Hey everybody. Welcome back to the practitioner's podcasts. We're applying Jesus' style disciple-making to every day. Life. This episode is powered by navigators church ministries which focuses on helping churches make disciples who can make disciples for more information check out their website navigators church ministries.

Org Justin. We did at the end of season one. This is episode 30. How are you feeling about it? Yeah I feel like we should celebrate right. Cause we made it 30 episodes. that seemed like a lot at the beginning. And yeah the other it's my daughter's birthday today. We're recording this on May 27th. My youngest daughter just turned seven today so I'm very celebratory.

Yeah. That's fantastic. And you guys went to waffle houses morning right? We did. Yeah. So with all my kids when it's their birthday we do birthday breakfast with dad. And so I take them out to a restaurant. She wanted to go to waffle house. And so we did it. It was a lot of fun. All right now next most important question hash Browns smothered and covered.

What do you get smother covered chunked. Well yeah if I'm getting that but we got the all-star breakfast and so she's seven. That's like everything. Right. I love it. So then we just split whatever she gets all she wants and then I clean up what's left so yeah. Was good. So episode 30 and I'm excited because we're going to take a summer break and get geared up for what God has in store for next season of the podcast.

We've committed. We have committed to doing season two. So make sure you hit that subscribe button. So you don't miss the season when it when it starts up at the end of the summer and and Justin and I have a favor to ask of you our loyal listeners The the hundreds of you that listen every single week we would love to get some feedback from you.

Right? If if you could share with us some of your thoughts about takeaways or episodes that you'd like to see or places where maybe the podcast has really made a difference in your disciple-making we would love to hear some of that feedback sometimes. it can be really hard being on this side of the microphone because it's just me and Jason.

Talking to each other. And while we do have a lot of feedback for each other typically we would love to hear from you. So the best way to do that is to email us. my email is TW milt.com and Justin is@justingravitt.com and you can get to us through there. You can also email me tony@twmilt.com and Justin and I will obviously share all of the feedback.

You can also hit me up on Instagram if you want at TW Milt Justin you're on Instagram as well. What's your handle there? Well I think that Justin Gretta I'm not active there. I think you can find me there. Facebook Twitter almost. we also really want questions right? So questions that you have about disciple-making whether it being a disciple making disciples disciple-making culture if you're a pastor or staff of a church send those to us because we're going to be planning.

ahead for our next season. And we would love to address some of the things that are top of mind for you guys or things that you are really wanting to hear more about and to learn more about. So please please send those in. Yeah. And what's great is you know as we look now with hindsight we've been able to see kind of how we broken up the.

The season and what we've done and kind of focused on. And today we're going to do our third episode on what is arguably one of the most important things in the disciple-making process which is actually simply just getting started. Right. It's getting started right. Start making disciples. And so today's our third episode about getting started which equates to 10% of that first season.

Justin do you remember the other episodes that we did on this? yes we did one on how to start I believe that was back in January. and then we did one in February. what was that one? The election that's right. So it was January 19th how to invite somebody. Right. So what's the actual conversation look like.

And then February 16th we talked about how to select somebody. What does that look like? Right. So that you don't get started and then realize you pick the wrong person or that person wasn't ready. so yeah but it makes sense right? Three episodes on starting because we're our podcast about applying Jesus' style.

Disciple-making not just learning about Jesus style. Disciple-making right. And so we really do want you to be doing this and applying it to your life and and doing it with somebody else. And so Yeah this is our third episode. one of my faith heroes and guy who's known as the father of modern day disciple-making Dawson Trotman he wants observed that the greatest time wasted is the time in getting started.

Ooh say that again for the people in the back the greatest time wasted is the time in getting started. And so a lot of times we hear a lot about disciple-making we think about it. we want to do. But it takes awhile to get started for most people. And so we really want to encourage you to wrestle through what does that look like for you?

And today we're going to cover some some more about how how do we actually start are three ways to start or you know it starts with with one and there's different ones that we're going to look at together. so Tony would you tell us kind of what was it like for you to get started? How did how'd you get over that?

Well you know you're getting started for me is super interesting because I love to talk to people. So the fear for me wasn't talking to people and I'm actually pretty good at as I mentioned in last week's episode about just flying by the seat of my pants. So that the struggle for me wasn't getting started the struggle was me is how to do it well.

Right. And so when I got started I ruined it too to be really relational and I lacked the intentional part which we've talked about before. So kind of deciding earlier on and this was probably the hardest part deciding earlier on. I was going to do this for this purpose and how to convey that message.

