The Pressure's Off!
Why Making Disciples Is Easier Than You Think (When You Let God Do His Job)
Make sure to stick around to the end for a free resource!
I’ve trained people all over the world to share Jesus and His good news. I often ask people why they don’t share Jesus, and the reasons are always the same….
Fear of not knowing what to say
Fear of not being convincing enough
Fear of messing it up
Maybe you feel the same…
At the heart of our fear to share the gospel and disciple others, is a mis-placed idea that these things require someone more talented and knowledgable than we are.
We feel like we’re not good enough and don’t know enough…
But here’s some good news! Discipling people is actually way easier than we have been led to believe!
Why?
Because if we do discipleship the way God intended, He does more work and we do less!
Sounds crazy, but let me show you how, and let me give you a tool to use to prove exactly what I mean!
Who does what?
We have been led to believe that if we are to disciple people from pre-conversion to post-conversion, then we need to be:
The Teacher
The Convictor
The Motivator
But these are all roles God takes! Check this out:
God The Teacher:
While there remains a place for teachers, God is the ultimate teacher! John 6:45 says, “It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” Sounds like God has this one covered…
God the Convictor:
John 16:8 tells us that it is the role of The Holy Spirit to convict people of right and wrong. That job belongs to God’s not us. “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.”
God the Motivator:
We often think we need to convince people to come to God. But Jesus said He’s already on it! “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
If God is The Teacher, The Convictor, and The Motivator, then our role is simply to get people to pause long enough to realise God is speaking to them. So
Get rid of your fear.
Get rid of the idea that this is all on you.
Get in the game and join Jesus at work!
A Resource to Get You Started
The Discovery Bible Study is a super simple resource that gives God space to teach, convict and motivate your friends and family to come to know Jesus. We’ll use the stories from The 7 Signs of John to begin with.
It is based on John 20:30-31 where John says,
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
It’s the simplest Bible Study you can imagine based on the 7 Signs Jesus performs which leads people to faith in Christ. If you stick to the Discovery Bible Study process that I’m about to show you, you will give God plenty of space to do His work!
The 7 Signs of John
Step 1: Invite
We invite our friend to catch up in a safe place and talk about a Jesus story. Think cafe, their place, wherever works for them. Here’s how you might say it,
“Can I shout you a coffee, I’d love to read and chat about this great Jesus story with you? I think you’d find it interesting.”
“I’ve been thinking about this story where Jesus turns water into wine… It made me wonder what it says about God. Can we catch up and read it together, I’d love to know what you think?”
“I came across this short story about Jesus that made me rethink what He’s like. Want to check it out together and just see where the conversation goes?”
Step 2: Sharing The Story
When you meet read the passage of Scripture together. The first story is Jesus turning water into wine. I ask them, “Want to read it aloud?” If they’re too shy you can read it with them.
After reading it ask the following questions: What, How, Who.
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about humans?
How will you live out what you’ve just discovered?
Who do you need to share this passage with?
As you end make sure to verbalise an “I will” statement each. For example, “I will share this with…” Or “I will share my food with my next door neighbour…”
Remember, don’t teach! Simply allow space for God to speak to them.
You’ll be amazed as Jesus begins teaching them, convicting them and drawing them to Himself.
Step 3: Set Up Next Week
Once you’ve finished the first story, ask if they would like to go through the remaining signs of John over the coming weeks.
Each week start by asking if they did what they said they would, then repeat the process.
Recapping the week prior like this is important because now you are partnering with what God is already doing. We don’t want them to be just hearers of the word, but doers of the word!
Repeating the same questions is super important because this is how we get to multiplication. If you keep it simple, memorable and repeatable, then they are far more likely to have the confidence to go and teach someone else the exact the same thing. Do not be surprised if they are discipling someone before the end of the 7 Signs of John.
Step 4: Ongoing Discipleship
Once you have finished the 7 Signs of John, they’ll likely be following Jesus. Then you can use the exact same questions and move on to another set of stories like the Commands of Christ, or the Sermon on the Mount.
Let’s Go
I told you it could be easy!
If you follow the Discovery Bible Process, (which is being used by millions of believers all around the world and bearing crazy amounts of fruit) without teaching, convicting or motivating them, you would have allowed plenty of space for God to move…
And all of a sudden you are now making disciple makers!
Get rid of the fear, and get in the game.
Who are you going to invite first?
Let’s Go!
James
Download a free copy of the 7 Signs of John PDF resource below:
