How does accepting Jesus Christ as Savior grow into discipleship? In N.T. Wright’s book Surprised by Hope, he dares to question what he calls the “two-part gospel.” In so doing, he enlarges our understanding of the gospel. The Two-Part Gospel The “two-part gospel” addresses a limited view of personal salvation. That view includes:

I interpreted what I thought God was saying to me as a call to the ministry. A few men had allowed me to preach for them when they were away from their churches. A semester internship for pastoral students in college introduced me to ministry. I thought I was ready to serve. One late August …

My best time to meet with God is in the early morning. That is the quietest time with the least interruptions. For that time to work, I needed to change when I went to bed. Going to bed earlier helps me get up earlier. I search for a quiet place to get still with God.

“Plan your work. Work your plan.” Two simple sentences with wise words. But you may ask, “How do I plan my work?” Let’s consider several questions in creating a plan that will define the life and work of our Lord in our congregations.