How to Develop a Discipleship Ministry
Follow these five steps to develop a growing
disciples ministry suited for your church:
Step #1: Know
your purpose - to make disciples.
Planning incorporates all of the efforts
that determine what an organization wants to be, where it is going,
and how it will get there. Strategic planning is a process that
articulates organizational purpose (mission), weighs external
opportunities and threats, gauges internal strengths and weaknesses,
and determines appropriate goals and actions designed to shape
the future.
God’s purpose in abiding in us is
that we produce fruit. The fruit, which Jesus expects from Christians,
is the conversion of people to the gospel, to make disciples.
It is the ingathering of souls into the kingdom of God. The demand
for fruit is an expression of God’s love to humanity in
the revelation of the Savior’s loving compassion for those
who are lost in sin and darkness. The fruit God expects is the
result of every believer telling his world of God’s love
and salvation.
Step
#2: Know your church’s vision for discipleship.
Many churches are discovering the importance
of having a written vision statement. A vision/mission/purpose
statement provides a focal point for identifying the reason for
existence. It develops out of a common vision with which all people
associated can identify. It is the pivot point upon which all
the goals and actions are balanced.
Planning with a Vision. Discipling believers
is a vital part of every New Testament church. As you are thinking
about a vision statement for a growing discipleship ministry consider
the following questions:
-
What is God calling us
to do?
-
Where are we now?
-
What are our goals?
-
How do we plan to get
there?
-
Who will be responsible?
-
What resources do we
need?
Step
#3: Determine needs.
What kinds of discipleship needs do believers
have? Easy. What kinds of needs do you have? Do you need to know
and use your spiritual gifts, become a more supportive parent
or a more loving spouse? How about your devotional life; could
it use a boost? Think of your own needs, and then multiply them
a hundred-fold to begin to understand the scope of the discipleship
needs of believers today.
Adults may not always know how to meet
their needs, but they certainly are in touch with what those needs
are. Adults are searching for someone or something to help them
make sense of their lives. This presents the church with a tremendous
opportunity. Believers need to:
-
know and use their spiritual
gifts
-
know and live out God’s
plan for their lives
-
be able to share their
faith with others
-
develop a disciplined
prayer life and Bible study
-
strengthen relationships
with family and friends
-
involve themselves in
ministry and service to others
-
become involved in accountability
groups
-
build strong Christian
families (adult believers)
-
develop good parenting
skills (adult believers)
-
strengthen relationships
with coworkers (adult believers)
A character-based discipleship ministry
is designed to address needs and issues that other church ministries
do not. Therefore, it can help believers deal with practical concerns
that confront them every day of their lives.
-
teaches believers the
disciplines that can lead to a spiritually transformed life
in Christ.
-
teaches believers how
to pray, meditate, and worship; and to practice these disciplines
daily.
-
trains believers to share
their faith with unsaved people and builds confidence as they
witness on a regular basis.
-
provides believers with
opportunities for fellowship and the development of strong and
lasting relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.
-
equips believers to identify
their spiritual gifts, choose a worthy ministry, and do ministry
with compassion and competence.
Step
#4: Plan and offer discipleship experiences.
Discipleship experiences are the actions
churches take to meet people’s discipleship needs. Discipleship
experiences help people take important steps toward spiritual
maturity and Christian ministry.
Most discipleship experiences today are
modular in nature, which means they are not locked to any particular
time in the weekly schedule. These experiences can be as effective
on Sunday, Monday, or Wednesday night as Sunday or Tuesday morning.
In one sense, this makes discipleship easier than ever to accomplish.The
challenge for today’s discipleship leaders is to plan the
appropriate discipleship experiences that meet people’s
needs, help transform lives, and enable the church to carry out
its mission.
An effective discipleship ministry includes
an adaptable, intentional, flexible, and ongoing approach to identifying
and meeting your church’s discipleship needs. A comprehensive
plan for discipling believers includes: training in spiritual
growth, Christian doctrine, ethics, Christian history, how the
church works, and ministry skills.
Several approaches for meeting needs are
available. The approaches used most often for discipling believers
are:
-
Ongoing groups in which
the same core group of people meet together on a weekly basis.
-
Short-term groups that
study a variety of subjects. People belong to such a group only
while a particular study is being conducted.
-
Support groups which
are formed to help people deal with personal or emotional needs
in a confidential and supportive setting.
-
Individual study which
is used mostly by people who cannot or do not wish to participate
in a group study.
-
Retreats which are especially
good for people wanting to learn a lot in a short period of
time.
Step
#5: Persuade people to get involved.
Now that you have a plan, you need leaders.
Champions for discipleship make the most effective discipleship
leaders. Discipleship champions:
-
love God deeply.
-
are growing in their
relationship with God.
-
want to see others’
lives transformed.
-
are gifted by God for
the work they do.
-
are patient, kind, and
nonjudgmental.
-
are committed to doing
their best.
-
enjoy working with people.
-
have a positive attitude.
-
are trainable and flexible.
Enlisting Leaders
Finding discipleship champions is a challenge. Make a list of
persons who you feel would make good leaders. As you begin enlisting,
make an appointment to meet with each person. Avoid enlisting
someone while they are taking a drink from the water fountain
in a hallway at church.
Take time to share the church’s
vision for discipleship ministry. Explain what is expected of
each leader and review a job description if available for the
position you’re asking the person to take. Be open and honest.
Provide a copy of the resource they would be using and tell what
leadership training would be provided. Suggest that both of you
take time to pray and set a time to get back together for an answer.
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