You’ve heard me say, “The key to church renewal is disciple making.” But what does this mean?
First, it means that there is no magic bullet, no great program emerging from the SBC, state conventions, or other networks that will infuse new life into your church. Renewal takes time, the time it takes for people’s hearts to turn from worldliness to godliness.
Next, it means you can’t only focus on the large group. Preaching has its place in disciple making (as I wrote previously, it’s an essential place), but very few congregations will the Lord transform strictly from the pulpit. Until pastors and key leaders multiply themselves by discipling a few, the larger fellowship will seldom move.
Finally, it means every issue that drains vitality away from your church is ultimately a disciple making issue. Congregations, like the human body, become injured or ill. Injury includes divisive conflict among key leaders or an ethical lapse in church operations. Illness might be a long season of unfruitfulness, members divided over political / social matters, or an ongoing pattern of decisions rooted in member preference rather than the Lord’s mission.
The roots of these and all other “power drains” in the church run deep into the fallen nature we still contend with. Sermons, seminars, and books may deal with one or more of these. But biblical disciple making aims for full spiritual transformation from the inside out.
When Karen and I served as missionaries among indigenous Americans, we learned that the resources are always in the harvest. Co-workers in ministry emerge from disciple making, as do evangelism, giving, new teachers, new opportunities, and even pastors and missionaries.
Whether your church has the equivalent of a mild cold or cancer, the path to recovery and fulfillment of Christ’s mission always includes the raising of a people unto God with spiritual awareness and deep love for the Lord. That’s disciple making.
It’s not too late to join us tomorrow and Saturday for DMU as we dig more deeply into this matter. I hope to see you there!
Bro. Jim