Dear Sandy Ridge Faith Family,  

May I share a question that consumes my thinking as a Christian and a pastor?

How can the people of God in the Spirit of God with the Word of God be unleashed for the glory of God?

Oh, how I pray our lives at Sandy Ridge would count for His glory and greatness.  Yet for that to happen, you and I must seek God about: how He is currently using us and how He might want to use us in greater ways to glorify Jesus Christ through making disciples of all people groups?  One of the ways to glorify God is obeying His command to make disciples of all people groups. This comes from Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19: Go and make disciples of all people groups.  Following Jesus, whether you have been a Christian for months or decades, calls you to:

• establish yourself upon a solid biblical foundation (Matt. 7:24-27; 1 Tim. 4:16);
• equip yourself with a faith community to participate in God’s grand story (Eph. 4:11-12);
• empower yourself through the Holy Spirit and His Holy Word (2 Tim 3:16-17; Acts 1:8);
• engage in your local and global community to be a blessing (Gen 12:2-3).

We as elders propose a journey for you to discover with clarity the significant role God has for you in making disciples of all people groups. Do not rush through this journey; set aside the necessary time.  Before you begin, let us share a few things that reflect our heart:  

1. First and foremost God LOVES you more than you can even imagine! Our Wonderful Maker is relentless. He loves us with a self-giving, self-sacrificing, and unconditional love. It is amazing beyond description and comprehension. We say this first because the journey is in response to His love for us and the world. While God does love us passionately, we also need to understand we are not the center of God’s ultimate passion.  That is reserved for His greatness, glory, and goodness to be known among all people’ groups. The message of Christianity is not “God loves me (period).” Rather God loves me so that by His grace I am able to reflect His love to my local and global neighbors. Simply, when we encounter His love for us, how can we keep it to ourselves?  
2. Pray! Pray! Pray!  In fact, we encourage you to invite others to pray for you as you embark on this journey. Pray that God’s voice would be clear. Pray that it would drown out all the other competing voices, including your own. The enemy does not want us to hear from God and will do whatever he can to prevent and distort God’s role and the purposes He has for us.  On this journey you will experience some level of guilt. When this happens, we encourage you to pay extra attention to it. Why? True guilt comes from God and is called conviction.  However, the type of guilt that does not come from God is called condemnation, which leads to hopelessness and/or mediocrity.  Often times when God is convicting, the enemy and/or ourselves will add condemnation to confuse us in hopes we will dismiss altogether what God is saying. This is the spiritual battle we all face and why we need discernment through His Word, prayer, and wise counsel.
3. Do you really need to create a personal disciple-making plan? Yes! Planning is good and encouraged in the Bible.  Proverbs 21:5 says, “the plans of the diligent lead to profit” and Proverbs 15:22 says, “plans fail for lack of counsel.” Even God has plans for His glory being known to the entire world and that plan includes you as an active participant. Whether that plan is written down or in your mind depends on your temperament, but we believe for you to intentionally live out His significant role for you there needs to be some kind of structure. Knowing His plans for you will work as a sail to catch the wind of the Spirit of God. 
4. Making disciples is becoming like Jesus and doing what Jesus would do. The Hebrew and Greek definitions of the word ‘disciple’ convey the idea of a person who has dedicated themselves to learning and adopting their rabbi’s (Jewish word for teacher) beliefs AND way of life. A disciple does not just want to know what their teacher knows but do what their teacher does. Jesus calls us to come and follow Him. This is a life long journey of living out Jesus’ heart with other followers as well as those who have yet to make that life changing decision. As elders, we believe that God is speaking to you in a very personal way: I want you, ______, to make disciples of all people groups!

   Now let’s be careful not to think making disciples is merely acquiring more knowledge and friends with similar interests, getting plugged into the right program, or finding a church that will meet all of our needs.  In the 21st Century American Church, sometimes “getting discipled” or “following Jesus” is communicated as involving oneself in things like: Sunday school, small groups, Bible studies, memorizing verses, finding a mentor, reading books, attending conferences, etc.  All of these are good in building upon our biblical foundation. Yet we can do all the above and still miss the heart of being a disciple because making disciples is about doing what Jesus would do. It is risking our lives together, in an unbreakable relational connection, to know Jesus and make Him known. This is done through His power, purposes, and presence transcending our own community and culture. It is the people of God, in the Spirit of God, with the Word of God, crossing religious, cultural, racial, social, economic, and geographical boundaries for His glory.

