Train Up Others
Training Up Others: A Biblical Guide to Discipleship
Discipleship is one of the core responsibilities of every Christian believer. It involves training others to follow Jesus while growing in our own faith journey. The goal isn’t just to make converts, but to develop mature followers of Christ who can then disciple others.
What Does Biblical Discipleship Look Like?
Throughout Scripture, we see powerful examples of discipleship relationships:
- Moses mentored Joshua to lead Israel
- Elijah trained Elisha as his prophetic successor
- Jesus invested deeply in His 12 disciples
- Paul guided Timothy in pastoral ministry
The common thread in these relationships was personal investment, modeling, and preparing others to carry on the mission.
Why Is Personal Relationship Important in Discipleship?
As Howard Hendricks wisely noted, “You teach what you know, but you reproduce who you are.” True discipleship happens through shared life and example, not just classroom instruction. Jesus demonstrated this by living with His disciples and showing them how to minister.
What Qualities Should Disciples Demonstrate?
Key qualities for effective discipleship include:
- Servant leadership – Following Jesus’ example of humility
- Character over capability – Living a godly life that others can follow
- Willingness to invest – Making time to pour into others
- Multiplication mindset – Training others who will train others
How Do We Train Others to Make Disciples?
The goal is multiplication – training disciples who will make more disciples. As Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, we should entrust what we’ve learned to faithful people who can teach others.
This happens through:
- Modeling Christ-like character
- Teaching biblical truth
- Providing ministry opportunities
- Encouraging reproduction
Life Application
Take time to prayerfully consider:
- Who is God calling you to disciple? Ask Him to show you someone to invest in.
- What’s holding you back from discipling others? Identify and address those barriers.
- How can you be more intentional about modeling Christ-like character to those around you?
Challenge for this week: Identify one person in your sphere of influence and take a first step toward discipling them – perhaps by inviting them to coffee, offering to pray with them, or starting a Bible study together.
Remember: Every disciple must be a disciple-maker. Don’t let fear or feelings of inadequacy stop you from fulfilling this vital calling.