Do you ever stop to think about the lives of “great” men and women and consider what made them great? Take, for example, the life of D. L. Moody. He came to Christ under the tutelage of a relatively unknown Sunday School teacher. Who would have guessed that Moody would become a dynamic preacher and disciple-maker, winning hundreds of thousands to the Lord?

Discipleship is the life message of one person reaching another person. It is a relationship that must be characterized by Christlike love and humility. It takes place when you sacrifice to invest in the life of another.

In order for true discipleship to take place, we must have sincere and transparent motives. Any hypocrisy will only destroy, rather than build up. It is for this reason Scripture says, “A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor” (Proverbs 11:9). This is also why we are exhorted by Christ to “love one another; as I have loved you…. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35). Loving the Lord is another key ingredient to discipleship, because it radiates from our lives and reaches the lives of all those around us.

So, how do we disciple others? The primary way is by example. Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1). We must “walk what we talk” in a spirit of love.

Discipleship is most effective when practiced with the support of God-given authorities. For example, you may wish to encourage a young person through weekly sharing, studying of Scripture, and accountability meetings. Seek the blessing of the authorities involved and work closely with that authority to achieve his goals for the one under his care. While a form of discipleship can take place with an unwilling soul (e.g., by “assignment”), it is most effective when it is a voluntary endeavor rather than a compulsory one.

In discipling others, it is important to share from your own life the struggles and victories God has given and from these to make applications to daily living. People tend to learn more from mistakes than from successes. A powerful way to help others by testimonies is to describe the following aspects: (1) the problem, (2) how you tried to solve it, (3) the negative results of your attempt, (4) God’s solution to the problem, and (5) the benefits of doing things His way. By sharing in is manner, you free others to recognize their own potential and how God can turn their problems into powerful testimonies.

Discipleship takes place as you invest yourself in the life of another. It can happen through discussing a message, writing letters, reading biographies, or spending time together. However it happens, the message and testimony prepared from a life will reach a life. Just think—you may be impacting a “hero of faith” and millions of people for eternity!

—A Student From Nebraska

April 2002