The WIGTake for Spiritual Generations
All 12 Ingredients for Spiritual Generations and Podcasts
By Pheaney (Peter) Lindell and Chuck & Deb Wood
Last week, we looked at the posture of a servant. But even the best serving can be forgotten. Jesus knew that we drift and we forget. Because of this, His ministry was a relentless cycle of repetition and reminding.
The Jesus Model
Consider the scene in the boat in Mark 8. The disciples had just witnessed Jesus feeding thousands of people—twice. Yet, when they realized they had forgotten to bring bread, they immediately panicked. Jesus had to walk them back through the math of the miracles, asking, “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” (Mark 8:14-21). He was frustrated, yes, but He was persistent. He refused to let them live in the “leaven” (the false teaching) of the Pharisees; He kept bringing them back to the reality of who He was.
This need for reminding is so central that Jesus revealed it as a specific role of the Holy Spirit. He told the disciples, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). If the Third Person of the Trinity is dedicated to the ministry of reminding, we should not consider it beneath us.
The Scriptural Model
The apostles picked up this mantle of repetition. Paul, writing to his seasoned protégé Timothy, didn’t assume Timothy was on auto-pilot. He wrote, “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6). Even the most faithful leaders can let their fire dim; they need the external spark of a reminder to blaze again.
Peter was even more explicit about this strategy. He didn’t apologize for repeating himself. He declared, “Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them… I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder” (2 Peter 1:12-13). Peter understood that knowledge isn’t enough; we need “stirring up.” The goal of reminding isn’t to inform the intellect but to awaken the will.
Stories
When I first grasped that discipleship was about becoming like Jesus, I realized I wasn’t the only one who had been missing the mark. For years, I treated discipleship like a Wednesday night line-up: a class to attend, a curriculum to finish, or a method to master. It was a program, not a pursuit.
I soon discovered that the core discipline of discipleship is the relentless effort to keep Jesus at the center. He isn’t just a distant Lord or a historical Savior; He is the target and the ultimate model. I started a constant internal rhythm, reminding myself to think, speak, and act like Him. Most importantly, I had to learn what it meant to simply abide in Him.
The power of this “constant reminding” became clear during a recent coaching session. I was working with a group of church leaders on the topic of healthy families. They were asking great questions. I paused and asked, “Before I give you an answer, where am I going to look first?”
“The Scriptures,” they answered confidently.
“Close,” I said with a smile.
They caught my drift immediately. “Jesus!” they shouted in unison.
Exactly. While the Scriptures are our map, Jesus is the destination. This is the art of discipleship: keeping the Master in sight when the “business” of religion tries to fog the view. Of course, this requires a fair amount of persistence. I often joke that there are only three ways to truly learn anything: repetition, blunt force trauma, and repetitive blunt force trauma.
While that’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, the truth remains. We are forgetful people. We need to be reminded—over and over—that every principle and every truth we teach must eventually lead us back to the same place: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
Suggestions
- Jesus-Centered: In every lesson, no matter the topic (relationships, finances, work), find the thread that leads back to the Gospels. Remind them that Jesus is the hero of every story.
- Review Identity and Purpose: Regularly bring them back to their identity in Christ and His purpose for their lives. Try to always bring these two together like Jesus did.
- Review the Basics: Don’t be afraid to reteach the fundamentals annually (Time with Jesus, Sharing the Gospel, The Great Commission, etc.). Assume they leak and need a refill on the basics.
Application for Disciple Makers
For us, the WIGTake is accepting the role of “Chief Reminding Officer.” You will often feel like a broken record, repeating the same truths about grace, identity, and the Kingdom over and over. Do not be discouraged by this. Those you are discipling are being bombarded daily by the world’s counter-narratives. Your voice needs to be the steady rhythm of truth that cuts through the noise. Spiritual parenting isn’t just about teaching new things; it’s about helping people remember what is true when life tries to make them forget. It is not just about checking a box of information transfer; it is about “kindling afresh” the fire of God in them, knowing that sometimes the most profound ministry is simply reminding someone of who they already are in Christ.
Next Week: We remind people of the truth because the mission feels impossible. When the task feels too big, we have to lean on something sturdier than our memory. Next week: Ingredient #11: Trusting the Promises of God.
All 12 Ingredients for Spiritual Generations and Podcasts
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