Equipping for Discipleship
Growing one another as disciples through on-going teaching, training, and opportunities for ministry, in and outside of the church.
“to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”
Ephesians 4:11-13 & Colossians 1:28
“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom. That we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
Equipping for Discipleship focuses on the formal instruction and spiritual formation of God’s people at Ascension.
DISCIPLESHIP HOUR CLASSES
In addition to the preaching and teaching that occurs as we worship the LORD on Sunday mornings, we also provide a Discipleship Hour for all ages the hour before worship begins. Three 10-week classes meet from September to June of each school year.
Our children and youth currently participate in classes for three different age groups: Preschool to Kindergarten, Elementary School (K to 5th Grade), Junior High & Hgh School (6th to 12th Grade). The classes for children and youth follow a defined curriculum schedule using materials from Great Commission Publications (a joint ministry of the PCA and the OPC). See more details HERE.
We also have Adult classes that vary from year to year. Some of these classes have studied a book of the Bible or various Ligonier video courses (e.g the Basic of Theology. Learning to Love the Psalms), as well as several topical studies such as The Nicene Creed, the attributes of God, spiritual disciplines, spiritual gifts, spiritual warfare, biblical counseling, and Christian apologetics. From time to time we also offer classes for Young Adults (18 to 20s) taught by our Pastor e.g. a study on the Book of Daniel.
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDIES
We offer two Women’s Bible Studies that meet weekly. One group meets in person while the other meets online via Zoom. See our web calendar for more details on current Bible study topics and dates/times.
In addition to Discipleship Hour, opportunities for book studies, Bible studies, future seminars, and conferences are all areas of expansion in our ongoing efforts to “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” (Ephesians 4:12)
Our Lord Jesus was not ambiguous in his expectations for Christians to demonstrate spiritual growth. Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:5-6)
Christians are to bear “much fruit” as evidence of belonging to Christ and continuing as His disciple. Consequently, Equipping for Discipleship is not a ministry in isolation from other Ministry Areas at Ascension.
Success in Equipping for Discipleship is not merely evidenced by attendance numbers during Discipleship Hour on a Sunday morning. Rather, it is in the fruit we bear in Worshiping Jesus, in Loving the Body, and in Loving our Neighbors that we find evidence that God’s people are indeed being Equipped for Discipleship at Ascension Presbyterian Church.