One of my very first jobs as a teenager was at the local pizzeria. The store owner was passionate about ensuring his high school staff knew the correct way to perform every step of the process.
My first task was to sanitize and wipe down the counters. At first glance, it seemed like something that didn’t need instruction. But he took the time to teach me precisely how to wipe a counter. There might be many ways to do that simple task, yet he wanted to be sure we knew the right way. To this day, I still wipe counters the way he taught me.
I often reflect on that somewhat silly example as an analogy for discipleship. We all need someone to teach us the basics clearly and precisely.
Why Disciples Need Direction
This stands in contrast to a more self-directed, personal discovery approach to following Jesus. Over time, I’ve become convinced that such an individualistic approach to discipleship is often disastrous. Disciples need direction.
That’s why Jesus said, “teach them to obey all that I have commanded you.” It was a specific, directive instruction. While each person’s story is unique, the basics apply to everyone.
One of the hallmarks of discipleship movements around the world is a simple, easy-to-reproduce methodology, especially in the early stages of someone’s journey. Something akin to our “Invite, Model, Train, Empower.” It’s through these simple, reproducible processes that disciples learn the fundamentals of following and being transformed by Jesus.
The Role of Discipleship Tools
One of the best ways to do this is through one-on-one discipleship manuals. The Purple Book by Steve Murrell is a classic example that often comes up. In our context, I wrote a book to facilitate that process. The result, after nearly five years of continuous work, was Living Sent, Parts 1 and 2. These two books serve as the primary discipleship tool, in conjunction with daily devotions, in our discipleship rhythms. It has been very encouraging to see these resources gain traction far beyond our context!
While Jesus didn’t write anything down (that we know of), his followers certainly did. The early Christians were quick to codify life and practices so they could be easily transmitted. The New Testament is an example of this, and early documents like the Didache show how practical instruction helped disciples stay aligned.
Why Living Sent Exists
The purpose of written materials goes beyond codifying doctrine and belief. A tool like Living Sent exists to facilitate intentional relationships. The goal isn’t to finish a study guide; it’s to cultivate a vibrant, fruitful discipleship relationship.
Our hope is that everyone in our church goes through Living Sent in their first year, regardless of their spiritual starting point. After completing it, we encourage them to continue in that relationship and begin leading someone else through it.
Hardly a week goes by without hearing a story of how the Scriptures and discussion prompts in Living Sent have led people to faith in Jesus (that’s Chapter 5) or helped them take concrete steps to be more like Him.
What Simple Tools Make Possible
Having this simple tool means that:
Everyone experiences a discipleship relationship early in their church life.
Everyone can disciple someone else without needing extensive training.
There is a shared language and philosophy of what it means to be discipled.
There is a clear, scalable starting point for all types of people.
It doesn’t depend on staff, resources, or complex programs.
A Call to Action
If you’ve never used a simple tool like this in an intentional discipleship relationship, I encourage you to try Living Sent, or a similar resource, in the coming months.
If your church doesn’t yet have a clear starting point for discipleship, I would implore you to create one or use an existing process.
If you’re interested in purchasing bulk copies of Living Sent for your church, please reach out. It would be our absolute joy to serve you in that way.
If you have tools that work well in your context, please drop them in the comments!
Stay tuned, we’re even working on a kids’ version of Living Sent!