June’s Practice of the Month: Disciple-Making
Disciple-Making: Healing Happens One Relationship at a Time
Healing is not something we do alone. We were created for connection, and the path to lasting change happens in relationships. For many in recovery, having a mentor or sponsor has been life-changing. Someone who has walked the road before us can offer wisdom, encouragement, and hope.
Jesus understood this. He did not try to change the world by himself. Instead, He invested in a small group of people, walking with them through their struggles and showing them a new way to live. This is the model of disciple-making—not about having all the answers, but about walking alongside others in love.
Jesus Showed Us the Power of Mentorship
Jesus spent most of His ministry pouring into twelve disciples. He did not teach them from a distance. He lived life with them, shared meals with them, and invited them to see His struggles as well as His victories.
When Jesus called Simon (Peter) in Matthew 4:19, He simply said:
“Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
Jesus did not pressure them. He did not give them a long list of requirements. He invited them to walk with Him and learn along the way.
This is what mentoring and sponsorship in recovery look like. It is not about fixing someone else’s life. It is about inviting them to walk with you, sharing what you have learned, and reminding them they are not alone.
Sharing Our Journey Strengthens Our Own Faith
Many people feel unqualified to mentor or disciple others. They think, I still have my own struggles. Who am I to lead someone else? But the truth is, walking with others in their healing journey strengthens our own.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
God does not wait until we have everything figured out before He uses us to help others. Often, it is through sharing our struggles and experiences that we see just how much God has already healed us.
When we invest in someone else’s journey, we are reminded of how far we have come. We also deepen our own faith by seeing God work in new ways.
Walking Alongside Others Without Pressure
Disciple-making is not about forcing people to change or making them fit a certain mold. It is about relationship. It is about showing up, listening, and sharing the love of Jesus in simple ways.
Jesus did not push people into transformation. He invited them into it. He met people where they were, loved them as they were, and let the Holy Spirit do the work of changing hearts.
If you are wondering how to disciple someone in your own life, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Start with Relationship – People do not need more lectures. They need someone who will listen, encourage, and remind them they are loved.
Share Your Story – You do not have to be an expert. Just be honest about what God has done in your life.
Pray for Them – Even if you do not know what to say, bringing someone before God in prayer is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Trust the Process – Healing takes time. You are not responsible for someone else’s transformation, only for showing up and pointing them to Jesus.
An Invitation to Walk Together
Jesus calls all of us to discipleship, not as a burden, but as a gift. When we invest in the healing of others, we also experience deeper healing ourselves.
Who has walked alongside you in your journey? Who might God be inviting you to invest in now?
Whatever step you take next, remember this: Healing happens one relationship at a time, and you are never walking alone.
