I read a great blog recently entitled “4 Myths About Disciplemaking.” I appreciated the points and as such, I wanted to expand upon them as the writer only gave a couple of sentences about each. So, for the next few blogs, allow me to provide my thoughts on these myths.

Myth #1 – Disciplemaking will take care of itself.

The premise here has to do with intentionality. If you have read my blogs over the past years, you will know for certain that the role of disciplemaking is one of effort and commitment.

How great it would be if, when someone chooses to follow Jesus, they would automatically have inserted into them a machine with unlimited power that will keep them moving down a track of spiritual maturity. That all they really need to do is acknowledge Jesus and the rest would take care of itself.

In reality, we are provided with a “machine” with unlimited power, it is the Holy Spirit. And yet, we still need to choose each day to follow Jesus. We still need to develop a sensitivity to listen to the voice of the Spirit that desires to guide us. We still need to decide that, no matter where the Spirit is calling us, we will move in that direction.

Yet how can we develop and grow unless we have someone to show us the way, someone who has gone before us to model what this means in their lives?

Discipleship will never “take care of itself.” It will always require someone choosing to step into the life of a younger follower of Jesus and guide them on their journey.

I am continually blessed as I come alongside others and watch them mature in their faith in Jesus. I don’t believe that what I am doing is all that complex actually. I simply choose to meet with a few guys on a consistent basis, to ask them to engage with some type of bible-centric curriculum, the pray for them and with them, to talk about how faith is to intersect all aspects of their lives and to serve together in some way that leverages our gifts.

With these basic things in place, I get a front row seat in watching someone grow to understand and love Jesus more. I am there when they wrestle with life and I am there when they have successes and we can celebrate together. I am there to pray specifically for them, and I get to listen as they pray for me. Over a several year process, I am continually amazed at the life change that can take place, and for this I am forever thankful that I can participate in this.

And after I have connected with them, I often have the privilege of watching them walk alongside other guys and they get the front row seat.

And yet, we have both had to decide that it won’t just happen. That we had to choose to meet regularly and engage in the scriptures and each other’s lives. It didn’t just take care of itself, we had to choose to take care of it.

And this is my ongoing prayer. That we will always choose to be in the game of walking alongside others on this great journey of faith is Jesus Christ. May this be our reality because discipleship won’t take care of itself.

For the kingdom.