Get Strong Leader Training - Session #4 - Intentional Discipleship

Intentional Discipleship

I believe that intentionality is the most essential element of the discipleship process. Obviously, God does all of the heavy lifting, and we rely entirely on the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work in each man, but out of the things we control, being intentional is at the top of the list. This is true because every step of the process requires us to be intentional. We intentionally equip, we intentionally walk our group through Scripture and teach them to apply it to their lives, we intentionally model accountability within our group, we intentionally model the discipleship process and lead each member of our group to reproduce it in the lives of others, we deliberately guide each man and woman toward becoming a faithful follower of Christ.

Intentional Discipleship

Intentionality in a group is a powerful catalyst to spiritual growth, requiring each member to participate in the process. It is like everyone getting in a boat together and setting off on a journey. Everyone has a role to play, but only one rudder is in the water. Only one person can intentionally set the course and steer the boat. Discipleship requires an intentional leader.

When we disciple or invest in someone, we typically invest in them the way other people invested in us. Since most people have never been intentionally discipled, their groups usually lean toward functioning as a Bible study, or they lean the other way to operate like an accountability group. I am not criticizing Bible studies or accountability groups. I think both are valuable, and both have had a significant impact on my life. What I am saying is that they both usually lack intentionality. A group that lacks intentionality is not discipleship. Let's look at each one separately so I can explain.

I have been blessed through some incredible Bible studies over the years, but Bible study groups differ from discipleship because the focus is on the curriculum. The teaching and discussion rarely leave the boundaries of the curriculum. For example - if you are in a marriage bible study, you would not be likely to address theology, work, assurance of salvation, evangelism, etc. The goal is to teach one subject regardless of who is in the study.

Accountability groups focus on the process. Since Promise Keepers in the mid-90s, I have been in an accountability group. I currently meet with two men that became my best friends through serving together over the years. I would be in bad shape if I didn't have men I trust to speak the truth into my life and challenge me to be the man God created me to be. I think everyone should have accountable relationships in their life. Accountability groups differ from discipleship because their priority is the process. We meet regularly, we hold each other accountable, and we encourage each other, but there is no leader, no intentionality, and no destination. This is where I have the most conversations. People with good intentions get their buddies together to do what they think is discipleship, but there is no leader or direction. Please understand I am not saying this is bad. I am just saying this is not discipleship. It is good for men and women to gather with their buddies to study God's Word.

Discipleship is focused on the disciple. Even though we study the Bible and hold each other accountable, we focus on helping the disciple become a faithful follower of Christ. We must intentionally use all the resources at our disposal to accomplish this task. We are not limited by any curriculum, which allows us to address the needs of the disciple. There will be times when you need to be flexible and adapt to the disciple's needs.

Your job as a discipleship group leader is to be a catalyst in their lives, helping them move toward being a faithful follower of Christ. We are not responsible for the whole journey, but we play a significant role during an important season in their lives. I am grateful that a man named Dwayne Potteiger took the time to invest in me intentionally. The year he spent getting to know me and building a relationship and the year he discipled me have made all the difference in my life. I will be forever grateful to him.

I know the thought of discipling someone can be very intimidating. I know because 20 years ago, I shared my story in a Sunday School class of ten couples. Near the end, I said, "If any of you men would like me to lead you in a similar discipleship group, let me know." I don't know why I said that. It was definitely not in my notes, and to my absolute horror, all ten men instantly raised their hands and said, "I want that." I was terrified because I had no idea what to do. I called my mentor, who discipled me and asked for help. Long story short, I spent a fantastic year with those men. At the end of that year, I promised God that every year He gives me men to invest in, I will intentionally disciple them to the best of my ability. God has given me men 18 of the last 20 years, and it is my favorite thing to do. I've had a front-row seat to watch the creator of the universe mold and shape men right in front of me. I know it sounds intimidating, but success comes more from our willingness than our ability. If I can do it, you can do it.

Paul both modeled and spoke of being intentional. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul says to Timothy, "What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Paul is laying out the discipleship plan for Timothy. Notice four generations in this verse (Paul, Timothy, faithful men, others). Many discipleship programs stop at Timothy and neglect that Paul's model was multigenerational. Paul's focus was not just on Timothy, but through Timothy to faithful men and others. Replicating is an essential part of discipleship.

