Discipling

[churchlady]

The Word tells us to go into all the world and make DISCIPLES, not converts.

How many of you have presently or in the past taken a young believer under your wing, for the purpose of bringing them to a state of being grounded in Christ?

This would include frequent prayer for and with them, conversations to see where they are, in their faith, being a watchman-on-the-wall for their well-being, instructing them in the Word as needed, etc.

 

[JimfromOhio]

For years, I always believed that the Holy Spirit converts and Christians disciple which means giving up has to do "self" while cost of discipleship has to do with discipling "others". Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. The concept to disciple is one-to-one or small group. We have mentoring program which is discipleship.

 

[churchlady]

For years, I always believed that the Holy Spirit converts and Christians disciple which means giving up has to do "self" while cost of discipleship has to do with discipling "others". Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. The concept to disciple is one-to-one or small group. We have mentoring program which is discipleship.

I usually disciple younger women until I sense they are grounded enough to stand firm in Christ.

I wish I had had an older woman when I was young in the Lord. I went through some hard tests and needed advice. The Holy Spirit came through for me, but I think His preferred method is for the older to watch over the younger.

 

[JimfromOhio]

I usually disciple younger women until I sense they are grounded enough to stand firm in Christ.

I wish I had had an older woman when I was young in the Lord. I went through some hard tests and needed advice. The Holy Spirit came through for me, but I think His preferred method is for the older to watch over the younger.

Often it is the older with wisdom leads discipleship. However, it is not always required. God requires spiritually matured Christian (at least 3 years) to disciple a new Christian. Discipleship can last up to 12 months, sometimes longer.

However, women are more into discipleship than men are. We need more men in discipleship program. There are plenty of women in the discipleship program.

I am sure, every church is struggling with this.

 

[churchlady]

Often it is the older with wisdom leads discipleship. However, it is not always required. God requires spiritually matured Christian (at least 3 years) to disciple a new Christian. Discipleship can last up to 12 months, sometimes longer.

However, women are more into discipleship than men are. We need more men in discipleship program. There are plenty of women in the discipleship program.

I am sure, every church is struggling with this.

Absolutely..........we so need more spiritual fathers to disciple young men, especially those who didn't have good role models from their own father.

Why don't more men step up to the plate in this?

 

[Dynaric]

I agree with most of what I have read here, except that discipleship ends at some given time, I think 12 months was mentioned. It was also mentioned that God requires spiritually mature Christians, 3yrs or more to disciple... I am uncomfortable with putting a time frame on maturity, but if it did take three years then the discipleship should also last 3 years. My personal opinion is that discipleship should never stop, it is through this model of mentoring that we remain accountable in our daily lives.

I mentor a few young men, and the part that breaks my heart is I can not find anyone who is willing to do the same with me. Someone who has already been a father trying to raise up a family that honors God... there is not much of anything harder in the world to do, and yet no one is willing to reach out a hand to a brother. What happened to the older men helping the younger, and the older women helping the younger? If the church is to ever be truly effective in the great commision we have to get back to discipling our brothers and sisters.

Think of the difference, If I go out and get 10 converts that means 11 of us are going to heaven...
If I go out and disciple 5 and I train those to disciple 5, that would mean 31 are going to heaven, and that is not including the continued effect...

Dynaric

 

[JimfromOhio]

Personal discipleship takes months while Church discipleship takes years. God commanded us to disciple but we don't. We do others what "we think" is best. God knew dscipling is the best way to go. Matthew 28:19Therefore go and make disciples