The Blessing of Discipleship

December 5

Amos 1-2

Psalm 137

Proverbs 29:1-3

3 John 1

The Blessing of Discipleship

“For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.  I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”  3 John 1:3-4 LSB

When I was a college student at Auburn University, my Baptist campus minister, Clete Sipes, instilled in me a love for discipleship.  He impressed upon my heart the need to spread the good news about Jesus in a purposeful, thorough way to the next generation.  Jesus laid out clearly His plan to tell the world about Him and the salvation He provides to all who believe.  Evangelism is certainly important but we cannot stop there. Jesus’ ultimate goal is not that everyone in the world would be saved.  His goal is that everyone would be saved and then would grow and mature in their relationship with Him becoming more and more godly and holy as they allow Him to sanctify them and purify their hearts.  That happens through discipleship.  Jesus ministered to thousands during His earthly ministry, but He discipled only 12.  He preached to multitudes and  healed many who were  physically and mentally sick and disabled but there were 12 men who were with Him during His entire ministry, learning, watching, asking questions and taking it all in.  He discipled them to prepare them to disciple others.  When He was crucified, rose, and ascended to Heaven, those disciples carried on His ministry and spread the gospel throughout the world.  One person, even Jesus, can only reach a few hundred or maybe a few thousand in their lifetime.  That doesn’t even make a dent in the billions of people on the Earth who need to hear about Jesus.  But discipleship doesn’t use addition, it uses multiplication.  1 disciples 12.  Those 12 disciple 12 which equals 144.  144 disciple twelve which equals 1,728.  1,728 disciple 12 which equals 20,736.  20,736 disciple 12 which equals 248,832.  248,832 disciple 12 which equals  2,985,984. In six steps you have over 2 million people who are discipled and growing in their relationship with the Lord.   

The goal of my life has been to be one of those disciple makers.  I don’t have a big platform where I can reach millions or even thousands, but I can reach a few.  I can train a few who can train a few who go on to train a few more.  I have had the privilege over the years of discipling some amazing people.  The discipling has taken many forms over the years.  Brian and I were youth ministers at our church in Horse Cave, KY.  We have had several Sunday School classes, small groups and Bible studies.  We taught a young adult/college Bible study in our home for many years and I’ve also worked with kids in various settings.   Some of those relationships have been seed planting and some have been more extensive discipling efforts.  I love today’s Bible verse in John because it resonates deeply with me.  There is no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the Lord.  Of course, that can refer to my own children that I am proud are active in their churches and walking closely with the Lord, but it also applies to my spiritual children, those I have discipled over the years.  Nothing makes me happier than to hear that they are walking with the Lord, and to hear that they are carrying on the pattern of discipleship.  One young man that was in our college group texted me this week asking for ideas for his Bible study group that he and his wife are leading of 12 couples with young children. I see some of those young people hard at work in my current church, some call or text to touch base and others I see what they are doing through Facebook.  Discipleship takes time and effort.  It is difficult and can be messy at times, because we are human and we are dealing with humans.  Sometimes our effort doesn’t result in fruit, but we just keep doing what we can and leave the results to God.   Looking back over several decades, I now understand what John was saying in this verse because there is a hidden benefit to discipleship that isn’t necessarily apparent at first.   While you are pouring into people and spending energy training them, you don’t realize the deep sense of satisfaction you will feel when you see them bearing fruit and walking closely with the Lord.  You can’t understand until later how precious it is to see those you have discipled, discipling others and bringing others closer to the Lord.  It is an indescribable gift!  Are you being a disciple and discipling others?