Grow As A Disciple
Part of coming home to God is becoming part of a church where you can grow in your relationship with God and with others who are on the same journey.
We say it often that TFH is “A Church Built with CARE.” This statement and acronym, provides a clear definition that our church is moving toward together. CARE describes to the best of our knowledge what it means to be a disciple.
How can you begin to develop your lifestyle of CARE? There are practical steps that you can take to move forward in your discipleship journey.
Celebrate Jesus In Every Area of Our Lives
When you think about the word “celebration,” what should resonate is the idea of making someone the centre of attention.
We believe that living fully and vibrantly as a disciple of Jesus requires that you make Him the centre of your life, because when He becomes the focus of your worship, you will transform into a new and better person. You will become a more positive, honoring, hopeful, and optimistic person, all because the power of Jesus and His Spirit overflowing in your life.
One of the primary ways you can celebrate Jesus is by attending on Sundays.
We sometimes call our services “Sunday Celebrations.” We do this because these gatherings represent a place where we learn what it means to honour God and live a Christ centred life.
A second way to celebrate Jesus is by faithfully giving tithes and offerings.
Part of making Jesus the centre of your life is trusting Him for your needs—including finances. “Tithing” is a biblical word that refers to the practice of giving 10% of your earnings to God as a declaration of your trust in Him, and also as a practical step of obeying His Word. Tithes are given to your local church.
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9.7-8)
Check out the following article by Dave Ramsey explaining the basics of tithing and why it’s important.
When you think about the word “celebration,” what should resonate is the idea of making someone the centre of attention.
We believe that living fully and vibrantly as a disciple of Jesus requires that you make Him the centre of your life, because when He becomes the focus of your worship, you will transform into a new and better person. You will become a more positive, honoring, hopeful, and optimistic person, all because the power of Jesus and His Spirit overflowing in your life.
One of the primary ways you can celebrate Jesus is by attending on Sundays.
We sometimes call our services “Sunday Celebrations.” We do this because these gatherings represent a place where we learn what it means to honour God and live a Christ centred life.
A second way to celebrate Jesus is by faithfully giving tithes and offerings.
Part of making Jesus the centre of your life is trusting Him for your needs—including finances. “Tithing” is a biblical word that refers to the practice of giving 10% of your earnings to God as a declaration of your trust in Him, and also as a practical step of obeying His Word. Tithes are given to your local church.
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9.7-8)
Check out the following article by Dave Ramsey explaining the basics of tithing and why it’s important.
Accept Ourselves and Others While Pursuing Maturity Together
A disciple is someone who accepts other people in the same way that they have been accepted by God. We value acceptance because we want people—no matter what their struggles are and what their past is—to feel safe to grow, make mistakes, and mature as children of God.
Our value of acceptance and growing in maturity happens best in Care Groups. These gatherings represent a context of close-knit relationships where you will get to know others and become known yourself. Along the way, you’ll learn with others, hurt with others, heal with others, pray with others, and be continually involved in the lives of others.
Of course it can be messy when you step into other’s lives. We are all human and no one is perfect. So it requires effort, intentionality, and grace from God to pursue maturity together. But if you’ll stick with it, we believe that journeying with others will prove to be transformative in helping you grow as a disciple.
A disciple is someone who accepts other people in the same way that they have been accepted by God. We value acceptance because we want people—no matter what their struggles are and what their past is—to feel safe to grow, make mistakes, and mature as children of God.
Our value of acceptance and growing in maturity happens best in Care Groups. These gatherings represent a context of close-knit relationships where you will get to know others and become known yourself. Along the way, you’ll learn with others, hurt with others, heal with others, pray with others, and be continually involved in the lives of others.
Of course it can be messy when you step into other’s lives. We are all human and no one is perfect. So it requires effort, intentionality, and grace from God to pursue maturity together. But if you’ll stick with it, we believe that journeying with others will prove to be transformative in helping you grow as a disciple.
Receive God's Grace Daily to Fulfill His Eternal Purposes
Disciples need God’s grace to effectively accomplish all the things they’re called to do. Like oxygen, grace is essential to life. Followers of Jesus know that they are called by grace, saved by grace, and continually trained and transformed by grace.
So how do you receive more of God’s grace? Well, first of all, the Bible is clear that its not through “earning.” Ephesians 2:8 says that “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”
No amount of dollars or devotion can qualify you to receive God’s grace. If you are living that way, thinking that way, and believing that way, you are holding your breath. And God wants to set you free from that so that you can breathe freely and receive His grace every day.
Disciples need God’s grace to effectively accomplish all the things they’re called to do. Like oxygen, grace is essential to life. Followers of Jesus know that they are called by grace, saved by grace, and continually trained and transformed by grace.
So how do you receive more of God’s grace? Well, first of all, the Bible is clear that its not through “earning.” Ephesians 2:8 says that “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”
To clarify though, grace is also not opposed to “effort.” 2 Peter 3:18 provides encouragement to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Developing a personal devotional life is the most important thing you can do to grow in the grace and knowledge of God. Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, worship, meditation, fasting, and Bible study position you in God’s presence, where grace is experienced in abundance.
Maturing disciples take personal responsibility for their relationship with God by making every effort to receive His grace.
No amount of dollars or devotion can qualify you to receive God’s grace. If you are living that way, thinking that way, and believing that way, you are holding your breath. And God wants to set you free from that so that you can breathe freely and receive His grace every day.
To clarify though, grace is also not opposed to “effort.” 2 Peter 3:18 provides encouragement to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Developing a personal devotional life is the most important thing you can do to grow in the grace and knowledge of God. Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, worship, meditation, fasting, and Bible study position you in God’s presence, where grace is experienced in abundance.
Maturing disciples take personal responsibility for their relationship with God by making every effort to receive His grace.
Engaging Our World By Equipping One Another to CARE
Family, friends, neighbours, total strangers, people on the other side of the street and the other side of the globe—all of them are part of your world. And every disciple is called to help other people find their way home and live as disciples.
Engaging others can be as simple as conversations at work or in the grocery store. It can look like taking someone who is lonely or struggling for coffee and encouraging them. It happens when you invite others to church and when you’re intentional in sharing what God is doing in your life.
Engagement also happens when you serve others. The Bible says that “God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (Romans 12:6). You don’t have to be good at everything, you just need to know what you’re good at. Whatever your gifts may be, our leaders would love to equip you to serve others and help them begin their own discipleship journey.
Engaging others happens at home and at a church, but it can also happen in the community and even on the other side of the world. You can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others by engaging with our local and global mission partners. Each one provides practical opportunities to support those in need while influencing them to know and follow Jesus.
Part of your growth as a disciple happens when you disciple others. We believe you’ll grow in a lifestyle of CARE as you help others do the same.