1) Why make disciples 1:1?
Making disciples is not an option. It is our mission as a church: we’re a disciple-making family for Loveland and the world! But discipleship is not unique to Faith Church Loveland! This mission comes from Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20a): Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. While large-group (e.g. Sunday worship) and small-group (e.g. WitW Groups, Sunday School Classes, etc.) opportunities are important, even essential, for discipleship, 1:1 discipleship has proven the most impactful in my life and in the lives of countless Christians through the ages. Smaller focus yields surprising fruit!
2) What is 1:1 discipleship?
1:1 discipleship is a focused friendship where you learn to follow Jesus together. It can be helpful to commit to a 1:1 discipleship relationship for a specified length of time and to define the relationship’s purpose, focus, and outcomes. In other cases, it is beneficial to be in an ongoing discipleship relationship which is much more organic and free-form. It can be a relatively vertical mentor-mentee relationship. Mentorship relationships can be transformational, as mature, tested journeymen and masters pass on wisdom to the next generation’s apprentices. But 1:1 discipleship comes in more than this rather vertical form. There is also a need for spiritual friendship: side to side, shoulder to shoulder, walking through life with Christ as the Mentor. In fact, even in mentoring relationships, Christ is still the only true Master who has lived perfectly for us.
3) How do I start?
Pray. Ask God to create an opportunity for you to invite someone into a focused, intentional spiritual friendship for a season. Then seek the opportunity. Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Seniors Ministry, Small Groups, and Sunday School classes – any group of Christians seeking to follow Jesus! – will present great opportunities for 1:1 discipleship connections. Once you’ve identified a person to ask, pray some more! If the Lord keeps the door open, ask the person. You can say something simple like, “Would you be open to meeting regularly to encourage one another and hold each other accountable as followers of Jesus?” Don’t be afraid of rejection. Ask, and leave the rest to God. For what to do next, for resources, etc.: keep praying, reach out to me, and don’t try to recreate the wheel! Simple things like throwing a frisbee, going for a walk, asking good questions and listening, being honest and vulnerable, talking about what you’re learning in the Bible, and praying together will go a long way. I look forward to learning with you as you pursue 1:1 discipleship relationships in 2024!
