Transition to a Deep-and-Wide Discipleship Spectrum

[Reimagine Curator]

Transition to a Deep-and-Wide Discipleship Spectrum

 

by Phil Miglioratti @ Reimagine.Network

 

Transition to Deep and Wide Spectrum Discipleship- Print with Page Breaks.docx

Worksheets -Transition to Deep and Wide Spectrum Discipleship.docx

Discipleship Specturm-Graphic & Handout.pdf

Power-Point Discipleship-Spectrum_with_graphic.pptx

Guest-Post (scroll to comments) -Transformational DiscipleMaking by Dennis Owen, Transformation Louisville

 

 

 

Jesus has given every Christian, every congregation, and every ministry an identical commission:

                               "As you go, make disciples."

Yet, across the continuum of global Christianity, our methods and models are vastly different.

 

 

A variety of learning styles are employed and our teaching systems are based on diverse objectives, chosen for their effectiveness in a specific culture or tradition.

 

Each stream/branch of the Christian faith utilizes a particular set of patterns and programs that tend to produce disciples strong in one specific area of theology or ministry mode.

 

This pervasive practice is both our problem and our solution.

 

 

_______________________________________________

Transition: unlearn the Typical “First Question”

 

Our Problem ---

Congregations, even denominations, tend to build their disciplemaking programs on a single focus or format. As good as their approach may be, it cannot produce a complete, a fully mature, disciple. Exclusivity, or even too much emphasis on a single model, results in a narrow or formulated message, a reliance on a singular method which cannot be suited to every believer's gifting and personality, and/or a truncated comprehension of our mission.

 

Our Solution ---

Disciplers on all levels (local, denominational, organizational) must widen their scope of the learning process by looking-listening-learning from other ministry streams with the objective of incorporating or collaborating with models birthed from different perspectives that employ dissimilar methods.

 

Each system on the spectrum of Christian disciplemaking is an essential building block.

But, no one style is comprehensive.

 

 

 

The story of the blind men and the elephant is a parable that illustrates how limited perspectives can lead to incomplete understandings.

In the story, several blind people encounter an elephant for the first time. 

Each person touches a different part of the elephant – the leg, the trunk, the ear, the tail, the tusk – and based on their limited experience,

they each form a different idea of what the elephant is like.

One thinks it's like a pillar, another a snake, another a fan, and another a rope, another pipe. LibreTexts

The parable highlights the dangers of not considering multiple perspectives

  and the importance of seeking a more comprehensive understanding of any situation.

 

 

 

Jesus did not limit his disciplemaking to a single method. He modeled dissimilar approaches utilizing varied activities and experiences.

 

Think of each format as a tool in a toolbox. Each instrument is designed for a specific task or objective. No single tool can be used for every repair nor is it capable of single-handedly completing all the tasks of a building project. A hammer is essential but for that toolbox to be a resource for the builder/repair person, it must also contain a variety of additional devices, such as a tape measure, an adjustable wrench, a knife or saw, and a selection of screwdrivers from a variety of styles and sizes.

 

Our model of making disciples must shift from employing a single model, believing it to be foundational, to incorporating a deep-and-wide spectrum of models.

• Deep: radical thinking; “to the roots” of an idea
• Wide: full-range; from one end to the other

 

The different expressions (churches, denominations, ministries, movements) that comprise the arms and legs, and eyes and ears, of the Body of Christ are not in competition with one another. We must not protect (or be limited to) our preferred theories or strategies of making believers into disciples. Nor should we ignore how other segments of the Church are equipping their members to emulate Christ. We are meant to learn from other approaches and share ideas with one another, even those with theological differences.

 

______________________________

"The church, though, has a responsibility to shape people for the future—their future and the future of those in their area of influence.

In that sense, the call for the church is not so much to figure out how to speak the grammar of TikTok or of whatever follows it.

It’s to realize that our cultural grammars are shaping us, forming us, discipling us, right down to the questions we ask.

We don’t simply need answers for questioning seekers—although we need that.

We need forms of mentoring, modeling, and internal culture that are counter-algorithms.

We need “Thus saith the Lord,” and we also need what Jesus taught us: “Take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18, ESV).

 Lots of things Jesus said to us are countercultural.

One of the hardest, for the years ahead, might be words that some of us skipped right over: “Pay attention.”"

