By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. (John 15:8 ESV)
During my time on the LPGA Tour, I had the privilege of competing alongside many of the game’s most accomplished players, including thirteen-time LPGA Tour champion Rosie Jones.
Recently, Rosie invited me and five other LPGA professionals to mentor young golfers at a statewide high school girls’ invitational in South Carolina.
Rosie’s mission is to prepare female student-athletes ages 14–18 for success on and off the course by building confidence, course-management skills, emotional control, and leadership.
Watching Rosie’s vision inspire these young athletes reminded me that the long game matters both on and off the course. Golf can shape their lives far beyond the scorecard, especially when experienced players intentionally guide those who are still learning.
Mentoring means supporting and guiding someone with less experience as they develop skills, values, and character. In Christianity, we call this discipleship: following Jesus, reorienting our lives around Him, and helping others learn to follow Him as well.
Discipleship requires time, patience, and sacrifice. It calls us to be rooted in God and His Word, drawing the nourishment we need to bear good fruit in and through our lives.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus explains that this fruit glorifies the Father and identifies us as His disciples. Genuine discipleship transforms us, and that transformation becomes visible as belief matures into obedience and Christlike character.
Discipleship grows through meaningful relationships marked by accountability and mutual encouragement. Because it is neither one-sided nor meant to end with us, what we receive should be passed on to others. We learn this from Paul when he instructed Timothy to share what he had learned with other faithful men and women who would also be able to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).
Transformational discipleship occurs because “everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40).” We are shaped by those we choose to follow, so we must choose wisely.
Every discipleship relationship should be rooted in grace and truth, keeping Jesus as our ultimate teacher and helping us become more like Him each day.
Like playing the long game of golf, discipleship is a life-long journey. Decades into his walk with Jesus, Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).”
His words remind us that discipleship is not perfection already achieved but faithful forward movement toward Christ.
Discipleship, then, is a lifelong journey of orienting our lives toward Jesus, building intentional relationships, bearing good fruit, teaching others, and faithfully pressing forward with Him.
Prayer: Lord, help me keep becoming a disciple who follows you, who is intentional in relationship, bears fruit that is good, and helps others.