This is a option to strengthen your church’s discipleship efforts Immediately.
In my guide, disciple, I write that many church buildings have a discipleship technique that appears like a bunch of puzzle items mendacity on the ground, with nobody working to attach them. That’s, a church might have the appropriate items to have a great discipleship technique, however nobody ever places the items collectively to create a method. The result’s typically a church filled with exercise, however few disciples.
In my expertise, nonetheless, some church buildings attempting to deal with this challenge nonetheless fail as a result of they do one of many following issues:
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- They attempt to put the puzzle collectively with out clearly defining what a “disciple” is. Church buildings that need to make disciples however who’ve by no means outlined a “disciple” are aiming for one thing imprecise. They, too, may have actions that result in no particular finish.
- They attempt to put the entire puzzle collectively too shortly and the items are solely loosely linked. Sure, the church has a discipleship technique, however members do not at all times understand how the technique works. Ministries “match” the technique, but they’re silent and remoted.
- They attempt to undertake another person’s technique and power it on their congregation. That technique could also be a great one, however it’s not a assure that it is best for each congregation. At a minimal, we have to think about how we will contextualize a method in a specific context.
- They attempt to do one thing to unravel the issue, however do not pray a lot about it. This drawback is unquestionably a basic drawback. Planning with out praying means, “We will deal with this drawback ourselves. We don’t want God’s steering or His blessing.” Prayer is necessary.
- They arrange a plan, however then put the fallacious individuals answerable for some puzzle piece. Even the very best laid plans can fall in need of the very best management. And, it solely takes one unhealthy chief of 1 puzzle piece to undermine all the strategy of the church; Thus, it’s crucial to prayerfully discover the very best staff for our church buildings.
- They determine to not one thing With discipleship till all of the puzzle items are in place. That’s, they work laborious at creating their technique, however they pay little consideration to discipleship whereas creating that technique. Even when they do not do it deliberately, they withhold discipleship no matter how lengthy it takes them to finish their work.
It’s this subsequent challenge, actually, that enables this weblog put up to rise. When you’re working to place the items collectively, there is a option to keep disciplined. Actually, it is a basic method of discipleship that leaders needs to be doing anyway: Mentoring 1-3 different believers.
Every church chief, beginning with the pastor, can assign a number of believers to private discipleship. I’ve lately been working with a gaggle of three younger individuals, and it requires about 1.5 hours of my time every week—though I consider they’re nonetheless getting one thing that helps them stroll with Jesus. It might, actually, be a number of the greatest makes use of of my time every week for 1.5 hours as I train believers who can then train different believers (2 Tim 2:2). And, to be sincere, I’ve realized that there are a lot of detrimental issues you’ll be able to face as leaders when you realize the Lord is utilizing you to alter only a few lives.
As pastors and church leaders, you’ll be able to strengthen your church’s discipleship at the moment Invests in somebody personally. I problem you to prayerfully discover somebody quickly—and let mentoring be part of your church’s discipleship puzzle.
Posted on Might 1, 2024
Dr. Chuck Lawless is a number one knowledgeable in religious counseling, discipleship and mentoring. As a former pastor, he understands the presentation challenges of ministry and works with Church Solutions to advise and counsel church leaders.
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