Nurturing Baby BelieversSample

Day 7: Disciple-Making Helps Us to Grow.

To my delight, I have learned that often the disciple-maker grows the most in a discipling relationship. The disciple-maker benefits from both the preparation for each session and the interaction with the new believer.

In Psalm 51:12 (ESV), King David wrote, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” One of the best ways for doing that is meeting with new Christians, observing the freshness and excitement of their new faith, and having that fervor rekindled in our own lives. Sometimes, after years of walking with Christ, we lose the sense of childlike wonder that we had at first. Truths that once thrilled us become old news; a kind of spiritual indifference sets in.

Being around new Christians can be an antidote for that apathy, reminding us of the importance of those fundamental truths we learned too long ago. They challenge us to rethink our own convictions. And it spurs our own growth when disciples ask questions we can’t answer, particularly if they concern areas we haven’t considered before.

At times a disciple will even startle us with novel insights into God’s Word, enabling us to see a key principle in a new and deeper way. For instance, one man I have discipled is a computer programmer. It’s amazing how many analogies to spiritual truth he can draw from his world!

As we draw to a close on these compelling reasons for disciple-making, consider this sobering statistic: Studies indicate that more than two-thirds of Americans say they are Christians, yet in many respects, our society seems devoid of Christian influence. A key reason may be that in our zeal to lead people to Christ, we have forgotten His commission to “make disciples”—those who are truly learners, followers, imitators, and ultimately spiritual reproducers.

It’s time we started moving many of our brothers and sisters out of the spiritual nursery and toward maturity. In our commitment to make disciples, let us be able to tell them, in the words of the apostle Paul, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice” (Philippians 4:9)!

For more information on helping people grow spiritually visit The Navigators. In addition, see our YouVersion Bible Reading Plans “Motivation for the Great Commission“ and “Everyday Discipling.”