Do You Think Most Churches Know How To Make Disciples?
Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash
The question seems simple enough but the answer is not.
Again, do you think most churches know how to make disciples?
It might be easy to assume that churches know how to make disciples. Our experience suggests many churches believe they know how to make disciples, but they eventually come to a point where they’re stuck.
In 2021 we began serving a church whose disciple making efforts had stalled. It was a challenging problem because it wasn't for lack of trying. Actually, the church had developed a discipling program to make disciple makers. But a question persisted, "Why were people not joining the program?"
We began by first helping the team clarify their mission. This part of the process served to help the team create a shared sense of purpose and direction. After a few months of work the team drafted this statement. "To lead people into a fully devoted relationship with Jesus."
All the foundational work up to this point was necessary but we hadn't addressed the problem. "Why were people not joining their discipleship program?" As we helped the church design their plan we also discovered the reason they felt stuck.
Their discipleship program was thorough and empowered people to live "fully devoted." Yet, for the average person wanting to follow Jesus there were two options. Worship on Sundays or join the discipleship program for one year. Through conversation and scripture we helped the team discover how Jesus discipled people. For example, when he was with crowds Jesus tended to serve or preach. When Jesus was with tax collectors he often spent time at their homes sharing a meal. But Jesus most often reserved the greatest commitments to just a few people not the crowds. The team realized for people to be fully devoted to following Jesus they would need steps. This was the reason participation had stalled. The church was asking everyone to take one giant leap instead of a series of steps.
We finished working with the church late in 2021 but recently reached out to hear how the plan was working. Following the announcement of their plan in early 2021 roughly 60% of the adults in the church signed up. About a year later they still have about 50% of their adults engaged in various steps. Even more exciting is that they have added to the number of people in their one year program!
We're excited, and even a little proud, to say this is a church with a plan to make disciples. But the truth is God opened the right doors and this church walked through.