So telling someone Hey we can meet together and I want to meet with you but I want to meet with you for the purposes of disciple-making not just hanging out. Like I want this to be more than just mm.

And putting that in there made me feel super awkward you know like because I'm. I want to be everybody's friend which is true but I also want to use my time for disciple-making because it advances the kingdom of God but that you know that's that's that's me in a nutshell. What about you man? Yeah so I'll share me but I just want to observe this.

It sounds like in your story one of the obstacles for you in getting started was was a fear of what kind of rejection maybe or just that initial path. Well you know that fear of rejection or that somebody wouldn't like me. if I if I if I had expectations around the relationship I got ya. Yep. You know so you set that bar kind of high and then you it's like you pray that somebody wants to come up.

Right. Yeah. If that makes sense. Yeah. That makes total sense. Yeah. So for me getting started I still remember the first guy discipled and you know this was 20 some years ago now but thinking about that meeting and inviting him into that. Mike. I had a lot of fear fear of rejection but not just that I didn't feel equipped.

so I didn't feel like it was going to go well if even said yes. And so I had this fear of failing to add it or and so I guess in the midst of that was an obstacle of inadequacy right. Of just feeling like I just don't think I'm ready for this. I don't think I can really help him the way he needs help.

and so it was really pressing through a lot of those. Thankfully the guy who was discipling me was like well yeah already already said that you agreed to get together with him. And he didn't paint all the pictures. Oh he is. He did the assumptive close with you. Huh? Right. Yeah. And so you know Brad knew I was going to get together with him but you know he doesn't necessarily know the conversation we were having.

And so That kind of helped force me into that meeting. looking back really thankful that it worked out that way because there are these significant obstacles in getting started for most people. And there are some common ways to to move through those as well. And Tony I know is you have worked with people.

You've seen them come up to those obstacles too and kind of hit up against him. what are some ways that you've helped them through that or conversations that you've had in that? Well so for me I think the most important thing to do with an obstacle is to know. Right. Like Hey I'm I'm scared of of being rejected.

I'm scared that I'm inadequate. I'm scared that the person's going to make fun of me or I'm not qualified or equipped. And so what happens is when we name the obstacle it becomes a little less scary and that's probably. You know just acknowledging it. And and I even tell people that if you're if you're building the relationship enough you know we we talked about this in previous episode the width and time.

If you spend that quality time together then you can even say to the person Hey this may I feel a little awkward saying this. Right. But then that goes to the kind of the second tool which is to name why you're saying it which is the importance of the the idea of of the why. Hey I I I'm scared and I want to talk about this because boom.

You know what I mean? And so you know that's kind of that's kind of. The common obstacles. And and so practically speaking one of the ways that that we can kind of overcome that is to learn from someone with experience right? And so the most the most typical path to becoming a disciple maker is to learn from someone who makes disciples right.

Who already is a disciple maker. So I would say. You know learn from someone with experience. And then in that experience you'd be able to name it and then you'll be able to kind of you know really dive into the why and why it's important and all those things. What's the what's the site. Yeah. Well I love that idea of of naming and communicating about those obstacles trying to kind of defang the power that they have when we do that.

so yeah the three ways right. You just highlight the first way of kind of getting started and what we can do or you know the first one was learned from someone with experience. the second one is to partner with one other person right? So a lot of us live in a place or maybe are involved in a church or we don't know any disciple makers and may were asking around and and people just don't.

They're not resonating or connecting with what we're saying. They're saying things like well yeah everything we do is disciple-making. And they're like well yeah but do you is there anybody that you like walk with through life and well yeah my family and you know and it's just it's not connecting.

Right. And so what we can do in that case is we can find a peer right. We can find somebody to partner with. Maybe they've never done it either. In this case they haven't right. For partnering with one other. But if you're both committed to figuring it out and doing it then you can do it. You can do it.

And Tony and I know this because we live in Dayton Ohio and most of you know Dayton Ohio is famous for lots of things. One of them is the Wright brothers were from here. Those guys who invented powered flight or discovered it how are you going to say that it was these guys who they didn't have the credentials to do it.

You know there were other people in the world in the U S and in other countries that you know PhDs and physics and all this formal education. The Wright brothers ran a bicycle shop here in Dayton but they were committed to learning and trying and they failed lots of time but lots of times they went through this process of trial and error but they had grit and commitment to no we're going to figure this out.

We're not going to quit until we do. Right. And so there's that power in partnering with a peer. If you have a commitment together to figure it out. And so if you don't have anybody that you can learn from somebody. From someone with experience. If you can find a peer that you can partner with then together you can figure it out and try to learn learn together and grow together.

