Emotionally Healthy Discipleship

What's Emotionally Healthy Discipleship about?

• Deep Transformation Focus: The book emphasizes moving from superficial Christianity to a deeper, transformative relationship with Jesus, integrating emotional health with spiritual maturity.
• Seven Marks of Discipleship: Scazzero outlines seven key principles that define emotionally healthy discipleship, such as "Be Before You Do" and "Follow the Crucified, Not the Americanized, Jesus."
• Emotional Health Integration: The author argues that emotional health is crucial for spiritual maturity, suggesting that many Christians have been "babied" in their discipleship, leading to immaturity.

Why should I read Emotionally Healthy Discipleship?

• Addressing Shallow Discipleship: The book tackles the issue of shallow discipleship prevalent in many churches today, providing a roadmap for deeper spiritual growth.
• Practical Tools and Frameworks: It offers practical tools, such as the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Course, to help individuals and churches implement these teachings effectively.
• Personal and Community Growth: Readers will learn how to foster personal transformation and create a healthy church culture that nurtures deep relationships and emotional maturity.

What are the key takeaways of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship?

• Emotional Maturity is Essential: Emotional health is intertwined with spiritual growth, and one cannot be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.
• The Importance of Limits: Embracing God’s gift of limits helps individuals understand their boundaries and responsibilities in ministry and life.
• Grief and Loss as Growth: Grief and loss can lead to profound personal transformation, encouraging readers to embrace their pain as a pathway to deeper faith.

What are the best quotes from Emotionally Healthy Discipleship and what do they mean?

• “You cannot give what you do not possess.”: Emphasizes the importance of being spiritually and emotionally healthy before attempting to lead or serve others.
• “The state you are in is the state you give to others.”: Highlights how a leader's emotional and spiritual condition directly impacts those they lead.
• “Loss can also make us more.”: Reflects the idea that through grief and loss, individuals can experience growth and transformation.

What are the seven marks of emotionally healthy discipleship in Emotionally Healthy Discipleship?

• Be Before You Do: Emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus before engaging in ministry activities.
• Follow the Crucified, Not the Americanized Jesus: Encourages embracing the suffering and humility of Jesus rather than a culturally comfortable version.
• Embrace God’s Gift of Limits: Understanding and accepting personal limits is crucial for maintaining emotional and spiritual health.

How does Emotionally Healthy Discipleship define an emotionally healthy disciple?

• Slows Down to Be with Jesus: Prioritizes time with Jesus over busyness and activity, foundational for spiritual growth.
• Goes Beneath the Surface: Engages in self-reflection and allows God to transform their inner life, leading to genuine change.
• Offers Life as a Gift: Recognizes that their life and gifts are meant to bless others, living with a sense of stewardship and purpose.

What are the four failures that undermine deep discipleship in Emotionally Healthy Discipleship?

• Tolerating Emotional Immaturity: Many churches accept emotional immaturity as normal, hindering true spiritual growth.
• Emphasizing Doing Over Being: Focus on activities for God rather than cultivating a relationship with Him can lead to burnout.
• Ignoring Church History: Learning from the historical church provides valuable insights into spiritual formation and discipleship.

How does Emotionally Healthy Discipleship address the issue of grief and loss?

• Grief as a Pathway: Grief is a necessary process for healing and transformation, encouraging individuals to embrace their losses.
• Spiritual Growth through Loss: Losses can lead to new beginnings and deeper insights, with the resurrection bringing good from losses.
• Community Support: Emphasizes the importance of community in navigating grief, encouraging churches to create supportive spaces.

What are the three phases of processing grief and loss in Emotionally Healthy Discipleship?

• Pay Attention to Pain: Acknowledging and confronting the pain of loss is essential for healing and growth.
• Wait in the Confusing In-Between: Emphasizes patience and trust in God during times of uncertainty and confusion.
• Allow the Old to Birth the New: Encourages letting go of the past and embracing new beginnings, trusting in God's plan.

How does Emotionally Healthy Discipleship define vulnerability?

• Embracing Weakness: Vulnerability is seen as a strength, where individuals acknowledge their weaknesses and limitations.
• Authentic Relationships: Encourages creating a culture where people can share their struggles and failures openly.
• Living Out of Brokenness: True leadership and discipleship come from a place of brokenness, relying on God’s grace.

What is the significance of the genogram in Emotionally Healthy Discipleship?

• Understanding Family Dynamics: The genogram visualizes family relationships and patterns, impacting current behavior and emotional health.
• Breaking Negative Patterns: Recognizing and breaking unhealthy patterns that may hinder spiritual growth and relationships.
• Facilitating Healing: Encourages reflection and discussion, leading to greater self-awareness and healing from past wounds.

How can I implement the principles of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship in my church?

• Assess Emotional and Spiritual Health: Evaluate the emotional and spiritual maturity of your congregation using tools like the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Personal Assessment.
• Create a Culture of Vulnerability: Encourage open discussions about emotional health and the importance of grief and loss.
• Integrate the Seven Marks: Teach and model the seven marks of emotionally healthy discipleship within your church community.