Finding the Right Person to Disciple
Becky Brodin
From The Adventure of Discipling Others. Order from NavPress
"You want to help someone grow. But who?
You know what, Kathy? I think you're ready to disciple someone."
"Really?" She responded, blinking in surprise. "Do you think I could do it?"
I had been discipling Kathy for more than a year. She had a sensitive heart, a deep desire to know the Lord, and an eagerness to learn. I knew that if she could help a younger believer grow, her understanding of discipleship would soar.
Then she asked, "Whom should I disciple?"
That's a good question. A notice on a bulletin board at church probably won't work since many believers don't even know what discipleship is. I realized this a few years ago when I asked a woman in my Sunday school class to meet for coffee to talk about her spiritual growth. She looked at me like a deer staring into headlights, but she was willing, and we began to meet weekly. Several weeks later, she confessed she initially thought I wanted to scold her! She had been unfamiliar with one-to-one discipleship. Because many people we might want to disciple are similar to Kathy, we will have to take the initiative to begin a discipling relationship.
For Kathy-and for us-finding someone to disciple requires three things:
- involvement with people
- knowing what to look for
- and a willingness to take initiative
Pools of People
To find someone to disciple, you must be involved with people.In our culture, this is usually in the context of some kind of small group, such as a Bible study or a Sunday school class.
When Jesus selected His disciples, He did not run His finger down a list of names in the Galilee phone book and pick people at random. Luke 5 and 6 describe how He established Himself in the area. He preached, healed, ministered, and soon had a group of people following Him. Then, after a night of prayer, "he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles" (Luke 6:13). Jesus was involved with people before He initiated with them individually. They knew Him, and He knew them.
Kathy participated regularly in a Sunday school class at her church and co-led a small group Bible study. I also knew she was actively building relationships. The stage was set for Kathy to look for someone to disciple.
The Right Stuff
What
an interesting mix of men Jesus chose as His disciples! Laborers,
political zealots, educated professionals. He looked past their
personalities and professions for deeper qualities. While Kathy wasn't
selecting apostles, she did need some criteria to help her evaluate the
suitability of those she was considering.Years ago a wise mentor told me to be patient with this step of the process. He suggested looking for someone who is hungry to grow and instructed me to wait and watch for four to six months before I approached someone. When I asked him how I could tell, he assured me I would know. He was right. Those who wanted to grow were:
- committed to fellowship
- studied on their own
- and took the initiative to develop relationships
Kathy had been involved in her groups for several months. When I asked her who seemed spiritually hungry, she named two people from her Bible study. She wanted to initiate with both of them immediately. But I convinced her t pray about it, following Jesus' example. After she'd done so, she was ready to take the next step.
Taking the Plunge
A
discipling relationship is unique. It's personal. And it can be
demanding, intense, time consuming, and life changing. Launching such a
relationship requires initiative and honesty. Luke 5:27-28 describes how Jesus recruited Matthew: "After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. 'Follow me,' Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him." The word follower in the Greek describes someone who seeks to be like his teacher, a companion who is "going in the same way." When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, they knew what it meant. Whenever people chose to follow a particular teacher, they often left their jobs and current way of life to do so.
When Kathy and I talked about how to begin the relationship, I suggested that she clearly describe the discipleship process. What she was asking of these women would require a commitment of time and purpose. I urged Kathy to be honest about that commitment. Kathy and I had begun our relationship the same way.
On the Lookout
Kathy
met with both people for more than two years. The each of them began
discipling others. But Kathy didn't stop there. She continues to watch
for people who are hungry to grow, takes the initiative to related to
them, and invites them into a unique adventure of one-to-one
discipleship.Discipleship Journal
