D.7: Disciple Making

What is the picture you have in your heart of a Disciple?
What have you found are the best ways to help others become a Disciple?

A Story

“It will take seven years for you to become a solid disciple-maker,” clarified the disciple-maker to his young protégé. The young disciple wanted it to happen faster. Jesus, the model disciple maker, took three years to pour his life into his disciples. This resulted in these men becoming the foundation of the church. And even in that, some did not do well as disciple-makers. From Acts 6:7, we can see that the disciples multiplied. The question to ask is to see where one is as a maker of disciples, a laborer, and a shepherd of people in God’s family. How can one grow in this area? Let’s look at Jesus‘s last words to his disciples.

Digging Into The Bible

Matthew 28:18-20:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Discussion & Discovery

  1. What are the key components of Jesus’ last words to his disciples?
  2. What does it mean to have all authority?
  3. How does that impact you?
  4. What does it mean to make disciples of all the nations?
  5. How do you see your part in this?
  6. Where does baptizing and teaching fit into this imperative of making disciples?
  7. How does Jesus’ continued presence make this imperative possible?

Application & Accountability

  1. Of the key components, which one is strongest and in your thinking?
  2. Which component is not deeply imbedded in your heart and action?
  3. What would be one step we could take to focus on that?
  4. When will you want to start working on that?

Tools to help this process can be found in the Navigators 2-7 series.

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible:

D.6: Spiritual Parenting and being with the Lost

What have been your most meaningful relationships with those who have not decided to follow Jesus?

What have been your prayers for that person?

A Story

As someone wants to grow in competence in spiritual parenting, a great example of this is in the life of the Apostle Paul. He parented these Thessalonian believers like a  mom and dad.  At a conference on disciple-making, a workshop was made available. The training was for people to study the 2nd chapter of I Thessalonians and look for the qualities of a spiritual parent. This study lays the foundation of how a maturing believer can think about parenting new believers and more mature believers. Let’s look at this section of the Bible.

Digging Into The Bible

I Thessalonians 2:1-11:

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Discussion & Discovery

  1. What did you observe about the actions of the apostle Paul or the spiritual parent?
  2. What did you see as his motivation?
  3. What metaphor did he use in his writings?
  4. What comes to your mind as you think of a nursing mother?
  5. What comes to your mind as you think of a father…imploring and encouraging?
  6. From Verse 8, what is at the core of spiritual parenting?
  7. In Verse 8, how do we position ourselves with people who do not know Christ?

Application & Accountability

  1. What would be an area that you would desire to grow in Spiritual parenting?
  2. How would you take steps to make this growth?
  3. What can you pray for?
  4. Who will start providing parenting for?
  5. What would be your first step?

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible:

D.5: Following up with New Believers

What has been your experience in following up with a new believer?

What were the pluses and minuses of that experience?

A Story

When a young sailor came to his first ship, he prayed that God would give him a man (He wanted to see someone become a new believer that he could nurture and help him grow and mature). God provided a man for this sailor when he encountered another sailor who was going to commit suicide. The attempted suicide was due to the immoral actions he had done. He was experiencing deep guilt in his life. After time spent with him in the Bible, he decided not to jump off the ship. He agreed to read the Bible and by faith, he began his journey as a new believer. The spiritually strong sailor saw his responsibility was to help the new believer grow to maturity. It was a great joy for the sailor to pour his life into the new believer and to see him grow deeper in love with Jesus. Where in the Bible do we see an example of this?

The book of I Thessalonians is a follow-up letter to the new believers in Thessalonica after Paul had visited there. Observe some of what he wrote and see what steps one can take in their own competence in these areas.

Digging Into The Bible

I Thessalonians 1:1-7:      

Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Discussion & Discovery

  1. Who was following up with the new believers?
  2. What were the key things that they remembered about the new believers?
  3. What comes to your mind when you think of a Work of Faith?
  4. What comes to your mind when you think of a labor of love?
  5. What impresses you about the place of endurance inspired by hope?
  6. How did the gospel message come to these new believers?

Application & Accountability

  1. How do you ensure your follow-up words are coming with power?
  2. How do you ensure that your follow-up words are coming with deep conviction?
  3. How does your modeling affect the whole process?
  4. What would be your desire to grow in this area of following up new believers?
  5. What would be your first step?

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible:

D.4: How do I do life-to-life relationships

What has been your most meaningful life-to-life relationship?

What made that possible?

