Ep. 411 Three Essentials We Need to Be Effective Disciple-makers

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Shows Main Idea – There is a spiritual connection between the disciple-maker and the disciple. The Spirit of God binds them together. When this connection happens, the effect on each other’s lives will be impactful and transformative. There are three essentials that every disciple-maker must have to have this kind of impact on themselves and others. Let’s take a look at these three essentials in sequential order.

Show Notes

You may want to read:

• The Perfect Self-Help Book That Will Change Your Life
• A Good Listener Listens on Two Levels
• What If I’m Not Smart Enough to Do Biblical Counseling?

Affected Disciple-makers

We appeal to our students not to be detached counselors, which is a person that God has not affected by the very things they are sharing with others. There are two types of counselors: those affected and those unaffected. This second group parrot Bible facts. The first group has a more profound impact on their listeners.

• Detached Counselors, Affected Counselors
• Detached Teachers, Affected Teachers
• Classical Knowledge, Original Knowledge
• Two Points of Hope

Persuasive Disciple-makers

The Bible is not a magic book, or all you would have to do is parrot its words. The more God has affected you by the things you know, the more effectively you will be able to impact those within your sphere of care. Thus, the effect comes out of you and begins to influence or persuade others.

Caveat: We understand that only God can give the increase or grant repentance, but those decisions from God happen in the context of quality soul care.

The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips (Proverbs 16:23).

And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:4).

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets (Acts 28:23).

Insightful Disciple-makers

Affected disciple-makers who have matured in the art of persuading others have a sense of awareness about the people they hope to convince of the Bible’s truths. The disciple-maker must have insight into the recipient’s heart, and they must know how to attach God’s Word to the heart of the person. (The list below came from here.)

• Judgmental Listener: This individual hears with a critical ear, probably a cynical person.
• Distorted Listener: Their shaping influences interpret for them.
• Stereotype Listener: They place the discipler in a category, e.g., just a biblical counselor or a woman, and, thus, they will not hear.
• Resistive Listener: They have barriers up, e.g., a teen sent to counseling by a parent.
• Interpretive Listener: This person has a presupposition that anything you say runs through.
• Association Listener: This person compares what we say with all the bad things they know, i.e., bad Christians who have done [fill in the blank].
• Receptive Listener: This person is teachable, humble, wants to change, and trusts you.

Call to Action

1. Are you an affected disciple-maker? Would you ask a friend how you have affected them? Why did you answer that way?
2. How would you describe yourself using the two categories as a classical and original disciple-maker?
3. How would others describe you? Would they see you more like a Bible quoter or a person who can customize the Bible to their unique situation?
4. Is it a challenge to discern the kind of person you’re addressing? Why did you answer this way? Look at the seven types of listeners to get an idea if you can see the subtle or distinct differences in the people you disciple.

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).