Disciple-making

In Discipleship, our goal is to help students KNOW, GROW and eventually GO. When you disciple students, you are modeling for them how to disciple as well. Disciple students of the same gender as you.  (You could disciple someone one-on-one, or you can disciples a group; three or four students in a discipleship group seems to work very well.)
Discipling someone is taking someone through the process of:
  • Grounding them in GOD'S WORD.
  • Equipping them to share their faith (EVANGELISM).
  • Equipping them to be DISCIPLE-MAKING.
  • Passing on the passion of MISSIONS: reaching the unreached with the Gospel.
THE FIVE steps of multiplying disciples is not the end-all of disciple-making!  It is a simple beginning.  It is an outline.  As Jesus said, "a student will be like his teacher."  Your goal in disciple-making is to let the Lord use you to grow someone else in the walk with the Lord.  As you disciple someone, you might also:
  • Pass on a passion for reading books that have greatly helped you grow in the Lord.
  • Pass on a passion for certain spiritual disciplines that have helped you grow in the Lord.
  • Pass on a love for certain forms of worship.
  • And more.....
 It is no accident that the Lord has chosen YOU to disciple a certain person.  He chose YOU because of who you are and what HE has done in your life.  There are certain strengths and weaknesses and experiences that make  you who you are.... and a unique disciple-maker.  
 Successful discipleship is more than a once a week meeting; it is life-on-life.... one person investing in the spiritual maturity of another.  A weekly meeting, though, is a key component.  This weekly meeting will likely look something  like this:
  1. Begin with prayer.
  2. Each person shares a One Thing Study from the past week.
  3. Lead the student(s) through the next step in the Discipleship Tree.
  4. Close by praying for each other.
Successful Discipleship includes both Love and Truth:

Love
Look for opportunities to love your disciples.  Ask Jesus to fill you with his love for them.  Spend time communicating outside of your discipleship meeting.  Send texts/emails/facebook notes encouraging them and telling them how much you enjoy being with them.  Make a phone call just to ask how they are doing.  Pray for them.

Truth
Discipleship is always centered on Truth (God’s Word).  Be bold in challenging your disciples to be moving up the Discipleship Tree.  Ask probing questions.  Dig deep into their lives!  You will both thus increasingly enjoy the abundant life that God desires for us.