80 Day Devotional

My favorite Bible story is the sinful woman anointing the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:36–50).

All we know is that the woman had a reputation as a “sinner.” At some point, she encountered Jesus. In His presence she became deeply convicted of her sin but received His assurance of forgiveness.

Now she comes to anoint Jesus’ feet with an expensive ointment. She begins to weep—not a few tears, but profusely wetting His dusty feet with her hair. Why does she do this? The combination of a deep sense of her sin and Jesus’ assurance of forgiveness created within her a love and gratitude which had to express itself. Today we cannot anoint Jesus’ feet with literal ointment, but we can offer the ointment of a life poured out for Him. And it is the continual awareness of our sin and His forgiveness that motivate us to do this. This is the foundation of true discipleship.

The other practices we associate with discipleship—the spiritual disciplines, evangelism, passing on what we have learned—are all necessary, but it is the assurance of Christ’s love expressed through His death for us that will motivate us. Paul puts it like this in 2 Corinthians 5:14,15, “For Christ’s love compels us . . . that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them.”

His assignment seemed clear and simple:   go to a large sea port and make disciples of sailors.

So, he went, he worked hard, he failed………at least he thought so.   After months of intense prayer and strenuous labor, he phoned the person who trained him and reported only one sailor showed interest in becoming a committed disciple of Jesus Christ.   One.      (oh, and by the way, nine teenagers also showed great interest and potential – but he wasn’t sent to that city to work with teenagers – so did they really matter?)

“Stay where you are and focus on those who show interest” responded his trainer.

Fast forward: who did that sailor who showed so much interest turn out to be?  The number one discipleship trainer for a great evangelist.   And those nine teenagers? All of them became missionaries serving on four continents.   Did God know what He was doing in having that man focus on so few?   You bet!

Zechariah 4:10 “Who has despised the day of small things?”   All of us can probably plead guilty to that charge.   Why do we choose to forget that the best Teacher this world has ever seen spoke to the masses but focused primarily on just twelve men.  Twelve!   But that strategy worked!

Big doors swing on small hinges, and that prevents any of us from thinking that pouring ourselves into just a few people is a waste.  God delights in doing amazing things in amazing ways.

What’s involved in having a one-to-one ministry? Most people are looking for a list of steps, a formula, but what I want to stress is far deeper than that. It’s more than an outline or a good idea that some organization happens to propagate.

The first thing we must have is a heart for people—an appreciation of the worth of every person.

For God so loved the elites?  The popular?  The talented?  No!  Why does Jesus give His valuable time to the morally challenged woman at the well?    Why would Jesus want to be seen with Simon the Zealot (in the 21^st century Zealots would be on the government’s terrorist list)?     And James the son of Alphaeus- probably the shyest person in the NT who asks NO questions, makes NO speeches, ALWAYS in the shadows of the other 11 – is selected to be one of the 12?   (Be sure you would never pick him for your 12)  What an odd assortment! Proof that when He said He loved the world, He meant it.

Not only is every person of inestimable value to God, but each person has great possibilities as a channel of blessing.

I’ve quit limiting whom I think God can use. I am getting an ever-increasing vision of the possibilities of every individual as a channel of blessing under the transforming power of Christ.

Tonight, before you go to bed, ask God to give you a heart for all people.

When I first began trying to help others spiritually, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t have a plan, and we got nowhere. I dreaded the times I was to meet with them and hoped they wouldn’t show up. Then I encountered others with the same concern, and we decided to get a plan.

We made a list of everything we wanted to build into a young Christian. As our vision we put Christ at the center of a life surrounded by the Scriptures, prayer, fellowship, and witnessing. I spent hours studying each of these topics in the Bible and asking questions like these: Why is this subject important? What is it really about? How should I apply it personally? How can I communicate this to others?

After this I knew that the things I wanted to pass on to others were my own personal convictions. They were not someone else’s ideas, or merely my own opinions. They came from my study of God’s Word.

I suggest you do the same thing if you want to disciple others. Spend several hours putting together what you consider the essentials for spiritual survival, drawing your conclusions from the Scriptures and from your own experiences. Once you’ve done your homework and have crystallized your convictions, you’ll have something to share with others.

I appreciate the adage, “God is less interested in your ability than in your availability.”  After church one Sunday as I was leaving the pastor grabbed me, spun me around and introduced me to a guy I had never seen before.  “Andre has just trusted Christ.  I want you to help him grow”, said the pastor.   On the outside I was all smiles & warmth.  On the inside I was panicked.   Me?  I had never discipled anyone before.  I didn’t know where to start.  What if I make a mistake?  Will I ruin this guy’s life?

Andre and I arranged a meeting time; I hoped he wouldn’t show up.  He did.  We studied John 1, I gave him an assignment for our next meeting and hoped he would lose interest.  He didn’t.  In fact he did a great job in preparing his homework.   Week after week we met.  Each time he was well prepared, and slowly, slowly I gained confidence God could actually use me to nurture the spiritual life of someone else.  What started out as a burden ended in joy.

Andre went on to seminary and has been a pastor for decades.  And that awkward start in disciplemaking opened my eyes to my lifelong calling:   “Find a few faithful people and pour yourself into them”  2 Tim 2:2

God had used my availability in spite of my ability.  Will you allow God to use you?

I began following Jesus the year before I went to college. I did not come from a Christian background and was hungry for God’s Word. I arrived at college spiritually young but eager to grow. That’s when God connected me to a mature believer who began spending time with me. She listened to my story, taught me how to learn from God’s Word, and shared her life with me. She spent hours praying for me. She invested in me, equipping me with skills to share the Gospel with others and helping me see how much Jesus loves people. My heart began to change; I wanted to love people like Jesus.

One person’s willingness to do this changed my life. With her help, God set me on a different path. He began to bring healing to my brokenness. He laid a foundation that would enable me to continue following Him after college.

Since then, I have been doing what that woman did with me with others. Transforming one life can lead to the transformation of others’ lives. Some days it may seem insignificant, but the reality is, it’s what Jesus did. As 1 Thessalonians 2:8 encourages, may we be people who share the Gospel of God with others and our lives as well!

When I began discipling Vlad, I had a clear sense of what I wanted to pass on to him. I did not, however, have a clear picture of how I would know when this process was complete.

Vlad and I met regularly for three years. During our last year, we lost momentum. Vlad was grounded in his faith—and now I wasn’t sure what to do next. Somewhat awkwardly, I affirmed our friendship and suggested he consider meeting with a younger believer himself. Vlad agreed, but this conversation probably came a year too late.

If we don’t think ahead about the end of our discipling relationships, we may merely drift out of them instead of helping people move on with enthusiasm. Such an ending doesn’t empower people to embrace what God has next for them. Instead, it models passivity—exactly the opposite of what we want to reproduce.

As you think about how you’re going to disciple someone, consider what kind of time commitment you’re both willing to make and how long your study will take. Talk about these things up front and have a plan for the end. When we end a discipling relationship by looking to the future, it feels not so much like the end of one chapter as the beginning of another.

It’s estimated that a typical Christian spends about three-and-a-half minutes each day in prayer. Why do we fail to take advantage of the privilege of prayer? Is it a lack of discipline? Are we unmotivated?

If we aren’t captivated by God, prayer is a tedious task. I once regarded prayer as “gutting it out” before God. Rather than being dynamic communion with the Sovereign Lord, prayer was an exercise meant to manipulate God’s hand. Lifeless and tedious, prayer was like bitter medicine: tasting terrible, but good for me.

Yet God reminded me of the truth I was neglecting: He wanted to commune with me. Communion is the intimate sharing of thoughts and emotions. We need to respond to God about the specific things He has spoken to us about. God may speak to us about His holiness through His Word, but our mind is preoccupied with how we can pay next month’s rent. So when we put down the Bible we pray not about His holiness, but the rent money!

It is not wrong to pray about our needs, but God wants us to listen to Him and give Him a proper response. Imagine telling someone, “I love you very much,” only to hear in response, “I hope I get a raise at work.” Such conversations don’t build intimacy in a relationship. Growing in reverent communion with God isn’t an activity, but an attitude of heart.

She wrote me three times a year, and her letters were predictable. Each one included some exciting nugget she had learned recently in her daily Bible reading, some sin she was struggling with, and her continuing evangelistic efforts. Every year three letters. The last one arrived when she was 103.

On her 104th birthday several friends went to celebrate with her. She was ready with the same question for each of them. And the question was not, “What Bible verse have you memorized recently?” The question was, “What chapter of the Bible have you memorized recently?”. You can be sure that each friend left highly motivated to follow in her footsteps.

“Spiritual retirement” was never part of her vocabulary or lifestyle. Clearly she had no intention of rotting. She had absolutely no intention of being anything else but a lifelong learner. After all if God has nothing more to teach you, why aren’t you dead?

When Solomon challenges us in Proverbs 2:4 to seek wisdom “as silver and search for her as for hidden treasure”, he is giving us a lifelong challenge to pick up our shovel, start digging in the Bible, and never stop.

What an inspiration that elderly lady was to her church to seek & serve her savior ALL her life. What kind of example are you setting? Time to pick up your shovel and start digging?What chapter will you memorize this year? Whom are you trying to reach for Christ?

We are called to be “holy”—Christ-followers who are different than the world around us. Yet if this wonderful difference is only experienced among fellow believers—in the holy huddle—a hope-needy world will never experience the life-giving difference of Christ. We need to boldly move into friendships with not-yet-believing people.

Remember the two foundational ideas for the Gospel to move out of our lives and into those who don’t yet know Jesus?

1. Live among—presence.
2. Live differently—holiness.

Speaking to His Father about His disciples, Jesus said, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world” (John 17:15–18).

