Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #47 (Evangelism) December 29, 2012

Hello my dear friends! I pray that you have been refreshed during this season of Advent and are now making preparations to review your life these past twelve months. I always find it useful to reflect back upon the year's events--both the good and the challenging ones.

In today's Psalms of Discipleship we are going to be reminded that before effective evangelism can take place, we've got to know the Gospel and be living it out.

Making disciples with you,

Denny Bates

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #47

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, 7 That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, Psalm 78:1-7

Core Value: Evangelism

We know of the greatest story ever told, but many of us fail to clearly share it with those who most desperately need to hear it: those who are far outside the love of the Father and the family of God. Many of these people are “nice” people; some may even be nicer that we are. But without a relationship with Jesus, they are lost. So, what are we to do?

It has been said that found people find lost people. One of the most effective ways to create a culture of evangelism is to begin with a culture of discipleship. The Gospel is more than a story that gets people saved. The Gospel is Good News and empowers us to live an abundant life in Jesus Christ after we come to know Him. Before we can effectively reach the lost, we must first reach the believer and teach them how to become a DiscipleMaker4Jesus.

Principle #47 & Personal Application: Quality disciples desire to share the Gospel with those who will reach future generations (2 Tim. 2:2).

• We need to know the Gospel before we can tell others of it (vs. 1-4)

• We need to teach the Gospel with the goal of impacting future generations of believers (vs. 5-6)

• We need to tell others to place their confidence in the God of the Gospel (vs. 7)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When am I most at ease when sharing my faith with an unbeliever? When do I find it to be the most difficult?

How can my testimony be used as an evangelistic tool? Who needs to hear my story this week?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, May I always be ready to share of the miracle of Your Gospel with those who need to accept Your saving invitation. May I always place my confidence in the God of the Gospel.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Are you looking for a helpful resource that will guide your spiritual growth in 2013? I'd like to recommend this book, "A One Year Journey With The Shepherd." Now in e-book and printed versions.

http://www.dennybates.com/#!a-one-year-journey-with-the-shepherd/c6pu

 

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #39--Grace--October 8, 2011

Hello my friends! I have just returned from the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta with a full heart and a tired body. All that I experienced can be best described as drinking from a fire hydrant. I'm still processing what I have heard, but one quote I will share with you as it pertains to this week's Psalms of Discipleship. "We can become tired doing the wrong things instead of doing the things God puts before us to do." In other words, we often work in our own strength, wasting our energy, doing the things that wear us out to the point where we find ourselves not having the energy to do the things that God is directing us to do. The bottom line? We face the ongoing challenge of living by works or by grace.

Learning with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #39

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 4 You are my King, O God; Command victories [or salvation] for Jacob. 5 Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us. 6 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. 7 But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame those who hate us. 8 In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah. 9 Yet You have rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And do not go out with our armies. Psalm 44:4-9

Core Value: Grace

There are two ways that people seek to live out the Christian life. One way is to try as hard as one can to appear spiritual. This means we pray more, study more, and serve more in the attempt to make God like us more. This leads to an obvious question: how much is enough in order to gain God’s favor? The second way, the biblical way, is to pray more, study more, and serve more as a response to God’s great love for us. This is the path of a grace-driven life. Consider this wonderful, freeing truth: Before we do one thing for God, we have already experienced His favor because of the finished work of Christ.

A note of background here: Psalm 44 is a wonderful contrast between grace (unmerited favor) and works (or performance). When we live by grace (God does it all) we experience an outcome we do not deserve. When we deviate from grace and live by works (We do it all) we experience an outcome we do deserve. In the context of this Psalm, all is going well until verse 9. May we not repeat the mistakes of our spiritual forefathers.

Principle #39 & Personal Application: The quality disciple must live by grace and not by works or grace will become spoiled.

• It is by grace that we are saved.

• It is by grace that we are victorious in the Lord.

• It is by grace that we realize our own efforts (our bow and sword) will not save us.

• It is by grace that we can give thanks to the name of the Lord forever.

• It is by works that we reject God’s grace and suffer the results of our choice.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

In what ways have I noticed the grace of God strengthening my relationships with family and friends?

