Missing the point when it comes to discipleship …

After a few decades at failing in its responsibilities of discipleship, and even more so in making new disciples, the topic of “discipleship” has finally become common in the church.

Sadly, with little progress from it.

That’s because so many churches continue to “miss the point” when it comes to discipleship.

Let me explain.

While it’s true we’re talking a lot more in the church about discipleship, a persistent mantra about the topic is that “discipleship is more than just teaching, it’s living out a discipling relationship.”

Okay, there’s some truth to that. The problem is we routinely fail to ensure Christians are in effective “discipling relationships” and miss an even greater point:

Discipleship IS about teaching!

If you want to argue about that point, you’ll have to take up your disagreement with Jesus. It is Jesus who personally and specifically instructed us that once we make a new disciple, then baptize them, we are to TEACH them:

“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age,’” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20.

Teaching is the heart of discipleship. Period.

Yes, discipling a new Christian is best when it’s in a discipling relationship with a more spiritually mature Christian who not only teaches the Bible to the new convert, but also lives out what he or she teaches. Teaching with practical life demonstration is the best way to disciple new Christians.

BUT, relationships without teaching is NOT discipleship!

There are three common ways many (most?) churches miss the point when it comes to discipleship:

1. They fail to teach. The role of Bible teachers (other than the pastor) has almost disappeared in many churches. And with the switch from Sunday School to home groups, many churches have opted for “group facilitators” instead of someone capable of teaching the Bible. Sitting in a group Bible study where someone leads participants in sharing their individual opinions about what a verse of scripture means is NOT the teaching discipleship requires.

2. We’ve made discipleship all about relationships. Initially, that doesn’t sound so bad until we step back and realize we do not make sure every new Christian is actually in relationships with more spiritually mature Christians, and even when they are, teaching is often not a central part of the relationship. Jesus did not instruct us to go make disciples and then make friendships where you get together socially and maybe slide in a Bible verse. His instruction was to “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” Welcoming new converts into the church is welcoming them into the family of God where we love and serve one another. Such relationship is vital to the church! But vital to discipleship is teaching! It’s not an either/or but both/and —- create those bonds of loving fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ AND “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”

3. We leave new Christians to disciple themselves. There’s a persistent rant in the church that living the Christian life is supposed to be done “in community” while simultaneously leaving new Christians to disciple themselves (because we’re not ensuring they are in a discipling relationship where they are being taught).

“Leaders” can ramble on as much as they want about discipleship being more than teaching, but until teaching becomes the heart of discipleship, they’ll continue to miss the point.

Scotty