The Good News of Christ will spread naturally in our world only if we are friends with and walk alongside those who don’t yet know Christ. Make a list: Who are the not-yet-believing people God has placed right around you? How can you move toward them relationally or get to know them better?

Training people to share their faith is a key part of discipleship. As I’ve trained others over the years, I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon. Once people learn to share the Gospel, they often forget how to act normally when talking about Jesus. Sadly, it’s almost as if the training itself displaces their naturalness. Their voices can take on a compulsory tone. Instead of being conversational, they can come across as mechanical and preachy. When this occurs, people sense it immediately and put up their guard. We need to teach those we disciple to speak about Jesus with the same ease they speak about a friend. Normal conversation is fluid and respectful, and it allows for humor.

It also invites response. Listeners want the opportunity to ask questions or make comments. It’s too easy for evangelism to become a monologue when it should be a dialogue. Remember the words of Peter as you help others talk naturally about Jesus: “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ” (1 Peter 3:15,16).

You possess a powerful secret resource for ministry. It can open the hearts of Christian friends; it can melt the skepticism of nonbelievers. And it reduces the size of your personal problems. Furthermore, you needn’t go to seminary or a retreat to learn to use your hidden asset. It is readily at hand—you can use it whenever you are around people. It is the power of personal attentiveness.

There is no shortage of Christian programs. On any given weekend, believers can find seminars on church growth, spiritual formation, leadership skills, discovering spiritual gifts, handling money, and rejuvenating marriages either in their community or on the Internet.  All helpful. But still, we are not penetrating the culture with the Gospel to the extent we would like.

The Kingdom of God needs more than programs. We need a massive dose of millions of believers demonstrating personal attentiveness. We seem not to realize the power one life can have on another. Proverbs 27:17 says it best: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” In the same way, people sharpen one another only if they are in close proximity—close enough to rub.

Where do you start? Why don’t you consider finding one person in your world who needs you?

There is risk in sowing where we may not reap. Nowhere is that type of investment more uncertain than in relationships. There’s risk in reaching out to the materially successful, who often throw Christianity away like a used piece of furniture, or in reaching out to ardent followers of other faiths, who may be offended by the very attempt. There’s risk in reaching out to the world’s losers, who promise no payoff.

What often gets in the way of reaching out to the “unpromising” is pride. We want Christianity to take root and succeed. And we want to look good in the process. Why bother with those who probably will fail?

Consider Jesus’ example. His prime targets were not the richest, best educated, most sophisticated when he chose His team. His strategy was just the opposite. He selected the equivalent of a foreign born accomplice to an Arab terrorist group when He called Matthew (Matthew 9). Though His disciples urged otherwise, Jesus accepted people like the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15). He also spent time with the rich & famous set who had already priced themselves out of His fellowship. He answered their questions and offered hope, even when He knew they would turn away (Matthew 19).

Jesus drew all of them in, without checking for size, color, or blemish—or considering if they would make a good trophy for His wall. Are we willing to take that kind of risk?

A big challenge in discipling others is knowing what to discuss and how to discuss it. I may wonder if I’m working with a “clean slate” or if I am building on the foundation others have established before me. And then how do I decide what topics are important to address with a young believer?

Romans 15:14 is a great model for both. Paul has just written 14 chapters on deep theological issues that people needed to hear, but then he tells them, “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”

I don’t believe this inspired verse is hyperbole or “brown nosing.” Paul recognized these believers, whom he had yet to visit in Rome, were off to a good start. Though he had a lot to say to them, in writing and in person, he praised them for the depth of their experience up to that point. The young disciples we meet with will appreciate the way we celebrate what they’ve already learned on their journey with Christ.

This verse also gives a great outline for the content of our meetings: character, convictions, and competencies. Focusing on issues of “heart, head, and hands” will go a long way in passing on our passion to know Christ and make Him known!

I arrived at church one blustery February morning, notes in hand, ready to teach a group of young mothers some deep truths about how God works through hardship. As we settled in I said, “Well, ladies, I’m proud of you for venturing out on such a nasty morning. It would have been easier to stay home.” I remembered how hard it was to get little kids out the door on a good day, let alone when the snow was flying.

We moved through our study, and I felt really good about how I’d presented the topic. As we finished up, one of the young women pulled me aside. Ah, she’s probably got a question about God’s sovereignty, or about trusting Him in the hard times, I told myself.

“Luba,” she said, “I can’t tell you how much it meant to hear you say you were proud of me. My mother never said that to me.”

It wasn’t my carefully crafted lesson that impacted her. It wasn’t my profound interpretation of Scripture. It was a passing comment, a motherly affirmation, that gave her the encouragement she needed to “keep on keeping on” as a young mom on her journey with Jesus.

My son and I noticed our neighbor and her 4-year-old son, who moved in the month before, were outside. We went over to introduce ourselves. After five minutes of easy conversation, she was telling me that she and her husband were hoping for community and were excited to meet us. A few weeks later I initiated going to the park with her and her son. At the park she told me how glad she was that I initiated both times with her; she had wanted to but was too shy to do anything like that.

I realized how many people are so hungry for relationships with others at similar places in life but don’t have the courage to step out and ask. (All we had in common was our street, young boys, and artistic husbands.) This family was new to the area, and because I was one of the few who did reach out to her in kindness, she was ready to receive me into community with her. I am not sure where she is in relationship to God, but now we have a natural way to build a friendship and deeper connection. This God encounter is teaching me how simple things like initiative and care can be so powerful in gaining a few of the many timid hearts who long for someone to reach out to them.

I confess that I sometimes get so caught up in meeting my goals that I forget about people along the way. That is tough to admit, especially because I am in the people business. I also struggle with the fear of man and the desire to please everyone. This people pleasing can cause me to miss the very goals that God has told me to pursue. So to whom do I look as my example? What about Jesus? Was He more of a task guy or a people guy?

“I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal” (Luke 13:32).

Jesus had a goal: to reach Jerusalem and His eventual death on a cross as atonement for our sins. Nothing—not the power of King Herod, nor the opposition of religious leaders—could stop Jesus from His focused effort. He made the clear statement: “I will reach my goal,” and He did.

But Jesus also never ignored genuine human needs as He marched to Jerusalem. No, along the way He healed the sick, battled demonic forces, and taught people about the Kingdom of God. He loved people passionately, even as He was moving toward His goal. Jesus is our example.

I have been involved with a group of men who meet once a week for Bible study and reading. I have observed that all of them struggle with consistency in their devotional life.

I encourage them, and anyone who shares this struggle, with this great truth: Meeting regularly with God over a long period of time pays great dividends. I learned early in my life that if you save money regularly over a long period of time, the compound return is fantastic! It is the same with practicing the spiritual discipline of spending time alone with God each and every day. The return is multiplied many times over!

Our group is currently studying the book of Nehemiah. The wall and gates are broken and destroyed—much like the lives of many people today—and Nehemiah is trying to get the people to rebuild the walls. They are halfway there when they get stuck. There is rubble and garbage that is keeping them from finishing. Isn’t this so like the believer’s life? We get so discouraged by the rubble and garbage of our lives that we quit building.

Don’t stop halfway! Meet God on a regular basis, and ask Him to remove the barriers to your growth.

Let no one think that forgiving is easy. Forgiving is costly. Forgiving cost God His only Son. Forgiving cost Jesus Christ His life. Forgiving will cost you.

My first husband, suffering from terminal cancer, was fired from his job because of a defamatory letter circulated to his superiors and peers. Retirement benefits were bound up with that job. Because he was fired, he lost them.

I did not say, “Praise the Lord anyhow!” The truth is I was furious. So overwhelming were my thoughts of hatred, vengeance—even murder—toward the one who had written the letter that the very thoughts terrified me.

I went into my living room, closed the doors, got down on my knees, and prayed. I saw the sun come up the next morning before I finished dealing with all the hate in my heart. That forgiveness cost me emotionally. It broke my heart. Forgiveness cost me my will. I longed to justify my husband and punish the person who wrote the letter. Those desires had to be sacrificed to obedience.

But I rose from my knees free, because with the help of God, I forgave. While forgiving is costly, failure to forgive is even more costly.

God has called me to make disciples in a country where persecution against Christians is rampant. What encourages me to be unstoppable?

1-The love of Father to us. We understand deeply that God, allowing some difficulties in our life, will finally turn everything to good. Romans 8:28.

2-The faithfulness of God. We understand He is in control & keeps and protects us.

3- Confidence in God. He wants me to trust Him in all situations. I like to see how God acted in Joseph’s life. God was with him when Joseph was with father and brothers, but He was also with Joseph when he was in prison. God was always with him. Situations changed in Joseph’s life, but God didn’t change and was always near, preserving his life. It helps us understand that whatever happens with us, God is always near us and will never abandon us.

4- The joy of the Lord that is ignited by seeing that our children are Christ followers and we can read & pray & fast with them during difficult times. (Our children have also become key advisors).

5- Heroes from our book help us. Their problems were often severe but they didn’t turn their backs on God. That example is powerful.

6-The Timothys God has helped us grow have become key sources of encouragement and inspiration. We are truly a united, tightly knit team.

All that I have written is simply validation of Phil. 4:13.

When I am with a group of Christian men, no matter what country I happen to be in, and mention pornography in passing, the body language of the men tells me immediately it is a problem everywhere. Teens & old men suddenly hang their heads at just the mention of the word. Surveys tell us it is a huge problem inside the church.

When I started out in ministry I was too shy to mention this topic. No more. Satan is on offense. We need to be on offense, also. So how do we play offense?

When you are with men, bring up the topic. I would bet there are some males in your church who are so shamed by their struggle with this that just raising the topic gives them great encouragement that they are not the only one struggling with this.

Encourage the men to find their own accountability partner whom they trust. (I have never had victory over any sin in my life without first asking a brother whom I trust to pray for me.) James 5:16 is not theory to me.

