27. Vision Confidence and Know-how for Disciple Making Ministry in our Generation 1:1 Bible Study BibleCentered Common Life Early Morning Prayer / Living by Faith Co-working
30. Acts 19,20 „ In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power“
Editor's Notes
30 yearsago M. Peter and M. Sarah cameto Bonn asMissionaries, toraiseupdisciplesof Jesus among Bonn University Students.
And 30yearslater… today..WeseethatGodhas *blessedthedisciplemakingministry in Bonn. Commemorartingthe 30th anniversaryof Bonn UBF, i wouldliketothinkabout, howit was possibletoraiseupdisciplesof Jesus in Bonn. Itusworthwhile, especiallyforour N. G tolearn, whatthemilestonesforthedisciplemakingministryare,Becauseitisnowourjobtocontinuethisdisciplemakingministry.
Nowletuslookatthebuildingblocksofdisciplemakingministry in Bonn.Here I haveomittedtheOnetoOneBiblestudy, becausetheBiblestudyisobviouslythemostimportantanditis all familiertomostofyou.
The Bible students were greatly moved through the motherly and fatherly love of the missionaries, and opened their hearts for the word of God.For example, M. Sarah did stinky laundries of her Bible student, and that opened his heart to realize Jesus’ love and sacrifice for him.
ThemissionariesoftentooktheirBiblestudentsto a roadtriparound *Europe, whichtookseveraldaystoabout a week.On theroadtherewere *Biblestudiesanddeep personal convesationsandjoyfulfellowship
Through such a journey, themissionariesandtheBiblestudentscoulddevelop a *deep personal relationship.*1 weekof such ajourney was equivalentwith 1 yearofBiblestudy, gettingtoknowtheirBiblestudents‘ lifeandtheirprayertopicsveryintensivly. * The Discipleship Journey was veryshort, but it was an intensive spiritual fellowship
*The Missionariesbuilt avesselofprayer in themoriningwith a clearpriority, andtheyencouraged also theirBiblestudentstojoin in prayerandcometo Jesus pesonally.Through theearlymorningprayer, theBiblestudentscouldlearntopracticallycometo Jesus in prayerwithpracticalprayertopics. Morever, theearlymoringprayeranddailybreadhelpedthemissionariesandthebiblestudentsto live in a *spiritual balance, byhearingthewordofGodandGod‘svoicebeforethedaystarts. * Early Morning prayerhelpedtheBiblestudentstodeveloptheir personal relationship toGod.
ForthemostoftheBibleStudents, theirgreatestchallengesare *theirstudiesandexams.Afterwards, *getting a Job andliving a selfsupportinglifeis a greatchallenge. Then *gettingmarriedbecomes an issue. The missionarieshelpedtheBiblestudentspracticallycopewiththesechallengesbyfaith. *ThisisthemostimportantandpracticalstepfortheBible Student togrowas a discipleof Jesus, bylivingaccoridngtothewordofGod in theirpracticallife. *Through this, theycouldgrowasmenandwomenoffaith!
Andthemissionariescoworkedtogether. *When 1 BiblestudentcametostudytheBible, all themissionariescameandasked*hisname, *andasked „howareyou“*Whatisyourmajor?*where do you live?Andanothermissionariesgoes „howareyou?“Through theco-workingtheBiblestudentisoverwhelmed, that he istreatedas a *heavenly Prince orHeavenlyprincess.
In summary, wecansaythattheGodof Bonn UBFWorkedmightlythroghtheBibleCentredcommonlife.
Thenwhycommonlife?We live in a *post modern societywithoutGod‘sword.*Biblestudy, SundayworshipserviceandsomeBibleconferenceshavetheir *limits in helpingthestudentsto live practicallyasdisciplesof Jesus, Becausethey live in a godlessenvironmenteveryday.
Fromthebeginningof Bonn UBF themissionareishavebuilt a *commonlife. Theylivedtogether in order to live with Jesus as Jesus‘ disciples. Andthey *invitedtheirBiblestudentstotheircommonlife. Throughthebiblecenteredcommonlife, theBiblestudentscouldexperienceGod‘sword in a dailybasis in theirpracticallives. Moverover, throughthesacrificiallifeandservingofthemissionaries, theycouldlearnabout Jesus personally.
So, whatconsist a commonlife? *Theyeattogether*Sing together
Celebratebirthdaytogether
Sometimestheygo do theirhairtogether.
But mostof all, theystudiedthewordofGodtogehter,*Andprayedtogether.
But thecommonlife was not easy.*Therearealwaysconflictsbetweensinners.
Andmuchsacrificeandgivingup a private life was needed. In a sense, commonlife was likepilgrimage on a narrowroad. *But throughthistheycoulddeepentheir personal relationship with Jesus. *Theycould also stay fit in spirit in order tofollowtheexampleof Jesus in theirpracticallife. *throughthe open housechurch, theheartsofmanyyoungstudentscouldbeopened, whocouldgrowasdisciplesof Jesus.
So in this sense,The commonlife was the power station, throughwhichthewordofGodcouldgrow in power in theheartsofmanystudentsandspread out toCampuses in Bonn and Germany.
Then,whatisthevision WE canhave?
Through the 30 yearsofDisciplemakingministryofourpioneers, Wecangainconfidenceandknow-howfordisciplemakingministry in ourgeneration.As Godworkedmightlythroughthe 1:1 BS, Biblecenteredcommonlife,Early morningprayerandpracticallivingbyfaithandco-working, God will workthroughthese also in ourgenerationtoraise Jesus disciples.
Wecanhave a visionforourdisciplemakingministry,*In our Generation,*In 360 Campuses in Germnay*fn all 17000 Campuses in EuropAnd also for*sending out 100,000 missionarestothewholeworld.
Whenthe *wordofGodgrows in power in theheartsofyoungpeople, thannumerous *Disciplesof Jesus will beraised also in ourgeneration,*and Germany and Europe will bespirituallyawackend!