Disciple Others: Give the Gift of Presence

By Darryl Wilson | Published: February 26, 2015

GiveGiftBusyness kills many things. Effectiveness. Energy. Priority.

Likewise, busyness kills many spiritual efforts. Discipleship. Time with God. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus never seemed to rush? Anywhere. Anytime. With any person.

Yes, He had a purpose. Yes, He had a message. Yes, He was effective. But He was never in a hurry.

What’s the difference? Is is simply prioritizing what we do better? That could help. Is is simply saying no to the wrong things and yes to the right things? That is a start. But it is more than that.

What if the difference was one word? What if that word was simply “presence?” Your presence AND His presence. What if you gave each person, each encounter, each moment your full presence? And at the same time, you allowed the Holy Spirit to share His presence through you?

That time would be well-invested. No matter how long or short the time was, it would be meaningful and productive.

Today, I watched a dad and his daughter interact over lunch. Apparently she had been to the orthodonist from a comment by the waitress. But I watched as the dad spent more time with his phone than he did with his daughter. We are a society and even a church which is distracted. We seldom pay attention. We seldom are really present with anyone.

Want to change your growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Focus. Be present. Be present in prayer. Be present in Bible study, meditation, and application. Be present as His Holy Spirit leads you to encounter a world which is lost and for whom He died.

Give others the gift of presence. Care enough to listen and pay attention. Care enough to love them as you love yourself.

Watch how that changes your interactions. Watch how that influences them. Watch how that changes you!

He’s present. Be present. Make disciples!

For more ideas about growing as His disciples, check out these blog posts:

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Make Disciples of All Nations Means Becoming Fishers of Men

By Darryl Wilson | Published: February 23, 2015

FishermanIn the Great Commission, Jesus commanded His disciples as they go to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). In that passage, Jesus describes how that mission will be accomplished:

  • baptizing them (all nations) and
  • teaching them (all nations) to observe all that I (Jesus) have commanded you.

When does teaching them begin? Do we wait until they have begun a relationship with Jesus Christ? Or does it start long before, while we are living before them, in what we say and do? That seems to have been Jesus’ approach. He taught, He spent time with sinners, and He modeled Kingdom principles.

And Jesus even modeled this methodology when He sent the disciples out in pairs (Mark 6:7) to do what He had been doing (preach the Kingdom, drive out demons, and heal the sick). And He drove the home the method of observing Jesus and putting His example into practice when He called them together to share their stories of what happened when they did what He sent them out to do (Mark 6:30).

In order to “make disciples of all nations,” this also means that we must pay attention to three phases of disciple-making. What are these phases? Check out this simple command to His disciples:

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19, ESV)

FOLLOWING. A relationship with Jesus is begun with awareness. Eyes are opened to Jesus, His teachings, and His life.  At some point, there is conviction of sin, seeking for forgiveness, repentance, and making Him master of life. At that point, life turns from your way to following His way, to going where He leads.

FORMING. This happens over time. While human effort is involved, forming does not happen without the work of Jesus in us. We grow like the seed in Mark 4:26-29 which “sprouts and grows; he knows not how.” We cannot make ourselves fishers or men (disciple-makers); only Jesus can do so!

FISHING. Disciple-making inevitably means the disciple will move beyond himself/herself. Like Jesus who came to “seek and to save the lost,” His life and example lead us to be concerned for others. We move beyond the church building and our own comfort zone into the community and world in search of people needing Jesus. This requires the right fishing tackle, bait, and lures in order to fish successfully for Him. Each of us has our part (1 Corinthians 3:1-15) in the effort.

These phases ebb and flow into each other. Following flows into forming and fishing. Forming takes place while following and fishing. Fishing often begins while following out of concern for lost friends and family. In other words, there is not a set timetable for movement from one phase to the next, but there should be movement toward fishing.

That is the purpose of following and forming. To stop anywhere short is failure and sin. To stop short is to become Judas rather than Peter. To stop short is to keep Jesus to ourselves. To stop short is for all nations to stay in darkness. To stop short is for the work of Jesus Christ to die with this generation.

Where are you in the phases? Are you stuck at following or forming? Is someone you know stuck? Help one another take a step toward fishing. Pray together. Follow His leadership together. Care for others together. Fish for men together. Make disciples!

For more ideas about making disciples, check out these blog posts:

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Who’s Involved in Your Discipleship?

By Darryl Wilson | Published: February 10, 2015

ThreeThe post title is intentionally ambiguous. Stop to process the possible questions being asked:

  • Who has invested and impacted you as a disciple over the years?
  • Who is currently investing in and impacting your growth as a disciple?
  • In whom are you investing and impacting as they grow as a disciple?

