One of the staples of our Library Boxes is the booklet “Back to Basics.” It is a series of five short expositions on what it means to be and to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Now, you might be tempted to read this blog post and consider yourself well-informed on the contents, never having read the booklet for yourself. But I would urge you, after you’ve heard what I have to say, to check it out for yourself. Go beyond the testimonial and read the book for yourself. In life, go beyond the testimony or the sermon, and read the Bible for yourself. You might be amazed at what others have missed. You may learn something from God about your present circumstance that is rarely discussed. I have found this true in my life. But let’s get back to that other book, small “b,” for a bit.
The first chapter is entitled “True Discipleship Means Mission.” We are called to be witnesses. Christ is the Lord of the church, and we are his disciples, called to bear witness. Acts 4:20 puts it this way, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” This, and other passages, speak of the compulsion we have to be faithful to Christ. Philippians 1:6 encourages us, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” That’s the message of the opening chapter in a nutshell, almost.
Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:22-36, is the focus of the second chapter, “Preach The Message.” What are the main elements of Gospel truth? The Holy Spirit, speaking through Peter here, presents the Gospel as it relates to the past, present, and future. The Old Testament was fulfilled by the shedding of Christ’s blood, and the New Testament was born, and this hope we have in Him is eternal.
“Praying For Power” is the title of the third chapter, because, without Divine power, all our best intentions and plans are of little use. It’s a very practical exposition as it relates to mission organizations. Do you want your vision to align with God’s? Do you want God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? This chapter may not have a “five-step plan to cure all ills,” but it is God’s power at work, and it is God-focused priorities. It relates to organizational needs at a spiritual level, not just a mechanical or emotional level.
The last two chapters give similar depth to questions regarding “Effective Witnessing” and “Breaking The Barriers” as the Gospel goes to all corners of the earth.
There is a verse in that last chapter that I want you to consider. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Have we kept our promise to serve the Lord? Are we longsuffering in the faith? How much like the Lord are we? Are we willing that any should perish? Do we call people to repentance? Those last two questions are strongly linked. Read them again.
Are you a disciple of Christ? Read God’s Word to learn how you can serve Him. And if you want some direction on the topic of discipleship, “Back To Basics” may be useful.
Where will you go from here?
– Eric Druist