Demystifying Discipleship: A Fresh Look at the Great Commission
This blog was originally published on January 31, 2022, on WFMZ.com. Author and Haggai leader Dr. Raphael Thomas recently published a book on discipleship.
After quadruple bypass heart surgery, which led to a near-death experience, Dr. Raphael Thomas decided to do something about what had been weighing heavily on his heart.
In Demystifying Discipleship: A Fresh Look at the Great Commission, Dr. Raphael Thomas provides an exposition of the “Great Commission,” a reference to Matthew 28: 18-20 of the Bible, in which Jesus commands his followers to make disciples of all nations. Dr. Thomas’ book contains seven principles with practical insights to accomplish this goal.
“After 30 years of being a pastor,” Dr. Thomas said, “I have observed that the church often expends its resources on what is periphery, instead of primary. Thus, believers must be intentional and strategic in fulfilling the divine mandate.”
At just 100 pages, Dr. Thomas provides a concise, yet comprehensive study of what Christ-followers are called to do, with pragmatic steps to becoming effective disciple-makers. He is convicted that, generally, the church has “not been following Jesus’ model of making disciples” in the ways intended, and that a shift in thinking is what is needed to get on the right path.
“Our call to follow,” Dr. Thomas said, “cannot be separated from our commission to make Jesus known.”
About the Author and Haggai Leader
Dr. Raphael Thomas is the president of Blessing Basket International, a missions organization that he cofounded with his wife, Velda, in 2017. He also currently serves as director of missions and evangelism at the Germantown Christian Assembly, Philadelphia. He and his wife served in Jamaica for over thirty years in full-time Christian ministry before they relocated to the U.S. in 2020. Dr. Thomas is an international facilitator with Haggai International. He has also been an Adjunct Lecturer at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology since 2001 and, in 2003, he was certified as a behavioral consultant with the Institute for Motivational Living. He is a licensed clinical pastoral counselor with the National Christian Counselors Association. In 2017 he received a National Award from the Prime Minister of Jamaica for his contribution to education.
Demystifying Discipleship: A Fresh Look at the Great Commission
This blog was originally published on January 31, 2022, on WFMZ.com. Author and Haggai leader Dr. Raphael Thomas recently published a book on discipleship.
After quadruple bypass heart surgery, which led to a near-death experience, Dr. Raphael Thomas decided to do something about what had been weighing heavily on his heart.
In Demystifying Discipleship: A Fresh Look at the Great Commission, Dr. Raphael Thomas provides an exposition of the “Great Commission,” a reference to Matthew 28: 18-20 of the Bible, in which Jesus commands his followers to make disciples of all nations. Dr. Thomas’ book contains seven principles with practical insights to accomplish this goal.
“After 30 years of being a pastor,” Dr. Thomas said, “I have observed that the church often expends its resources on what is periphery, instead of primary. Thus, believers must be intentional and strategic in fulfilling the divine mandate.”
At just 100 pages, Dr. Thomas provides a concise, yet comprehensive study of what Christ-followers are called to do, with pragmatic steps to becoming effective disciple-makers. He is convicted that, generally, the church has “not been following Jesus’ model of making disciples” in the ways intended, and that a shift in thinking is what is needed to get on the right path.
“Our call to follow,” Dr. Thomas said, “cannot be separated from our commission to make Jesus known.”
About the Author and Haggai Leader
Dr. Raphael Thomas is the president of Blessing Basket International, a missions organization that he cofounded with his wife, Velda, in 2017. He also currently serves as director of missions and evangelism at the Germantown Christian Assembly, Philadelphia. He and his wife served in Jamaica for over thirty years in full-time Christian ministry before they relocated to the U.S. in 2020. Dr. Thomas is an international facilitator with Haggai International. He has also been an Adjunct Lecturer at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology since 2001 and, in 2003, he was certified as a behavioral consultant with the Institute for Motivational Living. He is a licensed clinical pastoral counselor with the National Christian Counselors Association. In 2017 he received a National Award from the Prime Minister of Jamaica for his contribution to education.
Demystifying Discipleship: A Fresh Look at the Great Commission
This blog was originally published on January 31, 2022, on WFMZ.com. Author and Haggai leader Dr. Raphael Thomas recently published a book on discipleship.
After quadruple bypass heart surgery, which led to a near-death experience, Dr. Raphael Thomas decided to do something about what had been weighing heavily on his heart.
In Demystifying Discipleship: A Fresh Look at the Great Commission, Dr. Raphael Thomas provides an exposition of the “Great Commission,” a reference to Matthew 28: 18-20 of the Bible, in which Jesus commands his followers to make disciples of all nations. Dr. Thomas’ book contains seven principles with practical insights to accomplish this goal.
“After 30 years of being a pastor,” Dr. Thomas said, “I have observed that the church often expends its resources on what is periphery, instead of primary. Thus, believers must be intentional and strategic in fulfilling the divine mandate.”
At just 100 pages, Dr. Thomas provides a concise, yet comprehensive study of what Christ-followers are called to do, with pragmatic steps to becoming effective disciple-makers. He is convicted that, generally, the church has “not been following Jesus’ model of making disciples” in the ways intended, and that a shift in thinking is what is needed to get on the right path.
“Our call to follow,” Dr. Thomas said, “cannot be separated from our commission to make Jesus known.”
About the Author and Haggai Leader
Dr. Raphael Thomas is the president of Blessing Basket International, a missions organization that he cofounded with his wife, Velda, in 2017. He also currently serves as director of missions and evangelism at the Germantown Christian Assembly, Philadelphia. He and his wife served in Jamaica for over thirty years in full-time Christian ministry before they relocated to the U.S. in 2020. Dr. Thomas is an international facilitator with Haggai International. He has also been an Adjunct Lecturer at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology since 2001 and, in 2003, he was certified as a behavioral consultant with the Institute for Motivational Living. He is a licensed clinical pastoral counselor with the National Christian Counselors Association. In 2017 he received a National Award from the Prime Minister of Jamaica for his contribution to education.