Think about the intentionality required to disciple someone who will disciple someone who will disciple someone. This is spiritual grandfathering. Think about the way you are investing in your children. I hope that the way I raised my two daughters will have an impact on the way they raise my grandchildren. The same is true with discipleship. You are reading this book because Timothy did disciple faithful men who discipled others. That process continued from Timothy to us today. Paul continues in this passage to give us three word pictures that illustrate the effort, commitment, and intentionality required to make disciples. He says like a good soldier in verse 3, a competing athlete in verse 5, and a hardworking farmer in verse 6.

How to be Intentional

When I start the year with a new group, I put a plan together to help me be intentional. I always start with the basic discipleship group structure of a Bible reading plan, Journal entries to apply God's Word, Scripture memorization, and accountability. Beyond the basic structure, I formulate a plan using three questions:

1. Who is in my group? (Evaluation)

2. Where are we going? (Destination)

3. How will I get my group there? (Intentional leadership)

Evaluation

A big part of being intentional is understanding the dynamics of your group. One of the easiest ways to do this is by beginning the year with everyone sharing their testimony. Each group is unique since they have their own combinations of age, life stage, spiritual maturity, and life issues. As you get to know your group, you will realize that every group is different and requires a little something different from you. Meet your disciples where they are so you can lead them where they need to be. You can't treat every group the same, and you can't address every individual the same.

Some stages of life are more challenging to mix than others. The two big

categories for me that I don't like to mix are married versus not married and kids versus no kids. Individuals with kids are in a completely different place than people without kids. There is an excellent benefit of different people with different backgrounds or maturity levels all coming together. Still, some differences or stages of life are so different that it can constantly derail a group. Remember that one of the benefits of group discipleship is the encouragement that happens from person to person. Be mindful of group chemistry when recruiting your group. A little extra effort on the front end will save you from potential difficulties throughout the year.

When evaluating your group, be on the watch for the critical crossroads of life, like a new believer, newly married, a new parent, a crisis like loss of job, a recent empty-nester, or someone who has just been diagnosed with a health issue, etc. These crossroads can lead to significant opportunities where they are more open to instruction and guidance. Look for opportunities like this to speak into their life.

Destination

According to our definition of Discipleship, our goal is to produce "Faithful Followers of Christ." We could spend weeks debating specifically what that looks like, but at the end of the day, we would not all agree, nor would it be possible to accomplish that goal in our lifetime. While we can't 100% define our destination, we can easily identify some of the main characteristics of a faithful follower of Christ. We know what direction we need to move our group.

It is critically important that we set a lofty goal for our group to be working toward. Maybe you have heard some of these leadership quotes on the perils of not setting a goal:

"If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." Zig Ziglar

"People don't plan to fail; they fail to plan." John Beckley

"A goal without a plan is a wish." Herm Edwards

As the leader of your group, it is your responsibility to know where the group is supposed to go and to stay on course. There are four things I want for my group that help define our destination.

1. I want my group to have the MARCS of a Disciple.

Robby Gallaty wrote a book called MARCS of a Disciple: A Biblical Guide for Gauging Spiritual Growth. I like to use these five characteristics like gauges on a dashboard that measure critical areas of spiritual maturity of each person in my group.

Missional - Do the individuals in my group have a missional mindset? Are they sharing their testimony, serving at church, engaging their community, and leveraging their influence for the Kingdom?

Accountable - Are they being transparent with the other members of the group? I want them to establish accountable relationships that will last beyond the group's life span. Do they value the process, or are they holding back?

Reproducible - We start with the end in mind. In the first meeting, we set the expectation that they will lead a group when this one ends. Our goal is not to see how many we can run through our groups. Our goal is to make disciples who make disciples.

Communal - We were not created to live in isolation. While the whole world is connected through social media, most are disconnected from genuine relationships. Along with their spouse, I want them to be connected with a group of believers where they can do life together.

Scriptural - The Bible is the textbook for life. I want them to be men and women of the Word so they will be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2. I want my group to be spiritually disciplined.

I acknowledge that our relationship with Christ is not built on works or effort. However, I am convinced that spiritual disciplines are necessary for maintaining a healthy relationship with Christ. Spiritual disciplines are practices in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers. Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:7 (NASB) that we should "discipline (or train) yourself for the purpose of godliness." These disciplines will equip your group to grow and learn independently for the rest of their lives. There are certain things that Christ expects of His followers, like obedience, prayer, devotion to the Word, evangelism, giving, fasting, and loving others. I want my group to be experts in these areas.

