Christian Discipleship:
Journey to Make God's Story Ours

: Overview of Discipleship Resources

Gene Mims, president of Lifeway Christian Resources said, “The greatest threat to the church today is the loss of disciple-making ministries through which mature, spiritually transformed Christians are multiplying themselves through other men and women. If increased attention is not given to building disciples, the number of members will drop and evangelism will wane.”

Many profess a Christian faith, but their lifestyles do not reflect that faith. According to Christian researcher, George Barna: When asked to describe their goals in life, less than 1 % mentioned anything related to holiness, righteousness or purity. Among the total population, the percentage of evangelical youth that believes in the fundamentals of faith declined from 10 % in 1995 to 4 % today, and for adults, it is 12 % in 1994 and 5 % today (George Barna newsletter, Apr. 23, 2002).

The church culture is rapidly dying out as the unchurched are increasing among younger people. The following are percentages of people attending church on a given weekend in America (Barna, 2000).

• Builders (born before 1946): 51%
• Boomers (born 1946 to 19640: 41%
• Busters (born 1965 to 1976): 34%
• Bridgers (born 1977 to 1994): 29%

In American, one-third of all adults (65 to 70 million), including about 10 million born again Christians, are unchurched. They have risen the past three years--31% to 40% for Busters and 33% to 38% for men (George Barna Research Group, 2000.)

The two most important factors in selecting a church for the formerly unchurched were theological beliefs or doctrine (58%) and people caring for each other (53%) (Thom S. Rainer, “Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them, 2001).

Imagine connecting the greatest needs of the unchurched with the purpose of the church-- making disciples of the unchurched. The Journey to Make God’s Story Ours is a small group resource designed to evangelize and establish secularized people in Christ so they can be entrusted with ministry to extend the gospel. By connecting the Old and New Testaments in a verse-by-verse, three-phase process, small groups have a bridge to the unchurched so they can experience the Bible first hand.

George Barna wrote that for years we have been exposing Christians to scattered, random bits of biblical knowledge through our church services and Christian education classes. They hear a principle here and read a truth there, then nod their head in approval and feel momentarily satisfied over receiving this new insight into their faith. But within the space of just a few hours that principle or truth is lost in the busyness and complexity of their lives. They could not capture that insight and own it because they had never been given a sufficient context and method that would enable them to analyze, categorize, and utilize the principle or truth. This inability to systematically apply Scriptural truth produces a spiritual superficiality or immaturity that is reflected in behavior.

: Description of Journey to Make God’s Story Ours

The Journey follows Christ’s and Paul’s three-year approach in declaring the whole purpose of God to develop authentic faith through small groups. The Journey is accessible not only to mature Christians, but also to new believers, and even ‘seekers’ who are still looking for spiritual direction. It contains 12 modules, equally divided into three phases. Each module takes six weeks, and each four-module phase lasts two semesters, for a total of six semesters. People honestly share their feelings, sin and inadequacies in a safe environment to learn from each other, and establish a loving, trusting foundation of Christian friendship. It helps individuals pursue a fresh encounter with God so they can better understand His plan for their lives.

Not only is there a student’s Journey, but a teacher’s Journey has training materials to help small group leaders ask open-ended questions to facilitate discussion for maximum application of Scripture. Our goal is to have a unique series of questions for various ages and ethnic groups with the Journey ultimately being translated into various languages.

As individuals complete the fourth module, “Authentic Discipleship from Matthew,” they will be sent out to start their own small group to include both unbelievers and believers. This approach will do two things: reinforce what they just learned as they teach others and help them experience the joy of leading people to Christ. The early modules in phase one are designed to introduce unbelievers to Christ and progressively build believers in the faith. By equipping believers to know God and experience inner healing, every member can have the confidence to plant their own small group.

In both the Journey and the Authentic Journey through the Bible described in the next section, a story called, “I’d Rather Do It Myself,” presents seven characters people easily identify with to show relevance for daily life: Up-And-Comer, Always-Tired, Afraid-To-Share, Know-It-All, Good-Works, Bored-With-Life and Bubbling-Brook. After some adventures, each of these characters end up in a small group study and interact with the Scriptures at the same time participants are progressing through a module.

Please contact us if you are interested in being notified when the guide is available for purchase.