Moore to the Point in Christianity Today

 

  

_______________________________________
Transition: ReThink the First Question

 

Recognizing our need to unlearn certain aspects of our perception of making a disciple, also requires us to rethink a foundational question that is seldom asked. Most streams or branches, denominations or ministries have developed their systems and programs based on the question: “What do believers need to learn?” which is a crucial question but NOT the initial inquiry.

 

Each stop along the spectrum must first ask what hsould have been the obvious starting point: “How do human beings learn?” and “How do people learn?”

•  “How do human beings learn?” is a quest to understand how our minds function (biology, chemistry, psychology)
•  “How do people learn?” is a quest to recognize how society, ethnicity, and technology shape knowledge acquisition

#Rethink How the Learning Process Has Changed

Human beings instinctively learn by:

observing, watching, imitating, hearing, listening, repeating, asking, reading, playing, talking, pondering.

 

People learn with the assistance of:

teachers, instructors, mentors, counselors, guides, coaches, facilitators, who employ discussion, dialogue, experimentation, exploration, sensory experience, feedback/correction, challenge.

 

The goal is for each believer to become a life-long learner, a self-motivated student of God’s Truth, a mature follower of our Lord Jesus, a humble servant to the Body of Christ, a wise discipler of other believers, an enthusiastic (“in; theos”) worshipper, a servant-leader to the church – at work – in the community.

 

Every disciple

…must be taught truths but also trained in how to discover those truths for themselves and how to practice them in their life.

 

…must be introduced to answers (beliefs, doctrines) but also encouraged to ask questions, in their personal walk with Christ (prayer and study) and in their participation with the Body of Christ (worship, fellowship, discipleship, stewardship, leadership).

 

…needs to be guided into experiences that build faith, hope, and love, and equip them to fulfill their calling by the Spirit-empowered use of their spiritual gifts.

 

…should be maturing in their expression of the character of Christ as they learn to live by the fruit of the Spirit and live in accountability to their faith community.

 

 …ought to recognize their responsibility to be a discipler of disciplers.

 

 

 

____________________

People who don’t go to church say they experience God in nature, art, meditation, social action, study, and other people.

Jeremy; a “skeptic pastor”

 

 

_________________________________

Transition: Widen Your Horizon

 

Which of these models/methods do you utilize in disciplemaking?

Which of these components of learning are missing from your teaching? Educational settings? Lifestyle experiences?

 

 

• Incorporation -ritual based experiences: ceremonial observances, spiritual exercises, emotional worship, mystical experiences, annual activities or holidays

               * Christening, Baptism, Catechism, Confirmation 

 

• Indoctrination -memorized scripture, learned templates (“Four Laws,” three-point sermons) repetitive teaching, reciting creeds, chanting, stained glass windows, hymns

               * Tracts, The Lord’s Prayer, Doxology, Pslams and Hymns

 

• Education -teacher generated presentations of information (dogma, statues, history, theology)

               * Sunday School, Sermons, Seminars

 

• Instruction -training and coaching on how to implement spiritual practices and skills: how to pray, read and study the Bible, share the message of Jesus

               * Workshops, Conferences, Training Sessions 

 

• Investigation -a question driven pursuit of basic theological and philosophical concepts

               * God, Salvation, Ecclesiology, etc...

 

• Meditation -learning to be still and silent while seeking to be filled by the Spirit; learning the ways of the Spirit

               * Prayer, Journaling, Prayerwalking

 

• Formation -personal counseling for application/problem-solving/wisdom

               * Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Counseling, Christian Counseling

 

• Conversation -group discussion/study/ interaction

               * Small Groups, Summer Camp, Vacation Bible School, Youth Group, Women's/Men's Ministry

 

• Exploration -modeling and practicing in life experiences (praying for/with, caring/serving, sharing faith)

               * Prayer Stations, Community Action, Advocacy Ministry

 

• Evangelization - proclaiming the Gospel: story or sermon, dialogue or debate, social media

               * Friendship or Prayer-Care-Share, or Event Evangelism, Justice, Ministry to the Poor

 

• Commission -appointing/sending into personal ministry of making disciples 

               * Missionary (at work-our community-another country), Ministry Team Leader, Elder, “Clergy”

 

 

 

My Journey Across the Specturm

 

> I was taught Bible stories by fundamentalists

> I learned Bible study with evangelicals

> As a teenage believer, I was given leadership roles by a children’s ministry organization

> Not long after I was invited by a campus ministry to speak in evangelistic gatherings

> I grappled with biblical theology systems by professors ranging from Calvinism to Arminianism

