discipling

Your words have incredible power to change people’s lives. There have been times when God gave me a prophetic message for someone, some practical advice about a problem, or just a simple word of encouragement. My friends later told me that those words became significant signposts for them. They received supernatural strength from the conversation. Even years later they still treasure the words I shared.

Be an encourager! Proverbs 10:11 says, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” And Proverbs 10:21 says, “The lips of the righteous feed many.” Don’t just look for encouragement for yourself. Learn to give it. People need to be affirmed, assured of God’s love, and reminded of God’s promises. Let Jesus use you to inject strength and hope into those around you.

After David became king he trained 37 men who became famous warriors. The Bible calls them “mighty men,” and their names are listed in 2 Samuel 23. It seems the same anointing that was on David came upon these men. They were exceptionally loyal, strong and brave. Among them were Adino, Eleazar and Shammah. They were called “the three” because their victories were legendary. They remind me that among Jesus’ disciples, He had three—Peter, James and John—who walked in exceptional power.

David’s mighty men remind me that God did not anoint me just for so I can have my own ministry. No, He wants me to share that anointing by discipling others. He wants me to reproduce. God can do this though you too! As you spend time with your disciples, encourage them, train them, advise them, pray for them and take them with you on ministry assignments, they will become legends. Let’s train up our mighty men!

Paul told the Corinthians: “For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father in the gospel” (1 Cor. 4:15). There’s a difference between an instructor and a father. It is good to mentor people, and it’s good to preach sermons. But the best preachers don’t just speak behind pulpits; they also sacrificially invest their lives in people.

Do you want to become a spiritual father or mother? You cannot be a father if you have not been fathered. This process happens mainly by spending time with God and discovering His unconditional love for you. It also happens when a caring mentor invests in your life. Being loved, corrected, coached and encouraged by a true spiritual father or mother will help you do the same for many others!

Your job as a mentor is to invest in your disciples so they grow into mature disciple-makers themselves. Titus is a great example of this in the Bible. Paul led Titus to Christ and called him his “true child” (Titus 1:4). Paul then took Titus on trips and trained him to be a leader. Eventually Paul calls Titus his “partner and fellow worker” (2 Cor. 8:23).

Later we see that Paul appoints Titus to lead the church in Crete. And in Paul’s last letter he says Titus has gone to the uncharted mission field of Dalmatia (2 Tim. 4:10), which is modern Albania. Titus became a bold apostle just like Paul! This is your challenge—nurture your disciples until they grow into everything God called them to be. Don’t baby them; challenge them to full maturity. Don’t keep them “below” you; expect them to do far more than you ever could!

I started mentoring a guy named Paul Muzichuk in 2012. He was eager to be discipled in ministry, and since we began our friendship he has taken more than 12 trips with me. Today he serves as my ministry assistant, but he’s also a leader in his local church. He disciples several guys and he recently taught a course on discipleship at a Bible college.

It’s exciting to watch my disciples do what I taught them. But the goal is for them to surpass me! Moses trained Joshua, but then Joshua took the people into the Promised Land. David’s mighty men did greater feats in battle than he did. Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah did. And Jesus told His disciples they would do “greater works” than He did (John 14:12). My goal is for those I mentor to go beyond me in anointing, impact and influence. Don’t hold your disciples back; expect them to surpass you!

Paul ends his letter to the Romans by greeting 27 people. Don’t ever skip over Romans 16, thinking it is just a boring list of names. It is inspired Scripture! This list reveals the apostle’s loving heart for people. Relationships were Paul’s priority. It should be the same for you.

He brags on them for their dedication and service. He gushes with encouragement. He urges them to greet each other with a “holy kiss” (v. 16) and then says: “I am rejoicing over you” (v. 19). You should have this same fervent love for those you are discipling. Don’t let ministry become cold, professional or self-centered. Ministry is about people. Hold them close in your heart, cherish them, brag on them, pray for them and let tears flow when you miss them!