Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Ana Teresa Vivas, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Canada

In my home country of Venezuela, there is an expression, “If you walk with wolves, you will learn to howl.” You surely have a similar expression in your country. It like what 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’.” We are not talking about that, but by my way of thinking, it is very related to what we are talking about: making disciples.

Evangelize (share the good news of salvation), love God, obey God, build friendships based on love and obedience to God, serve and grow together, get to know each other better, mentor, teach, convey God’s love. Put all of these things in a container and stir until well mixed. Prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit should not be neglected. Repeat as many times as necessary. Make disciples.

When Jesus decided to be accompanied throughout His ministry, He lived day in and day out with twelve men. And they were called disciples. A disciple is a student, an apprentice, or someone who pays attention to what the teacher says and does, and imitates him.

We, as followers of Jeuss, are His disciples. We love Him and we imitate Him and if we lose perspective of who we are and for whom we live (Gal. 2:20; Acts 20:24), we have a command in Matthew 28:19-20. 19 ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

However, the passion to show others the treasure that we have is difficult for some people, for many various reasons. Whatever the reason, if you are not delighting in the joy and full life that comes from obedience to this command, you are losing one of the most glorious moments possible. You are losing out the opportunity to see someone born again by faith, see it grow and witness this new creature mutliply the “butterfly effect”* in others. We know the blessing and privilege of seeing a new life come into this physical world, one of the most beautiful miracles to witness. But how much more glorious and grand to be part of and witness spiritual birth, to contribute to the rescue of souls for which Jesus also died! Yet these souls will not have a chance to know and enjoy the Kingdom if our lips are not opened to announce and teach about the abundant life that Jesus gives.

John 10:16, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:10b, “yo he venido para que tengan vida, y la tengan en abundancia.”

If you walk with wolves, you howl. If you walk with readers, you will also read. If you walk with Jesus, you will make disciples. It is inevitable; it’s part of the new nature God has given us. It is not about competing for numbers: how many I have taught, how many have been converted, how many have remained faithful, etc. NO! It is more about how we live each day, finding the opportunity to share the Good News or to help someone in their faith, so that it grows. Or, simply walking with someone and being present, showing Jesus with your life. Show others your most precious gift, share it and keep learning from our Lord, Teacher, and Leader: Jesus.

Someday, we will share more and we will hear stories of blessings and peace. Stories of transformed lives. Stories from the spiritual realm that are not seen, but are felt.

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* Butterfly effect: 1. The metamorphosis that occurs in the life of a catepillar when it becomes a butterfly; 2. Refers to the smallest things that have a greater effect and impact.

#IronRoseSister #HIStories #makedisciples #walkwithJesus #walklikeJesus #discipleship #guestwriter #blog

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Php. 3:7-11 ESV)

Paul, the writer of most of the epistles, makes one of his primary defenses of his faith in the third chapter of his letter to the Philippians. In the preceding verses, he enumerates the accolades of his spiritual resumé. We know from Acts 9 that he was a stellar persecutor of the church. He was a Pharisee and a highly trained teacher of the law (even by Gamaliel). Yet none of that mattered.

What mattered most to Paul was not his commitment to the attributes of his character, training, or experience. Rather, he counted them as nothing, as rubbish… trash on the sole of his sandal… in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord.

Parents have been known to sacrifice everything for their children. Strangers have donated organs or blood for the health of another individual. First responders have braved dangerous conditions to save one life. Why?

Commitment.

A parent sacrifices out of a loving commitment to their son or daughter. Donors demonstrate a commitment to loving and helping others. First responders commit to a perilous job, often following the example of another whose actions saved someone from peril.

Total commitment. No turning back. No second guesses. Not letting fear win.

Throughout the gospels and the book of Acts, we see Christ followers demonstrate their total commitment: financially (Ac. 4:34-37), occupationally (Mt. 4:20), and relationally (Lk. 14:25; Mt. 25:35-40). Disciples are called to be committed followers, always and in all ways.

What does that level of commitment look like throughout the Scriptures? How do we see this kind of commitment to Christ in our lives today?

This year, we will explore biblical examples and stories from our lives that demonstrate being “Committed to Christ, 24/7 in 2024.” Since February is our Prayer Month, we will focus on being “Committed in Prayer.” Other months will include topics like, “Committed to Trust and Obey,” “A Committed Heart,” and “Committed to One Another in Christ.”

Tuesdays will reflect a biblically foundational point or story. Thursdays will parallel that week’s scriptural emphasis, as highlighted through a modern-day story.

And since we are not only committed to Christ but also to His teachings, there will be specific Bible verses included with each post. This month, we will explore Philippians 3:7-11, our theme verses, in greater depth.

We would love to hear from you as we develop this theme! What does it mean to you to be Committed to Christ, 24/7 in 2024? Share a video, tag us in a post, or email us with your responses! Let’s celebrate our common commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Written by Kim Solis, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Mexico and Oregon.

If you were to take a poll on the streets of any city world-wide, asking the public what Christians are known for, what do you think they would say? Would we be known for pointing out the sin in the community around us? For taking a “holier-than-thou” attitude when talking about moral issues? Would we be known for adhering to beliefs of a particular political party or for fighting among ourselves about the “proper” interpretation of Scripture?

When my children were in grade school and middle school, the boys played on many soccer teams. At one game, while waiting for the excitement to begin, I was talking with another mom in the stands. The conversation swung around to what we do for a living and I explained to her that my husband and I are Christians and work for a Bible Institute helping to prepare people to be more active in their local congregations and even to go out as missionaries to plant churches in new cities. She was surprised and said, “Wow, I didn’t know you were Christians.”