> A mega-church gave me the opportunity to design and build a ministry to children based on the biblical promises of God

> A Southern Baptist initiative on church planting gave me unexpected opportunities to teach and author content and lead

> Vineyard pastors exposed me to worship that was singing to God, not just about God

> Interdenominational Prayer Groups introduced me to responsive praying

> Charismatic teachers taught me the role of the Holy Spirit in praying

> A Baptist professor opened my eyes to the role of the Spirit in counseling

> An Evangelical Free Church leader taught me how to facilitate, rather than dominate, small group gatherings

> Servant leaders from a coalition of denominations involved me in “citywide” church collaboration

> Missionaries and local ministry leaders in Zambia, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica revealed the need to recognize cultural components of Christian ministry and mission

> The Evangelical Covenant Church introduced me to “high” church worship

> The Roman Catholic Church opened my eyes to the majesty and mystery of ritual and liturgy.

> Along the way, I have interacted with colleagues from various denominations who lived reverent, reflective lives of meditation and deep reflection

 

 

__________________________________

Transition: ReExamine Scripture

 

“Continue to grow and increase in God’s grace and intimacy with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May he receive all the glory both now and until the day eternity begins. Amen!”
2 Peter 3:18 TPT
 

“They all train God’s people to serve so that the Body of Christ will be built up, until we are all united in our faith and our knowledge of God’s Son and we become grown up, mature, and completely filled with Christ.”
Ephesians 4:12-13 RAD
 

“My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies.”
1 Corinthians 14:20 CEV
 

“Solid food is for the mature, whose spiritual senses perceive heavenly matters. And they have been adequately trained by what they’ve experienced to emerge with understanding of the difference between what is truly excellent and what is evil and harmful.”
Hebrews 5:14 TPT
 

____________________________________________________

Transition: ReFormat Your DiscipleMaking Ministry

 

1. Pray

• Ask for God to reveal the strengths of your biblical theology of discipleship as well as the weaknesses of your practical theories of making disciples.
• Seek the Spirit’s leading for how to repent, ( ie, change your mindset, not feel sorry).
• Knock on doors by pursuing new ideas, new ways, new partners, to equip your people through a deep-and-wide spectrum of disciplemaking approaches and activities.

 

2. Assess

• Objectively assess what your people respond to as well as what your programs and practices fail to provide for their maturing in Christ.

 

3. unLearn 

• Identity programs and practices that need to be retired or reshaped and begin to reset how you communicate to your leadership/planning team.

 

4. Reimagine with your people

• Invite leadership to widen their perspective; lead them through a review of each component on the discipleship spectrum with the goal of designing action plans to revise each segment by resetting/reshaping existing programs.

 

5. Reformat your ministry 

• Pray for the courage to implement the re-forms the Spirit has revealed to expand your ministry across the full spectrum of disciplemaking options.

 

6. Rebrand the process

• Publish and proclaim the models and methods across the spectrum … the role of the church … the responsibilities of the disciple … the presence and power of the dwelling Holy Spirit to coach and teach and equip … celebrate examples of believers becoming disciplers

 

 

 

 

 

____________________________________________________

Transition: ReAssess Your DiscipleMaking MindSet

 

 

How do we provide believers a variety of contexts which will build them into mature followers of Christ?

 

Identity                                             Describe Best Setting for Their Nurture

 

-Disciple                                          -

 

-Student                                          -

 

-Followers                                       -

 

-Intern                                             -

 

-Mentee                                          -

 

-Learner                                          -

 

-Apprentice                                     -

 

-Worshipper                                    -

 

-Believer                                         -

 

 

 

 

How do people learn in our disciplemaking programs?

 

“How humans learn”                              “How people learn” in our system

           

Observe                                                 -

 

Listen                                                     -

 

Memorize/Repeat                                  -

 

Imitate                                                    -

 

Read                                                      -

 

Reflect/Ponder                                       -

 

Ask                                                         -

 

Converse                                                -

 

Watch                                                     -

 

Play                                                        -

 

Sense                                                     -

 

Experience                                             -

 

Experiment                                             -

 

Practice                                                  -

 

Teach/Train Others                                -

 

 

 

Identify persons in your ministry who function in these roles:

 

*Teachers –

 

*Instructors –

 

*Mentors –

 

*Counselors -

 

*Guides –

 

*Coaches –

 

*Facilitators –

 

*Other -

 

 

How do we equip our disciplers to utilize these methods:

 

*Discussion -

 

*Dialogue –

 

*Experimentation –

 

*Exploration –

 

*Sensory Experiences –

 

*Feedback/Correction –

 

*Challenge –

 

*Other -

 

 

 

_________________________________________________

Transition: ReNew Your DiscipleMaking Options

 

For Discussion with Your Leadership

 

• How to we apply this insight/idea to our situation?
• What program/activity/meeting group do we need to retire?
• What event/experience do we need to add?
• What conference/seminar/gathering can we add to our spectrum options?

