The Week in Review

Christian Education Ministry & Discipleship

Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

September 29, 2006 (Posted 10/31/09)

The purpose of Christian Education is to teach God’s directives and to equip the believer to understand the importance of being a part of the mission of the church, which is to take the word to the lost. Where do I fit in, is my question? It is important for one to understand their philosophy of Christian education and discipleship in order to answer the question of where one fits in. The purpose and goals of Christian education and discipleship coupled with an understanding of individual learning styles adds to the success of educating the body. My personal philosophy in light of the new learning I gained from this course focuses on living a life of authentic Christianity.

The author, Gailyn Van Rheenen, in his book, Missions: Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies, states, “Few Christians are able to describe vividly in biblical terms what God desires the church to be. Without biblical undergirdings, the church is swept along by the ebb and flow of culture and in various forms degenerates into a social fraternity. When this happens, the church more nearly reflects the world than the nature of God and has little that is distinctive to offer the world” (28). The first step then is for the church to understand what her purpose is and who initiated the mission. “The church is not a human organization. It is the result of a mission or a sending that began with God. The mission of God, initiated through Jesus Christ and continued through his disciples, led to the formation of the church” (Van Rheenen, 29). The web site, Mintools.com (Ministry Tools Resource Center), in its resource, Christian Education Ministry Overview, states, “Christian Education Ministry involves the administration and coordination of programs or strategies to facilitate the spiritual growth or discipleship of believers into Christ-likeness” (1).


The purpose and goals for Christian education and discipleship are to teach God’s directives so that individuals are equipped to live holy lives as well as become ambassadors to the lost. To understand these basic instructions, one must go to the Bible. God’s word gives all his children what they need to make it in life. One important reason to teach the word of God to believers today is to help them fulfill the mandates of God in their lives. When adults, for instance are taught, they can teach their children. “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and whey thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” Deuteronomy 6:7 (Deuteronomy 11:19 states a similar mandate). The scripture shows how important it is to God that parents actively teach their children the way of the Lord. However, the church must play a vital role in the preparation of the believer so they can be successful at this assignment. In the book, Introducing Christian Education: Foundations for the Twenty-first Century, one of the writers, Judy Ten Elshof states, “Family life education should be centered in the home, supported by the church, and grounded in both biblical theology and strong intimate relationships with God and others. This means that guiding, training, and educating the next generation’s spiritual lives is primarily the responsibility of parents in the home…Therefore, a church that ministers to families recognizes this and elevates its service to meet the diverse needs of the contemporary family.” (195).


It is, however, difficult for a parent to teach their child(ren) what the word says, if they are not being taught and developing their own personal walk with the Lord. “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths” (Psalm 25:4) and “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies” (Psalm 27:11). The church, being led by the Holy Spirit, is the avenue that God’s people will be taught the plain path of God and equipped to stand against the enemy (Satan) and all his devices that are to destroy the effectiveness of the church and her people.

Work Cited

Anthony, Michael J, et. al. Introducing Christian Education: Foundations for the Twenty-first Century. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005.


Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism. Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell Company, 2005.

McBride, Neal F. How To Lead Small Groups. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Navpress, 1990.


Mintools.com/Christian Education Ministry Overview. 2006. 14 September 2006.
http://www.mintools.com/christian-education.htm.



Mintools.com/Christian Education Ministry Philosophy. 2006. 14 September 2006.
http://www.mintools.com/christian-education-2.htm.


Rheenen, Gailyn Van. Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies: Missions. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.


Stowell, Joseph M. Shepherding the Church. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1997.

Thompson, Frank Charles, D.D., PH.D. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, 5th ed. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbridge Bible Co., Inc., 1988.

Words of Encouragement

THE SPIRITUAL QUEST

We started this lesson two weeks ago. We re-joint this lesson finishing the portion on the quest. We will give the definition again for a quest.


Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – Psalm 139:23-24


We said the word “quest” means is – The act or an instance of seeking or pursuing something, it is taking a search. So to take a Spiritual Quest, we are being called to search ourselves to see where we stand before the Lord. So we must ask ourselves some really deep questions to find where we are in the Lord. And until we take this quest and begin to question where we stand, we will not find true peace or rest in the Lord.


We also want to make sure that we understand this quest is a “daily” seeking to find. We never arrive on this journey, we simply allow God to help us discover more about him and about ourselves so that we can be changed to look more like him. God’s Spirit sanctifies us, and helps us to experience both an outward thrust or movement of his Spirit and an inward growth or realignment within our spirits.


When we take this quest, this searching ourselves or taking an inventory of our lives, we allow God to grow us and in doing so, God will then help us to face our circumstances in our lives. We can face them because of the connection we have with God and we are assured of his presence within our situations and us.


