Discover the value of discipleship in the Christian faith and the impact of studying the Bible together. Hear the love story and spiritual connection of Matt and Allison Willis. Get advice for newlyweds on maintaining spiritual intimacy. Learn about the challenges and rewards of missionary life in South Asia. Understand discipleship and the importance of relationships. Explore the benefits of small discipleship groups and Scripture memory. Find out how Scripture memory and prayer deepen one's relationship with God. Discover the advantages of joining a small group and going through a discipleship experience.
Discipleship is a vital journey of obedience, knowing, obeying, and loving Jesus, as well as loving and serving others.
Shared purpose and serving together in discipleship can strengthen relationships and deepen reliance on God.
Deep dives
Building Relationships Through Discipleship
This podcast episode emphasizes the importance of discipleship and the benefits it brings to the personal spiritual journey. The hosts, Matt and Allison Willis, discuss their own experiences of discipleship and their desire to carry forward the legacy of Matt's grandfather, Avery Willis, in making disciples. They introduce their new discipleship program called Master Life Together, a simplified and updated version of the classic Master Life material. The program focuses on topics such as prayer, Scripture memory, and Christ-centered community, aiming to help individuals grow as disciples and equip them to make disciples themselves. Matt and Allison highlight the value of small groups and the accountability and support they provide in the discipleship journey. They encourage listeners to consider joining or forming small groups to engage in this discipleship experience. Overall, the podcast showcases the significance of discipleship in strengthening relationships with God, self, others, and the world.
Relationships Formed Through Serving Together
Matt and Allison Willis share their love story, which began during a mission trip to China. They recount the unique circumstances that brought them together, including teaching at a high school and sharing the gospel with their students, who subsequently became believers. Serving together in a foreign country strengthened their marriage and deepened their reliance on God. They emphasize the value of shared purpose and slower pace of life in developing strong relationships. Their experiences highlight the importance of relationships formed through serving together in discipleship and the impact it can have on personal growth and spiritual intimacy.
Challenges and Growth in Missionary Life
Matt and Allison Willis discuss their experiences as missionaries in South Asia with their three young children. They reflect on the challenges they faced, such as language barriers, extreme heat, power outages, conflict with other missionaries, spiritual warfare, and mental health issues. Despite these challenges, they relied on their intimacy with Jesus to overcome difficulties and fulfill their mission of sharing the gospel. They share the importance of having a personal vision statement and prioritizing spiritual growth and obedience. Their experiences demonstrate that relying on God's strength and staying rooted in intimacy with Jesus is the key to overcoming challenges and making a lasting impact.
The Value of Discipleship in Growth and Relationships
Matt and Allison Willis explain the significance of discipleship and how it impacts individuals' growth and relationships. They define discipleship as a personal love relationship with Jesus, manifested through a lifelong journey of obedience. Discipleship involves knowing, obeying, and loving Jesus, as well as loving and serving others. The Willis couple highlights the value of Scripture memory and prayer in discipleship. Scripture memory deepens intimacy with God and equips individuals to resist temptation, while prayer strengthens the relationship with God and enhances spiritual growth. They emphasize that discipleship happens in community and call for accountability and intentional relationships with other believers. Overall, they convey that discipleship is an ongoing and transformative process that requires vulnerability, obedience, and a deepening relationship with Jesus and fellow believers.
What might happen in your church, your family, or your own heart if you get together with others to study the Bible? On this summer, best-of Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, you’ll hear about a tool that has helped thousands of Christians progress in prayer, personal purity, sharing their faith and other key disciplines. Hear about MasterLife Together on today's Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman.