4 Easy Steps to Discipling Others

Years ago, my eyes were opened to this realization: Christians are commanded to make disciples.

This realization sparked in me a desire to disciple others and see the gospel go forth in my church, community, and the world. So much so that I even decided to write a book on it! However, I had just one problem—I didn’t know where to start. Perhaps you find yourself in a similar situation.

You understand that to be a Christian is to be a disciple-maker, but you aren’t sure how to go about it. You want God to use you to make a difference in the lives of people around you through mentoring, but actually getting started has you at a standstill.

You’re not alone.

4 Easy Steps

Thankfully, God by his grace has given us help in his all-sufficient Word to know how to get started in the kingdom-advancing work of discipling. As the Puritan Thomas Watson once said, “He that commands us, will enable us.” With that understanding, here are four things to do as you look to get started in the work of mentoring others for God’s glory:

1. Pray

Ask God to provide you with someone to mentor—whether with someone new or with someone that you might already know who could be mentored. God loves to give wisdom to those who ask him for it. In James 1:5, we read: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

So then, it is through prayer that God will provide someone for you to mentor and grow in Christ with. Be willing to ask, “God, who do you want me to mentor?”

2. Look

I have found in my life that God has often already provided me with someone to mentor that I already know—I just needed to open my eyes.

Ask yourself the question, “Who do I know that I could start meeting with intentionally to help them grow in Christ?” In asking this question, you’ll be able to think critically about the people God has already placed in your life. Who are you already “rubbing shoulders with” on a regular basis that you could pour your life into? Start asking and start looking.

3. Pursue

When God reveals to you a person that you could possibly mentor, pursue them. Don’t wait for people to pursue you to mentor them. I fear many disciples aren’t made because many disciples aren’t pursued.

Set up a time to get together with them for coffee or a meal. I like to tell people that they need to “pursue people onto your calendar.” In other words, pursue someone and get a date on your calendar to meet with him or her. Pursuing someone communicates to them that you care for them and want to give your time to invest in them.

4. Pray (Again)

After you have met with a person to potentially mentor, pray about what you should do next.

• Should you continue meeting with this person?
• Does this person have an interest in continuing to meet up?
• Would this person be a valuable investment of your time?

Ask yourself these questions and ask God to give you wisdom.

These are four easy steps you can take to get started in the process of mentoring. In doing these steps you will be able to gain clarity as to who you will mentor and what that mentoring relationship will look like moving forward. So, what are you waiting for?

This article was originally published on cpcsmallgroups.net.