08. Pour into One
Article 8 | You Were Made for So Much More Than This
Who could be making disciples three months from now because you gave them your time?
You may never stand before a crowd again.
But you can sit across the table from one person.
You can listen to their struggles, open the Bible together, pray with them, and help them practice sharing Jesus.
That person could help someone else do the same.
Your remaining years could bear fruit through people you have not yet met. It can begin with one person you already know.
Think about Paul and Timothy.
Paul invited Timothy to travel with him. Timothy watched him teach, serve, face opposition, and care for people. He received real responsibilities and opportunities to grow.
Later, Paul wrote:
“The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
2 Timothy 2:2 WEB
Paul was looking beyond Timothy.
What Timothy received was meant to reach others, and through them, still others.
When you pour into one person, keep those future people in view.
Someone needs what you can give
Many of us in our later years have something a younger or less experienced disciple needs: time, perspective, patience, and lessons learned through following Jesus.
You have experienced disappointment and watched God sustain you.
You have made mistakes and learned to begin again.
You have prayed through seasons when answers seemed slow.
Someone needs encouragement to keep obeying Jesus through those same experiences.
They may be in your church, your neighborhood, or your family. They may be someone you meet through Zúme training or coach by video call.
Look for someone willing to learn, put Scripture into practice, and share what they receive.
Then make a simple invitation:
“Would you like to meet with me each week for the next three months? We can discover what Jesus is teaching us, practice making disciples, and encourage each other to obey.”
Give them room to practice
In Part 7, we considered this principle:
Ask. Don’t take over.
Now put it to work in a consistent relationship.
Imagine meeting with someone who wants to share Jesus but feels nervous.
You listen to their concerns. Together, you read how Jesus sent a man home to tell what God had done for him.
You ask, “Who in your life could hear your story?”
They name a friend.
You help them practice a short testimony. You pray together. They decide when to speak with that friend.
The next week, you ask, “How did it go?”
Perhaps the conversation went well. Perhaps they lost their nerve.
Either way, you have something real to discuss, pray about, and learn from.
Week by week, obedience becomes something they practice, and something they can help another person practice.
Make the next three months count
Keep your time together simple and purposeful.
Look back. What happened when they put last week’s learning into practice? What brought joy? Where did they struggle?
Look into Scripture. What does the passage reveal about God? What does it teach us to do?
Look ahead. What specific step will they take? Who will they share with? What would help them prepare?
Practice together. Pray together. Follow up.
As they grow, help them begin encouraging someone else. Give them opportunities to share what they are learning and help another person obey Jesus.
Three months will not finish their development. It gives you a clear beginning and a time to review what God is doing together.
Picture what could follow
One person learns to share their story.
A friend becomes curious about Jesus.
A household begins discussing Bible stories.
Someone in that household starts sharing with another family.
We cannot guarantee how far a relationship will reach. But we can faithfully give someone our attention, encouragement, and help.
You do not need to know everyone God might reach through them. You can begin by loving the person in front of you.
Your step this week
Choose one person and offer to coach them for the next three months.
Pray about whom to invite. Contact them. Put your first meeting on the calendar.
Come ready to listen, open Scripture, practice, and pray.
At the end of your time together, help them take one clear step of obedience.
Then keep showing up.
Who might one day thank God that you made time for this person?
We were made for more.
Want to go further?
All ten Zúme discipleship lessons are on my site, free, with the video and the same teaching notes I use when I train leaders in person. Take them on your own, take them with a few friends, or join me live on Zoom and I will teach them to you face to face. When you finish, tell me and I will coach you personally.
Terry Ruff
Your gift would be tax deductible and overseen by Northside Christian Church, our sending church. There are many we coach that could use encouragement in small ways to accomplish great things.
Take your next step here: Next Steps form