The Multiple Roles Of A Disciplemaker

The multiple roles of A Disciplemaker? A disciplemaker is at times a teacher, a mentor, a counselor, and a coach. Over the next several weeks I will attempt to share insights that will help you to be more effective as a disciplemaker by examining these various roles and suggesting when they are needed in the life of the believers you invest in. But before I do that, here are some things to remember. It is essential that when you disciple others you:

Abide In Christ

 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.  (John 15:4-5, CSB) If you want to be effective as a disciplemaker, you must abide in Jesus! As you “remain in Him” you will draw upon all the life-giving resources you need as you disciple and invest in those in your D-Group. As you remain in Christ, He will do what only He can do in and through your life; produce fruit that remains.  Notice what Jesus says in John 15:8, (CSB)  My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. One thing I’ve learned: if I will be faithful to abide in Christ, He will be faithful to bear fruit in and through my life.

Saturate Your Mind With Scripture

Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  (Colossians 3:16-17, CSB) I love the phrase, “Let the word of Christ dwell…” As you journey together with men and women for the purpose of spiritual growth, it is so important during that season of time together to be saturated with the Word of God. You as a leader have an obligation to help your group “rightly divide” the Word and see things from God’s perspective. Greg Ogden in his book, “Transforming Discipleship” says, “When we open our hearts in transparent trust to each other around the truth of God’s Word, in a spirit of mutual accountability, we are in the Holy Spirit’s hothouse of transformation.” According to Ogden, three things are necessary for your D-Group:

1. Transparent Trust
2. Truth of God’s Word
3. Mutual Accountability

As you abide in the Word, God will use you in the discipleship process.

Pray Consistently

pray constantly.  (1 Thessalonians 5:17, CSB) Finally, I would encourage you to pray for and with those you invest in.  When I pray for my d-group, I pray for their individual needs, and pray scripture over them and their families.  One of my favorite passages to pray “over them” is Philippians 1:9-11: And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment,  so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.  (Philippians 1:9-11, CSB) In addition to praying for them, I also pray with them. Prayer most often is something that is caught just as much as it is taught. Praying with those you invest in will not only strengthen your fellowship with them, but it will model before them how you should pray. When we disciple others it is essential that you abide in Christ, saturate your mind with scripture, and pray consistently. With these foundational truths in mind, next week we will look at the disciplemaker as a teacher.