This month our series is entitled: Game Time
Here at Grace Church we use a Baseball Diamond to illustrate the process of how to be a disciple who in turn makes disciples (also known as a follower of Jesus). The bases and basepaths help us to identify, evaluate, and measure our progress.
2 Corinthians 13:5 [NLV]
Put yourselves through a test. See if you belong to Christ. Then you will know you belong to Christ, unless you do not pass the test.

We use four core character qualities that summarize the life of Jesus and the early church.
These qualities are the foundation on which all of one's Christian faith should be established.
1. Loving - God and people wholeheartedly
2. Learning - About Him and His will for your life
3. Living - Purposefully and passionately according to a Kingdom agenda
4. Leading - Others to do likewise

So far this month we've looked at an overview of the disciple making process and an explanation of the first three character qualities have been given.
As a person matures in their relationship with God, their growing commitment to Him and concern for others leads them to begin to re-direct their priorities around those of God.
As a result they intentionally look for opportunities to minister which is different than serving. Ministry is using your life to make a spiritual difference in the life of another person.
Serving - person's motivation is personal and the task is something even a lost person can do.
Ministry - a person's motivation is always for the Glory of God and the good of man and is often carried out through an action of service.

Third Base to Dug Out

A maturing Christian will begin to use the opportunities the Lord provides them in their Church and Community to influence the lives of others.
Paul used the concept of spiritual parenting to describe those who were at what we are calling Third Base.
1 Thessalonians 2:7b-8, 11-12 [CEV]

In this text, we see that Spiritual Parents have a definite goal in mind..."live in a way that would honor God.

Spiritual parenting may take place in several ways:
- Bringing people to faith and reproducing your spiritual growth in them
or
- Nurturing a believer who is struggling, stagnant, or simply a new convert and you are helping them move forward in their faith

The journey from 2nd Base to 3rd Base is evidenced by a growing commitment to re-direct one's priorities to allow greater connections with those in their church and community. Time is the key priority - it indicates Jesus' Lordship!
As we continue to minister there will be fruit. We'll help people get into The Game and begin to make spiritual progress. We must be willing to LEAD.
Colossians 1:28 [NET]

Today we'll use the letters from the word LEAD to identify four necessary actions in spiritual parenting:

L - LIVE Authentically
John 1:39, 43
1 Corinthians 11:1

Authentic relationships are critical to impacting the lives of people. What a person does with what they see and hear is on them. What we do with the opportunities to influence others is on us.

E - ENCOURAGE Regularly
John 16:33
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Regular encouragement provides critique, advice, and hope.

A - ACT Strategically
Mark 1:35-39
Judges 21:25

Here at Grace Church we use a comprehensive mentoring program and other resources that teach the core truths of who Jesus is, what He taught, how we are to live, and thereby impact our world.

D - DISCIPLE Holistically
1 John 2:6

Disciple making takes an interest in the whole life of a person and involves much more than Bible studies and sin management. It involves care, growth, and transformation of the entirety of one's life.

Jesus reproduced His life into others and expects us to do the same.
The quality of LEADING others to do likewise is the key to the movement of disciple making.
It...
- brings the blessing of God on one's life
- fills us with joy as we see the lives of people change
- stirs our heart to great levels of faith and worship as we experience God working in and through us
- communicates the reality of our faith

It comes from your obedient love for God and your desire to hear the words uttered by the Lord in Matthew 25:23 [NLT]

It's GAME TIME...Let's make our coach proud!