{"id":31046,"date":"2022-09-10T15:14:42","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/pastors-programs-or-people-who-makes-disciples-in-your-church\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:14:42","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:14:42","slug":"pastors-programs-or-people-who-makes-disciples-in-your-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/pastors-programs-or-people-who-makes-disciples-in-your-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Pastors, Programs, or People: Who Makes Disciples in Your Church?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Karl Magnuson photo – Unsplash <\/p>\n

By Paul Petersen<\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus commissioned the Church to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), and every church must answer the question, \u201cHow will we make disciples?\u201d <\/p>\n

A 2019 Lifeway Research survey of pastors revealed a positive outlook on disciple-making efforts in American churches. Around 2 in 3 pastors (65%) feel satisfied with the state of discipleship compared with 47% in 2011, which is likely more than increased optimism. More pastors evaluated their discipleship progress in 2019 than in 2011, indicating that the focus might be shifting from quantity to quality of disciples.<\/p>\n

According to Lifeway Research, more pastors evaluated their discipleship progress in 2019 than in 2011, indicating that the focus might be shifting from quantity to quality of disciples. Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Yet I suspect that fewer churches try to answer, \u201cWho<\/em> will make disciples?\u201d The 2019 Discipleship Pathway assessment found that while 78% of church members had meaningful relationships in their church, less than half indicated they intentionally dedicate time to help others grow in their faith. <\/p>\n

Nearly 60 commands in the New Testament direct Christians to carry out Christlike actions to \u201cone another.\u201d These commands demonstrate the crucial role that believers play in the discipleship of other believers. So who makes disciples in your church, and how do they do it?  <\/p>\n

The survey of pastors revealed various approaches to make disciples. On average, pastors indicated using six different approaches to make disciples, and the results highlight three dimensions of the answer to who <\/em>makes disciples.<\/p>\n

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Pastors Make Disciples<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Should pastors make disciples and feel responsible for the growth of their church? Yes, and Amen! The 2019 survey indicated that 83% of pastors have an intentional plan for discipleship in their church, with 78% recognizing room for improvement. As one aspect of their discipleship plan, 89% indicated weekly sermons during the worship service, and another 70% include an additional pastor-led teaching time on an alternate day or time.<\/p>\n

Pastors alone cannot bear the sole weight of the responsibility to make disciples, and a congregation with a \u201cfeed me\u201d attitude will prove disastrous to everyone involved. Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Pastors alone, however, cannot bear the sole weight of this responsibility, and a congregation with a \u201cfeed me\u201d attitude will prove disastrous to everyone involved. Thus, we include effective programs and groups of people. <\/p>\n

Programs Make Disciples<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What role do programs play in discipleship, and how do pastors utilize them in their approach to spiritual growth? The survey indicated that:<\/p>\n

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  • 96% of pastors utilize ongoing adult Sunday School classes or small group Bible studies at church<\/li>\n
  • 80% have women\u2019s groups or classes<\/li>\n
  • 79% use short-term adult Bible studies<\/li>\n
  • 69% employ mentoring or one-on-one discipling relationships<\/li>\n
  • 65% create men\u2019s groups or classes<\/li>\n
  • 53% deploy ongoing adult small-group Bible studies that meet in homes or outside the church building<\/li>\n
  • 33% organize accountability groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    These groups and programs provide environments for mutual participation in one another\u2019s growth, but as relational investment goes up, use goes down. The Discipleship Pathway Assessment also found 38% of churchgoers do not attend a small group, 28% attend one to three times per month, and only 35% attend four or more times per month. <\/p>\n

    38% of churchgoers do not attend a small group, 28% attend one to three times per month, and only 35% attend four or more times per month.\u00a0 Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

    While the pastor survey didn\u2019t measure participation, the types of methods deployed match this trend. The programs which require the highest levels of vulnerability and participation in other\u2019s growth appear the least utilized. A church member might stay an extra hour at church and hear a Bible lesson more easily than bear the sins of their souls to other Christians on Tuesday mornings. <\/p>\n

    People Make Disciples<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Pastors make disciples and set the tone of discipleship in their church. Their strategic selection of programs and groups that involve Christians in each other\u2019s lives plays a crucial role. Various cultures and congregational needs will lead to diverse methods of how <\/em>to make disciples.<\/p>\n

    Still, some might assume the responsibility to make disciples falls on the pastor, Bible study leader, or small group leader. People<\/em> make disciples, and we must help our church members embrace their identity as disciple-makers regardless of what leadership role they possess.<\/p>\n

    People make disciples, and we must help our church members embrace their identity as disciple-makers regardless of what leadership role they possess. Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

    The cultural value of independence and self-creation serves as a significant barrier for the American church. The Discipleship Pathway Assessment revealed another opportunity to learn from African American and Hispanic churches, which seem to value small groups and involvement in one another\u2019s faith to a greater degree. <\/p>\n

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    See also  What Sparks Evangelical Generosity? Discipleship<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    We think asking for help makes us appear weak, and that confessing sin is for the people who have real problems. We Google the questions we have about Scripture, theology, and life rather than ask trusted friends in our church. We like to offer help but remain reluctant to receive the offer ourselves. How is this overcome so that church members feel responsibility for the growth of other Christians in their church? <\/p>\n

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    1. Cast vision for the church as a family<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Who we are<\/em> to one another informs what we do<\/em> for one another. In 1 Thessalonians, while Paul primarily refers to the church as \u201cbrothers and sisters\u201d (20 times in the book), he also describes that \u201cwe were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children\u201d (1 Thessalonians 2:7). A few verses later he reminds, \u201chow, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God\u201d (1 Thessalonians 2:11).<\/p>\n

      As great as a competent Bible teacher is, we need more spiritual fathers and mothers to raise up mature children in Christ. Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

      In Christ, we\u2019re family. As great as a competent Bible teacher is, we need more spiritual fathers and mothers to raise up mature children in Christ.<\/p>\n

      2. Model reproducible mentoring and discipleship<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Almost 7 in 10 pastors (69%) utilize one-on-one discipleship relationships in their approach to spiritual growth. This method can feel inefficient at first but can multiply with remarkable depth. At first, few may feel qualified to mentor others, but this can result from what they have seen or received themselves. High-skill mentoring limits reproducibility. High-life-accessibility mentoring can intimidate at first but will reproduce and transform. Paul the apostle employed this simple strategy: imitation.<\/p>\n