2009-09-22T14:27:21-05:00 GCI info@gospel.com http://www.gospel.com/feeds/topics/discipleship http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/the-power-of-the-storm-3663 2009-09-22T14:27:21-05:00 The storm that seems to be costing you so much right now - it may very well be God's means of bringing out something more powerful than you've ever experienced before. And here's the good news, long after the storm is gone, you are going to be singing one incredibly powerful song! http://hutchcraft.com/a-life-that-matters/radio-program/usefule-for-the-big-jobs-8289 2009-09-18T14:06:14-05:00 My friend Rick was driving to work one morning, praying that God would show him and his wife how He wanted to use them. He’s in the building trades and God answered his prayer by placing in his mind the image of a crescent wrench. Now, a crescent wrench is designed to be multi-purpose; you can adjust it for the job that needs to be done, and it has tough gripper jaws that dig in. And God was actually telling my friends that He would use them if they were like that wrench–adjustable, adaptable, but digging in wherever He puts them. It might be something in that wrench for you and me. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/making-life-an-adventure-5900 2009-09-11T12:18:48-05:00 If your life has seemed a little claustrophobic lately, unsatisfying, boring, maybe you've been all wrapped up in yourself, maybe with some reason because of what you've been going through. But you're missing the adventure. You're missing the healing power of getting your eyes off yourself and onto who you can help. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/the-sweet-and-sour-strategy-5898 2009-09-11T12:13:11-05:00 Maybe you're naturally good at dropping the truth-bomb - the part that feels sour to the recipient. Or maybe you're good at the encouraging part - the sweet part. But one without the other is only half the story, and it leaves people either confronted but destroyed, or comforted but unchanged. Maybe you need the Lord to help you add some sweet to your sour - or some of the tough side to your sweet. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/hitting-pause-5881 2009-09-11T11:01:06-05:00 It's possible that God's been trying to say some very important things to you, things that would bring sense to your swirling world, but you can't hear Him because you're running so fast. Whatever the reason for your non-stop pace, I know there has to be someone listening right now to whom God is saying, "It's time to hit 'pause.'" Don't ignore His call to "be still and know that He is God." http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/gods-gerbils-5784 2009-09-10T10:48:33-05:00 Basically, there are three reasons people do Christian things: duty, recognition, or love. And the first two don't count. Maybe you've been busy for God mostly out of a sense of duty. That's why you're easily frustrated, often depleted, and way too stressed. It's a spiritual gerbil wheel, isn't it? You're Martha, fulfilling all your responsibilities, but you're neglecting your relationship with Jesus. And the relationship matters way more to Jesus than the responsibilities. http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014:25-35&version=NIV 2009-08-06T23:00:15-05:00 Jesus lays out the requirements for being his disciple, and it's an intimidating list: it requires being willing to leave all else behind and follow him. The point is that Christains must put Christ first in their lives, before everything else they own or know. http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.28.18-Matt.28.20&version=NIV 2009-07-21T15:58:34-05:00 This passage is Jesus' great command to his followers: to go out to the entire world and make new disciples in his name. Also known as the Great Commission, this is Jesus' call to us to evangelize and bring the Gospel to every corner of the world. http://faithaliveresources.org/The-True-Story-of-the-Whole-World?leadsource=23 2009-06-02T15:03:33-05:00 This book shows how the Bible is a compelling drama that unfolds from beginning to end. Great for seasoned Christians looking for a new way to read the Bible as well as for new believers who want to understand the Scriptures in a Reformed context. http://faithaliveresources.org/Disciples?leadsource=23 2009-04-29T08:45:56-05:00 Disciples helps small groups explore the basics of discipleship, the practices of the Christian life, and our call to service in the world. Visit www.GrowDisciples.org to learn more.