Disciple Making EDEM // KISORO COMMUNITY CHURCH The Movement Began Small Jesus did not begin with a massive crowd or a worldwide organization. He began with a small group of people. He invested deeply in three disciples, and then intentionally trained and discipled twelve apostles. When He left the earth, He entrusted them with the mission of continuing the work He had begun. Think about this: Jesus started with twelve disciples, but today, more than 2,000 years later, millions of people around the world follow Him. What began as a small movement became a global movement. The dream was simple. Jesus said: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10 Jesus was clear about His mission. He came to seek those who were lost, restore them to God, and bring salvation. And He did not keep that mission to Himself. He entrusted it to His disciples. After His resurrection, Jesus told them: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” — Matthew 28:19 The disciples were not simply called to gather followers. They were called to make disciples who would continue the mission. https://youtu.be/rdZIvupNqp4?si=FXhSF9ca9OyaIMu5

The Story Behind the Hymns. THE STORY BEHIND "O THOU WHO CAMEST FROM ABOVE" “O Thou Who Camest From Above” is a deeply devotional Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley in 1762. The hymn expresses a heartfelt prayer for the Holy Spirit to descend upon the believer, purify the heart, and set the soul ablaze with divine love. Charles Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement alongside his brother John Wesley, wrote thousands of hymns that helped communicate Christian faith through memorable poetry and song. In this hymn, Wesley draws on the imagery of heavenly fire, asking God to kindle that sacred flame within the human heart. The opening words, “O Thou who camest from above,” refer to Christ and the divine presence coming from heaven. The hymn then develops the theme of spiritual transformation: the believer longs to be cleansed, strengthened and completely devoted to God. One of its best-known lines is: “Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire To work, and speak, and think for Thee.” This captures the central prayer of the hymn that every thought, word and action should be directed toward Christ. The hymn is particularly associated with the Methodist tradition and has remained popular across Christian denominations. Its message continues to resonate because it is not simply a song of praise; it is a personal prayer for holiness, spiritual renewal and a life completely surrendered to God. “O Thou Who Camest From Above” reminds believers that Christian service begins with an inward transformation, asking God to light the flame of faith within the heart and keep it burning.

The Advent Truth If the end times make you anxious, remember the illustration Jesus Himself gave us. In Matthew 24:8, after describing wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and turmoil, Jesus said, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” The word translated “sorrows” carries the idea of birth pains. Birth pains can be frightening. They intensify. They become more frequent. But they aren't meaningless pain—they are announcing that something is about to be born. Jesus didn't give Matthew 24 to terrify His people. He gave it so that when these things happen, we would recognize where we are and know that He already saw it coming. Think about what birth pains mean: the closer the pains come, the closer the arrival. Yes, this world is groaning. Yes, prophecy is moving toward its fulfillment. But God is also preparing a people to meet Jesus. And while prophecy moves forward, heaven is not looking for an excuse to shut people out. God is doing everything consistent with His character, His Word, and human freedom to bring people IN. “The Lord is... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9 Every additional moment is mercy. Every conviction is mercy. Every sermon, Bible study, providential encounter, warning, and invitation to repentance is evidence that heaven is still reaching for souls. So don't spend the final moments trembling over what Satan is doing. Look at what Jesus is doing. The same Christ who told us the birth pains would come also said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” (John 14:1) Prophecy isn't telling God's children, “Be terrified.” It's telling us: Jesus is coming. Jesus is preparing His people. Jesus is still saving souls. And Jesus will not abandon you now. The birth pains aren't merely telling us that this world is ending. They're telling us that something infinitely better is almost here.

28 Beleifs # 22 CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with biblical principles in all aspects of personal and social life. For the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things that will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well. Instead, we are to engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ, who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and goodness.

