The importance of using our time wisely and investing our lives in making disciples

This YouTube video was recorded at one of the sessions for the Liberia Pastors Conference. This teaching comes from the Church of Hope Leadership Training Manual In this YouTube video teaching Pastor Conrad shares firstly on the importance of using our time wisely including the following keys to doing so: i) The importance of being good stewards of our spiritual gifts. That we fully utilize our spiritual gifts ii) THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING FOCUSED iii) The importance of following God’s plan for our life. God has a unique plan and destiny for each of our lives iv) The importance of making plans v) The importance of maximizing the time that we spend on seeing the Kingdom of God expanded. In particular that we are faithful in doing all those things that God has put on our heart to do vi) That it is as we continually seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness that we can be assured that all the things that we need in this life will be given to us to help us to fulfil our God given destiny AND vii) THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ONLY ONE SHORT LIFE HERE ON EARTH TO STORE UP TREASURES FOR ETERNITY Pastor Conrad then shares on the importance of making disciples and that all leaders and pastors should have this as a great focus Pastor Conrad then shares the following seven core values of a mature disciple based on the teachings of Jesus Of all the 350 things that Jesus taught and commanded His disciples to do they can be summarized into the following seven core values: A DISCIPLE 1) Loves God 2) Loves People 3) Loves a Godly Lifestyle 4) Loves Telling Others (sharing the gospel with others) 5) Loves God’s Family 6) Loves God’s Kingdom, AND 7) Loves to Give Pastor Conrad then shares the following four step process that Jesus used to train up His disciples: 1) Jesus first GATHERED a group of people whom He believed would become disciples (Mark 1:16-18) (Mark 1:19-20) (Mark 2:14) 2) After Jesus had gathered His disciples, He then took them on preaching tours and MODELLED the following for them: The importance of finding and fulfilling God’s purpose for their life (Mark 1:38) How to preach the gospel of the Kingdom (Mark 1:39) How to serve people by casting out demons and healing the sick (Mark 1:39-41) and How to live a genuine God-glorifying life (Mark 1:38-42) 3) Jesus then began to MENTOR the twelve disciples. Pastor Conrad then shares the following important things to consider when assessing the completed tasks of those that we are mentoring: i) What was done well ii) What could be done better, and iii) What needs to be done next time which was not done this time The simple fact is that no person will ever do things perfect the first time. A person must be allowed to make mistakes and create room for correction. A DISCIPLE MAKER MUST LEARN TO BECOME AN EQUIPPER THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD (ACC) PASTORS INTENSIVE HANDBOOK OUTLINES SIX KEYS TO BEING AN EFFECTIVE MENTOR These are. A good mentor needs to: Encourage Nurture Resource Invest in Coach, and Hang in with those that they are mentoring so that we can enrich their lives and help them to grow into mature disciples AND 4) Finally, before ascending to heaven, Jesus MOBILISED the disciples to do what He had trained them to do It is our prayer that this teaching will greatly help many pastors and leaders to raise up many mature disciple makers in the days to come The Apostle Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)