If you decided that you were going to seriously invest time and energy in helping someone become a committed disciple of Christ, would you know what to do or where to start? Or if you decided that you needed to become a more deeply devoted disciple of Christ, would you know how to allow someone to help you, or even who to ask?
Don’t feel discouraged if you find you cannot answer either of these questions with conviction or clarity. To be honest, I do not believe most Christians could, and a lot of that comes down to a tool issue. Let me explain.
Over 20 years ago, I received a battery-operated drill as a wedding gift. I proudly added it to my humble tool collection consisting only of a carpenter's belt with a hammer, a chalk line, a measuring tape and framing square, a small socket set, an old reciprocating saw, an assortment of mismatched screwdrivers, and some jumper cables. That was it. One cardboard box could contain all of my handymanliness. My tools today are a different story. I have quite a few tools, probably too many, all of which live in the barns behind my house. Seeing as how I am a pastor, not a contractor, carpenter, or mechanic, how did this happen? You probably already know how. Over time, I encountered projects, and each project needed a specific tool to complete the job. Instant justification for “needing” the right tool would find me roaming the aisles of Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, or Harbor Freight. Invariably, I would find the tool I needed, and it just so happened my eyes would fall on a few other tools I did not necessarily need at the time but that I surely might need one day. Fighting through the roll of my wife’s eyes, I would leave the store “tooled up” for the actual job and the imaginary jobs of my future.
On a more serious note, the right tool really does change everything. History proves this. Simple things we see and use every day changed entire civilizations. Domesticating the horse, shaping the wheel, forging steel, creating gunpowder, and harnessing the power of a combustible engine are just a few tools that impacted mankind. Modernity is no different. Think about life without antibiotics, air conditioning, your smartphone, or wifi. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? Tools really do change everything.
Over the years, however, I have discovered that there is a tool missing for the church, for Christians, for your life, and for my life. A tool that has everything to do with our existence as people who love and follow Jesus. We know the project and goal. We even know the scope and scale. We just do not seem to have the right tool.
The project I am speaking of is the clear command Christ gave His followers to make disciples. You have heard it before, but it never hurts to read it again. It is rightfully called the Great Commission.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18–20, ESV, underline added for emphasis
Discipleship is not confusing, but these relationships are not happening. At least, not the one-on-one work. The roll up our sleeves and get into one another's life work. The meet with me, pray with me, teach me, and hold me accountable work. Where is that, and how should we do it? I know resources exist, and I have read a lot of helpful ones. But I find myself wanting more for myself and the people I shepherd. I longed for one tool that could be used by believers for approximately one year of intentional discipleship, so I set about creating one.
40 is a tool I designed to be used between Christ-followers in a discipleship relationship. Notice, I did not call it a book. Books are for reading. I love books, and many books have impacted my life greatly. However, this is not a book; it is a tool to help you fulfill the Great Commission. I wrote it so you and the person you will meet with will have a guide. You will have subjects to discuss, lessons to learn, scripture to study, and questions to ask. This journey will not be easy or casual. But it is designed to be doable, digestible, and difference-making.
Does spending your life making disciples sound impossible or too big to accomplish? It is not. By the grace of God, you can do this, and 40 is a road map to help you. You can purchase copies HERE today.