How can I guard myself from poisoning grace with my desire to take matters into my own hands?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am so grateful for Your grace. It has not only saved my soul, but has also empowered me to live the Christian life as Your disciple. May I never trust in my own bow and sword. May I always boast in Your ability to take care of my every need.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

Looking for practical and easy to devotional book and personal journal based upon the Psalms? Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace may be a book for you! Click on the link for a free sample. Available in both print and ebook formats. http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #36--Worship--September 17, 2011

Hello my dear friends! The Psalmist, once again, directs our conversation towards the core value of "Worship." Worship is not about us, but about Jesus. In today's Psalm we are going to be reminded that worship is more than just singing a few praise songs on Sunday morning. To contrast, worship is a sacrifice of praise--all day long.

May our worship of Jesus be like a sweet aroma to Him.

Learning with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #36

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8

Core Value: Worship

Why do we worship? Is our worship founded upon obligation or gratitude? Do we offer worship to God out of a sense of obligation where we feel we owe God so much that the “least” we can do is give Him our worship? Or is our worship to God offered from a heart that has fallen in love with its Maker? In our culture it seems that even worship of God can become another consumable product that is used and then thrown aside for the next, best thing. The Bible has plenty to say about worship and how it is used to please God. For one, worship, biblical worship, is not limited to a specific location, day or time.

Worship Is Not About Where You Worship; It Is About Who You Worship.

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." | Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. | You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. | Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. | God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:20-24 (NIV)

There are some people who believe that the only place where God can be worshiped appropriately is in a church building on a Sunday morning at a certain time. Thankfully, God has refused to allow Himself to be placed in a box. The wonder of worship is that God can be worshiped anyplace, at anytime.

Principle #36 & Personal Application: The quality disciple experiences the presence of the Lord both day and night, resulting in a life of on-going praise and worship.

• We worship the Lord for His unfailing and unending lovingkindness (mercy).

• We worship the Lord for His song: a song of deliverance, a song of comfort, a song of praise sung to His glory.

• We worship the Lord for His Lordship of our lives: He is the God of my life.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What are the circumstances of my life that often hinder my worship of the Lord?

What would my life as a Christian begin to look like if my worship of the Lord would be greater than my worries?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by faith in You, I thank You that You do command Your lovingkindness in the daytime. By faith, You do bless me with Your song in the night. May I always worship and praise You: for You, O Lord, are the God of my life.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Looking to go deeper in your devotional experience?

A fresh resource for your spiritual growth is Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. Now in a downloadable ebook! http://t.co/vtTWQZy5

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #35--Worship--September 10, 2011

Hello my dear friends! Today's Psalms of Discipleship will be an encouragement to all of us, no matter our where we are (or have been) in our journey with the Shepherd of the Psalms. We all have experienced great times as well as having gone through the dark waters of discouragement and personal failure. Thankfully, the Lord is present in each and every circumstance.

Learning as I go,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #35

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5

Core Value: Worship

In his classic novel, A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens targeted the tension between good and evil when he wrote these famous words:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”

Those same words could be written today as we seek to navigate dangerous waters. In our case, the tension is between trusting in the Lord or allowing fear of our circumstances take control of us. All that surrounded him disturbed the psalmist. Words like “despair” and “disturbed” had become a part of his vocabulary. Many people, even believers, fail to move on from these kinds of words. They surrender and settle for spiritual defeat. This was not the case with the psalmist. Instead, after showing his transparency and confessing his inner struggle, he made a choice to move on to a far healthier perspective. His circumstances, for the moment, had not changed but his vocabulary did. He goes from “despair” to “hope in God,” from “disturbed” to “I shall again praise Him.” He rests in the fact that the presence of the Lord will help him.

May we all be honest to God on how we really feel. But may we also, through grace, have the faith to hope in Him and praise Him, even in the most challenging of circumstances. For even in the worst of times we can experience the best of times if we are trusting Jesus to take care of us.

Principle #35 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has chosen to worship God even in the midst of challenging circumstances.

• Even when our soul is in despair and has become disturbed, worship of the Lord must be our first response.

• Our hope is not in our wisdom, nor in our human strength, and certainly it is not in the citadels of political power. Our hope must be in God.

