Making Disciple-Makers (You + 2)

Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With a Mission, has said, “The way God will measure the fruitfulness of your life is: Have you invested to the fourth generation?”

In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul wrote to Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Paul invested in Timothy who invested in “reliable people” who were to invest in others – four generations.

Investing in them involves more than just leading a small group they attend or having spiritual conversations from time to time. This is about pouring what Jesus has given you into their life to such an extent that it becomes their own.

That’s the normal Christian life – it’s Jesus’ original plan to change the world.

Jesus did not come to make disciples. He came to make disciplemakers.

One way to be intentional about this is through “you and two.” Who are the two people in your life who need to go deeper in the things of God? The people in whose ears your words are loud – where what you say carries weight? That’s where the Spirit has given you favor to speak into their life.

This could be members of your family, such as your children. It could be coworkers or neighbors. And of course, it could be members of your small group. There’s a good chance there are members of your small group who are open to a deeper investment from you.

Find two people who you can commit to walking with for one year in order to pour the things of God into their life. Be certain they are people who are willing to match your level of commitment. And state clearly from the start that you expect them to turn around and do the same thing with two people themselves when the year is over.

God didn’t call us to find disciples, He called us to make them. Start praying about the two people you should disciple into becoming disciplemakers and watch what Jesus will do through you.

Some Things to Consider:

• Where can you see the four generations of discipleship in your life? Are you currently at the top, middle, or bottom of that chain?
• Did someone intentionally disciple you? If so, what did that look like?
• Have you intentionally discipled and invested in another person one-on-one? What did that look like?
• Who are your two? Do you know already? If you don’t know, what steps can you take to identify them?