Since Jon posted It’s the Relationships on his blog I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the very complex concept of being a disciple and making disciples. I’ve been praying two things lately – that God would show me if there is someone I need to be discipling and that He would help me see people the way He sees them. And something interesting is happening. I am waking up to the fact that I am surrounded by women in pain. And God is telling me to be more intentional in the relationships that I already have.
In light of Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge and from his mouth men should seek instruction – because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty.
- Shouldn’t there be an element of discipleship in all our interactions as believers? If yes, then why are we wasting time talking about the weather and our happiness?
- Does God bring people into your life that need your brand of discipling? Hurting people are brought to those with gifts of mercy – those who need to be grounded in the word are drawn to those with gifts of teaching, etc. If yes, then shouldn’t we be looking and listening for those opportunities . . . and expecting them?
- Have we missed the boat looking at discipleship as leading a younger Christian through a book study? trying to make a program out of it instead of living it? I’m not saying book studies aren’t valuable – but I wonder if telling our stories to each other and praying for one another might not be more effective.
I’m having a hard time articulating what I am thinking about discipleship, but these questions are a start. And I think, for me, one of the first steps is to surrender my agenda to God and be willing to follow the Holy Spirit as He leads throughout my days – so, so hard. So many times the things I think are important are not kingdom things.
Thoughts?
April 7, 2007 at 1:43 am
The notion that the people who enter into my life may be there because they need my “brand of discipling” gives me goose bumps (the good variety)! I think maybe I’ve begun to see that a little bit, but if I intentionally ask God to show me those people as He sees them…Wow! Thanks for sharing this, Anna.
April 7, 2007 at 1:46 am
Ooh–I just reread your last sentence as I was clicking to post the previous comment. For me, that really underlines the importance of prayer in all this–that, and knowing the truth of God’s Word, is how I will get on the same page with God relative to how I am specifically to interact with the people He puts in my path.
April 7, 2007 at 2:42 am
1. If making disciples is baptizing and teaching to obey everything that Jesus commanded, then there is clearly an element of discipling in most interactions between believers.
2. Malachi 3: 16 “Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.” That’s what we are supposed to talk about.
3. In a younger believer discipling process right now, I’m doing the book AND telling stories of God (Bible) and church (doctrine) and me (failing) to make sure that a relationship with Christ is udnerstaood in fullness rather than in proof-texting.
4. The comfort with which we were comforted.
5. Whether to look for the particular matches, I don’t know, but to be aware of being in them and to be willing to talk (or whatever is needed) and to quit waiting for ministry to start eventually, absolutely.
yes, yes, yes.
April 7, 2007 at 4:26 am
Jon, I dispute your first point. Sure, if we’re doing Malachi 3:16, there is an element of discipling in interactions between believers, but how often do we (the church) fall far far short of this in our shallow, surface conversations?
Someone recently asked me, How are you? and I said, “I don’t even know how to answer that anymore. Ask me something that matters, like what God is doing in my life.” (obviously, someone I know well and knew she would understand I wasn’t being abrupt or really weird or super spiritual or something).
April 7, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Yeah, whatever.
Oh, wait, you mean like that.
I think I should have put a “can” in “there clearly can be”
I agree.