I have talked to many Christians, pastors, staff, and church leaders who have not had anyone intentionally invest in their discipleship. But no one is without impact from three persons:

GOD. We are disciples of Jesus when we love one another (John 13:35) and when we do what He commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). But our relationships with others and our actions will be more Christ-like when we regularly spend time with God in prayer and Bible study. In fact, personal and relational discipleship are impacted by the overflow of our ongoing, growing relationship with God. I find I cannot help but share what I am discovering about God when the encounter and relationship are fresh rather than stale.

OTHERS. Growing discipleship demands care and risk. Trust and transparency can only be deepened through time and experience of sharing honestly and openly with others. In turn, personal and relational discipleship require time and experience together. We and disciples often grow best as we spend time together formally and informally. This involves doing life together:  serving together, having fun together, and walking through challenges together.

SELF. Loving ourselves means caring for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. How can we love God and others if we do not love ourselves? Others will see much more than we realize. And our example is important! Rest. Eat right. Exercise body, mind, and soul. Time spent here is not wasted. Such time is well invested in making you more productive and attentive along with giving you the potential for lengthened years of impact.

Grade yourselves:  A for excellent, C for mediocre, and F for failing. How are you doing in each of these three relationships? What is one thing you can do to take a small step this week toward raising your grade in one area? If you are struggling for ideas, share this blog post with a friend and brainstorm some possibilities together. (By the way, that may be the very small step that is needed this week!)

Do you want to grow even more this year as a disciple? Invest in all three relationships. Remember Jesus emphasized the importance of loving God, others, and self in Mark 12:30-31. When we grow in our relationship with God, it strengthens our growth as disciples and disciple-makers. The same is true when we grow in our relationship with disciples. And the more we know and love ourselves the way God does, the better we can grow and invest in others.

For more ideas about growing as a disciple, check out these blog posts:

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Strategic Disciple-making Actions

By Darryl Wilson | Published: January 29, 2015

JesusIn calling the disciples, Andrew and Peter, Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Jesus’ life and teaching were a demonstration of His disciple-making plan. Jesus established the model.

Take out a piece of paper and make three column. Write down Before, When, and After as headings for the columns. Then think about what Jesus did before calling the disciples, when He called them, and after He called them. Write what He did at each step which prepared them to be disciples and ultimately to be disciple-makers.

In order to develop Christ-followers (Matthew 4:19), we must not ignore Jesus’ example in developing our disciple-making strategy. The result of my study of Jesus’ example looked something like this:

  1. be an example before them in what you model and teach
  2. pray for the disciples God wants to send to you
  3. observe them: gather evidence of what God is doing in their lives
  4. personally enlist those God has led you to invest in, sharing the evidence you have seen
  5. walk through life together, sharing experiences and teachable moments
  6. study God’s Word, ask questions, and pray together
  7. give assignments for learning and for obedience
  8. check on understanding, spiritual vitality, application, and progress
  9. establish growing expectations
  10. walk them toward Kingdom service, investment, and multiplication

Can you see Jesus’ life and example in this strategy? Can you picture times when He did each one with the disciples? What would you add to the list? Press Comments and share your thoughts, strategy, and suggested actions.

In our strategy, we could add a couple of addition items:

11. don’t be surprised at some failure (Judas and Peter, for example)
12. when needed, adjust the plan according to needs and individuals but don’t stray far from our Lord’s example

Don’t rush to develop your strategy before looking thoroughly at Jesus’ example of disciple-making. At the same time, don’t neglect to “make disciples of all nations” just because your strategy still needs a bit of work. Pray, practice, and adjust. Make disciples!

For more ideas about disciple-making, check out these blog posts:

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Discipleship Encourager Actions

By Darryl Wilson | Published: January 14, 2015

EncouragerIn my previous post, Can You Make a Disciple of One Person?, I asked:

How can we carry out this command? How can we “make disciples of ALL NATIONS” (emphasis added). I want to suggest an overly simple answer:  ONE AT A TIME.

I have often had the reply, “But where do I start?” Related questions include:

  • What materials do I use?
  • How often do we meet?
  • I prefer relational rather than programmatic. Is that okay?
  • I was never discipled. I don’t know how.

Obviously each discipleship opportunity varies according to the individuals involved, their experiences and interests, and their maturity in Christ.  While many methods are possible, it is important to utilize one that produces results. That begs the question, what results are desired and being produced though the methods chosen?

For simplicity, what if we focused discipleship expectations through the lenses of two things Jesus said?