Challenge your men’s group to memorize verses on the topic: Job 31:1, Genesis 39:12, 2 Tim 2:22, 1 Peter 1:16 etc

Share your own pornography battle plan with your men. You’ll be amazed how your openness bonds you to them. They will be much more likely to have one-on-ones with you to discuss personal issues in the future.

A mature Christian once asked me, “What is your life message?” God used that question to help me reflect on what my life was communicating. God’s words through James spoke immediately as the guiding force of my heart: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

Coming close to God unites our heart with His. Drawing near to God, we enter our room alone in the secret place and seek only Him. Jesus promised that the Father who sees us in that secret place will reward us openly (Matthew 6:6).

God desires us to come to Him, to draw near to Him. Think of a hero, someone you admire. While you may know many things about this person, most likely you do not have an intimate relationship where you can get away alone with them personally. But that’s the kind of relationship God beckons us to!

In the 23rd Psalm we are told our Shepherd will lead us by still waters & restore our weary souls. In the midst of life’s pressures, may our first response be to come to Jesus, to draw near. Today, consider spending some time alone with Jesus. Steal away in a quiet place, all alone with the Master. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3).

Many people point to difficult times as periods of great blessing. But can good times be times of growth, too? All of life is meant to enrich and develop us. Good times and bad times alike are for growth. Consider these instructions for growing with Him in the good times.

1. Sing for joy. If you are enjoying a good time, sing. Celebrate His goodness and delight in Him. These things set your eyes on Him.

2. Receive good times as a gift. The good we enjoy is a gift, a grace. We didn’t make the good happen; we didn’t earn it; we don’t deserve it. Don’t take the gift, or the Giver, for granted.

3. Draw near to God. In good times, God grants a pause so we can take a deep breath and relax in His presence—quiet, alert, and listening. Good times can be storehouse times—for laying in reserves to carry us through future trials.

4. Practice spiritual disciplines.  Abundance and happiness can distract us from God. What established routines and choices send your roots deeper into Christ? Hold onto these in good times.

5. Be a steward of the good times. God wants us to manage the good times for the advancement of His Kingdom and for our spiritual development. Good times are a resource to be enjoyed and invested for eternity.

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).

What we say is important, but when we say things may be just as important, maybe even more so, than what we say.

Jesus had much to say to His disciples. All of it was needed, yet he withheld some things. Jesus had this exquisite sense of timing that guided all of His teaching. He knew that it was not truth alone that changed people, but rather truth spoken at just the right time. When a steel column is subjected to excessive weight that it cannot bear, it bends and collapses. An ill-timed word may do the same to a person’s soul.

Every person is like a unique book, meant to be studied. I will not be able to know how much another person can bear unless I ask questions to learn about him. I want to know his background, his God-given design, and his quirky idiosyncrasies. I want to understand his heart.

Then, when I feel compelled to tell my friend a truth that I know might sting him, I may say to myself, I am going to tell him the truth—but not quite yet.

And that’s OK.

By teaching and example the Scriptures call on those who would be disciples to be Christ’s servants.

When we act like servants, people notice. When we were ministering in one city six men we were discipling climbed onto my roof and cleaned the leaves from the gutters. My neighbor asked, “Where do you get these people to do your work?” When I told him they were in a Christian training program that emphasized service, he went away shaking his head. When the same men later climbed onto my neighbor’s roof to do the same for him, his heart was opened to the Gospel like never before. That’s servanthood!

Servanthood is intensely practical. Here are some other suggestions:

Do menial tasks. This is one of the hardest things to teach in Western society. Even the well-educated and successful should learn to serve at a practical level.

Be available. A household servant must be available when the master calls. The Christian servant must also be available—to God and others.

Be observant. A servant is alert to the needs of others and takes initiative to do whatever needs to be done.

Do more than you’re asked. In our clock-watching society, people do just what they are asked to do, nothing more. A true servant does what he is supposed to do—and more.

Do you have a friend you can trust and share openly with? A friend who brings out your best, prods you in your Christian life, and holds you accountable? Are you this kind of friend to at least one person? “Side-by-Side” is a way to make that happen. It’s two people who make a commitment to meet regularly for mutual growth, support, and accountability. More than merely doing Bible study, Side-by-Side partners help each other “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 3).

When you commit to pray with a Side-by-Side partner, be amazed how God will work. James 5:16, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed.” Personally, I have never overcome any major sin without a trusted buddy first praying fervently for me.

Side-by-Side partners commit to:

• Meet weekly or regularly.
• Prepare for meetings by completing each lesson in a selected study.
• Be honest with and accountable to each other.
• Pray for and encourage one another.
• Check in with one another between meetings.
• Repeat the process with another individual, as God leads.
• Keep confidential matters confidential.

As you journey together, Jesus will grow the two of you toward greater godliness. Along the way, you and your Side-by-Side partner will both have a friend you can trust and share openly with, bringing out one another’s best. We were never meant to go through the Christian life alone.

As I look back on several decades of disciplemaking the following comes to mind as key life lessons:

3 verses that have encouraged me:

1. Matthew 29:19 I am commanded here to go. That might involve crossing cultures, going to “strange” places.
2. Matthew 28:20 a reminder that when I make disciples, God is there with me. (Believe me, many times I have cried out to God for help as I’ve tried to encourage a growing Christian.)
3. Isaiah 60:22 – a classic – seeing potential in the most unimpressive person.

3 lessons I’ve learned:

1. go where people are. Describe to them what discipleship is and take the initiative in inviting them into a discipleship relationship
2. invite them into our home, allow them to see more aspects of my life than just the structured discipleship relationship. Discipleship is more than pouring facts into hungry hearts. 1 Thes 2:8
3. don’t expect maximum results from everyone, they’ll go as far as they want to go. Later on, they might well continue on, even when I am not present anymore in their life

3 mistakes I’ve made:

1. shocked potential disciples by making discipleship appear too burdensome or complicated.
2. expected some of the problems disciples face to be fixed quickly. Healing sometimes takes time.
3. spoken too much and listened too little. James 1:19 gives me needed correction.

Few things give me more joy than helping a new believer start to study the Bible on his own. In order not to overwhelm but at the same time assist him to interact with the text, I share a simple three step method.

Step one: find the key words, key phrases, key idea in the verse(s). Basic tools, if available, like concordances, dictionaries, commentaries, and encyclopedias might come in handy. What do these key parts mean? How do they relate to the rest of the verse and context?

Step two: write the verse out in your own words. Anyone can copy the verse, but expressing the verse in your own words prods you to demonstrate that you understand it clearly.

Step three: ask yourself what action the verse is pushing you to take. Based on the meaning of the text, write out an “I will” statement. Because of the verse “I will” praise God, confess a sin, thank God, revere Him more deeply, take some action, trust Him, etc etc. There is no limit to the number of ways you can respond to verses. Be assured God did not give us the Bible so we could forget what we read. Step three forces us to respond to what we read before we close our Bible. That leads to transformation into Christlikeness over time.

In the future the new believer will add many more steps to his Bible study. This is a good start.

As disciplers, we prefer that people only pick up and pass on our strengths. But those we disciple are not immune to the contagion of our weaknesses. How can we avoid passing along weaknesses instead of strengths?

First, we need to recognize that our own sin struggles affect our discipling relationships. We need the insight and perspective of mature believers to help us see these blind spots. As we talk honestly about our sin with trusted friends, we’ll be less likely to multiply those weaknesses in others.

Second, we need to examine our own spiritual lineage. Just like animals in the natural world “reproduce after their own kind,” we’ll likely disciple in a manner similar to the guidance we’ve received ourselves. Are we passing along any weaknesses that someone passed on to us? Is there a fundamental spiritual element that was not taught to us that we need to be sure we cover with others?

Finally, our discipleship style will be influenced by our spiritual gifts and personality. We naturally focus on certain areas—Scripture memory, prayer, exhortation—over others. By all means, we should use our gifts, but we also don’t want others to think we’re omnicompetent. We must be mindful of areas we might overlook and encourage our friends to seek help from others when needed.

When I was a young boy, I became a Christian because I was scared to death of hell. I read verses like Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It made me afraid. Even as a child, I understood sin, so I quickly expressed my belief in Jesus. I wanted to go to heaven.

However, as I got older, I read another verse that radically broadened my perspective on Romans 6:23.

John 17:3 says, “Now this is eternal life; that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

I used to think that eternal life was just streets of gold, mansions, and no more tears, yet Jesus says eternal life is knowing God. It’s having a restored relationship with the creator of the universe. It’s walking through life with the one who knows me better than I know myself, reading books to my kids, or marrying someone who loves me unconditionally. This is good news! Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we can have what we truly long for, a relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords.

As you disciple and encourage others in their faith, do all you can to keep Him front and center. Eternal life is more than pain-free living in heaven; it’s actually knowing God now and for all eternity.

“Beloved child of the Father.” My primary identity. It rolls off my tongue without much thought. But I so quickly forget.

I confront and collapse forgetfulness when I stop, review again, and listen to truth. (I love reminding myself of the truth of God’s names for me in 1 John, especially 1 John 3:2) I hear God’s voice: “Say it slowly, my child. Review my words to you, wonder about them and dissect them. Allow yourself to experience them. Beeeeee-loved.”

I sit. I soak. I ask, “How does a child know love?” My grandkids love when they hear me call their names. They love the invitations to be with me and their poppa. They love the special treats and jobs I reserve for them.

Knowing I am God’s beloved child helps me:

• Review and believe my real name, my primary identity
• Not get enmeshed with temporary identities
• Give myself permission to be who I am, with all my needs
• Ask God to shower me today with His attention, care, and invitation
• Ponder God’s special job for me

How do I live out my beloved-child identity today?

