"Back to The Books" from Dan Jones, Director of NDI at DCOTIN

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As our children and grandchildren, some great grandchildren, head back to school, it is time for them to get back in the routine of listening, studying, learning, reading, and going deeper in their level of education.  While this is their time to get back to the books for education, how about this being our time to get back into the Book.  While some of you read scripture everyday, I am sure there are some of us that have slacked off some for the summer.  What a great time to renew our passion for scripture and recreate, or maybe create for the first time, a daily time to read scripture or a devotional, just you and a party of One.  To be a follower of Jesus means to be a student of Him, learning His ways and becoming more like Him.  How are we doing in this area?
Matthew 28:19,20, records some final instructions from Jesus to His disciples.  He said, "...go and make disciples..., baptizing and ...teaching them ..."  How do we as a church, followers of Jesus, make disciples?  According to these two verses, there are two parts: baptizing and teaching.  Our church performs baptisms once or twice a year, but we teach multiple times each week.  This is your opportunity to come, listen, engage in conversation, encourage and be encouraged, and grow as a disciple.  We offer Sunday School each Sunday for all ages at 9:30, Awana, for pre-k to 5th grade each Wednesday night (beginning 9/24), Youth group each Wednesday evening, and Young Adult and Adult Bible Studies at 3 different times during the week.  The opportunities just listed are to help you develop spiritual conversations at home, where real discipling takes place.  While our children learn from others, they really learn from their parents at home.  What is real in the home will be real in their lives, and what is not real at home, will not be real in their lives as they mature and grow older.  So, let's get back to The Book.  Take advantage of the opportunities afforded your family and we hope to see you more often at Denton Church of the Nazarene.
Dan Jones, NDI