Tag Archives: discipleship

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:1-8 NIV)

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)

...always remember the five things and never forget them, and you will become the best person you can be.

Tony Brooks asks: Are you a dreamer or a realist?

Tony Brooks: Doing Sunday School the way of discipleship is hard work, and we need to count the cost.

Tony Brooks: Like any other ministry, for Sunday School to be strong and effective, it requires planning and implementation.

Tony Brooks: I have mentioned on more than one occasion that teachers are missionaries and disciple-makers! The truth is all Christians are! We can bless others as we disciple.

Tony Brooks sees the glass half full: We are all called to make disciples. Sunday School is a great tool to help us do just that!

Tony Brooks writes that every member of the group needs to know you care. "As one of my mentors, Dr. Robert Dale, suggests, 'Mission without morale leads to burnout.'"

Tony Brooks writes that "All of us need people reminders to look for God each day or we spend our entire lives focused on the trivial and miss the eternal."

We all need to grow. Teachers are no exception. We learn best by being with others and hearing what they share about Scripture as we study together.

Sunday School/Bible study groups provide the best way for us to grow in Christ, and be yoked with Christ.

Tony Brooks writes that teachers/disciples must continue to learn. There is nothing more frustrating and disappointing than to hear someone say, “I have learned all I want to learn.” As long as there is breath, we continue to learn and allow God to shape us (See Jeremiah 18.)

We often make things complicated in church/Sunday School/small groups. Four things are needed!

Gone are the days of age graded Sunday School/small groups for adults. Today it is more about affinity groups. I would suggest that we need to go further.