• It requires faith, not faith in one’s self, but faith in God to praise and worship Him.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

How can I begin to make the transition in my spiritual journey where praise and worship of God becomes my default setting (in other words, “my habit”) as I respond to Him when I face difficult circumstances?

Everyone goes through difficult times. Have I ever had an experience where I sensed the presence of the Lord as I began to praise and worship Him?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there have been times in my life where my soul has been in despair and very disturbed. And yet, You have offered me grace. It is by Your grace that I can hope in my God. It is by faith where I can praise and worship You. May my life be marked as a disciple who has the habit of worshiping You.

PS. Thanks to all of you have given your input on a new project I am working on called Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With The Shepherd. I'm going to close out the survey on September 17. If you have not taken the opportunity to respond, please do so this week. It is ten questions in less than five minutes. This link will take you to the survey. Thanks again!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6HBT759

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #30--Bible Study--August 6, 2011

Warm greetings to you, my dear friends! Today we are going to discuss a topic that, for some, may be a struggle: learning how to gain a better handle on Bible study. For these, it has become a legalistic ritual. For others of you, you have found the mother lode of spiritual growth and continue to strike it rich. The psalmist gives us his perspective. May we learn and apply what he experienced.

Learning with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #30 (Bible Study)

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8

Core Value: Bible Study

My way, or His way? My will, or His? This is the cosmic game of tug of war that every disciple of Jesus participates in everyday. One of the great resources the disciple of Jesus has to draw from is the Word of God. We need to study it, meditate upon it, and obey it. And yet, there is an important consideration for why we need to do this: it is not so we can become experts at Bible trivia. It is not so we can fill ourselves with knowledge, for knowledge’s sake. We approach God’s Word, through grace, because we want to know Him in a far deeper way, to embrace a more intimate relationship that will cause us to become more like Jesus.

There are at least two ways in which believers approach Bible study. One way is the way of the Pharisee. They know a lot, but are dead on the inside. Words like “should” and “must” constantly haunt the spiritual Pharisee. Bible study or a “quiet time” is done out of guilt or pride and is completely void of joy. It is this kind of legalism which drives them to performance, seeking not to only impress others who are watching, but ironically, even trying to please God in a sort of twisted way.

There is a far better way to approach Bible study. It is the way of grace. Grace draws us closer to Him. We come to learn a lot about the ways of the Lord, and a deeper knowledge of Him makes us alive on the inside. Words like “may” and “can” fill our hearts with a passion to know Him more and gives us a deep appreciation that God would reveal Himself to us on such an intimate level. Bible study or a “quiet time” is done as a “delight” as we experience a joy in His presence that only He can give (Ps. 16:11).

It is this kind of grace-driven life that draws us into a life where our imperfections are covered by the blood of Christ and where we find acceptance by Him and by those who love Him too.

Principle #30 & Personal Application: The quality disciple is so consumed by the Word of God that it becomes the only grid for how life is lived.

• Bible study, done for the right reasons, will produce a right desire: “I delight to do Your will, O my God.”

• Bible study, done in the right way, will produce a right reason to gain more knowledge of His Law: not to know more about Him, but to know Him better.

• Bible study, done with the goal of a right life, will produce a right course for life because of God’s Word that “is within my heart.”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I read my Bible and come across a verse that challenges me to submit and obey, how do I usually respond to it?

What is my plan this week to place more of God’s Word within my heart?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I always find delight in doing Your will. I confess, I often want my way but grant me the grace to want Your way more today than I did yesterday and even more tomorrow. May I make a fresh commitment today to place more of Your Word within my heart.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service​—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

Looking for a Bible study this summer for you and your small group? Check out this link on how you can download Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace and make it available to your small group for FREE!

http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

www.dennybates.com

http://thequalitydisciple.blog​ spot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #29--Worship--July 29, 2011

Hello dear friends,

I am writing you a day early, but I believe you will appreciate not only the "early delivery" but will find today's devotion an encouragement that will carry you through the weekend and into next week.

Have you ever tried to count the stars of the sky? Or the granules of sand at the beach? Or the blessings of God upon your life? Impossible, I know.

