Coach: Summer 2017
We'd like to create student pairings (mainly lower-classmen with upper-classmen) to encourage spiritual, intentional meet-ups throughout the summer months. Our hope is to create an atmosphere that gets us out of our comfort zones, ensures deep fellowship, and produces God-glorifying relationships.
What is Coach?
Coach pairs mentors with students to advance spiritual growth, study the basic tenets of the Christian faith and supply prayer. For students wanting, or needing, a discipler, Coach assists in making the right match. Gals are paired with gals, guys with guys.
What is discipleship? And why is it important?
Discipleship is a relationship between teacher and student with the purpose of growing to become more and more like Christ. The ultimate goal of discipleship is to develop Christians that will flourish and be followers that would be faithful to walking in the ways of Lord and be equipped to share Christ.
In order to understand what discipleship is and why it’s important, we need to take a look at what the Bible says in order to gain a clearer understanding. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, 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.”
We know this passage to be the Great Commission, where Jesus offers us a command and calls us to go and make disciples. Jesus’s command requires us to make disciples until the end of the age—not just for a moment, but for a lifetime.
Discipleship is important because it is a practice that Jesus has modeled for us. As models and examples of Christ, we ought to pass that down to others. Jesus' command calls us to be His light for others to see Christ in us and one easy way is to experience life with a younger and/or newer believer in growth towards greater faith.
What does discipleship look like?
Jesus’s ministry and the early church both offered us a model of what discipleship looks like. Jesus through His twelve disciples, and the early church in Paul and Timothy as an example of teacher and a student that spent time together with the purpose of growing to becoming more faithful in following Christ. Paul, was a spiritual father to many, and considered Timothy to be a “son in the faith”. He was an older spiritual mentor to Timothy, offering wisdom and encouragement in how to live for Christ. As a disciple, Timothy was able receive encouragement from an older and wiser brother, and walk with Paul to become more like Christ.
From Scripture, discipleship involves three parts: the Word, relationship, and ministry. Jesus spent his lifetime showing us what it looked like to make disciples through the Word of God, spending time with one another, and ministering to others.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God’s word is important and essential to grow as a disciple of Jesus. We must love the Word and utilize it to make disciples. Don’t underestimate the power of God’s Word to breathe life into our relationships as we study it together.
Relationship is another important aspect in discipleship because relationships allow us to love on another, be transparent, keep one another accountable and be intentional in walking with Christ. As Jesus spent time with his disciples, he committed to being intentional with them and allowed them to follow after him.
Ministry is the final part which involves going and serving together. Jesus calls us to serve and evangelize with the intention of honoring Jesus and making him known. He calls us to go and serve those who have not experienced the power of the Gospel. Ministry is serving one another, and being a spiritual influence and investing in those around us. This type of ministry can be found in discipleship, where the disciple is offering practical, spiritual activities to guide and shape discipleship.
In discipleship, the Word, our relationships, and ministry work together to provide us a model of what Jesus taught us—which we have seen displayed in the discipleship between Paul and Timothy.
*Resource: http://www.discipleshipdefined.com/resources/biblical-basis-discipleship
How will this work?
Flight Ministry will be taking sign-ups from students (and some young adults and adults) who desire to be discipled or to become a discipler for the summer. From May 25 - September 15, you and your pairing will have opportunities to meet-up based on your schedule and location. The discipler will dictate what subject, book, and/or application to study throughout these meet-ups. It will be suggested that Coach pairs meet a minimum of 3 times throughout this summer.
As a BONUS, Coach pairs can join an incentives program by picking up a "Frequent Meet-Up Card"--think boba-drink stamp card! 3 meet-ups earns a free drink. 5 meet-ups earns a free meal. Stamps must be obtained from designated Flight staff with valid proof. Proof of meet-up requires a posted picture to the Flight Facebook group (or Instagram @fcbc_flight) with #fcbccoachsummer2017 attached. 1 stamp per meet-up. 1 card per student. Offer valid from May 25, 2017 through September 15, 2017.
Will there be training for disciplers?
Haven't discipled anyone before? Not to worry, Flight will be offering training and information regarding discipleship as we begin this ministry opportunity. We'll look at discipleship as Biblically taught and give practical examples to help with meet-ups. A devotional study is in the works to guide the pair throughout the summer. We will notify disciplers of training session(s) in the next few weeks. Don't be afraid to take this step of faith and serve in this way--especially those that are Juniors and Seniors (and Super Seniors)!
Where do I sign up? RIGHT HERE:
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