The other night we were talking about being disciples. I had asked, “What would a group of people committed to helping each other be disciples and make disciples do?” And we were talking about we would do.

So I asked, “In the course of a week, how would they help each other?”

I enjoyed the responses:

• Praying for each other
• Knowing needs
• Meeting together
• Talking and listening
• Actually telling their needs
• Being personally responsible (so that they can help each other)
• Providing accountability

Then we moved to “In the course of a month, how would they help each other?”

There were fewer answers, but they dig deeper.

• Providing some measure of evaluation. Over a month there is the possibility of helping each other see growth.
• Following up on evaluation, there is the possibility of offering each other forgiveness, understanding that we are human.
• There would be time to work on meeting physical needs. By pooling expertise and resources and planning, it is possible to work on helping each other, or others.

And then we moved to “In the course of a year, how would they help each other?”

• Intimacy
• Trust
• Correction and nurture

I should point out that the “we” in the “we were talking” in the opening paragraph was a group of people that has been meeting most weeks for the past 18 months. We are starting to develop the trust that allows people to say, with tears, “But I don’t understand what that means for me.” We are starting to develop the intimacy that allows us to laugh with each other. And we are starting to say, “So we talked about doing something to actually help someone. Can we do that? Is there someone in our town that needs help?”

Growth takes time. Spiritual growth takes community and willingness.

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More on this idea tomorrow.