How to Train a Disciple

1. How to Train a Disciple Follow‑Up

2. Disciple Making Begins with Evangelism • If we work only with Christians in disciple‑making • The net gain to the kingdom of God is zero • The mark of the committed disciple - aggressive evangelism • The fruit of evangelism = people to choose your Timothy to disciple

3. Follow-up Spiritual Pediatrics • 1st step in disciple‑making process is evangelism • Engage the enemy in combat and set the captives free • 2nd step is follow‑up • Spend time with a new convert to see that he grows and matures into the likeness of Jesus Christ • Spiritual Reproduction • Spiritual Pediatrics • The care and protection of a spiritual infant until they grow and provide for themselves

4. A Father’s Heart • The Bible teaches us that God has a father’s heart - Isaiah 40‑66 • Jesus taught us to refer to God as “our Father” • Importance of Follow‑up • Relating to the young Christian the loving concern that our God has shown toward us • A baby being left alone without proper care – shocking!

5. Fear of Becoming Involved • Many are afraid to become involved in follow‑up • They feel inadequate • They do not think they know enough to become a spiritual parent • Feelings of inadequacy are quite normal and probably will never leave • No parents feel they have all the answers while raising children • Follow‑up – basic guidelines

6. Ensure Proper Care & Deal with Trouble Areas • Waylon Moore’s oldest child • Born with lung membrane disease – prevented oxygen from mixing with the blood • Children born with this disease usually die – 10% chance of survival • Grateful they had the most qualified pediatrician in the city taking care of her • Immediately put her in isolation • Took every precaution to make sure she lived • By God’s grace, she did, and today she is a healthy young woman • The care and concern the doctor gave • A beautiful illustration of the involvement required when dealing with new Christians

7. Go over the plan of salvation • 1 John 5:11‑12 • “And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life” • Every person who has the Son has life • Ask the new Christian, “Where is Jesus Christ tonight?” • Wherever else they say Christ is, they should also say that Christ is in their heart • An illustration • A pencil inside a Bible - Bible representing Jesus Christ and the pencil, eternal life

8. Go over the plan of salvation 1 John 5:11-12 • Many Christians live in a fog of uncertainty • They do not understand what the Scriptures teach so they lack assurance of salvation • Proper growth and development • Only come when the new Christian knows with assurance that he is a child of God for all eternity

9. Pray for Him • Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-20 • 2 great prayers of Paul deal with their growth and maturity • Most NT prayers deal not with the unsaved, but with the growth and maturity of new Christians • Prayer is the hardest work for a Christian! • Yet, it is the most important part of follow‑up • Simply pray for your new Christian the same prayers that you find in in Ephesians • Study the New Testament prayers and use them

10. Pray for Him • Think through the areas in where you are having difficulty • Then pray for others in these matters • ‘There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13) • All of us fight the same temptations and have the same basic needs

11. Visit soon & frequently after their decision for Christ • Particularly important immediately following conversion • Satan regroups and counterattacks! • The new Christian is particularly vulnerable • He does not understand the nature of spiritual warfare • He does not know the great truths in the Bible that can help him through trials and temptations

12. Visit soon & frequently after their decision for Christ • First 10 days of a child’s life - mother with him constantly • The older the child becomes, the less frequently she needs to see him • Also true in the spiritual life • Most significant ministry with a new Christian = encouragement! • Let him know • He is now a part of the family of God • You are brothers in Christ

13. Ensure a Proper Diet • When a baby is born, we bear the responsibility for feeding them regularly • Not when we want to but when they want to be fed • Often at the most inconvenient times • You do not ask them to manage for themselves! • What is the proper spiritual diet for a new Christian?

14. A Consistent Quiet Time • Mark 1:35 • “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” • Begin each day • A brief period of fellowship with the Lord • Spiritual nourishment for the day • Include a time of prayer and some time in the Word

15. A Consistent Quiet Time • Help him to be consistent with his quiet time • Meet once a week for two months • Begin with a short period of time with the Lord • Better 7 minutes with the Lord every day and stay with it, than to begin with 1 hour every morning, and then quit in discouragement

16. Bible Reading • 1 Peter 2:2 • “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby” • Start with a small portion from the New Testament or Psalms • Read a paragraph or two • Meditate on it • Circle one verse that is particularly meaningful • Do this for 6 mornings - on the 7th morning, review the six favorite verses • Pick out the one that is the favorite among the favorites • Write on a small card and memorize

17. Bible Study • Acts 20:32 • “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” • The most important goal of follow‑up • Teach them how to feed themselves from the Word of God

18. Bible Study • Learning how to feed themselves from the Word of God seems like work at first • They will be tempted to quit trying • Work closely with them, encouraging them • In the early weeks of learning how to do Bible study • Prepare the lesson with the new believer • Then have them prepare a study on their own • Meet with a group who also have done the study • Share their results and learn from one another

19. Ensure Love and Affection • Love is the one thing it is impossible to give people too much of • If a child is deprived of love in the early years of his life, they may never be able to truly understand what it means to love and be loved • One of the basic needs in life is to be loved and wanted • Envelop the young Christian with love!

20. Invite them to your home • Meals are a good event • Make them feel a part of the family • Make them always feel welcome in your home • 1 Corinthians 16:15 • “Know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” • Claim this verse for our own home!

21. Involve Them in the Warmth and Fellowship of the Church • Hebrews 10:25 • “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the day approaching” • The special chemistry of believer’s fellowship • Your friends become their friends • They will observe other believers and to adopt their lifestyle as their own • Their old life can be discarded, and a new life can begin to form

22. Take Them with You • In Mark 3:14 it is written of the Lord Jesus, • “And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach” • Travel together • Take vacations together • Play sports together • Do things together • Proverbs 27:17 • “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”

23. Ensure an Atmosphere of Acceptance • 1 Peter 4:8, “Love covers the multitude of sins” • All children desire to be able to talk to their father about any subject without fear of being misunderstood or reprimanded • Overcoming Feelings of Inadequacy • We all feel inadequate in our relationships • It all turns out well by adding this ingredient called “love” • Stick close by the disciple and love him as you would love a member of your own family • God will do the rest