make disciples.
HELPING ONE ANOTHER TO KNOW, LOVE, TRUST, AND OBEY JESUS. HIS KINGDOM COME, HIS WILL BE DONE.
Jesus cAMe near and said to them, “All authority has bEen given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
MATTHEW 28:18-20
DISCIPLESHIP FAQs
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what if the person I ask says no?
1
That’s a real possibility and some people won’t have the time; don’t take it personally. It’s better for them to let you know rather than canceling every week. If they’re confused about discipleship, share the vision of disciple making. If they’re still uninterested, ask someone else!
what if my discipleship partner ghosts or loses interest?
2
Try to have an open conversation about your goals in discipleship. You can try asking them if there’s a better time / frequency to meet. Ultimately, if they’re uninterested and / or unavailable, it’s time to find a new discipleship partner. Thankfully, there are plenty of options!
what if they share something I'm not equipped to handle?
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This can be a great opportunity for growth for both people. First, be confident that nothing surprises God and nothing is too much for him to handle. Don’t feel the need to have an immediate response, but take time in prayer if you need it. Your presence is doing more than you would think, plus the Holy Spirit wants to minister through you. At the end of the day, don’t be afraid to recommend resources such as pastors and professional counselors.
do I need to be a Bible expert to disciple someone?
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Certainly not! In fact, the model of discipleship in the New Testament suggests the opposite: ordinary believers helping others follow Jesus while they themselves are still learning. You don’t need to know everything, just willing to help someone take the next step of obedience in their faith. When they have questions that you’re not sure about, it’s a great opportunity for you to study the word for yourself.
This can happen, but try to keep the main thing the main thing. Be clear that your goal is for both people to grow in their relationship with Jesus. Ultimately, disagreements can lead to amazing conversations and growth on both sides, just have a conversation, not an argument or debate.
A discipleship relationship doesn’t have to end, but it will certainly transform into spiritual friendship. Usually indicated when the person no longer primarily needs you, they’re walking with Jesus and helping others do the same. Even then, they still have spiritual needs which you can help to meet.
You can and often you should, so long as you have capacity. The goal of discipleship is multiplication so we say start small but dream big. Disciple as many people as you can faithfully invest in without becoming shallow.
Each person has different capacities depending on their stage of life. Most disciple makers disciple 2-3 people at a time but our encouragement is to do what you can.
Discipleship should definitely be in the home! Your kids need your discipleship and you have a huge opportunity to disciple them. Be consistent and simple. Teach them to pray daily, read the Bible with them, and talk about Jesus regularly. Perhaps most importantly, model Christlike behavior in front of them. Model humility, repentance, kindness, love, faith, patience, and so on. They will notice.