Discipleship

Introduction

A Christ centred education is a crucial aspect of the continued growth and development of PJGH. The Word of God should always be the focal point for everything that takes place in the body of Christ.

Church education is a continuous process of growth towards understanding and maturity in Jesus Christ, through discipleship. At PJGH we endeavour to develop and provide a comprehensive ministry of Christian nurture and education for our members.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Col. 1:28-29

²⁸We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. ²⁹To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (NIV)

Clearly the scripture speaks of three key duties that are paramount for the purpose of Christian education in the church: to warn everyone, to teach everyone, and to present everyone mature in Christ Jesus.

The outcomes of such efforts should therefore be evidenced by:

A deeper worship and prayer life
A fuller understanding of what discipleship entails and translated into daily Christian living
A greater sense of urgency in the area of evangelism
Attainment of the warm and intimate Christian fellowship amongst believers in the Lord.

The Objectives of Church Education

To help encourage, equip, and assist the members of the PJGH to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as individuals, as families, and as congregations
To help encourage, equip, and assist the officers and prospective officers of the PJGH for the faithful and effective discharge of their responsibilities
To help encourage, equip, and assist members of PJGH to reach out to unbelievers and answers God’s command to fulfill the Great Commission.
To present followers mature or complete in Christ so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work
Ensuring that members of PJGH are being taught the Word of God in a way that is sound biblically, theologically and hermeneutically.

Methods and Programs

1. Pulpit Ministry

The pulpit ministry remains the church's primary channel of exhorting, teaching and encouraging the saints in the Word. Broadly, for each calendar year, this will include the following:

An Old Testament book study
A New Testament book study
A Doctrinal theme
The Psalms
Bible characters
Contemporary issues addressed from a Christian or Biblical perspective.

2. ACE Programme

The Adult Christian Education programme is a leader-led small class Bible study where members are encouraged to participate on Sunday mornings i.e. after the Breaking of Bread Service and a tea break. This is arranged so that members do not need to come out on another occasion if it were held on a week day. Typically it lasts about an hour and a half.

3.CBTE

Church Based Theological Education is a more formal study method initiated by a few like-minded churches including PJGH. It involves lecturers/teachers from well known local Bible Seminaries such as Malaysia Bible Seminary to teach the Scriptures in a more systematic manner. The venue for these teaching sessions will rotate among the organizing churches mainly within the vicinity of Petaling Jaya.

Thought for the Week:

Mercy Compared to Forgiveness, Love, and Grace

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 5:7

To understand the significance of mercy, let’s compare it to three amazing attributes of God. First, mercy has much in common with forgiveness, although it is distinct from it. God’s forgiveness of our sins flow from His mercy. But mercy is greater than forgiveness, because God is merciful to us even when we do not sin, just as we can be merciful to those who have never done anything against us. God’s mercy does not just forgive our transgressions but reaches to all weaknesses and needs.

Just as forgiveness flows out of mercy, mercy flows out of love. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (Eph.2:4-5). Love is greater than mercy – it can manifest itself even when there is no wrong to forgive or need to meet.

Finally, mercy is also related to grace, which flows out of love. Grace and mercy have the closest possible relationship, yet they are different. Mercy deals with the consequences of sin, while grace deals with sin itself. Mercy offers relief from punishment, grace offers pardon for the crime.

Just look at what the Good Samaritian did. When he found a Jewish traveler who had been robbed and beaten, he held no animosity toward him. Love motivated him to show the man mercy when he bound up his wounds. And when he took him to an inn and cared for him, he showed grace. Such is the expression of mercy working with forgiveness, love and grace.

Ask yourself: Is there someone to whom you need to show God’s mercy, expressed through your love, your grace, our forgiveness? Think of how you can turn your merciful intentions into practical action

Taken from Grace for Today