Met with a good friend of mine this morning to talk about his discipleship ministry.  Randall meets with a guy named Todd.  The question on the table is when do we call it discipleship.  Am I discipling Randall? Yes?  Is Randall discipling Todd?  Yes?  This may sound harsh but I think that discipleship is occurring when Todd begins to disciple someone.  You can’t call it discipleship until there is a 4th generation.  Paul told Timothy in 2 Tim 2:2, “and the things which you (2nd Generation) have heard from me (1st generation) in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men (3rd) who will be able to teach others (4th) also.”

Me working with Randall only = spiritual helping

Me helping Randall help Todd = equipping

Me helping Randall help Todd help ???? = discipleship.

Why the semantics lesson?  I think our vision for what we are doing with people we are ministering too can be too shortsighted.  Unless we have a multiplication lens that we are looking through we will stop short and not accomplish the goal of disciple-making.  How’s your fourth generation?