by John Shirk

Now What?

The last three days have been about reframing discipleship. It’s more than attending meetings and studying the play book. It involves playing on the team under the guidance of the coach. It isn’t simply learning what I am supposed to do. It is joining the team and becoming who I am supposed to be. It isn’t just about me as an individual; it is about me playing my part on the team as we grow together.

It may be a little confusing to read this in an online devotional by a virtual ministry. It is easy to see how the Catch community can get together for team meetings via Facebook or Zoom. It is easy to see how John Fischer can teach the playbook through writing Catch devotionals. But how do we gather the team and get in the game? Pardon the pun, but that’s the catch, isn’t it?

This is actually the reason that John and Marti have been taking time away from regular responsibilities and asked me to write the Catch this week. They are doing strategic planning to make this a reality. In the near future you should be hearing about workshops and training opportunities that will launch opportunities for you to join the team and get in the game. This will involve online cohorts which go beyond teaching and include relationships where you can join the team on the field spurring each other on to not just do what you are supposed to do, but become who you are supposed to be. This will involve praying for each other, encouraging each other, and holding each other accountable, as the team seeks to be transformed into the image of our Coach, Jesus, as we play the game under His leadership.

For the past couple of years I’ve been involved with a cohort of men I met through the Catch who meet weekly online to learn from each other, encourage each other, and become more like Jesus together as we seek to make disciples by loving people like Jesus.

I hope you will join the team and get in the game!