5. Sandy Ridge is on God’s redemptive mission to see His kingdom prevail in our local and global communities. That statement may sound obvious, but this vision takes more thought and time than what we might assume. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus presented His church as a dynamic community of disciplers empowered by the Holy Spirit. Satan cannot stop, let alone overcome, this dynamic spiritual community. In fact, there is only one thing that can stop the Church: the people of God themselves. A church on God’s mission must roll up their sleeves and bring His vision down from its heavenly heights to ground level implementation. This is no easy or comfortable task. Hence why we, as elders, are asking you to go through this disciple-making plan.  
6. Each of us are personally called to a unique and significant role by God.  After all, we are not our own. Jesus has bought us with a price (1 Cor. 6:20).  The reality that Jesus’ Church faces is that out of 16,600 people groups in the world there are over 6,000 who are unreached. This is around 1/3 of the world’s population! An unreached people group is a group in which there is no viable indigenous church movement with sufficient strength, resources, and commitment to sustain the multiplication of churches.  The high majority within an unreached people group have never even heard of the name of Jesus. They have limited or no access to the Bible.  God’s significant role for us will involve changing this reality for His glory. What an incredible and unbelievable privilege God has given to His church. 

So what are we asking you to do? Invite God to reveal with CLARITY the significant role He has for you in His grand story to glorify Christ through making disciples of all people groups.  If you already know your significant role then God be praised! We still encourage you to go through this as God might fine tune a few things so you can glorify Him in greater ways.  None of us are exempt from having our desire to glorify God through making disciples of all people groups fade into the background.  May God reveal to you how you are valued by Him. May God show you how He has positioned, no matter your circumstances or vocation, to carry out His redemptive mission both locally and globally.  May God make known to you that His invitation to His grand story is not out of necessity but because He loves you more than you can even imagine.

Oh what a God we serve! We thank God that this earth is just our temporary home. We praise God for His glorious plan to rescue every people group to worship and give Him glory. We are so grateful that God did not create us to be on the sidelines of His kingdom, but invites us to be a part of His plan.

We are praying for you as you embark on this journey! 

Pastor Travis & the Elders

GLORIFYING CHRIST THROUGH MAKING DISCIPLES OF ALL PEOPLE GROUPS

The question again is: How is God currently using me and how does He want to use me in greater ways to glorify Christ through making disciples of all people groups? We strongly believe that God desires every Christian to be able to give a clear, passionate answer to that question. Of course, we all feel at times that we are not gifted enough, smart enough, courageous enough, talented enough, worthy enough, or qualified enough to engage in God’s grand story.  Once again, these feelings are evidence of the spiritual battle we face and therefore we MUST allow Gods’ grace to overcome those thoughts and feelings. As Christians, we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us (Acts 1:8). Jesus said He will always be with us on this journey (Matthew 28:20). What greater news could we have than that?

Over the next several pages there are questions for you to answer regarding hearing from God through His Word, prayer, and wise counsel. We have also provided Scriptures as guidance to help answer the questions. No one should stand alone in their journey to glorify Christ by making disciples of all people groups, so we encourage you to invite other Christians along with you.  

As you begin we encourage you to reflect on how your answers might give clarity to the significant role in which God has called you. Remember as you embark on this journey you have the Word of God before you, the Spirit of God in you, and His command to go and make disciples of all people groups.

GLORIFY CHRIST
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” – 2 Cor. 3:18
Note: the questions below are to help in training yourself to glorify Christ in your daily life.  Growth in your relationship with God cannot occur casually, so there must be intentionality.       
How is God currently using me to glorify Him through corporate worship?
(i.e. larger gatherings of Christians) (Acts 2:42-27; Hebrews 3:12-13, 10:24-25)

GLORIFY CHRIST

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” – 2 Cor. 3:18

Note: the questions below are to help in training yourself to glorify Christ in your daily life.  Growth in your relationship with God cannot occur casually, so there must be intentionality.

