NCC Daily

Today I want to share some instances where others discipled me using the unique gifts God gave them and encourage all of us to pass the baton.

I want to challenge you to pull someone close and invite them into your world. Be transparent and be vulnerable. Share with them your prayers and what you are believing for and struggling with. Show them that discipleship is a lifelong endeavor. Demystify God! When people see us for who we really are, shame has no place, and where there is no shame, God can transform you.

If I wanted to be rooted—in Christ, in community—then I had to show up, and relationships are a two-way street, and being rooted is not passive. When I wake up, I have a choice to make. I can choose the words that were spoken over me as a child, or I can choose the words of who God says I am. I choose God. Every day. Sometimes multiple times a day. I choose God.

Two of my most formative discipleship experiences since I became part of the NCC family have been in prayer and in peacemaking. I joined the prayer team at NCC Georgetown several years ago at the prompting of one of the leaders, and from there was discipled by multiple prayer warriors who truly interceded for the family of God and all those who are seeking Him.

NCC has undoubtedly shaped me, and I think it’ll continue to affect me forever. So much of that is because of the people who have poured into my life and who have been there for me physically and spiritually. Grown-ups like my pastors, kids’ church teachers, and fellow choir members have been discipling me, even before I understood what the word really meant.

When did we start believing that God wants to send us to SAFE PLACES to do EASY THINGS at CONVENIENT TIMES with NICE PEOPLE? Newsflash. Jesus didn’t die to KEEP US SAFE. Jesus died to MAKE US DANGEROUS. The will of God isn’t an INSURANCE PLAN. It’s a DARING PLAN. And the complete surrender of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is not radical. It’s normal. The problem? Our normal is so subnormal that normal seems abnormal.

Jesus made no bones about it: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

There's a lot of people who've never really learned about Christianity as they may not have grown up with it. Faith is often a private affair, but it is good to share what it means to you and to teach others about Christianity when the right moment arises.

Keep pursuing your friends who don’t know Jesus. It’s easier said than done, I know, and different people are definitely receptive to different approaches. With Baran, it was friendship and community that really helped him. I think going into our conversations without an agenda was a plus. However you approach those in your life who don’t know Christ, I pray the Holy Spirit will guide you

Discipleship was at the root of all of these missions, both me being discipled by my small group leaders to step out in faith, and also opportunities for me to disciple others. To be honest, though, the idea of discipling people in the context of my passions and interests was very intimidating. I felt as if I only could bring some life experience to the table and wasn’t even sure if that was enough. But someone recently described me as “constant, consistent.”

My prayer for all of you today is that you will connect with those who can serve as examples of discipleship, show you that it is not out of your reach, and encourage you to be a better follower of Jesus and partner with Him in His missions of love and empathy.