I'm glad that I can't keep count,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship (Worship), July 29, 2011—Principle #29

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Psalm 40:5

Core Value: Worship

Some people have it good . . . disciples of Jesus have it REAL good. It is no mystery to us that the goodness of the Lord toward us can have no monetary or material price placed upon it. His goodness is priceless. Even though this is true, often, we spend more time focusing upon what we do not have and fail to appreciate all that we do possess in Christ. And if we can find a way to escape what is known as “the rat race” and come to the quiet place in our daily walk with the Lord, we will be quick to see how great, how glorious, how wonderful is our God. For it is when we begin to believe what God has said about Himself and to believe that His passionate desire is to pursue His children with a radical and sacrificial love, we will begin to think, with an imagined calculator in hand, and try to count His mighty works and His tender thoughts directed to us. We try. We fail. We worship.

Principle #29 & Personal Application: The quality disciple experiences a worship that is so overwhelming that it becomes impossible to fully count the blessings of God.

• Biblical worship is always focused upon the Lord and His marvelous works: “Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done.”

• Biblical worship is a personal acknowledgment of how much God means to us: “And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You.”

• Biblical worship taps into the eternal, infinite character and works of God: “If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Can I list at least ten things that have have experienced this week that have been from the hand of God?

How would my life perspective be different if I made the consistent choice to worship the Lord and thank Him for all that He has done for me?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You have done so much for me. Forgive me for the times I forget to thank You. Lord Jesus, Your thoughts toward me, there is none to compare with You. It humbles me that the God of the universe would think about me, in a positive way. Lord Jesus, when I think about all that You have done for me I am overwhelmed with worship for You and I will praise You for as long as I have breath.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service​ —Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com

http://thequalitydisciple.blog​ spot.com/

Looking for a Bible study this summer for you and your small group? Check out this link on how you can download Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace and make it available to your small group for FREE!

http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

http://www.dennybates.com/
www.dennybates.com

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #28--Grace & Evangelism--July 23, 2011

Hello my dear friends! Warm, very warm, greetings to you from sunny and hot South Carolina. Today we are going to take a close look at one of my favorite Psalms. It is a lesson on grace and evangelism and how God uses our most difficult times to bring glory to Him and good to us.

May the Lord use this passage of Scripture to give you great encouragement and comfort today. I'm praying for you. Thanks for praying for me.

In the hands of the One who cares for me,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship: July 23, 2011—Principle #28 (Grace & Evangelism)

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #28

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3

Core Value: Grace and Evangelism

Whoever said that life would be easier once we became a devoted follower of Jesus is misleading at best, or at worst, just flat out lied to us. Yes, it would be easier on us if our Christianity were no more than a formula we could memorize and confess our way to success. Yes, it would be easier to be a Christian if a stable life was guaranteed with no difficult changes allowed. But, we know the truth. The Christian life is not based upon a formula; it is based upon having a relationship with Jesus. All of us have personally discovered that the Christian does experience wild swings of highs and lows.

The challenge for all of us who follow Jesus as His disciples is clear: will we trust Him when it seems everything is going against us? Will we trust Him or will we lean towards our own ability to make our way? Are we willing to rest in God’s character (He loves us, cares for us, has a plan for us, etc.) or will we convince ourselves that God has forgotten about us and left us to ruin? Are we patient with God? Do we have hope, no matter how deep is the pit we are in, that God is at work in us and through us? David did and so can we.

Principle #28 & Personal Application: The quality disciple experiences the blessing of going from desperation in the pit of destruction to a supernatural deliverance that offers to the Lord unending worship, glory and praise.

• It is the grace of a patient God that helps us wait patiently for the Lord (and for His perfect work and timing) when everything within us schemes to take control and offer our own solutions.

• It is the grace of a concerned God that helps us believe that He does care for us and that He does listen to both the audible and inaudible cries of our heart.

• It is the grace of a delivering God that helps us escape from our own forms of destructive pits and miry clay to a place of stability and safety.

• It is the grace of a glorious God that helps us sing the kind of life song of praise that causes others to trust in our great God too.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I find myself in a destructive pit and reach the point of wanting to give up, what keeps me going?

