At this point in my life, I find myself nearly stalled at a crossroad. I am a husband, a blogger, an employee, a designer, a student, a church member, and the list continues. Yet, I have one thought that won’t leave me alone. In the midst of the roles I play, how does my uniqueness fit in the context of God’s plan for his world and my life? Mulling this question over repeatedly, I have come to an exciting idea: every disciple of Christ is like a tree. In many ways, the branches and fruits of one disciple look largely the same when compared to another. Yet, for every Christ follower, there also seems to be a peculiar branch of their uniqueness. To no surprise, the fruit and chemistry of this branch look very different per disciple.

I reason that good discipling waters the disciple, prunes their branches, and is the key to seeing great fruit from even the peculiar branch of their uniqueness. If we will mature in our relationships with Christ and in our creative fields, it will certainly require intentional discipleship. Below are some thoughts regarding my evolving philosophy of the disciple as a tree:

1. The Potting Soil

As Christ followers, we are called to sit under the teaching of Jesus, teach others what we are learning, and then send them out to teach others to do the same (see Matt. 28:18-20 and 2 Tim. 2:1-7). This is the ground from which we grow.

2. The Science of the Tree

Some branches every disciple should share, include the branches of spiritual disciplines (making disciples, prayer, worship, etc.) and theology. Yet, in this analogy, God has also given each of us a branch of uniqueness with somewhat different fruit from one disciple to another. It is from this branch that we use our uniqueness for the good of others and the advancement of God’s kingdom (see 1 Cor. 12:4-11).

3. Resources (in Addition to the Bible)

I highly recommend Greg Ogden’s Discipleship Essentials. It is a great workbook that I personally use in discipling relationships.
The Discipleship Blueprint Conference, a ministry of Long Hollow Baptist Church and Replicate Ministries, is packed with resources about making disciples who make other disciples.

I admit that my philosophy of discipleship and uniqueness is still being refined. There is still so much to figure out, but I am encouraged that discipleship does not have to be complicated. In fact, a complicated or programmatic approach is far from the model Jesus set before us. Jesus simply lived alongside his disciples while intentionally training them for their next steps.

I reason that Jesus’ model is the same one we should practice as Creative Agents. In the next few months, who could you start discipling? Which three guys or gals can you teach what you know about the Bible and design, and simultaneously learn from and grow alongside of? Just imagine the impact God can make through you by your decision to live life intentionally with others.

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