From Disciples to Disciple-Makers
posted by Navigators on October 20th, 2026 in Blog | Community | Discipleship | Generations
By Levi Swartzentruber, Canberra Labouring Community
I have worn glasses for as long as I can remember. I am nearsighted which means that I can see what is right in front of me clearly but need help to bring distant items into focus. I find that if I am not careful, the same problem can show up in how I go about discipleship.
My one-on-one meetings with the guys I disciple are often the highlights of my week. I enjoy hearing about what is going on in their lives and helping them cultivate a life-giving relationship with God. We have been meeting for a while now and so I can look back and see ways they are growing in their understanding of the Bible and maturity in living out their faith. It is easy for me to focus on how they are going and forget the bigger picture. What I have been challenged to do more recently is look beyond my input into these guys to see how I can prepare them to also invest in others in the future.
‘What I have been challenged to do … is look beyond my input … to see how I can prepare them to also invest in others …’
A few months ago, I started injecting questions and comments into our conversations, hoping these would spark a desire in them to pass on what God had given them:
‘What do you think about the idea of you discipling someone else?’
‘It seems like your friend is asking great questions about faith. How could you come alongside him?’
‘Your understanding of the Bible is really growing, and you could be a great help to a new Christian!’
‘What skills or tools do you think you need to be ready to help a new Christian grow up in their faith?’
Then I drew out and discussed with them a basic framework for discipleship, helping to clarify for them the basics of what meeting with someone else could look like, and the goals I have in discipling a new believer, pointing out how I had done those things with them.
They were both keen to learn more and so I have begun passing on to them a collection of follow-up plans (resources they can use to establish a new believer in their faith). Our discussions have been rich as we both revisit topics we have covered in the past and think about how they would share that content with someone else.
I am excited by their growing hearts for those around them, though at this point the idea of discipling someone else is still just theory. Please pray with me that these two guys would both find someone they can disciple, who will go on to help others also! I would love to see their efforts result in spiritual generations of Christ-followers around the world.
Levi, along with his wife, Lindsay, and their children reside in Canberra. They serve within their community and are active in student ministry at the local university. Find out more here: https://navigators.org.au/staff/swartzentruberll/