• I realize it’s OK to say no.
• I linger in the freedom of childlikeness.
• I take time to experience its reality.

“But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves” (John 1:12).

My husband, Roger, was in international sales before we became missionaries. His region stretched 11 time zones, from South Africa to New Zealand. We moved to Singapore and began to learn effective ways to minister in that multicultural city-state. We learned to work hard, live transparently, be available, and leave our preferences and prejudices behind.

We made it our ambition “to lead a quiet life” in order to “win the respect of outsiders” (1 Thessalonians 4:11,12) in Singapore. We worked hard, accepted responsibility, demonstrated respect, and became teachable. Chinese friends taught us to kayak in the South China Sea and to use chopsticks to toss “Lo Hay” during Chinese New Year. Malay neighbors helped me purchase beautiful silk outfits and taught our sons to order satay with spicy peanut sauce. Indian friends taught us to make homemade curry and find the best textile bargains. New Zealand friends taught us the intricacies of rugby and cricket and how to make a proper pot of tea.

We stayed positive about living overseas and remained teachable. This caused our friends to begin asking questions about life and our God. Over roti prata and chai, we had opportunities to share the reason for the hope that is within us, Jesus Christ.

God opens lots of doors; when we walk through them, a whole new world of adventure and opportunity awaits!

Prayer is to disciplemaking as water is to growing plants. An absolute essential, exceedingly important ingredient in helping others grow in the Lord.

Where is the proof?

Look at Romans 1:9, Ephesians 1:15,16, Ephesians 3:14,15, Philippians 1:3,4 Colossians 1:3,9, 1 Thessalonians 1:2,3, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Timothy 1:3. Notice how often Paul shares that he is praying for disciples. How needed was that prayer! How encouraging the recipients must have been to learn that Paul, even though not with them at the moment, was talking to the Lord regularly about their forward movement.

Look again at those verses. Notice their intensity. Paul doesn’t say merely that he is praying for believers. He tells them he prays without ceasing, on his knees, always, night and day, exceedingly. His were no casual, mumbled prayers. He knew his precious recipients were in the midst of a vicious spiritual battle so his fervent prayers were needed to pray them onto to victory.

Look again at those verses. Notice when they were written. 1 Thessalonians was written approximately 51 AD. 2 Timothy was written in 67AD shortly before he was killed. Get it? From one end of Paul’s ministry to the other intense prayer for disciples was central to his efforts.

Paul prayed for the people he was discipling. Intensely. Continuously. Are we making time daily to strenuously lift up those we are trying to nurture in the Lord?

Yes, maybe this should have been #1 or #2 in this devotional series!

I was in my 50s before I realized how the emotional aspect of my life related to being a disciple of Jesus. Painful experiences, including my failure as a young husband and father, led me to think that everyone in my life—even the staff I was responsible for in Beirut, Lebanon—would be better off if I were not around. I was shocked to be considering suicide, but there it was.

The Lord talked me out of suicide by taking me to Gethsemane in Mark 14:34–36, communicating that since it was not characteristic of him to quit in difficult times, so it should not characterize his children either.

Then, years later, I came across Isaiah 53:4,5. It became wonderfully clear that when Jesus died on the cross, He carried not just our sins but also our sorrows—the emotional dimension of redemption. We don’t have to be crushed by our sins because He carried them. The same is true of our sorrows. Now when I hurt, I say something like: “Lord, you know this hurts, but I thank you that you already carried this sorrow 2,000 years ago and you don’t intend for me to be crushed by it. So I give it back to you.” The restoration of peace is amazing.

Three major hospitalizations have diminished my capacity for scheduled, consistent, one-to-one discipling times that had been part of my life since college. I am learning, though, that discipling is not just something I do; it’s part of who I am, even when I’m struggling.

I now make the most of any opportunity to interact with younger believers. Email allows me to stay in touch with women I discipled in the past; I can encourage them in their own ministries. I jump at the chance to talk about things I’m learning or books I’ve read with a woman I see at church. In the absence of more structured relationships, these “wherever, whenever” encounters have become a way to minister to others in spite of my reduced capacity.

I’m also experiencing the delight of letting those I disciple minister to me. Even Jesus allowed others to minister to Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked three of His disciples to pray for Him. On the cross, He asked John for help in caring for His mother.

Even with my sizable limitations, I can continue discipling others. The lessons I am learning during this difficult time—to disciple wherever and whenever I can, to be vulnerable about my weaknesses, and to allow those I disciple to minister to me—make me a more effective discipler.

I don’t bring God into the lives of the youth I disciple. He’s already there, but when I show up it reveals God in a tangible way. A girl I mentor called me early one morning sobbing. I’ve spent three years investing in her life and have not once seen her cry. I have grown to deeply love this girl. I was scared. In between sobs she asked, “Kate, can you come to my school?” I drove as fast as I could.

Discipleship. It’s about showing up.

Late one night a friend and I sat in a park. I was in turmoil. I had spent so much time and energy investing in the lives of youth in my neighborhood. It seemed like God didn’t care about those I loved. I cried out, “GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?” I asked my friend, “Where is God in the life of my friend who was deported, or a child who was abused by her father, or my young friend who has a drug addicted mom?”

God spoke to me through my friend’s words. “Kate, God lives inside of you. He gives you the love, compassion, and desire to love them so deeply. When you show up; God shows up.”

In that moment, I got it. It’s about showing up in the pain and ugliness of people’s lives no matter what because when I show up, others get to experience God in me.

How many times do we sit through sermons or Bible studies and get little benefit because we begin with the unconscious (or conscious) attitude of already knowing all about the topic? Having no awareness of our spiritual need, no realization that we are being confronted with truth that applies to us personally, we are not teachable, but spiritually smug.

There are serious consequences for having an unteachable heart. King Saul’s kingdom was taken from him. King Asa contracted a wretched disease in his feet. The consequences for unteachableness today are every bit as real. Spiritual poverty and fruitlessness are expected results of not receiving God’s truth. We cannot experience the joy and nourishment of sweet fellowship with our heavenly Father at the same time that we are resisting Him in pride. James 4:6 tells us that God resists us when we are proud or unteachable.

In contrast, when we receive teaching with a tender and responsive heart, God produces in and through us only what is good and profitable. “He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded” (Proverbs 13:13).

For God to use us effectively, we must be teachable. As we respond to truth with agreement and obedience, we are vessels suitable for His use.

As one who has grown fruit trees and vineyards, I have seen how they are an excellent analogy for the Christian life. For good reason, David, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Jesus, and Paul use this analogy in their teachings and writings.

Root penetration is as critical to the Christian as it is for the fruit tree. A Christian has to set his or her roots past the hardpan and go deep to the underground water table we call the Word of God. God’s Word is the infinite supply of nourishment for the Christian. Trees that have a healthy root system are not as susceptible to high wind, disease, and insect damage. The Christian who has roots anchored deep in the Word of God is not as susceptible to falling into sin as one who has only surface roots.

The tree only produces fruit after the leaves, trunk, and branches are taken care of. Then the fruit starts to develop. A Christian without deep roots cannot produce much fruit. The fruit that does appear will be stunted, not fully sized and developed. The Christian whose roots are feeding off the Word of God will always have healthy fruit that will pass inspection and possibly stir up interest in how such fruit came about
(1 Peter 3:15).

Everyone looks forward to Harvest celebration, especially that delicious meat! It is mouthwatering. With every bite, your stomach is screaming, “yes!, love it!, more please!”

Why is that meat so delicious? Because it has been marinated in rich gravy for hours, so the gravy has made every morsel moist and tender.

That is analogous to the power of deep thinking, pondering the Bible.

Joshua 1:8 ends with a promise we love – who doesn’t want to be prosperous & successful? But what is the prerequisite? We have to learn the Word so that it becomes the driving force behind every thought and action. That takes time. Only then can we reap the full blessing of God on our lives.

Psalm 1:3 gives another promise that a believer can be as solid as a tree. Who wouldn’t want that! But here again there is a prerequisite: more deep thinking, pondering, processing the Word so that it is our foundation for living.

Well, if deep thinking/pondering the Word is so essential for bountiful Christian living, why is it not more commonly practiced today? Because we live in an instant, impatient world, and pondering/deep thinking takes time. The Bible cannot become part of us by hurriedly reading it.

Look again at the rich results of slowly processing/pondering the Word. Certainly that is the kind of believer you want to be! Time to slow down your reading, ponder carefully so the Bible can have the maximum impact it was intended to have on you?

If there’s a key word on discipling someone else, it’s this: sharing. Don’t make it complicated. Just share your life. What has God blessed you with? What has He done for you? How has He helped you? Where have you been successful? Where have you failed? Share these things.

Share your testimony. Share how God has saved you, fulfilled His promises to you, answered your prayers. Share God’s Word. Pep talks don’t get people down to business for Christ. God’s Word does. There’s something about sharing from the Scriptures, sharing something fresh and vital and alive, that strikes a fire down inside. Center your time around the Scriptures. Share your prayer life. You haven’t really shared your heart with someone till you’ve prayed with him.

This isn’t complicated; it’s just costly. Sometimes we don’t want to get involved. We don’t want the phone to ring at night. We want to pull up the drawbridge around our little home so nothing disturbs our peace. But if you’re going to share your life with people, it’s going to disturb your peace. That’s the cost. It will tear you apart. But it will also thrill you. And you’ll have no greater joy than to see that person walking in the truth—except to see him get someone else walking in the truth. That’s sweeter still.

What is the need of the hour? That depends on the person who is thinking about it.

For a beggar with a tin cup, it’s a dime. For a woman being taken to the hospital, it’s a doctor. But what is it in Christian work?

