Who is responsible for your discipling?
By Jim Boesch
“Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw Simon and his brother Andrew putting a net into the sea. They were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” At once they left their nets and followed Him.”
Mark 16: 16-18
The question for today’s reflection is “How can your church encourage each person to own his own growth as a disciple?” (Selected from Intentional Discipleship System Questions by Discipleship Ministries UMC).
The answer to this question is paramount to our effort to establish a foundation for Jesus’ church to accomplish the purpose for which it was created.
This harkens me back to my days as a training manager in a business in which the company provided training for the employees, but the employees had an equal responsibility to contribute to their own personal growth.
Today’s faith communities own 50 percent of the responsibility for their Jesus followers to become disciples who are then capable of making disciples of others. The person following Christ owns the other 50 percent of the responsibility to make and live into the changes in his life that enable others to mature into fishers of men.
To support our local churches in fulfilling their end of this 50 percent discipling responsibility, our commission provides tremendous training and equipping resources to achieve these heart changes.
To fit the busy schedules of congregations most of the training materials of the commission and partner agencies are available in both instructor-led and internet-based formats.
The commission also provides regularly scheduled webinars that provide information and strategies for ministry and for personal spiritual growth.
In considering the adage “A man can’t sell what he hasn’t bought himself,” please consider how the commission can support you and your men on the journey to become fishers for Jesus.
Jim Boesch is a men’s ministry specialist and a deployed staff member of the
General Commission on UM Men
jimboesch68@gmail.com