Let’s jump right in this week with Jared Scholz! What is a Disciple?
Jared says, “It’s such an important question. . .there are definitions that seem great at first, but If they don’t stick it’s not good. Jared believes it was Dallas Willard who said, “Every church needs to ask two questions. How do you make disciples? Is it working?” So get a good working definition and then evaluate whether it is working.
For Jared and Greenhouse disciples are: Those who are saved by Jesus. Changed by Jesus. And on mission with Jesus.
It is sort of chronological. . .God saves us, then wants to change us, and then invites us into mission with Him. But this brings up some key questions. Is it possible to be saved without being a disciple? And we’ve all seen people who have been changed by Jesus but don’t move on to living on mission with Jesus.
There is also an ongoing nature to the process. It’s a cycle. Where is Jesus saving you? Where is Jesus changing you? Where does He have you on mission?
Get started! What’s your definition of a disciple? A bad working definition is better than no definition. It gives you a place to work from and get going. Ideally your definition should be memorable and repeatable. Then once you have a definition, organize your decisions around it.
Hopefully a heart to get on mission is immediate for the new believer. When someone gets saved by Jesus encourage them to get in the game of making disciples. There is nothing more exciting than a new believer talking to unbelievers.
However, we are not going to give new believers immediate influence in a bunch of people’s lives. Maturity takes time. We have celebrated youth to a fault and we have not regarded maturity, humility and abiding in Jesus before we empower people. Knowing how much responsibility to give people is so much more intuitive if we are in relationship and committed to someone’s growth.
One of the key questions to ask is simply, “Do I want two of this person?” Jared and his team use the acronym FAITH.
Follow through
Availability
Intentionality
Teachable
Hungry (Spiritually)
If someone is demonstrating these qualities they will give them a lot of time and attention.
It’s really about a heart posture.
What is your definition for a disciple? If you don’t have one, come up with one this week.
