Some Characteristics of a Discipler

A discipler is someone who disciples someone else. A disciple is someone who is being discipled. We should all be disciplers as well as being discipled.  Here are some characteristics of a discipler:

1. A discipler makes an on-purpose effort to invest his/her life into someone else’s life.  The purpose of this effort is not limited to getting someone to attend church or getting him/her saved, but to train him/her to disciple someone else.

2. A discipler begins by praying and asking God who does He want them to disciple.    If Jesus took time to pray before he chose his special twelve, how much more should we pray and ask for wisdom.  Could it be true, most Christians have never earnestly prayed and asked God specifically on whom should they focus their energies.  Just a note:  when we do pray this prayer, we should not be surprised if God chooses someone outside our family members, present acquaintances, or comfort zones.

3. A discipler gets to know the disciple on a personal basis.  A relationship must be built in a setting other than when we casually see someone at church.

4. A discipler gives specific guidance to the one being discipled. He/she does not tell someone to read the Bible, they tell him/her where good places are to begin.

5. A discipler is patient.  When people are being discipled, sometimes they may fall back into old habits or lifestyles.  They need to know they are loved even when they have failed.  Also, they need to know you still believe they can be a more mature saint someday.  Salvation is instantaneous but true discipleship is a long process.

6. Early in the process, the discipler coaches the disciple to seek God for a name of someone else who needs to be discipled.  Discipling someone else will increase accountability, and the new disciple will mature quicker as he/she disciples someone else.  This maturity occurs because, when someone else is looking to him/her for strength and spiritual consistency, he/she relies more on God’s strength.  Also, when the one we are discipling comes to us for questions, we learn not only how to help ourselves but how to help others.  The most teachable person to disciple is presently being discipled and is also discipling someone else.   

Jesus admonished us to “go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19 NIV).  To the degree we do not see the importance of going and the importance of the discipler-discipling process, we do not understand the weakness of our humanity or the depth of the richness of the spiritual maturity to which Christ is calling us.  May all of us be His disciplers.