If this relationship is to make a real, meaningful difference in your life, there are a few things that you must be willing to bring to it. 

 

First, you must be engaged.  What does that mean?  It means you're fully involved and not being dragged along.  It means you're a part of the relationship because you want to be and not because you feel like you have to be.  It means that even if your discipler didn't do their part, you'd still be doing your part because you know you have a lot to gain by being a part of it.

 

Second, you must be humble and teachable.  This relationship is not between two equals.  It is a relationship built on the understanding that the discipler has more knowledge, maturity and faith than you, the disciple.  This means that you must be humble enough to accept the direction and guidance offered to you.  You have a lot to learn, and you must recognize this before you can be a disciple who learns anything.

 

Third, you must be honest.  The relationship you should have with your discipler is one of openness and honesty.  Both you and your disicipler must be willing to reveal personal, exciting, depressing, victorious, defeated and all other kinds of feelings and experiences with each other.  This is what it means to walk through life together.  This is a risk.  This kind of vulnerability leaves you open to getting hurt or betrayed.  Without this trust, though, true discipleship cannot take place.  If you don't believe with all your heart that your discipler wants only your best, then you should not commit to entering into this relationship.  If you are willing, though, you'll find one of the richest, most rewarding relationships you'll ever have.

 

All disciples and disciplers will be required to join the others for one discipleship meeting every week.  During this meeting we will all fellowship and have a more structured time of learning from the Master's teachings.  All other participation is between you and your individual discipler.  The two of you will have freedom to decide how and when to communicate, how often to talk and get together, etc. 

 

What you get from this as a disciple is truly dependent on you.  Of course, your discipler must be committed and engaged in order to help you, but if you are not committed yourself, nothing your discipler does can cause you to grow as you are meant to grow. 

 

There it is.  Are you ready to do this?

 

Your role in this relationship is the mentor, teacher, guide, example, cheerleader, big brother/sister.  You are the more mature, more knowledgable, more faith-filled.  You're not without failures or faults, but you are closer to Christlikeness.  You are the one who will take the younger disciple by the hand and guide them in overcoming the lies of the world and embracing the truth Christ brings.

 

Your specific commitments are similar to those of the disciple under your care:

 

First, the one meeting a week for all involved in this discipleship system is required as a means of fellowship, centralized teaching and group encouragement. 

 

Second, you must be consistent in your involvement with the disciple.  While I would like to see daily contact with the disciple (meaning a phone call or e-mail at least), this is really a matter of choice for both you and your disciple.  The main concern here is that the disciple gets consistent encouragement as he/she faces different issues in his/her life.  Without consistent contact, this becomes little more than what we have in place now - a few encounters a week. 

 

Third, you must be confident enough to teach and lead but humble enough to know we are but fellow students and followers of the Master.  We are not the Teacher, but a tool He is using to build His kingdom way into the lives of these less mature followers.  Knowing our competence in this work is from God and not from ourselves, we come humbly to serve and give of ourselves to our fellow disciples.

 

Fourth, you must be willing to be open and honest about your own walk with the Master.  Successes and failures, victories and defeats - these are all a part of being a student of the Teacher, and we must offer all realistic aspects of the process if we are to help these less mature disciples.  There is joy and sorrow in following Jesus; we should let them see that.  We must remember, in our weakness He is shown to be strong.

 

Fifth, you must be willing to develop a specific strategy for your disciple that will help them reach personal goals of discipleship.  We musn't be random or whimsical about traning a future leader in God's kingdom.  You are called to take time and thought as you train this less mature disciple in specific areas like Bible Study, prayer, service, etc.

 

Thank you so much for being a part of this most important work of the Church.  Disciple-making is not easy or comfortable work, but it is the most rewarding and eternally lasting in which we can participate.  Here's to growing together!