Finding Your Voice
When we remember who we are, we remember what we're capable of. Where would any of us be without people further along in school, career, marriage, parenting, health scares, or faith who offered us wisdom and hope? I remember a discouraging season of life where I lost some self-confidence because of closed doors and disappointing relationships. Then, meeting with a mentor who knew my strengths and blind spots began reminding me of past accomplishments, personal growth, and impact on others. He knew my potential, so in an inspired, wise, yet gentle way, he said, "David, use my voice till you find yours again."
This is what disciple-makers do. They help us see latent potential and to speak to who we can become in Christ. They remind us of what is true about the image we bear, and the faithfulness of God. Disciple-makers see our weaknesses as undeveloped strengths. They lend us their voice until we find ours.
Hopefully, you can recall people who helped you discover what's possible. We all need someone to believe in us, provoke us, coach us, and give us an opportunity. But, as much as we might want that, disciple-making is how each of us play out our salvation. Discipleship is God parenting us while we also learn to spiritually parent another. It’s never perfect or easy but it’s also spiritually re-orienting. Many Christians see themselves as flawed, don't-know-enough-Bible, don't-want-to-be-a-hypocrite, too-busy to spiritually invest their life into another. We’ve bought into a one-size-fits-all programmatic model of discipleship. But disciples aren’t mass produced. They’re handcrafted.
Small-Batch Disciplemaking was designed to uncover the story God’s already been redeeming. It’s a sort of field guide to find the words to talk about the difference Christ is making. The rhythms are ways to incarnate the life of Christ, leverage faith for the benefit of others, and most notably, reproduce faith with those closest. We might teach what we know but we reproduce who we are. Certainly there’s more to learn and further to grow. Yet, chances are you’re closer than you think. And, when we remember who we are, we remember what we’re capable of.
