In my teens and twenties, I participated in my school’s basketball team. While we wanted to play games, our coach mostly had us run drills, do lay-ups, free-throw shots, dribble the ball back and forth, and pass. We’d do those drills over and over and over until we were sick of them and could do them without thinking. In sports, we understand the importance of practicing, but we often forget how important it is for disciple-making. Practice makes a huge difference!
Because disciple multiplication and movements are obedience-based, not knowledge-based, practice is vitally important. We must train disciples, not only teach them. Training always involves practice, practice, and more practice.
Philippians 4:9 says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.“
A Lack of Practice Leads to a Lack of Confidence in Sharing the Story
I heard that one of my friends was leading a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) with a women’s group in our city. Interested, I asked if I could join them. It was a nice group of friendly people who obviously enjoyed being together. They loved God and wanted to study His Word.
As the DBS proceeded, they read the passage a few times. They even had several people summarize it in their own words. Then, they went straight to a discussion about it.
Inwardly, I thought to myself. None of these women will be able to repeat this story to anyone in a few days. They haven’t practiced repeating it enough.
Practicing the story is key to multiplication.
At the end of the DBS, they were also weak in setting goals for whom they would share this with. I wondered why. Maybe it was a lack of vision and fervor to reach the lost around them. Or perhaps it was a lack of confidence caused by their failure to practice.
Practice Makes Perfect
Have you ever heard the phrase, “practice makes perfect”? It’s a phrase often repeated in education, sports, and other kinds of training. John Adams, the second president of the United States, wrote it in his diary in 1761 (according to usdictionary.com). It’s true in disciple-making – practice makes perfect!
Important Skills to Practice as a Disciple-maker
- How to share your testimony or story in 3 minutes or less
- How to start a spiritual conversation
- How to cast a vision for the multiplication of disciples and form a team
- How to do a prayer walk
- How to pray for the sick and demonized
- How to lead a Discovery Bible Study or 3-part meeting
- How to tell key Bible Stories in evangelism
- How to build or identify your Oikos
- How to pray for the lost and saved list
- How to start a new group
Do you take time to practice with those you are discipling? To practice until they are confident they can both do these things and train others to do so?
Maybe today’s a good day to start practicing one or two until you can!
What would you add to this list? Which one are you most confident in? Which do you need to grow in?
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