When also then have access to God. We can pray to him to change us, search our hearts and create a right spirit within us, so that we can grasp this promise, that when we pray in our inner room to the father in secret he will answer us.


Questions to ask yourself on your quest
· Is there something hindering my growth?
· Am I dedicated to a relationship with God?
· What do I need to be released so that I can go forward?
· Am I open to hearing God’s voice?


A quest is the first step in a spiritual process. Come back next week to read about “Spiritual Process”.

The Week in Review

Are you a Coat Maker (part 6)?

South Suburban Church of God

May 17, 2009

The Coat Maker

The coat maker, I stood and watched one day,
He looked as if his hands were positioned to pray.

He spoke out loud and said, I wondered how much fabric it would take,
If red ones, blue ones and yellow coats I would make?

Oh the benefit I can receive from my gifted hands this day,
But then he said, what about those that cannot pay?

So he decided to make some to protect from the wind,
I will not charge, he said but quietly to others he would send.

He made some bright and colorful to add to ones cheer,
I could see it chasing away depression and all fear.

Some he made warm and soft against bruised skin,
The touch of gentleness stopping hurts from coming again.

With each coat given, another stood waiting to receive,
Oh how many are in need, I could not even believe.

The coat maker forgot about the benefit he would receive that day,
He spoke out, surely when I was in need, neither could I pay.

That day he gave freely to the task of making coats for others,
Each representing his sisters and brothers.

I learned that day, that silver and gold would never replace,
The joy received by the coat maker as he was filled with God’s grace.

The Week in Review

Challenges of Christian Theology (Part 3)

Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

Having a sound theological understanding helps an individual face some of the questions the culture will bring. One of those challenges as stated by Wade is, “All religions really teach the same thing…Ours teaches that Jesus is God in flesh; other religions say that He isn’t. A logical principle called the law of non-contradiction says that Jesus can’t both be God and not be God” (Wade, 3). Another challenge is stated this way, “I can’t believe in Christ. Look at all the terrible things Christians have done through the centuries…If part of the gospel message was that once a person becomes a Christian that person absolutely will never sin again, the objector would have grounds for questioning the truth of the faith. But the Bible doesn’t say that. We can agree that Christians shouldn’t do terrible things to other people, but what people did in fourteenth-century Europe or in twentieth-century America in the name of Jesus can’t change the reality of the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ.” (Wade, 3).

There are many other challenges that come from the present day culture; like Christians are elitists or the belief in things being relative and the God of the Bible is the same god of the Muslims. Whatever the culture brings, theology can help the believer present a sound, well thought out answer to those challenges first for their own lives and then to help others. “In making a case for the faith we seek to present a sound argument which will be persuasive for a particular listener. On the one hand, this consideration frees us from the responsibility of having an argument which will convince everyone; on the other hand, it means that we must not depend upon ‘one-size’fits-all’ arguments” (Wade, 5). Theology also has the duty of making sure that individuals understand that we serve an active God at work in the lives of people. “Christianity is not just a system of beliefs, but rather the message of the One who is truth. This is an especially pertinent point today, given the mentality of the younger generations” (Wade 5).


The last challenge to be examined is unbelief in the Bible as the accurate word of God. Some believe that the Bible is a book like any other book and not the true word of God. This belief leads individuals not only to discount the accuracy of the Bible but also to discount the importance of God and who he shows himself to be through the word. In the book, Understanding the Trinity, the author Alister E. McGrath states, “Anyhow, it’s important to realize that there’s a difference between constructing a totally watertight argument for the existence of God and being convinced that God exists. Many of the world’s greatest philosophers think that God’s existence can be proved without any real difficulty, but ultimately God’s existence doesn’t depend upon these agreements. Being convinced that God exists may come about through a variety of factors – such as personal religious experience, reading Scripture, or reflection upon the resurrection – of which rational argument is only one” (19). While one cannot make another believe in the Bible as the divine revelation of God, theology can help an individual present the evidence needed for another to make a choice based on fact. “We might only be able to convince the non-believer that Christianity is plausible or believable. But that’s a good start; often it takes many steps for a person to come to faith. Our job is to provide a solid intellectual foundation to make those steps sure.” (Wade, 5). While theology will help present the information needed for a person to make a well thought out decision, it still all rests on God’s intervention into their heart. “God will outlive his morticians, Freudian and Marxist alike. God then, has taken something of a battering, in the last two centuries or so. But, in the words of William Cullen Bryant ‘Truth crushed to earth will rise again.’…Christian doesn’t believe in God because someone has argued him into believing that he’s there, but because he has experienced, has encountered, the reality of the living God” (McGrath, 27).


