What is Homegrown Discipleship?

I want to take some time and point you to information discussed in Episode 1 of our podcast. Homegrown Discipleship is not a separate program, but it is a commitment to Biblical discipleship.

We believe that discipleship should take place in a relational, organic manner. The primary discipleship should take place in the home. With COVID-19 that has never been more evident.

That doesn't mean that programs in the church are not important. In fact, Episode 1 deals mainly with examples of programs that could be utilized in discipleship. However, we are in a crisis in American churches in regards to discipleship. We are told that 6% of millennials believe the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. The data for subsequent generations do not look encouraging either.

The basis for our ministry philosophy is is Deuteronomy 6 where the Nation of Israel was commanded to love the Lord with all their heart and to teach that faithfully to their children at every opportunity possible.

Here are a few things we discussed in the first podcast:

- The basic definition of discipleship is a commitment to grow with our personal relationship

in the Lord Jesus Christ.

- Some of the necessary components of discipleship should include putting Jesus first, following Jesus' teachings, spiritual fruitfulness, love for other disciples, a desire to make more disciples.

- Donald Whitney said, "Discipline without direction is drudgery." We should grow in a holy hunger for the Word of God while recognizing the miraculous work of sanctification.

- Three areas to emphasize in Homegrown Discipleship - Life application, Word transformation, and Equipping believers.

A new podcast and blog will be posted each week with ideas and a discussion on how to do discipleship in the home.