 

Discipleship cannot be just about biblical content; it must develop spiritual character and a missional lifestyle. 

 

Discipleship is more than consuming information; disciplers must become lifetime learners.

 

A spectrum: a continuum of models & methods, perspectives & programs, activities adventures & as well as distinct courses of specialized study.

 

In order for you to grow new believers into a mature, disciples, they need more than the one-thing model that fits you well or a method you prefer or fall into by default. To become a mature disciple, everyone needs to explore and experience a variety of disciplemaking modes. People don’t learn from a single teaching technique. The learning spectrum is wide to accommodate different learning preferences and to give every learner pathways that challenge them to become deep-and-wide in their faith.

 

Ask for guidance to discern your skill set is for making mature disciples. Then ask seek knock. What can your group/team/congregation add to that. Then go beyond it to think of outside of your church walls, what resources are available from other congregations, from other ministries, seminars, workshops, mission organizations?

 

Pastor asked: “Can one church provide the full spectrum discipleship?

My response: “Yes but not your church. It takes the Church across your city. The varied and diverse Body of Christ. Unity is not total doctrinal agreement; it is Spirit-led, Scripture-fed teamwork.”

 

Denominational and divisions keep us from full spectrum discipleship.  

 

Our view that our brand is inspired (100% correct) and other brands are not means they have nothing to offer. 

 

Full spectrum discipleship is a mission that includes diverse models and different methods we must m combine and coordinate into a system that involves the disciple in as many as their calling and gifting demand. No one model is comprehensive enough to nurture a complete Christ follower.

 

Your preferred model or method of disciplemaking is not foundational, it is a component of the fuller spectrum of strategies and systems. Our foundation is the Word of God revealed on Scripture and prayer and obedience.

 

Limitations of AI in Education:

• Emotional intelligence:

AI lacks the capacity to understand and respond to the nuances of human emotions, which are crucial for building relationships with students and fostering a positive learning environment.

• Contextual understanding:

AI struggles to grasp the complex social and cultural contexts of the classroom, including student dynamics and individual learning needs.

• Critical thinking and creativity:

While AI can generate text and provide information, it cannot replicate the human ability to think critically, solve problems creatively, and inspire students to do the same.

• Human interaction:

Teachers play a vital role in fostering a sense of community, providing encouragement, and building relationships with students, which are essential for their overall well-being and academic success.    Beverly R. Green * Patheos

 

______________________

Pray for Mature Disciples

Epaphras sends you greetings. He is one of you and is a servant of Christ Jesus. He always talks to God about you with all his heart. He asks God to help you to be strong so that you will become grown-up Christians and know all that God wants you to do.

I myself have seen how hard he has worked for you and for the people in the cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Colossians 4:12-13

 

[Reimagine Curator]

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[Reimagine Curator]

GUEST~POST: Dennis Owen of Transformation Louisville

 

Hi Phil,

 

The word disciple literally comes from Greek, which means, "to sit at the feet of the master" or “learner” A disciple is a lifelong learner. There’s no graduating here. No getting it all right.

 

Disciples of Jesus aim to become fully Christlike. When we dive into a learning process information morph into imitation. Following Jesus changes who we are, and from that transformation what we do and how we do what we do changes. We know and trust Jesus fully, imitate his life by submitting to the will of the Father and his ways, base our moral decisions on his teachings, love others deeply, center our lives around him, and find a joyful expression of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

This transformation has to come from the inside out. Everything you need to live for Jesus is already in you, through the Holy Spirit. You’re not on your own in this journey—God has placed His Spirit in your heart to guide, strengthen, and empower you. No matter what you’re walking through, know that the Spirit within you is greater than anything you face. Trust that He’s equipping you for every step, every challenge, and every moment. You’ve got what you need because God is with you.

 

The words, actions and motives of Jesus progressively become part of our hearts as we surrender our lives to the One who is the Creator of life itself.  At 75 years of age, I can tell you that you never out live your need to change and experience the power of God. Nor do you ever outlive your missional purpose no matter what stage of life. God still has something for you to do and it might be in your ordinary life just going through your day, being attentive to the opportunities that God brings your way. Maybe he wants to make you a witness, or maybe he just wants you to help carry somebody’s load or offering a listening ear. Whatever it is, whether it’s spectacular or it’s very mundane and routine ways, I just want to do and be what God wants me to do and what God wants me to be.

 

Thank you, Lord! The word of God excites me. Finding truths in the word of God never gets boring to me. I am a disciple.  I don’t only mine the treasures found in the word, but I ask the Holy Spirit to apply them to my life so that I might live in such a way the glorifies God. Am I perfect? Absolutely not! I blow it!  But God is not done with me yet. He is still working on me and he is still working on you.

 

Across the decades of my faith journey, these words of Jesus have been among the focal texts for my spiritual formation, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people” (Mark 1:17). I have used it to make sense of all the important descriptions of discipleship I just mentioned. 

 

In this single verse, we find three elements of what it means to be a disciple:

·      Following Jesus (“Follow me”)

·      Being changed by Jesus (“and I will make you become”)

·      Joining Jesus’ mission (“fishers of men”)

 

This framework is the basis by which thousands of church leaders have adopted the following definition of a disciple:

“A disciple is someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus.”

 

None of us have it all together.  In our journey to live a life as a disciple, we often find ourselves navigating through a series of steps that can guide us toward transformation. I believe these four steps will help us restructure our lives and embrace our identity as followers of Christ.

 

1.     Restructuring Our Lives – Lean into God’s grace and His word to guide transformation, allowing humility and flexibility to navigate challenges.

2.     Persevering in Our New Identity – Stay committed despite setbacks, recognizing that obstacles are opportunities for growth.

3.     Stewarding Our Lives for God’s Glory – Reflect your devotion to God in how you manage your time, resources, and relationships.

4.     Devotion as the Secret Sauce – Like an athlete training for a race (1 Cor. 9:24-27), devotion fuels the journey through discipline and self-control.

 

 To help us embrace a life of devotion, I would add a framework that has been helpful in my own journey: head, heart, and hands. Each step we take should consider these three areas of our lives.

 

·      Head - Let grace reshape your thoughts and mindset

·      Heart - Let eternal hope motivate your actions and decisions.

·      Hands - Implement intentional structure and accountability in daily life.

 

We must be willing to grow every day.  But  I have discovered that when these three areas are fully aligned toward the Lord, all of life begins to change. We experience ourselves moving toward God. Our priority for living is focused.

 

The key to transformation is a personal encounter with God. I’ve had many personal encounters with God before and you probably have had them too. But in February 18, 1982, I had a personal encounter with Jesus. I tasted and saw the goodness of God in his Son and his Spirit and my life was changed forever as Jesus came into my heart. I was once holed up in a cave of deadly self-pity feeling sorry for myself, but now I’m dancing on the grave I once lived in. My self-pity dried-up and died in the light of God’s decisive grace and his sacrificial love.

 

That first surrender was just the beginning. I have been in the process of being changed ever since. Jesus has been with me, guiding me, and loving me through every season for over 43 years. But guess what, God is still working on me because occasionally some of my attitudes need to be readjusted -- what are you looking at -- I’m not the only one; discipleship is an ongoing process and you and I live in a perpetual state of becoming. “We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good work, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesian 2:10).

 

No matter what’s happening in your life, you can be sure of this—God is at work! He’s not finished with you yet. You are his workmanship, his project. Every challenge, every victory, every moment is part of His plan to transform you. I’ve always said, I’m not what I used to be, but I’m not what I’m going to be. And that’s the beauty of walking with Jesus—He’s making us new every day! Keep trusting -- keep growing, and watch what He does!

 

During the course of his ministry Jesus encountered thousands of people. Many of them received his words with joy, yet very few chose to lay down their own lives and agendas to follow him.

 

Discipleship is a choice. Either we take seriously our commitment to grow in God’s grace and become more like Jesus, or our spiritual lives will grind to a halt and we will become less like Jesus.

 

Jesus doesn’t force Himself into your life—He simply invites you. He knows the burdens you carry, the struggles you face, and the longing in your heart for something more. His invitation is one of love, grace, and transformation. When you say yes, you’re saying yes to peace that calms every storm, joy that circumstances can’t shake, and a purpose greater than anything this world can offer. Jesus changes everything—will you accept his invitation today? 

