25 January 2015 - ENCS

For the discipleship series, Pastor Arnie delivered the last one

He spoke about being empowered, as in Acts Jesus had done

Between the two people, there must be a good relationship

Our link with Jesus empowers us to testify, Arnie did quip

Both parties involved want the discipleship to succeed

For a disciple to do well, to good teaching he must heed

Effective equipping must be done with the right heart

For in that way, appropriate knowledge one can impart

"Growth with depth" requires a foundation from heaven

As stated in First Corinthians chapter three verse eleven

 

Arnie then delved into Matthew four verse nineteen

"Come, follow Me" from Jesus are the first words seen

To follow we must know who He is, so the Bible we read

For to understand Jesus, more than mere facts we need

"Will make you" is the next phrase Arnie did mention

Our hearts can only be changed with Jesus' attention 

"Fishers of men" reminds us of what we need to do

Constant training ensures that knowledge we imbue

 

Discipleship training ensures that we make right choices

And help others to do the same, amen said the voices

Whether in church or the marketplace, we can be lights

From the day we are born until they say our last rites

For a one-person effort, discipleship is clearly not

Even Jesus had his twelve whom He trusted a lot

The call to discipleship is for all, Arnie did emphasize

With Jesus' strength we do not have to compromise

Per First Timothy chapter two, it is from His grace

That our weaknesses His strength can replace

We are all part of God's plan, an interconnected net

So that more non-believers the church might get

 

Discipleship involves walking alongside others

So all reach their destinies per God's druthers

To the beginning of the series, this does link

With Jesus, our relationship must be in sync

18 January 2015 - ENCS

The discipleship series was continued by Calvin Hong (with the flu)

Matthew chapter twenty eight commissions all disciples what to do

Per verse nineteen, we are to "go and make disciples of all nations"

After encountering God, we are changed from our core foundations

He allows us to change the world while on earth we are alive

To be lights and salt for the world, per Matthew chapter five

Per Ephesians chapter two, we were only saved by faith and grace

Not by works, but to do good works until we reach the eternal place

Calvin said that people are looking for joy, hope, and peace

Even in dark times, we can be a light that does not cease

Per Second Corinthians five, anyone in Christ is a new creation

Reconciled to God, who gives us the ministry of reconciliation

God wants us to be ambassadors, bringing people together

Restoring and reconciling relationships in all types of weather

In Matthew eighteen, Jesus shared the parable of the lost sheep

God does not want anyone to perish, all of our souls His to keep

Calvin then read out verse forty six from Luke chapter six

If we call Jesus "Savior", then all parts of our life He can fix

Then discipleship is being an example, not just mere duplication

We should use our unique talents for Him, through life's duration

Mark chapter twelve tells the story of the demon-possessed man

Doing miracles for large crowds or individuals, Jesus clearly can

About a big storm on the sea, the previous verses did tell

Sometimes God takes us through storms to prepare us well

Jesus clothed the possessed man after setting him free

Everything in the Bible has a purpose, as we oft do see

After the possessed man was healed, Jesus he wanted to follow

But Jesus told him instead to tell his story to all those he did know

God knows our situation, all of our needs, and all of our pain

He cares about each one of us for His love will never wane

There is no such thing as a closet Christian, Calvin did say

We must let God be visibly with us every hour of every day

We witness for God with our actions and words, Calvin did state

For with Jesus, the works we can do will be mighty and great

11 January 2015 - ENCS

The discipleship series was continued by Joy Talavera tonight

She talked about "Expectations" with so much energy and delight

The passage was Luke chapter five, seventeen to twenty six

In the story, some people resorted to "Miyagi moves" or tricks

Joy said that this links to the concept of "raising the roof"

For Jesus, seeing the effort made sufficed as solid proof

 

From all of Galilee, rabbis came to hear Jesus, the real deal

Due to the power of God in Him, Jesus had the ability to heal

A paralytic's friends could not find a way through the crowd

But giving up on their task was not something to be allowed

At times, we might feel paralyzed physically or emotionally

Not having control over events brings despair, not glee

Carrying him to the roof, the friends did all persevere

Then lowered him so in front of Jesus he did appear

Sometimes the crowd prohibits us from a breakthrough

Even ones close to us that we would normally go to

The roof represents hindrances in our lives, Joy did say

Getting others to help raise the roof may be the only way

Nonetheless, we should remember that people will fail us

And the only one who is perfect and never fails is Jesus

To get help and to improve our walk, we need community

As in Hebrews ten verses twenty four and five we do see

When Jesus saw their faith, the paralytic's sins He forgave

The paralytic walked home; praise the onlookers then gave

When a miracle occurs, we should make sure to share

This can also encourage others to go to God in prayer

 

The raise the roof sign is also a sign of surrender, Joy did say

This is something we can do whether it is a good or a bad day

We should also look to help raise the roof for others

Whether they be Christian or not, sisters or brothers

4 January 2015 - ENCS

Talking about discipleship, Pastor Josh did start the new year

About forgetting and remembering the past we first did hear

We should forget our mistakes as well as our successes

Never give up and remember that it is God that blesses

We should remember who God is and what He has done

For the future, He gives us confidence when we have none

But when we forget, some basic principles we must remember

Otherwise 'stuff' will distract us from January until December

We must compare our plans to our core values

And be careful with trade-offs, Josh did muse

 

Among our values, discipleship should be at the fore

Disciples followed their master to learn even more

A good teacher teaches people for themselves to think

So they can make their own decisions and do not sink

Pastor then shared where discipleship comes from

About looking at others, Jesus does not keep mum

Similarly, our priorities in life we should always assess

In Matthew twenty two, Jesus did not make anyone guess

The greatest commandment, he did others remind

Is to love Lord God with all our heart, soul, and mind

We should love others as do we do ourselves, Pastor did say

That is putting philosophy into practice in an obvious way

Per John one, the disciples asked Jesus where he stayed

The relationship matters more than answers, this displayed

 

We can read His Word, open our hearts, and others bless

Pastor said that is how Christians should define success