Changing Your Corner of the World by Making Disciples

The heartbeat of The Navigators and the focus of Jesus’ earthly ministry are quite similar. Both embody a passion for making disciples that is “generational” and “intentional.”

We are not destined to simply watch as our chaotic world slides into greater disorder. God’s plan for changing the world involves each of us. You can change your corner of the world—one relationship at a time.

Disciplemaking. Jesus instructed His followers to “make disciples” and promised them, “I am always with you” (see Matthew 28:18-20). A disciple is a follower of Jesus: one who knows Him, tries to live as He lived, and never stops learning from Him; a lover of God and people.

Generational. Jesus invested in a small group who learned from Him and were guided to teach others. In one of His final prayers, Jesus said, “I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me” (John 17:9). Jesus shows us that we don’t need to take on the world, just a select few—discipling and mentoring them and teaching them to do likewise—to invest spiritually in the lives of others—the next generation of disciples. Jesus’ ministry continues in us because He first poured deeply into the lives of His disciples!

Intentional. Disciplemaking rarely happens by accident. It happens when one ordinary follower of Jesus intentionally invests in the lives of others by simply focusing on a select few people—maybe one or two. Discipling isn’t always pretty. It doesn’t always go according to plan. But there are people around you who would benefit from your efforts to help them learn to live and love like Jesus. You don’t have to be a spiritual giant. Simply help them learn to walk with God, to live as Jesus lived, and to help others to follow Jesus!

I do this by devoting time to a couple of young business owners on Tuesday mornings, working through The Navigators Topical Memory System. I also use the Design for Discipleship Bible study series to disciple a young husband over the phone.

Anyone can engage in intentional, generational disciplemaking. You just need to be a person who is willing to trust God to change the world, a few people at a time!