There is a lot of talk about
discipleship these days—and it is about time. Jesus seemed to think
discipleship was a big deal, putting it as the heart—and the verb—of the Great
Commission to "make disciples of all nations." Yet, it seems discipleship
has fallen on hard times in many churches in the West—for example,
English-speaking places like the U.S., Canada, Australia, and England where
there are Christians who are just not as desperate and committed as their
sisters and brothers in the Two-Thirds World.
I would go so far as to say that our discipleship model is broken. I
would like to suggest some areas where we are broken and hopefully provide some
solutions about how to fix them.
1. We equate discipleship with
religious knowledge.
While I don't think one can appropriately grow without seeking more
biblical knowledge, many times believers reduce the discipleship process to,
"Read this. Study this. Memorize this. Good to go." This is
unfortunate.
Instead, discipleship is to be more like Jesus. Christ-like
transformation is the goal, as we are "to be conformed to the image of His
Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers" (Romans 8:29).
The point is not information, but Christ-like transformation. And, that means
it is not about knowledge in general, but about knowing Jesus better. Trying to
be like Jesus, without the power of Jesus, dishonors Jesus.
2. We try to program
discipleship.
Discipleship is not a six-week course. It requires both the pursuit of
knowledge and intentional action. Too many offer a book or a class when what is
needed is a life.
Instead, when Jesus made disciples, He brought them along as He
ministered to people. I'm currently discipling a new believer, and we're
actually doing ministry together—instead of me just telling him about it. The
good news is that the research tells us people want this. In fact, in a recent
LifeWay Research study, we found that a large majority of those who have
previously attended a small group of some kind, but who are not attending now,
would consider attending a new group, but they want to meet with their group
more often than just once a week for bible study. People are looking for
meaningful, shared-life relationships, not just a discipleship class.
3. We equate discipleship with
our preaching.
I'm just going to say it: Pastors, move beyond your arrogance and stop
thinking your preaching is enough to be the church's discipleship strategy.
This is not just my opinion. Recent research done by LifeWay Research indicates
that 56% of pastors surveyed believe that their weekly sermon, or another one
of their teaching times such as Sunday evenings/Wednesday evenings, was the
most important discipling ministry in the church. While it is great to see the
recent renaissance of Bible-based preaching, along with it we have to jettison
the idea that "If people just listen to my sermons, they will grow
spiritually."
Instead, discipleship is a daily process. Pastors, we have to develop
more robust discipleship plans than just our weekly messages. Discipleship is
not a Sunday event, it is a daily commitment.
4. We think that we will grow
without effort.
For many, they think that God saved them and now they should just go
to church and maybe stay away from the really big sins. They are unintentional
in tending to their spiritual growth. Sadly we have not done much to change
this.
Instead, we need to understand that the scripture teaches that each
person is to not be a passive spectator, but rather to "work out your own
salvation" (Phil. 2:12). Discipleship takes every believer's intentional
effort. Yes, effort. Believers must take steps to grow, and that is in line
with grace.
Notice that this passage does not say "work on your own
salvation" or "work toward" it. You cannot. It is by grace and
through faith. However, as a believer, you do take effort to grow—but that does
not earn you a relationship with God, it just puts you in the right place where
God can grow you as a believer, saved by grace. As Dallas Willard has
explained, "Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to
earning."
5. We don't offer practical
steps.
Changing a church's consumer culture requires an intentional
discipleship plan and strategy. We are often intentional about our preaching
schedule; why, then, are we not intentional about a discipleship strategy?
Instead, be unapologetic that you want to encourage people to get 1)
grounded in their faith, 2) consistent in the word, 3) in a small group with
others, whether that looks like a weekly Bible study group, a missional
community, a Sunday School class, or something else altogether. Give people
steps and people with whom they can take those steps.
Conclusion
Assuming your discipleship plan is biblically grounded, the specifics
of your plan are not nearly as important as implementing one and communicating
it well. Heralding a strategy as the way to become a disciple would be
arrogant, but each church should explain its discipleship strategy as "our
church's way of discipleship."
Identifying the challenges of genuine discipleship and committing to a
process that works through them are the first and necessary steps to
cultivating a church filled with on-mission disciples.
This article first appeared in the April/May 2013
issue of Outreach Magazine. If you're ot subscribed
to Outreach, you can do so here.http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/august/better-discipl