Can I think of a time when the Lord used a difficult (but spiritually enriching) time in my life that caused others around me to grow closer to the Lord?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by Your grace, may I always be patient with You. I know that You have never forgotten about me and that You do hear the cry of my heart. May I always look to You as my deliverer and my stability and my safety and may my life be a life song that causes others to trust in You too.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service​—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

Looking for a Bible study this summer for you and your small group? Check out this link on how you can download Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace and make it available to your small group for FREE!

http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

www.dennybates.com

http://thequalitydisciple.blog​ spot.com/

http://www.dennybates.com/
www.dennybates.com

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #27--Prayer--July 16, 2011

Hello dear friends, today we are going to compare two very familiar, but contrasting realities that everyone of us face: frustration and success. In a very paradoxical way, both of these are joined to the hip and are experienced by every disciple of Jesus. The on-going lesson we must learn is how to properly relate to each one. The Psalmist gives us his perspective on what he did when life became difficult. He prayed.

Learning with you, praying for you today,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship: July 16, 2011—Principle #27 (Prayer)

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 I said, "I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence." 2 I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, And my sorrow grew worse. 3 My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue: 4 "LORD, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Psalm 39:1-4

Core Value: Prayer

Been frustrated . . . lately . . . with your circumstances . . . with other people . . . with yourself . . . with God? Frustration. We prefer that things go our way, always. We somehow believe that anything or anyone who frustrates us is not God’s best for us. Given the choice, we will say goodbye to frustration and say hello to success. Sometimes we can become spoiled with “success.” It is a season where it seems everything is going right: every decision we make is spot on, every relationship we are in is thriving, everything we do seems to have success written all over it. Success; we get used to it; we require it like a drug; and when “the other shoe drops,” when it appears that everything we touch no longer turns to gold but to dust, each one of us must come face to face with these probing questions: what will I think and what will I do when I become frustrated? Will I lash out in a desperate way to vindicate myself or will I turn to the Lord and seek His help and allow Him to defend me?

This is the common challenge of every disciple of Jesus: to work out our frustrations our way or to yield our way and submit to His. In a mysterious way, the Lord uses our frustrations to draw us closer to Him, which is a success. It is through prayer where we present our frustrations to God and He presents His grace to us.

Principle #27 & Personal Application: The quality disciple is guarded and has learned the art of directing one’s frustrations away from those who cannot help to the only One who can help.

• When we are guarded we choose to be very selective with whom we share our concerns: We are to guard our ways and we are to guard our mouth.

• When we are guarded we choose to find the correct way to “vent” our frustrations: We come to a point when it is unhealthy to just sit in and suffer spiritual heartburn with our feelings. Our frustrations will consume us and sicken us unless we redirect them to the Lord in prayer.

• When we are guarded, we can become completely honest to God by sharing with Him the deepest concerns of our heart: “Lord, make me to know my end.” Or as The Living Bible says,

Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more. Psalm 39:4 (TLB)

In other words, Lord, grant to me Your perspective as I sort out the life challenges before me.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Have I ever shared my complaint of a circumstance with another person in a way that can be considered spiritual gossip?

When I become frustrated with a circumstance that I do not like, am I more prone to take my complaint to other people or to the Lord? Why is this? What can I do in order to gain a better perspective?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may Your grace help me to make the healthy choice when I am facing a frustration. I am often tempted to entrust spiritual matters (that can only be solved by You) into the hands of people who have no power to fix my problems. In fact, the problem becomes even more challenging when I bypass You in prayer and entrust spiritual gossip with them. May I learn how to be guarded with my mouth and learn the art of directing my frustrations away from those who cannot help to the only One who can help me.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service​—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com

http://thequalitydisciple.blog​ spot.com/

Looking for a Bible study this summer for you and your small group? Check out this link on how you can download Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace and make it available to your small group for FREE!

http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

http://www.dennybates.com/
www.dennybates.com

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #26--Prayer--July 9, 2011

Hello dear friends,

Today we are going to take a look at the power of transparency and why it is such an important attribute for the disciple of Jesus. But, as we will learn, it is much easier to talk about it than to live it out day by day. For many of us, we find that living behind a mask is much safer than letting others know who we... really are. Perhaps this will be the day where the masks we collect as sick trophies of our life begin to fall off.

