Whose Responsibility is Discipleship?

Some people will be more gifted for it like those with the spiritual gift of pastor or perhaps exhortation.  Some people will be more impassioned toward it.  But we are still all to disciple (Matt. 28:19-20).  We can begin where we are.  There are many venues. 

Parents can disciple their own children.

Question:  How are you supposed to work to provide for your children, take care of the home, run kids to all their activities, and teach them besides all this?

Pastors and elders can disciple members of the Body.

Question:  Doesn’t preparing sermons and overseeing the ministry take up all your time, leaving little room for discipleship?

People in a small group or men’s or women’s ministries can disciple their own peer.  Workers in children’s or youth ministry can disciple those younger than themselves.

Question:  When are you to fit this in when you barely have time for your own family?

Teachers of Sunday School or other Bible classes can disciple their students.

Question:  How much should be expected of you?  Isn’t teaching a lesson enough?

I obviously can’t answer all the particulars of questions that arise out of your situation but I can give a few broad suggestions:

1. Understand the priority of discipleship.  When something is important to us, we usually find or make the time for it.  It’s about teaching others to follow the Chief Shepherd.  Are our many activities more important than that?
2. Use everyday life, teachable moments.  Discipleship is about sharing the Word with people but also praying for them, encouraging them, being an example for them, and spurring them on which does not require a formal meeting but can be done in any setting.
3. Utilize a network of people and opportunities to help you.  Don’t think that you can do it all but certainly do what you can do.  Networking is not about relieving you of the responsibility to disciple but rather of helping you do it better.