Commit for at Least Two Years in Discipleship

When contemplating how long to disciple another person, there are several factors to consider. 

How long has this person known Christ personally? How teachable are they initially? Do they have a desire to mature in Christ spiritually? These are just a few questions to ponder. We want to be realistic in committing our time and energy to a person. We also want to be a useful tool in their life, not dragging them along too long or cutting them off too short.

I typically like to disciple someone for two years. It does not always work out this way, but here are some thoughts, ideas and general guidelines to help you think through that discipleship timeline.

During year one, I am focusing on helping my disciple get grounded in the basic tenets of the Christian faith. I am continually pointing her to the Lord Jesus Christ. So throughout year one, we walk through, chapter by chapter, my Start Here Bible Study, Next Steps Bible Study and one other study I decide my disciple needs. This may be a study in how to share the gospel, a workbook I have done in the past by another Christian author, how to spend time with the Lord daily or how to study the Bible using the inductive Bible study method. 

Year One Goals:

• My disciple is grounded in basic foundational lessons for growth in Christ. (Start Here Bible Study and Next Steps Bible Study)
• My disciple did one other workbook or lesson series specifically targeting an area of needed growth. 
• I modeled consistently the 4 elements of a discipleship appointment.
• I have shown grace plus truth over time to help point her to Christ and help her mature in Him.
• She is plugged into a local church.

During year two, I am moving her week by week to being a self-feeder. I am asking her what she thinks she needs growth in and walking alongside her in that lesson series. I am specifically helping her to focus outward and look for women to disciple. She is being held accountable by me to pray for others in her life to invite to church, to engage in spiritual conversations with and to disciple others (using what she learned the year before). I am focused on answering the question, “What does my disciple need to be able to disciple another person?” 

Year Two Goals:

• My disciple is teaching another woman basic foundational lessons for growth in Christ. (Start Here Bible Study)
• She can recognize areas of needed growth in her life and seek to mature.
• My disciple is outreach oriented, seeking to be used by God to share the gospel, invite to spiritual gatherings, disciple others.

Of course with any plan, there are always a few exceptions and discipleship is no different. When I was in college ministry, I would disciple women until they graduated. So if I started discipling them as a freshmen, I would be with them for four years! Other times, I would disciple a gal for her freshman year then she may transfer after one semester to another school!

I had a gal I discipled one summer after I was married and had kids. She and I had a grand time together in discipleship and I had big plans for her life. However, she got a job in another city. Our schedules could no longer line up no matter how hard we would attempt to get together! 

Some women I have discipled are very mature in their faith in Christ and just needed some basic direction in discipling others. After 3-4 months they are off discipling others and do not really need me more than a semester. Others come from dysfunctional backgrounds with lots of lies planted in their heart about the nature of God. It takes time to unwind those lies with the truth of scripture. Their journey can simply take much longer. 

I usually commit for two years knowing there is a chance it could take longer to launch them into self-feeding discplemakers themselves! And other times, it can go much quicker! 

I applaud any effort you are taking to walk alongside another in discipleship. Way to go! Please let me know if you are hitting any roadblocks in your discipleship efforts. I can address it in a future blog post!