Watkins,E_CSDP_LUO_CHMN201
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Liberty University *
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Religion
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Apr 3, 2024
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CHMN 201
D
ISCIPLESHIP
– A C
ASE
S
TUDY
Student Name: Elijah Watkins
Date: February 11, 2024
What is your role at the church you are interviewing? Elder & Prophet
I.
Church Identification
a.
Name:
Ministering Wholeness Christian Church House of Worship (MWCC)
b.
Address:
4600 Wichita Street. Fort Worth, 76119
c.
Website:
www.mwcchow.org
d.
Pastor’s Name:
Apostle Roderick Watkins & First Lady Bee Watkins
II.
Church Information
a.
Average Weekly Attendance:
35
b.
Number of Members:
50
c.
Is there a staff person specifically assigned to discipleship?
Elder’s III.
Discipleship
a.
How does your church make disciples?
MWCC has two methods for cultivating
disciples, as stated in Matthew 28:18-20. One method involves membership, while the other relies on evangelism. Teaching the God through a lifestyle characterized by servant leadership. MWCC, also determines the stage of an Page 1 of 7
CHMN 201
individual’s spiritual journey within Christianity, if applicable, and thereafter match them with suitable saints who can provide guidance and mentorship. b.
Do you have specific programs that you use for discipleship? If so, what are they? MWCC has affirmed that these activities are implemented to facilitate discipleship. The activities available for new members include orientation sessions, Sunday School classes, Bible Study sessions, and mentorship groups for both men and women. c.
What advice would you give to someone who is seeking to start a discipleship program?
MWCC, counsel offered to an inexperienced follower who seeking to begin in their journeys to groom people into disciples, was simple but profoundly advised. Apostle stated that anyone seeking this responsibility should First, prioritize seeking God through prayer, then proceed to join a community of believers and engage in services. Ensure that you have a mentor who has expertise
in the field of education. And finally, be yourself through Christ (be Authentic). IV.
Results of the Discipleship Program
a.
How do you measure if someone is growing as a disciple?
When looking into about the development of an individual's spiritual life, Apostle emphasized that the assessment stems from watching the individual's lifestyle. Assuming various responsibilities where accountability is present, serving a significant role leading to elevation in positioning. And assisting those who are fresh to their convictions of faith.
Page 2 of 7
CHMN 201
b.
How many people at your church participate in some form of discipleship?
The Apostle further said that the numbers fluctuate on a weekly basis, depending on the missions, and assignment goals their trying to accomplish. He stated that availability is a significant challenge in this area. He expressed his hope that all would be open to accepting this task in accordance with biblical teachings rather than his own preferences. The numerical value he specified was "10+/-".
V.
What challenges do you face in regard to discipleship?
Apostle said that one of the issues faced by the small church with limited resources is the issue of availability and commitment. Growth is often hindered by the limitations of time, money, and overall commitment on a consistent basis.
VI.
Student Response to Case Study
a.
Discuss how discipleship at this church compares or contrasts with what you have read about discipleship in Everyday Ministry
by Earley and Gutierrez.
At MWCC, the practice of discipleship closely adheres to the concepts expounded
in Everyday Ministry by Earley and Gutierrez, namely in chapters 28-31. MWCC places significant emphasis on membership, evangelism, and mentoring as crucial
elements in the process of creating disciples, as outlined in Matthew 28:18-20, as the book says. They provide targeted activities such as orientation workshops, Sunday School courses, Bible studies, and mentoring groups, reflecting the systematic method advocated in Everyday Ministry. MWCC, stress the significance of acceptance, spreading the faith, and guiding others in nurturing followers. Therefor the guidance provided for initiating a discipleship program Page 3 of 7
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CHMN 201
likewise mirrors the focus on prayer, community, mentoring, and genuineness shown in the book. Nevertheless, MWCC encounters common obstacles that are characteristic of small churches, including limited resources and inconsistent engagement. In general, while there may be a few distinctions, the fundamental ideas and methods of discipleship at MWCC align with those presented in Everyday Ministry.
b.
What did you observe about discipleship at this church that compares or contrasts to what you have read about biblical teaching in either Everyday Ministry
or The Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
?