Look for opportunities to teach and implement these disciplines. Don't just tell them they need to pray; model it for them and then let them do it. Jesus' discipleship process started with an invitation to follow him (Matthew 4:19). In the beginning, He did all of the legwork and allowed them to watch. They were learning all the while and were eventually allowed to help Him minister. It wasn't until they'd watched Him and ministered alongside Him that he turned them loose to start working on their own, taking ownership of the ministry He began.

Also, don't be afraid to confront your group in areas of their personal devotion. I love to ask them to explain their daily quiet time. It is always the same. They start by giving me the ideal answer, like, "I get up early and spend 30 minutes praying followed by 30 minutes reading the Bible". I always respond with, "Is that what you did this morning?" They almost always say, "No, not this morning." We will go back and forth until they confess that a typical morning's quiet time is three to five minutes while brushing their teeth or going to the bathroom. That's when we can work on improving. Don't be afraid to dig around a little to get to the truth.

The year with your group is just the beginning of the process. Learning and growth will continue throughout their life. Before I was discipled, I didn't know where to start or what to do. I found myself wandering around the Bible. But after a year of intentional discipleship, I had the tools and the disciplines to begin my journey. Some people criticize this process saying one year is not enough, and I agree. Your investment in your group is just starting during your year of discipleship. It will continue as they grow and lead their own groups. You will be a mentor to your disciples from now on.

3. I want my group to impact their world.

A blast zone is one of my favorite word pictures of how God works in a person’s life. I believe that when God comes into our life, it is like a blast zone or an impact zone. Picture ground zero of a bomb going off. When God comes into our life, He radically transforms us and explodes out. When someone surrenders their life to Christ, it enormously impacts those around them. It impacts their marriage, family, time, work, community, and beyond. And not just the here and now. It reshapes those areas for generations to come.

Everyone wants their life to make a difference, to be remembered, and make their mark in this world. We can make no more significant impact in this life than to go and make disciples. The blast zone of every person’s life is different. Some will have the opportunity to reach a few, and others will reach thousands. Neither is more important than the other. What is important is what you do with what you have been entrusted. Let your life make a powerful impact on those you have the opportunity to reach. Christ spent His time investing in twelve men, and they radically changed the world.

Here is the problem - many surrender their life to Christ but are never discipled. When a new believer is left alone, and no one helps them understand the abundant life God has planned for them, their growth is stunted. The outward expansion never happens. That is why discipleship is so essential. Our churches are filled with people who believe but don't know what to do. Robby Gallaty says, "Our churches teach people that they were saved from something but never teach them that they were saved for something." This is my testimony. I was saved at a young age, but my parents and the church never discipled me. It wasn't until I got married that a man stepped into the gap in my life and discipled me.

You should be able to look into a believer's life and see God exploding out of them. It is not an instant transformation, but you should be able to see God making an impact in the key areas of their life. Understanding this will help you identify what they need from you and the group.

4. I want my group to be good at home.

Paul uses marriage as a picture of our relationship with Christ (Ephesians 5:32). When things are not going well at home, it impacts every other area of our lives. My wife is my biggest encourager and my best friend. The Lord has blessed me immensely through my wife. I want that for my group. We talk about dating our wives, serving our wives, praying with and for our wives, and loving our wives like Christ loved the church.

Marriages are under constant attack in our world. Many in your group will not be enjoying the incredible blessing of marriage. Take time to strengthen each marriage represented in your group. Please help them to move from surviving to thriving. The world is evaluating Christianity by observing our marriages. What does our marriage say to the world about the love of God?

Intentional Leadership

This is where you add value as a leader. You have evaluated your group, and you know where you are going. The beauty of the discipleship process is that your group is already pointed in the right direction. You and the group will work through the Bible reading plan and apply the truth of God's Word to your life. The Holy Spirit will do all the heavy lifting. Your responsibility is small course corrections. It is like driving a car down a straight road. Even though it is pointed in the right direction, you must constantly adjust the steering wheel to keep it between the lines. Otherwise, you will end up in a ditch.

