Read Books and Think

My good friend and colleague Merle Strege is fond of saying that a professor’s job is to read books and think. I agree with him, as far as he goes. But I think that a professor also has to do some other things, like teach, speak, and write. J

But let’s go with “read books and think” for today. One of the most influential books that I have read on discipling is George Barna’s Growing True Disciples: New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of Christ (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press, 2001). Written toward the end of his leadership of The Barna Group, this book presents insights gained by years of research into discipling in American churches.

On the back cover, Barna wrote, “My study of discipleship in America has been eye-opening. Almost every church in our country has some type of discipleship program or set of activities, but stunningly few churches have a church of disciples.” Wow. That statement stopped me dead in my tracks. Lord, have mercy on us for disobeying the Great Commission.

So in this essay, I will share two of the most important insights from Growing True Disciples. I hope you’ll buy the book and read it for yourself. It’s much better than anything I could write!

For a church that is ready to get serious about discipling, the first thing is to develop a long-term strategy. Do not rush out and buy “the latest and greatest” program or ministry kit that promises to be the answer to your discipling needs! You’ll be wasting your time and money, and the only thing you’ll accomplish is enriching the clever entrepreneur who marketed that program to you.

Develop a long-term strategy.

This means that, among other things, you will set observable and measurable goals. In doing so, you will want to include some of the things that I wrote about on July 18, 25, and August 1. Figure out, in your ministry setting, what a disciple should know, feel, and do. And set some appropriate goals. Make sure those goals are things you can see and count. For example:

1.      A disciple will give evidence that they understand the content of the Bible.

2.      A disciple will disciple others.

3.      A disciple will worship God regularly.

4.      A disciple will give generously to the work of God.

5.      A disciple will ____________.

See? Observable and measurable goals.

The second piece of your long-term strategy should be to start with children and youth. Why? Because all of the research indicates that if we don’t reach people while they are young, most likely we never will. So start young. Begin teaching Kindergarteners who Jesus is, what the Bible is, how to tell others about Jesus, how to worship, how to give, and so on and on.

Start young. As a child grows up, she should be loving God and loving people. And discipling others. She won’t really be a disciple until she disciples someone else. Nurture and encourage your young people to disciple others who disciple others who disciple others. That is God’s plan, and He has no “Plan B.” That is how I came to faith in Christ. That is how you came to faith in Christ. That is how every Christ follower ever came to faith – someone discipled someone who discipled someone who discipled someone who discipled you!

And oh – By the way, this is exactly what Paul told Timothy to do: “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well” (2 Tim 2:2). Notice that there are five generations of believers there:

1.      Paul, who discipled

2.      Many witnesses, who discipled

3.      Timothy, who is instructed to disciple

4.      Faithful people, who will be able to disciple

5.      Others

Well, that’s enough for today. Let’s pick up here next week. Peace be with you.