One-to-One Discipleship

Benefits Of One-To-One Discipleship

1. It Is Flexible And Disciple-Centered

One-to-one discipleship can create a supportive relationship between a discipler, someone who has journeyed a little farther down the road toward spiritual maturity, and a disciple, one who seeks to gain awareness and understanding of the basics of following Jesus Christ, the Son of God. One-to-one discipleship is flexible and disciple centered. It allows for a

strong relational discipleship while providing enough structure to keep the disciple progressing toward the goal.

2. It Draws People Into Personal Ministry

One-to-one discipleship helps prepare the hearts of new and growing Christians for meaningful service to God and their fellowman.

3. It Is Easy To Reproduce

One-to-one discipleship is something that can be easily duplicated. Everyone who has been discipled should take the challenge to become a discipler and reproduce themselves in the life of at least one person each year. The objective is to create "teachers of teachers" and "leaders of leaders."

4. It Helps Identify Leaders And Develop Them

Leadership development is a natural by-product of one-to-one relationships. One-to-one discipleship is a mentor-protege relationship which allows time for strong friendships to develop. Within this context the disciple will rise to a new and greater level of leadership development.

How To Begin Discipling

If you could learn how to help change the world in less than 24 hours, would you be interested? We are talking about people helping people, changing the world one person at a time. We are looking for people who are willing to invest 24 hours in the lives of two or more people during the next year. Could you give two to three days a year to help others grow spiritually?

1. Identify Someone Who Wants To Grow Spiritually

The key to success is finding a person who desires spiritual growth in their life. Simply ask, "Are you interested in growing spiritually?" No matter how they respond, politely request, "Would you do me a favor and give me a few minutes to show you a simple discipleship study called Steps Toward Spiritual Growth?" If they are interested in growing spiritually they will usually say, "yes."

2. Introduce Them To Steps Toward Spiritual Growth

When you meet, show them a copy of Steps Toward Spiritual Growth and guide them through a survey of the book in 30 minutes or less. Begin with the Introduction which states that the overall purpose of Steps Toward Spiritual Growth is "to help people move toward spiritual growth and maturity by introducing them to the basic elements of spiritual understanding and Christian living." Stress that the one being discipled is free to choose the order in which the 12 lessons are covered. The book contains a Progress Checklist which allows them to easily record which lessons they have already completed.

In order to gain a good overview of Steps Toward Spiritual Growth read through several of the questions in the Self-Evaluation. This will allow the potential disciple to determine if they are truly interested in the content of the book. Then simply ask, "Do you feel that you would personally benefit from these lessons?" No matter how they respond, offer to show them the first two pages of the Assurance of Salvation lesson so that they can see what the studies are like.

Description: This unique discipleship book with its self-evaluation and progress checklist is flexible and disciple-centered. More...

3. Invite Them To Make A Discipleship Commitment

After discussing the first two pages of lesson one, let the person know that you would be excited to complete the book with them and ask, "Is this a commitment you would like to make?" If they say, "No." Thank them for allowing you to share the information with them and offer to be available to them if they ever want to complete the study at some time in the future. If they say, "Yes." Give them a personal copy of the book, establish a weekly meeting time and ask them to complete lesson one for the next appointment.

At the first discipleship appointment, review the Memory Verse, discuss the second half of the Assurance of Salvation lesson and make sure that the Self-Evaluation has been completed. Use the Self-Evaluation to help the disciple select which of the remaining 11 lessons you will study next. Ask the disciple come to each meeting with the selected lesson complete.

The Ways of the Alongsider is a ten week Bible study and discussion guide will help you disciple people as an alongsider, someone who builds authentic relationships to help people become wholehearted followers of Christ. by Navigators' Church Discipleship Ministry Staff Bill Mowry

4. Invest In Your Disciple: Keeping Flexible And Disciple-Centered

You will find that half of the time spent with the disciple is in building a strong personal relationship and the other half is used to cover the discipleship study. When reviewing the lessons, begin by quoting the Memory Verse, then talk about the Introduction to the lesson. When you reach the Key Principles section, ask the disciple, "What were the high points and what questions do you have?"

Each lesson is designed to be discussed within a one hour weekly appointment. Survey the lesson, see that it has been completed, but do not feel obligated to cover every point and look up each scripture verse when the disciple has already completed the study on their own. You may, however, choose to complete the lessons together if the disciple is having difficulty completing it as a self-study. Again, you can take as long as you need on each lesson as long as it is agreeable to both of you.

5. Inspire Your Disciple To Become A Discipler

Jesus calls His followers to go and make disciples of all men (Matthew 28:19). Once a disciple has completed the Steps Toward Spiritual Growth they are not at the finish line, rather, they are at the starting line. They now have the opportunity to disciple someone else. Remember, by helping someone else they will learn and grow even more. Your role now is to become their discipleship mentor as they disciple someone else.