Paul Hovey’s Discipleship Corner - Catalysts of Transformation - October 2019
I am about a month into my seven-month role as Discipleship Coordinator. I have seen many encouraging things, and had many encouraging conversations as I assess Cornerstone’s capacities and potential as a disciple-making church.
Discipleship is much like the process of refining one’s taste in hobbies and interests. There are certain processes and experiences we participate in. For example, with music, we listen to a variety of artists in our favorite genre. We go to stores and concerts that help us develop our tastes in better music. We may take lessons on an instrument, or read history, biographies or watch documentaries. We participate in the community around this music genre, looking up to and building relationships with those who have been in the music scene for longer than we have. All this increases our taste and enjoyment of music.
We invest time and resources in our hobbies and interests to grow in our tastes and enjoyment. Likewise, we can invest in certain processes, relationships, and experiences in order to have the tastes and enjoyment of our faith refined. Our tastes will become attuned to the things of God. Of course, the magnitude of our interest in discipleship far surpasses any hobby or interest.
You can see this concept in scripture in a variety of ways. For example, in 1Cor 11:1 Paul says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” The experience of putting yourself in a discipleship relationship with someone who is striving to be an imitator of Christ will refine you, and make you want to be more like Jesus and less like your old self.
Gal 6:16, which says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” As we steep ourselves in the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, our tastes for the desires of the flesh will lessen, and our appetite for the fruits of the Spirit will increase.
Also, consider Matt 4:19: “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” When we choose to walk intentionally with Christ, he will transform us into fishers of men – evangelists who are capable, willing and eager to share about the good news of their Savior.
An effective discipleship process will pro-duce mature disciple-makers who have a character and lifestyle that is pleasing to the Lord. I cannot at this point layout Cornerstone’s process. However, I can tell you the catalytic factors that are crucial to anyone’s development as a disciple. These catalysts are infinitely more important than the process; without them, no discipleship plan will be effective.
What are the key catalysts? 1) posture; and 2) partnership. First, are you in a posture of softened, humble willingness to allow God to transform you? After all, transformation is what Cornerstone’s vision is about: transformation from Christ-followers to disciple-makers. We have to want that transformation enough to put ourselves in a posture of surrender to whatever God wants to do to make us disciples who are disciple-makers.
How do we partner with God in our own transformation? Consider Ph 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Do you see the partnership? We work out our salvation while he is actively working in us. We are putting ourselves in a place of humble dependence and obedience as God does the transforming. He will call us to serve, surrender, witness, die to ourselves, sacrifice, lead, give or trust as part of the transforming process. Though God does the transforming work, our part in this partnership will be quite active.
To become a disciple-making church, we must be a people who are willing to allow God to do what He desires in us, no matter the cost asked of us. And we must trust God that His ways of transforming us are best. I believe that God will do great things through us, so long as we are willing to go with Him. Will you count the cost and go? I hope the answer is, ‘Yes, Lord!’
