Discipleship
The History of Metro Praise International Church
Metro Praise International church, which began in October 2012 in Chicago, traces its roots to Metro Praise church, started in March 1999 in New Orleans by Joe Wyrostek. At 22 years of age, after graduating in New Orleans with an Associate Degree from the School of Urban Missions (SUM), Joe started the first Metro Praise…
Read MoreUtilizing Online Learning Models in the Church for Discipleship
Since Jesus formed the Christian church upon the confession and person of Peter, learning has been at the center of all her activities. Jesus’ prime method for establishing the church was discipleship. Discipleship was not merely something Jesus did in a classroom, it was how He lived and shared His very life with His followers.…
Read MoreThe End Time Harvest in the End Times
During these last days we can see that the signs of Jesus’ second coming are happening all around us in rapid number. However, Christ’s disciples are not to just be waiting for His coming, but rather we are to be out working in the harvest field of souls, co-laboring with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9). Today’s…
Read MoreDisciples or Pharisees?
Christians tend to get a bum rap from outsiders. We hear it on all fronts that we are backwards, fanatical, deceived, hypocritical, bigoted or ignorant, or a number of other unsavory descriptions. Let me illustrate this point with a question: What do Mormons, atheists, liberal activists, and Muslims all have in common? Answer: They all…
Read MoreMisery Loves Company, but Jesus Loves You More!
Recently Lauren Scienski, the pastoral elder over the single moms life group, wrote a compelling post on Facebook that got a great response. After reading it, I felt led to write a follow up comment to expand on her idea in the realm of my pastoral experience. I have reposted it here for future reference…
Read MoreGiving Stats Around the World
It has been said that God’s people possess enough of God’s provision to accomplish and fulfill God’s purposes in the world. Indeed, according to Christian financial advisor Ron Blue, “Eighty percent of the world’s evangelical wealth is in North America—and the total represents way more than enough to fund the fulfillment of the Great Commission.” Think about…
Read MoreIs the Christian Holy Now or Waiting to Become Holy in Heaven?
The question is valid because if we are not holy now then salvation is happening in stages. However, if salvation is a definite work of God in the believer’s life than holiness should be complete as well. If you truly desire the answer I believe all you have to do is read 1 Peter 1:14-15,…
Read MoreLoving People Isn’t Always Easy… But It’s Always Worth It!
Loving people can often times be easier said then done. We all have our own areas we can grow in but sometimes you may run into people who refuse to acknowledge their real issues and they may frustrate your passion for discipleship. So for those who have desired to love people by making disciples and…
Read MoreDiscipleship Assessments
Below are the slides and printouts used for the assessment portion of the book, “Discipleship Based Churches,” by Joe Wyrostek. Please feel free to use the copyrighted materials in any waythat is beneficial for your ministry as long as they are not (a) plagiarized or (b) sold without notifying MPI Publishing for permission. For more…
Read MoreMega Church Growth Not So Mega
“At least three in four of those “new” attendees left another church to attend the growing megachurch. In other words, the majority of that “growth” is not growth but transfer of existing evangelicals,” Dickerson, “The Great Evangelical Recession.” As a matter of fact Dickerson, in his revealing book, also states that “Of the 3.7 million…
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