Day 1: The Complete Recipe

Devotional

Have you ever tried to bake something without following the complete recipe? Maybe you skipped an ingredient you didn't have or thought wasn't important? The results are usually disappointing. When it comes to making disciples, many of us approach it the same way - picking and choosing the parts of God's Word that feel comfortable while avoiding the challenging sections. God's Word isn't a buffet where we select only what appeals to us. It's a complete recipe for life and discipleship. Every verse, every command, every promise works together to form the foundation we need. The uncomfortable passages about sacrifice, the difficult teachings about forgiveness, the challenging calls to love our enemies - they're all essential ingredients. When we try to make disciples using only the 'easy' parts of Scripture, we're setting ourselves and others up for spiritual malnutrition. Just as a cake needs both flour and salt, sweet and bitter ingredients, our discipleship needs the full counsel of God's Word. The encouraging verses give us hope, while the convicting ones shape our character. The beautiful truth is that God's Word is living and active. It's not just ancient text but fresh revelation that speaks to our current situations. When we commit to the complete recipe - all of Scripture - we discover that God continues to illuminate and speak through His Word today. This gives us confidence because we're not relying on our own wisdom or cherry-picked verses, but on the complete, powerful Word of God.

Bible Verse

'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.' - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Reflection Question

What parts of God's Word do you find yourself avoiding or skipping over, and how might embracing those difficult passages actually strengthen your ability to make disciples?

Quote

We need the full recipe, AKA we need the Word of God. We can't just pick and choose the parts. We can't skip steps.

Prayer

Father, help me to embrace Your complete Word, not just the parts that feel comfortable. Give me courage to study and apply even the challenging passages, knowing that You use all of Scripture to equip me for the work of making disciples. Amen.

Day 2: You Already Have What You Need

Devotional

One of the biggest lies we believe about making disciples is that we're not qualified or don't have what it takes. We look at our weaknesses, our past failures, our lack of biblical knowledge, and conclude we're not ready. But here's the incredible truth: when you became a believer, God gave you everything you need. The Holy Spirit didn't just move into your life as a tenant - He came with a full moving truck of spiritual fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control aren't things you have to manufacture or earn. They're already within you, ready to be expressed and shared with others. Think about it this way: God doesn't produce love in you just so you can feel loved. He produces love in you so you can love others. The patience He's developing isn't just for your benefit - it's so you can patiently walk alongside someone who's struggling. The peace you experience is meant to be shared with those who are anxious and afraid. The problem isn't that we lack ingredients; it's that we don't recognize what we already have. We keep looking for external qualifications when God has already equipped us internally. Every fruit of the Spirit is a tool for discipleship, a way to demonstrate God's character to others. You don't need a seminary degree or years of experience - you need to recognize and use what God has already placed within you.

Bible Verse

'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.' - Galatians 5:22-23

Reflection Question

Which fruit of the Spirit do you most naturally express, and how could you intentionally use that gift to encourage and disciple someone in your life this week?

Quote

God has already given you all the ingredients, right? When you become a believer in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes within you and he fills you and he starts to produce this fruit.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, thank You for filling me with Your fruit. Help me recognize the gifts You've already placed within me and give me boldness to share them with others. Show me how to use Your love, peace, and patience to make disciples. Amen.

Day 3: Sharing Your Story

Devotional

There's something powerful about a personal testimony that no amount of theological training can replace. When someone shares what God has done in their life, it carries an authenticity that touches hearts in ways that even the most eloquent sermon might not. Yet many of us hesitate to share our stories, thinking they're not dramatic enough or impressive enough to matter. Consider the man Jesus healed from demon possession. Jesus didn't send him to seminary or give him a three-year training program. Instead, He simply said, 'Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.' That's it. Share what God has done. Your story doesn't need to include a dramatic conversion or miraculous healing to be powerful. Maybe God rescued you from anxiety, helped you through a difficult relationship, or simply gave you peace in the midst of chaos. These everyday miracles are exactly what people around you need to hear. The beautiful truth is that when we share what God has done, we're not responsible for the results. We're simply called to be faithful witnesses. The woman at the well didn't have a theology degree, but her simple testimony - 'Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did' - brought an entire town to Jesus. Your story, shared with love and authenticity, has that same potential to impact lives.

