What’s Discipleship?
The cost of non-discipleship is far too expensive.
Throughout human history, building on a one-to-one basis was the primary means of transmitting knowledge and skills in every field – from teaching philosophy, to building leaders, and to training carpenters. It made no difference whether you are in the West or the East; all cultures did it that way. However, modern man has changed the learning process. It now relies primarily on classrooms, books, cassette tapes, videos, CD’s and now the Internet. Thus, today, there is very little, if any, relationship between the teacher and the student.
Therefore, when you choose to become a “mentor,” you have taken on a rewarding and meaningful investment of your life. This is a more effective and biblical model of building. You are giving your life to make a permanent difference in another person. As you continue to do this, one day you will see hundreds of lives being affected as these people are also building into the lives of others. Persistence is the key!
Mentoring or Discipleship is not simply getting together once a week to have a meeting. It is a “bonding” process. Your most important role comes from your relationship with the person, not from your knowledge or even your experience. The key thing is love. People’s lives will be changed by God simply because you care for them.
The joy, which you will experience, will be unspeakable. However, it will take a giving of your life on your part. It is in our giving that we will receive. Give joyfully. Give generously. Give enthusiastically. Give willingly. Then receive, receive, and receive!
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
(1 John 3:16)
It is our goal that each person who is a “mentor” has someone else who is mentoring him. Thus, all are connected in a living chain of love and ministry.
We see this living chain in the scripture at the beginning of this introduction:
Mentoring others will make you grow!
You will discover that building into another Christian is the fastest way to experience the work of Christ within your own life. It is the fastest way to grow. As you help another person, it will sensitize you to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Your prayer life will improve as you see that you cannot help the person by your own strength.
As you teach a truth to someone else, you will be affected by that truth itself. Not only will the truth be intensified in your life, but also you will find that you will be more careful to live out that truth. When you teach a new believer to have a regular devotional life, you will find that your own devotional life will be strengthened.
As you share your life with another, you will see things in your own life that will need to change. You will see the Lord touch you through the person. He wants not only to use you as His instrument to build up others, but also to strengthen you.
Discipleship is more than an invitation; this is a commission of Jesus Christ!
