is what we put in, what we bring. We’re in control of our intentions. We can’t plan for every eventuality. But we can decide in what direction we want to set out. When it comes to our faith lives, we never know where God will lead us, but we can plan to make our lives open and available to God. We might not realize how hard things will get, or how much it will cost us, but we can commit to discipleship, modeled after the life of Jesus. We can declare our intentions.
Intentional faith development.
There will be, always, more choices for us to make. Once we start choosing God, I’m afraid I must tell you God does always want a little more, even as God gives so much more in return.
As Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” Amen.
Does anyone know where this is found in the Bible? Might be a good place to start your IFD lifestyle.
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