Threads by Kirk Freeman:
“Finally, the moment for putting on the tux had arrived. My daughter and I were standing on the outside of the adobe chapel in the hill country of Texas, facing two beautiful, hand-carved wooden doors, eagerly anticipating the crescendo in the music when the doors would be opened and, with all eyes glued on her, she would begin her journey down the aisle to her groom. When the moment arrived and the doors opened, I counted three seconds (one Mississippi, two Mississippi...) and together she and I began walking-slowly and elegantly as I'd been instructed-down the aisle. Smiles and photos met us on both sides and as we made our way, I stole a glance at my daughter. Subconsciously, I think I expected her to look back at me, sharing the excitement of the moment with me, but I couldn't have been more wrong. She never looked at me once. Her eyes were fixed on her groom. Beaming and beautiful, step by step, as if magnetically and irresistibly drawn, she went to him.
It was in this instant that I realized that nothing else mattered. All the planning, all the tastings, all the tours of venues, and everything else that goes into preparing for a wedding in our culture-none of it matters if, when the big wooden doors swing open, the bride doesn't make it all the way down the aisle to the groom.
...
So it is with disciple making. This is what John the Baptist meant when he told his followers in John 3:29-30: "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

Discipleship is an organic life-on-life relationship that spurs you on towards loving Jesus more.

… again and again and again as long as you are entrusted with walking alongside that person.

Find Someone to Pour Into
Ask God to help you find someone, whether they know Jesus or not.

Ask Them If They Want Discipleship
Just ask them if they're up for it.

Meet With Them
Put dates on the calendar to meet AND make sure they're organically in your life.

Help Them Meet with and Enjoy Jesus.
The's the whole point of all of this.

Help Them Build a Roadmap for Growth
See where they are with Jesus, see where they can go., coach them to get one step closer. (Discipleship Metrics)

Help Hold Them Accountable
Help them create goals for their lives looking more like Jesus and offer reminders and encouragements on their way.

Celebrate Breakthrough With Them
Celebrate growth milestones.

1. Thinking that WE are the Groom
We're striving to make people look like Jesus, not us.

2. Thinking it’s our Responsibility to Get Them Married
It’s their responsibility to say, "I do" every time they deny their flesh and choose Jesus. It’s not possible for any of us to make someone follow Jesus, we can just help them along their own personal journey.

3. Thinking That We’re the Caterer, DJ, Best Man, and Pastor.
You can only do what you can do. It's not likely that you're a professional counselor, addiction recovery expert, pastor, marriage expert, and that you're gifted the same way they are. Be you and try and help them find resources.

We all just need a faithful person who loves Jesus, loves us, and helps point us to Jesus.

Discipleship Metrics is a tool that helps find strengths and weaknesses through an assessment, equips you with questions to ask in your discipleship relationships, gives resources for growth in 10 different areas of life.

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