Learn from your failures learn from your successes. Learn from reading books listening to podcasts all that sort of thing but partner with one another is the second way that you could get started. Yeah. And the third way is is probably the hardest way it requires. And I say hard it requires just the most perseverance.

And the third way is is to be. The one right. Just follow Jesus as example and and just decide that you're going to do it. No matter what experience you have around you or experience that you've seen in your church or anything else Dawson this is kind of what Dawson did right? He was the guy who kind of started this whole process and and you know we we often say here every at the beginning of every episode applying Jesus style disciple-making to everyone.

Day life. The reality is we do have the perfect example in Jesus and you know it we need to follow his example. We need to be and walk where he is right? Like I think it was Luke nine that says if anyone would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. And the word that really jumps out to me and that is daily because when you decide to be the one by yourself what you're saying is today I'm going to make to see disciples as Jesus dead.

And you're going to have to make that decision every single day because it's it's a it's a daily decision. It's a daily decision to get started and say Hey I'm all in on. Disciple-making no matter what. And this ultimately comes back and comes out of your relationship with Jesus. Don't you think?

Absolutely. Right. So you can do it even if you're only one and there's nobody to partner with. There's somebody to learn from. that's not ideal but you don't have to have those things. Right. Jesus promised us in the great commission that he would be with us always. And he said before that in verse 18 that all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him.

And so he's the one sending us but also the other part of that authority piece. No I got your back on this. Yeah I got your back. I'm with you and I have the authority. And so you can just go and as you as you follow something about Matthew four 19 come follow me. Jesus said now I'll make you fishers of men.

So if we're following him and being changed by him and committed to the mission. That he had for us right. To be a disciple and to make others other disciples we actually can do it. And one of the things that I love about this Tony is that it allows me to engage with God on something. Yes. Not just thinking.

Yeah. Your teammates. That's right. God and I are teammates and I need his help. He doesn't need mine but he's helping me. And I'm engaging with him relationally as I'm moving through those fears that I have. And I'm asking him to show me well who is it in my life that you want me to start moving towards and figuring out why are they ready or not?

And a lot of times that takes some time with them first anyway. And so even if you're not sure well who is the person I should disciple? Just go get some time with people who might need that person and just get to know him a little better and see what God's doing in their life and share what God's doing in yours.

And so as we do that we're engaging God in a new way and we're knowing him in a deeper way. And so that's one of the things I really love about disciple-making is it gives me something to engage with God on it's something not just thinking. Yeah. Yeah. And I think one of the things that we often discount and you've told me this before Justin is that a bad disciple-making or I'm going to use bad with air quotes right?

Not not well-refined disciple-making is still better than no disciple-making and for the pastors and the leaders that are listening right now the enemy wins when we stop making disciples. You know this is when that's when we give ground back to the enemy. So instead what we're really called is to lean in and to make disciples even if it feels awkward or cumbersome or laborsome or like if you just feel klutzy about it like I we get.

But like any sport that you've ever played or anything that you've ever done it's about reps you know? And and so getting reps in even if they're not great reps at the start are great way to build a much stronger foundation to what we can do today. And I feel that way about the church and I feel that way about disciple-making and just what we're all called to.

Yeah absolutely. Absolutely. So Tony our takeaway action step. So I'll do a takeaway. You can bring us home with the action step. So takeaway pretty sample get started get started. Let's do it get started. Cause you're going to have a few months before you hear from us again go back listen to some other episodes that help you write the other two on on how to start getting started.

Those sorts of how to select those sorts of things but get started. Get stuck. And the action step here guys. we want you to get started in prayer right? So pray identify invite right? Pray identify invite pray about who God will send you identify that person a piece or that that fat person faithful available teachable and then invite them into the relationship.

Just do it. You can do it guys. We got your back. Thank you for being with us on this incredible and not grill season of the practitioners podcast. We are so grateful that so many of you subscribed leave ratings and reviews and and continue to share this platform with the leaders in your life. It means the world to us.

We would love to hear your questions on disciple-making your feedback your insights your thoughts. So our websites are are listed in the show notes TW milt.com Justin gravitt.com. You can hit us up on all of the social media platforms they to get information to us. So don't forget send us your questions your topics also.

you know if you have a favorite episode we'd love to hear that to mostly just cause we're always curious. So guys thank you so much. Make sure you hit subscribe. So when we start the new season you don't miss it. And until then we just want to encourage. Get started get started. When you start making disciples it'll transform you and the world around you.

Thank you guys so much.