Marvel's latest movie, "Black Panther", has absolutely smashed box offices, setting all kinds of records for ticket sales. I watched the movie a couple times and loved it. There is a scene in the movie when king T'Challa visits what the Wakandan people refer to as the ancestral plane. This is a place where the former kings live after death. T'Challa is able to have a conversation with his late father, whom he just succeeded as king. He tells his father that he is unsure of his ability to be king without his father's presence. His father assures him that he has given him the skills and the training needed, and he tells him something that has stuck with me for the last few weeks. His father says, "A Father who hasn't prepared his children for the day he dies has failed as father."
I thought this was great wisdom for parenting, but also great wisdom for disciple making. If the end goal of discipleship is to multiply disciple makers, then we have to equip and train people to thrive without us. We must prepare people to know and follow Jesus, and lead others to do the same after we are no longer investing in them. It should be our joy, just like a proud parent, when people are able to leave our D-Groups and do even greater than we do. A good friend of mine, Zach Cochran, says discipleship is about finding joy in the flourishing and growing ministry of someone else. We succeed when we help them succeed without us. Our mindset in discipleship should be to prepare others to evangelize the lost and disciple believers the same as or even better than we would. Jesus actually said this to His disciples.The end goal of d-groups is that people are able to have their own disciple making ministry where they live, work, and do recreation.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12)
A few ideas for preparing disciples to lead:
- Begin now asking them where they don't feel competent to disciple others. Make notes and consider how to train them in those areas
- Take risks on people. Get more comfortable putting people in positions to be stretched. Think of ways to give them responsibilities, and exercise faith.
- Overly celebrate when people attempt things for God. When people try to share their faith, pray in public, teach a lesson etc. go overboard to encourage them in that.
Discipleship is Intersection not Addition
Dhati Lewis shares how his family uses the lost art of hospitality to make disciples.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mthGADdMzLc