COMMENTS about this page: Modeling is so important in showing kids what Christianity really is. Driving the Gospel into a real lifestyle. Here is an uncut outline on the concept of modeling. Don't be content with kids "aping" your Christian lifestyle, go for "modeling! " Modeling may cost more, but it's worth it!

Jesus Christ initiated a revolutionary way of teaching in the following manner. He called His disciples to "follow Him." This wasn't simply an invitation to follow Him on the road. It was that. But it was more. They were asked to follow His example, to watch closely His life. To watch His Gospel in action. Jesus believed in MODELING. He preached a Gospel that could be modeled. He was concerned with doing the Word, and He wanted His disciples to live the Christian lifestyle which would bring them the credibility in a skeptical world. A lifestyle needed to share an effective life changing message.

Modeling is the missing element in Christian education, Christian parenting and Discipling programs today. This is understandable. Positive modeling is costly, yet for effective, permanent discipling, it is essential. No way around it. We, as disciplers, must realize that MODELING is the key that opens the Scriptures to a lifestyle, thus making a Christian lifestyle possible.

Modeling is costly. A discipler, in the true sense of the word, is a model ... and modeling is more than a simple Bible study. Modeling means EXPOSURE! EXPOSURE that pinches our private lives. EXPOSURE means a public view. Jesus gave His disciples a public view of His life, so they could see how the Gospel could be lived out. To be sure, our private world isn't geared that way. However, understanding the impact of loving EXPOSURE seen in our Christian lifestyle, we must make an adjustment in our private world to include our young disciples. It is essential to EXPOSE them to the Christian life! TIME also has it's price tag. Next to life itself, the post precious commodity is TIME. The effective discipler must carve out TIME, quality TIME, to spend with his disciples. As your disciples view you, TIME is seen ... and rightly so, as a measure of your love, sincerity and commitment to them. Fifteen or twenty minutes each day can hardly qualify an individual as a "discipler." To make a healthy and lasting effect on your disciples will require TIME, quality TIME. Last but not least is the disciplers WALK. This, too, is costly. A Christian WALK or lifestyle is a living "How To!" In the warped and perverted world of today, where do young people get to see a Christian living, WALKING, doing the Word? To Christ Jesus, discipling was "Follow me as I WALK out my life in front of you." This means a Discipler commits himself to live a life that is an example of love, compassion, morality, honesty, etc. Everyone of us who is a Christian is obligated to live a Christian life. Whether we are parents, teachers, disciplers ... whatever ... we are to be examples. A Christ-like WALK is essential to demonstrating the Christian life.

Exposure to our Disciples, time spent with them, and a walk that is an example will cost us ... It's called modeling. This kind of modeling will produce a healthy, committed and mature Christian. A Christian willing, and able, to live out his Christianity. Jesus puts it this way ... "Lasting fruit."

Modeling is learning by demonstration. This kind of learning carries a real impact!! The "impact" produces the following in a disciple. First, POSSIBILITY. The Christian life to most Christians is more of a dream or goal than a real POSSIBILITY. Even more so to your young disciples. When they have a chance to see this kind of life lived out in you and other Christians, it makes it POSSIBLE. POSSIBILITY is a great foundation upon which to build Biblical truth. Your disciple asks ... "Is Christianity and a Christian life POSSIBLE?" The answer becomes as clear as it is possible as it is lived out in your life.

The impact of modeling produces PERMANENCE. Knowledge without example is of little value. Biblical knowledge, when it is lived out and practiced, becomes a PERMANENT concept, not apt to be forgotten. We forget much of what we read and hear, but what we see becomes PERMANENT TRUTH.

Modeling REINFORCES the truth. Many of us are not strong in the truth we profess. We read the truth, hear the truth and know the truth ... but living the truth ... now that's another story. Our young people have a constant struggle with this ... knowing what to do ... even knowing how to do it. Yet doing it evades them. When we see an example of the Christian life lived out in front of us, it understandably REINFORCES us, giving us the determination to press on in the area we know is right. In a sense, REINFORCING is parallel strength. Modeling assures us once again that it can be done!

Nothing could be more DIMENSIONAL than modeling. Bringing Christianity into a living DIMENSION is so important. Christianity today seems to be more of a Spiritual supplement to life than a life itself. From the pulpit, we hear talk, talk, talk. From the classroom we hear tell, tell, tell ... and occasionally yell. Modeling by living the life proves that there is a DIMENSION to Christianity, transferring Biblical knowledge to a real life-style ... daily living. Disciples grow and thrive on this modeling concept because it brings a new possibility to Christianity, a new permanence to Christian life, by showing and reinforcing Biblical truth resulting in a very dimensional lesson.

Modeling is Biblical. Modeling is a great teaching concept. Modeling gives a life changing dimension to Discipleship. It's essential to a quality job, yet it is hard, if not impossible, to effectively model. To be a model to your disciples in the world of today will take: FIRST, a willingness to carve out the time; SECOND, a determination that you will be a positive model to your disciples, and THIRD, some creative thinking, if not a touch of genius. Several thought you might develop in Modeling some areas of your life.

1. Function in Church ... taking your disciple or disciples with you to a deacons meeting /finance committee meeting or somewhere you are functioning in your Church.

2. Witnessing ... Take your disciples(s) with you as you share your faith to show them how.

3. Serving ... We are all called to serve or minister to the poor, needy, hurting people. Take your disciple(s) with you as you serve. Old folks' home, home for the retarded, rescue mission, etc.

4. Home Life ... Many kids today, at least youth from the neighborhood, have never seen a healthy family. Treat them to a meal and some of your family time.

5. Take your disciple(s) to dinner and share with them some of the positive times you have demonstrated Christ like qualities to others and how important it is to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.