Always Abounding - Fall 2016_3

win souls but also disciple them. Don’t
think that working with a new convert is
less rewarding than winning a soul. Just
as watching each stage of development
of a child brings joy, so does watching
baby Christians grow into strong, vibrant
servants for Christ.
Instructor—A disciple is one who receives
instruction. That means he must have
a teacher. Every believer is expected to
mature enough to teach others. The writer
of Hebrews expressed disappointment
with those who failed to grow sufficiently
to teach others. He said, “For when for
the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have
need that one teach you again which be
the first principles of the oracles of God;
and are become such as have need of milk,
and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12).
I wonder how saddened our Lord is when
we fail to take seriously His command to
disciple new believers. Don’t forget—“ye
ought to be teachers.”
Patience—Very few people become
great Christians overnight. It takes time
for people to learn God’s Word, and you
will discover that people learn at different
paces. Some may seem to grow quickly
while others seem to take what seems
like forever to take a few steps. You will
become frustrated and disappointed at
times, but be faithful. Though some may
fall back into sin, your patience can help
restore them to fellowship with God. “And
the servant of the Lord must not strive;
but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach,
patient” (II Timothy 2:24).
Lessons—You may be asking, “What do
I teach a new convert?” Jesus gave us
the answer in Matthew 28:20—“all things
whatsoever I have commanded you.”
Discipleship must consist of more than
a couple of verses about assurance and
baptism. Try to set up a time each week
to have a Bible study. Find or develop
some lessons to use each week when you
meet with a new convert, but learn to be
flexible. Sometimes you will have to scrap
your lesson and handle a crisis that the
new believer is facing.
End—When is your job finished? After
you have taught your fellow believer
“all things.” In other words, your goal
should be to equip each one to walk with
God so effectively that they will be able to
teach others to do the same. Even after
your weekly Bible studies are over, take
time to check up on them and be available
to talk.
(Dave Olson is the Director of Missions at
Fairhaven Baptist College.)
www.fairhavenbaptist.org │ 11