How is God currently using me to glorify Him through corporate worship?

(i.e. larger gatherings of Christians) (Acts 2:42-27; Hebrews 3:12-13, 10:24-25)

How might God want to use me to glorify Him in a greater way through corporate worship?

How is God currently using me to glorify Him through prayer? (Colossians 4:2; Matthew 6:9-13, 7:7-8)

How might God want to use me to glorify Him in a greater way through prayer?

How is God currently using me to glorify Him through His Word?
(Philippians 2:15-16; Psalm 19:7-8, basically all of Psalm 119)

How might God want to use me to glorify Him in a greater way through His Word?

How is God currently using me to glorify Him with my family and friends?
(Matthew 7:3-5, 10:37; Romans 12:10-18; Ephesians 4:29, 5:21; Colossians 3:12-17)

How might God want to use me to glorify Him in a greater way with my family and friends?

How is God currently using me to glorify Him with the possessions He has given me?
(Matthew 6:19-24, 25:14-30; I Timothy 6:18-19)

How might God want to use me to glorify Him in a greater way with the possessions He has given me?

Do I have a plan for guarding and protecting my heart and mind? If so, what is it?
(Proverbs 4:23; I Thessalonians 4:7; Psalm 119:36-37)

How am I training my eyes to see God at work in my life and the lives of others?
(Deuteronomy 4:9; Joshua 24:17; Psalm 63:2; Matthew 6:22-23)

MAKE DISCIPLES

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations (i.e. people groups), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20

Note: the questions below are designed to walk you through your perceptions, emotions, fears, and challenges, as well as how God uniquely designed you to obey Jesus’ command to make disciples.  We strongly encourage you to share your answers within your community group and/or a few godly Christians.

When Jesus said “make disciples,” it is critical we grasp what He meant and incorporate it into our lives.  We often make disciples the way we were taught or how it was modeled for us. What experiences, or lack there of, have you had with the concept of disciple making?  

What are some passions, skills, and talents that you currently use at work, at home, with kids, etc?

How are you using these abilities, skills, passions, and talents to help others to be more like Jesus and do what He does?  Is God asking you to use these in a more effective way to make disciples?

God gives spiritual gifts to those who follow Him. What are those gifts that He has given to you? (I Peter 4:10; Rom. 12:3-7; 1 Cor. 12:1-12, 28)

If you do not know your spiritual gifts or it has been awhile since you took a spiritual gift assessment you can do so at: www.sandyridgechurch.org/spiritual-gifts-assessment.html.  Because self-assessments can become just a reflection of who we want to be or what we are most comfortable with, you are encouraged to have a few others help during your assessment. If God has given us spiritual gifts then it should be clearly seen, so one of the most reliable indicators of a spiritual gift is the affirmation by others.

How am I currently using these spiritual gifts and how might I be able to use these gifts in a more effective way to make disciples?

Jesus intentionally invested most of His time in a few people to impact the many.  Bible studies, worship services, classes, books, or conferences are good but they are no substitute for one-on-one relationships.

Out of the Christians and not-yet Christians I know, who are the people God is asking me to invest in?

(this is an key question because Jesus modeled holistic one-to-one or one-to-a few relationships.)

Relational discipleship poses a challenge and cannot be done without the power of the Holy Spirit. With each person God is asking us to invest in, the discipleship will be unique with where you and they are at spiritually.  For each person mentioned above list, what you are doing well and what growth opportunities you sense God is asking you to focus on for that person.  Through this exercise you can become more effective in making disciples.  Below is a list of things that occur in relational discipleship (by no means is this an exhaustive list). 

