Spencer Click

In Christianity we have an interesting approach to learning. Many Christians seem to “arrive” at some point in their own spiritual journey and stop growing or at least stop pursuing teaching. They show up on Sunday and get the “Word for the day” and are good to go until the next week. People have taken Philippians 2:12 and taken it to mean that they are responsible for figuring everything out on their own. What it really means is I can’t work out your salvation for you – you work that out on your own. It doesn’t have anything to do with continuing to grow as a Christian.

We are all called to be a disciple, but how many people have someone in their life that is discipling them? Is there someone in your life that helps you grow as a Christian? I hope so (and here’s a little secret – Sunday’s sermon isn’t enough.)You need to find someone who can disciple you.  They don’t have to be a pastor or Bible guru – just someone who is a little past where you are personally.

And that brings us to the next part of our discussion this morning – who are you discipling?  Everyone learns differently – some people learn better through reading; others learn better through listening.  There’s actually a popular myth that you retain varying percentages of material based up hearing, seeing, and discussing the material (I thought it was true until I did a little research.) Learning is different for everyone – but one thing is certain. If you teach something to someone, it sticks with you better.

You may think you can’t disciple someone, but you’re wrong. You are farther along in your Christian walk than someone else – I guarantee it.  So, go find someone and invite them into a discipleship relationship. Christianity is meant to be lived out together – if you don’t believe me read Galatians 6.  I believe one of the greatest things missing in church today is a discipleship mentality. People look to their pastor as the main one who should be investing in the lives of the congregation. So they don’t pursue someone else to teach them nor do they pursue someone to teach. The problem is a two way street – people don’t look to be taught and teachers don’t look for students.

If you want to grow in your own personal walk, take on a student to teach.  It’ll do wonders for your own walk.

The scary question is: “What do I teach them?”  That’s the beauty of the disciple relationship – you don’t need a curriculum to disciple someone. Here’s the process: Find someone, build a relationship, and then ask the person: Hey, so how are you doing? or What are you working through right now? (or some other question that helps you to find where they are at and what questions they may have), and then walk it out with them.  And VOILA!! You’re discipling someone.  Think you can do it?  I do…