Do Not Give Up Yet
Kathy Kelly
From The Adventure of Discipling Others. Order from NavPress
Discipling fellow believers is often rewarding, but what happens when the one you've invested so much in begins to slip away? It's frustrating and heartbreaking to see those you have discipled fall back into old behaviors of lose their desire for Christian growth. It's also difficult to know what to do next.
Here are some tips for revitalizing a discipling relationship that may be headed for the rocks:
- Don't give up. It may be tempting to wash your hands of the situation and gear your efforts toward another new believer. Remember that God never gives up on you, no matter how far you stray! Although you are not responsible for another's lagging interest and unwillingness to be discipled, don't stop making the effort to lead this person back to the path of Christian growth.
- Be patient with immaturity. When you first accepted Christ, God did not deal immediately with every sin in your life. Your life changed gradually and continues to change as you grow closer to the Lord. In discipling new believers, be patient as they struggle with the concept of conforming to the image of Christ.
- Confront sin. On the flip side, however, don't hesitate to confront lovingly those your disciple when they fall into sin. The truth, gently presented, can help a straying disciple make a fresh commitment to Christ.
- Vary your methods. You may recapture the interest of a struggling believer by occasionally changing your approach. If your pattern is to use your time strictly for Bible study, hold a question-and-answer session instead. Leave the notebooks at home for a change, and go for ice cream and a discussion of personal issues.
- Present new challenges. It's difficult to know when a believer is ready to take a new step of faith, but a seeming lack of steady progress may indicate it's time for a new challenge. Ask your friend to teach a Sunday school class, lead prayer, or give his testimony at your next small group. Remind him that the added responsibility will require greater commitment.
- Pray. Above all else, pray for those you disciple. There is nothing Satan would like more than to see new believers give up and remain ineffective servants of Christ. You can help win the battle for the lives of these struggling believers by fighting on your knees.
