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Discipleship

Discipleship

”The demand for absolute liberty brings men to the depths of slavery.”— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Discipleship Need for

One weekend three young fellows decided to take bicycle trip into the countryside. Although inexperienced they covered forty miles in three and a half hours and congratulated themselves on their good time. The next morning as they prepared to head back to their starting point they were met by a good friend who had just cycled the forty-mile trip morning and was ready to head back. He was an excellent cyclist and with him pacing the young cyclists back to town they made the return trip in just two and a half hours.

In the same way young Christians need to “pacing” of older believers as they take their first “riders” in Christ if they are to progress as far in the Christian life as they should and as quickly as they can. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》

Discipleship Vision for

William Kelly was an outstanding student of the Bible whose scholarship and spirituality made him a real power for God in Great Britain at the close of the last century. Kelly had once helped a young relative prepare for Trinity College in Dublin and in this way came to the attention of the professors there. They urged him to take up work at the college and thus distinguish himself. When Kelly showed a compete lack of enthusiasm for their suggestion they were nonplussed. One of them asked in exasperation “But Mr. Kelly aren’t you interested in making a name for yourself in the world?”

To which Kelly adroitly replied “Which world gentlemen?” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》

DISCIPLES

For the death of the 12 Disciples see APOSTLES

To: Jesus Son of Joseph
Woodcrafter's Carpenter Shop
Nazareth 25922

From: Jordan Management Consultants

Dear Sir:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

The profiles of all tests are included and you will want to study each of them carefully.

As part of our service we make some general comments for your guidance much as an auditor will include some general statements. This is given as a result of staff consultation and comes without any additional fee.

It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers James and John the sons of Zebedee place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.

One of the candidates however shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness meets people well has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.

We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sincerely

Jordan Management Consultants

Tim Hansel Eating Problems for Breakfast Word Publishing 1988 pp. 194-195.