Disciple Yourself Out of a Job

STORY BY TERI USSERY

Scripture shows us God’s mandate to disciple. Jesus had the twelve. The twelve discipled others. Priscilla and Aquilla discipled Paul. Paul discipled Timothy. Elijah discipled Elisha. The message of the gospel is alive and well after two thousand years because of faithful followers who discipled themselves out of a job.

The task may seem daunting, but here are some ideas for just how you can get started.

ɣ Ask God to show you a Person of Peace. The book of Acts gives us numerous examples of the early Christ-followers seeking out a person who opens the door for gospel or ministry conversations into their social, generational, or cultural group. Consider the next generation as your people group to disciple.

ɣ Pray for the relationship you will build. How can you come alongside the person God has shown you? Find ways to encourage them. Begin to disciple them according to the gifts you see God using through them.

ɣ Share ministry opportunities together, working alongside your Person of Peace.

It is exciting to watch God at work in the next generation. There is a new excitement and desire among them to engage with others to meet needs and share the love of Christ.

Research the culture of the younger generations. What motivates them? What compels them to action? How do they build relationships with each other? How can you come alongside and encourage the younger generation?

Consider the next generation as a culture group. Each generation has distinctives that describe them. When we engage ethnic groups, we don’t try to redefine them, we seek to learn how to engage them most effectively in their context with the gospel. The same is true of generational distinctives.

I think there are three key words that can direct how we disciple future generations. Listen, Learn, and Love.

Listen. What do they think? How do they process? What is the cry of their heart? How do they relate most effectively with others? Listen with your ears and eyes and hear them with your heart.

Learn. Consider what you’ve heard and allow it to inform your actions and interactions. Sometimes that means adjusting how you relate to others. Adapt to their communication methods as much as possible. Connect with them in ways most meaningful to them.

Love. Jesus reminds us that the second greatest commandment after loving God is loving others. Loving means building relationships. Loving means listening and learning. Loving means considering others above ourselves.