Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to obey all that He had commanded (Matthew 28:20, but while we go and make disciples, we also need to be discipled. Jesus expects all of His followers to both disciple and be discipled. Paul writes, in 2 Timothy 2:2, to entrust to others what we have learned, who will then teach others.
In that light, making disciples involves several aspects:
Helping someone come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord for the first time
Helping someone become connected to a church
Helping someone grow in their faith
Helping someone begin to disciple someone else
A discipling relationship includes a mentor and a disciple. A mentor is someone who takes the lead in helping another Christian to grow in their faith and relationship with Jesus. A disciple is someone who recognizes their need to grow in their faith and allows their mentor to guide them.
This relationship can take many forms. Some partners may choose to use a curriculum to guide their conversation. Some discipling may be directed toward a specific skill or position, such as training to be an elder or deacon or worship leader. Whatever the form, the priority of the relationship is spiritual growth, and not just the transfer of information. Mentoring is more than just teaching. A mentor meets the disciple wherever they are in their faith journey, and helps them to take the next step in their faith development.
A typical time of discipling would include the following questions:
What do you see God doing in your life?
What are you hearing from God in His word, the Bible?
What is like to interact with God through prayer?
What part of your life needs to be transformed to be more like Jesus?
When will you begin to disciple someone else OR, How can I support you as you disciple someone else?
Is there anything else about your relationship with God that you would like to talk about?