My children are both in university. To get in, they had to meet some minimum requirements, without which they would not have been accepted. There are many degrees and diploma programs available if you choose to enter university or college, each with its requirements for entrance – MCATs, LSATs, volunteer work, minimum marks, specific high school courses, etc.

Once they graduate, they will enter the workforce where once again they will face certain barriers, minimum requirements to begin their career. I think that most of us are okay with people in many careers having to meet certain minimum requirements, otherwise we could be diagnosed incorrectly by the doctor, the bridge we drive over may collapse, the food we eat may make us ill and the counsellor we see may lead us astray.

How about becoming a disciple? How do we approach those that agree to connect with us? Do we take a laissez-fair attitude toward them, or do we have some minimum requirements? And yes, I do recognize that we are all unique and our personalities are different and our learning styles are not the same. And yet, we must always keep in mind that we are committing to help someone grow, and that growth means that they need to stretch, and that stretching isn’t always all the comfortable, and yet without without they won’t grow.

So here is my question – what are your minimum requirements of those you meet with? What will they be required to do? Are you willing to remove someone from your discipling relationship if they don’t want to meet the minimum requirements? And yes, my personality is such that I may not “feel” as much as others do, so perhaps you may be thinking that I’m mean spirited. And yet, what did Jesus say: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow.” What do you think that really means? He told the rich young ruler to go away until he was ready to sell everything. He looked at Peter and said “Get behind me Satan.” He scolded Martha for missing out. And on and on we could go.

So I ask you again, what are your minimum requirements for those that you disciple? What hoops will they be required to jump through? You are giving of your life for the sake of another – don’t you want a return for your efforts?

I have written on the requirements I have developed for the guys that I meet with in previous blogs, I don’t need to go into that here. The question is for you – think about, pray about, talk about – what will you require of those that you are willing to give of your life? This is kingdom work, don’t take it lightly.

For the past 8 years I have prayed with a group of men at my church every Monday morning from 7:00am-8:00am. This group ranges from 8 to 18 men. We don’t talk about prayer, we don’t have a bible study – we pray. Sometimes we pray for each other in smaller groups, sometimes we pray for our church and the various staff and ministries, sometimes we pray for our city, our country and the world.

I’m not always fully awake when I arrive as are some of the men, and yet we hold it as a priority for our lives.

For me personally, it has been a great experience for many reasons. First, it starts my week off with prayer, providing a solid foundation to begin the week. There is something good about coming before God with like-minded men in prayer.

More importantly however, in the midst of the diversity, it is teaching me to pray.

Every man has a style to their praying. Some are elegant in their prose and the words seem to flow out effortlessly. Some are more to the point without any extras words added for definition – just the facts. Still others seem more disjointed as they try to finds the words to express what is on their hearts. Amazingly, in the middle of this variety, I’m relaxed. I have my style, they have their style – we hear and learn from each other.

Beyond their style of praying, each man has various topics of prayer that they tend to emphasize more. One man prays for families and marriages, another for the city, one man cares deeply for outreach around the world, still another for the pastors at our church. And as I sit in the circle and listen to the many prayers, I get a sense of the importance of community. No one of us cares enough for all aspects of life, but together our prayers encompass so much more. Perhaps God gives each of us a passion so that collectively we are stronger – I feel good about that, more complete.

As I looked around the group last week, I realized that we also represent various cultural groups – first generation Caribbean, Chinese, Syrian, African and Italian, with a few of us Canadians mixed in:) Not only do our passions guide our prayers, our cultural formation shapes our prayers.

We don’t do life alone. Our faith can never be a private thing, it just doesn’t work that way. Sure, doing life with others is messy, uncomfortable and strange at times. And yet, if you step back and look at the richness of the diversity and have a willingness to learn from others, you can’t help but be thankful for the beauty of community.

As you lead others on the journey of discipleship, always be mindful to bring them into the larger body of Christ. Don’t hide in your small group and think you have it all together, you don’t. We do “The Church” as disservice by being loners and independent thinkers. There is much to learn from the diversity – let’s lead the way on this.

For the Kingdom.