When my sons were younger, one of their chores was to tidy up their rooms. Often, I would send them to their rooms to begin the cleaning process and they would get sidetracked. Instead of putting laundry in baskets, or placing toys on shelves, or making their beds, they would start playing. 

One morning when I went to check on their progress, instead of following my instructions, they were building Lego towers. All the Legos were spread out, the room looked worse than before, and they had built very tall Lego towers. 

And while the tall Lego towers were impressive, that was not what I had asked them to do. I had made it clear their rooms needed to be cleaned before we left for the day.  

In a way, we as Christian adults have the exact same tendency when it comes to the Great Commission. Jesus has told us clearly what he wants us to focus on while we are on earth, awaiting His second coming.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus wants us to focus on making disciples. However, many of us are building Lego towers. We are doing everything but making disciples. 

We are:

• Attending church
• Attending Bible studies
• Volunteering
• Financially giving to great causes
• Building businesses
• Having lunch with friends
• Going on vacations
• Binge watching our favorite shows
• Carpooling kids to activities

Discipleship often is not even on the list of activities that fill our schedules.

I feel this too.

I am raising two sons, I am a wife, I have dinner to get made this evening, swim team practice to take the boys to. I have emails to return, an old friend to meet for lunch tomorrow, and a ministry to run. I have a neighbor who needs some extra help in life right now, I have a dog to walk, a kid that needs to go to the orthodontist…and on it goes.

So often, in the business of life, following the main thing Jesus told us to do is not only an afterthought, it is no thought at all. Many of the individuals who make up the body of Christ are not passing on the faith to the people around them. We are building Lego towers and not actually doing discipleship.

Ok, I am being a bit fatalistic. I know a small handful of people doing this; I can count them on two hands. Even many people in full-time Christian work get too busy with other things and don’t truly meet with and disciple others in any ongoing way.

I am not just observing this, and I am not just writing about this; I am deeply burdened by this reality. So burdened that I launched a 501c3 ministry to fully navigate into this area and see what God could use me to do to address this issue.

What I have found is that people WANT to do this but are stuck. Stuck on a variety of issues such as:

• Where to find disciples
• How to start, literally what to say to get the ball rolling
• When to find time to meet with a disciple
• What to do when you meet. What does this discipleship time look like?
• How to overcome personal hang ups, such as feeling as if you don’t know enough, don’t have the right personality, or are undisciplined or inadequate

But there is hope!

With God all things are possible! Even discipling someone with your busy schedule! Even discipling another person if you have never been discipled. Yes, even discipling someone with YOUR personality.

And I am in your corner! I want to not only propel you in this endeavor – I want you to LOVE discipleship! I have a TON of resources to get you started discipling someone this week!

• Your Discipleship Coach Podcast–This weekly 10-to-15-minute discipleship time will equip and encourage you in your discipleship efforts.
• Discipling Others Blog – Monthly Discipleship help covering all areas of discipleship.
• Start Here and Next Steps Bible Study workbooks – These straightforward Bible studies on the basics of the Christian faith are a perfect place to start when discipling someone.
• Discipling Women – This resource breaks down the nuts and bolts of discipleship, explains the biblical basis for discipleship, and is packed full of helpful advice when discipling others.
• The Discipleship Starter Kit – This free resource offered on my website includes an 8–week calendar of what to do, day-by-day, to disciple others.
• The Time Is Now discipleship training retreat – This 4-talk retreat is specially geared to helping people, in one weekend, learn to disciple others.

When I stand before the Lord I want to have done the things he specifically asked His followers to do. I don’t want to face the Lord and show him Lego towers. I want to face him and show Him disciples.

And I want to help you do the same. As I navigate this life and all the demands on my time, I am looking for lost souls, asking people if they want to grow spiritually, and keeping margin in my schedule for the women I can disciple and help spiritually. My goal is that they too will turn around and pay it forward and disciple others also. My aim is to help you, and recruit you, to join me in this Great Commission effort.

Let’s go build God’s Kingdom together!

Lori Joiner is an author, speaker and discipleship coach in Katy, Texas. To invite her to speak at your next event and to browse her full list of Bible studies and resources visit LoriJoinerMinistries.org.