Madison’s question to Matthew: Talk to your generation. With your passion for discipleship, explain to them why you think it is important for them to be disciplers? Give them an inspiring story.

Is there any topic that Madison could have given me that evokes more emotion and conviction than that of discipleship? In reality, I have been engaged in intentional discipleship since my early 20’s. Additionally, my doctoral thesis was centred on the beauty of this.

I recognize that different people may define what being a disciple is differently, and perhaps many people simply don’t even think about this term – most people would simply say that they are a Christian. I would argue that not all Christians are disciples.

To quote Greg Ogden – “Discipling is an intentional relationship in which we walk alongside other disciples in order to encourage, equip and challenge one another in love to grow toward maturity in Christ. This includes equipping the disciple to teach others as well.” (Transforming Discipleship, 2003, pg 129)

There is something very intentional about the life of a disciple of Jesus. He/she has a desire to grow personally to be more like Jesus and to guide others on that journey as well. Additionally, we can not confuse a simple bible study with discipleship. When I speak of discipleship, I am always looking at in a holistic way. This is a view of discipleship that doesn’t segment spiritual disciplines but connects them. It’s not about having a bible study with one group, attending a prayer meeting with another group and perhaps serving at the mission with a third group. It is an integration of them all while walking alongside a younger disciple (not necessarily in age but in spiritual maturity).

Assuming that my understanding of discipleship is accurate, why is it that many people who would say that they are a Christian are not engaged in the journey of being a disciple of Jesus? Maybe just me saying that has stirred harsh emotions in you? Perhaps a longer conversation over coffee is a next step for us.

Over the years I have spoken with many people about this. I have asked individuals who are my age if they would be willing to come alongside another individual and be one who would be a “senior disciple” to guide a “junior disciple”. For the most part I get a “no”. They don’t believe that they will have the time, or they don’t believe that they would know what to do, or that they aren’t qualified to build into someone else in this way.

Over the years my response (mostly internal) has varied. Initially I was extremely frustrated at their replies. I would often judge them for not even wanting to try, assuming that they weren’t serious about their faith. Eventually I moved to a point of giving up, of neutrality. I stopped asking, assuming that anyone I asked would say no so I didn’t want to bother with the conversations anymore.

More recently I have moved to a response of sadness. That they are missing out on one of the most amazing things we can be a part of. The joy of coming alongside someone, to step into their story, to speak about faith in God, to answer questions they have, to learn from the insight they provide, to ask them questions so that I can grow in my faith.

Andy Stanley, founding pastor of North Point Community Church in Georgia, has an amazing phrase that should help to put anyone at ease if they believe that they have nothing to offer another person. He states, “It isn’t my job to fill someone else’s cup. It is simply my job to empty my cup.”

I won’t have all the answers on how to pray, but I’ll show you what I know. I don’t know how to serve the marginalized in the most effective way, but let’s do it together and I’ll model what I have learned so far. I don’t fully understand this particular scripture, but here is how it has impacted me and what I believe it means – what do you think?

What younger followers of Jesus are looking for is someone who will care about them and guide them to draw closer to Jesus. And then, after awhile, as the bird’s parents push the young one’s out of the nest, I must push those I am walking alongside to step out and build into someone else’s life as I did for them. It’s as simple as that.

No here’s the reality – I believe that I have only been 50% successful, as I would define success in the discipleship process. Of all the guys I have walked alongside over the past 30 years, I believe that only about one half have chosen to step into the journey and come alongside someone else. The rest have said “thanks for the memories” and moved on to the rest of their life. How tragic, how sad, to miss out on the opportunity to be a part of someone’s faith journey. And yet, when I do see someone move ahead to engage with others, what an amazing story it becomes.

I’ve seen guys that I’ve built into go on to build into other guys who have then gone on to build into other guys who have gone on to build into other guys. As such, I’m a great grandfather of faith to guys who may not even know how the journey progressed to them.

People have often said to, “You’re a pastor, you’re paid to do this, I just don’t have the time.” In reality, I was doing this during my 12 year banking career when I commuted almost 4 hours each day to Toronto and back. I fully understand the pressures of work life and marriage and young children. The reality is, we will find time for whatever we believe is important.

For me, living the life of a disciple of Jesus, holistically and alongside others, is something that is part of my DNA, and it is my desire that others would also embrace this, particularly those in my current generation who have raised their kids. The younger generation is asking for spiritual guides, I hear it all the time. The question is – will you choose to empty your cup in to someone’s else’s life?

For the kingdom.

Matthew’s question to Madison: Why have you chosen to take a Masters degree in Theology?

You know how there are categories of people when it comes to feelings towards school? Some people love it so much they never leave; others leave as soon as they can, and do minimal work while in it. Some people are natural with every subject and get all A’s, and others struggle to learn certain topics but thrive in others. I would categorize myself right in the middle of it all.

I love being in learning environments – but I don’t always jive with the traditional classroom style of learning. I’m capable of enduring it, but it honestly drains me. I thrive in environments that are activity oriented and hands on and interactive. (Though my shy younger self only secretly loved it since she was too intimidated to get involved in anything). Even when I lead any sort of learning, I never go for the ‘person stands at front of room and speaks at faces’ method. I want to get people engaged and moving and creating.

I’m imagining you, the readers, and the variety of emotions you’re all experiencing. Some of you are cheering with me and got a rush of adrenaline at the thought of interacting, others of you are cringing at the thought of ‘okay, we’re going to do an activity’, and some of you saw the word ‘school’ and cortisol started pumping.

Despite your reaction, and my reaction to school, I’ve decided to not take the open door that would put school in my past.

Let me be honest about something first. School is not the only way to learn – it may be the first thing we think of, but learning is way beyond the education system. Humans are not wired all the same, and that is a beautiful thing. Some people are incredibly creative and just need a canvas in front of them or music notes on page. Other people are handier and work best fixing a car or building a table. Some are the logical type, but would rather have a Bunsen burner or robot to learn with.

It’s important for us to find those ways that we learn best and lean into it.

There are many ways I love learning, but to keep my logical brain engaged, I do find school to be a good environment for me. So I have begun the journey towards a Masters of Theology by taking a course through Tyndale Seminary called Worship and Liturgy. There are 5 of us in the class and we meet every Monday evening. Since it’s a distance course, we watch lecture videos together and then talk about it; we share what we learned in the readings, and discuss how to do assignments.

So why school?

There are a few reasons that I’ve come up with:

1. To keep my mind focused — I don’t want my mind to get stale. I want my ideas to be challenged, and I want to enhance my understanding of topics.
2. Learning accountability — it’s appreciated having a group of people learning with me which doesn’t give me a reason to be lazy and forget to read and write.
3. Structured conversations — we all go to have good discussion, and are intentional with the things we share and discuss.

One of my favourite parts of attending Bible school was the lectures. Most of my friends thought I was crazy since they loved the free afternoons and easy travel more than anything else – and don’t get me wrong, those were great perks. But, for me, there’s something about taking a deep dive into Scripture that gets my gears working. For some, personal devotions is what makes them feel connected with God; for others, which I would include myself in, listening to intellectual minds and sharing in conversation is what makes the God-inspired words take deep roots.

God is such a creative Creator. He has created us unique, with different ways of connecting with Him, and with the world around us. Finding yours is not only life giving, but will help you stay engaged and learning about new and exciting things – the opposite of the worst class experience you’ve had.

So deciding to starts my Master’s of Theology was almost an easy choice – and it was an easy opportunity considering my home church and workplace offered the course.

For me, this works. I learn jaw dropping, stomach fluttering, heart melting things about who God is and who I am because of who He is.