This is the part of the process that concerns people the most. They feel they must have a seminary degree or prepare a detailed lesson plan for each meeting. That would scare me, too. But if you are called to make disciples (we all are) and understand your role as leader and where you want your group to go, this is the easy part. My focus each day is on my personal devotion time. Since my group and I are doing the same plan, it is all the preparation time I need for our meetings. Remember, there is a big difference between you and your group. They are focused on themselves, and you are focused on them. They have already given you permission to lead. Keep your destination in mind and look for opportunities to speak into their lives. The best things I do come from my personal devotion.

As you lead, I want to encourage you to be yourself. Don't try to be something you are not. Your group is following you, not someone else. Focus on biblical discipleship principles, and use your strengths and experiences to lead your group. Don't follow a plan blindly. If a book or exercise had a significant impact on your spiritual development, use it with your group. The course corrections can come in the form of teaching moments, probing questions to get them to go deeper, and resources like books, handouts, videos, or assignments that help define or explain a topic in more detail.

If you look at three successful groups in our ministry, you will see that they all have a different feel because each leader is wired differently. Remember that the men and women in your group are there because of you. It is you that has influence in their life. I believe you are God's sovereign choice to impact the people with your area of influence. Leverage your personality, gifts, talents, and experiences to help them be the men and women God created them to be.

Don't let past failures hold you back. Use them to help others. I joke that my spiritual gift is making mistakes, so others don't have to. I wish I weren't so good at it. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." We all have struggles, and they make us stronger. You are doing an injustice to your group if you withhold this. How can they learn from your mistakes if you don't share them?

Throughout the year, I am looking for opportunities to challenge them to go beyond the minimum. I want them to do more than just check off the box. I want them to pursue God with all their heart. So I give them an exercise to stretch them, hoping it will grow them. One of my favorite assignments is a half-day in prayer. I challenge them to block off four hours sometime during the month and spend that time in prayer, giving them some guidelines and tips to help them. Here is why - most are doing the minimum in their daily quiet times. If they usually do ten to fifteen minutes daily, a four-hour prayer time will be difficult. But afterward, ten to fifteen minutes won't be enough anymore. Seeing the change, it makes in all areas of their lives is incredible. In the Appendix are several examples of assignments I have used over the years.

Two Question Everyone Should Answer

There are two questions that everyone must answer. I use these questions to help me evaluate where my group is and what they need from me.

Who is your Master?

This is the biggest question anyone will ever answer. It defines and shapes how we live our lives. It determines what we do with our time, talent, and resources. This one question impacts every decision we make, whether large or small. We all serve someone or something as master or lord of our lives. It can be our family, career, status, wealth, or hobbies. The question is, who or what comes first in your life? Who or what matters most? Who motivates me? Who is so important to me that I'll give my heart, time, and energy to making them happy or taking care of them? Who am I organizing my life around? Who is most important to me? If not a who, it's a what! God's Word says in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

This is a worldview question, meaning that what you believe (view of the world) will determine how you live. Example: If you think heaven and hell don't exist, then it doesn't matter how you live your life because you don't believe there are any eternal consequences. But if someone says that they have surrendered their life to Christ and God is their master, then there should be some evidence of that belief in how they live their life. It would be evident in how they makes decisions, use their time, spends their money, what they talk about or complain about, etc. You will be amazed at how this question will impact every conversation. It is a great way to evaluate every decision and struggle we face. It allows you, the leader, to get to the heart of the matter. Everything flows from the heart.

Let me give you a word of caution. While this is a great way to evaluate every decision or action, it is not meant to bring judgment. The goal is the heart's motivation, not a list of things we should and should not do. We are motivated to do spiritual disciplines because we want to know God more. We are motivated to obey God's Word out of gratitude for what He has done for us. As residents of the Kingdom of God, we WANT to take off the old and put on the new. We WANT to embrace our new identity in Christ. Be careful to avoid legalism. We use this question to help them identify the motive behind their actions.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, "For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5). The two are opposed. There is a constant battle going on within, between the flesh and the spirit. The one wants to master the other. "I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand" (Romans 7:21). Since the spirit is against the flesh and the flesh against the spirit, no one can fool himself into thinking he can serve both. It is impossible to serve both masters because one is pitted against the other.

We will all struggle with the flesh at one level or another until we get to heaven. Someone once said the problem with surrendering our flesh is that it always wiggles off the altar. Help your group know that they are not the only one who struggles. We can trust in God "that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). Our focus should not be victory over sin but obedience to God. If victory is our focus, we will take credit for the wins. But if we are motivated to obey out of gratitude, we will rely on God for success, and He will get all the glory.

