As a pastor, I know that many Christ followers experience more guilt than success when it comes to fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:19. Especially the part about, “Go and make disciples.” It was not a request, not an optional volunteer opportunity to somehow work into our busyness. It was a command. Something Jesus seemed to think was part of our spiritual DNA. So why do so many of us feel so guilty about something so important as this?
In his book Mentor Like Jesus, Regi Campbell states, “Life doesn’t happen in church. Church can prepare us for life…but life happens at home, at work, on vacation, in our neighborhoods. If we’re going to share a ‘piece of our map’ with the next generation, for their benefit, then we must be out on the road with them, doing life together. The lessons get taught in the context of everyday life, in everyday situations, through the wisdom of God planted and nurtured in the life of one of his more mature kids.”
When it comes to “making disciples,” the reality is, Jesus didn’t say, “tell” them. He said, “make” them. He was in essence saying, “Start the conversation. Build a relationship. Invest more time with fewer people.” He didn’t leave us a success formula or an impossible task. Nothing is worse than to be handed a job you aren’t suited for, one in which you are bound to fail. Jesus would never do that. Yet he gives a command with the expectation that “making disciples” would be our normal lifestyle ingredient.
So the question is, how have we been tricked into believing that making disciples is too hard, too presumptuous, someone else’s responsibility? Like Moses, we have said, “O my Lord, I am not…eloquent…I am slow of speech and slow of tongue…please send anyone else whom you wish to send!” (Ex 4:10,13). (It was following this rather pathetic plea that the Lord became angry with Moses. Just saying.)
The truth is, “making disciples,” whether it’s with our children, parents, grandchildren, neighbors, co-workers, students on campus, business clients, or just about anybody, is often more about “listening” than “telling.” More about knowing how to ask good questions than having all the answers. It’s about stirring the glowing embers of faith and value in our peers and leaving a light of hope on for the next generation.
Influencing the Generations.
With this in mind, the CASA Network introduces an exciting new Coach/Mentoring workshop, Start the Conversation – ‘Leaving a Spiritual Legacy,’ in which key coach/mentoring skills are married with the desire we all have to share life with those that Jesus wants to love through us. Workshop participants learn key coach/mentor skills, including how to listen effectively, how to ask powerful questions, the COACH Model™, how to maximize the potential in others, and how to create more meaningful and supportive conversations as leaders, family members, co-workers and friends.
Start the Conversation will not make you a professional coach or mentor. It is a uniquely designed, intergenerational workshop for seniors in high school to seniors in life (ages 18-88), providing key coach/mentor skills that you and those you serve as pastor, teacher, husband, wife, parent, student or friend will use every day to build up, strengthen, encourage and share life together. In this fun and highly interactive workshop the mystery of “making disciples” is stripped away as fulfilling Christ’s command becomes an everyday life experience. Each STC participant receives a workshop manual.
Start the Conversation will be introduced at the ILC—Anaheim Leadership Conference, November 9-11. For an STC brochure and information about hosting this workshop in your church, denominational group or parachurch organization, contact info@gocasa.org or call 888.200.8552.
That’s right. It’s time to stir the glowing embers in your peers and leave a light on for the next generation. Let’s Start the Conversation and Influence the Generations!
Ward
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS WARD?
2011
Sept 24 – The Intergenerational Challenge – Denver, CO
Oct 18-20 Mount Hermon Fall Adult Conference – Mount Hermon, CA
Nov 08 – CASA Network Board of Directors – Anaheim, CA
> Nov 09-11 - ILC-Anaheim – The CASA Network International 50+ Ministry Leadership Conference