Dear friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ. I am almost finished writing my first book. This is an introduction to it. Please feel free to add constructive comments and let me know if it helps you. I think you will find it interesting and challenging.

DISCIPLES’ DEVOTIONAL STUDIES

Volume 1

An Innovative Approach to Discipleship

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.

And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3, NKJV)

Introduction

The true Christian life is a dilemma. It is not burdensome (1 John 5:3) but without God, it is impossible (John 3:5-6). Because Jesus paid it all, it cost us nothing (John 3:16). But following Jesus will cost us everything (Luke 14:25-33). Yet we will get so much more out of it than we put into it (Matthew 19:27-29). It makes no sense to the natural mind.

There is no easy road to Christian maturity. It doesn’t just happen. Salvation is a gift but becoming a disciple will require your all and much grace from the Lord. Those who wholeheartedly pursue Jesus because nothing else is more important to them will succeed. If you have decided to take up the call to become a disciple of Jesus, Disciples’ Devotional Studies was designed with you in mind. Those who are fully committed to following Jesus will find the reward is well worth the cost. I hope you are among them.

Welcome to Volume I of Disciples’ Devotional Studies: An Innovative Approach to Discipleship. This book will not take the place of one-on-one or small group discipleship which is essential to help newer believers reach maturity. However, it can be a valuable tool to assist in one-on-one or small group discipleship. Volume 1 focuses more on the individual’s walk with the Lord and can be done individually or in a group setting. Reaching Christian maturity requires deepening our personal walk with the Lord and interacting with other Christians to make disciples in obedience to the Great Commission. Volume 2 will address several one-on-one and small group discipleship topics.

This book does not provide a course in systematic theology or a complete foundation for the Christian life but it does address foundational areas for discipleship in an interactive way. I hope you find the devotionals both inspiring and enlightening. They have come through a life of many ups and downs from someone first introduced to the Lord almost fifty years ago. Disciples’ Devotional Studies was designed to help you partner with the Lord to build and strengthen character qualities that move you closer to Him. You may read the devotionals first and then go through the devotionals and studies at a pace that is comfortable for you and in the order of your own choosing. Those who benefit the most will be those who finish the course. If you are 100% successful in completing this course, you will have formed twenty-six new habits to celebrate as you progress along the road to Christian maturity.

Experts say it takes twenty-one days to establish a habit. Disciples’ Devotional Studies was designed with this in mind. Each volume contains twenty-six devotionals with the corresponding Study, Meditate and Do sections and is designed to be completed in a year. Doing the devotional studies without developing new character habits can be done in much less time and should be of some benefit but would defeat their primary purpose. Each study is designed to take two weeks and may require an average of half an hour or more per day to complete with excellence. The first week can be used for reading the devotional; interacting with the Lord through prayer and meditation; answering the questions where Scripture references are provided; identifying the change to make into a new habit, and continuing to form the habit identified in the previous devotional. During the second week, you should focus on developing the new habit while cementing the previous one. You will also delve deeper through answering questions that require researching the Scriptures on your own to increase your understanding and build a stronger foundation. You can explore the recommended resources that interest you at any time. Seeking the Lord to identify and establish desirable character qualities while partnering with Him is essential. Remember, depending on the Lord’s strength and following His leading is the key to discipleship.

There are 317 exercises. Answers will be personalized and some may require several paragraphs. Recording your answers and tracking your progress in making the desired character changes will ensure you get the most benefit from these studies. I recommend recording your answers electronically or in a steno book as space is not provided here. Recording them separately from the book also allows you to pass the book on to someone else or to revisit it at a later time when some of your answers may change.

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