How is this done? (Cont.)
- Start serving — Find that role in the church that fits your spiritual gifts, passions and skills. There is a lot of work to be done for the kingdom of Christ, but not enough people to do the work (Matthew 9:37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;”). So don’t be afraid to simply start serving; there is a place for you. As you serve, trust that God will equip you, guide you, and give you joy for the work. Find delight in doing the things He has planned for you. It may have to do with your daily vocation or may be unrelated. Get started knowing that it’s okay to ask for a change if you discover that how you’re serving is not a fit for you. Keep exploring.
- Grow! — A disciple is one who is learning and growing. The goal of the All-in Discipleship Initiative is help you see God’s path of service for you. Is God calling you to greater responsibility and leadership to serve as an officer of the church? Is He calling you to grow in your understanding of the Bible to teach and witness to others? Is He calling you to ministry even as a called worker in the church? Ideally, disciples can look back on the recent past and see how their spiritual life has grown and how they now serve with more specialized skills. (See Table 1 on the next page.)
- Make room for others — As you grow into new roles of service, the role you’re leaving opens a space for those who are following to serve. Sometimes it’s hard to stop doing something that you’ve been doing for a long time, but growth and change (!) are healthy.
- Mentor others — Before moving to a greater role, be sure to mentor others to fill the position you’re leaving.