Five Ways to Invest in Disciple-Making Relationships

On September 19, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MiscellaneousLeave a comment

In my previous post, I contended that discipleship must take place in the context of relationships. But how do we create and invest in relationships with those whom we intend to disciple? Here are a few ideas:

1. Pray for them.

One of the most important things you can do in any disciple-making relationship is to pray for that person. It blesses the person as well as your relationship with them. As we take people before God in prayer, our hearts become invested in their spiritual well-being. We look for evidence of God’s work in their lives; we want to see it and be a part of it!

2. Pray with them.

Don’t just pray for the people you are discipling. Pray with them. As you do, you will be modeling what it looks like to pray. Remember, much more is caught than taught in disicipling relationships! Prayer will also unite your hearts as you spend time together in God’s presence.

3. Spend time together.

For any relationship to grow, you must spend time together. There will be times when you meet for “official” discipleship meetings, but don’t stop there. Invest in the relationship outside of set meeting times. Invite whoever you’re mentoring to join you in normal life activities: eating, running errands, playing with the kids, going to get ice cream, etc.

Recently, I needed to dig a hole for a new basketball goal, so I asked one of the guys in my discipleship group to come over one morning and help me dig the hole. After we finished, we sat in lawn chairs and admired our work as we talked about life. Another guy from my group came the next day and helped me mix concrete set the goal in place (it wasn’t easy, mind you, so we had to persevere together!). In each situation, I was able to spend quality time with these guys and strengthen our relationship.

Continue reading →

Discipleship Happens in Relationships

On September 11, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Miscellaneous1 Comment

Discipleship is an integral part of the believer’s life and a necessary component of any local church’s ministry. However, discipleship can be easily misunderstood and become a sort of grey, ambiguous term, something that we all know we should be a part of but we aren’t sure how. We know that Jesus invites us to be disciples and commands us to make disciples, but we don’t really know what that looks like. So what does it look like? Relationships. Relationships with the purpose of growing in Christ.

Let me start by defining terms. Discipleship is the process of following Jesus. Disciple-making is the process of helping people follow Jesus. This is primarily done through relationships. Disciples are not made via online sermons, curriculum, or printed books. They are made through participation in the body of Christ, especially through participation in relationships.

Continue reading →

The Goodness of God

On August 21, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MiscellaneousLeave a comment

I recently had the opportunity to speak on the goodness of God as a part of a series on God’s attributes. God’s goodness is an aspect of His character that we do not consider enough, even though we live in the presence of it every day. I thoroughly enjoyed studying for, writing, and delivering this message. As I considered all the biblical content regarding God and His goodness, I was able to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). I hope that this message helps you taste and see His goodness as well.

The Necessary Attitude of Sunday Expectancy

On August 13, 2023August 17, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MiscellaneousLeave a comment

What should our attitude be towards Sunday worship? I’ve been pondering this question as I prayer walk around our church campus this morning. Unfortunately, one of the attitudes I sense the most is one of reluctance. People don’t really want to be there, but they know other people expect them to be. They believe that good Christians should go to church, and so they go, doing the bare minimum while they’re there. This attitude often leads people to be there physically without being engaged spiritually.

Others may not have an attitude towards Sunday worship at all. They just go. It’s a habit. Like robots carrying out a programmed task, they wake up, go to church, shake some hands, maybe even give an offering, and return home. No negative attitude, but not necessarily a positive one, either. Status quo. Go with the flow. Whatever it may be, wrong attitudes (or lack of right ones) do not glorify God, lead to spiritual growth, or bless fellow believers. Therefore, we need to fight for the right attitude towards Sunday worship. I believe one of those attitudes to be an attitude of expectancy.

Continue reading →

How to be a Cheerful Giver

On August 3, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Miscellaneous2 Comments

God tells us in His Word that He loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Think about that for a second. God loves when we give cheerfully, rather than giving under compulsion or with reluctance. But how do we do that? Here are a few ideas.

