About Us -- Prospectus

Journal of

Disciple ministries

Home

New

Christology Study:

Sanctified Christology

Wholeness Study

Spirituality
Study
Following Jesus Knowing Christ

Discipleship
Study
The Relational Progression

Worship Perspectives

About Us Prospectus

DISCiple Explained

Support
Services & Resources

Worship Song

Contact Us

Prospectus

" . . . to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Ephesians 4:12,13 NIV

What is iple ministries?

DISCiple Ministries (DM) is a Christian educational ministry working for wholeness in theology and practice both in the church and the academy, functioning with the biblical perspective on Discipleship Integrating Spirituality & Community. As a support ministry for Christian churches, DM is dedicated to assist serious Christians, church leaders, seminary faculty and students in these relational processes for the purpose of developing discipleship for the wholeness of the body of Christ, the Christian community, the family of God. With the cooperative work of the Holy Spirit, DM offers relational education, experiential training, opportunities and resources.

Not affiliated with any denomination, nor of a particular tradition, DM is a biblically based nonprofit organization serving the Christian community (both individuals and churches).

DM does not promote a particular program, format, style or activity. Rather, we are relationship-oriented and, therefore, contextualize the Christian life and the church into the deeper relational context and process of God's design and purpose vulnerably revealed in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

This focus ongoingly requires us to deal honestly with these three major issues:

1. How we define ourselves.

2. How we do relationships.

3. How we do church.

Christian identity, Christian living and the Christian church are functions of the whole person (signified by the heart) and relationships -- both of which have been de-emphasized by modernity. Consequently, we need to understand these three issues within God's created relational context as well as by the relational process of Christ's work of redemption and reconciliation.

Based on this relational context and process Jesus established in the incarnation, and which the Spirit is present to bring to completion, the practice of authentic discipleship integrates the function both of intimate relationship with God (spirituality) and of interdependent transformed relationships bonded organically in the church, structured by faith corporately in community and functioning together experientially as family -- in the likeness of the Trinity.

As Paul summarizes the calling for the church in Ephesians 4:12,13, the purpose of every Christian's uniqueness as a person gifted by God and our specialness in Christ of which we are all a part find their true meaning in these words. The word "prepare" (Gk. katartismos) is used only here in the N.T. and means "to restore to former condition, put into proper condition." This implies that our usual (prevailing or natural) condition is not sufficient to fulfill "the work [Gk. ergon, calling, occupation] of service [Gk. diakonia, ministry]." This calling from God (cf.4:1) involves his original design and purpose, the ongoing practice of which results in the church being "built up" (Gk. oikodome, house, building). This act of building is for a dwelling for God and his people, which has roots in the O.T. tabernacle. What is being "built up" in the N.T., however, is not a place or church building (common view of church); this process also goes well beyond the edification of a Christian gathering (another view of church). "The body of Christ being built up" is the experiential reality involving the distinct relational process of building family -- God's family (for which "house" is a metaphor).

As verse 13 defines and the Greek terms for "unity . . . knowledge . . . mature . . . fullness" describe, God's whole purpose involves the process of building and experiencing intimate relationships. First and foremost is an intimate relationship with him so that we come to truly know him (the true goal of spirituality); but clearly and by necessity it also includes intimate relationships with each other in building God's family. That's how God made us in his original design and purpose. And that's the former condition to which we need to be restored, the proper condition into which we need to be transformed in order to fulfill works of service or ministry.

Intimate relationships, and the ongoing intimate connections necessary to build them, have been distorted, denied or displaced by the everyday workings of sin throughout human history, with the period of modernity being especially detrimental to relationships. Postmodernism presents a limited reaction to this condition in its search for meaning and experiential connections in life. Yet, Christ came to redeem us from the effects of sin, to restore us to God's design and purpose and to reconcile us in the intimate relationships for which God created us.

To be restored to intimate relationships requires an ongoing process of transformation for which the Spirit is necessary. DM provides assistance in this relational process in order to help "prepare God's people" to better take up Christ's calling for the various ministries necessary to build his family (the church). Though "ministry" often has narrow connotations among Christians, DM makes no distinction between full-, part-time or lay ministry. As men or women, young or old, we are all called to serve as members of Christ's body. And this basic relational condition is necessary for any service or ministry to be of significance to God.

Relational significance is the basic priority of God. Jesus himself said whoever serves him must first follow him (John 12:26). Some Christians say that "serving" and "following" are synonymous, or that service reflects following him. Yet, this is not a valid assumption. Jesus made the distinction between the two for an important reason. The Greek term for "serving" (diakoneo) focuses on what to do while the term "follow" (akoloutheo) concentrates on the relationship with Christ. So, it is not sufficient to merely do things for Christ; it is also necessary to be intimately connected and involved with him. We can't keep relational distance from him behind our good deeds nor define ourselves by what we do. Christian service and identity are functions of our relationship with Christ in the life of his body.

Therefore, authentic discipleship needs to be understood in this relational context and process and, as such, integrates the spirituality of intimate relationship with God with the community of relationships as his intimate family.

Support Services and Resources

Consulting

Mentoring

Counseling

Small Groups

Seminars

Workshops

Biblical Studies

Literature and Music Resources

Web Journal: 4X12.org
(For Christ's Disciples)

Curriculum Development

Conferences

Distance Learning

Growth Group for Pastors/Church Leaders

--- a regular meeting, confidential small group fellowship for authentic spiritual development, holistic growth and support individually, and thus for your corporate church body.

Policy note: Generally, all services provided are free (though offerings are always welcome and tax deductible). Services provided at other locations may necessitate some monetary gift (especially to cover expenses). Literature resources will be charged at cost or one's ability to pay. But, DM is a cooperative ministry supported by God's people, and we will never withhold any of our resources to those unable to give back financially. And, of course, contributions of service are a welcome alternative.