For me the answer begins with Matthew 28:18 – 20. It is our job to make disciples. It seems like somehow we have drifted off of that directive and are now looking for converts, people who have prayed a prayer. Rather than follow what Christ and Paul modeled in the New Testament, we rely on large meetings and media. Look at Mark 3:14. He appointed the 12 to be with Him, then to preach. The order is not accidental.
Paul did much the same. When you read through Acts and the epistles Paul penned, you see names, Timothy being primary. 2 Timothy 2:1 – 2 mirrors in Paul’s admonition to his apprentice, not only Christ’s method, but also His command in Matthew 28:18 – 20.
If you look at Acts 11:26, this is reinforced. The disciples were called Christians, not the other way around. The problem may be that we have forgotten what it takes to make a disciple.
In his books Simple Church
and Breakout Churches
, Thom Ranier shares research that supports this as well. He states that the churches that are doing great, are those who have defined discipleship and have put in place an intentional process for moving people toward discipleship.
To me this is simple. Pastors have to refocus on equipping, making disciples, intentionally developing leaders, rather than what program to run in the next 13 weeks.
The challenge will be that the consumers will rebel.
What do you do with that?
Paul did much the same. When you read through Acts and the epistles Paul penned, you see names, Timothy being primary. 2 Timothy 2:1 – 2 mirrors in Paul’s admonition to his apprentice, not only Christ’s method, but also His command in Matthew 28:18 – 20.
If you look at Acts 11:26, this is reinforced. The disciples were called Christians, not the other way around. The problem may be that we have forgotten what it takes to make a disciple.
In his books Simple Church
and Breakout Churches, Thom Ranier shares research that supports this as well. He states that the churches that are doing great, are those who have defined discipleship and have put in place an intentional process for moving people toward discipleship.To me this is simple. Pastors have to refocus on equipping, making disciples, intentionally developing leaders, rather than what program to run in the next 13 weeks.
The challenge will be that the consumers will rebel.
What do you do with that?
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