My good friend and disciple-maker Abi Flavell is guest posting for us today - over you to you Abi!

When disciple making ‘goes wrong’ - how to regroup and go again.

Despite the title of this email it would be worth saying I am not sure that disciple making can ever really go ‘wrong’ as we’re all just stepping out in faith and seeing what will happen, and when we do this it really pleases Jesus - which is the only type of ‘success’ that matters!

Yet, there can be times when our attempts to share our faith and lead people on a journey of discipleship can feel really tough. We will likely have to deal with feelings of rejection, disappointment and in some situations genuine persecution. When we face times like this, there are some simple truths found in 2 Timothy 2:2-3 that can help us pick ourselves up and start again.

As those interested in being disciples that make disciples, that make disciples, we may be familiar with Paul’s exhortation to Timothy:

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Tim 2:2

But I wonder if we are also just as familiar with the very next verse?

Take with me your share of hardship [passing through the difficulties which you are called to endure], like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 2:3 (AMP)

It might just be me, but I like verse 3 much less than verse 2! 😅

Yet, somehow I need verse 3 to help me make real sense of the disciple making journey. This path is not easy and we need to be prepared for that - it is going to have its ups and downs. When the ‘downs’ come, how can we ‘pass through difficulties’ and not get derailed by them?

ACCEPT

When Paul says “Take with me your share of hardship”, he is firstly helping us to simply accept that hardship is ‘part and parcel’ of walking with Jesus. Jesus himself said we’d have trouble in this world (Jn 16:31), and that we should not be surprised if the world hates us, like it hated him (Jn 15:18).

Initially that doesn’t seem that encouraging, does it? But, somehow, the longer I’m a Christian - who has faced a fair few knock backs in sharing faith with others - it gives me immense comfort to know the bumps and bruises, the spiritual pushback and sometimes downright opposition is going to happen and I am not doing anything wrong when that occurs.

A little while ago I had an accident that put me in the hospital, due to the unusual timing of the accident I was fairly sure it had come about as a result of repeatedly sharing the gospel with a person steeped in witchcraft.

After the accident, I began to be fearful and intimidated by the idea of sharing my faith again in the future. That was until I read Jesus’ words afresh “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven” (Luke 6:22-23).

I remember reading these verses and beginning to laugh! Rather than being scared, I could rejoice! I had had an effect on the kingdom of darkness, and considered it a sign I was on the right track, this gave me courage and helped me to step out again the next time I had an opportunity.

SHARE

The second thing that we can be encouraged by in Paul’s exhortation to “Take with me your share of hardship” is that there is a share of hardship that we carry together. We are not alone in experiencing the struggle that comes as we repeatedly search for or engage with lost people, or pass on what we are learning to other Christians.

It can be slow work. Sometimes you wonder if you are getting anywhere. Overtime we can begin to lose our zeal, simply because it's a challenge that requires supernatural perseverance.

However, we can find courage in one another, knowing that each of us is probably experiencing the same sorts of difficulties but they also might be seeing fruit in ways we ourselves can learn from and be spurred on by.

I love sharing stories with the team I work alongside in our local area. We’re honest about our disappointments and pray for one another but we also rejoice when another person has a story of a spiritual conversation that has gone well or led to an opportunity to share Jesus.

If you are struggling to find someone to be on mission together with and you’ve not heard Simon speak on how God always sends us out in pairs (or teams) to make disciples, then you can listen here to this incredibly encouraging message.

SERVE A GREATER GOOD

The last simple reflection from these verses that might help us is Paul’s encouragement to see ourselves as ‘good soldier(s) of Christ Jesus’. Soldiers are draughted into an army to do a specific job, to serve a just cause for a greater good.

We have our chief commander Jesus and he sent his followers on a mission to share good news about him. When we face challenges, we can regroup and find the courage to go again whenever we come back to the main reason why Jesus asked us to ‘Go’ (Matt 28:19-20).

He was compelled by the love of the Father for the lost, the broken and the frankly unusual (a.k.a people), to come and know him and discover his infinite love. What could be more motivating than the joy of knowing, no matter how many times we face hardship, he is always willing us on and more than able to restore us and re-envision us.

Abi

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Wow - what an encouragement. Hope you enjoyed that message and that it encourages you to press on with making disciples this week!

Standing with you

Simon