What is Man to Man (M2M)? This is an expression representing one person connecting with another person to share their lives and insights with one another. Usually, this means there is a person who has matured further in their spiritual life and has the intent to pass that experience and knowledge of the word of God to the other person. It implies that the other person is open to that relationship and is teachable.

A Story

I can remember with my mentor and disciple, Paul Drake, would take time to walk with me and share his daily experience in Christ. He shared his family, his victories, and defeats. He understood the value of Man-to-man relationships. I have treasured the time my wife has received as another woman shared her life with her in a life-to-life way. What scriptures model this and how do I coach this into someone?

Digging Into The Bible

2 Timothy 3:10-16:  

 10 “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”

Discussion & Discovery

  1. What did you discover about the model that Paul provided for Timothy?
  2. What impressed you as you read the items that Paul refers to that he did with Timothy?
  3. What is so important about the place of sharing your life?
  4. How have you experienced life-to-life relationships where someone spent intentional time with you?
  5. What was the value you gained from such an experience?

Application & Accountability

  1. If you have not experienced this, what would you like to do in action and prayer?
  2. What could you do to prepare yourself to provide life-to-life training with someone else?
  3. When will you get started on this?

Digging Into The Bible (Part 2)

2 Timothy 2:2:

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Discussion & Discovery (Part 2)

  1. What model do you see here?
  2. What does this verse teach about Paul’s value system?
  3. How can this affect your values?
  4. Where do generations fit into the place of life to life or Man to Man?

Application & Accountability (Part 2)

  1. What would be the first steps you need to take to give your life away in a person-to-person model?

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible:

D.3: Leadership and working with a team

What has been your most successful Team experience?
What were the elements that made it succeed?

A Story

Teamwork demands great attention in churches, businesses, families, sports teams, and many other areas. Why is this so important? Recently a ministry leader asked for help in building teamwork in his team of faithful workers. Certain things were breaking down in the execution of the ministry. People were losing trust in each other. Teammates were not being heard. Commitment was at an all-time low. There was no accountability. It was unclear how to measure the success of the ministry. He wanted to know how to correct poor teamwork. some passages of Scripture to guide us.

Digging Into The Bible

Philippians 2:1-2:

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Discussion & Discovery

  1. What are the prerequisites to teamwork from verse one?
  2. Why do you think these are so important?
  3. In verse two what are the elements of teamwork?
  4. How do you see your team becoming of the same mind?
  5. How do you see your teamworking building the same love?
  6. What will it take for your team to be united in spirit? (Desire)
  7. How will your team move to be intent on one purpose? (Being of one spirit and mind)

Application & Accountability

  1. From these qualities of teamwork which one does your team need to work on first?
  2. What would be a specific step for you to take?
  3. What steps will you take to do this?
  4. When will you execute this step?

A great book to read on this topic is Patrick Lencioni’s, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible:

D.2: Planning and Decision Making

What have you accomplished in your life that required planning?

What is your process of decision-making?

A Story

Sally came into the coaching session frustrated because she felt so out of control. There seemed to be more things demanding her time than she could accomplish. She questioned, “Is there a way to live without so much demand and control? Can I be free to do the most important things in my life? The coach suggested that they look at the following Scriptures:

Digging Into The Bible

Proverbs 24:3-4 (Living Bible):

 “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.

Discussion & Discovery

  1. What observations do you make from this passage?
  2. What are the three key issues that we deal with in planning and decision-making?
  3. What does it take to get wise planning?
  4. What does it mean to have common sense?
  5. How do we go about keeping abreast of the facts?

Application & Accountability

  1. How can you incorporate these three items into your life management?
  2. What will you do for wise planning?
  3. How will you process things using common sense?
  4. What steps can you take to keep abreast of the facts?
  5. What will be your desired future?
  6. What is your first step?

Digging Into The Bible (Part 2)

Proverbs 16:9:

“We should make plans—counting on God to direct us.”

Discussion & Discovery (Part 2)

  1. How will you bring God into your planning process and decision-making?
  2. What will be your criteria for saying “yes” to and what to say “no” to?
  3. How will you communicate that?

Application & Accountability (Part 2)

  1. What actual step do you need to take here?
  2. When will you initiate these steps?

Digging Into The Bible (Part 3)

Ephesians 5:16: 

So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.”

Discussion & Discovery (Part 3)

  1. What is the biggest step of wisdom you need to take?
  2. How will you determine if it is a wise decision?

Application & Accountability (Part 3)

  1. What is the step you need to take?
  2. What will you do next?
  3. How will you evaluate if it is the right step?
  4. What adjustments will you make then?

