Leading People to Discipleship through Service tagged: , ,

Leading People to Discipleship through Service

Posted by in Baptist Life, Church & Missions

There was a time here in my current ministry that I felt that I was alone, and doing it all by myself. Those certainly are lonely times as probably many of you can affirm. It is at this point a great temptation can occur – the sly use of guilt and manipulation can be used to “encourage” service among people unsure of what to do. What I have found however is that this use of “personal motivation” does not really work. I can encourage and show others by my example God honoring service. It is God who is the greatest of motivators in all things. All my experience, knowledge of ministry, and education comes to nothing in comparison to how the Master works. He is the Great Motivator. I find that I am often in prayer that He will send me that one person for this task or the other. And you know – He always does!

I find that most people really do desire to serve to show appreciation and celebration for what God has done for them. Also I find that many currently are on the sidelines because they have never been invited to serve in any capacity at all!  My task is to find those people, and then invite them to the work. There will always be some who say no – Jesus Himself did not always find those who were willing to follow Him when confronted with the choice.

I find when I use guilt-laden speeches, or I use begging as a tool, or make imploring pleas, they are really not good enough, worthy, or really work well at all. I strongly encourage my Nominating Committee to pray for those we talk about for this task or that, and then to approach them individually with the invitation serve.

With Discipleship comes Service. Always.  The strong focus of God’s leading the individual in His way will always lead the disciple to seek those areas in which God is leading him/her. It is the task of the church and her spiritual leadership to both make available the training necessary to equip the believer for service, as well as provide the means in which the believer can then serve in a capacity that brings glory to God and edifies the Body of Christ.

Because of this focus, we have had many in my small church who at one point were not serving who are now serving in some capacity. Some years ago a young man wanted to see me. I had been trying to visit him, but I had always received the cold shoulder. He was a member of our church, but was living with his girlfriend down the road – I had never met him but I prayed for him often. He came to see me on that day a broken man – a man who both wanted and needed to “get back in church” and to restore his relationship with Christ and His people.  I ministered to him, prayed with him, and encouraged him in following Christ and being His disciple. He now is a serving, vibrant Christian who has many gifts which he is willing to use for God’s glory. He serves as the substitute teacher for his Sunday School class as well as a trustee for our congregation. I recently baptized his daughter who is one of the most knowledgeable, spiritual young girls I have ever met, and upon whom the Spirit of God was and is most definitely speaking.   This has often how my ministry has worked – one person, one family at a time. It is often a slow process to bring that one into a place that is glorifying to our Lord, but the wait is well worth it!