Learning with you,

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #26 (Prayer)

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 17 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin. 19 But my enemies are vigorous and strong, And many are those who hate me wrongfully. 20 And those who repay evil for good, They oppose me, because I follow what is good. 21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me! 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! Psalm 38:17-22

Core Value: Prayer

Is it safe enough for you to fail? Or to put it another way, what has been your experience when your walk did not line up with your talk? Has it been your rapid response to quickly throw on your mask, seeking to hide the “real” you? Are you safe in the presence of other Christians? Do you feel safe before God? William Shakespeare said it so well when he wrote, “God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another.” One of the saddest experiences of the Christian life is when a person either cannot or will not be real. Instead of experiencing the exhilarating sensation of being okay with whom one is (flaws and all), the defeated believer is imprisoned by the shackles of legalism, self-condemnation, and an always flawed attempt of needing to have it all together.

How sad. How defeating. How come? Perhaps, the reason we seek to hide behind a mask is due to a lack of trust—in God, in others, and in ourselves. Is there a way we can be free of hiding behind the mask? Is there a safe place where we can fail? Yes. The answer is the Gospel. It is in the Gospel where God always takes the initiative and pursues us, imperfections and all. It is in the Gospel where, what we cannot do (repair ourselves), God does reparative work through the Cross. And it is in the Gospel where God reveals to us His image (His face) as we experience a spiritual facelift where “from glory to glory He is changing us” (2 Corinthians 3:12-18). It is because of grace that we can lay down our masks (become transparent) and experience acceptance before others and before God.

Principle #26 & Personal Application: The quality disciple is transparent before the Lord and willing to confess not only one’s sin, but to appeal to the Lord for His help.

• Transparent prayer is when we acknowledge before God our spiritual failures.

• Transparent prayer is when we confess our inadequate strength in fighting our own battles.

• Transparent prayer is when we openly beseech the Lord for His help.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What are some of the weak areas of my life that need to be confessed to the Lord?

How does the Lord help me when I feel surrounded by the enemies of my soul?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You, above all others, know how often I fail to trust You. I confess to You that I am a sinner (though saved by Your grace) and allow my anxiety to replace Your peace too many times. I confess to You that I seek to fight my own battles far too often as I push You aside. I confess to You that I need Your help and Your presence in my life.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service​—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com

http://thequalitydisciple.blog​ spot.com/

Looking for a Bible study this summer for you and your small group? Check out this link on how you can download Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace and make it available to your small group for FREE!

http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

http://www.dennybates.com/
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Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #25--Prayer--July 2, 2011

Hello dear friends, I "Hope" you are doing well today. My hope for your well-being is not a hopeful assumption but a hope that is intimately connected with my hope... in the Lord and that He is at work in your life in a special way.

There are many believers who live the Christian life according to the way of "hope so," hoping and praying that God might (maybe, possibly, perhaps answer their prayer) instead of knowing and believing that God is at work in supernatural ways. Prayer is the portal where we are given insight where our hope is no longer based upon how we feel but upon the Lord's character and His great promises to us.

Thirteen years ago to this day, I placed my hope in the Lord. At age 41, after experiencing a heart attack, I was not given much hope to survive much less live a quality life. How did it turn out for me? I found the Lord to be full of mercy and grace, choosing to heal me. How does hope come to the disciple? Hope is not what we can conjure up with our own strength and will. Like all other good things that come from the Lord, hope is a gift He gives to those who trust in Him. What I learned years ago still remains true: For I hope in the LORD; He did (and will still) answer my prayers. He will answer yours too.

Hope you will hope in Him,

Denny

Key Scripture: For I hope in You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15

Core Value: Prayer

Hope is an important component in the life of the believer. Without hope, we sink into a hopeless depression. Without hope, life has no meaning and no future. However, hope has to be connected in the right way. To have hope in the fragile strength of mankind will prove to be disappointing, to say the least. To have hope that the ominous storms of life will avoid us and strike somewhere else instead is nothing more than the foolish act of placing all of our tokens on the poker table and taking a risky bet against the house (and we know, the house always wins). To have hope in oneself, although noble, still sets us up for an eventual failure. So, what are we to do with hope? The Psalmist helps us see this more clearly. We are to place our hope in the Lord. We are to hope in His Word (Psalm 119:81; 130:5, 7).

