always believed the best in his disciples , but that didn ’ t stop him from challenging them . His discipleship had teeth . He dealt with tough issues head-on . He charged them to walk in a manner worthy of God . He created a sense of accountability .
Jesus , use me to make disciples . I want to effectively lead others in their spiritual growth . I want to be someone worth following . Today , I commit to the process . Take me to the next level .
Taken from Bury Your Ordinary by Justin Kendrick . Used by permission from David C Cook .
This passage of Scripture is a beautiful picture of healthy discipleship . Paul ended with this thought : “ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming ? Is it not you ? For you are our glory and joy ” ( 1 Thessalonians 2:19 – 20 ).
Paul told us that there is no joy quite like the joy of seeing someone you ’ ve invested in really grow . Making disciples is an invitation into a whole different level of living because your highest joy in life is found in the growth of another .
Have you been missing out on the joy of discipleship ? Have you been living an individualistic Christianity , where no one has access to your interior life ? Now is the time for change . Now is the time to find one other person and begin an intentional process of spiritual growth .
Justin Kendrick is the author of Bury Your Ordinary and lead pastor of Vox Church , which he founded in 2011 with a small group of friends on the doorstep of Yale University . Since then , Vox has grown to multiple locations across New England . The dream of Vox Church is to see the least-churched region of the U . S . become the most spiritually vibrant place on earth . Justin and his wife live outside New Haven , Connecticut with their four children .
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