You are still young. But make sure that everyone takes you seriously. Be an example to other believers by what you say and by how you live. Be an example by your love and your faith, and by living the way God wants you to.
Let no one despise you because of your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in walk, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
A good student wants to be like his teacher. And a good slave will be like his master. I am your teacher and your master.
It should be enough for the disciple that he becomes like his master, and that the servant becomes like his lord.
Matthew 10:25
Become like the Master
God’s mission for us, in short, is to become like Him, which means learning to love and serve others with the same heart of authentic mercy, compassion, and love that He has…The end point of a disciple-making movement, simply, is disciples who have reoriented their lives around loving and serving.
- Bill Hull, “The False Promise of Discipleship”
I work together with my younger brother/sister on the challenges of Alongsiders Netherlands
Every month you will have the opportunity, together with your younger brother/sister, to take on a challenge. These challenges (from series such as Foundations - Bells Series - Mountain Peaks) challenge you to look beyond your own world and think about how you can follow Jesus in your everyday life.
As you work through a challenge together, you get to know your brother/sister better and better. At times like this, take time to connect with your young brother/sister where he/she is. You can do this by asking questions like:- How are you / your family doing?
- What do you struggle with at home / at school / ...?
- What are some practical things you can do about it?
- How do you want God to help you?
Set a short-term goal together. Choose one each.
Decide what you will have to sacrifice to achieve this goal. For example, make a commitment to not watch TV until your homework is done or to only play video games on the weekends
Pray together that God will give you the strength to work toward your goal and remind your younger brother/sister (and yourself) that we can do anything through Him who gives us strength (Phil 4:13).In most cases, you will be hanging out with a young brother/sister who has not yet chosen to follow Jesus. That does not matter. You have consciously chosen to do so. In these kinds of situations you can work with the challenges and involve your young brother/sister. Keep going! Because also then, or especially then, you may show him/her Jesus through your relationship and in the way you interact with each other and with others.
However you proceed as an Alongsider, we emphasise that the challenges and lessons for discipleship are designed to serve the Alongsiders and their relationship with their younger brothers and sisters - and not the other way around. In the Alongsider movement, the focus is always on relationships
Some people confuse gaining knowledge with the essence of discipleship. But Jesus never said, 'Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of what you know about me.' Rather, He said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). The primary goal of Alongsiders' challenges and events is to strengthen and guide the unique and loving discipleship relationships between Alongsiders and their younger brothers and sisters
We do our best to visit the Alongsiders Netherlands events together.
Every year, you are invited to Alongsiders Events. A great opportunity to get to know each other even better and to be encouraged in a relaxed setting. Also a chance to meet peers within the movement, increase your perspective together and strengthen relationships.
The events are important moments of encounter. We eat and celebrate together, we give and receive and in this way we learn together to grow in discipleship and to become more like our Master Jesus.
Generally an event consists of moments of worship & looking back and honouring God for what He is doing in your lives (testimonies), a meal, training (for both you and your younger brother/sister) and fun activities. Since co-creation is one of our values, we encourage and work with the input of Alongsiders during the events.
Realistically, attending an event is optional. Children are not always allowed to go, and circumstances sometimes prevent them from participating. But even if your younger brother/sister is not able to come, you are welcome to do so!