Some say, “If I just had a larger staff.” Many a minister would like an assistant, and many a mission would like more missionaries. Others say, “We don’t need more workers, but better facilities. If we just had more office space and more buildings, then we could do the job.”

In some parts of the world they say it’s better communications we lack, or better transportation, or better health care.

Many feel the need is an open door into some closed country.

Some say, “If we just had more time,” or “If I just weren’t so old.”

What is the need of the hour? I don’t believe it is any of these. I am convinced that the God of the universe is in control, and He will supply all these needs in His own way and in His own time. The need of the hour is an army of soldiers dedicated to Jesus Christ, who believe that He is God, that He can fulfill every promise He ever made, and that nothing is too hard for Him. This is the only way we can accomplish what is on God’s heart.

The method of training people in a trade or art through mentoring—called “apprenticeship”—is not as prevalent as it once was. According to Wikipedia, the formal system of apprenticeship first developed in the Middle Ages when a master craftsman employed young people in exchange for providing food, lodging, and formal training in the craft.

Long before the Middle Ages, Jesus invested in the lives of the next generation through the apprenticeship model. He spent regular time with a handful of people, both individually and in groups, imparting and modeling lessons on living life to its fullest.

We call these His disciples; the original Greek word, mathetes, means student, follower, or learner. Jesus encouraged His disciples to make still more disciples (Matthew 28:19). The idea is: “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life.”

Many churches and organizations boast discipleship programs. But discipleship and disciplemaking are only a shadow of their true self when they exist in programs and curriculum. True discipling is experienced through life-on-life encounters as we pass along and model the Jesus-life to others. We live as true followers of Jesus when we consider ourselves learners under His teaching. And we are called to help others because, as a good friend says, “A leader is someone a step ahead and headed in the right direction.”

Is there someone in your life who could use a spiritual apprenticeship?

1 Timothy is written after Paul and Timothy had worked together for at least 15 years. Timothy is described (1:2) as Paul’s true son in the faith, Paul’s most cherished and key disciple.

So after years of traveling together, strenuous co-laboring to start and build churches, and countless one-on-ones, why is Paul writing Timothy? Many reasons, one of which relates to “doctrine”.

In this rather short letter, Paul feels lead to use the word “doctrine” eight times. Eight. That should get Timothy’s attention – and ours. .

Timothy has been planted by Paul in Ephesus (1:3) to deal with false teachers who had infiltrated it. . .

Doctrine matters!. True doctrine exposes sin, reveals the Savior, shows the way of salvation, transforms behavior into Christlikeness as it is woven into everyday life, leads to fruitful living.. There is no greater goal of Christian leaders than building sound doctrine into disciples. The strongest words of condemnation in the New Testament are aimed at false teachers who twist, distort and deny biblical doctrine.

For Timothy to be commanded to teach sound doctrine means he had to know sound doctrine in the first place. Do we know it?

How are we doing in training those we are discipling in sound doctrine? It is so easy today for believers and churches to drift into shallowness, emotionalism & entertainment. That can happen so subtly, so effortlessly it might not even be noticed.

Timothy!Never stop discipling others squarely on sound doctrine!

Are we listening?

There are five essentials a new believer needs to develop as he launches into being a disciple.  At the top of my list is love. In 1 Thessalonians 2:7,8, we learn that Paul was willing to give his very life for people, not because of what they could do for him, but simply because he loved them.

The second need of a new Christian is protection. The apostle Paul protected his flock in five ways: prayer (Colossians 1:9,10), visits (Acts 15:36), sending others (1 Corinthians 4:15–17), writing (2 Corinthians 2:9), and assuring them of their victory in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Thessalonians 3:1–5).

The third essential is food. We can open the Bible and feed new Christians ourselves (1 Peter 5:2). And we can teach them to feed themselves (Jude 20,21). We all need to spur our spiritual growth through obedience and personal application of Scripture.

The fourth need is fellowship with other believers. Several years ago a hurricane flattened every tree in a forest outside London. Why? The trees were planted too far apart, so the roots of one tree could not intertwine with the roots of another, making them weak.

The fifth essential is training. Don’t just tell them what to do and leave them on their own. Show them, walk with them, and enjoy their progress. New Christians need someone—not something—to help them. That’s you!

At times it takes great courage to enter into—or sustain—a relationship. Fear has a way of capturing our imaginations and fueling our emotions. Relationships are risky business. It takes courage to initiate them, mend them, and deepen them.

First, we need courage to be honest. We can spend years in silence and pretense, too afraid of disapproval and criticism to share our true selves. Ask God for the courage to be honest with people and the ability to speak the truth in love.

Next is the courage to confront. When healthy discipleship is at stake, ask God for the courage to follow the apostle Paul’s example. In Galatians 2, Paul relates his confrontation with Peter, who was separating himself from the Gentiles because he feared what the Jews would say (verses 11,12). Paul saw that Peter’s actions were undermining the truth of the Gospel and leading others astray.

Finally, pray for courage to seek reconciliation. The Bible is clear that we are to initiate a conversation with someone who has hurt us (Matthew 18:15). We are also to approach others when we know we have offended them (Matthew 5:23,24). Both require courage to overcome our fear of rejection.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1)?

A veteran missionary commented that he was “amazed” that Sergey sought out Zhanna after a meeting to apologize to her because “so few Christian leaders do that today.” But why would Sergey’s apology be “amazing” since Sergey had indeed sinned against Zhanna?

Instead of simply apologizing, Sergey should have also asked for Zhanna’s forgiveness. That is one mark of a disciple of Jesus Christ (James 5:16), and it helps reconcile us to one another.

A disciple who seeks forgiveness is:

• Convicted of sin. As tempting as it is to rationalize, blame, or not own up to our sin—whether it’s being rude, unkind, jealous, arrogant, or impatient—the first step is to admit our sin.
• Controlled by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). This produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
• Responsive to confrontation. When someone you trust confronts you, do you listen?
• Feeding on the Word. The Word of God cleanses, renews, reveals, convicts, directs, teaches, transforms, leads, and restores! Ephesians 6:17 describes God’s Word as our sword of the Spirit.

Our loving and righteous God gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5,6). Is there someone you may need to humbly ask, “Will you forgive me?” Is there anyone you may need to help or encourage in this area?

God declared that we “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). We are priests, and as such we have been planted in a place and time to represent God to people and people to God.

Do you pray for the people in your world? When I was activated for military, I worked in a very high-stress environment with 12 others. I knew that we had a mission and that there would be little time to talk about God with my workmates. I also knew that God had put me in that environment as a priest and that I was responsible to pray. I wrote the names of my 12 colleagues on a 3×5 card and taped it to the dashboard of my car. Each morning as I drove to work I named their names before God.

The work environment did not allow me to do much besides pray, but today there are at least three people walking with Jesus from that group who did not know Him prior to being activated. We must believe God for people and pray urgently for them.

The knock on my door created a dull ache in my stomach. I knew who it was. One of the students I was discipling had developed a habit of dropping by whenever she was bored—which was many times each week. I had prayed for a deeper relationship with her, but now I felt invaded.

Discipling others requires letting people into our already busy lives; it is no small task limited to a certain evening each week. However, neglecting our personal responsibilities or our own spiritual growth for the sake of others is not only harmful to us but sets a negative example for those we are trying to help.

Finding the proper balance between sharing your life and having a life can be challenging. Jesus’ interaction with the people of Capernaum (Luke 4) provides guidelines for establishing appropriate boundaries in our discipleship relationships. After an exhausting ministry stint, Jesus pulled away from people to pray.

Finding time alone is never easy, but it is possible—and necessary. If Jesus needed time alone to hear from God, then we certainly do.

Some may argue that setting ministry boundaries is selfish. But when we look at Jesus’ life, we see that the purpose of setting limits is not to protect us from giving to others at all, but to help us love others intentionally and purposefully.

A disciple’s devotional life is like the foundation of a house: You can’t see it, but it’s there. The entire house depends on it for stability. When the foundation is weak or cracks begin to appear on the walls, the whole house is in danger of collapsing.

Just as the foundation of a house is underground and mostly unseen, so is our devotional life. It’s not something people see when they look at us, but it’s still there. It’s what we are doing with God when no one else is looking. Devotional life is our 24/7 relationship with God in worship and in life. It begins with a focused time with God in the mornings, but it doesn’t stop there. When I walk to my car, God is there. When I drive with a friend to the store, God is with us.

Every day we need to ask ourselves, “Will I be in touch with God today, or is my spiritual phone disconnected?” It’s so easy for us to go through life with our spiritual phone turned off, and then we wonder why God isn’t speaking to us. He is! Tune in to Him and keep your foundation strong!

The alarm clock rudely barges into my sleep. The five beeps of the coffeemaker are a mixed blessing. The garbage man seals the deal—I’m awake. My day, with all its noise, begins.

Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing. How quiet do I need to be to hear? I soon find out. The tall ponderosas surrounding our deck beckon. I gather my Bible, journals, and coffee and head for my quiet haven.

God speaks with a quiet whisper. Am I hearing His voice? Or do the noises of life rob my attention? I want to hear.

I’m learning:

• Quietness is a need; God hardwired me for quiet.
• Quietness is an art; it blossoms with practice.
• Quietness is a skill; it is a habit to be developed.
• Quietness is a gift; I must unwrap it to enjoy.

Zephaniah 3:17 tells me that the Lord quiets me with His love. Oh, how I desire God to showcase His love to me. Quietness enables His love to be manifest.

So I sit, I ponder His words, I pray. Sometimes I read a favorite author, all the while listening for God. Restlessness transforms into rest—a rest so energizing I want to shout it from the rooftop—but then I would interrupt the quiet of my neighbors.

“The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17).

