Whether you have been discipling for years or are just starting, investment in relationships is important. Discipling and care are strengthened when you invest well in getting to know your disciples beyond meeting time. While doing so takes time, it does not have to overwhelm your schedule and it will pay dividends.
Where do I start? Consider some of the following ideas. Use as many of them as possible to enrich your knowledge of your disciples and deepen your relationships with them.
- Add birthdates to your calendar. Make a 2 minute call that day.
- Add married members’ anniversaries to your calendar. Send a text or email to them that day.
- Invite them to a fellowship or project every 6 weeks. Intentionally spend time during the fellowship with your disciples.
- Visit disciples annually in their homes (or yours), at work, or over a meal (maybe lunch).
- Add each disciple to a day of your monthly calendar. Pray for the disciple on that day. Send a text that day asking how you can pray for him/her.
- Arrive early for your disciple-making session. Spend a few minutes visiting with the disciple beyond your meeting agenda.
- On another occasion, hang around for a few minutes after your meeting. Ask about life, work, and prayer requests beyond what was shared in the meeting.
- Arrange to meet 15 minutes early before Sunday or Wednesday evening church activities. Ask questions and listen.
This list does not have to require tons of time. But the results will greatly enrich your disciple-making efforts. Print out this blog post. Highlight three that you want to work on over the next quarter. Connect. Fellowship. Make disciples!
For more ideas, check out these blog posts:
