Growing into Christ (6)

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1.8

The Elder and His Work
David Dickson (1821-1885)
“Let us never seem when visiting as if we grudged every moment, as if we were fidgeting to get away – a habit both rude and injurious. When we come into a house we should seek to bring some of heaven’s own sunshine into it. The children must not run away and hide themselves, but be the first to welcome us; for, like their fathers and mothers, they should be all our personal friends.”

Making disciples is not something to be accomplished, in the first instance, in programs and classes. Making disciples should occur in homes, where elders and leaders visit the members, share in their lives, bring the ministry of the Word and prayer, and encourage the heads of households to continue the good work of equipping their families for following Jesus Christ. Don’t you love that image of bringing “some of heaven’s own sunshine” into the homes of the people you visit? If you are growing into Christ, that won’t be a problem. And if you thus shine the light of His love on the people you are called to equip for ministry and lead to grow into the Lord, they will look forward to your every visit. And so will you.

Would you say that the homes of your congregation are bases for disciple-making? Why or why not?

If Men Will Pray
Paul explicitly declared that men everywhere should lift holy hands in prayer, so that the Gospel could flourish (1 Tim. 2.1-8). So how is it with the men of your church? Are they men of prayer? Do they take no rest, and give God no rest, seeking Him in prayer? Men at Prayer provides resources for you to use in enlisting, equipping, and encouraging your men for prayer. Watch this brief video, then begin developing a strategy for leading the men of your church to take their place on the wall, seeking the Lord for revival, renewal, and awakening in our day. If you need helping thinking this through, or you’d like to talk about this effort, send me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations are from David Dickson, The Elder and His Work (Dallas: Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1990).