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible:

D.1: Heart, Vision, and Knowhow

What is your picture of successful spiritual parenting?
How have you seen it work?

A Story

I SEEM TO START A PROJECT OR MISSION BUT I GET BOGGED DOWN AND STOP. Recently, in the Northwest (United States), several young men decided they wanted to climb Mt. Hood. This snow-covered mountain is 12,000 feet high and has many stories of failures in conquering the mountain.  When they asked others to join them, many declined. It was evident they did not have a HEART to do it. Others wanted to but could not get a VISION of where to go and where the path was. The final item that discouraged some of the climbers was the lack of tools and know-how to get through the ice and get to the top.   The climbers that combined all three of these items were successful. I met one fellow who had climbed the mountain 21 times.

Over the years, it has seemed critical if we wanted to do anything significant that, we needed three things to make it happen. The first was heart or desire, the second was vision or the ability to see the end, and the third was having the know-how or resources to accomplish it. Use these questions to coach someone in this area. What is stopping you from reaching your end goal?

Digging Into The Bible (Heart)

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV):

23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Discussion & Discovery (Heart)

  1. What is on your heart in regard to the project or mission you want to accomplish?
  2. Where did this desire come from?
  3. What Scriptural ideas have shaped your heart in this direction?
  4. What happens to cause your heart to get side-tracked in this task?

Application & Accountability (Heart)

  1. What can you do to guard your heart and to help you pursue your passion?
  2. What is it in your walk with God that will confirm your heart’s desire?
  3. What steps can you take to keep your heart filled with passion??
  4. What will be your desired outcome, and when?

A Story (Vision)

MY VISION IS UNCLEAR. I CAN’T SEE WHERE I AM GOING

George was grappling with understanding how to align with God’s vision. He wanted to know God better but was unsure of the next steps. He asked his coach, “How can I have clarity of vision and understand where I fit into God’s plan? How can I know God better?” The coach referred him to Eph. 1;15-16. The coach said, “George, I will pray this verse for you.” George went home and meditated on this passage. His coach asked him the following questions after reading the passage to help him with clarity:

Digging Into The Bible (Vision)

Ephesians 1:16-17 (NIV):

16 “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”

Discussion & Discovery (Vision)

  1. Look at this passage and tell me two things that we should pray for ourselves and others.
  2. What does it mean to have a spirit of wisdom?
  3. Are there other verses that give us help in understanding this?
  4. What does it mean to have a spirit of revelation?
  5. What will be the results of these two things in our lives?
  6. What would knowing God more deeply mean to you?

Application & Accountability (Vision)

  1. On a scale of 1-10, where are you in going deeper with God?
  2. Based on that assessment, what could you do to go deeper?
  3. How would this prayer be of help in your daily life for you and others?
  4. When will you put this into practice?

A Story (Vision – Part 2)

THE STORY CONTINUES

Then on the next coaching session George asked, “How can I see God more clearly?” The coach referred to our spiritual eyes and the importance of opening our eyes to see better. He referred him to the verse below.

Digging Into The Bible (Vision – Part 2)

18-23 of Ephesians 1:

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Discussion & Discovery (Vision – Part 2)

  1. What does it mean when the author uses the phrase “eyes of my heart”?
  2. What are the three things he wants us to see?
  3. Which of these do you see yourself having a clear heart vision for?
  4. What would you like to focus on? Calling, Inheritance, or Power?

Application & Accountability (Vision – Part 2)

  1. What study can you do to understand this focus more?
  2. What will be your prayer for this day?
  3. What can I do to help you gain a clearer vision?
  4. When will you take steps to put this prayer into your life?
  5. How will you know that the eyes of your heart have been opened?

Digging Into The Bible (Know-how)

For all three of these key concepts to work together, you will need the final item. This is know-how, or having someone with you who has the know-how. This is the place for skills, tools, and resources to help you accomplish the mission.  One example of just such a skill is how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. This is an example of know-how.

Jesus’s Teaching on Prayer Luke 11:1:

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.

Discussion & Discovery (Know-how)

  1. What do you learn about know-how from the Lord’s prayer?
  2. What resources and knowledge did Jesus give his disciples in the area of prayer?
  3. Now that you have a heart and a vision, what know-how, tools, or resources are needed to execute the tasks that will reach your vision?
  4. What kind of experience have you used in implementing these know-how tools?

