How to Disciple With Freedom
This Week's Theme: Molding Men
Francisco Arzadon IV
Saturday, January 27, 2001
 1 of 1
Q. Why do you encourage men who disciple others to take a long-haul perspective?
A. We can become overbearing trying to keep the people we disciple "on track." If they feel stifled, as soon as they can escape our control, they will. A farmer plants the seed, then patiently waits for his crop to grow and bear fruit. Sometimes our fruit comes years after formal discipling—if we keep an open hand.
What do you mean by keeping an "open hand"?
Take Ricky. I discipled him weekly in college. But our involvement gradually lapsed during his senior year. He later invited me to help in his wedding. Much later, he began regularly consulting me about business decisions. After building a basic biblical foundation into others' lives, we should give them space to decide for themselves what level of relationship they need from us.
How do you maintain an "open hand relationship"?
See your discipling relationship as long term. It will remove the pressure to dump too much on a young disciple in a short time.
Be sensitive to the level of spiritual hunger in the person you're discipling. Don't give him more than he's eager to receive. Give him the freedom to grow at his own pace.
Become a friend and resource person. Stay in touch after your formal discipling relationship ends.
Be there during critical moments in his life, like his wedding, a change of career, the first baby or a death in the family.
Keep on praying that he'll be what God meant him to be.
Francisco Arzadon IV works for a utilities company in the Philippines.
Adapted from Discipleship Journal (3-4/00). 1 of 1
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God, I am willing to be used by you. Show me how to give what I have learned from you to someone else who needs it.
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