This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch John 1:14 by Vance K. Jackson: https://www.bible.com/en/videos/54621?orientation=portrait&utm_content=STORY_CLIP&utm_medium=SHARE&utm_source=YVAPP

LOVE THAT OVERCOMES There’s an interesting story in Numbers that contrasts two ways of looking at obstacles. The Israelites have escaped slavery in Egypt and traveled to the edge of the Promised Land. And before they all enter, Moses sends 12 men to spy it out. One spy named Caleb comes back with this report: “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30) What a great faith statement! Unfortunately his confidence was not shared by others. But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. There we saw the giants; … and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:31, 33) Why did they have that viewpoint? Because of how they viewed themselves. If we look at a problem and say, “I’m just a grasshopper,” then we fail before we start. We defeat ourselves if we think we can’t go somewhere or do something that God has commanded. In our world today, we can face all kinds of threats and fears. Yet we need to resist and declare, “We can overcome this.” What image are we made in—a grasshopper's? No. We are made in the image of God. So now the question is, do we act like Him? Do we think like Him? And most importantly, do we love like Him? As John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son.” Let His heart of love resonate through everything that you do. Love casts out fear. Love overcomes all obstacles. Faith works through love. When you have that, you are reflecting the image of the Father. You’re truly becoming like Him. Paul, who faced incredible persecution, wrote, Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) When we do this, we are more than overcomers. As Romans 8:37 explains, we are more than conquerors through the love of Christ given to us. We need to view ourselves as God’s love extending to a hurting world. And when we overflow with His love, no obstacle can stand—for His love never fails. God bless you.

Choose Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32) Almost everyone knows what it feels like to be hurt. Someone breaks your trust. A friend betrays you. Someone says something that stays in your heart for years. A relationship ends painfully. Someone treats you unfairly. And sometimes the hardest part isn't the pain itself. It's deciding what to do with that pain. You may feel like holding on to anger will protect you. You may think: “They don't deserve my forgiveness.” And perhaps what happened was genuinely wrong. But Jesus calls us to something greater than revenge. The Bible says: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending that what happened was acceptable. It doesn't mean saying that the person didn't hurt you. It doesn't mean you must immediately trust someone who has broken your trust. And forgiveness doesn't always mean reconciliation. Sometimes healthy boundaries are necessary. But forgiveness means refusing to allow someone else's wrongdoing to control your heart forever. It means releasing your desire for revenge and placing justice in God's hands. Jesus gave us the ultimate example. He was betrayed. Rejected. Mocked. Beaten. Crucified. Yet even while suffering on the cross, He prayed for those who were hurting Him. That is the power of God's grace. And if Christ has forgiven us, we are called to extend that grace to others. Think about how much God has forgiven you. Every mistake. Every sinful thought. Every wrong decision. Every time you ignored His voice. Every time you chose your own way. We stand in need of grace too. That doesn't make someone else's wrongdoing insignificant. It reminds us that we are also people who need forgiveness. Maybe today you're carrying anger toward someone. You don't have to pretend everything is fine. Bring the pain to God. Tell Him exactly how you feel. Ask Him to heal your heart. Ask Him to help you forgive. And if necessary, establish wise boundaries. But don't let bitterness become your identity. Bitterness can consume the person carrying it more than the person who caused the hurt. Forgiveness sets your heart free. Sometimes forgiveness happens in one decision. Sometimes it is a process. You may have to surrender the same pain to God repeatedly. That's okay. Keep giving it to Him. Keep praying. Keep healing. Keep choosing grace. And remember that forgiveness doesn't mean you have to forget the lesson. You can forgive someone and still learn from what happened. You can forgive and still protect yourself. You can forgive and still choose wisdom. You can forgive without returning to an unhealthy situation. Forgiveness is not weakness. It is freedom. If you have hurt someone, don't only ask God for forgiveness. Where appropriate, have the courage to apologize. Say: “I was wrong.” “I'm sorry.” “Please forgive me.” Humility can begin the healing of a relationship. And if someone has hurt you, ask God for the strength to release the bitterness. You may not be able to change what happened. But with God's help, you can choose what happens next. Don't let yesterday's pain steal today's peace. Give your hurt to God and choose forgiveness. Is there someone you need to forgive—or someone you need to ask for forgiveness today? #ChooseForgiveness #Ephesians432 #Forgiveness #Grace #Healing #ChristianYouth #FaithInAction #JesusForgives #JesusSaves #ShareJesus #DailyFaith #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