We are called to make disciples. But what is a disciple, and how is one made? A disciple is one who has renounced ownership of his life and recognized Jesus as Lord (Luke 14:33). Realizing this gave me clarity in my ministry. What was I really trying to accomplish in the lives of students? Teach them how to read the Bible? Make sure they were members of a church? Ensure they know how to share their faith? These are all good things, but none of them is the target. At the end of the day, my goal is that they “might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

But how are disciples made? The Great Commission helps us here. “Go and make disciples . . . baptizing them . . . ” Baptism is the faith-response to the preaching of the Gospel. We make disciples by preaching the Gospel. It is the message that Jesus is Lord, by virtue of His resurrection, and that He is worthy of our allegiance by virtue of His sacrificial death. The cross is the only thing that can make us want to surrender. It is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love. When we see His love for us, we want to respond with the obedience of faith.

For several weeks I couldn’t shake the intense inner struggle that enveloped me like a thick cloud. “Why can’t I pull myself out of this?” I wondered. I ended up pouring out my heart to a friend, who responded, “It sounds to me like you need to build some convictions in these areas of your life and not be so double-minded!” Ouch!

There were two ways I could respond. I could well up with pride and defensiveness. After all, I have a lot of convictions for my life! Or I could humble myself, take her words to Jesus, and let Him confirm whether or not this was truth.

I made a big pot of tea and drank it slowly to give myself time to calm down and talk quietly to the Lord. I figured He’d shoot straight with me, so I opened my Bible & started searching. The Lord led me on an incredible journey that released the cloud in my heart. I realized my double-mindedness was linked to who I believed God was. I would believe Him to be one way when things were good (kind, good, loving) but another way (distant, uncaring) when the storms rolled into my life.

Had I let pride get in the way of listening to my friend, I would have missed out on what God wanted to show me. Next time someone speaks into your life, you might want to ask the Lord if there’s any truth in what that person is saying.

When I drive my car down the highway, I need to find one lane in which I am comfortable and stay in it.   Similarly, God made each of us with unique gifting, training, calling and experience so that we would function best in our own lane through life.  The correct lane is the maximum place of growth, service, & blessing.  As disciplers, one of our privileges is to help others discover the lane that is best for them.  Here are some principles to keep in mind.

1. Help them identify their calling.One pitfall to avoid is expecting others to be carbon copies of ourselves.  We need to let them be whom God intended and find the lane God has designed for them.
2. Help them say no. Many people today are overwhelmed and overcommitted. But as they discover God’s lane for them, that automatically means they must say “no” to other lanes that have much potential but were never designed for them.   This will surely ramp up their prayer lives.
3. Help them live in God’s grace.We must help those we disciple anchor their lives in God’s grace. Experiencing God’s grace takes the focus off of what we do and places it on who we are: children of God. Only a deep experience of God’s grace will give us courage to embrace our unique lane and say “no” to the many voices that lead us this way and that.

Jesus was a master of imparting spiritual truth to His followers. He knew His disciples needed more than explanation. They needed to see His words in action, and they needed to talk about what they’d witnessed. Jesus’ approach models three important components of discipleship: demonstration, explanation, and clarification. We find an example of this in John 13.

In this well-known passage, Jesus had a final lesson to teach about the importance of sacrificial service. While washing the disciples’ feet, He demonstrated how leaders should serve those to whom they minister. We, too, must demonstrate what we want others to learn. Telling a young believer to share the Gospel without giving that person the opportunity to see us do it will result in frustration.

After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus explained the significance of what He had just done: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (verse 15). Both demonstration and explanation must be incorporated in discipleship.

Next, Jesus made the connection between demonstration and explanation. He asked a question of clarification: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” (verse 12). Implied in Jesus’ question about what He had done was the reason why He had done it. He provided clarification for His disciples.

By emulating Jesus’ teaching style, we can reinforce the soul-shaping work He’s already doing in the lives of others.

In a world full of brokenness, it takes time for the people we disciple to trust us. One of the mistakes I made early in my ministry was an unwillingness to get involved in the lives of hurting people. After going through a season of brokenness in my own life, I realized that a lot of wounded people try to overcome their brokenness through performance. They can do all the right things for a while, but sooner or later they have to deal with their brokenness.

Jesus came to give life and hope to the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18–21). We must relate to others as Jesus does. That means remembering how sensitive people’s wounds are. The way we deal with someone’s wounds will affect how he responds to us and how he grows.

Building trust requires treating people’s hurts with gentleness. As people grow and become stronger, they can deal with stronger things. But in the early stages, we must relate to them on their terms and with great care.

So take your time and build trust. It may take longer, but it makes relationships much more enjoyable because we’re not evaluating people’s performance. Instead, we’re simply cooperating with the ongoing work of God in their lives.

I once had a Bible study with high school seniors. One night we talked about how we should handle it when we “mess up.” I mentioned that the six words I had said most to my kids were, “I’m sorry, will you forgive me?” One of the guys stared at me in disbelief. Later he told me why he was dumbfounded: “My dad has never said those words to me!”

Unfortunately, his experience is not uncommon. We live in a world that applauds the façade of perfection. In reality, this side of heaven, we all have flaws—like plywood under fancy oak veneer. Yes, God is remaking us, but He won’t be done till we see Jesus (1 John 3:2,3).

I’ve found that authentically admitting our weaknesses is one of the most attractive, holy attributes that Christ-followers can exhibit. Many nonbelievers know and embrace that they are less than perfect and long to learn a God-designed way of dealing with that imperfection. If only we as Christ-followers were willing to live authentically and accept one another in our less-than-perfect state.

God says, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). This means that we should strive for holy imperfection while still longing to be like Him. It means we’ll need to say we’re sorry sometimes, to admit that we messed up. The world will take notice.

What damages discipleship?

1. Ignorance. Some pastors were never discipled, and therefore, don’t know how to do it or don’t think it is important.

2. Fear Some pastors fear that discipleship will raise up leaders who might challenge them. Therefore, discipleship doesn’t happen. Shocking words! But sadly I’ve seen that. Hopefully, you have not.

3. Impatience. No sane church leader would say that Jesus’ method of discipleship was too slow. But if you look at their actions they clearly choose to ignore the discipleship model He set for us. What does Jesus do His first day of active ministry? He doesn’t start planning some big event. He doesn’t go to the temple & declare Himself to be God. John 1:35-42 tell us on His first day of active ministry

He starting collecting men to disciple. Day one! Then He spends 3 years with them before launching them into the world. .

Matthew 28:20 “ teaching them to observe ALL I have commanded you” That takes time!

2 Timothy 2:2 “what you have heard from me ……entrust to faithful men” That can’t be done fast!

Acts 20:27 “ I did not shrink from declaring to you the WHOLE counsel of God”. Can we say the same?

A time for honesty: If we are not following Jesus’ example, we are saying He didn’t know what He was doing and we can do better. .

A time for repentance: let’s confess our disobedience and start doing discipleship Jesus’ way.

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

In Paul’s day, farmers had good reason to sow sparingly. Some hardly had enough grain to feed their families. They sowed with tears, trusting God for the best. Their fears were replaced by the joy of harvest. That is how laboring for Christ can be, too.

We sow sparingly in all kinds of ways. Life is expensive and the future is uncertain, so we reason, “Let’s not increase our giving this year.” Life is busy and we’re easily tired and agitated, so we think, “Let’s not get too involved in ministry.” People who sow sparingly are left with a guilty conscience, knowing they are withholding from God what is His. Their guilt robs them of joy.

But the person who sows generously has a clear conscience. He looks to God instead of circumstances. He sows generously and reaps joy and satisfaction. In so doing he learns that joy springs from self-forgetfulness.

Deciding to sow bountifully is a matter of trusting Him. Not sitting on the fence but setting well-considered goals with God is the way to joyful Christian living. God promises His help, at all times and adequately. Generous sowing in the Kingdom of God brings bountiful reaping. This is the key to joy.

I love to walk. Walking carries with it the idea of making one’s way, progressing along one’s journey, and making the most of our opportunities. This takes some intentionality nowadays. We live in a rush, rush world.

Jesus had specific things to say about walking—and we are to make the most of it. Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “walk by faith.” First John 2:6, “Walk in the same manner as [Jesus] walked.” Psalm 26:3 instructs us to “walk in the truth.” And Matthew 28:19 says, “As you are going, make disciples.” This word “going” also means walking through your life.

I often try to picture Jesus on His way, talking, touching, teaching, and never hurried. His life would draw me in, calm me down, focus me, and set me on course. As I go on my way and walk my journey, does my life do this for others? Or do they look at me and not want my life because it is too cluttered, too fast, and too self-absorbed? Am I making the most of the opportunities on which my journey takes me? Do others want to walk with me as I walk with Jesus?

One way to inject new life into your interaction with the Scriptures is to personalize and paraphrase meaningful verses. To select a verse, consider the following options.

• A verse that’s been coming up often in your life.
• A verse that’s often been comforting or meaningful to you.
• A verse related to a particular struggle, such as anger, worry, or pride.

Once you’ve chosen a verse, read it slowly several times. Pay attention to the way it naturally breaks down into words and phrases. Write one word or phrase per line in a notebook; then skip two or three lines to allow room for your paraphrase.

Now begin rewriting each phrase using your own words, personalizing the verse to your situation. When you see the words “you” or “we” in reference to believers, substitute your name. If words such as “trial” or “sin” relate to your circumstances, describe what you’re facing.

If you’re not sure how to restate something, try a thesaurus. Make sure the words flow from one line to the next. You want your final paraphrase to read as a complete thought.

Now meditate on the different facets of truth you’ve discovered. Ask God to show you what He wants you to learn and how to apply it to your life.

As I look back on my disciplemaking efforts, there have been joyful days, when disciples would grow into spiritual fathers and run with the 2 Timothy 2:2 vision.