Theology then has the enormous task of helping believers today to see the relevance of truth. It is more than learning the facts, but using them to live according to what these principles teach us about God. Theology faces challenges not only in our time, but also throughout history. Even Paul, as he taught in the book of Romans, addressed the different beliefs of his time, to show the Jewish people it was not by their name (because they were a people chosen by God), or their work (being circumcised) but by their faith in Jesus that they would be saved. Paul taught that all had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The one point that seems to be an overarching theme in each of the writings is that one must tailor the teaching (or in this case theology) to the understanding of the times without changing the truth of the message. If theology is a discourse (conversation or discussion) about God, then it’s purpose is to affirm the biblical account of God as he revealed it to mankind. I think William M. Greathouse and H. Ray Dunning put it best in their book, An Introduction To Wesleyan Theology, where they state, “The theologians of the church have worked at this task from the very beginning of the Christian era. The results of their work constitute the history of Christian thought. Each age has attempted to express the biblical truth in terms of its own day and age, to bring the resources in the Scripture to bear on its particular problems. This is still the work of the theologians today; and in doing this, he draws not only on scripture as his authoritative Source but also upon the work of his predecessors for guidance, although he is constantly bringing their conclusions to the scripture for final validation” (15).

Work Cited

Foster, Charles R. (1994). The Future of Christian Education – Educating Congregations. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.


Greathouse, William M & H. Ray Dunning. (1989). An Introduction to Wesleyan Theology. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

Lunginbill, Dr. Robert D. (2004). Read Your Bible: Protection against Cults – A Basic Christian Right and Responsibility. 18 October 2006. http://www.ichthys.com/readbible.htm.

McGrath, Alister E. (2001). Christian Theology – An Introduction. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.


McGrath, Alister E. Understanding the Trinity. (1988). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.

Pollard, Nick. Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult. (1997). Downers Grove, IL: InterVasity Press.



Wade, Rick. (1997). Probe Ministries: Christian Apologetics An Introduction. 18 October 2006. http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/apologet.html.

Words of Encouragement

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." - Matthew 21:21-22

Are you ready for the asking? I have heard many people quote this scripture, however I'm sorry to say that they have been incorrect in their understanding. I have heard people asking for "things" and have belief that simply because they asked for it, they will receive it regardless of their stand with God.

The danger of taking a piece of scripture and not placing it back into the "whole of the Bible" is misunderstanding or misapplying the truth within. The first part of this scripture talks about the one who is praying.

Jesus says "If you have faith". This is more than just saying I know God can give me what I want, but it also speaks to you and I being willing to have faith in the entire truth of God's word. In other words, when I go to prayer and ask God for something I need to be in the place where my faith is trusting in God's word to be true for my entire life.

Also we have to be careful in believing this scripture is saying that we can ask for "anything, even if it is contrary to God's will". For example, I've had individuals tell me they were praying for a better job but they weren't grateful for the current one they had. You could tell because they weren't going to work, making up excuses not to go, taking things from their job, etc. Or I've heard people talk about asking for more money but they were faithful in their giving or a good steward with what God had allowed them to have.

If we are asking for something through prayer and we want it to be answered we have to make sure we are lining up with the requirements of scripture. It may not say it all in this scripture but we must remember scripture does not contradict itself. So while this scripture to some may seem to be saying I can have whatever I want, we have to read other scripture regarding prayer and we will learn it is not saying so. Scripture tells us that we have to pray in the will of God so with that understanding, when I stand to ask for something, I must first understand what the will of God is so that I can be praying in the right way.

And if I am in a right standing with God, then I come ready for the asking. I come ready as Jesus asked, "if I have faith". When we come ready for the asking we can have the boldness to ask God to move in our lives. Those mountains that stand against us and others, can be moved.

Do we really understand the power we have through our relationship with Christ? When you and I come ready for the asking, Christ has already provided for us the power, the authority and the provisions so that those things we ask for are granted to us. They are granted because they are first and foremost inline with God's will.

I pray for us today to prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to line up with what God's will is so that we can ask in faith and not doubting, knowing God will grant the petition of our hearts.

The Week in Review

Are you a Coat Maker (part 5)?

South Suburban Church of God

May 17, 2009

John 19:23 reads, “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.”

