Creating a Big 3 Pass It On Culture Requires… Passing It on

I know, I know—you know what it is to Pass It On. On one level, it simply means to share what God’s teaching us to those in our home and circle of influence. On another level, it’s a response to Jesus’ call to personally and intentionally make disciples who will make disciples.

In some areas of life, you and I pass things on quite naturally to those around us. We all do. Our sense of humor is passed onto our kids by sheer force of laughter. Our body language in conversation is picked up and repeated by friends. Our demeanor in defeat is replicated. Our celebration in struggle is adopted. How we treat others, pray, and even spend our money are all areas of intentional and unintentional passing on to those around us.

And, if you’re reading this, you know that what we believe about Jesus and how we live here on the pavement is passed on as well. In fact, you know it’s the most important treasure we could ever hope to pass on to others.

You know the Great Commission in Matthew 28, to go and make disciples.

You know the Great Commandment in Matthew 22, to love God, love others, and love yourself.

You’ve been personally challenged by Paul in his letter to one of his own disciples, Timothy, in 2 Timothy 2:2, when he said, “entrust [the truth of the Gospel] to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

And, of course, you’re familiar with Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and the familial rhythm of learning, living, and, yes, passing along Truth.

That said, let’s take a few minutes to unpack the why and the do when it comes to developing a Pass It On mindset.

Why do we Pass It On intentionally in smaller disciplemaking spaces? Three thoughts: first, Moses offers quite the choice, caution, and calling in Deuteronomy chapters 30 and 31. “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands…” He goes on to call the tribe of Israel to read this Law aloud to the body of believers regularly for their holistic benefit. Why? Because they are undoubtedly prone to falling away into the sinful worship of false gods.

Of course, Moses’ command was to recite the Law in a public setting annually, not regularly in small groups. It’s what happens in the context of daily life beyond the public reading that I want to highlight. In order to love, walk, and keep God’s commands (Deut. 6:4-9; Eph. 5:22-6:4; 1 Cor. 12; 2 Tim. 2:1-2), particularly when it comes to the next generation and new believers, we need more than one public reading a year or, for that matter, a week, but an as-we-go intentional unpacking of the Word with others.

For the record, this is not an either Moses or Paul paradigm, but a both/and.

The second reason why we believe in intentionally passing it on is that when we actually pass on what we’re learning daily / weekly, we’re more likely to internalize what it is that God is teaching us. That is, we grab hold of what we’re learning and are more likely to put it into practice with obedient authority. Keep in mind that most people aren’t teaching regularly from a stage or at the front of a room, so they/we need smaller spaces to experience this, like the home and the huddle.

Third, those we disciple are much more likely to personalize the Text in context, learn how to discern the Spirit and their spiritual gifts, navigate seasons of struggle with deeper faith in Truth, and are more likely to Pass It On themselves.

So what about the dos? What can we do to live a Pass It On rhythm in our unique contexts? Let’s keep it simple.

First of all, if you have a family living under your roof, create an intentional discipling rhythm in time, space, and content. Then, graciously work the plan even when you're not in the mood.

 On the other hand, if God’s given you influence with a circle of friends, a neighbor, or a coworker, begin setting the stage to Pass It On by being more intentional in your approach: serve them, support them, lean into the happenings in their life, be available, and, ultimately, share what God’s teaching you. While the outcome is entirely up to the Lord, prayerfully seek an opportunity to invite them into a relationship with Christ. Be ready to journey alongside them, helping them grow in their faith and equipping them to Pass It On in their own home and huddle.

I know, I know—this is all well-tread ground. It’s just that I need to write this, reread it, dig back into the Spirit’s calls and commands, and then invite others (you) in for action and accountability as a personal reminder to faithfully keep pressing onward. To keep passing it on.

Who are you passing it on to in this season of life?

Take some time and write down your Top 5s. Consider sketching out how you imagine a family Pass It On rhythm in your home might look or how you can be more intentional with what you do. Consider passing on each day what you're learning with those around you. And when you launch a huddle, consider passing on an intentional rhythm with intentional content.