Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message)
Go out and train every one you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the three-fold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I commanded you. I‘ll be with you as you do this, day after day, right up to the end of the age.
Last week, I received another letter from Parris Island, South Carolina. For those of you not familiar with the place, it’s the little slice of heaven where Marine Corps recruits endure boot camp. One of my former students is in the midst of basic training there and in his last letter, he related they had entered a period of training and learning that his drill sergeant referred to as “a new way of life.” As I read the words, I couldn’t help comparing it to what we’re covering in the Back to Basics series. Especially when it comes to making disciples and training them in their new way of life.
In our quest to make disciples, we need not contrive fancy gimmicks or scheduled classes, but simply share with others our story and be a guide or mentor as they walk through their “training and learning period.”
Here are practical ways to disciple (train) people to become committed, consistent Christ followers:
1) Be a Christ-like example (Live the Life-Change). If we’re going to train someone in their new way of life, its vital that we are living the life before them. We’ve all seen or heard parents who command, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Their children will inevitably follow their actions, rather than their words. Same with us as believers. If we tell our spiritual pupils how to live a righteous life, yet fail to live out the example before them, we’re not building disciples, but distorting their perception of God and how to walk with Him.
2) Feed them spiritual milk. In our excitement over discipling people, we often make the fatal mistake of shoving too much down their throat too soon. Discipling people is like tending to a baby. Babies must first swallow and digest small amounts of milk in order to grow. If they’re fed too much milk or even solid food, they will either spit up or choke. Same with those we’re discipling. They need to be fed small, easy to understand portions of the Gospel, so as to not get overwhelmed and face spiritual indigestion. As they, like babies, mature, they can handle greater portions. (A good starting place for the Gospel message is the book of John. A good starting place for the various aspects of the Christian life are books like Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians.)
3) Offer encouragement and help. Nothing is harder than starting an entirely new way of life. Like the growth process of a child, new believers will crawl, fall, walk, stumble, run, trip, hope, hurt, and endure countless other things. Next to the example we live and feeding them spiritually, they will need someone simply to be there for them. To listen as they bend and stretch in their new skin. To offer encouragement when times get rough. To lean on you when they’re not strong enough to weather their own storms yet. To tell them when they’re slipping away from their Life-Change. To challenge them to keep growing to the next stage. To teach them what it means to be consistent. And so on.
There are many more. But begin practicing these three things with those your discipling. Enjoy the journey.
There is no greater calling…