Principle #25 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has a confident hope in the Lord who answers prayer.

• Our hope in the Lord is personal: “For I hope.”

• Our hope in the Lord is precise: “In You, O LORD.”

• Our hope in the Lord is fully persuaded: “You will answer, O Lord my God.”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I pray, is my hope in “my faith” or is my hope in “my faith in the Lord?

When is the last time I can remember where God answered one of my prayers?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may my hope in You always be personal (“For I hope”). May my hope in You always be directed to You and not to some man-made methodology of prayer (“In You, O LORD”). And may my hope be fueled with a confident hope and be fully persuaded that You will answer my prayers (“You will answer, O Lord my God”).

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com

http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Looking for a Bible study this summer for you and your small group? Check out this link on how you can download Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace and make it available to your small group for FREE!

http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

http://www.dennybates.com/
www.dennybates.com

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #24--Grace--June 25, 2011

Hello dear friends! I trust that today you are experiencing a life that is driven by the grace of God. We all know what it's like to be driven by perfectionism and legalism and works. It kills us an inch of life at a time. However, when we tap into the sweet spot of grace, we ...come alive. Today's Psalms of Discipleship presents the case for grace in a refreshing way. If I could give it a title, it would be "The Problem With Grace." Its a problem we can appreciate and enjoy!

Grace to you,

Denny


Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; For the man of peace will have a posterity. 38 But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble. 40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him. Psalm 37:37-40

Core Value: Grace

What is grace? It is getting something good that we do not deserve. And when we do receive grace, by faith, our hearts become full of gratitude. Why? Because we know we are so undeserving, yet, as disciples of Jesus, we also know that we are valued greatly by our Lord. Experiencing a Grace-Driven life causes us to live with . . .

• More PURPOSE: our life is focused on doing the things that really matter

• More HUMILITY: our life is willing to learn more about living in the Kingdom of God

• More APPRECIATION: our life is impacted in ways where we can never thank God enough

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Psalm 40:5

And that is the problem with grace . . . you just can’t keep up with it’s blessings!

Principle #24 & Personal Application: The quality disciple takes refuge in the God of grace and enjoys salvation, strength, and deliverance.

• In the God of grace we find salvation from the Lord.

• In the God of grace we find strength in time of trouble.

• In the God of grace we find deliverance from the wicked.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What has the Lord saved me from? Where would I be without His grace?

Do I know how not to trust in my own strength and trust in His?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, where would I be without Your saving grace? Thank You that my salvation is from You. I am grateful that You are my strength in time of trouble. I am forever thankful that You help me and deliver me from the wicked and save me. May I always take refuge in You.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com

http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/


Looking for a Bible study this summer for you and your small group? Check out this link on how you can download Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace and make it available to your small group for FREE!

http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #23--Bible Study--June 18, 2011

Hello dear friends! "Got wisdom?" This is today's topic and how we can get all of the wisdom we need in order to live as a quality disciple of Jesus. In our seeking of "it" we need to make certain we are pursuing the right kind of wisdom and not filling our lives with toxic wisdom that will poison us, quenching us in our faith.

May we all be wise, for His glory.

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—(Bible Study) Principle #23, June 18, 2011

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip. Psalm 37:30-31

Core Value: Bible Study

If there were one quality that every disciple of Jesus needs in order to navigate the uncertainties of this life, it would be wisdom. Wisdom comes in a variety of ways: there is “earthly” wisdom, which is totally insufficient for our eternal purposes. Then, there is wisdom from “above” which is “pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17 ESV). This kind of wisdom is a defining characteristic that we should strive to possess.

And how does one obtain this kind of wisdom and become wise? We find our answers from the Word of God. The Scriptures teach:

• Wisdom will come to those who fear the Lord (have an awesome respect for the Lord) and have a humble, teachable spirit (Proverbs 1:1-7).

• Wisdom will come to those who submit their life under the authority of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

• Wisdom will come to those who surround themselves with other wise people (Proverbs 13:20).

Need to become wiser? There are those who seek to look and act wise and there are those who are truly wise. Will you just look the part or will you be wise? Former basketball coach John Wooden reminds us of this truth: “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”

Get wisdom . . . now.

