One Question Every Christian Should Ask Part 2

August 05 2011, 10:39 am | Daniel Bollen

About a year ago, one of my friends asked another friend a question that rocked both our worlds.  The question is simple but the answer is complex.  Regardless of its simplicity, I feel that this particular question is one question that every Christian should ask and be asked on a regular basis.  So what is this world-rocking question you might ask?

“Who are you discipling?”

Now, as a middle school pastor at a church, my initial response was “I am discipling the middle schoolers I work with every week”.  In theory, that should be good enough, right? There are like 50 of them!  Surely that should suffice...  But as I was sitting at breakfast with Danny Jones and Blake Hudspeth yesterday morning, Danny made a great point.  Now don’t quote me on this, but he basically said that I can’t choose [to disciple] everyone [in my particular ministry] because Jesus didn’t even do that.  From the 70+ (See Luke 6:17 & Luke 10:1), Jesus chose twelve, and from the twelve, He chose 3 (See Luke 9:28-36, Matthew 26:36-46*). 

This piece of wisdom coupled with the experience mentioned earlier has sent me into an important time of reflection.  Who am I discipling?  Who is included in my group of 70+, 12, and 3 (figuratively speaking of course)?  Chewing on this question has been good for me the past day and a half, so I want to encourage you to ask yourself:

“Who am I discipling?”

As someone that is called to go and make disciples**, does your ministry look like Christ’s ministry?  Do you have a large group of people that you are leading, loving, and serving?  Is there a smaller group that you literally walk through life with, sharing everyday experiences with and teaching along the way?  And is there an even smaller group that you allow into some of the most intimate aspects of your life?  People that you allow to see you in a way that no one else has or probably ever will see you?

Take some to think through these thoughts.  I hope they help you process your ministry the way they have helped me process mine.

*Though the Bible does not explicitly state that Jesus chose Peter, James, and John (also known as Simon and the sons of Zebedee) to be in a closer, more private “inner circle”, there is merit to the fact that Christ chose those three to go with Him to both the transfiguration and to be near him in His final hours before being arrested.  Which, in my opinion, suggests that Christ had a deeper relationship with those three than with the other 9 disciples.*

**That’s anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ.  See Matthew 28:16-20**

 

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