So, My Disciple Has Issues...

Written by Ray Willis

Don’t we all?! Issues are what make discipleship relationships necessary. If we didn’t have issues, discipleship would be a generic, one-size-fits-all process that could easily be done in a large-group format.

Issues, whether temptation, sin, attitudes, problems, challenges, behaviors, addictions or simple ignorance, cause us to view God, the world, the Church and ourselves wrongly. Simply put, issues cloud our thinking and create obstacles to the best possible relationship with Jesus and others. So how do we deal with a disciple’s issues in a discipleship relationship? Well, I’m not a counselor, psychiatrist or psychologist, but, as a discipler, I want to help the person I’m discipling. I am not, however, qualified or confident in my ability to provide clinical help. Rather, my role as a discipler is to equip disciples with tools whereby they can deepen and further their relationship with Jesus because I know that, as they draw closer to Him, the better equipped they are to function as a believer.

My goal is to give them a perspective and reality of who God is, what He’s able to do in and through them, and relate to Jesus in prayer, Bible study, loving Him and serving others. Once they turn their focus on Jesus, the things of this world grow strangely dim.