But there have also been the sad days with crushing disappointments when a disciple into whom I poured much time & energy & prayer, left the Lord and ran enthusiastically into the world. Only the Bible brought consolation and encouragement. It reminded me of Judas – drop out number one. Then there is Paul’s disappointment with John Mark, Demas ( having loved the world he deserted 2 Timothy 4:10), and others. But the verse I need the most is John 6:66. Many of Jesus’ disciples followed Him no longer! The Greek makes it clear their departure was irreversible. They never returned. Tragic!

When calling us to ministry, the Lord does not promise cloudless sky and an easy road. The road of a disciplemaker is a difficult road, a road Jesus Christ – our leader & guide – traveled. Having been called to the way of a disciplemaker, one has to remember it comes with a cost. Yes, In order for us to make disciples, we must first be disciples. We can’t give away what we don’t have. But if Jesus and Paul and countless other top notch disciplemakers had dropouts, be absolutely sure we will too.

The strategy we need to follow in dealing with dropouts is clear. John 6:67 & following. How does Jesus respond? He keep right on making disciples. He is unstoppable. Are you?

Surprised at the opportunity to share the Gospel, I frantically rummaged through my book bag looking for my Bible. What started as a simple get-to-know-you lunch soon became something much more important. This young student sitting across from me was clearly searching for a relationship with God. When I finally found my Bible, I asked Zhenya to read Romans 6:23 while I drew The Bridge, a simple Gospel illustration that walks you through that verse. We discussed what it means to have a relationship with God, and she prayed to receive Christ as her Savior & Lord.

That autumn afternoon with Zhenya was the perfect example of why we should, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15b). Countless times I’ve gone out intentionally to share the Gospel with others and ended up only planting seeds. This time I had not planned on sharing, but the opportunity was set before me. All that practice prepared me for this chance meeting.

God graciously used me to reap a harvest in Zhenya’s heart where others had already sown seeds of faith. What a great reminder to always be ready to share about becoming a Christ follower, even when you think you’re only going out for lunch!

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

Life-to-life discipleship: Even though the term hadn’t been coined when Paul, Silas, and Timothy were around, they were modeling it. In this verse, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of how they were discipled. They did more than teach them with words, they shared their very lives. First Thessalonians 5 talks about how they lived among them for their sakes. Their objective was clear: that the Thessalonians would learn from them and become imitators of Christ.

Paul uses three words to describe how they were discipled. They were encouraged, comforted, and urged to make their lives worthy of God.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy were modeling the life of Christ. As they shared their lives with others, they were teaching lessons on discipleship. As they lived among them, they got to know them. As they got to know them, they knew how to help them take the next step spiritually.

Yes, life-to-life discipleship is a commitment of self and time, but oh so worth it. Paul expressed it well when he called it “a delight” to share your life with someone, encouraging them to become imitators of Christ.

Do you enjoy correcting a fellow believer who’s behaving inappropriately? I don’t, yet admonishing is part of our job description as disciplers; the Scriptures exhort us to love other believers enough to confront them. Four words from 2 Timothy 3:16 get at the heart of godly restoration.

Teach. Before you confront, ask: Does he know the teaching? If someone is engaging in destructive criticism, does he understand the Bible’s teaching about a critical spirit? If you suspect he does not, do a short Bible study with him on the topic.

Reprove. This word means to expose or convince, perhaps like this: “Will you give me permission to mention something I’ve noticed?” If he says OK, you can continue. “I may have misheard you, but I thought you said some harsh things about the new guy in your class. That seems inconsistent with what the Scriptures teach. Do you see what I’m saying?”

Correct. Move on to the more positive area of correcting: “I struggle with harshness at times, also. Let’s determine to eliminate harsh comments about anyone from our lives, OK?”

Training.   Finally, use the Word to nurture, build & strengthen.  Slow, continuous transformation into Christlikeness will be the result.

Though confronting involves risk, it isn’t optional. By following biblical guidelines, we can fulfill the mandate to “admonish one another” even as we are “speaking the truth in love.”

I received an unexpected monetary gift from a friend, and in the midst of a busy week, I left it in the kitchen table with the intention of taking it to the bank later. When I went back for it, it wasn’t there. I looked all over the house, everywhere I could think, but it was nowhere. I was stressed.

We’ve all lost things, and when it’s something valuable, we go to all sorts of effort to find it. Proverbs speaks of searching for something precious.

“If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:4,5).

The “it” in this passage is wisdom. Where do we find it? It’s in God’s Word. We’re willing to search our whole house for missing treasure, yet why are we reluctant to search the Bible for spiritual treasures? Take a moment to gauge your desire to seek for the hidden treasures found in your Bible.

Late in the evening I noticed the trash man had not emptied one of our cans. After digging through my family trash can, I found that wonderful generous gift my friend had provided. I was overjoyed and thanked the Lord!

But let’s be even more joyful that our Lord has wonderful, life-giving treasures just waiting for us. How much digging in God’s Word will you do this week?

God tailors unique opportunities for each of us to obey. We can surrender our agendas and learn to hear Him more clearly as we do the following:

Practice listening. When I practice listening to God in the quiet of my bedroom, I can better recognize His voice in the noise of the world.

Be honest. Sometimes I don’t want to be obedient and care only about myself. When I honestly admit my feelings to God, I’m more likely to hear Him when He speaks to me.

Be willing to be different. Sometimes obedience feels weird. Like Martha, many people believe that we must be busy to be productive. We overcommit because that might impress others. If we’re not busy, we fear others will see us as lazy or unspiritual or unimportant. But if I want to be obedient in each moment, I do and say what the Father directs. How often do I say “no” when God’s leading seems strange to me or when I fear it will appear strange to others? How many people tried to make Jesus feel weird in staying two extra days, knowing that Lazarus was dying? Mary and Martha certainly did not understand at first. Likewise, obedience may sometimes feel strange to us.

It’s our job to be obedient moment by moment, sometimes in spite of our feelings; it’s up to God to weave those moments of obedience into a tapestry that glorifies Him.

For a team to function smoothly & efficiently, job descriptions are key. Each member knows exactly what is expected of him.

Since a church is a team, God gives us the needed job descriptions in Ephesians 4:11,12. To the point: pastor/teachers are to be the trainers, and the church family is to be trainees – students with teachable attitudes, eager & hungry to be built up so they carry their part of the workload effectively.

True story: a man was asked to consider becoming the pastor of a church. He visited the church, gave an excellent sermon, evaluated the ministry, and declined the offer. Why? He responded that the church family had a spectator mentality. Their habit was to watch the pastor do all the work and criticize. When his comments were shared at a congregational meeting, some members exploded in anger. “How dare he say that!” But the tide slowly shifted as others stood up and acknowledged that, sadly, that man was right. After prayer and repentance, the church phoned the man, agreed with his assessment, admitted their deep need of training, and begged him to be their trainer/pastor. He came. Much blessing came to that church when they submitted to his excellent training.

Read Ephesians 4:11,12. Please note these verses are not optional or suggestions. They are key to a church living up to its God given calling. Time to repent from being a spectator and adopt a trainee attitude? The church works when everyone does their own job description.

Perhaps the most hurtful and damaging wound a person can experience is to be rejected or not wanted. This is why separation and divorce can be so painful and devastating. In some situations, children that witness the constant arguing, conflict, and/or divorce of their parents may unwittingly conclude that nobody wants them.

The opposite of being unwanted or rejected is to be “spoken for.” To be spoken for is to be taken or reserved for someone. Isaiah 62:2b–5 is a powerful passage of God speaking for His chosen people: “You’ll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God.
You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected. . . . As a bridegroom is happy in his bride, so your God is happy with you.”

Before a person can be spoken for by God, he must first be spoken to. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Jesus Christ speaks to us today. He speaks to us, if we are listening, and He speaks for us. He has purchased us by His shed blood, and He has engraved us on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16).

Are you enjoying that security?

I love it when my oldest son cocks his head to the side as he begins to explain some important truth to his little brother. He uses his “adult” voice and often repeats something verbatim that I’ve recently taught to him. Then he looks at me with a little smile that says, I got it, Mom. I was listening.

My husband and I have the huge opportunity of shepherding the hearts of two little boys. If we can do that well, there will be enormous benefits for their lives. The greatest accomplishment of my life would be to raise up two men who love Jesus, live with integrity, seek wisdom, and love people.

Teaching my children who God is, how much He loves them, and His purpose for their lives means I need to know who God is, how much He loves me, and His purpose for my life. Quite honestly, it would be a lot easier to teach them how to be anxious and fearful. But that would be spiritual child abuse.

The challenge of little eyes and ears watching and listening can sometimes overwhelm me and send me into a spiral of I’m not doing enough, I’m not being intentional, I’m spending too much time on the Internet, I can’t even keep my house clean! But, thankfully, God welcomes my honesty, gives me another chance, and often gives me an opportunity to see what He is doing through me.

What can I do to keep my relationship with God fresh, vital, and meaningful? Here are some ideas:

1. Start with a sin check up.   Is it possible in the midst of your busy life that confession of sin has been ignored?   Time to stop & pray Psalm 139:23,24?
2. Just do it!  Has God been nudging you to take some specific action but you have been dragging your feet?   Maybe the time has come to stop delaying and do exactly what He has been prodding you to do.
3. Daily feeding.  Have you been making time daily for God to speak into your life as you open His book?  God wants to talk to you daily!   Time to read a book of the Bible you’ve been ignoring?
4. Balance check Sometimes through no fault of our own your life has become unbalanced.   Time to back up, examine your schedule, and ask if some key discipline (such as worship, prayer/fasting,  fellowship, evangelism etc ) has slipped through the cracks?   Time for a major shake up in your daily routine?
5. Silence    Remove yourself, as much as possible, from the noise around you. Try not to speak, consecrate that time to God, and listen intently to Him.    To my surprise on church retreats the hour after breakfast has been requested to be “silent time”.  No talking!  A time to give God our total attention.
6. Process your Christian life.  Recall in detail all that God has done for you…….which will certainly lead to praise and thanks!

