I have disciples read this book in one week and review it the following week. It is an easy read and powerful. There are times when we have had to take two weeks just to discuss all of the disciples’ aha moments. I make sure the disciples get, at least, the following truths:
- We should empower those we reach for Christ to be self-sufficient and reach others for Christ. This is a key teaching for Discipleship Three: we are trying to create skilled disciples that can be released into the world.
- A vast amount of the world’s population has not heard the Good News. We need to be kingdom-minded and pray for them and actively work to reach them.
- Our church is in essence a mission and each leader should be raising up, replicating, and preparing people to take their job and live independently leading and serving the church.
- Jesus came to serve not to be served.
- Often what we think is helping “people in need” is not at all helping.
I make sure to extend the many incredible truths from this small book into the many areas of the disciples’ lives by asking them tons of questions like, “Are you empowering your employees? Does God teach anything about that?” He does when Jethro gives Moses a structure for legal decisions. I ask, “Before you go reach Guatemala, are you reaching your break room, your street at home, or the people you hang out with?” The truth is that we are the most effective to reach the people right next to us. They in turn can reach the people right next to them.
One final big truth comes in the form of a question, “Are you taking care of and owning the resources that God has given you or are you waiting on others to manage your Christian life?”
