Selection of our disciples is one of the most crucial steps in the discipleship process. If we do not choose our disciples carefully, then the remaining principles of discipleship may frustrate us and the people we are trying to disciple. In this chapter we will examine Jesus' example of selection and how to go about gathering and challenging potential disciples for the group.

A. Jesus' example.

1. He depended on God.

Looking again at Jesus' example, we see that the most important part of His selection process was His dependence on God.

"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 5:30).

How much more essential it is for us to depend on the Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we choose and disciple others! God is the only one who can give us success or produce fruit through our lives. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

2. He prayed.

Prayer was another important factor in Jesus' selection of His men.

"And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him; and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles" (Luke 6:12,13).

A clear demonstration of our dependence on God is to pray for disciples and expect results.

3. He took the initiative

After Jesus prayed. He then took the initiative to call His disciples, challenging them to follow Him (Matthew 4:17-19). The Lord's initiative began in evangelism and continued to the point of involving and then challenging people to make disciples themselves.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

After we have prayed for the disciples, we also need to take the initiative to find, involve and then challenge people to become disciples. This is sometimes a difficult step, but it is a necessary one. It is our active response to our Lord's command in Matthew 28:19.

B. Qualities to look for in potential disciples

As Jesus chose His men, he looked for particular qualities in their lives. Two important ones were a desire to know God and availability. After Jesus called Simon and Andrew, they immediately left the net, and followed Him (Matthew 4:20). The fact that these men followed Him shows that they had a desire to know Him. The word immediately emphasizes their availability to the Lord.

Two other qualities Christ looked for in His disciples were faithfulness and teachability. Jesus often mentioned the value of faithfulness, as in the parable of the faithful servant (Matthew 25:21).

The disciples demonstrated their teachability by taking the initiative to go to Jesus to be taught (Matthew 5:1,2). We need to remember that a disciple is a learner. That's what the word means. Whether we are following or leading, we are co-learners in the discipleship process (Matthew 23:811). Ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who produces disciples and disciplers. Discipleship is exciting because we're seeing God at work as we're obedient to Him.

We need to look for people who not only have these four qualities, but also have the potential ability to lead others. Our disciples need to have a potential for leadership that can be developed, even if it is not already evident. To discern if people have leadership abilities, observe their present involvement in leadership as well as their relationships with their peers.

Ask these questions about a prospective Discipleship Group member:

-Does the person have a heart for God? (Matthew 4:20)

-Does the person demonstrate availability? (Matthew 4:20)

-Does the person demonstrate faithfulness? (Matthew 25:21)

-Does the person demonstrate teachability? (Matthew 5:1,2)

-Does the person demonstrate potential ability to lead others? (2 Timothy 2:2).

C. Potential pitfalls.

There are several pitfalls along the path of the selection process. Knowing what these pitfalls are can help you avoid them as you choose your key disciples.

1. Losing sight of our objective. Our objective is not merely to have our own groups or build our own ministries; it is to help reach the world for Christ. Having this clear objective before us will keep us from settling for some other lesser objective that may be reached more quickly.

2. Choosing people who are not 'full of faith." Acts 6:5a says, "the statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." We are looking for people who demonstrate the kind of faith that moves them to action - the kind of action that results in a discipleship ministry. Unfortunately, we often spend far too much time trying to disciple someone who isn't responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit to become a man or woman "full of faith". The results is usually a frustrated leader, a follower who is unreachable and a breakdown in the spiritual multiplication process.

3. Ignoring elements of maturity that are crucial for a spiritual multiplier. One element is social maturity, the ability to relate well to others. Another is emotional maturity, the ability to follow through on commitments and responsibilities.

4. Ignoring the potential disciple's ability to influence as well as his sphere of influence.

Everyone has some influence on others, and we should capitalize on that influence. However, we often avoid those who have the greatest influence because we tend to relate to people who are on or below our social-cultural level. For maximum impact, however, we should try to reach and disciple those at the highest level of leadership. There are two reasons: First, leaders need and want to know God personally just as others do. Second, as leaders trust in Christ and begin to live for Him, they in turn can influence many others. As others see the change in the leader's life, they will be more open to the gospel themselves. Leaders can reach certain people who may not listen to us. In light of this, we need to begin our ministries with people who can relate, or can learn to relate, to leaders.

5. Imbalance in group affinity. Too much affinity among group members can make the group become too ingrown and exclusive. Too little affinity could inhibit the development of friendships. Either extreme could seriously harm the relationships that are so crucial to quality discipleship.