Bible Verse

'Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did."' - John 4:39

Reflection Question

What is one specific way God has worked in your life that you could share with someone this week, and who in your circle of influence might need to hear that particular story?

Quote

You don't have to manufacture anything. God's already given it all to you. You just need to go.

Prayer

Lord, give me courage to share my story with others. Help me see the significance of what You've done in my life and give me opportunities to tell others about Your goodness and mercy. Use my testimony to draw others to You. Amen.

Day 4: The Power Behind the Process

Devotional

Even the apostle Paul, who planted more churches than we can count and wrote much of the New Testament, asked for prayer. Not just any prayer, but specifically for boldness and opportunities to share the gospel. If Paul needed prayer support for evangelism, how much more do we need it? Prayer isn't just a nice addition to discipleship - it's the power source that makes everything else possible. When we try to make disciples in our own strength, using our own words and wisdom, we quickly become exhausted and discouraged. But when we pray, we tap into God's unlimited power and resources. Praying for boldness doesn't mean asking God to make us fearless. It means asking Him to give us courage to act despite our fears. Paul was threatened daily, constantly under attack, yet he continued to share the gospel because he understood that God's power was made perfect in his weakness. Prayer also changes our perspective on the people around us. Instead of seeing difficult coworkers or challenging family members as problems to avoid, prayer helps us see them as people God loves and wants to reach. It softens our hearts and opens our eyes to opportunities we might otherwise miss. When we commit to praying consistently for the people in our lives, something supernatural happens. God begins to work in their hearts even before we say a word. He prepares divine appointments and opens doors that seemed permanently closed.

Bible Verse

'Pray also for us, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.' - Colossians 4:2-3

Reflection Question

Who are three people in your life that you could commit to praying for regularly, and what specific prayer requests would you lift up for their spiritual journey?

Quote

Can I ask, do you think Paul had a reason to be afraid about telling people about Jesus? The man was threatened daily, like he was constantly under attack.

Prayer

Father, I recognize that I cannot make disciples in my own strength. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me boldness to share Your love. Open doors of opportunity and prepare the hearts of those around me to receive Your truth. Amen.

Day 5: Staying Connected to the Source

Devotional

In our results-driven culture, it's easy to become more focused on the outcomes of discipleship than on our relationship with Jesus Himself. We want to see people saved, baptized, and growing, which are all good desires. But Jesus reminds us that apart from Him, we can do nothing. The question isn't whether we want to see miracles in people's lives - it's whether we want the miracle or the miracle worker. When we pursue Jesus Himself rather than just the results we hope to achieve, we discover that He provides everything we need for the journey. Staying connected to Jesus means recognizing that discipleship is ultimately His work, not ours. We're simply branches connected to the vine, and our job is to remain in Him so that His life can flow through us to others. This takes the pressure off us to produce results and puts the focus where it belongs - on our relationship with Christ. When we're truly connected to Jesus, discipleship becomes natural rather than forced. Love flows from us because we're experiencing His love. Patience develops because we're resting in His timing. Wisdom emerges because we're drawing from His infinite understanding. Remember, making disciples is a lifelong process, not a quick fix. Some people you've been praying for may take years to respond to God's love. But when you're connected to Jesus, you have the endurance and hope to keep loving, keep praying, and keep believing that God is working even when you can't see it.

Bible Verse

'I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.' - John 15:5

Reflection Question

How can you tell when you're trying to make disciples in your own strength versus staying connected to Jesus, and what practices help you remain rooted in Him?

Quote

Do you want the miracle or do you want the Miracle worker? Because one will get the result and one won't.

Prayer

Jesus, help me remember that You are the source of all spiritual fruit in my life. Keep me connected to You so that Your love, wisdom, and power can flow through me to others. Let me seek You first, trusting that You will provide everything needed for discipleship. Amen.