THREE FOLD PLAN OF DISCIPLESHIP
As the world around us becomes more sophisticated, complex and flashy, here at Long Hollow we want to take a “back to basics” approach to discipleship. We believe a successful and fulfilling Christian life is built on three foundational building blocks: “SEEK – STUDY – SERVE.” Sound simple? The concepts may be, but the discipline it takes to be fully involved in each can be a challenge without the proper Biblical education and mutual encouragement. Long Hollow is dedicated to equipping, training and supporting you as you learn how “to make God look good” in every area of your life by implementing these foundational cornerstones into your Christian life.
SEEK
The first step in Long Hollow’s discipleship strategy is for everyone to simply, “Seek God” through personal and corporate worship. One of the most obvious opportunities to do this at Long Hollow is through participation in at least one of our two worship services (contemporary & traditional) offered every weekend. When we worship God and enjoy fellowship with others, the Spirit of God is present. Matthew 18:20 promises, “Where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them” (NIV).
When Christians and non-believers alike walk through the doors of a church building, they are accepting a Divine invitation from a high and holy God. There, in His presence, they learn, first, of His unconditional love for them and they learn, secondly, of His plans and purposes for their life. God uses both intimate and group experiences to reach out to us, creating a spiritual hunger and thirst that can only be quenched by a relationship with Him. Worship services give us a chance to encounter God through praise and prayer.
Once you are equipped and encouraged though worship, you’ll discover it’s not necessary to solely be in a formal “church” atmosphere in order to seek God. In fact, God’s desire is for us to seek Him in everything we do. Jeremiah 29 says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart” (NIV). Seeking God is simply setting your heart’s desire on Him. It is making His perfect love and holiness the standard for our every thought and action. As we consistently and wholeheartedly seek God, we develop a desire to go deeper, to grow.
STUDY
In order to grow in your relationship with God, you must consistently, “Study His Word.” The Bible is an open window into the heart and mind of God. It is our map for the Christian life giving us clear direction to the path of righteousness (right living). It is an instruction booklet with practical advice on current issues that affect us every day. It is an overflowing source of His peace and joy that the world cannot even begin to offer.
We understand, however, that studying God’s Word can be very intimidating for some, and downright overwhelming and scary for others. This is why Long Hollow offers a variety of study opportunities to help you right where you are, spiritually speaking. Our church family is comprised of people at every mark on the spiritual spectrum: some are at the water’s edge, still investigating Christianity, while others can be compared to deep sea divers, equipped and trained for the extreme pressures of the Christian life.
We urge you to find a place that’s right for you to dive deeper into God’s Word. Whether it’s in one of our Sunday School Classes, Wednesday Night Worhip At The Well, or in one of our Spiritual Formation Weekends, it’s imperative for you to get plugged in and start checking out the life lessons available in God’s Word. When you know the comfort and direction that comes from daily Bible study, you will wonder how you ever lived without it!
SERVE
Once you’ve made a priority and practice of “Seeking God” and “Studying His Word,” you will be ready to serve God and His people. This is the heart of the Church! Here at Long Hollow we strongly encourage people to get involved in a small group ministry where they can have an opportunity to grow in their faith, find authentic support and accountability, and discover ways to focus on the needs of others through service. When asked to sum up the Christian life, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV). This passage is pivotal to the Christian walk. When we put a priority on serving others we are truly imitating Christ and making God look good!
As a member of a church and as a disciple of Christ, we are each asked to serve others in a way that fits our passions and personality. First Peter 4:10 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (NIV). God uniquely creates us with gifts that enable us to serve others, and Long Hollow offers a variety of opportunities to do just that.
A CYCLE OF BUILDING FAITH
The beautiful thing about this basic model of Christianity is that it becomes a cycle of faith building. When we passionately and consistently “Seek God,” “Study His Word” and “Serve Him and His People,” we take on the mind of Christ. Our thought patterns and resulting actions lead to an expanded and strengthened faith. All the while living a life that makes God look good!