The game started and I sat there with a lump in my throat and a weight on my chest. Why was she so surprised that we are Christians? What did she observe in our examples, especially mine, since she didn’t really know my husband very well, that never made her think that I held Christ and His teachings in high-esteem? I wrestled with this for months and finally got up the nerve to confront her feelings at another soccer game.

“How come you were surprised to hear that we are Christians?” I asked, fearing her response would shed light on un-Christlike attitudes or actions that I had inadvertently been showing to those around me. “Well,” she seemed to search for the right words, “it’s just that you are, well, you are both so... nice.” After talking a few more minutes I discovered that her previous experience with “Christians” had been very aggressive, rude and condescending. She had been told that her beliefs were not correct and that she was in sin. She had never been shown love and acceptance, only judgement and exclusion. I was relieved but also very concerned.

What did Jesus say to his disciples after assuming the role of servant and washing their feet in John chapter 13? “And by this everyone will know that you are my disciples...” By what? By your zeal for the truth? By your desire to confront the world of its sin? By your refusing to accept people who practice anything different from you? No. He says by loving one another. He just washed the feet of those who would betray him, deny him and leave him alone, nailed to a cross. He didn’t point His finger and condemn them, even though one of them would die at his own hand without repenting of his sin.

Love. Agape. We have heard the definition: a decision to love unconditionally, desiring and doing the best for someone regardless of whether they deserve it or not.

Does the world deserve our love? No. Do we deserve the love of God? No. That is what is so incredibly powerful in Jesus’ declaration. The world will know we are of Christ when we love one another because no one loves those who don’t think like them, who don’t act like them, who haven’t earned love in one way or another.

Jesus loved the woman about to be stoned because of her adultery. Jesus loved the tax collectors even though they were padding their pockets from the hard work of honest people. Jesus loved the men and women who spit upon him and screamed for his crucifixion. Jesus loved me and loved you even when we didn’t believe in Him and even when believing, we still fall into old habits and act as if we had never heard of His grace and mercy.

Come on, Christians. We must drop our shields of pride and “knowledge” and simply love one another with a pure and undiluted love that comes from Christ and not from our own hearts. Let’s leave the judging to Him and let us unite in love to show His love to those who need it most. Let’s love the homosexuals, the drunkards, the addicts, the liars, the lonely, and the desperate. We were one of them not too long ago. Pointing fingers and revealing sin will not attract more people to Christ. His merciful love and grace are what they need to hear... and to see.

Once someone falls in love with Christ, then they... then we... will be open to face our faults and correct our actions. We can’t do it on our own, anyway, we need Him to cleanse us.

To love God is to love others.
Mark 12:33
“And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

It doesn’t matter what you offer to God: your zeal, your faith, your purity and devotion. To love God and, therefore, to love your neighbor is worth even more.

Let the world know we are His disciples... by the love we show to one another.

Written by Ann Thiede, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas 

“Insecure” describes me from my childhood through my teenage years, wanting to fit in, becoming a people-pleaser which led to conflicts within and ungodly choices. I craved relationships—people with whom I could be close and share my heart. Unfortunately, many of my contemporaries during my high school and college days followed the crowd. But, praise God, a few helped me walk toward Christ.

Matthew, in his gospel, recorded these last words of Jesus:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

I’m forever grateful for God’s beautiful orchestration through four peers, drawing me to Him and teaching me what it looks like to follow Him. These are some discipleship steps I’ve learned.

The first step involves getting to know Jesus as you read the Gospels with a hungry, teachable heart, and the willingness to let go of preconceived ideas. In searching for what you believe, you will find Who you believe. I encourage you to read through John’s gospel first, taking note of all of the titles Jesus gives Himself. For example, in John 6:35 He says, “I am the bread of life,” and then “…sothe one who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (6:57b). Ask yourself: What would it look like to feed on Christ?

The writer of Hebrews says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb.

Remember my issue of people-pleasing, wanting approval? Jesus wants us to please Him above all others. His desire is to draw us toward His likeness, giving us the courage to talk as He talked, live and love as He lived and loved, and to reach out and share the Good News even as He did.“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). It is the heart of Christ that we who are disciples make disciples by sharing His Good News, studying the Word with those who don’t know Him, planting seeds of faith or watering what others have planted, and watching God bring the increase of souls into the Kingdom.

Discipleship means adhering to God’s Word first and foremost. Spirit-inspired words throughout the Bible embody truth. Luke records these insightful thoughts: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts

Following Christ as His disciple also means walking together in this life with other disciples; encouraging one another, praying with one another, and sharing joy and grief together. Surrendering to Him as Lord and Savior means becoming a part of His Body, the church. Jesus intends for disciples to function together in harmony. I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 and Romans 12:4-8, both beautiful passages about the church and what your part may be, according to the gifts God has given you. Many disciples over the years have enriched my life, encouraging me to be more like Jesus. These relationships go deep as we share life including our spiritual struggles and victories. The Holy Spirit has taught me the value of Paul’s admonition when he says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). If you desire qualities you see in another person that are Christlike, start asking God!

As you’ve read, in what area of being a disciple of Jesus do you desire growth?

• Getting to know Jesus better through the Gospels
• Developing a consistent prayer life
• Allowing Him to make changes in your life
• Making disciples by sharing Christ with others
• Letting the Word be your guide for truth above all
• Deepening relationships with other disciples

Go to Jesus and share with a fellow disciple. And remember, Jesus has promised to be with you, always.