“But solid food (meat of the word) is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
[Hebrews 5:14]
As we wrap up this discipleship season which has followed the school year, my thoughts go to how do I; encourage, empower and call out to greatness this community of believers that has been growing dynamically in Christ over the last nine months? Then it hit, through a conversation with Grace Wood from the Tehachapi group. As Taylor Mason was affirming the growth in her, she didn’t even see it, she’d been so close to the movement yet couldn’t see it. Why? “Because fish discover water last” (Ethiopian Proverb). And I believe that her story is like many of your stories. Growing tremendously in Christ yet you can’t see it.
So, I am going to share a little bit of Graces’ story, a bit of how this group started (the Tehachapi story), the continuation story (The Movement at BCHS) and hopefully you will begin to see the spiritual growth of your story and the impact you are having at schools all across Kern County & beyond.
This style of discipleship group started at Grace Woods house in Tehachapi, August 2020. We were in the midst of a pandemic and all the schools had been shut down as were the churches. Our church broke down into small house churches, so our house church took up the responsibility to disciple our children. We started with 7 kids, Grace Wood and her brother Nolan, two of my children Abraham and Mateo, their two cousins Jett and Tyler and Ashton. They were like seven little lambs feeding on the milk of the word.
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation”
[1 Peter 2:2]
So, David and April Wood opened up their house every Monday night and feed the kids dinner. Then we switched the model from telling the kids what to think about scripture, to asking them what they thought and something radical started to happen, they started growing in their understanding of Christ. They would read scriptures, think about them, write down what they thought about it and then shared their insights with the group. The faith and maturity in this group has grown exponentially over the last five years. They moved from “Milk to Meat” and from 7-100 students in the group now. These student leaders are leading small groups across the country in churches, high schools and junior highs.
In the summer of 2023, Matt Guinn, the President of BCHS wanted to prioritize spiritual formation on his campus. So he sought out a plan for discipleship at BCHS. In Fall of 2023 a group started, and a new process began. The Schaeffers moved from Tehachapi to Bakersfield to support it and Jay Johnson oversaw the whole process. But it was families like the Romanini’s, the Pursel’s, the Ellis’ and the Haddons’ that have invested in the growth of the leadership team. For this last season has been marked by the growth of the student leaders that have grown in Christ themselves, are co-leading discipleship groups with their peers and contending for others who are wanting to grow.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food (meat of the word) is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” [Hebrews 5:12-14]
So many student leaders have stepped up to lead this year and are doing what a vast majority of adults in the church aren’t doing. Leading, teaching, discipling others as they feast on the meat of the word. And I would be remiss of course if I didn’t mention the effect the movement of God at Centennial high school has had on the discipleship group. The outreach event at Centennial, lead by CaraAnn, Jaelyn and Jake Stuebbe brought student leaders together for the first time. It has opened the doors to a great unity of God in so many schools across Kern County: Liberty, Stockdale, Frontier, Ridgeview, Rosedale Middle, Tehachapi, Outsiders and so many others schools that have student leaders meeting together weekly, the Together effect.
“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”. [1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT]
So, what next? Growing deeper together in Christ and His word.
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” [Ephesians 3:17-19]
Discussion Questions:
- Can you see your growth over the last season? Maybe somebody in the group can tell you about the growth they have seen.
- Can you see the way you have grown into a community within your small group?
- Can you see a way for you to live out your faith starting this summer? (Start a small group, disciple someone, Bible reading)
- Where are you at feasting on Gods word? Milk, meat or somewhere in between? Read the story below and find your place at the table.
Imagine a large banquet table you are seated at. At the beginning of the table is milk and then a progression of baby foods that must be spoon fed. Then soft easily digestible foods a young one could eat on their own.
In the middle of the table there are steamed vegetables, pastas and assorted side dishes that require a more mature pallet or taste.
Then, at the far end of the table is meats. First chicken and sausages, then fish and seafood and lastly roasted meats; lamb, steak and ribs. These require maturity to cut up and digest. Where are you seated in your current ability to understand and digest Gods word?
Events:
- Barn Dance 4:30pm at the Bloemhof Barn
- Hume SoCal June 29th – July 5th. Cost is $499. Contact Henry for more info.
- Barn Dance at Ghilarducci’s Barn May 31st 5pm
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