1. Give in humility.

Humility enables us to realize that everything we have is a gift from God. Anything that we give to Him was already His in the first place. This includes our money, possessions, time, talents, and even our bodies. When we give to God, we are simply giving back what He has already given us for the purpose of helping others, building His kingdom, and glorifying Him.

Continue reading →

Ten Advantages to Gathering Together as the Body

On June 29, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MiscellaneousLeave a comment

The term “gather” does not only include a Sunday morning worship service, but may also include life groups, small groups, socials, discipleship groups, etc. The following are some of the many advantages to gathering faithfully with other believers in the context of a local church.

You receive help and support in time of need.

In our walk with Jesus, we all struggle at times. We all have needs. We get discouraged. We are prone to drift. Our faith gets weak. We grow weary in well-doing. When such times arise, should we merely “strive harder” in our flesh? No. Instead, we should lean into the power of the Holy Spirit and allow ourselves to be vulnerable and honest with trusted friends. God wants our fellowship with others to be real, honest, and transparent. We should be able to say to others, “I am really struggling. Would you please pray for me? Do you have any advice from your experience?” Sometimes we might even need physical or financial help from the body of Christ. “And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:45).

Continue reading →

Ten Reasons to Read God’s Word Regularly

On May 8, 2023May 9, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MiscellaneousLeave a comment

Every follower of Jesus should cultivate the habit of regular Bible reading. Here are ten reasons why.

God’s Word leads us to salvation.

In 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Paul tells Timothy to continue in the “sacred writings” that He has known from birth. Paul is referring to the Scriptures, which he describes as being “able to give wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” The Scriptures lead us to Christ, in whom is our salvation. But the Scriptures also continually point us to Christ throughout our lives and remind us of the gospel. We need to be reminded of what God has done for us in Christ on a regular basis. That’s why Paul encourages Timothy to continue reading them- and why we should to!

Continue reading →

How to Store Up Treasures in Heaven (Matt 6:19-24)

On May 1, 2023May 1, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Devotionals, Imago Dei Class2 Comments

We are natural accumulators. We get and want more, so we get more and then want even more. This is true even at the subconscious level of the human mind. It is a proven fact that when we inhabit a space, whether it is a 2,000 sq. ft home or an 8,000 sq. ft home, we will accumulate enough things to fill the space whether we need those things or not. This is why Netflix series like ‘Tyding Up’ with Marie Kondo entice us. They promise to help us break free from the enslaving cycle of accumulation. The modern ‘minimalist’ movement seeks to do the same. These solutions are temporary at best, acting as band-aids on a fatal wound. But for those who want true freedom from the harsh master of materialism, there is hope in the words of Christ.

Continue reading →

Nine Lessons on Prayer from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:5-14)

On April 27, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Discipleship, Imago Dei ClassLeave a comment

The Sermon on the Mount is all about the kingdom-righteousness that Jesus creates in the lives of His people. In Matthew 6:5-14, He teaches us how members of His kingdom should pray. What lessons can we glean about prayer from this section? Let’s take a look.

Continue reading →

A Secret Spirituality that Shines: Living for God and Not for People (Matthew 6:1-18)

On April 17, 2023 By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Imago Dei ClassLeave a comment

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes the righteousness that characterizes the members of His kingdom. Is a divine righteousness that only He can work in the hearts of His people by the power of the Spirit. It is a righteousness altogether different than that of the religious leaders of the day. It is the righteousness of the redeemed heart that is evident in the words and actions of one’s life. It includes loving one’s enemies, reconciling friendships, making peace, giving generously, and going the extra mile.

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus commands[1] His followers to let their light shine before others, so that people may see their good works and give glory to the Father in heaven. Throughout the rest of Matthew 5, He describes what these good works look like in the context of personal relationships. However, He knows the human heart. He knows that as we progress in righteous living, we will begin to desire glory and praise for ourselves. Thus He warns, in 6:1 “Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”

Continue reading →