Become Who You Were Meant to Be!

Welcome to episode one of the new "The Discipleship Tool" podcast!

In this episode, Andy talks about the journey to creating "The Discipleship Tool" and why discipleship is key to becoming who you were meant to be.

We will also hear and address the four barriers to discipleship.

Transcript

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Welcome to the Discipleship Tool Podcast. I'm Andy George and I am so very incredibly excited that you join me for this very first episode of this great journey that we are going to have around discipleship and great conversations and discussions all about discipleship. So before we jump into this particular episode, I do want to tell you a little bit about why we created this discipleship tool and what's in store for all of us as we move forward. And again, just really excited that you decided to listen to this podcast. And I'm hoping and really praying that this will just give you the resource that you need in your discipleship journey. So, anyways, so a little bit of background story. I've been in ministry over 30 years. I've played a bunch of different roles. I was a youth pastor, campus pastor, associate pastor, played various roles as well. And for the last several years, I've been a senior pastor. And as I looked at our church, I started to ask the question about what are we doing when it comes to disciples and making disciples? And, you know, just a little context around our church is that our mission statement of our church, or while we exist, we exist to develop fully devoted followers of Jesus who want to transform the triangle in the world. That's that's our purpose, that's our why. And so I was just asking questions around, well, how are we actually doing in developing fully devoted followers of Jesus or disciples? And how are we doing at transforming the triangle, which is the area we live in in the world, and that's your evangelism and your outreach and all those things like that. And so when I started asking the questions specifically around discipleship, uh, what I found is very, very common. We had and still have very good programming. We got great teachers, we got small groups, we have sermon series, we have videos that we've created, things we've written around discipleship and spiritual matters and spiritual growth, and all that's great. And then the Lord started to really prompt a second question. The second question is really where my heart began to stir. And that second question is and was how are we actually making disciples who make other disciples? How are we actually seeing that people are trained, equipped, empowered, and released to make other disciples themselves multiplication? And so that got me on a journey and a discovery. And I kept coming back to well, we got a lot of great programs and we do great classes and teachings. And I really, though, couldn't put my finger on very many examples where multiplication was happening in this particular regard. And so I started asking a bunch of other churches just because I like to network and I like to find out what's out there. So I started to ask a lot of really great churches, what are you doing when it comes to discipleship? And these churches, by the way, all different sizes, different denominations, all wonderful churches. And again, I got a lot of really great answers around programming, around groups, around classes, around teams and teaching series and books and materials that were written, all of which were great. And there's a lot of great things out there, by the way. So then I started asking that second question. Well, how are you actually gauging and measuring? How are you actually knowing if the strategies you have where you can actually point to disciples who are making other disciples, who are making other disciples, and multiplication is happening? And I did not get a lot of great answers for that. I got a lot of the same things that I would have said and that I did say. Well, we got great programs, we have teaching, we got classes, we have leadership development, we're reaching our city, we're doing all these great outreaches. And again, certainly, certainly, multiplication and discipleship is happening within those pockets. I'm confident of that. And at the same time, I feel like there was something kind of missing. So again, I went on this journey to find something that our church could use, not just to teach discipleship, but how do we actually put together a cohesive plan, if you will? Something that would not only teach discipleship, explain it, and be able to discuss it, but then also how do we actually evaluate it? How do we gauge it? How do we set growth plans and multiplication plans moving all the way through the spectrum to where now we're producing disciples who are making disciples? And again, I really couldn't find one out there. Now I'm sure there are things like this out there. I'm positive that there are people doing really incredible work around these. And I did find and come across, again, a lot of really wonderful churches and organizations who are doing some very beautiful work around discipleship. And at the same time, I just couldn't grab something that really worked well for our church. And again, a lot of great resources, a lot of great organizations. Some were really complicated and hard to follow. Some were a little old and outdated, uh, some were very specific for just what they were doing in their context. And again, all of those are great and they're all good resources, but it really didn't work for our church. And quite honestly, for a lot of the churches that I talked to. So I thought, well, why don't we just prayerfully ask the Lord to lead us to create our own resource? And that's kind of what we did. We started uh with an equip manual, which is nine sessions around five behaviors of a disciple. Our church used it. We we trained parts of our church in it. Uh many of our small groups went through this as well. We actually preached on it. We did like a nine-week sermon series on it. We created videos around it. And actually, I'm really excited that a lot of churches, literally around the world, are using the equip book. It's actually, at the time of this translation, uh, at the time of this recording, it's been translated into five different languages right