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

“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 all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20a)

Where would these words of Jesus lead you to focus in the lives of brand new believers? lukewarm Christians? experienced but stagnant Christians?

What would you do in the first six weeks? first six months? first year? At what point would they be ready to multiply your investment into others?

How would you encourage them? How would you best challenge them? What would you tell them? What would you do together with them? What would you ask them to do?

What thinking and practices should be experienced at each stage of your discipling efforts? Let’s have a conversation. Share your ideas and experience.  Press Comments and share your thoughts.

Allow me to close with this illustration:

One day a lady criticized D. L. Moody for his methods of evangelism in attempting to win people to the Lord. Moody’s reply was “I agree with you. I don’t like the way I do it either. Tell me, how do you do it?” The lady replied, “I don’t do it.” Moody retorted, “Then I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it.”

Contributed by: David Yarbrough; Source: James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 178.

Start now. Start somewhere. Jesus expects it. They deserve it. You can do it. Make disciples!

For more ideas about disciple-making, check out these blog posts:

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Can You Make a Disciple of One Person?

By Darryl Wilson | Published: December 8, 2014

MentorOthersJesus passes the torch to the Apostles and to us today in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20):

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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

How can we carry out this command? How can we “make disciples of ALL NATIONS” (emphasis added). I want to suggest an overly simple answer:

ONE AT A TIME.

Every one matters. Every life matters. You can make a difference with one. Who is your one? Pray. When will you start? Pray. Where will you start? What will you do with that one to help him/her become and grow as a disciple? Pray.

PRAY TOGETHER. Don’t just talk about prayer. Do it. Model it. Pray together. Teach others about prayer.

STUDY TOGETHER. Open God’s Word. Listen together to what God is saying. Seek to understand what He wants. Seek to determine how to be obedient. Encourage one another to keep your commitments. Teach others about God and His Word.

SERVE/CARE TOGETHER. Help him/her to discover spiritual gifts, personality, abilities, and passions that God desires to use in the church, community, and world. Then prayerfully determine where to serve. Then serve together. Then teach others to do the same.

SHARE TOGETHER. Help him/her look around. Who are friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors who need to know about Jesus and what He is doing in your lives? Look for teachable/shareable moments. Look for stresses and needs with which you may help and support. Determine what to say and what to give, and then do so together. Then teach others to do the same.

If you a make disciple of one person, and the two of you each make a disciple of one person, and the four of you each make a disciple of one person, it won’t be too many “generations” of disciples making disciples until we can see the reality of “making disciples of all nations.” Do your part: one disciple at a time.

For more ideas for making disciples, check out these blog posts:

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One-Day Disciple-Making Workshop

By Darryl Wilson | Published: November 18, 2014

DiscipleMaking

Within a few weeks, dozens across Kentucky (and beyond) will be trained to lead One-Day “Disciple-Making Workshops.” Those who will be trained are disciple-making practitioners who have been enlisted to provide workshops in their area. I want to invite you to pray for the leaders of the training, those who will be trained (trainers), and those trained by the trainers. Pray that lives will be changed, disciples and disciple-makers made, and a movement started!

Disciple-making is a critical need need in churches across the state and beyond. Many Christians fail to become the disciple-makers because no one invested in them. This unhealthy situation must stop.

I cannot share more details yet, but prayer is needed. If you are interested in having a Disciple-Making Workshop in your association, contact me. I will put your name and association on a list to contact after the upcoming training event. My prayer is that the movement begins in me…and you!

For more ideas for disciple-making, check out these blog posts:

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Discipleship Relational Stages, Part 2

By Darryl Wilson | Published: November 6, 2014

WalkwGod

In Part 1, I shared that being a disciple of Jesus Christ means that we are in a living, breathing relationship. Being His disciple is a choice and a life-long process. There I shared five discipleship relational stages: Ignoring, Exploring, Starting, Deepening, and Investing.

Listening carefully (full of care) to gauge an individual’s discipleship relational stage may give you clues to how to encourage him or her to take the next step. Assuming you accurately assess the stage, what growth actions you could take with the individual? Consider these ideas designed to spark your thinking:

  • IGNORING. Build your relationship with the individual. Be trustworthy. Care. Ask questions about life and meaning.
  • EXPLORING. Don’t be afraid to live out your beliefs, or talk about them if asked. Invite him/her to hang out with some of your Christian friends. Invite them to your class or small group. Look for moments to share about Jesus and your testimony. Study the book of John together or a Christian resource about Christianity.
  • STARTING. Be an encourager; ask accountability questions positively. Pray together. Study the Bible together. Practice sprititual disciplines together. Help him/her to establish a solid daily quiet time. Attend a class or small group together. Share how to take steps but also why.
  • DEEPENING. Talk about life and what God’s Word has to say. Ask questions. Look for answers. Focus on the point. Study a doctrine or Bible book together. Go to a conference. Read a book together. Make commitments to be obedient to God’s Word. Hold one another accountable to be more like Christ.
  • INVESTING. Encourage him/her to discover his/her God-given SHAPE: spiritual gifts, heart (passion), abilities, personality, and experiences. Lead him/her to understand that God wants to use it all. Invite him/her to help you as you serve. Model serving. Encourage him/her to try out many opportunities of serving God and others in the church and community.

These conversations, actions, and ideas may come in the previous stage in order to encourage readiness for and movement toward the next stage. Or they may come during the stage he/she has entered in order to be even better prepared to move toward the next stage. But keep in mind that progress toward Investing is ultimately where they should be headed. Think Ephesians 4 if you need a reminder about that.

Think about those in your circles on influence. Where are those closest to you in their discipleship relational stages? Where are others you interact with daily and occasionally? What can you do this week to help one or more of them take steps toward growth? What can you do in the coming year to impact others? Walk with them. Talk with them. Lead where you can. Make disciples!

For more ideas about discipleship, check out these blog posts:

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Discipleship Relational Stages, Part 1

By Darryl Wilson | Published: October 28, 2014

WalkwGodBeing a disciple of Jesus Christ means that we are in a living, breathing relationship. Being His disciple is a choice and a life-long process (work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, Phil 2:12, HCSB).

Our thinking and conversation often give clues to the stage of our discipleship. I am still thinking through these stages, so ask questions and make suggestions here. Consider the following:

  • IGNORING. There was a time when we were not paying Jesus any attention. The relationship (from our perspective) had not yet begun. We were dead in our trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1).
  • EXPLORING. At some point, we became aware of and interested in learning more about Jesus. For me exploring began when Fred Huff asked me if I knew Jesus as my Savior and Lord.
  • STARTING. We realized our need for a Savior and Lord. We asked Jesus to forgive us, placed our faith and trust in Him, and asked Him to guide and direct our lives. We began a relationship with Him.
  • DEEPENING. We walked together with Him down the pathway of life. We spent more time together. Our lives, thinking, and decisions are impacted by Him.
  • INVESTING. As a result of the relationship, Jesus, His agenda, and loving others became more important. This led to an investment of time, resources, and life in serving, discipling, and multiplying. (Appreciation to Hyde Park for ideas.)

Conversation (and thinking) changes can signify transition from one stage to the next. In the Ignoring stage, conversation would be without focus on Jesus or denying relevance. In Exploring, conversation becomes personal: “What does Jesus want?” In the Starting stage, conversation is filled with excitement about what Jesus did for me: “He is my Savior and Lord. I still cannot believe He died for me.” In the Deepening stage, conversation turns to what I need to know and do to be the disciple Jesus wants me to be: “What do I need to study next? What can I do to be a better disciple?” In the Investing stage, conversation turns to others: “How can I make a difference in the lives of others?”

Where are you in these stages? They are not necessarily as simple and totally sequential as I have painted them, but it is a good starting outline for thinking. What can you do to move farther along? What can you do to encourage others to do so?

We will think these thoughts farther in Part 2. In the meantime, be a disciple. Grow as a disciple. Make disciples!

For more ideas about discipleship, check out these blog posts:

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Becoming a Disciple-Making Church

By Darryl Wilson | Published: October 15, 2014

Rick Howerton

The Kentucky Baptist Religious Education Association has invited Rick Howerton of LifeWay Christian Resources to focus on hour our churches can evaluate disciple-making effectiveness and better understand how to make disciples that make disciples. Rick Howerton is small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay Christian Resources. He is a popular speaker and the author of Destination Community: Small Group Ministry Manual, A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic. and The Beginning: A Resource for New Disciples.

November 10, 2014
Living Hope Baptist Church
1805 Westen St
Bowling Green, KY 42104

Our schedule will be as follows:

Monday, November 10, 2014
5:30-6:00p Registration
6:00-6:45p Dinner
6:45-8:30p Program
8:30-9:00p Business

The cost for this year’s annual meeting including dinner is $50 for non-KBREA members and $40 for KBREA members. Those who join or renew their KBREA membership at the annual meeting will receive the member rate. KBREA annual membership is $25.

Sign up today for the KBREA meeting. Email Jeff Smith at jsmith@hurstbournebc.org and let him know you are coming.

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