That being said, someone may be struggling with a sin that they know about and need the accountability and strength of the group to stop or the sin they don't know about (blind spot). They need you to make them aware of it. The question, "Who is my master?" is a great question to shine a light on the blind spots in life that we all have.

Actions speak louder than words.

What you do reveals what you believe regardless of what you say. We almost always live out our convictions. Your group will almost always say that Jesus is the master of their lives. Our responsibility is to help them see beneath the surface and test their convictions. You don't want them to build their foundation on the shifting sand.

One of Pastor Robby's favorite quotes is, "the root of one's life determines the fruit of one's life." He gets it straight from scripture because Jesus said, "a tree is known by its fruit" (Matthew 12:33). Similarly, our actions reveal our values and beliefs.

Here are some key areas to look at:

Time: How are they spending their time? Do they work long hours, are they at the ball fields or the lake every weekend, do they watch TV for hours every night? They will typically spend their time on what matters most to them. Listen to their conversations for clues.

Money: How does their relationship with God affect how they spend their money? Are they generous or selfish? The Bible describes us as stewards of His money. If God is our master, then he should be the one who determines how we use it.

Conversation: James 1:26 says, "If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless, and he deceives himself." Listen to the words they use and the way they use them. It is a window to their heart. Are they quick to encourage and praise, or do they criticize and gossip? Are they positive or negative?

Decision-making: Throughout the year, we will all face crucial decisions. Watch how they make decisions. What role does God play in their decision-making process? I am always surprised at how little people pray about big decisions. Saying you are praying is different than actually praying.

Ministry: Are they involved in any ministries? Do they serve in any capacity at church? Do they have a missional mindset at work or in their communities?

Influences: What or who are they allowing to influence them? You can see it in their language, attitude, and beliefs.

Christlikeness: Believers are to be more and more like Jesus each day. If that's not happening, we might be following another master.

Jesus used questions to get to the heart of the matter.

Jesus asked the Rich Young Ruler, "Why do you call me good?" (Mark 10:18)

He asked Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15)

When speaking about the Good Samaritan, in Luke 10:36-37, Jesus asked, "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man…?" When they answered, "The one who showed mercy to him," Jesus said, "Go and do the same."

To apply this in my group, I like to ask fundamental questions, then ask how God factored into their decision. If they push back or get defensive, it is all the answer I need. If they factor God into their decision, they will love to tell you about it. The Holy Spirit will use your questions and the group discussion to bring the necessary conviction in His time. I will have guys who are immediately convicted and some who act like they could not care less but come back to the topic months later, saying they haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Too often, we don't want God's help with the decision; we just want him to bless our choice.

When God is your master, it will impact every decision you make.

Why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say?

When I am discipling men, I focus on getting them to take the next step in their walk with the Lord. That is something different for each man. If I can get them to wrestle with this question (Who is my master?), it has the potential to transform their lives. I want them to understand that if we are not intentionally following Christ daily, we make ourselves vulnerable to the distractions of the world. Following Christ daily is dying to self daily.

I want the best for them. I want them to build their lives on the reliable and trustworthy foundation of God's Word. Jesus said it best in Luke 6:46-49:

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great."

When we have answered this question and determined who our master is, then and only then can we move on to the next question:

What is your Mission?

Once we settle the issue of who our master is, it frees us up to ask the next question: What is my mission?

When we surrender our lives to Christ and make Him Lord, we also surrender our future. Just like the potter has a plan for the clay, God has a plan and a purpose for us. Many stop at master, but can He really be our Lord and master if we are unwilling to be on mission with Him? Satan, the great deceiver, wants us to stop at baptism and forgiveness. He doesn't want us to share with others or to intentionally make faithful followers of Christ. As Pastor Robby Gallaty frequently says, we are not just saved from something, but we are saved for something.

It is easy to see how our choice of master is linked to our mission. If money is your master, your mission will be to get all the money and stuff you can. The one with the most toys wins, right? But if Jesus is your master, you will be challenged to give away money and maybe do without some things you want. You will be asked to help people in need who are broken and hurting. You will be asked to love those who aren't easy to love and to serve those who don't appreciate it. When Jesus is your master, His mission is your mission. We follow Him.

