Medford First Church of the Nazarene

Go Make Disciples

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave these instructions to us: "Go and make disciples."
(Matthew 28:19.

A person may accept Jesus as Savior and never come to know Him and follow Him as Lord. Thre is a vast difference between turning to Him and living for Him!

At Medford First Church, we have taken Jesus's command seriously. We believe God has commissioned us to make disciples of everyone who will follow.

Do I Need to Be Discipled?

If you have never received a thorough introduction to the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith, you would benefit greatly from having a trained mature Christian meet regulary with you for a period of time and cover these life-transforming ideas.

Or, it may be you've been a believer for many years, but have settled in your walk and need to be challenged to renew your faith. You may have never carefully studied how to be a growing believer.

Either way, discipleship is for you. If you decide to move on in your faith through disclepship, you will be matched up with a trained person of your same gender who has commtted themselves to being a disciple-maker. When they contact you, you can set up a day and time each week to meet that is mutually convenient for you both.

What Do We Study in Discipleship?

There are a variety of resources available. These range from a basic 10 to 12 week study to a more comprehensive 26 week study. A few of the topics covered include Salvation, How to Pray, Obedience, Understanding God's Word, The Holy Spirit, Stewardship, How to Witness, Understanding the church, etc.

A course will be talor made to fit your maturity level, interests, and spiritual needs. The objective of discipleship is that you, in turn, will be prepared to help lead another person who is young in their faith.

Isn't It Enough to Accept Christ as My Savior?

Actually, no, it isn't. Accepting Him as Savior is the step we take to become a Christian -- like physical birth is the way we all come into this world. But then, we all need to be fed and nourished so we will grow and become strong. We all need a more mature Christian to love us, feed us, and help us, much like a parent cares for a child.

We could never know dangers to avoid, what to do when we are first discouraged as a new Christian, or how to deal with temptation, for example. Without someone who has already faced these tests and can lovingly help us through some trial or temptation, it can be a difficult journey..

Should I Become a Disciple-Maker?

If you have a solid relationship with Jesus, spend time with Him consistently, love to study the Bible, and would enjoy being used of God to help a Christian grow, then leading a Discipleship Group may be for you.

Many more mature Christians have described a leveling off in their relationship with Jesus. They explain how their devotions, prayers, even worship has become less meaningful to them, and they loose their joy.

If so, an element that may be missing from your life is caring for others. We are instructed to disciple others. In II Timothy 2:2, we're told, "And the things you have heard me say..... entrust to faithful men who will also be qualified to teach others.

At Medford First Church, we offer a four hour Discipleship Training session every spring and fall. To become a Discipleship Group Leader, simply call Deanna (541-779-7777), or print "I want Discipleship Group Training" on our pew registration card at any worship service. We'll let you know when the next training iis scheduled.

You'll be glad you did.