Four Ways To Do One to One

(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.

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Scratching Where They Itch

(Starting Well - Chapter Eleven)
By Mistie Hutchison

“Discerning your disciple’s needs”, that is the hard part of discipling.
Obvious, is how Mistie described asking God for guidance.
(chapter ten, ”Tell God first”. Let us keep repeating that principle)
God will reveal needs that you may not normally see. Jesus spent
time in prayer before major decisions, such as choosing His disciples.
(Luke 6:12-13)

Listen attentively to what your disciples are saying. You need to
know what is going on inside them, if you are to serve their real
needs. This means you really hear them and you are seeing their
emotions and circumstances.

Asking good questions can be helpful in finding those needs.
Mistie suggested a few questions to ask in the beginning of a
discipling relationship;
“Where would you like to improve your life ?”
“What do you feel your needs are ?”
“How can I help you ?”

When someone is asked; ”What are your needs ?”
There may be a difference between their felt need and their real
need. Felt needs are what a person thinks is most important for
their life. A real need can be defined as a need that God has placed
in our lives. The process of finding someone’s real needs may
require time, careful listening, asking questions, and getting into
the Scriptures.

Being a part of God’s work in another person’s life will be worth the
time and effort if you ask God first and you follow His guidance.

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Let Me Assure You-2

Starting Well - Chapter Six
(continuation, the third of five needs)
By Kathy Johnston

The new believer needs knowledge to stand up against
temptations and Scripture gives us assurance of victory.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is
common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with
the temptation will also make way of escape, that you
may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The new believers joyful experience when they confess
their sin, knowing God will cleanse them. Helping the new
believers gain assurance of their forgiveness and keeping
their communion with God through Scripture.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed
our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)

The author tells her disciple; “You do not have to know all
that lies ahead, just keep trusting in God, talking to God and
He will lead you day by day; Lets pray about it right now.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your
own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and
He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Kathy has explained many ways that deepen the new
believers roots with God’s promises for salvation, answered
prayer, victory over sin, forgiveness, and guidance.. The
heart of follow-up is one on one and life on life.

Recommended Reading by brother george

Finding the Right Person to Disciple

Starting Well - Chapter Five
By Becky Brodin

What is Discipleship ? The word disciple comes from
Latin word disco, which means learn or get to know.
The Rabbi would discipline their disciples through praise
and correction. A disciple was like an apprentice who was
learning from a master. A Discipler uses discipleship which
is the method or process to teach discipline to a Disciple.
Ok, now we can start finding the right person.

Becky tells us to find someone to disciple requires three
things; involvement with people, knowing what to look for,
and a willingness to take the initiative.

Becky calls, what to look for: “ The Right Stuff “. She looks
for someone who is hungry to grow, committed to fellowship,
and takes initiative to develop relationships.

Becky does as Jesus did, pray about choice of disciples.
A discipling relationship is time consuming, personal,
demanding, life changing, and requires commitment.

She explains, that choosing a disciple is like looking for a
companion and follower. The word “ follower ” in Greek
describes someone who seeks to be like their teacher, a
companion who is “going in the same way.”

“Whom Should I disciple?” You should watch for people
who are hungry to grow, then you take the initiative to
relate to them and invite them into this adventure of

one-to-one discipleship.

recommended reading by brother george

What My Discipler Did Right

Starting Well - Chapter Four
A Discipleship Journal Book
By Cathy Miller

What new believers need is some good Christian friends
to help them grow in their Christian faith.

Cathy Miller is sharing her real life experience of
Christian growth with her good Christian friend, when
she was a new believer .

Someone gently touched Cathy and asked,
“would you like to come to my house sometime to talk ?”

This new friend taught Cathy the basics of the
Christian faith and this discipler led Cathy into a
closer relationship with Jesus by just being herself .

Cathy was given the key to the Christian life with
“Christ in you, the hope of glory”

“ God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the
glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in
you, the hope of Glory.” ( Colossians 1:27 )

This author experienced a very effective discipleship
and she offers you those same key traits. Her Discipler;
noticed, cared, reached out, and pointed Cathy toward
the love of Christ as it is revealed in His Word and
through His Grace.

The Touch of Grace; Cathy has given us the pattern
to follow by telling us what her Discipler did right.

Cathy says now she has the opportunities to quietly
say to someone;
“would you like to come to my house sometime to talk ?”

Now you also have that opportunity !

Cathy Miller closes this testimony by her proclaiming
“Prayer ushered me into God’s presence, where I found
that He Himself was the answer to my requests.”

Recommended by brother george

“Love Lessons”

(Chapter Three of Starting Well)
How to shepherd those we disciple as Jesus would
By Dirk Van Zuylen

“ Who has significantly influenced you ? “

Dirk Van Zuylen recalls those people having one thing incommon, ”love”. He also stated that the people who loved him most had demonstrated confidence in him.

Van Zuylen offers the following “Love Lessons“ demonstrated by;

Jesus, showed confidence in His disciples,
Jesus, expressed His love for the disciples,
Jesus, demonstrated interest in the whole person,
Jesus, accepted people as they were,
Jesus, protected His disciples and
Jesus, sacrificed for the disciples.

Love Lessons teaches us to;
-Voice our confidence to our disciples and listen to what is on their hearts.
-Accept them with kindness and grace in the ways they differ from us.
-Spend time with them, pray for their needs, and help them understand God’s word in their struggles.

The Author closes this chapter proposing that we may be used in a lasting way to disciple others for the love of Jesus.

Recommended Reading by brother george