Application & Accountability (Know-how)

  1. What kind of training or modeling will you need to implement?
  2. When will you pursue this training?
  3. Who can be of help to you?
  4. What steps can I take to hold you accountable for these actions?

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible:

Coaching Model

R = Relationship with God and people

2D – Discovery and Discussion around the Bible

3A – Affirmation, Accountability, and Application

A DISCIPLE: (The Target)

  1. Loves God with ALL of his or her heart. (Matthew 22:37Philippians 3:8)
  2. Loves other believers and contributes to the growth of others. (John 13:34-35Hebrews 10:24-25)
  3. Is committed to living and loving the Scriptures. (John 8:31-322 Timothy 3:16-17)
  4. Is learning to surrender his or her life to Jesus. (Luke 9:23Galatians 2:20)
  5. Is growing in his or her heart and ability to share the Good News of Jesus with others. (Romans 1:16Matthew 4:19)
  6. Is growing in faith as he or she prays. (Luke 11:1Philippians 4:6-7)
  7. Seeks to obey Jesus in the routines of life. (Luke 6:46John 14:21)
  8. Seeks to serve others through wise stewardship of his or her time, talents, or treasures. (Matthew 25:37-40Acts 20:35)
  9. A disciple-maker seeks to reproduce this in others. (Matthew 28:18-20)

From Ways of the Alongsider by Bill Mowry

Bill has done a great job of illustrating the pathway of an alongsider. It starts with the relationship with God and people, then flows to discussion and discovery of appropriate scripture and across to Application, Accountability, and affirmation aiming at the bullseye.

C.12: How do I overcome the worries in my life?

How do you experience God in the midst of challenges?

How do you incorporate prayer into those challenges?

A Story

Dan was an elder in the church and valued a growing church measured by the number of people attending and income. He found himself worrying all the time about whether the church would make it. It was consuming his mind and heart. He felt so discouraged and wanted to quit. He asked, “Is there any way a person can see beyond the worries and troubles?” The following scripture was looked at.

Digging Into The Bible

Philippians 4:4-8 (NIV):

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Discussion & Discovery

  1. What does this passage teach about rejoicing?
  2. What does that mean in your life?
  3. How can you make that real?
  4. What other key phrases stand out to you?
  5. What are the things you get most anxious about?
  6. How do you apply this in everything: “Don’t be anxious about anything”?
  7. What is going on in your prayers and petitions?
  8. When you present your prayers to God, what will happen?
  9. What does it mean,” the peace of God which transcends all understanding”?
  10. What would it take for you to experience this transcendence?
  11. How will this guard your heart and mind?

Application & Accountability

  1. What steps do you need to take to reach this end goal of experiencing the peace of God?
  2. When would you like to work on this?
  3. How can I be of help? How will you follow up on your steps?

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible:

C.11: How do I become more wholehearted?

What does it mean to do something with my whole heart?
What does that look like?

A Story

In the earlier books of the Bible, there is a story about a king who ruled during the time of the divided Kingdoms of Israel. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin were in the south and the other ten tribes were in the North and were ruled by many kings. The King of the South, who was well known, was a king named Hezekiah. Hezekiah was a leader who did all with his whole heart. What was it that made Hezekiah a whole-hearted leader?

Digging Into The Bible

2 Chronicles 31:20: 

 20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. 21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

Discussion & Discovery

  1. What can we learn about Hezekiah that inspires you?
  2. What does it mean to do something with your whole heart?
  3. Give me some examples of things you have done in your life with a whole heart.

Application & Accountability

  1. How can you grow in the character of wholeheartedness?
  2. What would be one area that you feel you are not wholehearted?
  3. What would be a step that you could take to change into more wholehearted behavior? When will you get started?

Digging Into The Bible (Part 2)

Luke 10:27-28:

He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Discussion & Discovery (Part 2)

  1. What does it mean to love God with your whole heart?
  2. What parts of your heart are you holding back from God?

Application & Accountability (Part 2)

  1. What does it mean to love God with your whole heart?
  2. What parts of your heart are you holding back from God?

Digging Into The Bible (Part 3)

Psalm 86:11:

Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

Discussion & Discovery (Part 3)

  1. How do we identify what will cause us to have an undivided heart?
  2. Name the areas of your heart that are divided.

Application & Accountability (Part 3)

  1. How will you go about uniting your heart?
  2. What steps can you take to have an undivided heart?
  3. When will you start to take those steps?

Digging In Deeper

  1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
  2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
  3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
  4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

Similar Verses In The Bible

List similar verses in the Bible: