DISCIPLE-ING is Coaching With the WORD

When you are a disciple maker, everything you share with people should have a spiritual spin on it. It’s literally like coaching others with God’s Word.

I don’t witness to outsiders all day long. To the contrary, I work with some Christians in my businesses. But I try to bring out the Word and/or spiritual lessons when teaching or explaining how to do things. One of my businesses has to deal with customers face to face, and I teach my employees to present themselves entirely as Christians (some aren’t, yet), meaning reflecting biblical values in all of their dealings.

As Christians, we should  incorporate the Lord in virtually everything we do. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” (Col 3:23)

Remember disciple-ing doesn’t have to be only in the Bible class. Our Christian identity affects everything we do. Why? Because we are Christians 24/7, and through and through.

Paul was teaching Timothy to constantly be coaching. He said, “Preach the Word; be instant (constant) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2Tim 4:2)

Every aspect of our life should reflect the principles and values of the Word. We can’t be Christians only in-cathedra but also ex-cathedra. The gospel applies to every aspect of our life.

Recently, I was in need of coaching myself in regards to how to use social media better. Of course my ultimate goal is to shine the Lord’s truth and love in all of my interactions on social media. But the person sharing with me kept popping scriptures while teaching me. And I thought WOW, here’s somebody who really understands what disciple-ing is all about.

We understand that with children, training has to be consistent and continual. Solomon said, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Pro 22:6). And it’s the same in disciple-ing. Consistency is the name of the game.

(Incidentally, the book of Proverbs is just AWESOME when coaching and disciple-ing because it is filled with the keys to success in being a strong spiritual person.)

The Great Commission is not just for missionaries and it’s not just for churches. It’s for families. It’s a call to make disciples, to begin with the people in your home. When this becomes a joy, not a burden, when this becomes natural, not manufactured, and when this becomes intentional, not left to chance, you can truly say that “missions” are part of the foundation of the home. Then, your family will become a force shining GODLY values all around you.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deut 6:5–7)

Family discipleship should lead to an overflow of the good news to people outside the home, at work, at school, even at play, and around the community.

As parents, we have the divine task of teaching our kids who God is and what He is like. If the goal of our discipleship is to trust in Christ, then at any moment we can use that to tell them about Jesus and His trustworthiness, and that’s a step in the right direction. Remind your children of what God has done in the past and what you see Him doing in their lives now as well as what you hope He’ll do in the future. God is a personal God, and you have the chance to continually reintroduce your family to Him through DAILY testimonies.

Make friends with other disciple-ing parents so that not only you can compare notes and sharpen iron together, but so that your children will have friends who are encouraged in the same biblical training and values.

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.” (Ps 78:4)

By the way, I am preparing a GIFT for you. It’s a small MEMO book, which will cover every aspect of discipleship so that we can memorize the Word and always have it on the tip of our tongue in sharing/teaching others. I pray it’ll be a blessing.