Churches Must become Intentional about Disciple-making
“Discipleship does not happen simply because a church exists” concludes researcher George Barna after studying thousands of churches across America (47). “It occurs when there is an intentional and strategic thrust to facilitate spiritual maturity (Barna 47). Although most churches can point to some program or discipleship activity Barna discovered, “Stunningly few churches have a church of disciples” (21). Pastors and church leaders cannot assume that their members will be growing disciples of Jesus Christ simply because they faithfully attend church. Instead, leaders must be intentional about the priority of disciplemaking, the outcomes and ministry structures used for disciplemaking so that faithful attenders become dedicated, growing disciples of Jesus Christ.
How do we measure success in the American church today? Much the same way we do in business: buildings, bodies, bucks and busyness. We have the wrong priorities. The size of our facilities, how many attend, our income and featured programs become our talking points rather than finishing the Great Commission by being and making disciples. Bill Hull exclaims, “This Christ-less Christianity has created leaders who are addicted to recognition and success, and congregations that believe forsaking all things to follow Jesus to be optional and a separate issue from salvation (11). Dietrich Bonhoeffer, renowned theologian, pastor and holocaust victim, puts it quite simply, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ” (67). We must reaffirm that the purpose of the church is make disciples of Jesus Christ and make that the priority.
What kind of product is the church producing? We have believers who affirm information without application and who have made a decision for Christ without becoming a disciple of Christ. We are getting the wrong outcomes. “The Church in America is failing to live up to its promise; we’re not even coming close to fulfilling it…. Believers are largely indistinguishable from non-believers in how they think and live.” (Barna 13-14) Bill Hull declares, “Enough of the church has accepted a non-discipleship Christianity to render it ineffective at its primary task: the transformation of individuals and communities into the image of Christ” (11). Too many Christians think that faith means to “agree to a set of religious facts about Jesus rather than choosing to take up their cross daily and follow him” (Hull 11). Jesus said that we are to teach disciples to obey everything that he commanded (Mathew 28:19-20). We need to provide a clear pathway for spiritual development that describes a disciple at each phase of growth based on biblical definition of a disciple that includes all the beliefs, values, attitudes and commands Christ intended. As Barna reports, “There is a tremendous need for a more intentional focus on the discipleship process for definition to the desired outcomes of such a process. Given the proper motivation, it seems that most believers would be willing to commit to a more demanding regimen of spiritual development” (47).
Are we using the best ministry programing to make disciples? For over 30 years I have been a pastor of adult ministries as well as a disciplemaking consultant, coach and trainer working in and with churches of 100 to several thousand in attendance. My research and observation reveal an unfortunate reality, there is No correlation between how long a person has been in the church and their level of spiritual maturity. We are using the wrong ministry strategy and structures. We need a whole-church disciplemaking strategy or philosophy of ministry where we know how every ministry structure contributes to the making of a disciple. For instance, worship attendance provides inspiration and information but cannot provide clarification and application. Disciplemaking requires the support and accountability of close relationships typically found in disciplemaking small groups, you cannot be accountable in a crowd. Some leaders say that just getting people into small groups is enough to help them grow. I agree to a point, but if groups are not offered at or equipped to journey through the different levels of spiritual maturity, members get stuck and groups become ingrown and unhealthy. We need a ministry strategy that provides groups unique designed for seekers through mature believers and equipped leaders who know the differences in how groups function at every level.
“Knowing what you are trying to produce, having a philosophy of ministry that support that outcome, implementing a plan to accomplish the goal, and evaluating the sufficiency of the outcomes is important,” concludes George Barna (29). And so should we. Leaders cannot assume those in their churches will be growing disciples of Jesus Christ. They must be intentional about disciplemaking so that faithful attenders become dedicated, growing disciples of Jesus Christ. Pastors and church leaders must first affirm Christ’s purpose for the church - to faithfully fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples; second, identify the right outcomes - disciples who continually seek to obey everything Christ commanded and third, employ the right strategy and structures – life-to-life ministries that provide growth for people at every level from pre-seeker to mature believer. Discipleship should happen simply because the church exists. References
Barna, George. Growing True Disciples: New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of Christ. Sisters, OR: WaterBrook, 2001. Print. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. New York: Touchstone, 1995. Print. Hull, Bill. Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2004. Print.
