Nurturing Baby BelieversSample

Day 5: We Incorporate Them into the Body of Christ.

The initial experience with Christianity can be a culture shock for many people, especially if they come from secular or non-church backgrounds. Suddenly they are confronted with new traditions, different music, unfamiliar worship forms, practices that may seem very strange, even a new vocabulary. The disciple-maker can serve as a buffer from the old to the new, guiding the new Christian through the initial adjustments.

Succeeding in making disciples, however, does not require doing it all. Many times it is best to call on a fellow believer with more skills or better training in areas of particular need, such as financial planning, business management, or marriage and family counseling.

As they interact with a variety of believers, new Christians can begin to appreciate the depth and variety of the body of Christ—those men, women, and youngsters who make up His church. Disciplemaking should not be a 'Lone Ranger' enterprise. God doesn’t ask us to make clones; He wants to use us to help others realize the gifts and spiritual potential He has given them.

By the way, although one-on-one spiritual mentoring is common, discipling relationships can prosper just as effectively between two couples or in small groups. In fact, I was discipled first in a group of six couples and later in a group of six men. In both cases, the leaders encouraged an atmosphere of candor, enabling participants to discuss problems and to feel free to ask even 'stupid' questions.

I’ve also enjoyed meeting with a number of men one-on-one, over the years. I suggest one guideline in choosing whether to disciple on an individual basis or in a small group: Be open to the opportunities God makes available to you.

Once we have confirmed decisions for Christ, started the new believers on the road to spiritual maturity, and set an example for them to follow, let’s not neglect the important role of helping them assimilate into the life and community of the church and all of the blessings of Christian fellowship.