We’ve been considering, former procrastinators, the benefits and some how-to’s of one-on-one discipling. This is an excellent way to get help for your own growth and to help someone else. The objective is to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith. (Colossians 2:6-7) Some ladies find this appealing but daunting. To simplify the concept, we’re looking at some basic tools that can be used to help establish someone’s spiritual walk.
Well-grounded Christians find they also benefit greatly from meeting individually with an older, wiser godly person. CEO’s of mega corporations have mentors. Our mission is more critical – and so is our requirement for wise counsel on a regular basis. We don’t really outgrow the need.
Paul encourages older women to teach younger women. (Titus 2:2) As long as she is grounded in the truth and farther down the road of faith, a woman of any age can come alongside a peer who wants to learn more about walking with the Lord. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Two more basic areas to consider besides the Word and prayer are fellowship and sharing our faith.
- Fellowship. One mark of a growing Christian is her growing enjoyment of Christian brothers and sisters. But fellowship goes beyond sitting together at the movies. It means we engage together in what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8) We worship corporately in church as well as privately. While together we should prompt each other to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24-25) There’s more fun in fun when we know Jesus. We find encouragement, comfort, joy, creativity and more in Christian company. We’re not designed to be loners in our Christian walks. Isolation is unhealthy and can open a door to the enemy.
Neither are we to withdraw from the world because we become believers. We still have friends who don’t know the Lord. As believers we can see and love them with the heart of Christ.
- Sharing our Faith. Because we honor Christ as holy, all believers are to prepare to give an answer to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in us – and do it with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15) Numerous scriptures encourage us to reach out to others with the Good News. A one-on-one relationship is a good place to think through your own story and prepare to share it. Ana Perry asked me to write out my testimony of how I came to the Lord. Then she asked me to pare down the essentials to two minutes. That initially equipped me to share my story and the Gospel in a longer and shorter way as appropriate. It built confidence and made sharing easier.
How could one-on-one discipleship help you maximize both fellowship and opportunities to share Christ?
And established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Col 2:6-7
Leave a Reply