Bible Students

Discipleship Video

This is Servants, Not Professionals, and In this video, we’re going to look at what discipleship is, what makes a good discipleship spot, and then put that into practice as we look at some discipleship spots in my home town, Indio CA. 

What is discipleship?

First things first, what is discipleship? Discipleship is the process of making disciples of Jesus. But what is a disciple? Well, a disciple is just a learner of Jesus. All Christians are disciples of Jesus because we are learners from Him. Through His Word, His Spirit, and His people, we learn to be more like Him each day. Notice that last one? His people, that’s me and you! So how do we make other people into disciples? 

Discipleship essentially means following Jesus and coming alongside others who want to follow Jesus too! Let’s start out first with what discipleship is not. Discipleship is NOT being perfect. Discipleship is NOT preaching a sermon. Discipleship is NOT going through a 10 week program. Discipleship is a personal relationship between a more mature Christian and a less mature Christian, where the less mature learns to follow Jesus more like the mature. 

So if discipleship is just a personal relationship, and isn’t a class or sermon, what does discipleship actually do? Discipleship can be all kinds of things! Following Jesus takes over all of our life, which means we need to learn to follow Jesus well in every part of our life. That means learning to drive like Jesus. That means learning to shop like Jesus. That means learning to have fun like Jesus. That means learning to love others like Jesus. Talk like Jesus. Walk like Jesus. Guard one’s heart like Jesus. Date like Jesus. We are Jesus’ little examples, and we as Christians learn to follow Him in every area of our lives! Which means, what do you do in discipleship? Everything! 

A mature Christian and a new Christian are driving. They get cut off, the mature Christian has to swerve a bit, but is okay. The new Christian thinks, wow this guy didn’t curse the other driver out. The mature Christian and the new christian get to the grocery store. While there, the mature christian helps someone get something from the top shelf. He talks with the cashier. He’s patient with the fast food worker who messed up their order. He doesn’t get angry at his house when the new christian spills a drink on the carpet. To disciple someone is simply to live life as someone trying to follow Jesus in all of life, and calling another Christian to do that with them. Be who you are in Jesus and call others to follow with you. That Change happens in relationship.

So discipleship is just living life with other Christians. Where do you go to do it? In today’s America, discipleship often happens at coffee shops and taco bell. Is there something inherently spiritual about fast food and coffee? In my opinion, yes! But not because of the food and drink. Because of the life sharing that happens there. Coffee shops and fast food are great because you can share life there! But sharing life, through actions, example, speech, interests, and more can happen in many places. A good discipleship spot is determined by what you want to do. So what do ya’ll want to do? 

What makes a good discipleship spot? 

Notice, I asked what ya’ll want to do. Good discipleship happens when you both can experience something together. At first, this is going to have to be pretty surface level. There’s a reason people don’t often introduce themselves and immediately trauma dump. It’s awkward. You have to get to know them and show you are a safe person. With people you’ve known and have trusted forever, you can go or do just about anything with them and still feel filled up. But with someone you’re just starting to disciple, you’ll want to start on the surface and do some activities you enjoy. Here’s the problem: Exciting things are expensive. So let’s look at a few fun activities to do that won’t break the bank! For each one, I’ll also give the process for finding a good location. 

Frisbee and convo! A frisbee is like 10 bucks, and can be used forever! Throw a frisbee around at a park and enjoy the nice weather. Show what it looks like to ask someone for help in retrieving a lost frisbee. Talk about sports or school. Get chased by a dog! Hold your tongue when you’re bitten by ants. And laugh about overheard conversations. This is a great way to break the ice. 

Near indio, there are a bunch of parks. So I’ll just look up where to buy a cheap frisbee, the local parks, cheap gatorades, fast food near by, and maybe a short list of ice breaking questions to ask if I’m feeling nervous. And just like that, I’m set to go!

So let’s move over to chatGPT and ask it about cheap good frisbees to buy. Click on this link to walmart, and look at that, some fun frisbees for a few bucks! Now let’s go back over and look at parks near indio california for throwing frisbees. That takes us to google maps with miles avenue park. This looks like an awesome park to throw a frisbee around, looks like I’m all prepared for an awesome time of discipleship!

Paint rocks to leave around the community! Some paint and rocks would set you back around 20 dollars at walmart. 

So let’s take a look at chatGPt again. We’ll look up paint that works on rocks, and it explains you’ll need acrylic paint for it to stick. So we’ll click on the recommendation, walmart again. Awesome! Multiple colors for only 7 bucks, and grab a dollar set of paint brushes. All set! 

Drive to some outdoor seating and paint rocks with Bible verses to set around the community. Ask about favorite verses. Personally, I don’t have hardly any addresses memorized. But if I type into chatGPT what I’m thinking, it’ll find it. Ask about places to put them, especially places that hold significance. School, old neighborhood, the park. 

Board game afternoon! Who doesn’t love getting away from their phone and playing a slow board game? Well, lots of people. But, their hearts can be changed! One of the best things about board games is that they give quiet moments for conversation to happen. This includes both fun razzing and more thoughtful conversation. Invite a few people to the church for a game from 5-Below (for 6 dollars, ironic), with some walmart chips and soda. The whole thing costs 15 bucks for a fun time! 

Let’s turn again to chatGPt to survey some of the fun games at 5 below! They have an amazing selection of novelty games for cheap. Highly recommend. And if we look up cheap sodas or snacks, walmart has great value if you’re in a pinch. 

These last two are really special to my heart. Play some videogames! In my experience, young men or boys love videogames. Including me. Still a young guy. It is almost always beneficial to a relationship when a younger guy who plays videogames more gets beat by an unc like me. Can’t beat this mind. Not good at videogames? Learn! I guarantee any time spent learning a game will not be time wasted, as you carry that through all of your discipleship relationships. Many of the most bonding moments with the students I am the most close with are over playing videogames!

Finally, go get coffee or fast food! This one is a classic for a good reason. The most important thing at a coffee shop or fast food place is YOU. To be interested in them, listen more than you speak, and get to know them. To round up 30 cents as a donation. To be kind to fast food workers when they 100% of the time get the order wrong. Taco bell across extended Indio, McDonalds, and Coffee shops all are great places where you can both enjoy your time with a good meal for under 20 dollars. 

Conclusion/Closing

The most important thing about discipleship is that you are following Jesus, and then that you are in that person’s life. Available, and showing them what it looks like for you to follow Jesus. No one should expect perfection. But everyone can benefit from seeing the unique way God has gifted and called you, how you follow Him in that, and how you care and love for others around you. Discipleship is a zero-time-wasted activity. There will never be a point when you look back and say wow I wish I spent less time loving people like Jesus, unless there’s something wrong in your heart. So what are you waiting for? Go out and make disciples of all nations! Ask!

Hey you probably noticed I used chatGPT for research in this video! If you want to see some of the other convenient ways I use chatGPt in my ministry job, click here.