: Description of Authentic Journey through the Bible

The Authentic Journey is an unique daily Bible reading program that can be used alone or in conjunction with the Journey to Make God’s Story Ours discipleship curriculum. It follows the example of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus when their hearts burned within them as Christ opened the Scriptures to them:

Luke 24:27,32,44-45 : And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” . . . 44Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

By reading the Law, Prophets, Psalms (Hebrew canon) and New Testament consecutively, individuals experience a deeper richness in knowing Christ by connecting key themes from the Bible that reinforce each other. It is like listening to a stereo with quadraphonic sound.

The daily readings in the Authentic Journey consist of a warm up with an exerpt from the story, “I’d Rather Do It Myself.” Next is a rest stop to allow reflection on the content in the chapter and driving it home to apply that Scripture to one’s life. Both the rest stop and driving it home sections are followed by a key question that promotes relevance and personalization. After each cycle of readings in the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament, a bullet summary shows connections from these four sections in the Bible.

On the seventh day each week, no new readings are given so one has time for meditation in order to set new goals. Answering the eight questions will allow one to reflect on spiritual growth and learning for that week. It leads to refocusing on what is important and steps to get there.

: Benefits of Both Resources

The Journey to Make God’s Story Ours is comprehensive and transferable so the common person can teach it. It is simple to use in its design, flexible for either believers or unbelievers, adaptable to any surrounding, sustainable as spiritual growth is measured, and repeatable to multiply the number of small groups.

Participants fill out a self-measurement questionnaire after completion of a module to measure growth in spiritual intimacy (phase one), authentic godliness (phase two), and fruitful ministry (phase three). It helps individuals measure their own spiritual growth and gauge the effectiveness of the Journey to transform lives through Christ. Corporately, the Journey will help establish spiritually-intimate, godly-unified, and disciple-making churches to change the world.

A teacher and student’s Journey is designed so the average person can easily lead his or her small group. Individuals study Scripture verse-by-verse and answer open-ended questions. In accordance to 2 Timothy 2:2, e ach person has a traveling companion from his or her small group, to reinforce learning during the week, so new groups can be started.

Both resources are solid attempts to deal with biblical illiteracy so people can know Christ from a heart burning within. If the Church lacks a biblical view of reality, it cannot be unified around Jesus Christ. Without a worldview shaped by the Bible leading to Christ, any efforts by default will be shaped by the subjective and conflicting standards of other organizations, groups and systems.

Biblical illiteracy is alsopreventing us from reaching non-believers with the gospel message. To persuade a highly secularized and skeptical people that turning their life to Christ is the only solution to emptiness, Christians must be credible. How believable are we when the essence of our message must be “Do as I say, not as I do”?

Since most in our mission field reject objective truth, the most effective apologetic to the world is modeling radical obedience, integrity, humility, servanthood and the fruit of the Spirit--qualities these resources help produce.

Use of these tools will be most potent if it is rooted upon the foundation of cross-denominational, multi-ethnic leaders praying together patterned after the early church. A prayer meeting of Israel’s 12 tribes (120 individuals) birthed the church and prayer & fasting by five leaders in the church at Antioch extended the gospel to the whole world through Paul’s three missionary journeys (Acts 1:13-15; 13:1-3). Jesus in the Gospels and Paul in Ephesus molded the character of 12 men who in turn worked with 12 more disciples so everyone in a whole region heard the word of the Lord (Acts 19:7-10).

: Market for Both Resources

We are targeting Churches and parachurch ministries, including post-modern individuals who believe there is no such thing as absolute truth or “truth” is whatever works for you. Since the latter believe objective truth is irrelevant, Christianity is just one of many “nice” belief systems. We envision both resources helping members become missionaries in homes, apartments, prisons, nursing homes, Christian schools, junior highs, high schools, universities, inner cities, and business settings for ages 14 and above.

Another potential market is parents and grandparents using these tools to train their children and grandchildren. To create sales, a combination of internet, direct mail, speaking opportunities and promotion with pastors/ Christian education directors will be required.

: Progress on Both Resources

The first two modules of the Journey to Make God’s Ours has already been used to lead unbelievers to Christ and to enable new and growing Christians to deepen their faith.The first module, “Overview of God’s Story,” has been tested in five churches. Nathan Kroll, high school director of Campus Life--Lincoln, has taught the first module more than 50 times in various churches and to staff and non-believing students. Three churches have bought a license agreement. Further work needs to be done so the content is presented in a narrative form to communicate to post-modern individuals. Graphics, visuals and games also need to be produced alongside the text to appeal to visual and kinesthetic learners.

