One of the most important aspects of revitalizing a church is discipleship.

I find it best to think of discipleship in the church like a relay event at the Olympics.

A relay race is run by a team of four runners. The first runner carries a baton. After running a specified distance, called a “leg” the runner hands the baton to the next team member. The exchange must occur within a zone a few meters long. Timing is crucial. If the runners do not exchange the baton within this zone, the team is disqualified.

The relay race is not necessarily won by the team that runs the fastest, but by successfully passing the baton in the exchange zone. That’s right; races are won or lost in the passing of the baton. Teams can be disqualified by a bad pass. Passing the baton is essential to win the race.

That is true for discipleship in the church as well – if the baton is not passed, the church loses.

A lesson to be learned throughout the Bible is the importance of passing the baton from one generation to another. This is clearly seen (to give a few examples) in Moses passing the baton to Joshua, David to Solomon, Elijah to Elisha, Jesus to His disciples, and Paul to Timothy.

Here are some points to consider:

• It is not enough to run the race we are called to run as Christians. We also pass our mission to the next generation. We must hand off the baton, at the right time, and must do it well.
• Jesus handed the baton to His disciples. They ran a good race and passed the baton to the next generation. Timothy received the baton from Paul, and was instructed to pass it on to others (2 Timothy 2:2).
• There are people who are watching us and waiting on us to pass to them the baton.
• So we must not get caught up with the things of the world and be distracted from passing the baton (Hebrews 12:1-2).

So what is the baton we are passing?

I’ll name three but you can add more in the comments.

Baton #1: Personal Connection

This involves investing in authentic relationships with people who are of little faith, some faith and deep faith. This must be founded on trust, vulnerability, and accountability in order to thrive. When we prioritise relationships, we create spaces for growth, encouragement, and discipleship. Through genuine connections, we can learn from one another, challenge each other, and support each other in our spiritual journeys.

Baton #2: Intentional Spiritual Development

We must intentionally seek opportunities to learn and grow in our faith, through reading Scripture, prayer, attending church, and engaging in spiritual disciplines. Additionally, intentional discipleship involves actively investing in the lives of others, sharing our knowledge, and faith experience. By being intentional, we create an environment where discipleship can flourish, and lives can be transformed.

Baton #3: Kingdom Mindset

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to replicate His discipleship model. Jesus’ ultimate aim was not just to gather a few followers but to make disciples who would go and make more disciples. He imparted His teachings, empowered His disciples, and commissioned them to carry forward His message to all nations. Jesus’ vision for discipleship was not limited to a few individuals but was designed to multiply exponentially.

We are not just beneficiaries of His teachings but carriers of the Great Commission. It requires a mindset shift from personal growth to kingdom growth. When we pass on what we have learned, invest in others, and disciple them, we participate in the multiplication of God’s kingdom.

Blessings