Michael Johnson, SDMI Chairman

Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI)

THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF MAKING CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

The mission statement of the Church of the Nazarene is “To make Christlike disciples in the nations.”  Based upon the above Scripture that we call the Great Commission, this new mission statement succinctly captures the essence of the Church of the Nazarene.  The new name for Sunday School Ministries is Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI).  The focus of SDMI is changing to emphasize making Christlike disciples, whatever venue we find to do that.  In order to make Christlike disciples, one must be in process of becoming Christlike.  What do Christlike disciple look like?  Three qualities are needed.

CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES ARE TRUSTWORTY.  What makes a disciple trustworthy?  Jesus looks for immediate obedience.  “’Come, follow me.’  At once they left their nets and followed him.”  (Matthew 4:19-20)  Delayed obedience is called disobedience.  Jesus wants disciples who display intentional accountability.  A disciple allows his teacher to question his intentions, his motives, and his actions.  He becomes vulnerable to become like his master.  Jesus requires disciples to have an invested faith.  He wants disciples who know no other master, and want no other teacher.

CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES ARE TEACHABLE.  A teachable disciple is one who is willing to listen.  He hears, he seeks to understand, he evaluates, and he responds to the message of Scripture. A teachable disciple is willing to learn.  She is educable—willing to be melted, molded, and strengthened in order to become a useful utensil in the hands of the master.  A teachable disciple is willing to grow.  Growth is spelled C-H-A-N-G-E.  As rubber bands are made to stretch disciples are made to grow and to change.

CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES ARE TRANSPARENT.  A transparent disciple has nothing to hide.  Transparency allows us to exhibit genuine empathy.  Transparency brings to us an attitude of gentle expectations of people in our lives.  Transparency commands a response of genial endurance.  We endure suffering and pain, rejection and vitriol for the sake of the Gospel.
Robert Coleman tells us that Jesus method was men.  “It all started by Jesus calling a few men to follow Him.  This revealed immediately the direction His evangelistic strategy would take.  His concern was not with programs to reach the multitudes, but with men whom the multitudes would follow….  Men were His method of winning the world to God.”  Here are FIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE MASTER’S PLAN FOR MAKING CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES.

1.  PRAYER AND FASTING.
2.  THE AUTHORITATIVE WORD OF GOD
3.  THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
4.  GENUINE ACCOUNTABILITY
5.  RELATIONAL MULTIPLICATION

We cannot take any shortcuts to becoming a people of God who make Christlike disciples.  It must begin as we pray and fast for an outpouring of God’s grace and wisdom in our lives.  With God nothing is impossible.  Nothing is even hard.  God has a thousand resources that we have not even considered.

So let’s pray, fast, invite, witness, and expand our ministry to the unchurched in our communities. Jot me an email note with any questions or suggestions at rebrown39@comcast.net.  God is growing a great church in North Alabama.  We are blessed to be a part of his great kingdom work!

The mission of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SSDMI) is to carry out the Great Commission to children, youth, and adults in preparation for a lifetime of Christian holiness.

Purpose

The purpose of the Sunday School is threefold:

At our denominational site http://www.nazarene.org/ministries/ssm/display.aspx you will find over 1200 web pages of high impact, low cost discipleship materials.  Based on the foundations of prayer and the Word, the pages will enrich the effectiveness and substance of your ministries.  We invite you to explore often the wealth of knowledge, experience, and practical wisdom found in these pages. Your heart and mind will be blessed as you feast at the banquet table of great insights written for you by Godly and gifted disciples of Jesus Christ

You are invited to explore the wealth of knowledge, wisdom and experience found in these pages.  Your heart and mind will be blessed as you feast at the banquet table of great insights written for you by Godly and gifted disciples of Jesus Christ.

Adult Ministries - James McGraw 8780 County Rd, 1435 Vinemont, AL 35179 qwikdraw@bellsouth.net

Children's Ministries - Denise Myers 205-744-4274 Denise.Myers@bellsouth.com

CLT - Christian Life Training - Amon Davidson 205-384-4148 Amonda@bellsouth.net

Collegiate Ministries -

Hispanic Ministries - Leonel Alvarado  256-221-6977 alvarlee123@aol.com

"Improve Your Serve" SS Convention - Michael Johnson 205-910-7050 & 205-822-4520 eastgadsdenchurch@hotmail.com, mike_annaJ@msn.com

Men's Ministries -

Prime Time Senior Adult Ministriess - Roger & Lena Ruth Martinez  H-256-694-2882, 256-539-8840    Work: 256-722-6000; Cell: 256-694-2882 lena.martinez@bench.com

Singles Ministries - Daun Aaron 205-482-8794 DAaron@JCHA.COM

Women's Ministries - Jerelyn Rickey 256-582-9730 ALNDwinningwomen@aol.com

Youth Ministries - Daniel Medders,  Cell 256-531-3551 dtmedders@bellsouth.net