John Markum

Evangelism vs. Discipleship

E vs D

This is a debate that, quite honestly, I’m sort of sick of listening to. If you’re in ministry, you know where I’m going with this. It’s the popular notion that somehow evangelism and discipleship are competing dynamics within the church, and that as leaders, we must somehow choose a side and base our entire philosophy of ministry around that paradigm. Continue reading “Evangelism vs. Discipleship”

Discipleship is a Process

Discipleship doesn’t happen overnight because it is a process.

As Christ-followers, and especially church leaders, all too often we get frustrated when people we want to see grow spiritually, don’t. Also people often get bogged down in their own spiritual life and feel “stuck” in a rut, not knowing what to do to move forward in their spiritual walk. And yet, there are still others who think they are spiritually mature based on how long they’ve been in church or how much Bible knowledge they hold.

But there is far more to it than that. I’ve created this graph and explained the stages in it below so that, as a follower of Jesus, you can answer three important questions:

  •             Where am I spiritually?
  •             What is my next step?
  •             How can I help others take their next step?

I’ve also lumped these stages into 4 categories: Pray, Serve, Teach, Lead. And each progressing category includes everything in the preceding category. To be clear, it’s not that we shouldn’t “Serve” people who are Hostile toward church or the Gospel, it’s just that we’re unlikely that we’ll be given a chance to. So here are the different Stages I’ve listed in the graph above. Each one includes a description of these people to help you identity them (or yourself), problems likely to face as we try to love them toward Christ, and an appropriate response toward them in light of all of that.

PRAY

–                Hostile

  • Expresses anger toward God, church, or religion in general. Usually has a specific issue that serves as their “soapbox” against these things.
  • Problems: Unreceptive toward any message. Outspoken against the church.
  • Response: Do not fight. Give these people good, despite their hostile feelings and actions.

 –                Annoyed

  • Less anger, more just complaining. Still makes a big deal about specific issues, although likely to have a conversation about those issues.
  • Problems: Argumentative. Likely to get to the point of not wanting to talk about it anymore.
  • Response: Have conversations on their terms. Continue to maintain a non-defensive posture. Continue showing good, despite their aggravations. Agree with legitimate complaints without justifying dark places of “church history” (Inquisitions, etc.).

–                Ambivalent

  • Beginning to see the difference in our church. Speaks neither good nor bad. This person “tolerates” us.
  • Problems: Easy to forget about this person.
  • Response: Continue demonstrating grace. Talk about things the church is doing. Begin inviting to different opportunities. Expect a “no” response. Don’t act disappointed. Continue showing grace anyway.

SERVE

–                Curious

  • Still showing reservations about God, church, etc. Now asking questions.
  • Problems: Many questions relate to things that don’t make sense to them, “well why do you guys ________?” This person is curious, but still somewhat skeptical.
  • Response: Bless this person! Encourage their curiosity. Validate their process. Give context to the answers you give. Thanks them for coming if/when they show up for a service or small group.  Help them make connections with others. Encourage them to return.

 –                Seeking

  • It’s all starting to make sense to this person. They’ve decided that we’re not all crazy, and they are beginning to feel the Holy Spirit draw them, thought they probably wouldn’t know it as that.
  • Problem: This person can resist the Holy Spirit and regress.
  • Response: Give Gospel personally as well as in various “experiences”. Continue showing grace. Answer questions. Let them know you missed them if they skip a service/small group.

 –                Saved!

  • This person just stepped across the line of faith! They have been reborn!
  • Problems: Now the real work begins!
  • Response: Celebrate! This is why we do what we do. Encourage them toward baptism, and strengthen connections they’ve made. Give some next steps/follow up to this person, as they are likely to have a “now what?” posture.

TEACH

–                Infant

  • This person is a baby Christian. They know little of the things of God, and require a lot of work.
  • Problems: This is messy! You might as well expect it.
  • Response: Use messes as teaching opportunities, and continue showing the same grace you did before they came to Christ. Feed this person’s insatiable appetite!

 –                Child

  • Getting the hang of the basics. Also has an annoying habit of getting into trouble! This person should begin “feeding themselves.”
  • Problems: They are going to test boundaries.
  • Response: They need structure and grace. They’ll also want to do more “adult” things. Encourage this, by giving increasing opportunities.

LEAD

–                Adolescent

  • This person is not fully mature, but they are starting to contribute (i.e tithing, serving, etc.).
  • Problems: Makes mistakes less often, has a risk of getting comfortable and complacent.
  • Response: Continue to disciple. Cast vision to this person about making other disciples. Help them get to the place where they are “teaching others also.”

 –                Adult/Parent

  • This person has started to disciples others. We would consider this person spiritually “mature” regarding their conduct and understanding of spiritual things.
  • Problems: Possibility of going “rogue”.
  • Response: Keep connected to the vision of the church and leverage their maturity to lead others (small group leader, ministry leader, etc.).

–                Grandparent

  • This person has discipled someone who has matured to the point of discipling others.
  • Problems: Minimal. This person may get frustrated with others who have not matured to the point they have.
  • Response: Consider this person for staff/Leadership Team. Encourage this person to continue making reproducing disciples.

Use this to grow in your spiritual life, and to help lead others to do the same.

Blessings,

Pastor John Markum

Don’t be spiritually delusional

James 1:22, “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourself.”

I love when the Bible just comes out and tells it like it is. James is one of the most dense books in the Bible because nearly every single verse is so packed with powerful thoughts, encouragement, doctrine, etc. But one of the dangers that James warns against in the very first chapter of his letter is with the subject of what real discipleship is.

He warns that being a true follower of Jesus is not about how much you know. Don’t misunderstand me: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” But true faith – saving faith, changing faith – does not end there, and James goes on to deal with that in more detail.

But James specifically warns against misunderstanding discipleship for knowledge. Knowledge can lead to discipleship, but it is not discipleship in and of itself. Because discipleship is not knowledge; discipleship is obedience to what God says. And at the point that you and I begin doing what God says, we’re becoming more like Jesus. We’re not like Jesus just because we can quote the Bible. Or because we know theology and doctrine. Or because we’ve sat through hundreds of sermons.

And James tells us that if we think we are disciples because we have heard the Word but not obeyed the Word, we are “deceiving ourselves.” In other words, a person who knows God’s Word, without doing God’s Word, and thinks God is ok with it, is spiritually delusional.

If I’m honest, I’m guilty. I’ve been there. More than I’m comfortable admitting. And the excuses I make are the same as yours. And I’m a pastor. So I know this is something that we all struggle with on some level. Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. Listen to God, and do what He says. Don’t be a Christian who marks his Bible but his Bible never marks him. Don’t be settle for being a Bible scholar over being a follower of Jesus. Don’t fool yourself. Don’t be delusional!

What are the areas that you struggle with being completely obedient to God? In what ways have you paid lip service to God, but your actions dictate otherwise? How will you correct that behavior and submit it to Christ? Have a great week!

Blessings,

John

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