1. showing comfort and compassion through their struggles/doubts
2. praying for them consistently
3. modeling that God’s gospel encompasses all of life
4. asking good and insightful questions
5. being open and transparent with how God is using you and what you are learning from God
6. spending time together in both planned/structured and unplanned/unstructured settings
7. listening and responding to their spiritual hunger
8. speaking God’s Truth in love seasoned with grace on issues/sins they need to address
9. walking alongside them as they establish a solid Christian worldview
10. helping them train themselves to pursue Jesus wholeheartedly
11. being sensitive to how God is already working in them
12. directing them to areas where they need healing from past hurts and/or ungodly beliefs
13. guiding them in applying God’s wisdom to their decisions
14. helping them to adopt God’s values while discarding the ones of this world
15. encouraging them to take ownership of past actions and current situations
16. empowering them to serve God sacrificially and selflessly
17. answering their questions
18. encouraging them to walk by faith and not by sight
19. helping them to honor and respect the God-ordained authorities in their lives
20. highlighting the importance of being thankful and rejoicing in God in all things
21. pointing out the sufficiency and greatness of Christ when challenging times occur
22. helping them hear God through His Word, prayer, godly counsel, etc

PERSON 1

WHAT I AM DOING WELL

WHAT I NEED TO GROW IN

PERSON 2

WHAT I AM DOING WELL

WHAT I NEED TO GROW IN

PERSON 3

WHAT I AM DOING WELL

WHAT I NEED TO GROW IN

How might I envision my community group and/or a few godly Christians spurring me on in the areas I sense God asking me to focus on with specific people?  What skills and abilities do I sense God wanting me to mature in as a Christian? 

Helping another be like Jesus and do what He does is highly relational.  From your perspective how does living in America foster and/or hinder the relational aspect of disciple-making?

What are the obstacles, fears, and insecurities that may be hindering me from making relational disciple making a priority in my life? What steps could I take to overcome these obstacles and fears?  Is there anything that God might be asking me to forego in order to make relational disciple-making a priority in my life?

How might my community group encourage and equip me with what I wrote down for the last two questions?

If you have children and/or grandchildren, how can you communicate Jesus’ to them so they won’t forget who He is or what He has done for you?(Deuteronomy 4:9, 6:6-9; Judges 2:10-12)

IMPACT ALL PEOPLE GROUPS (i.e., Nations)

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” – Psalm 67:1-2

Note:  the questions below are designed to connect the two previous sections to God’s global purpose: His desire and activity to redeem humanity, all people groups, to Himself. 

Jesus commanded all of His followers to make disciple of all people groups in Matthew 28:19. What is the connection Jesus was making between making disciples (helping another to be like Jesus and do what He does) with God’s heart for all people groups? (Exodus 9:16: Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10; Luke 2:10, 24:45-47; Romans 15:8-9, 16:25-26; Colossians 1:19-20)

We know that Jesus will not return until all people groups see and hear His gospel demonstrated and announced. We also know that Satan does not want Jesus to return so what sort of lies and strategies might Satan try to persuade God’s people to embrace?  

How might you be tempted to exempt yourself from God’s global purposes?

As a follower of the One who is the Savior of the World (John 3:16, 4:42, 1 John 4:14) begin to think about how this should impact your daily life with God?  In other words, how can you integrate God’s global purposes into your reading, praying, working, disciple-making, etc?

How can I pray more effectively for the world with Holy Spirit insight? (Isaiah 62:1-7)

How can I participate locally and/or globally in extending God’s glory cross-culturally?
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:14-15; Galatians 1:15-16; 2 Cor. 5:20)

Are my spending habits leading my local and global neighbors into a greater experience of the well-being God desires for them (i.e. spiritually, physically, emotionally, & mentally)?
(Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-37; Psalm 41:1; Jeremiah 29:7; Proverbs 11:10, 14:31)

If so, how? If not, how can I change this?

What blessings does God intend for me/my family to enjoy now and what blessings is God asking me to sacrifice/downsize/minimize for the sake of His glory being known and displayed among the world?
(2 Cor. 8:1-15; 1 Timothy 6:6-10)

In 2010, Sandy Ridge as a faith family made the long-term commitment to strategically focus on one of the 6,000+ unreached people groups in the world.  How is God leading me to learn more about, invest in, and participate in this beautiful people group, many of whom have never heard of Jesus’ name?

(The name of this people group is not disclosed here for security reasons.  If you do not know who we are referring to, talk to Pastor Travis or one of the elders for more information)

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