SPF 060: Here I am! Don't Send Me - a podcast by lauren hlushak

from 2017-11-01T06:02:07

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Here I am God, Send me! Go and make disciples. Ummmm... Discipleship can be tough and there can be some obstacles that make us a bit reluctant. Today we are talking about Acts 9, being a reluctant disciple-maker and 5 reasons God gives us to be hopeful about our calling.

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LIFE HACK: Easy Fall Dessert for a Crowd

It would cost me our entire Christmas budget to bring a PSL to everyone at group get-togethers. Fret not, there is another easy dessert that won't break the bank, tastes like fall, and feeds a crowd.

Easy Crock - Pot Cinnamon Apples

*Note, that this is a Lauren recipe, which means I do a little of this and that - you make this your own! It would be hard to mess up - unless it caught on fire somehow. That's a hard recovery ;)

Feeds: 8-10

Time: prep 20 minutes - cook time varies (2 min to 3 hours)

Ingredients:

10-12 apples (I mix tart and sweet, like granny smith and some pink lady's or gala's) peeled, cored, and sliced
2 tbsp lemon juice (keep apples from browning)
1/2 cup of liquid like apple cider, pumpkin spiced cider, (i've even used some apple sauce diluted with water)
1 - 2 Tbsp corn starch
2 Tbsp melted butter
1/4 cup or less of sugar or brown sugar (to your taste)
drizzle of molasses (to taste)
sprinkle of cinnamon (to taste) I use about 1 tsp
Vanilla icecream

Instructions:

coat apples in lemon juice and put in crock pot or insta-pot
in a separate bowl, mix corn starch and cider (or liquid) until lumps are out
add melted butter, sugar, molasses, cinnamon, to liquid mixture and stir
drizzle over apples and stir to coat
Set crock pot to low for 3 hours or Instapot to 2 minutes high pressure (then manual release).
After cooked to desired softness, ladle over two scoops of ice cream

The Reluctant Disciple-maker

God has given every Christian a calling: to go make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19-20

A disciple is a student or follower of Christ.

Discipleship isn't just about intellect or organization!

Sometimes there are obstacles to fulfilling our calling and it makes us reluctant to obey.

Today we looked at Ananias in Acts 9:10-25 and how we can be encouraged to GO even when it seems impossible, painful, intimidating, and unknown.

Five Hopes for the reluctant disciple-maker

NO 1: Go anyway

We need to be obedient even when we don’t understand because WE CAN TRUST God!

NO 2: It's not about us.

God reminds Ananias that He is God and that God needs to be at the center of God’s universe.

“He is a chosen instrument of MINE”

NO 3: God has a greater purpose than we can see

When we are reluctant we need to remember that God has a great purpose especially when there is suffering. Because there will probably be suffering if you are following Jesus.

NO 4: Remember that God transforms hearts not us

There is no limit to God's power at work: within days Saul when from killing people who said Jesus was the Messiah to preaching Jesus was the Messiah!!

NO 5: Keep growing and maturing

Sometimes we feel reluctant because we are scared we don’t know the answers, but remember we are called in 1 Peter to give a defense for the hope we have - that word defense means apologia - we are to be apologists of the faith. We need to be faithful with the intellect and the sphere of influence God has given us. That means growing and maturing in our knowledge and love and faith.

My Reluctance

It's hard to keep making disciples when we get hurt by people. When they are mean, or just vanish, or even flaky. I have found myself violating God's command to love others as I love myself.

When we struggle to love others we need to repent and ask God for help. We need to cling to passages like Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you."

Discipleship Resources

These are resources I mentioned on the show. Amazon links are affiliate links.

Discipleship Plans: Foundations 7.00

Digital File - PDF

Get instant access to eight discipleship plans covering foundational principles of growing in Christ:

Lordship Plan 1: What is Lordship?
Lordship Plan 2: Repentance and Belief
The Word Plan 1: The Word of God
The Word Plan 2: How to Spend Time in the Word (Quiet Time)
Prayer Plan 1: What is Prayer?
Prayer Plan 2: Praying with Confidence
Fellowship Plan 1: What is Fellowship?
Fellowship Plan 2: Confronting and Forgiving

These eight mini bible studies are an excellent resource for one on one and group discipleship. Encourage other women to know Jesus through discussion questions and topical Scriptures, or use them for personal study to learn more about foundational principles of growing in Christ.

Access these on you iPad, smart phone, or computer - instantly!

Add To Cart

Know Why You Believe $12.63 By Paul E. Little

Discipleship Plans: Identity 7.00

Digital File - PDF

Get instant access to three discipleship plans on the topic of Identity in Christ:

Plan 1: What is Identity
Plan 2: Jesus is Our Representative
Plan 3: The Old Self and The New Self
Plan 4: In Christ
Plan 5: Living Out Our Identity

These five mini bible studies are an excellent resource for one on one and group discipleship. Encourage other women to know Jesus through discussion questions and topical Scriptures. Or use them for personal study to learn more about identity in Christ.

Access these on you iPad, smart phone, or computer - instantly!

Add To Cart