From Church Participation to Christlike Formation

Are you concerned your church is producing attenders, consumers,

or volunteers more effectively than authentic disciples?

Discipleship is not merely a class, a curriculum, a program, or a pathway for new believers.

Discipleship is the lifelong formation of people who learn to follow Jesus, obey Jesus, become like Jesus, and join Jesus in His mission.

Churches can grow attendance without forming disciples.

Ministries can multiply activities without multiplying Christlike people.

Small groups can meet faithfully without forming people into the way of Jesus.

Leaders can teach biblical information without cultivating biblical transformation.

So we must ask:

Are we making disciples?
Are we making disciples who make disciples?
Are we forming people into Christlikeness?
Are we equipping the saints for ministry?
Are we helping followers of Jesus live faithfully in homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, relationships, cities, and congregations?

This pathway gathers resources for pastors, disciplemakers, small group leaders, ministry teams, teachers, mentors, and thoughtful Christ-followers who want to rethink discipleship as a whole-life, whole-Body, Christ-centered formation process.

Explore: Discipleship — #ReThinkDISCIPLESHIP

Why ReThink Discipleship?

Many churches have discipleship language but not a discipleship culture.

A discipleship class may deliver information.

A discipleship culture forms people.

A discipleship program may train participants.

A discipleship culture reshapes identity, obedience, relationships, habits, mission, and love.

A discipleship pathway may move people through steps.

A discipleship culture helps people follow Jesus in every sphere of life.

To rethink discipleship is not to reject teaching, classes, groups, or curriculum.

It is to ask whether those tools are actually forming people into the likeness and way of Christ.

ReThink Discipleship asks:

Are we forming disciples or merely informing Christians?
Are we equipping saints or simply staffing programs?
Are we multiplying disciplemakers or maintaining ministry consumers?
Are we helping people obey Jesus in everyday life?
Are we confusing attendance with formation?
Are we measuring activity instead of maturity?
Are we making disciples who can help others follow Jesus?

Begin by ReCentering Christ

Discipleship begins with Jesus.

Not merely Jesus as topic.

Not merely Jesus as Savior-at-the-start.

Not merely Jesus as mascot for our programs.

Discipleship begins and continues with Jesus as Lord, Teacher, Shepherd, King, Way, Truth, Life, and Center.

Before redesigning a discipleship system, recenter Christ.

Ask:

Is Christ praised in our discipleship?
Is Christ presiding over what we teach and how we form people?
Is Christ preceding us into mission and obedience?
Is Christ present in our relationships, conversations, groups, and practices?
Are we helping people become like Jesus, or merely helping them become more active in church life?

Explore: #ReCenterCHRIST

Choose a Discipleship Pathway

1. Biblical Foundations

Are you asking what discipleship is according to Scripture before adopting another model, program, or method?