This document provides tools and guidance for disciplers. It argues that seminars alone are not enough to make effective disciplers and aims to liberate them from panic by providing practical tools. It emphasizes developing wisdom through understanding Scripture, asking God for wisdom, and learning from failures. Effective discipling involves clarity, avoiding assumptions, asking questions to promote relationship over talking, and prayer for open doors to share the gospel.

1. THE
GOSPEL
TOOLS
FOR DISCIPLESHIP
Session Five

2. Session Five Objectives
• To argue (again) that this seminar is not enough
to make effective disciplers
• To liberate disciplers from panic
• To provide a pocketful of tools for disciplers

3. ONE MORE WHACK
Colossians 1:28 “in all wisdom”

4. WISDOM
wisdom: “skill for living”;
“the capacity to understand and function accordingly”
Get it. Proverbs 4:7
Fear the LORD. Proverbs 9:10
Listen. Proverbs 5:7, 13; 7:24;
8:32; 13:1; 19:20; 23:22
Learn Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Proverbs 1:4-5
Ask for it. James 1:5
Fail. Epically.

5. The old seminary professors used to speak about a
necessary trait for pastoral ministry called gravitas.
It refers to a soul that has developed enough
spiritual mass to be attractive, like gravity. It makes
the soul appear old, but gravitas has nothing to do
with age. It has everything to do with wounds that
have healed well, failures that have been redeemed,
sins that have been forgiven, and thorns that have
settled into the flesh. These severe experiences with
life expand the soul until it appears larger than the
body that contains it.
Craig Barnes, The Pastor as Minor Poet, 49

6. FORKS AND MEATBALLS
In defense of a multi-prong approach

7. 1. CLARITY
There is already enough ignorance,
deceit, speculation, and ambiguity.
Colossians 1:5-7
Colossians 4:2-4
2 Corinthians 4:2

8. 2. COMMON SENSE
Colossians 4:5-6
We cannot persuade men to love God
by serving their idols (or their flesh).

9. 3. COMPASSION
Gentle love
Having compassion for the lost or immature
does not require our foolishness.

10. 4. QUESTIONS
Teaching through not talking
Questions keep us from being fools.
Assumptions do not nurture relationship.
Questions (and listening) promote it.

11. 4. QUESTIONS
What is your testimony?
How is your Bible reading? What are you learning?
How is your relationship with your spouse? Parents?
What did you think about (last Sunday’s) sermon?
How is your soul?

12. 5. SUPPLICATION
Colossians 4:2-4
Somewhere along the way
we’ve stopped praying for open doors
and started picking at the locks.