Discipleship | a 5-Day Skate Church Movement Devotionalنموونە

teaching others

“Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.” Philippians 3:17

Over ten years ago my friend Michael asked me to check out a Wednesday night student service to consider serving and teaching with him. I was already working with younger kids, including three of my own. Since I respected Michael, I reluctantly agreed to come by. I found myself gravitating to the skaters because I grew up skateboarding and had an idea of how to connect with them. Little did I know what that would lead me to do for the next decade and more.

The next few weeks, months, and years passed by as I continued to hang out with the crowd at the skate park and started skating more myself. I learned the current lingo, culture, and even a few tricks. The kids–along with some young adults–became my friends and showed me what skating was all about. I got to know them and learned from them. I showed them I cared and stood up for them over the years when few others would. I also pointed them to Jesus and the Word of God. I showed them love first, then I told them where my love came from. It was like a family of misfits caring for each other.

I didn’t really fit in their mold because I was much older than them, and they didn’t really fit in with the regular crowd that was their age. So in ways we were a lot alike, but also very different. This is what it looked like for Jesus and His disciples too! They each had different backgrounds and professions, and a lot of them were on the younger side. They may have been seen as misfits, but they devoted themselves to one another and to following Jesus’ model for them daily. Doing life together daily was how they managed to grow continuously in their faith.

As we lived life together each week, I kept seizing opportunities to teach them and point them to Jesus. One of the best ways to teach them was by leading not just with words but through actions. We took trips to contests, local and far away parks, ate lots of pizza, spent time together reading the Word, and doing God’s will. That is what discipleship really is–spending time first with God by reading His word, listening, and praying, then with your neighbor. Teaching is best done when you can lead by example.

Since those early days, many skaters have passed through that park. The park itself has gone through many changes, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the discipleship. Even after all of these years, teaching those skaters is still my passion. Teaching others is only limited by your willingness to meet others where they are at.

pushing further

1. What does discipleship look like for you at your local skatepark?
2. Do you have someone pouring into you? Is there someone that you could be pouring into?