Christ was crucified for you and I. He stood in my place, and your place. He paid for our sins. First they took Christ and exposed him. His took on the shame of nakedness for our sakes. Adam and Eve were naked and God covered them. They were always naked in the garden, but when sin entered, it brought shame. It was there sin that made them ashamed of their nakedness. God covered their shame, their sin. Christ did more than simply cover our shame he took it away. Christ’s sacrifice became the coat, the covering of all mankind’s nakedness before God. He was shamed so that we no longer have to stand before God ashamed, but now we can stand clothed in white raiment’s (Rev. 3:18). His garment was seamless, no beginning or end could be found. That reminds me that Christ has no beginning and there is no end to him, he is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. The sinful thoughts of men took Christ coat and Christ’s redemption gave us new garments. Our filthy rages, which is our self-righteousness is replaced with clothes of righteousness, which is the righteousness of God that he gives to us because of his son’s sacrifice.



This is the only reason why we can be coat makers. Christ was shamed for our sins so that we can stand before God clothed in his righteousness, for we have no righteousness in ourselves and if we say we are without sin Scripture says we are liars and the truth is not in us. We were all sinners and we all fell short of the glory of God. In doing so, we all stood in need of being saved by grace alone unless any of us should boast. Either we believe this truth from the word of God or we reject it but we cannot add to it nor can we take away from it. We either stand redeemed or we stand condemned, the choice is ours. John 3:3 states, In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” If we are to be godly coat makers, we must be born again. And this comes only through the Son of God, Christ Jesus.I ask, are you a coat maker? Are you providing for the needs of the family? Are you providing for the needs of the lost that are not covered by the garment of righteousness that only comes through Christ? Are you nurturing others or are you showing favoritism in your love? Are you giving out of your abilities to all so they can become what God has purposes, or are you a destiny-determining coat maker? Or what if you aren’t making coats for anyone? Has God quickened your heart today that there someone you know right now that he wants you to walk with, to witness to, to encourage or teach? Are your fabrics lying unused?



Are your gifts and talents lying dormant and you don’t pick up the challenge because it seems like a Goliath of a task? Do you have the beautiful beads to adorn some coats but you leave them for someone else to do? Or do you want to provide for every one that comes you way so they have the tools necessary to win the battles in life? Do you want to be like Hannah and nature someone so they can become the great man or woman of God he has ordained for them to be? Do you want to stop interfering and start interceding for someone? Do you want to provide for the needs of someone that is waiting especially for you to provide for them? Your gifts are not for you, but for them. Do you want to stop holding onto the coats that others are desperately in need of because without them they are chilled, naked and uncovered. Are you a coat maker? I often end with a poem. God gave me a poem, come back next week for the final installment, the poem.

The Week in Review

Challenges of Christian Theology (Part 2)

Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

In the book, Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult – How to Interest People Who Aren’t Interested, the author Nick Pollard states, “Suddenly it struck me: different people are different. Of course, it seems obvious now. But somehow I had missed it before. I had been searching for the one universal gospel presentation, that there is none. God doesn’t give us a ‘gospel presentation’ because there is no one presentation that is appropriate for all people at all times. There is one gospel, but the way we communicate it will differ according to the types of individuals we are seeking to help.” (102).

While Pollard is speaking about presenting the Gospel message in different ways so that individuals can understand it and accept it; it is a useful message in regards to theology. Theology has to present the truth of God in a way that individuals will not feel intimidated and shy away from learning the principles of the word. It is important to also note, when individuals have an understanding of truth, they are equipped to stand against the false doctrines that are presented to them as biblical truth. “It is true that taking advantage of accurate Bible teaching is an important part of the believer’s spiritual growth. Furthermore, the provision of Bible teaching is an undisputed ministry of God the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:11-16). At the same time, however, it is the responsibility of the listener to compare what is being taught with the Bible. To be sure this should be done in a spirit of humility but is should be done…We need to have a broad understanding and feel for the entire canon of scripture, its whole woof and warp” (Luginbill, 1, 2).



Another challenge that must be addressed by theology is cultural influences. This is not a new challenge for theology but one that takes on different characteristics based on the current culture. Probe Ministries addresses this challenge. On the website, http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/apologet.html, the author Rick Wade states, “Throughout the history of the church, Christians have been called upon to explain why we believe what we believe. The apostle Paul spoke of his ministry as ‘the defense and confirmation of the gospel.’ Peter said we need to be ‘ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you’” (1). This challenge also hinges upon the individual believer being equipped in the principles of the word. If one does not have a good grasp of Christian theology, one can begin to believe every whim of doctrine. So theology becomes a defense against the false beliefs of cultural influences. Theology can help individuals make sound decisions based on orderly information that explains different components of the faith. “Good, logical thinking is especially important for an apologist. On the one hand, it can help prevent us from putting together shoddy arguments for what we believe. On the other hand, it helps us evaluate the beliefs of those who challenge Christianity. Too often we stumble at criticisms which sound good, but which really stand on logically shaky legs” (Wade, 2). (COME BACK FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT)