A Vision of the Possible by Sinclair Daniel;

Author:Sinclair, Daniel; [Sinclair, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2014-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHT KEYS TO EFFECTIVE DISCIPLING

1) Don’t fear failure. When we start off mentoring a younger brother or sister we can tremble at the thought of steering them wrongly. Will they be ruined if I don’t do it just right? Will they face harder troubles if I don’t prepare them well? Relax! Share your life, Christ’s love, and the Word of God. Learn by doing. Even if you aren’t the world’s best discipler, God is sovereign and He will use you because your heart is willing.

2) Disciple as Jesus discipled. Did he suffocate the Twelve with the mother of all teaching programs? No. Here is what He did: He called them to relationship and to a commitment to grow; He spent lots of time with them; He taught them and then gave them opportunities to obey and “practice” what they were learning; He at times corrected them; He sent them out in ministry; He encouraged them to work as a group, and He gave them a vision for how the Father would use them in extraordinary ways to change the world. Simple!

In this kind of discipling, which is more important: relationship or teaching content? The answer to this question is similar to the answer to the question of which wing of an airplane is more important: the right or the left! Both are absolutely indispensable. As Paul said to the Thessalonian believers, “Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). It is never just teaching and training, but rather it is life-to-life. We spend time together in all aspects of life: in my home, in his home, on the job, in sports or recreation, in the market, with our families, time together with the Lord, and so on.

Not only do we soon get to know them quite well, but they come to know us well too. They see our flaws, our sins, our struggles. No one expects a perfect discipler. They can encourage us, pray for us, even challenge or admonish us where appropriate. They get to see the grace of God at work in us, as we too repent and grow.

3) Nonetheless, what we teach is so very vital. Learning and ministering the Word of God is at the heart of discipling: “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). There is no greater ministry of the Word of God than ministering it to those we are discipling. We teach them to live life by the Word of God. They learn to draw on it daily as spiritual milk and solid food. They grow in their understanding and grasp of the Scriptures. They learn how to read and study for themselves. And they learn to apply it and minister it to other believers.

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