6. Not taking enough time to gather the right people. Our objective is not just to start a group, but to trust God to raise up those disciples who have the right heart and attitude to help reach the world for Christ. Jesus did not randomly call twelve men to follow Him. He knew what was in their hearts. We need to take the time to determine the true commitment and attitudes of those we choose to be disciples.

D. The filter process

Remember the filter process that Jesus used in His ministry.

Jesus evangelized widely before selecting His men. Jesus then took the initiative to gather or involve many interested followers in His ministry allowing them an opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness and a desire to grow. Only then did Jesus select and challenge certain ones to be His key disciples.

Like Jesus, we should not be too hasty in establishing our group by settling on the first few people that come our way. We need to keep in mind that discipleship is not the end but rather a means to the end of seeing the world reached for Christ. See Appendix, "How to Achieve a Balance Between Evangelism and Discipleship."

Jesus said, "Go ... and make disciples." As we enjoy being involved in a life-style of sharing our faith, we can trust God to lift up others who will want to come along with us to help reach the world for Him.

E. Some ways to go about gathering people.

1. Witness to others - evangelism.

a. You could use a survey (see chapter 4)

b. Present "Knowing God Personally".

c. Have people read through the Dear Peter letter.

d. Hold informal meetings in your home

2. Talk to Christians who need to get involved.

a. Invite them to a fellowship meeting.

b. Explain the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

c. Invite them to a conference.

d. Follow up new believers whom you helped lead to commitment to Christ.

e. Challenge them to a Bible study or to a Discipleship Group.

f. Invite them to meet other believers socially.

 

F. Challenging students or others to a Discipleship Group.

Although discipleship groups may vary in the level of involvement, much of the material presented can be adapted to the needs of your particular situation. Use of a structured challenge will ensure consistency of content as it is transferred throughout, even by third and fourth generation discipleship group members. In using this or any other structured challenge, keep in mind the following guidelines:

1. Personalize it by sharing your personal concern and burden for the world in general, and for your community in particular.

2. Have the prospective discipleship group member look up the Scripture passages with you and ask him to read each one aloud.

3. Personally write in your goals. Goals could include reaching all those in first-year lectures if you are in college. Enthusiastically paint a verbal picture of what the ministry will look like when these goals are reached.

4. Explain the qualifications of a discipleship group member in a positive and personal manner. Introduce them from the perspective that you, too, needed to meet these qualifications before you could be a discipleship group member.

5. As you go over each qualification, ask the prospective discipleship group member what need that qualification fulfills. Review the scripture references if necessary.

For example:

a. Teachable attitude - one can never learn to be a teacher without being teachable.

b. Heart for God - one can never be happy serving Him without a desire to know Him better.

c. 4grees with taking initiative in evangelism - telling others about Christ fulfills Christ's command given in Matthew 28:18-20. Plus, we won't be joyful unless we are witnessing.

d. Willing to become a Discipleship Group leader - this fulfills the command to teach others to be teachers. It also fulfills our need to love others and be loved.

e. Time to invest in the discipleship group meeting - being in the meetings fulfills the need to be loved and to study the Word together.

f. Time to invest in witnessing

g. Time to come to the weekly training or discipleship meetings

- participation in these activities fills the need to fellowship together (Hebrews 10:25), and teaches us to be a leader-teacher (2 Timothy 2:2).

6. Explain that strong discipleship groups are impossible without a commitment of time. This requirement is a must.

7. Explain that as a discipleship group member he will receive training in establishing and evaluating goals for his overall personal development.

8. Conclude the challenge by saying something like:

"So you see, Jim, the discipleship group strategy fulfills some of our deepest personal needs. Not only is our need to love and to be loved fulfilled, but also our Joy is made full as we serve God and obey His commandments.

"The choice is yours, Jim. Don't think that if you don't join the group you are unspiritual. I want you to do what God wants you to do, and only you can decide that. I know this group has really helped me, but you'll have to decide for yourself. What do you think you'd like to do?

"Would you like to be part of a discipleship group?"

9. Secure a definite decision from each person challenged.

a. Give the person time to think and pray about it. Set up a convenient time to contact him (within two to three days) to find out his final decision.

b. If he responds positively, tell him what day and time the discipleship group meets and set up a time to go witnessing with him.

c. If he responds negatively, assure him that he is still welcome to participate in the idea at any time he considers himself ready. Encourage him to get involved in a Scripture Class, a discovery group, a retreat.

d. Do not pressurize anyone; only God can bring the increase.

e. From time to time, check back with those who chose not to be in a discipleship group initially. Perhaps their attitudes or circumstances have changed so they could now be in a group.