WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson | Tag Archive | discipleship
Tag Archive - discipleship

The DTR Talk

August 16, 2011 in Spiritual Growth with 16 Comments

Do you know what DTR stands for?

It stands for “Define The Relationship.”  A DTR talk, while inescapable in dating, can also be one of the most awkward conversations you’ll ever have. But they’re essential, right?  This is the talk you have to have to determine the level of commitment that exists inside of the relationship.

These talks usually begin with something like….

“Where do you see this relationship going?”

Or…

“My friends have been asking if we’re exclusive?” (This is the more passive approach)

What’s interesting is that over and over again Jesus engaged his followers in DTR talks. He was constantly challenging them to evaluate what it really meant to be in a relationship with him.

One obvious place is Luke 6:46-49. Jesus says,

46“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

That’s a great question isn’t it? This one question separates those who want to be “fans” of Jesus from those who want to be “followers” of Jesus.

Why do you call me “‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I say?”

Do yourself a favor and camp out on that question today.

So what do you think? Why do we trust Jesus with our eternity, but not with our relationships…finances…careers…decisions…life?

 

One Of The Greatest Challenges In Contemporary Christianity

June 15, 2011 in Spiritual Growth with 26 Comments

I believe one of the most obvious challenges in contemporary Christianity is we mistakenly assume that information automatically translates into transformation. However, knowing something is true does not in and of itself ensure that the truth will make a significant difference in our lives.

James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

We have more access to great information than ever before.

  • Unbelievable Bible study tools available on the internet for stinkin’ free.
  • Phenomenal messages from the world’s best pastors one click away, thanks to podcasts.
  • In-depth and engaging bible studies adorning the shelves of bookstores all across America.

So what’s the problem?
We have to find a way to transfer all this incredible information that we know in our minds to our hearts so it can be lived out. We have to find a way to, as James puts it, “look intently into.” The word for “looks intently into” (parakypsas) literally means “to stoop down” in order to have a good close look.

Here’s my two cents. In order to “stoop down” you have to “slow down.” There’s not a crisis of information, but of transformation. And the greatest enemy of transformation, in a word, is hurry.

So slow down, stoop into God’s Word, actually do what it says, and see if the transformation doesn’t follow.

Running on E

November 12, 2009 in Spiritual Growth with 42 Comments

800px-2003_Honda_Civic_fuel_gauge_empty

I had the incredible opportunity yesterday to speak with Jeff Henderson at an event we put on for the staff at Cross Point and Buckhead church.

Jeff said something that I’ve been thinking about a lot the past 24 hours. He said, “Nobody is responsible for your spiritual replenishment except for you.”

When I’m running on “E” in my spiritual life I love to blame others.

The church is overworking me.

My wife is asking too much of me.

My kids won’t give me any quiet time.

John Ortberg wrote on his blog the other day…

Often in ministry I feel like Jesus (that’s a dangerous comparison!) when he was touched by a woman in a crowd ‘and felt the power go out of him.’ Ministry can be the most draining activity known to human beings, because it draws on the soul. So i have to know what the signs are when my reserves are running low: I got easily discouraged, I get preoccupied in my relationships, my motivation and energy drop, sin looks more tempting.

In other words, you can’t run on “E” for long and still live the life God has for you.

So here’s a couple questions for you to contemplate today:

-Are you living a rhythm of life that restores God’s wonder in you?

-Are you claiming responsibility for your own spiritual replenishment?

-If you’re stuck on “E” what’s one thing you can do today to replenish your spiritual vitality?

Cookie Cutter Souls

September 23, 2009 in God, Leadership, Religion with 55 Comments

For far too long the church has had an unhealthy and unrealistic expectation that all people should be at the same place at the same time.

I love this quote from “When The Heart Waits” by Sue Monk Kidd,

“If all souls developed in cookie-cutter fashion, we would have spirituality by duplication rather than by waiting and transformation.”

In so many different ways we often communicate…

Everyone should be happy. (But at times even Jesus was sad.)

Everyone should be balanced. (But doesn’t God speak to us in our seasons of imbalance.)

Everyone should be serving. (But didn’t Jesus commend the woman who just sat at his feet.)

Everyone should relate to God in the same way. (But isn’t Scripture full of examples of different people relating to God in different ways.)

These expectations have done immense damage to the body of Christ.

We need to help people begin to understand that God can and will meet them in the midst of whatever season they may find themselves.

We need to help people begin to understand that God can and will work differently in your life than He has worked in my life.

I don’t have all the answers, I just know souls don’t develop in cookie-cutter fashion and churches were never intended to become factories which cranked out people who would be at the same place at the same time.

Guest Blogger- Pat Rowland

April 11, 2008 in Cross Point Church, Leadership, Staff with 29 Comments

Living the Dream

I’m excited to be a guest blogger here at Without Wax. For those of you who don’t know me, I am Pat Rowland, Family Ministries Pastor at Cross Point.

My greatest passion (aside from my relationship with Jesus) is family. I’ve always wanted to be a Dad-I couldn’t wait to have kids. When Mandy and I were first married I couldn’t wait until we brought home our first child. For some reason I always thought it would be a boy… however, God has blessed me with 3 incredible daughters. I love my family more than anything which drives me to be so gung ho about seeing healthy families developing healthy children that impact communities and culture.

I believe it is vital for churches and church leaders to highly value the development of family ministry. In 11 years of pastoral and student ministry, I’ve seen my fair share of hurting kids, marriages, and adults. No one likes to see a child hurt; we cringe at the news reports of a 2 year old girl being beaten to death with a video game controller. No one likes to hear that their friends are separating after 15 years of marriage or that their teenage daughter is cutting. Typically, our response is to develop programs, throw money at the problem, or pray for them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about prayer-I have 3 daughters with one on the brink of adolescence!

Discipleship and spiritual development doesn’t happen in a classroom, program, or book study; it happens in the context of real life. Jesus’ invitation to his disciples was “Come and See.” In John 1, two of John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus, “Where are you staying?” What they wanted to know is “Who are you? What is your life like, because there is something about you that intrigues me?” I love Jesus’ response, “Come and you will see.” He was saying, “Look at my life, spend time in my home, watch how I live every moment and you will see who I am.”

If we are going to see deep life change in our children’s lives, then we have to develop a “come and see” discipling ministry. We have to train and equip parents to understand the influence they have in their kids’ lives. We have to give parents the tools to teach their kids the foundational and life-changing principles of scripture that are being taught at church. We have to have spiritually mature adults being another voice in the kids’ lives that is saying the same things their parents are teaching them. We have to continue to cast vision to board members, leaders, volunteers, and parents about the importance of life change in the context of family ministry.

I’m so thankful God has called me to live my dream as a husband, dad, and Pastor of Family Ministries, and I’ll give everything I’ve got for this calling!