(Starting Well - Chapter Twelve)
By Joan Esherick
This author realized discipling was a gift, that she needed to
give to others. She wrote there are more ways to disciple than
you might think. Joan gives us four of her discipling experiences
to show what God can do when one believer invests into another.
Case One; “The Study Method”, for a new believer; set a weekly
meeting day, a session duration time, and a finish date. Show
this new believer by your example how to pray before and after
each study session. You invest the effort and entrust all the
results to God.
Case Two; “The Grow Method”, to deepen your disciples faith set
a biweekly meeting day, session duration time, monthly special
outing dates, and a mini-retreat date, also a finish date. Examine
Bible study methods and devotional practices of your disciple.
The results of your examination may give you some good places to
start strengthening this disciple.
Open your library and show your study tools; Topical Bibles,
Bible Dictionaries, concordances, commentaries, Christian Classics.
Then explain how useful these are as study tools. Encourage your
disciples to do study on their own and afterwards discuss their
findings. Spend time together outside of the study sessions to
discuss the everyday type of challenges.
Case Three; “Walk Method”, frequent informal meetings over a long
duration. Welcome your new disciple into your home and life. This
is a life to life relationship that is a friendship of conversations,
helping each other, also sharing struggles and victories.
Case Four; “Help Method”, contact by phone and informal get
together in person as needed. This is a short term crisis intervention
until the proper support group is established. You are Comforting,
listening, and encouraging them. As others begin to fulfill the
needs you may withdraw.
You “seek God first” (we can not repeat that enough) and follow
His guidance for the method best suited for the disciple to whom
He leads you.
Recommended by brother george
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