One-to-one: Introduction

This series was originally posted on In Tandem, a blog for ministry wives

One-to-one: A Disicpleship Handbook
Introduction

De Witt sets up the ‘why’ and ‘what’ of this book in the introduction. She starts with the great commission in Matthew’s gospel:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

For most people, key turning points in faith or becoming disciples came about because of individuals who influenced them, cared for them, prayed for them and taught them the bible.

The kingdom of God advances one person at a time as individuals are born again by God’s spirit and increasingly transformed into the likeness of Christ. (xv-xvi).

She says that this book was born out of the conviction that many more Christians need to be exercising a personal ministry of reaching out to others – to be teaching and modelling the gospel. This one-to-one work is:

one Christian taking the initiative with another individual to help them to know Christ better and obey him more fully, through studying the scriptures, prayer (for and with them) and sharing one’s life with them – and leaving the results to God. (xvi)

I really liked this definition – including the acceptance and knowledge that the results of such things are up to God, not ourselves.

As the book goes on, de Witt will cover how to read the bible with someone, how to pray with someone, just being a friend and also matters of confidentiality, counselling, etc.

Hopefully this has whetted your appetite to hone your skills at one-to-one ministry!