now, and I'm excited about the future of that. And again, that was just on more of the teaching side around discipleship. Yes, it gave some practical things to do, and yes, there were some encouraging things around multiplication, but not really how to actually implement it uh in an individual setting. So I still felt like there was something missing. So again, we went on this writing journey and this prayer journey. And what we did was we actually produced what is now called the discipleship tool. Now, this tool not only has the equip manual as part of it, but we actually developed out more of a teaching around those five behaviors of a disciple. We actually created an assessment and a study guide. That way somebody can start with our equip manual. It's like your step one or your one-on-one level, and then continue to grow and develop through the assessment into a growth study plan and then next steps, and then ultimately making more disciples who make disciples. What I like about what we created, it's not that it's better, it's not that it's worse than anything else out there. I think it's unique because it takes you on a full journey from start to finish. It gives you the tools you need, all within one packaged idea around discipleship. And we're going to talk more about all that down the road, and we'll explain the five behaviors and we'll explain our assessment and we'll really dig into how to use it and talk about the ins and outs of it. And I'm really am excited about it. I'm excited about the assessment tool and the study guides and the assessment tool, which I hope that you will take. And on our assessment tool, they'll actually assess you in these five behaviors of connect, grow, serve, pray, and give. And there's 10 questions around each one of those. So it's a 50 question assessment. And those 50 questions will evaluate where in those topics you are learning, living, or leading. Those are the three phases or phases of where you are in that disruptive journey in those five behaviors. So whether you're still figuring it out, which means that you're still learning it or you're actually implementing it in your life, living it, or are you actually leading other people and multiplying people in it? So that's how it's broken down. And then we created study guides that go with all those topics, the 50 topics, each one has their own unique study guide. That way, when you are creating a growth plan or you're trying to discover what's going on in your own personal life or with somebody else, it's literally all contained in one tool called the discipleship tool. And before we get into all that and future episodes, I want to talk us through just about becoming who you were created to be. So when I think about discipleship and if this episode here, uh, the title, if I had a title, it'd be uh Becoming Who You Were Meant to Be. And I think sometimes when it comes to discipleship and it comes to all the things we're doing, I really do think sometimes we're looking and asking the wrong questions. In discipleship and in life, we want strategies, we want programs, we want something quick, we want something we can do now and and get it done. And we kind of like to check the box, don't we? I know I am. I like checking boxes, I like, I like writing down my to-dos for the day. In fact, I'm that kind of person where I'll write down all my to-dos, and then I'll write down one of my to-dos is to write my to-dos. That way I can check that box off. And and I think that as we're asking these kind of questions, uh, we start asking questions like, well, just tell me what to do and I need to do it. So if you're listening to this podcast and going through this material, yes, part of it is because you want to know what to do. But there's more to it than that. There, there's a bigger question. So we start with questions like, just tell me what to do, tell me how to do it, show me how to do it, point me in a direction, give me strategies, give me tools, all of which are great and fine. But at the same time, I think that the best question that any of us can ask is who? Who am I actually becoming? Who do I need to become? We live in this world that's obsessed with so much doing. Our calendars are full, our inboxes are never empty, our identity often feels tied to what we achieve or produce. And this happens in ministry, it happens in leadership, it happens in family life, it happens across the board. And it's easy to default to action before reflection. It's easy to go immediately to what do I need to do rather than who am I actually becoming? When I look at Jesus, though, and the model that Jesus gives us for life and spirituality, it's also found in discipleship. I found that Jesus doesn't necessarily just start with what? He also addresses the heart of the issue. This is why discipleship is so essential. Discipleship, by the way, uh let me uh what you're gonna hear me say quite quite a bit, is not a program. Discipleship is not a program, it's not a class, it's not a season we're in. It's the very heartbeat of what it means to follow Jesus. It's about transformation and not just information. And I think one of the biggest gaps that the church has fallen into is information overload. It's just the teaching components of discipleship, which again is very needed and very good. But the transformational side really kicks in when you and I start to own and lead in multiplication of other disciples. It's the lifelong process of becoming more like Jesus in every area of our life, in our relationships, and our leadership, our decision making, our character, and yes, our calling and discipleship. So, this tool, it's more than just a framework, it's more than just an assessment. What I like to think of it as is more like a mirror to reflect what I'm doing, where I am, but more than that, who am I becoming? It's like this roadmap, it's this step-by-step guide into this deeper devotion, this fuller obedience, and a life that looks increasingly more and more like Jesus. So too often we complicate what it means to be a disciple. Let's face that. I think that's very true. Too often we make it way more difficult than it needs to be. We're making it really, really hard, and we're making it very, very programmic in nature. And by the way, Jesus, as I see it, and I see him, though it is costly, it's