Please don't assume that your group understands their mission or that they should be on mission. This question will catch them off guard, and most will not have an answer. Most of the men I have discipled were not mission-minded when we started. Usually, the motivating factor for men to be discipled is because life is not working like they think it should: their marriage is struggling, they don't know how to be the father they want to be, they want something more out of life, etc. Most think they are supposed to be good even though they don't know what that means. But when it comes to being on mission for God, almost all of them will think that it is for church leaders only.

Your role as a leader is to get them thinking about this question and to open up an ongoing dialogue. You are modeling this for them by your investment in their lives. Be transparent about your journey and help them see how God uses regular people to do His work. Our lives and Scripture provide many examples of God using ordinary people. This will not be a one-time conversation. As they begin to wrestle with this issue, they will have many questions. At first, they will be intimidated and feel unequipped. Help them to see all the people that God used to bring them to Christ, which leads to our responsibility to pass it on to the next generation.

Our mission (purpose, calling) is both general and specific. I believe that every believer has been created for a particular purpose in the Kingdom of God, and at the same time, there is a mission and purpose that God has assigned to all believers. The specific flow out of the general. For example, I was called explicitly to Long Hollow Baptist Church to disciple men. I left a successful accounting career and burned my ships behind me. That calling was birthed out of a long season of doing what I believe God calls all believers to do.

We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). If we think of good works as a list of things Christians should do, like read the Bible, attend worship, give generously, and go on mission trips, we miss the real purpose God has for us. Good works are not a list of things to work on but a lifestyle for us to live. Ephesians 2:10 says that we should "walk in them." Our relationship with Jesus is more like a walk than anything else. He invites us to follow Him. God has prepared a path of good works for believers, which He will perform in and through us as we walk by faith. This is not something we add to our life; it is a complete overhaul. Walking with God doesn't mean we serve God in our free time; instead, it becomes the thrust of our lives every day in every situation. You walk with God wherever you go - work, the ball field, your neighborhood, and even church. In other words, the good works of verse 10 are not visible religious activities scattered throughout an otherwise secular life. Instead, the good works encompass the whole of the Christian, all that we do by God's grace for God's purposes.

One of the goals is for our disciples to have a missional mindset. That means they take personal ownership of the work of the ministry. Pastors do the equipping, but we all do the ministry. Jesus entrusted His entire ministry to twelve men, which has now been assigned to us. In his Bible study, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby said, "Find out where God is at work and join Him there." Help your group find ways to be on mission with God. There are opportunities all around us. The local church is a great place to start. In response to my question about getting involved in church, I once had guys in a group that asked, "Why don't they ask for help?" I have never been to a church that wasn't asking for people to get involved. My guys were not listening. Encourage them to take the initiative to serve in the local church. Beyond that, there are endless personal opportunities to love their neighbors.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He is describing how He uses our lives to influence the world. Paul calls us ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Wherever we go, we represent Jesus Christ. Jesus is telling us to represent Him and influence the world by letting the world see our good works to bring Glory and Honor to God. That is the ultimate purpose of our lives - to Glorify God.

Make an Impact on Your World

We are God's sovereign choice to impact the world. Specifically, the part of the world where He has given us unique influence. Look at the response of the disciples. After being empowered by the Holy Spirit (just like us) and being commanded to "Go and make disciples" (just like us), they spent the rest of their lives on mission both with God and for God.

Pastor Tommy Nelson was asked, "When discipling men, what is your end goal?" He said he wanted a man he could put in a helicopter and drop off in the middle of nowhere with a Bible and a toothbrush, and when he returned in a year, he would expect to see a thriving community of believers around that man. We need to ask ourselves what impact we are having in our world.

What impact are we having at home?
Are we making disciples?
Are we making any difference in the spiritual environment of our workplace?
What about our neighborhood? What would be different if we never lived there?

Results are not in our hands, but obedience is. We have been created to represent God wherever He puts us. Are you watching from the sidelines expecting someone else to carry the ball, or are you in the game doing your part for God? People are watching everything we do. They want to know if you believe what you say about God. Our world desperately needs men and women to step up and embrace who God has made them to be.

Discussion Questions

If you are working through these training sessions independently, take some time and process these questions.

I think Intentionality is one of the most important and most neglected aspects of discipleship groups. What do you think?

What do you think about the four things I want for my group? Would you add or subtract anything?

Have you ever used biblical worldview questions before? What do you think about Who is you master? & What is your mission?

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