Three Steps to Successful Discipleship

Written by Andy Harrison

Many veteran youth ministers often struggle with the issue of building a discipleship plan and wish they could do a better job discipling students. You can have a successful discipleship program as you seek God's direction, evaluate your spiritual gifts, and focus on the basics.

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As you anticipate what you want your students to be like after they graduate and leave your area of ministry, you must evaluate your focus. Is your focus a "feel-good" youth ministry in which your students will only remember the "events" or their years with you? Or are you using events along with other programs to help them mature in their faith? Here are three steps to building a successful discipleship program for your students:

1. Seek God's direction for your group.

Each church situation is unique. The church's location, size, setting and theological and ministerial emphases should contribute to your plan. Check out Acts 17:26-27. These verses indicate that God is into the details of our lives. He also has a divine purpose for your church that will uniquely capture and mature the hearts of those who are touched by its ministry.

Successful youth discipleship programs do not all look the same. Have you sought God's divine direction for your students?

2. Know your spiritual gifts and build a team of leaders who possess various other spiritual gifts.

You may have the gift of evangelism and find it easy to disciple students in sharing their faith. At the same time, you may not be strong in discipling new Christians and helping the young believers become rooted in their faith. You are wise to seek out leaders who have passions and giftedness in areas in which you are not as passionate and gifted. A balanced discipleship program that includes both your strengths plus the strengths of your leadership team gives students the best advantage to leave your program with a well-balanced and mature faith.

3. Instill the basics.

Does your discipleship program include prayer, Bible study, Scripture memory, witnessing, ministry, worship and fellowship? Have you taken your students through Bible study times to show the importance of developing these disciplines of the faith? Have you included mentors or disciplers to encourage, exhort, and model these basics?

As you pray about strengthening your discipleship program, keep in mind that discipleship is incomplete without relationships. Jesus' teachings became life to the disciples as they observed His heart in action.

Andy Harrison is the Student Ministry and Education Specialist of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, OK