very clear he invites us not into shallow belief, but into radical transformation. In Matthew chapter 28, verses 18 to 20, that's a great commission. Jesus is giving his final marching orders to the church. He says, All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the very end of the age. So this command, as we read it, it's not just for pastors, it's not just for missionaries, it's given to every follower of Jesus. Making disciples begins with each one of us. So this resource, as I already said, is built around five behaviors that fully devoted that fully devoted followers of Jesus will become. But more importantly, it's who they are right now and it's who they are going to become. These five behaviors connect, grow, serve, pray, give. They are not spiritual random check boxes. They are not uh the natural uh uh outworking of just programmic nature. It is the natural overflow of a transformed life. In other words, they reflect the heart of a disciple who walks daily with Jesus, lives for his mission, shapes the world around them through the power of the gospel. So let me give you two working simple definitions. Discipleship as I see it is becoming more like Jesus by following his teachings and his ways. That's kind of it. That's at the core what discipleship is. It's becoming more and more like Jesus because we're following his teachings and his ways. And so now let's define a disciple. Well, a disciple is somebody who is in discipleship, following Jesus, his teaching and his ways, and they are making other disciples. Remember that verse. Go therefore and make disciples. Not just go learn more, not just go study more, go actually make disciples. That's the big piece we're trying to get to. And so as we walk through this together over the next season of this podcast and our material, we need to take time and reflect. Take time to be honest. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you. Ask God to inform you and transform you into what the world cannot, the character, the humility, the boldness, the joy of a fully devoted follower, Jesus. Again, a disciple. And here's the thing: you and I weren't created just to simply believe in Jesus. We were made to become like Jesus. We were made to multiply that. We weren't made to just multiply knowledge and knowing about him. We were meant to multiply him. And the great thing is that we get to do this together. So, in other words, you were not meant to do this uh or just have more knowledge about it, to do it alone. You're not meant to just study more and more. That's all great and fine. It's actually just become more and more like him. And that's what discipleship is. That's what I'm passionate about. That's what I love about this tool. It's seeing people become more and more like Jesus because they're following those teachings and his ways, and they are multiplying all of that into other people. So in this episode, before we close out, I want to take just another minute or so and I want to address excuses. Because again, one of the biggest things I found when it comes to discipleship is that people have barriers, and that's kind of the nice way of saying it, but really they're excuses. Excuses about why they can't do that. And I think these are kind of very obvious, but I want to name them because I think maybe some of you listening, you already might be thinking of excuses about why you can't go through the material, why you can't take the assessment, or why you can't make other disciples, why you can't get connected further. And listen, just name it. They're just excuses. It's excuses that hold us back. It's excuses that hold us back from being all that God really wants us to be. And so here we go. There's there's four of them, real quickly, I just want to name the first barrier, the first excuse is I don't know how to do this. Now that's very, very real. In fact, there's a survey that came out several years ago around discipleship, and what was found is that the number one reason why people don't engage in discipleship or multiply other disciples is just because they don't know how to do it, which I actually think is actually encouraging. Because the reason could be I don't want to do it. In fact, what I find is that most of the excuses that we use, it's really not about not wanting to do it. It's not about saying, I don't want to do this, because it's hard to argue, right? You can't, you can, you, you can look at the Great Commission, and I don't know how you say, nah, I'm I'm good. When Jesus says go make disciples, and we're like, ah, I'm nah, I'm all right. I don't I don't want to do that. It's hard to look at what Jesus says and then as Christians say, no. So we can't really argue that Jesus points us to it, but let's address the barrier and the excuse. I don't know how to do it. And sometimes discipleship feels like you're kind of in the middle of nowhere with uh with no map and you're trying to figure your way around it. And like you have no idea what you're doing or where you're going, but you're at least willing to go. And so discipleship, you might not know how to do it, but you have to be willing. And you're not sure where to start, but we got to start somewhere. And the good news is that you don't have to have it all figured out before you begin. Every disciple Jesus ever called started with one step of obedience, and then they trusted him to lead the way. And that's what I'm asking you to do. I'm asking you, you might not know how to do this. In fact, you probably don't know how to do this to the extent that you need to do it, and that's okay. Just be willing to take the first step forward. Second barrier. The second one I've noticed and I've heard is that I've never seen it modeled. And so let me just ask you. I wonder, how many of you have ever actually seen healthy, ongoing, multiplication-driven discipleship modeled for you? For some, the idea of discipleship is hard to picture because you've never seen anybody do it or you've never had anybody walk with you in it. And maybe you are a disciple because you're following Jesus' teachings and his ways, which is wonderful, but you're not really engaging with other people around that. Maybe you've had a faithful and a good church experience or a good class or a program or a small group or a great teacher or a preacher, but you've