Discipleship Objectives - Disciplers' Main Goal

In pointing people to the Chief Shepherd, disciplers should not only help people they disciple know about Him but also trust and rely on Him, not to depend on the discipler.

Among many Discipleship Objectives, disciplers' main goal should be to work themselves out of a job.

The ministry description for a discipler is the same in many respects as any other kind of shepherd both in the general ministry responsibilities as well as the specific ministry duties of a shepherd. These responsibilities could be turned into goals.
 
Possibly more than any other shepherding venue, however, disciplers' main objective should be to work themselves out of a job by helping the disciple develop spiritual disciplines. The long range goal is to build a dependence on the Lord and not on you. If you don't get people into the Word on their own, devoted to prayer, and engaged in the other disciplines, you have not truly developed a disciple of Jesus Christ.

  • Matt. 28:19-20 - "baptizing them . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
  • Col. 1:28-29 - "teaching everyone . . . so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ."
  • Phil. 2:12 - "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed -- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you . . . "
  • 2 Tim. 2:2 - "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

Even Jesus did not stay with His disciples forever. Ultimately He ascended to heaven. At times He sent them out on their own in preparation of His leaving and then had a time of feedback.


In addition to this content, the Shepherding Ministry Manual takes a look at Jesus' instructions and example to accomplish this objective. It also includes a page with questions to help you further reflect on and evaluate your discipleship practices in light of the content in this section.


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