Presence

Being Fully Present in Discipleship

We’re probably all familiar with Matthew 28:19-20:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Many of us have been part of a discipleship program, whether as a leader or a participant. But a couple of weeks ago, I came across a video that stopped me in my tracks.

The speaker posed a challenging thought: What if someone were assigned to me to be discipled by me? Not simply attending a course I was running but actually spending time with me, learning from my habits and rhythms, observing how I react in stressful situations, how I treat people from different walks of life, how I care for my family, and how I prioritise my relationship with God.

Would that be a positive experience for them? Would they grow in their relationship with God because of spending time with me?

Discipleship in the Everyday

How does this concept fit into our daily lives, especially with the busyness of work and other responsibilities? The Greek word for “disciple” refers to a learner who follows a master teacher. In contrast to modern Western education, learning in Jesus’ time was highly relational and holistic. Discipleship was not just about the transfer of information; it involved imitating the teacher’s life, adopting their values, and internalizing their worldview.

Consider Jesus’ method of making disciples. He didn’t emphasize a structured curriculum, a fixed meeting time, or a set list of topics. Instead, He prioritized relationships. He spent time with His disciples—teaching as they walked together, as they ate, attended weddings, served others, healed the sick, and engaged in conversations that arose naturally from shared experiences.

Robert Karris, in Eating Your Way Through Luke’s Gospel, notes that Jesus was always either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal. Discipleship was about doing life together.

Opportunities for Discipleship

When I reflect on Jesus’ words, I see discipleship opportunities all around me: at home with my wife and children, in my workplace, in church relationships, even in brief interactions at the supermarket. The challenge is not finding opportunities but being fully present in them.

I need to remind myself that when I’m in conversation with someone, it should be about them, not me. It’s not my role to fill the space with my own stories, experiences, or opinions on what they should do. Instead, I should seek to understand—what makes them tick? What are they struggling with? How can I support them? God can do far more when my focus is truly on the other person.

The Greatest Commandment

This ties into the greatest commandment:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:36-39)

If I may paraphrase: Be fully present with God—your heart, soul, and mind—and be fully present with your neighbor.

Showing Up

As part of a tutor team at Ulster University, I work with students as they develop their final-year projects. This process can feel overwhelming for them, so I always emphasize one simple step: Show up. If they consistently attend, engage, and walk through the process with us, we can help them. No matter how daunting their challenges, things will improve if they just show up.

The same applies to my relationship with God. I need to show up so that He has the opportunity to work in my life.

I love how The Message translates Romans 12:1:

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”

Living It Out

So today, let’s ask ourselves: In our ordinary rhythms and daily interactions, are we open to both being discipled and discipling others? More importantly, are we fully present—showing up for God and for the people around us? When we do, and when we make it about them rather than us, we create space for God to work in powerful ways.

Be fully present, and be expectant of what God can do.

Des Cairns | Lisburn HUB Member