The WIGTake for Spiritual Generations
All 12 Ingredients for Spiritual Generations and Podcasts
By Pheaney (Peter) Lindell and Chuck & Deb Wood
Last week, we talked about the Hand of God moving through prayer. But spiritual reproduction fails when the second generation is merely echoing the convictions of the first. For the mission to survive our departure, the message must transfer with its original potency. Jesus did not want parrots; He wanted witnesses. He explicitly prayed for the next generation—“those also who believe in Me through their word” (John 17:20).
The Jesus Model
He understood that for the movement to survive His physical departure, the message had to transfer from the original twelve to others with the same potency.
But how does that transfer happen? It requires a shift from “I believe because you told me” to “I believe because I know Him.” We see this deep, sticky conviction in Peter. When the crowds deserted Jesus, He asked the twelve if they would leave too. Peter didn’t say, “We’re staying because we signed a contract.” He declared, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (John 6:68). That is the kind of bedrock conviction that weathers storms—a personal realization that Jesus is the only viable option.
Perhaps the most poignant example is Thomas. He missed the first post-resurrection appearance and refused to believe on hearsay alone. A week later, Jesus showed up specifically for him. He didn’t shame Thomas for his doubt; He offered His wounds. The result was a personal, ownership-taking confession: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26-29). Jesus then pronounced a blessing on the coming generations—us—who would believe without seeing, relying on the conviction passed down through the Word.
The Scriptural Model
Paul codified this generational vision in his final letter to Timothy. He commanded, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). This is the biblical mandate for four spiritual generations: Paul -> Timothy -> Faithful Men -> Others.
However, Paul knew this chain would break if the conviction was weak. He immediately followed this command with metaphors of endurance: “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). He likened the disciple-maker to a soldier in active service, an athlete competing by the rules, and a hard-working farmer waiting for the harvest (2 Timothy 2:1-7). Second-generation conviction isn’t just about agreeing with a doctrine; it’s about possessing the grit to carry that doctrine through the “fog of war” and the fatigue of labor.
Stories
Our son, Wes, grew up watching us make disciples of Jesus. Our living room wasn’t just a family space—it was a training ground for young Airborne Rangers from our ministry. These soldiers became his youth group, an unlikely congregation of faith and brotherhood under our roof.
When Wes graduated high school, he surprised me with a question that stung a little: “Who would you recommend to mentor me?”
Understanding that the bird must leave the nest, I swallowed my pride. “Andrew,” I said without hesitation.
Andrew didn’t disappoint. Under his guidance, Wes flourished in knowledge, conviction, and practice of Jesus’ Great Commission. He married Tina, joined the Army, blessed us with four grandchildren, and has risen to the rank of Major.
But what fills my heart most isn’t his military success—it’s what he does with it.
Every single place the Army stations them, Wes and Tina make disciples and host a church in their home. They carry the torch we’d lit, the same one Andrew and Cindy had carried before them.
His recent six month deployment to Japan proved the depth of his commitment. Within a week, he’d gathered fellow soldiers to read the Bible together. He’d seen his parents do it, Andrew and Cindy do it, countless others do it—disciples making disciples.
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus…” (2 Timothy 2:2-4)
While his knowledge of this passage is commendable, what is truly impressive is the way he lives it.
From our living room to bases around the world, the chain remains unbroken. Wes doesn’t just wear his country’s uniform—he wears the mantle of faith we passed down, now passing it forward to faithful soldiers who will teach others also.
Story #2
The difference was striking if you pause a minute to consider.
I recently heard a pastor at a legacy church talk about 6 (yes SIX!) teaching times that he leads throughout the week. It’s not that there aren’t others who could do some of that, and he’s not particularly prideful, it’s just the result of the paradigm. The main teacher teaches.
Juxtapose that with a disciple-maker I’m friends with. He sent me a picture of a discovery Bible study he is leading. I asked, “Who’s the guy praying in the front of the room?” His reply? “Oh, that’s Derek, he leads the Bible study now.”
We have to pass on leadership if we want to see spiritual generations.
Suggestions
- The “Pass the Ball” Test: Stop doing all the training. Ask the person you are discipling to prepare the lesson or lead the church next week while you sit back and observe.
- Ask “Who?”: Regularly ask those you are discipling, “How are your people doing?” or “Who are you focused on?” Keep them thinking about the next generation, not just their own consumption.
- They Memorize the Mandate: Have them commit the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to memory. Have them quote it to you often.
Application for Disciple Makers
For us, the WIGTake is having the patience to let those we disciple wrestle until they own their faith. We often rush to provide answers or secure their compliance, but second-generation conviction is forged in the fire of personal discovery. We must lead them to the point where they are no longer following us, but are following Him with a conviction that is entirely their own. It means preparing them not just for success, but for the hardship of a soldier and the patience of a farmer. True conviction is proven when they can withstand the pressure to quit and still choose to entrust the truth to others.
Conviction isn’t built in a classroom; it’s caught in the context of a life lived together. Next week, we look at the “inefficient” necessity of the Master’s method: Ingredient #7: Time With.
All 12 Ingredients for Spiritual Generations and Podcasts
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