On every sports team I have played on, I remember the coach leading us through a few drills or practices focusing on the fundamentals at the beginning of each season. He would generally try to paint a picture for the team of the importance of being disciplined in the basics. As we focused attention on these skills, they became more and more natural to each of us on the team. We were able to work better together and depend on one another as we practiced more difficult drills and plays. The goal of the tedious practices was always to preform better during the next competition and to possibly win the championship at the end of the season.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
God gives us the same command in his Word that a coach would communicate to his players but with the powerful testimony of eternal life. He does not want any of his children, or people, to be separated from him any longer, but to begin knowing him through the sacrifice and victory over death by his Son. It is painful to see his creation settle for something less than his perfect designs while clinging to sin. Rather, he wants those who put their trust in his salvation to grow in the likeness of Christ Jesus.
As God continues to lead our church in Changhua to share the Gospel with family, friends, classmates, neighbors, and co-workers with the vision of many more new believers in Jesus over the next few years, we also want to look to the basics to build a good foundation in each of our lives. Recently, throughout all of the church small groups and student Bible studies, we have started an initiative to build discipleship skills into each of the members in hope that they will grow stronger in their personal relationship with God and also be able to share about who God is and how to know him with others. One of the tools we are starting to use is The Navigators “New 2:7 Series.” There are three books in the series: Growing Strong in God’s Family, Deepening Your Roots in God’s Family, and Bearing Fruit in God’s Family.
It is crucially important to be able to look into God’s Word for growth, searching the Scriptures to learn about who God is, his salvation, his promises, his will, and his plan. As well as learning to apply the Word into daily life, by memorization, mediation, and prayer.
Our prayer for the next few years is that God will work in us as we take time to build tools into our daily lives. Also we hope God will work through our lives so more people will worship him in Changhua and throughout Taiwan!
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