Principle #23 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has learned to seamlessly integrate the truths of God’s Word into the everyday affairs of one’s life.

• The believer who is grounded in God’s Word will know what to say and how to say it: “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom”

• The believer who is grounded in God’s Word will know the difference between right and wrong: “And his tongue speaks justice”

• The believer who is grounded in God’s Word will know what to do and when to do it: “The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What kinds of things come out of my mouth after I have spent time reading God’s Word?

How can I take what I know about the Bible and make it a vital part of who I am?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Your promise to me is that my mouth will utter wisdom. I confess to You: my earthly wisdom is grossly insufficient. May the wisdom I utter always be Your wisdom. Lord Jesus, Your promise to me is that my tongue will speak justice. May I always live for what is right and oppose what is wrong. Lord Jesus, Your promise to me is that when the law of my God is in my heart, my steps do not slip. May I always live my life in such a way that my life choices are based upon the truths of Your Word.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

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Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace is now available in eBook for only $7.99 per download (a 50% savings). Great idea for your computer, iPad or Kindle!

Learn how you can photocopy up to 10 free copies of this eBook for your discipleship ministry. http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

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Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #22--Grace--June 11, 2011

Hello dear friends! Warm greetings to each of you on this day. I thank the Lord for you. Many of you are in a challenging set of circumstances where you are. Some of you are in harms way in Afghanistan. Others are planting seeds of the Kingdom in Ukraine and in Eastern Europe. Then, there are many of us are living in the United States... seeking to live out the discipled life that Jesus calls us to live. The common thread for all of us? We are in desperate need of His grace.

Today's Psalms of Discipleship reminds us of the value of living the grace-driven life. It's been a good reminder for me. I pray that it will be a good reminder for you too--no matter where you are living and serving today.

Captured by His grace,

Denny

PS. Thanks again to all who lifted me up in prayer this past week as I defended my dissertation. I passed . . . by the grace of God :)

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. 25 I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread. 26 All day long he is gracious and lends, And his descendants are a blessing. Psalm 37:23-26

Core Value: Grace

Just try harder.

Anyone ever told you this before? What if you have “tried harder” and the harder you tried, the harder it got and the harder it got, made you want to try even harder . . . and yet, no matter how hard you tried, and how many times you tried, you failed (and did so miserably)?

Sometimes the answer to life is not to try harder but to trust more. In our own strength, we can only do as much as we can do. The result of our trying is often limited to how we feel on a given day. Is there a better way of living the Christian life?

I believe there is and it is called the grace-driven life. When we set out to live a grace-driven life we are committing to trust the Lord for His endurance, His persistence, His power, His agenda, His life to become our own. Remember, grace gives us what we do not deserve. It pleases the Lord Jesus to give us “established steps” so we might hold on to His hand when we do fall. His grace allows us to live a life of faith where our physical needs are met, no matter how young or old we might be. His grace allows us to create a legacy where even our descendants are a blessing. This is what a grace-driven life will accomplish.

It’s time to quit trying so hard. May we all experience what it means to live a life that is driven by grace.

Principle #22 & Personal Application: The quality disciple does not have to strive for an impossible perfection but gladly presses in to experience a grace-driven life.

• A grace-driven life is marked by steps that are established by the Lord.

• A grace-driven life is marked by a protective Hand that grips us tightly, even when we fall.

• A grace-driven life is marked by a testimony that speaks of God’s great faithfulness to provide.

• A grace-driven life is marked by a desire to give away our time, resources, and talents.

• A grace-driven life is marked by a legacy of our family (our descendants) who become a blessing too.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Can I recall a time when I suffered a stumble and, yet, the Lord caught me?

Am I experiencing a grace-driven life? If not, what must change in me?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank You for granting me steps that are established. May I always sense the grip of Your hand, Your grace. Thank You for the promise of Your gracious provision for everything I need in this life. And because I am experiencing the wonder of Your grace, may I always have a giving heart and be a vessel of Your grace to others.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace is now available in eBook for only $7.99 per download (a 50% savings). Great idea for your computer, iPad or Kindle!

http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html

Learn how you can photocopy up to 10 free copies of this eBook for your discipleship ministry. http://bit.ly/lwpzNU

http://www.dennybates.com/
www.dennybates.com