Focus on Reproduction, Mentor's Guide, MG12

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F O C U S O N R E P R O D U C T I O N

You Don’t Believe in the Power of the Holy Spirit

In a fairly stiff conversation between Christian workers who regularly went to a local prison to minister in the name of Christ, one worker accused the other of spiritual child abandonment. One brother suggested, “You go from cell to cell sharing the love of Christ, praying with men to receive the Lord, but you make no provision for their ongoing care afterwards. Doesn’t that seem wrong to you? How can you win them but refuse to provide for them?” The other responded, “You are confused about the various roles of those whom God has called to do ministry. Some water, some plant, others reap, but in everything, only God gives the increase. I do not pretend that I can do everything, only my part. You, my friend, do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to ground the new believer in Christ. He’ll do it; he promised to do so!” What are the major issues in this conversation, and what opinion do you have on them? A new convert to Christ who has struggled with drug and alcohol abuse has been coming to church now for about three months. Unfortunately, he has had a very uneven experience in “disciplining himself for the purpose of godliness.” His attendance to the service is up-and-down, and for many church events he has come smelling greatly of liquor, and is apparently under the influence of alcohol or drugs. While some desire to speak sternly and firmly to the brother about this situation, the dear brother who led him to the Lord believes that the church is simply being too hard on him. “We need to give him time to learn the Christ life,” he protests. “After all, he is still only a little babe in Christ. Who knows how long it might take him to lick these problems. Let’s be patient and loving.” What do you think of the discipler’s attitude about our new and struggling convert to the Lord? He Is Still a Baby

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