Today Steve and I continue our conversation about making disciples by looking at celebration and accountability.
A lot of growth in life isn’t seen. It is underground. With plants and people there needs to be a lot of growth in the roots, growth that is hidden. We should celebrate obvious fruit. Stop, slow down, and point it out. But we also need to celebrate the roots that are hidden, as well as the disciplines of digging, watering, and fertilizing that produce fruit.
The very nature of most growth is that it is imperceptible. We don’t notice it from one day to the next and so six months later we don’t realize how much we may have grown. It is the person who hasn’t seen us for six months who immediately notices the difference.
As a disciple maker, celebrate discipline and consistency in practice. Celebrate the positive aspects of others that they can build on. It is the affirmation and celebration in one on one settings and in front of others that paves the way for correction.
A deeper and more meaningful level of encouraging others is to grow in discerning and identifying the character that has been and is key in seeing the release of fruit in people’s lives. We shift the focus of our celebration to the roots that produce lasting fruit as opposed to short term fruit that will not remain. We focus more on affirming character, rootedness in Jesus, and abiding in Him.
One goal we have when making disciples is maturity – because maturity brings seasons of bearing fruit. And one sign of maturity is self-accountability. Immaturity needs more external accountability.
When someone is falling short, a great approach is to affirm their identity and ask permission to show them where their actions do not align with who Christ has made them to be. “I know who you are. May I share something that is getting in the way who Jesus has made you to be?”
Remind the person that what they do doesn’t declare who they are. Affirm identity first. Then address activities or behaviors that might not be reflecting that identity well.
