Contents:
Do You Have a
Compass?
by Steven W. Manskar
Before leaving the security of the dock, I took a compass heading for our paddle across Lake Saganaga to American Point. There was a light drizzle of rain. The lake
was shrouded in fog. I could barely make out the outline of some of the nearby islands as I pushed our canoe away from the dock. As my friend and I quietly began to paddle into the mist, I placed my compass on the bottom of the canoe.
After paddling for three hours, we stopped on a small island to have lunch. By then the sun had burned off the fog, and we could see the lake more clearly. I wasn't sure where we were. So I took another compass heading. The compass indicated we were headed in the right direction.
After lunch, we got back into the canoe and followed the compass
heading. After about an hour we reached American Point. The compass and map helped to bring us to our destination and to the safety of the shore. It helped bring us across a potentially dangerous lake. We didn't get lost because I trusted my compass and map. We reached our destination safe and sound.
The life of Christian discipleship is a lot like my trek across Lake Saganaga that day. We know where we need to go (holiness of heart and life). We have a map that shows us the way (the Bible). And we have a guide to help and sustain us (the Holy Spirit). But when we try to go it alone, we don't know how to reach our destination.
When we accept Christ's invitation to follow him, he doesn't remove us from the world. He invites us to follow him in the world. And, like Saganaga, the world is big and dangerous place with many places and ways to get off course and lost. That's why Christ invites us to follow him alongside fellow disciples. When we follow together, in small groups that provide mutual accountability and
support, we are more likely to reach our destination (holiness of
heart and life).
Covenant discipleship groups help disciples take a weekly compass
heading for their walk with Christ in the world. They write a covenant shaped by the General Rule of Discipleship: To witness to Jesus Christ in the world and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship and devotion under guidance of the Holy Spirit. They meet weekly for one hour to pray and to give an account of what they have done, or not done, in light of their
covenant. Covenant Discipleship groups give people the support
and accountability they need to become faithful disciples of Jesus
Christ.
In this issue of CDQ, we welcome two people who have agreed
to be regular contributors for the next several issues. They are
Michelle Hargrave and Andrew Thompson. Michelle is a pastor
in Minnesota. Andrew is a doctoral student at Duke University
Divinity School. Both have several years of experience in Covenant
Discipleship groups. They are also interesting writers. You can read
more from them on their respective blogs:
Andrew: GenX Rising
www.genxrising.com
Michelle: 33 Names of Grace
33namesofgrace.blogspot.com
I'm very pleased to welcome them to the pages of Covenant
Discipleship Quarterly.
••••
Steven W. Manskar is the Director of Accountable Discipleship for the General Board of Discipleship.
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