GROW Discipleship Training

Exploring the 5 essential stages to successfully making disciples, taught by Jesus and taken from agriculture.

In January 2024, representatives of WM local churches participated in a GROW Discipleship training where they have learned how to make disciples following Jesus’ soul-winning strategy as revealed in the Bible. This strategy is also part of the Reflecting Hope initiative.

GROW is based on the agricultural/harvest cycle of preparing the soil, sowing the seed, cultivating the plant, harvesting, and preserving. Drawing analogies from agriculture, Jesus spoke the parable of the Sower in which the seed represented the Word of God and the soil represented the heart (Luke 8). And He referred to the great body of humanity as “fields” that were “already white for harvest” (John 4:35).

''Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!'' (John 4:35)

Following the growth model of Jesus, the process of making disciples has 5 essential phases:

PREPARE the soil of the heart with friendship and service.

PLANT the seed with personal testimonies, spiritual conversations, literature and media.

CULTIVATE spiritual interest with ongoing Bible studies.

HARVEST decisions with appeals to follow Christ and be baptized.

PRESERVE the harvest with ongoing discipleship of new members.

GROW is all about taking people on a journey and leading them to Jesus:

PREPARE – Be a friend! By showing people, ‘’I genuinely care for you!’’

PLANT – ‘’This is my story…This is what God has done for me!’’

CULTIVATE – ‘’Would you like to know more? Would you like to study the Bible together?’’

HARVEST – ‘’What would stop you from giving your heart to Jesus in baptism?’’

PRESERVE – “Learn more about how to follow Jesus & how to lead others to Jesus.’’

REPEAT the Cycle

The seed is in the harvest! – The word of God planted in the hearts of the new disciples, is to be planted in the hearts of other precious souls. That means all who are Jesus’ disciples (long-standing members and new members) are to go and make other disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). All are to go and take the Word planted in their hearts, and plant it in the hearts of other precious souls.

 

Evangelism is a process, not a one-off event.

 

Sometimes we may ‘’expect’’:

• To reap a harvest, while we have not worked the ground.

• The seeds to grow, while we have not prepared the soil to receive it.

• People to accept the Bible truths straightaway, as soon as we told them or as soon as we gave them a book - while we did not take the time to get to know them first, know their needs, make friends.

• Things to work according to our time schedule, instead of allowing God to move and work in the hearts of men in His time and at their pace.

• To reap a harvest, while we have only prepared the soil. That is when we just make friends and minister to their needs, but not to take them further on the journey and leading them to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ that culminates in baptism.

As we follow Jesus and His soul-winning method, God will give the increase leading to a bountiful harvest. As we respond to His call, ‘’Go and make disciples’’, He promises us, ‘’I will be with you always, until the end of the age’’ (Matthew 28:20). That means He will always go before us and with us, removing any obstacle from our way, sending His Holy Spirit to move the hearts of many souls, opening doors of opportunity, blessing the work we do and making it fruitful and prosperous that His name may be praised.

Therefore, let’s go and make friends for Jesus, Reflecting the Hope that we have in Him!