News: Views

18 Oct

[08-12-08] Chocolate Traffic
Fancy working 80-100 hours a week for little pay? If so the chocolate trade is for you.
[11-11-08] Update on our 08-09 Goals
We've been pursuing our strategic goals for 08-09 for over two months now, so I thought it would be good to update everyone on how they're going.
[06-10-08] The Ten Commandments
This term we are looking at the Ten Commandments - barely 300 words long in English, yet they form the basis of our legal system, the foundations of our parliament and lie at the core of western civilisation.
[01-10-08] Open Heaven at 15 Years Old: Growing Up
This summer, Open Heaven turned 15 years old.
[26-09-08] Welcome to Loughborough
If you're a fresher (or even someone who's just thinking of coming along to Open Heaven for the first time) we'd like to give you a warm welcome.
[15-09-08] To be Loved, to Love and to Serve
Here is a short account of what my last year has been like my aim is to encourage, motivate, and challenge us all, as we seek to be continually transformed into the likeness of our king, Jesus.
[10-09-08] The Hidden Beauty of the Church
While walking around inside an old but still well used church building, I found myself in a kind of gatehouse with a dusty old staircase leading down from one end.
[28-05-08] I Am the True Grapevine
Looking at a tree outside my office window the other day I realised how strong the trunk was and that the branches did little to support it.
[12-02-08] Responding to the Call
We are embarking on a journey of adventure, into the unknown; a little nervous, anticipating many challenges but determined to position ourselves to be ever more used by God in establishing the Kingdom in every area of our personal and corporate lives.
[27-11-07] Getting Closer...Part 2
For a while it's been everywhere.

Student Discipleship

If you hang around anyone from Open Heaven for long enough you are bound to hear them talk about discipleship.  That’s because it’s in our mission statement “making 21st century disciples”, its one of our core purposes “creating discipleship pathways leading to maturity and Christ-likeness” and its in our values – “growth and authenticity” being real with each other and wanting to grow to become more of the people God made us to be. 

The Greek work is for disciple is ‘mathetes’ which means a Learner – doer. Not just someone who acquires lot of knowledge! Disciple actually comes from the word discipline.  One definition is this:

“A disciple is one who undertakes the discipline of his/her teacher.”

Thus, discipleship is about learning what that discipline is, learning how to follow. It's part education, part mentoring, part apprenticeship, but it goes a step beyond it. Disciples not only take in what they are taught and what they learn from being with the teacher, they take it into their core identity, so that it defines who they are.

By definition anyone who calls themselves a Chrisitian is a disciple of Jesus.  We are being changed by the Holy Spirit to more and more reflect the character of Jesus.  But we were never designed to do this in isolation.

One really good way to ensure we grow is to put someone in our life who we respect and trust to be our mentor or coach in faith and life.  In the same way an athlete would choose a coach to instruct, challenge, encourage and discipline them into becoming a better athlete a mentor or discipler will help us grow.

But we need to ensure we have the attitude of a disciple.  That is being honest about your struggles and mistakes, being open to receive advice and challenge and being willing to put in the hard work so that you become fully fit.

We encourage everyone at Open Heaven to have a discipler.  To meet up with them regularly and to commit to being honest and open with them.  The best way to do this is to find someone who you look up to and and ask them to be your discipler.  Then begin to hang out and get to know each other.

If you would like to chat to anyone about discipleship then speak to Anna on the Student team.

Posted by: Naomi Light on Thursday Oct 18th, 2007

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