May We Teach a Few, So They May Teach a Few

Upon bended knee she went one day with her head bowed in prayer. Never having seen the likes of it from this grandchild—sheer silence erupted as I watched on. Moments went by before she stood and the day went on as if nothing had happened.
But something had happened. She’d been not only prayed for by the adults in her life, but those who matter most spent time in prayer with her. Alongside of others we come because we are called to do so.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 (ESV) encourages, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from your childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

“I wrote a song,” the same grandchild whispered into the ears of her parents after an evening of prayer with her.

I heard a voice—a voice from heaven.
 I’d never heard it before.
 It sounded bold.
And it sounded like a still small voice.
 But it was getting bigger.
 And it said to me,
 Go tell the others about Me.
There’s more than you think.
 It’s more than you think.
 There’s more to know.

The morning after, the attentiveness of the adults in her life quickened as the encouragement offered from the little disciple was bearing fruit. The job of all adults in the lives of all children is to tell them about Christ, his death, and his resurrection. If we don’t do it, who will?

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). He not only entrusts us to participate in the call to make disciples, but the call is actually more of a command.

It’s easy to think about the word “GO!” as a sending out of sorts. Going to the nations is one thing, but what if that one thing leads to another, and lo and behold, one who needs the gospel is right there before you? What if “GO!” means to go read a story about Jesus to the little ones as they grow? What if “GO!” means to go and bring them to church? What if “GO!” means to go to a ballgame and be present so they know you care? What if discipleship means “GO!” give a camp scholarship so others may go to Bible camp and experience discipleship opportunities poured out upon all who enter in?

Discipleship is not only about living the faith but about unleashing it in every aspect of our lives.

Weeks later the fore-mentioned child entered the farmhouse with one request. “Can we go to your prayer room, grandma?” And so we did “GO!” as Wading into the Deep (a devotional written by grandma) had become an adventure of sorts. The next forty-five minutes flew by as upon the floor we sat—reading, writing, and talking about why she chose the words within the verses read within the devotional gifted.

Intentional was our time taken beyond the scope of the day. The laundry sat in wait—waiting to be folded. The dishwasher patiently awaited unloading, while the art supplies supplied for such a time as this made life messy. As the makings of miracles are messy, ‘twas an honor to be a part of.
When our time was complete, she proclaimed, “I LOVE looking back at each page made!” Creatively embedding her thoughts grew a desire to have it wash over again and again.

A hymn written back in 1644 by Martin Rinkart, Now Thank We All Our God, helps us remember the ongoing process of discipleship. The final words of the hymn describe the ongoing command to “GO!” He wrote: “For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”

Obedience is our business—the fruit all his. One never knows when the fruit will ripen and the harvest bring all glory to him. And guess what? Discipleship opportunities will not wane, because as soon as another little one is born, there before us, right there in the bassinet, is one who needs the gospel.

Like any newborn, one must learn to crawl before one walks. One must wade in, rather than dive into the deep, when learning how to swim. Wading into the Deep is a gentle discipleship tool to be used as an invitation to enter into the life-giving waters of God’s Word.
May there be no one without the gospel among us... as we begin to teach a few so they will one day... teach a few. We intentionally pray this be so in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, three in One.

Kathleen Kjolhaug lives on the family homestead with her husband Peter. They attend Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota and have six adult children and twelve grandchildren.