never had somebody take you literally and show you what it means to follow Jesus every day. And that's why God gives us each other. That's why God gives us the church. That's why I believe God gave us the desire and the ability to put together this discipleship tool so we can actually see and learn from each other's faith up close and personal. All right, number three, the third excuse is this. I don't know if I'm ready. I hear this one pretty regularly when I talk to people about discipleship or engage with me in discipleship or engaging one of their other team members or people who are trained in this around discipleship, is they just don't think they're ready. And again, guess what? You, you're you're probably not. And that's okay. And neither was I, and and neither am I to the fullness of what I need to do. And we all feel this way so many times. And maybe it's because we think we're too young in the faith. Maybe we think we're just too young, maybe we think we're too old, maybe we're too busy, maybe we feel like we're broken, maybe we feel like this is for somebody else. But readiness in the kingdom isn't about having it all together. It's just about being willing. The question isn't, are you ready? It's are you willing? Jesus didn't call the most polished or the most qualified. He called fishermen, he called tax collectors, he called ordinary people who said yes to him that he then did extraordinary things with. There's this old statement that says God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called, and I believe that holy. If we are just willing to say yes to Jesus, I believe that he will qualify, train, empower, equip us to do the very thing. So I'm not sure I'm ready. Guess what? I don't know if I'm ready either, but here we are, and and we're willing to say yes. The last one, the fourth barrier, number four, is I'm afraid of what it might cost me. Now we all know that following Jesus costs us something. It costs us our time, our comfort, maybe even relationships. But here's the truth: it will never cost you more than it's worth. It is worth everything. Every sacrifice we made for Jesus is met with something far greater in return. It's met with his presence, it's met with his joy. The kind of life that only comes by walking with him. And so which is which excuse do you have? Or which one are you facing? And maybe it's you don't know how to do it, maybe you've never seen it modeled, maybe you don't think you're ready, maybe you're not ready to pay the price that it costs to be a disciple. And I think that when we enter into this journey together around discipleship and this discipleship tool, at times you're gonna face each one of those. Barriers that's going to happen, whether to you personally or to someone else. Part of what I love about what we're putting together here is that we're trying to eliminate barriers. I'm trying to eliminate as many excuses and barriers that anybody has around discipleship. And that's what I love about this discipleship tool. So somebody could say, I don't know how to do it. Well, hey, here's a here's an entire tool you can use. Start with this, go to this next step, this next step, this next step, and here's everything you need to know. Well, I've never seen it modeled. Well, we're gonna we're gonna help you with that. We're gonna give you as many ways and ideas as show you how to do this. And maybe you feel like you're not equipped enough. And well, we're gonna help you with that. And so where wherever you are on your journey, whether you are using this discipleship tool or something else, you're gonna face barriers. And people aren't going to feel ready. They're not gonna know how to do it, they're not gonna see it modeled. We just want people willing to say yes. So if this is you, just know you're not alone in this. You're not disqualified. God doesn't just call the people who are already ready to go and polished. He makes people devoted as they follow him. Discipleship at its core is a journey of becoming. And becoming always begins with surrender. And I'm gonna say this one more time. Discipleship at its core is a journey of becoming. And becoming always begins with surrender. So the big question is uh, are you ready to do this? Are you willing to surrender and walk with them? And here's the thing about discipleship: it's never done. It's not a checkbox. This isn't like just go through this and all of a sudden you're done and you can just check all these boxes and you never have to do anything again. No, no, no. Discipleship is a lifelong journey. It's a lifelong journey of me and you becoming more and more like Jesus and helping other people to do the same thing. So, the goal, if I could give you a goal around what this is all about, the goal is for you and for me to become fully devoted followers of Jesus. That is the goal. Fully devoted followers of Jesus who are making disciples, who are making other disciples. And then the question is, well, how do I know if we're actually doing this? How can we measure this? Well, the way that I would say it is that the reason why we built this tool, quite honestly, is that we want to help us understand that to the extent the five behaviors of a disciple are being lived out, that's how we know if we're doing this. To the extent that people are connecting and growing and serving and praying and giving. That is how we kind of know and how we can gauge if people are actually walking in discipleship and walking this out in their real life. Well, listen, I am very, very grateful and I want to thank you again for joining us on this first episode. We've got a lot of great things in store, and I can't wait to walk with you in all of this and all the resources and the assessment and the topic study guide. And we also love to hear from you. We'd love to hear how you're doing in this journey. We love to know how we can help you. And so you can reach out to us uh through theddiscipleshiptool.com. You can find out all our information, all the assessments, all the resources. You can contact us that way. And listen, I've already said this before, I'm gonna say it again. We're in this together. You're not alone. And I hope and pray that this tool will help you in your journey. And I'm looking forward to having you join us on the next episode of the Discipleship Tool podcast.