“I INDEED… BUT HE” “I indeed baptize you with water... but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” — Matthew 3:11 There comes a point in our Christian life when we must be able to say: “I indeed… but HE.” In other words: “I have reached the end of myself, but Jesus begins where I end.” There are things we cannot change or accomplish by our own strength. We may try harder, make promises, or depend on our own goodness, but eventually we must recognize: “I cannot do this by myself. I need Jesus.” That is where Jesus begins to work. Am I truly ready for Jesus? Jesus cannot fully work in us while we are hiding things from Him. When He comes into our lives, He brings things into the light. He may show us attitudes, habits, pride, wrong desires, unforgiveness, or things we thought were acceptable. Where we know something is wrong, Jesus wants to deal with it. But sometimes we think we are already good enough. We defend ourselves and say: “I'm not that bad.” “At least I'm better than others.” “God understands me.” That attitude can prevent us from experiencing God's deeper work in our lives. True repentance Repentance is more than simply saying, “I have sinned.” It is recognizing: “Lord, I cannot save myself. I cannot make myself holy. I desperately need You.” It means giving up our excuses and our attempts to defend ourselves. We come before God with humility and say: “Jesus, I need You completely.” “He shall baptize you” John the Baptist said: > “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” The focus is not on what we can accomplish. The focus is on what Jesus does. I indeed—but HE. I am weak—but He is strong. I cannot change myself—but He can change me. I cannot make myself holy—but He sanctifies me. I cannot do it—but He can. Stop trying to do God's work through your own strength. Come to the point where you can honestly say: > “I indeed am at the end of myself—but He begins there.” Get to the place where Jesus does everything.

COMPLETENESS “And I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Whenever something begins to disturb your relationship with Jesus, turn to Him immediately and ask Him to give you His rest. Don't allow anything that is destroying your peace to remain in your heart. When you become troubled, overly focused on yourself, or worried about what people think about you, bring it to Jesus. Self-consciousness can slowly lead to self-pity: “Nobody understands me.” “They should apologize to me.” “I need to explain myself.” “People should recognize what I have done.” Instead of focusing on yourself and what people are doing, turn your attention back to Christ. Ask God to make you more conscious of Christ than you are of yourself. What does completeness mean? A complete Christian life is like the life of a child—simple, trusting, and restful. A child does not constantly analyze everything. A child trusts. When we are constantly asking, “Am I doing God's will? Is God pleased with me? Is God answering my prayer?” it can show that we have lost our sense of rest in God. A child of God learns to trust that God is present, God is working, and God hears prayer. When we move away from God's will, we begin to feel the need to ask, “Lord, what is Your will?” But as we remain close to Him, our lives naturally begin to follow His will. Jesus does not want us to live constantly focused on ourselves. He says: > “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 The more we focus on Jesus, the less we become controlled by ourselves. Don't spend your life thinking about how people see you, whether they appreciate you, or whether they understand you. Look to Jesus. Where Jesus is truly in control, He brings rest, peace, stability, and completeness.

What Think Ye of Christ? — Matthew 22:42 Jesus asked a question that every person must ultimately answer: “What think ye of Christ?” This is not merely a question about religion or history. It is the most important question of life and eternity. Who is Jesus to you? He is not merely a good man, teacher, or prophet. He is the Christ, the Son of the living God—fully God and fully man, the Lord and the only sufficient Savior of sinners. The question is therefore personal: Do you know Christ, trust Him, love Him, and submit to Him as Lord? Church attendance, religious knowledge, and good works cannot replace genuine faith in Christ. If you have never truly come to Him, turn from your sin and trust in Christ alone. He receives sinners who come to Him in faith. And for those who already believe, let this question continue to search our hearts: Are we thinking rightly of Christ and honoring Him with our lives? “What think ye of Christ?” — Matthew 22:42 May God give us grace to answer with the heart: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”