 

So, consider His vision for your life. It starts with your choice today to abide in Jesus. Every one of us should ponder the question, Am I a disciple of Jesus? Answering this question calls for more deliberation than “Where do I go to church?” or, “When did I get saved?” Whether or not you are a disciple of Jesus has strong implications for how you live today, not just for a decision made years ago.

 

·      Have you heard Christ’s call to become his disciple?

·      What kind of disciple are you right now?

·      How has your walk changed from ten years ago to today?

·      How have you seen spiritual growth?

·      Are you stuck in some areas?

·      What kind of disciple is Jesus calling you to be?

·      Would you be willing and available to open yourself to the Holy Spirit?

·      Do you have spiritual rhythms?

·      Do you have a reputation for being generous?

·      Do you have a church community to share life with?

·      Are you an active participant in unleashing the love of Jesus?

·      Have you been postponing obedience to God until a more convenient time?

 

Hard questions, but the good news is that God wants everybody and has powerful work for each of us to do… today. Let’s live our lives in such a way that, like Paul, we might in the end declare, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 ESV)

 

Loving the 'Ville like Jesus does so that our city will be forever changed.

 

Dennis Owen

Transformation Louisville

4210 Ashleywood Ct.

Louisville, KY 40241

Cell 904-302-3395
[e-mail]

[Reimagine Curator]

#Reassess

 

Is your discipleship answering "the practical question about life with God?"

 

•How is your new knowledge helping you pray?

•What are you learning that has opened your heart more deeply to the Lord?

•How is your education leading you to love God with your whole heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself?"    

Kyle Strobel

[Reimagine Curator]

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR ~ Bob Tolliver

In reading the article on "methods of discipleship" the following came to mind.

 

1.  Sometimes we need to remember the little limerick made famous by John Maxwell:  "Methods are many, principles are few.  Methods may change, but principles never do."

 

2.  Of the 28 chapters and two addenda inn my book, Making Disciplers Who Make Disciplers (Amazon, April 2025), I deal with methodology in only one chapter.  There is a reason for that.  The secret to any agenda is never the method, but rather the motive and the market.  The motive is the footing and foundation upon which the method must rest if it is to be of any value.  To build the "method" structure without the foundation of "motive" and the identity of the "market" is to do something that will inevitably not last.  Doing so reminds me of the thousands of abandoned houses we found in Ukraine following the Chernobyl crisis of 1986.  In order to house the hundreds of thousands of displaced Ukrainians, the Soviet government scrambled to build houses for them.  When we saw the houses eight years later, most were abandoned because they had been hastily built without taking the time to pour footings and foundations.  Built only on slabs of concrete with no rebar, the buildings quickly cracked and collapsed in spite of the fact that they were built of concrete, bricks, and blocks.  In like manner, if one focuses on the "method" without first establishing the "motive" and the "market", the "method" will deteriorate and inevitably collapse -- because it has no reason.

 

3. In my graduate studies, I carried a quadruple major.  One of them was journalism.  I quickly learned the "Five W's and an H" that every good journalist must learn how to concisely answer -- "Who", "What", "Why", "When", "Where", and "How".  I have since learned that these same six questions should be used in every aspect of ministry, including discipleship as commanded in the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20):
   1. "Who" -- "You; us"
   2. "What" -- "Make disciplers who make disciplers"
   3. "Why" -- "All authority in Jesus has been delgated to us"
   4. "When" -- "As you go, whenever you go, everywhere you go"
   5. "Where" -- "Into all the world, to all nations"
   6. "How" -- "preach, baptize, teach, observe (obey)"

 

4. When we founded Life Unlimited Ministries in 1980, we intentionally designed it to hopefully be a "Double Safe" ministry:
   1. S -- Scripturally sound
   2. S -- Simple as possible
   3. A -- Applicable to all situations
   4. A -- Adaptable to any condition
   5. F -- Faithful to our calling
   6. F -- Flexible in its application
   7. E -- Expandable to encompass opportunities
   8. E -- Expendable in its duration and usefulness

The same must be true with any method.  Any serious discipler must understand that every method is time sensitive with a "shelf life", and must never create any kind of "golden calf" to worship and preserve.  "Methodology" is always subject to the temptation of religious idolatry.

 

You should choose your method (the "How") after you at least answer the "What", the "Who", and the "Why".  Then the "Where" and the "When", and finally the "How".

 

√My interview with Bob