Discipleship 101

I had a great discussion on discipleship yesterday. We talked about how some churches redefine discipleship...whenever they think it's not working. For example:

"Sunday school is declining, so let's start small groups."

"The small groups aren't growing, let's start interest groups."

"The interest groups are slowing down, let's define discipleship as works of community service."

And on and on....

The bottom line is this: discipleship happens ONE on ONE. It happens when a new believer becomes a COMMITTED follower of Christ AND THEN finds another new believer to help become a COMMITTED follower of Christ. We tend to focus on one end or the other. But Biblical discipleship is an intimate ONE on ONE process that happens 7 days a week as we do life together. That is our call. I love church planting. But church planting that doesn't have discipleship at its heart is just continuing the problem. I love outreach. But outreach for outreach sake is just secular charity. We have to be driven by the call to impact one life at a time until all are impacted (Matt 28:19-20).

A well known church recently released a study that proves programs don't produce disciples. They produce church-folks...but not disciples. After looking at some of their findings I just wanted to say DUH! If you read the Bible you know just showing up isn't going to produce a mature Christian. If your hearts and minds are not transformed by the word (which is what happened with the 12) then you aren't a committed follower. There are some great churches and para-church ministries that are doing it right. I pray we will all be faithful to the Commission.