“…equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith for the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:12-15)
Timberline Discipleship
In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to make disciples (Matt 28:19). Timberline Discipleship is the means by which, over time, we become more and more like Christ. We grow in our love and affection for God, coming to know Him more, loving like He loves, putting off the old self and putting on the new, and trusting more deeply in our Savior in all areas of life.
Our aim in our Christian life is to go from a wide, shallow understanding and trust in Jesus, toward the right to one of depth and steadfastness. Discipleship primarily and most profoundly happens at Sunday morning worship service where we worship together, hear the preaching of the Word and take communion together; however the additional ministries of the church seek to supplement Sunday service and aid in our sanctification.
Wide Discipleship
Wide Discipleship is where people are known, loved, and cared for. Table Groups, Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, and Children’s Church are an integral part to growing in Christ-likeness. Wide Discipleship ministries seek to engage and establish the church body in their faith and connect them to others within the church. Within each of these ministries the church body studies God’s word together and seeks to apply it in their specific context.
Table Groups
Table Groups are the primary means through which the body of Christ is connected together and community is formed. The Christian life is not a solitary one, we need each other. The church is often imaged as a body working together (1 Cor 12, Rom 12).
It is in Table Groups that we share life together and are known by others in our church. We carry one another’s burden (Gal 6:2), do good to the body of Christ (Gal 6:10), serve each other with the gifts we have been given (1 Cor 12:7), and walk life together in good times and in bad (1 Cor 12:26).
Deep Discipleship
Discipleship Training Classes
Discipleship Training is the primary means through which the body of Christ is strengthened in their understanding and their love for Christ. Jesus commanded His disciples to teach the commands of God (Mat 28:20), Paul tells Titus to teach sound doctrine (Titus 2:1), and that the church must cling to the “trustworthy word as taught.” (Titus 1:9)
Disciple Training class topics will range from the fundamental aspects of faith to extensive theology as we raise the bar on discipleship. It is in classes that we aim to, with joy, grow our knowledge and love for God in all aspects of the Christian life including:
who God is,
how He has made us,
how Christ has saved us, and
how we now go out into the world with the Gospel.
As we grow in faith and maturity as believers, we seek to have a greater impact for the Kingdom of God in our world.
Each area of discipleship accomplishes the following:
It is Informational (Know)
We have to know God in order to worship Him (John 4:22). One aspect of discipleship is being taught about and learning more about every aspect of our faith. We go from “ignorant unbelief” (1 Tim 1:13) to where we would have the “strength to comprehend” and to “know the love of Christ” (Eph 4:12). By filling our minds with the true teachings of God, we will worship Him with more depth of affection and faith.
It is Transformational (Love)
Growing in our understanding of Jesus should also transform our hearts (Rom 12:2). Discipleship is not merely becoming smarter, but is also about growing in our love for one another. J.I. Packer once said that greater knowledge of God should always lead us to greater worship and a softer heart. The more we learn of Jesus the more we live and love like He does, and we put off the old self and live more into our identity of the new self redeemed by God. Discipleship seeks to grow the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5).
It is Missional (Serve)
The result of discipleship should always be outward. We are called by Jesus to “go,” and we seek to use our gifts and maturity in Christ not for our own benefit, but to serve the church and our neighbor. We no longer seek to serve ourselves, but rather serve those around us. As we follow Christ in His love for the lost, we seek to be outward-focused in our faith, reconciling people back to God (2 Cor 5:18, 1 Peter 4:11, Rom 15:1, Mark 12:31).
Current course: Essentials of Reformed Theology
Click the link below to sign up for information on the next Discipleship Training Course.