{"id":4937,"date":"2026-09-02T16:54:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T21:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/?p=4937"},"modified":"2026-09-02T16:54:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T21:54:35","slug":"discipleship-is-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/?p=4937","title":{"rendered":"Discipleship Is The Future"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7136-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7136-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4943\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7136-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7136-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7136-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7136-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7136-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7136-624x468.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ron, the leader of our Nehemiah men&#8217;s group, chose DISCIPLESHIP as our theme for the fall, and we&#8217;re well into it with the <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/40jrCodJXZ8?si=Nvgkgr70Pdod5OdF\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/40jrCodJXZ8?si=Nvgkgr70Pdod5OdF\">THREE CHAIRS<\/a> illustration pointing to <strong>Commitment, Compromise, or Complacency <\/strong>in our walk and relationship\u00a0with Jesus. <strong>Where are you <\/strong>within these three Cs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Simply said, Jesus calls us to be DISCIPLES our whole life long, daily, and to DISCIPLE others as we go. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matt.%2028%3A18-20&amp;version=NASB#:~:text=18%C2%A0And%20Jesus,of%20the%20age.\u201d\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matt.%2028%3A18-20&amp;version=NASB#:~:text=18%C2%A0And%20Jesus,of%20the%20age.\u201d\">Matt 28:19-20<\/a>) This morning we heard some thoughts on and DISCIPLESHIP practices from <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/lyswXY7dzic?si=v-SH0moXI96lSfY3\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/lyswXY7dzic?si=v-SH0moXI96lSfY3\">Ray Vander Laan<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/wNForoU3S68?si=-GbjIMG5g5-TgnUp\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/wNForoU3S68?si=-GbjIMG5g5-TgnUp\">Francis Chan<\/a>.  I noticed the sign on the stage where Fracnis Chan was speaking\u00a0said, &#8220;DISCIPLESHIP IS THE FUTURE.&#8221; Probably the Holy Spirit is saying the same thing to the church now, and has been since Jesus gave the command. Can we hear it? Can we do it? <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8569-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8569-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8569-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8569-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8569-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8569-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8569-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_8569-624x468.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>We&#8217;ll be discussing and praying and acting upon DISCIPLSHIP this fall and hopefully in a fuller measure for the rest of our earth lives. We heard about the <em><strong>Shema<\/strong><\/em> this morning. The first word coming from Jesus&#8217; mouth when asked what is the greatest commandment, was <em><strong>Shema<\/strong><\/em> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">&#8220;HEAR and OBEY&#8221; the God Who Is One, and show your love for Him in this way<\/span>&#8211;hearing and obedience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>It was pointed out that the word translated &#8220;HEAR&#8221; in the Bible (<em>Shema<\/em>, \u05e9\u05de\u05e2) is translated &#8220;OBEY&#8221; 90% of the time. Stay close enough to hear, and you&#8217;ll have His Holy Spirit whispering to you and giving you the power to act and bring God&#8217;s power into situations involving family, work, and play as you journey. Be a DISCIPLE, and by your example, making disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><br>God&#8217;s Shalom be yours&#8230;<br><br>*******************<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7157-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7157-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4946\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7157-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7157-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7157-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7157-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7157-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7157-624x468.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.&#8221; (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>&#8220;Jesus answered, \u201cThe most important is, \u2018Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.\u2019 \u00a0The second is this: \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 There is no other commandment greater than these.\u201d (Mark 12:29-31)<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7171-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7171-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4947\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7171-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7171-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7171-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7171-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7171-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7171-624x468.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I read a post today entitled, &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordshavewings.net\/post\/there-s-no-place-like-home?utm_campaign=b982abf5-42da-4cfe-9596-42c95322a89c&amp;utm_source=so&amp;utm_medium=mail&amp;cid=6d41d211-dfe8-4064-bf05-dda08b009039\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wordshavewings.net\/post\/there-s-no-place-like-home?utm_campaign=b982abf5-42da-4cfe-9596-42c95322a89c&amp;utm_source=so&amp;utm_medium=mail&amp;cid=6d41d211-dfe8-4064-bf05-dda08b009039\">Words Have Wings<\/a>&#8221; by a beautiful Jewish woman we met on a recent cruise. The thoughts and Scripture she shared seemed to be apropos to her point, and to the call to DISCIPLESHIP:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Moshe, the great teacher and leader, sees his end approaching and perhaps it is for this reason that these messages appeal to people&#8217;s hearts? We read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u059a\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b4\u05bc\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b8\u05a3\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b9\u05bc\u0594\u05d0\u05ea \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u059b\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05a5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05d5\u05b0\u05bc\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u0591\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05dc\u05b9\u05bd\u05d0\u05be\u05e0\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05dc\u05b5\u05a5\u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05b4\u05d5\u05d0\u0599 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05bc\u05da\u05b8\u0594 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05a5\u05d0 \u05e8\u05b0\u05d7\u05b9\u05e7\u05b8\u0596\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b4\u05bd\u05d5\u05d0\u05c3<br>\u05dc\u05b9\u05a5\u05d0 \u05d1\u05b7\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u0596\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d4\u05b4\u0591\u05d5\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u0597\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05b6\u05d4\u05be\u05dc\u05b8\u05bc\u05a4\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u0599\u05d9\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05d4\u0599 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b4\u05e7\u05b8\u05bc\u05d7\u05b6\u05a3\u05d4\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b8\u05bc\u0594\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b4\u05e2\u05b5\u05a5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u0596\u05d4\u05bc \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05bd\u05c2\u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4\u05c3<br>\u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05bd\u05d0\u05be\u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b5\u05a5\u05d1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u0596\u05dd \u05d4\u05b4\u0591\u05d5\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u0597\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05be\u05dc\u05b8\u059c\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05e2\u05b5\u05a4\u05d1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05dd\u0599 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b4\u05e7\u05b8\u05bc\u05d7\u05b6\u05a3\u05d4\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b8\u05bc\u0594\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b4\u05e2\u05b5\u05a5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u0596\u05d4\u05bc \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05bd\u05c2\u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4\u05c3<br>\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8\u05a5\u05d5\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u059b\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b8\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u0596\u05e8 \u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u0591\u05d3 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e4\u05b4\u05a5\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05bd\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05dc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b9\u05c2\u05ea\u05bd\u05d5\u05b9\u05c3 (\u05e1)<br>\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05a8\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05a4\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05e0\u05b6\u0599\u05d9\u05da\u05b8\u0599 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u0594\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05bd\u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05bc\u0596\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05d8\u05bc\u0591\u05d5\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u0596\u05d5\u05b6\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05bd\u05e2\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Surely, this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, \u201cWho among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?\u201d Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, \u201cWho among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?\u201d<br>No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (Translation taken from Sefaria)<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7259-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7259-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4949\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7259-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7259-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7259-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7259-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7259-624x832.jpg 624w, https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_7259-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ron, the leader of our Nehemiah men&#8217;s group, chose DISCIPLESHIP as our theme for the fall, and we&#8217;re well into it with the THREE CHAIRS illustration pointing to Commitment, Compromise, or Complacency in our walk and relationship\u00a0with Jesus. Where are you within these three Cs? Simply said, Jesus calls us to be DISCIPLES our whole [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,10,9,12,11],"tags":[32,212,33,98,21,334],"class_list":["post-4937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-friendoftheking","category-be-a-leader","category-be-a-man","category-bread-for-the-spirit","category-understanding-our-times","tag-christian-life","tag-discipleship","tag-faith","tag-grace","tag-jesus","tag-shema"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4937"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4955,"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4937\/revisions\/4955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afriendoftheking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}