I have finished a rough draft on the teacher’s and student’s Journey for the second module, “Understanding Faith: Romans” while teaching it to a small group of young Christians. A rough layout has been completed on the third and fourth modules. There are notes on most of the other eight modules.

I have the first week completed and 75-day outline written for the Authentic Journey through the Bible.

: Biography of Author

Mark Pomeroy is founder and executive director of Real Men of Integrity. Beginning in 1994 it became a catalyst for starting more than 40 men's ministries and training 150+ leaders in local churches. Mark has met with church leaders across racial and denominational lines for prayer, encouragement, and training. He served on Promise Keepers field staff and for eight years as a campus missionary at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mark and his wife, Karen, have trained 75+ couples in marital intimacy principles in various settings. From 2002 to 2003, he served as a Season of Life leader for parents of adolescents at a church of 4,000. Mark also has been a Colossians 2:7 discipleship leader, children’s Sunday School administrator and worked 12 years in industry. He has a M.A. Journalism & Mass Communication from UNL, 1996, and writes a column for Cross-Times, a newspaper published by Christian Media Inc., Scottsbluff, Neb. Mark & Karen Pomeroy have been married 28 years and have three sons, Steve, 24, Aaron, 21, Tim, 16.

: Real Men Board Members

John Dittman, president of Cornhusker Bank, Lincoln

Brian Heinen, senior pastor of Central Alliance, Lincoln

Aaron Hilkemann, president of Duncan Aviation, Lincoln

Charles Lamphear, retired Director of Bureau of Business Research at UNL

John Radway, owner of KEO Office Furniture, Lincoln

Greg Howard, vice-president of College of Hair Design, Lincoln

: Biblical Basis for the Journey

The hearts of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus burned within them as Christ opened their minds to understand the Law, Prophets and Psalms (Luke 24:27, 32, 44-45.)

The Apostle Paul gave a snapshot of effective discipleship when he trained his disciples in the school of Tyrannus and for a period of three years he did not shrink from declaring the whole purpose of God (Acts 19:9-10; 20:27,31). His concern for their spiritual nurturing resulted in him teaching the gospel in both large and small group settings over this time period. Paul told the elders that "I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house" (Acts 20:20).

Christ and Paul’s approach is summarized in Ephesians where the three phases of the Journey can be derived.

The first phase (four modules) encourages individual spirits upward toward God so they understand the revelation of God through a broad overview of Scripture (Eph. 1:17-19.) As we perceive God's plan and purpose, we are reconciled to God. We begin to know God's desires as we embrace our identity as co-heirs to fill, subdue, and put all things under Christ's feet.

The second phase (four modules) equips churches as individuals are revived inwardly in the love of Christ (Eph. 3:16-19.) As we experience Christ's power and love in our hearts, we discover the unique identity we were created to fulfill. These two phases of loving God with our mind (first phase) and heart (second phase) prepares us to love our neighbor as ourselves so we can build up the body of Christ in unity (Eph. 4:1-16.)

The third phase (four modules) empowers communities of fully equipped believers to move outward into the world as they put on the armor of God (Eph. 6:13-20.) As we apply God's protection and position, we pray and boldly share the Word of God. These three phases will enable the church to infiltrate the diverse niches of our world with the whole gospel. The first two phases prepare one for multiplied ministry in the world.

: Content and Expected Outcome of the Three Phases

Phase One: The Journey provides an overview of the Bible and major covenants, which are linked to salvation in Romans (modules 1 and 2.) Old Testament seed thoughts in building God’s kingdom are linked to authentic discipleship from Matthew (modules 3 and 4) so spiritual intimacy can be practiced. Outcome: Spiritual Intimacy Resulting in an One-Minded Church

Phase Two: Skillful living principles from Old Testament wisdom literature are linked to New Testament character qualities in order to build God’s kingdom on earth (modules 5 and 6.) Corporate reconciliation principles from Ephesians are linked to personal ministry mindset attitudes from 2 Corinthians (modules 7 and 8) so authentic godliness can be practiced at home and in the church. Outcome: Authentic Godliness Resulting in a Ministry-Oriented Church

FAQ >