God's Expectations of His People: A Challenge to the Church and its Leadership Concerning Accountability before God

This project is written as a book manuscript with the intent first to challenge church leadership to purposefully disciple the Body of Christ holistically. Second, the purpose is to challenge the believer to take a greater active role in the 'Body' of Christ - the local church.

The foundation of this project is a study of the Scriptures, searching for God's expectations of His people, the people's responsibility, how they were held accountable (by God and others), and what were the consequences for obedience or disobedience.

This foundation is based on a prime assumption stated as follows (see illustration at the end of chapter 1):
God created all
therefore all creation is His
with creation comes expectations
with expectations comes responsibility
with responsibility comes accountability
with accountability comes consequences.
Therefore, we must learn
what it is our Creator God expects of us
and live accordingly.

All of God's expectations in the Scriptures can be summed up in four main expectations which are:
1. We are to acknowledge God for who He is and what He has done.
2. We are to walk obediently in Him.
3. We are to pass on the knowledge of the Holy to the next generation.
4. We are to wait on God to accomplish that which He has promised.
Applying this process takes a life time - for God is working in His people changing lives.  A reengineering of people's thinking needs to take place. Three small groups of people have used this material as a study guide, discussing the implementation of this in the Church and in their personal lives. These groups have approached the Scriptures looking at God's expectations of His people and how they need to respond to them.

This manuscript is unique in the fact that of all the volumes of books on discipleship - very few place an emphasis on the corporate Body of Christ. Most written works speak to the individual and an individual believer. It is this writer's intention to challenge pastors and other church leaders to take seriously their responsibility to 'disciple the Church.'