The Great Commission commands us all to make disciples. The first step for each of us is to be a disciple before we make disciples. Much of what we are doing in the Dakotas through the toolbox and working alongside churches is designed to help develop a strategy for making disciples. Today I want to write a little bit about something that has been on my mind for some time.

The ministry and mission of the church can only be truly realized with each person being a part of the whole. The church is intended to be the body of Christ and all of the parts need to function in their own way to see the body be healthy and strong. This is absolutely true in the area of discipleship. Making disciples isn’t something for the pastor or staff or leaders only. Everyone who is following Christ has a part to play in the lives of those around them. Everyone walks together. 

The way we walk and the direction we walk will determine where we go. While this is a completely obvious thing to say, I wonder how often in life we evaluate the way we walk, and particularly how we walk together. We know it is important to walk with others as Scripture says,

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, ^(P)but how can one keep warm alone? ¹² And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV)

The beauty of true discipleship is when everyone walks together in the same direction, with the same purpose, toward the same goal. When we can define that goal for ourselves and for others we will find it so much easier to walk together.