The discipleship strategy at MWCC demonstrates both similarities and contrasts in the concepts of biblically balanced preaching and teaching demonstrated in "Everyday Ministry, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church and the Word of God". As previously stated, MWCC prioritizes membership, evangelism, and mentorship, in
line with biblical mandates. Their strategies are consistent with the systematic technique promoted in "Everyday Ministry." We see a commonality of prioritizing prayer, fellowshipping, and being honesty in growing their followers. Nevertheless, the principles of biblically balanced preaching and teaching emphasizes the significance of effective communication, strong beliefs, constructive criticism, encouragement, and endurance in properly instructing the Word of God. Both approaches prioritize spiritual development and preparing believers, but the emphasis on teaching within the framework of preaching highlights the need of educating Christians to independently study and apply Scripture. Overall, MWCC's discipleship procedures are in accordance with Page 4 of 7
CHMN 201
biblical principles. However, it would be beneficial for them to include a greater focus on teaching in their discipleship programs, in order to enable Christians to independently study Scripture. This not only aligns closely with the Word of God but also "The Nine Marks of a Healthy Church" practices, particularly in its evaluation of MWCC's discipleship strategies expressed in Mark 4&9.
c.
If you were building a discipleship process, what would it look like based on this interview and what you have learned in this class thus far? I believe this question is truly packed with a lot of variables of course but, as it concerns the first question, building a discipleship, I believe the first thing that you must do before you make disciples is to become a disciple. It reminds me of what Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke 22:24–27, That shows a reflection of a both
a leader & a disciple’s heart should be. I believe that if I expect to have disciples in my ministry, I must become a follower of someone who knows more than I and
can hold me accountable. That’s why before the process even begins, discipleship starts within you. When we read the gospels and teachings of Jesus Christ, He always, reminded His followers according to John 5:19 & and similarly in, John 13:16 (ESV) in order to have an effective discipleship you must understand where
your true authority comes from and realize that serving isn’t a mere word but an expression of what your foundation which is established in your Father. He showed them that discipleship doesn’t stop once you have disciples of your own, you must build a relationship just as I have built a relationship with you, as I have Page 5 of 7
CHMN 201
with my Father. With this understanding, my first step can be summarized into this, submitting to God’s authority, having a servant heart, recognizing discipleship doesn’t stop once you acquire disciples, remain authentic in your relationship unto God, and embrace your role once you are sent, now you can proceed to the next step which is just as important with this first and it’s your doctrine.
The next step I would take is after we’ve established what foundation we are set upon and that individual has displayed consistency in this area, then we will discuss doctrine. Doctrine is so important that Paul wrote a letter to Timothy, in 1 Timothy 1:3-11 teaching him to fight against these false teachers, and even the dangers in not having sound doctrine in chapter 4 and why we must hold true to it.
Knowing the Gospel from a Kingdom perspective gives you the knowledge to know how Jesus evangelized and what made it so effective. When you teach the words of God with the authority given to us through Jesus Christ by the Spirt, then you realize that your doctrine will do two things convict those around you leading to repentance and eventual discipleship or condemn others and cause them to be scattered. The truth is as disciples of Jesus Christ our words, our outcome is dictated by our level of submissiveness, and integrity to the Word of God. This would then lead to the final step, of Love
The Scriptures shows us that if don’t have love in our hearts, then everything we do is vanity, it’s worthless. I would stress this point that if you don’t have love, you will not be effective in your evangelizing. Discipleship comes from a place of
unconditional love even when the cost or burden of being a disciple is both heavy Page 6 of 7
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CHMN 201
and even time consuming. You need love when like from our reading when Paul talks about the necessity of mentoring (Acts 9:27)(NIV), or when your evangelizing words of truth to someone and you’ve put time into helping groom and develop a person and they walk about (John 6:60-70)(NIV) you need love to continue, but one of the greatest thing a disciple can do is “lay down his life for a friend”, what Jesus did on the cross, John 15:13(NIV), shows that in this process of being and creating disciples, His ultimate sacrifice for us as The True and Good Shepard (John 10), was His love and kindness that drew us, and in that love we are to both be an disciple then produce disciples just as Jesus did. Page 7 of 7