"FOLLOW-UP: FACTORS AFFECTING FOLLOW-UP"
INTRODUCTION
- In a study on "Follow-up: Definition & Importance", personal
follow-up was part of an overall effort to ground new believers
in Christ...
- Seeking to encourage engagement in this area of service in the
Lord's work
- For there is great joy when we engage in such work - 3Jn 4
- There are several factors that will affect any effort in personal
follow-up...
- Understanding these factors will help one know more about what is
involved in such efforts
- It may also help us understand why so few people ever engage in it
[For example, one factor affecting personal follow-up is...]
- OUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD
- FOLLOW-UP INVOLVES THE IDEA OF "LIFE TRANSFERENCE"...
- Life transference - the transferring of things in your life to
the life of the new Christian
- In other words, the sharing of a lifestyle with the new
believer
- Such as Paul did with the Thessalonians - 1Th 2:8
- OUR WALK WITH THE LORD MUST BE WORTHY OF IMITATION...
- Otherwise, the new believer is not likely to take us seriously
- Consider the example of Paul
- In his conduct with the Thessalonians - 1Th 2:10
- So he write as he did to the Philippians - Php 4:9
- We should not view Paul as an exception; all mature Christians
are to worthy of imitation - cf. Php 3:17
- THIS MAY EXPLAIN WHY MANY ARE NOT INVOLVED IN FOLLOW-UP...
- Perhaps knowing they are not good role models or mentors for
"life transference"
- If such is the case with us...
- Then we better get busy growing spiritually
- If we are not able to help save others, we will unlikely
save ourselves! - cf. 1Ti 4:16
[Another factor affecting personal follow-up is...]
- OUR WILLINGNESS TO MAKE A COMMITMENT
- PERSONAL FOLLOW-UP IS TIME-CONSUMING...
- The needs of a new believer are often similar to that of a baby
(feeding, bonding, protecting)
- When life's busy schedule presses down, priorities will have to
be made
- Only the truly committed person will spend the time necessary
to follow-up
- Paul illustrates the kind of commitment needed - Ac 20:20,31;
1Th 2:9-12
- THIS MAY EXPLAIN WHY SO FEW ENGAGE IN FOLLOW-UP...
- Commitment is a difficult concept for many people
- Lack of commitment is seen in many areas: work, marriage,
family, church
- Many lack commitment to save themselves, let alone being of
much use to save others!
- ARE WE ABLE TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT...?
- Do we believe in the importance of personal follow-up?
- Are we willing to devote the time necessary to encourage new
disciples?
- Can we rethink our present activities and discontinue those
which interfere?
[Even when we are convinced of the need, and are willing to make the
commitment, we must be aware of other factors affecting personal
follow-up, such as...]
- OUR WILLINGNESS TO CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS
- IT IS TEMPTING TO WORK WITH TOO MANY AT ONE TIME...
- Because of what others may expect of us ("You should not be
working with just a select few.")
- Because of what may be our own vain glory ("Numbers impress
brethren more than quality, so I better work with many.")
- GOOD FOLLOW-UP REQUIRES CONCENTRATED FOCUS...
- That can be obtained only by working with a few at a time
- While multitudes followed Him, Jesus focused on his select
disciples during His ministry
- Paul told Timothy to work with 'faithful' men - 2Ti 2:2
- "A decision that our ministry will be intensive, rather than
extensive, will change our whole life. Quality begets quantity.
It takes vision to train one man to reach the mass." - Waylon
Moore
- DO WE HAVE THE VISION TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS...?
- Certainly we should be open to encouraging all our brethren
- But prime time and peak energy should be directed toward a
select few until they are able to follow-up on others as well
[Also important as a factor affecting personal follow-up is...]
- OUR WILLINGNESS TO GO THE DURATION
- DEVELOPING DISCIPLES CAN BE A LENGTHY PROCESS...
- The illustration of 'spiritual multiplication' in our previous
study revealed that it takes nearly six years for noticeable
growth to occur
- Even Jesus spent three years in developing His disciples
- Paul was in relative obscurity for ten years before he began
his missionary journeys
- WILLINGNESS TO GO THE DURATION REQUIRES...
- Vision - the same vision Jesus had - Mt 13:31-32; cf. Isa 60:22
- Patience - willing to allow time for spiritual growth, and for
spiritual multiplication to occur
- COULD THIS EXPLAIN WHY SOME DO NOT PERSIST IN THIS WORK...?
- We are a society motivated by "get rich quick" schemes, fed by
"fast food" restaurants
- We want salvation in four or five easy steps and at little cost
- We must be willing to endure like Jeremiah, who labored for
fifty years with little to show for his labors
[Indeed, the fruit of our labors in follow-up may sometimes not show up
until after we are gone! But with faith and vision, we will not grow
weary (Ga 6:9). A fifth factor affecting follow-up is...]
- OUR WILLINGNESS TO TEACH AND TRAIN
- TEACHING OF GOD'S WORD IS REQUIRED...
- As Paul instructed Timothy - 2Ti 2:2
- Accompanied by our example (which we saw earlier in 'life
transference')
- Yet it is the Word which ultimately produces spiritual growth
and change - 1Pe 1:23; 2:2
- THIS REQUIRES BEING A FAITHFUL STUDENT AS WELL..
- As Paul instructed Timothy - 1Ti 4:15-16
- Not only for our own spiritual growth, but to set the example
for others - 1Ti 4:12
- COULD THIS EXPLAIN THE LACK OF GROWTH IN SOME CONVERTS...?
- What kind of students of God's Word do they see in us?
- Is our attendance in Bible study erratic? Do we come
unprepared to share?
- Are we willing to take the time to study with them in person?
[Finally, another factor affecting follow-up pertains to...]
- OUR SPIRITUAL ENVIRONMENT
- THE ROLE OF A SPIRITUAL ENVIRONMENT FOR A NEW CHRISTIAN...
- It plays a large part in his or her spiritual growth
- A lukewarm or cold church environment can be devastating to the
growth of a new believer
- It can hinder or hurt the efforts of the faithful few trying to
nurture new Christians
- EFFECTIVE FOLLOW-UP MAY FIRST REQUIRE CLEANUP...
- Working first with those who poor examples will only undermine
future efforts
- Spending time and effort to ensure the local congregation will
be a safe haven for new Christians
- COULD THIS EXPLAIN THE LACK OF GROWTH IN SOME CONVERTS...?
- A faithful few may be trying to follow-up with new Christians
or new members
- But are their efforts impacted negatively by the poor examples
being set by others?
CONCLUSION
- The work of personal follow-up is no easy task...
- Which may explain it is so greatly neglected
- Which is why Christians are so desperately need to accept the
challenge
- For those willing to accept the task of personal follow-up...
- They will help the church 'multiply' - Ac 9:31
- They will experience 'no greater joy' - 3Jn 4
And they will become imitators of the household of Stephanas: "they
have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints." (1Co 16:15)
What a wonderful compliment...!