DISCIPLESHIP: Keep it Simple

There are a lot of discipleship programs out there:  Ten Steps to Making Great Disciples! Do we really need to buy a program to make disciples? Didn't God make it pretty simple? I'm pretty sure He said...

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

A lot of people may think that's too simple but there it is! What it doesn't say is how to get them in your church, how to stir their hearts and get them involved in the congregation, how to give them real faith,  how to make that faith stick, and how to get them to go out there and make disciples themselves. Hmmm... Do you think we might be taking the Holy Spirit's job and making it our own? Sometimes I think we do (with good intentions, of course). Perhaps we need to do what we're told and educate them better!  Maybe we should do our job and let the Spirit do the Spirit's job.

For Kids

1. PRAY for the kids to REMAIN IN CHRIST and stay FAITHFUL to His Word.
2. Provide opportunities for them to HEAR THE WORD and LEARN about it.
3. Remember that kids need A LOT OF REPETITION to remember things.  
4. Remember that YOUNG KIDS LEARN FROM STORIES and EMOTIONAL STIMULATION. Show and talk about the Bible stories and characters and talk about the emotions as well as the facts. Young kids have a tough time using words that describe emotions.
5. Remember that OLDER KIDS LEARN FROM MENTAL and EMOTIONAL STIMULATION. Challenge them cognitively.  Ask hard questions that challenge their understanding and how to apply what they know to their lives, expect and wait for them to respond.
6. Make sure they know it's okay to doubt, wonder, and ask questions about what they don't understand.
7. Don't expect underdeveloped brains to have an understanding of mature faith and remember that it is the simplest (child-like) faith that is the strongest!

Most of all, KIDS LEAVE THE CHURCH because THEIR PARENTS have not made it important in their lives and we can EDUCATE ADULTS BETTER!

For Adults

1. PRAY for the adults to REMAIN IN CHRIST and stay FAITHFUL to His Word.
2. Provide opportunities for them to HEAR THE WORD and LEARN about it.
3. Make sure your adult Bible studies are not lectures.  Adults also LEARN FROM MENTAL and EMOTIONAL STIMULATION. Challenge them cognitively. Ask hard questions that challenge their understanding and how to apply what they know to their lives, expect and wait for them to respond.  
4. Make sure they know it's okay to doubt, wonder, and ask questions about what they don't understand.
5. We have a tendency to ask questions that solely elicit information. Make sure ALL your adult Bible study leaders are trained in asking significant questions.