The apostle Paul knew the adventure of men discipling men. Wherever his missionary journeys took him, he always had traveling companions, men like Barnabas, Silas, and Luke. No doubt they encouraged and spurred him on in the faith. All the while he intentionally built up men in the Lord who would do the same with others.

Timothy’s another example. On a ministry trip to Lystra, Paul met this promising young man, invited him to join in the adventure, and invested in him along the way. Timothy became “my true son in the faith,” a man he eventually trusted as pastor of the church in Ephesus (Acts 16:1–3; 1 Timothy 1:2,3).

Near the end of his life, Paul charged his young protégé to continue the adventure with others: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Recently, I had an opportunity to show what this looks like today. At a men’s event, Petr shared how he’d discipled a man named Victor from his church. Victor then spoke of how this led him to look for a man, and he called up Igor. Wouldn’t you know it? Igor talked about how he’s now building into teens’ lives.

“Why join the adventure?” I asked. Petr, Victor and Igor responded as if one man: “God commands us to make disciples!”

We all make mistakes, but our failures don’t have to destroy us. Peter failed miserably when he denied Jesus. But later we see a resilient, bold Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stand up and preach one of the greatest evangelistic sermons ever delivered (Acts 2:14–41). And how did Jesus respond to Peter’s betrayal? The resurrected Christ relaunched Peter’s ministry in John 21.

How does God respond to our failures? “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down” (Psalm 37:24). The Hebrew word for “fall” can be interpreted “fail.” God will not cast us away. And though we may fail, we do not have to be failures.

Can you hear Jesus’ words to you? He’s saying, “I know you’re going to go through challenging times. To you, it may seem like the end. But I’m here, not to whip you into shape, not to laugh at your weaknesses, not to excuse your sin, but to hold you up. What you might see as failure, I see as an opportunity to show you My power. What you see as imperfection, I see as an opportunity to experience My grace. I’ve made it possible for your failure to lead to success. The decision is up to you.”

I was curious.

God had blessed me with a growing friendship with a retired, highly successful, lifelong disciplemaker, and I wanted to know how he had stayed on God’s path so consistently, so closely for so long. So I asked.

The answer was Proverbs 28:13.

Decades ago he had joined a small men’s Bible study at church. He came home one day from the gathering and told his wife he wanted to quit. “No” was her reply. “Every time you come home from meeting with those guys you are in a better mood. You are not quitting”.

So he stayed.

Slowly the group changed. Men started taking off their masks, revealing their wounds & weaknesses, struggles that no one else knew about. One guy struggled with pride. Another with anger. Another with pornography. Another with a deep interiority complex.

Proverbs 28:13 was their vision statement. They made a commitment to meet regularly, to be open with each other, to pray for one another, to encourage one another. They keep what is shared among them a secret. But they regularly confront each other how each one is doing with his respective struggle.

They have been meeting regularly for over 40 years and plan to meet until they die. The accountability, encouragement, and support from those guys is what has kept my retired discipleship buddy on God’s path all his life.

Time for you to start such your own Proverbs 28:13 group? Imagine how it will give ballast to your life!

We are commanded in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” How can we know we are making real progress in growing in grace?

Trying to determine the progress of a soul is like looking at the growth of an oak—you can’t actually see it growing at the moment, but you can compare it to where it once was. The following 10 questions can help you discern whether you are maturing spiritually. Use them to evaluate the past 6 to 12 months.

1. Are you more thirsty for God than ever before?

2. Are you more and more loving, sacrificing your own preferences, plans, or rights for those of others?

3. Are you more sensitive to and aware of God?

4. Are you governed more and more by God’s Word?

5. Are you concerned more with the physical and spiritual needs of others?

6. Are you more concerned with the Church and the Kingdom of God?

7. Are the spiritual disciplines more important to you?

8. Are you more aware of your sin?

9. Are you quicker to forgive others?

10. Are you thinking more of heaven and being with the Lord Jesus?

“Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.’ So he did what the Lord had told him. . . . Some time later the brook dried up” (1 Kings 17:2–7a).

Sometimes God dries up one brook so He can move us to another.

Five years ago, I was thriving at my “brook.” Through my job, I got to be involved in discipling people all over the world—military people, international students. I was using my strengths while never leaving the safety of my cubicle!

Then the brook dried up. God moved me out of the cubicle and into the world. The discipling I do now is much more personal. I’ve had to become more transparent and more comfortable with the potential for rejection. I’ve learned patience and perseverance with people that I could not have learned behind a desk. I’ve grown not only as a discipler, but as a disciple.

When Elijah’s brook dried up, God sent him to a widow who provided for his needs. When our brook dries up, we may stumble and grieve, but we can trust in God’s faithfulness. His new provision will be exactly what we need.

1. During the year, a group of ten brothers who want to help others grow spiritually meets regularly . Each brother has prayerfully taken a young believer under his wing. Every meeting begins with each brother reporting what he did during the week with his supervisee. This has revolutionized our thinking and stretched and blessed us. Our accountability to each other is improving the quality of our discipleship.

2. During the year, we had several seminars in our church about evangelism and discipleship, always encouraging the mature believers to prayerfully seek discipling relationships with new people. Evangelism makes no sense without follow-up. As soon as believers showed made themselves available to mentor others, God started bringing new people to our church. Most people are attracted to church not by theology or teaching, but by sincere relationships I am glad to see how the church atmosphere changes. After worship services people stay for hours to talk, pray and counsel. Discipleship started to develop in home groups too. Discipleship allowed believers to discover spiritual gifts,use them & feel needed. The church will change when discipleship becomes the lifestyle of each member.

3. Discipleship is costly. You can’t build a house or a disciple quickly. Discipleship costs time, money and sometimes your heart. To eat, drink, help solve his problems – does it ever end? But a moment comes when your disciple is able to disciple others. You’re now a “grandpa”! All that effort was worth it!.

The Bible tells not only of successes but also of failures by individuals and nations—failures that teach us lessons. We are to learn from the past. If I can tell you in a positive, constructive way about my own failures and mistakes, and thereby challenge you not to repeat them, it is a valid venture. If I can help just one other person avoid one of my pitfalls, then I rejoice.

If I could live my life again, I would seek to make the following changes:

1. I would stand more boldly upon my God-given calling and not be so fearful.

2. While my children were young, I would spend more time with them in worship, in spiritual disciplines, and in just enjoying life.

3. I would ask God for greater blessings and victories, claiming His mighty promises.

4. By God’s grace, I would turn more quickly from temptation and sin.

5. I would welcome trials and failures as menders of my character.

6. I would ask more of people under my leadership and not be so cautious with them.

7. I would be more single-minded in following a lifetime program of personal Bible study and Scripture memory.

8. I would develop a hobby earlier in life.

Disciplemakers can abuse those they disciple? How?

1. By treating those they disciple as belonging to themselves. No! God is the owner of every single person whom He has saved 1 Peter 2:9 . Those whom you are discipling are only being assigned to you briefly for you to nurture and then launch out into ministry based on God’s call.

2. By being bossy. A pastor once told me that it was God’s will for my life that I go to a particular college at a particular date. Excuse me! There is a Holy Spirit, and it’s not him. Giving suggestions based on your observations of the person you are discipling is fine & needed. But to stamp your thoughts as God’s will is to play God. That is a line you do not want to cross.

We want those whom we follow to imitate us only to the extent we imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

3. By forever treating those you disciple as babies. Let’s learn a lesson here from Paul. When Timothy first emerges on the New Testament stage he is a youth needing mentoring. But what does 1 Corinthians 16:10 say? Paul pays Timothy an enormous compliment here by saying Timothy’s status had changed to that of an effective worker who could be sent out on assignment without Paul. Let’s be careful not to forever confine baby Christians to a lower caste. They might surprise us. One day their maturity & effectiveness might exceed our own!

Perhaps the simplest definition of spiritual leadership is that it is influence: influencing the attitudes and actions of others toward God. You and I should have a vision for the entire world. But we can’t minister to the whole world. We ought to have a ministry to a small group of people given to us by God as our special responsibility.

Well, you say, like who? You start with your family—your spouse, then your children. How about your parents, other relatives, and of course the people you work with? Just look around. God has given you all the people you need to have a ministry. The question then becomes, are you revealing God to them, as Jesus did to His disciples? And what does it mean to reveal God?

Those around us should see evidence in our lives of growth in love and holiness. Love is an unselfish concern that freely accepts another and seeks his good. And holiness, I believe, begins with humility. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). No one can have spiritual influence if God is against him. But God gives His grace to the humble.

The essence of spiritual leadership—influencing others toward God—is that “we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Let’s fast forward to the end of your life. You’re aware that this is your last day on earth and are fortunate enough to have those you love by your side. No one needs to remind you that you have limited time with them. So what would you say?

Now let’s rewind to some of Jesus’ last words. Jesus said, “Go make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). He said these words to His disciples just before He ascended into heaven. Their model was clear, for He had just spent the past three-and-a-half years discipling them. He was telling them to go pour into others’ hearts what He had poured into theirs, doing it the way He did it with them—life on life, shoulder to shoulder, nose to nose. How important should these last words be to us, His followers today? We should hold these words in our hearts as Jesus held them in His.

How significant are the words, “Go make disciples,” to you? Enough that they are demonstrated through your life? Do you make key decisions in light of these words? Or do you need to adjust the way you live in response to these words? Take a moment and imagine what your life might look like if you did exactly as Jesus said and made disciples the way Jesus did.