What would happen if every single person who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior felt encouraged, equipped, and empowered to live out His Great Commission? This is the question that keeps me awake at night; this is the question that presses me onward in my days. The reality is that, while most Christ followers acknowledge the Great Commission, way too many feel intimidated to live it. In conversation after conversation, I find that people are busy, overwhelmed and not even sure where to start. After observing this for over three decades of ministry, I believe it’s time to do something to help change this. Such is the audacious mission of the Family Disciple Me ministry.
A Simple Proposal
The goal of Family Disciple Me is to simplify discipleship so that even the youngest Christian or newest believer can be part. Through a simple method we call Devotion Driven Discipleship™, we can accomplish this very thing. Devotion Driven Discipleship puts both the mindset and a means into the hands and heart of every believer, no matter what their age or stage.
For the Family Disciple Me ministry, this approach is summarized in four words which even a child can remember: “Seek Him Speak Him.”
“Seek Him” begins with spending time with the Lord, being in His Word, asking Him questions like “what, why and how,” and listening to His answers.
Then, “Speak Him” follows that with sharing what He has shown us with someone else. Simple as that.
We can encourage people to “Seek Him” by guiding them in their walk through Scriptures. This part is about modeling to others what it looks like to fall in love with Jesus and His Word. Then we can empower them to “Speak Him” by challenging them to talk about Him and His Word with someone else. This part is as easy as a conversation.
Thing is, whereas the Great Commission may seem intimidating, conversations need not be. Inspiring Christ followers of all ages and stages to engage Devotion Driven Discipleship conversations with others need not be hard. This is doable; it is, in fact, enjoyable. Catalyzing everyday, ordinary, common Christians to have meaningful devotions that lead to biblical discipleship conversations is the big, hairy, audacious mission of the Family Disciple Me ministry.
The Time Is Now
It’s not about waiting until we understand the whole Bible or hitting people over the head with the Bible. It’s not about waiting for someone more spiritually “qualified” to share Christ or deciding we’re unqualified for that mission. It’s not about putting novices in charge, but it’s also not about requiring years of training before someone shares what Christ has commanded.
Devotion Driven Discipleship is about using our examples and our words to seek the Lord then share His Word, somehow, someway, today. This is a both/and scenario, because being a Christian doesn’t end with our own salvation and redemption. God wants us to “make the most of every opportunity” so others can know and experience Him, too (Colossians 4:5-6).
The Family Disciple Me ministry inspires us with the mindset of how God wants us to meet with Him AND make Him known. Then, FDM gives us a means – through online tools, resources and podcasts – to live that out.
How FDM Affects the Future
So, what would happen if we could encourage, equip and empower EVERY Christ follower to live out His Great Commission?
I believe moms would more confidently pour biblical teachings into their children’s hearts.
I believe dads would speak up with the spiritual authority God has given them.
I believe young adults would more readily share the hope of Christ with their generation desperately seeking hope.
I believe teenagers would find a purpose that focuses them on God’s calling for their lives.
And, perhaps most important of all, I believe children would grow up seeing active, alive, meaningful faith modeled to them by adults who live with passionate purpose to make Jesus famous.
A Welcome into the FDM Vision
So, on behalf of the Family Disciple Me ministry, I invite you into this mission with us. This “Seek Him Speak Him” mindset starts with each of us individually.
To see how FDM encourages this mindset, here are a few steps:
- Listen to an episode of The Family Disciple Me Podcast, such as this one: “Character Conversations: Teachable // The Enduring Value of a Teachable Spirit.”
- Seek God about what He’s saying to YOU through the Scripture highlighted in that episode
- Speak Him by letting the FDM conversation guide in the podcast show notes prompt you into a conversation with someone God has placed in your life.
(In the year to come, we will have these resources more easily accessible on the Family Disciple Me app. But for now, let the available resources encourage and empower YOU to “Seek Him Speak Him.”)
It’s all about meeting with God and making Him known. We are all welcome to spend time with the God of the universe in His Word, prayer and devotion, then share Him with those He has entrusted to us. What an adventure! What a calling! What an invitation.
Go Make Disciples
This mission changes everything, and the more we catalyze this, I fall asleep knowing that we have done our part to do what Christ commanded:
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
In Jesus’ Name, may such be so for all of us, as we intentionally, purposefully engage Devotion Driven Discipleship.
God bless you, friend!
Be encouraged! ❤️
Tosha
