Effective discipleship Strategy!

 

If you are assuming that the purpose of the Church, is branding the Church building with your registered denominational tag and making the Church building visible for the world, and keeping the people busy with programs, then probably you have got it all wrong. The goal of ministry isn’t to keep people busy in church activities—the goal is to equip people to become more like Christ and live out their purpose as part of the body of Christ.

Our natural tendency is to think we need to offer more ministries and more programs to encourage more steps of spiritual formation, but that is faulty thinking: Over 500,000 church attenders from more than 2,000 churches participated in the Reveal survey, which gives us a clearer picture of how people take steps toward Christ. The data specifically found: “Increased church activity does not lead to spiritual growth.”

Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson wrote about the learnings from this research in the book, Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth, “Unfortunately, churches often make things harder by obscuring the goal—to become more like Christ—with a complicated assortment of activities… When the church incessantly promotes all the things people should do, it’s very easy for them to lose sight of the real goal—which is who they should become.”

Tony Morgan in helping the Churches to move from Program to real impact, states this, “The Key to Ineffective Discipleship: Programs”. And he says this, while churches should be in the disciple-making business, they often have no intentional discipleship strategy. Instead, churches tend to opt for a program-driven model that simply ends up keeping their people busy in church activities.

When churches take this program-driven approach, it creates several challenges:

·        Ministries within a church start competing with each other for people’s time and attention.

• It feeds a consumer-mindset where the church promotes programs and events for people to attend rather than equipping people to do God’s work.
• Churches continue to add programs as the church grows, creating additional complexity.
• People are made to just pay to the Church with a sense of obligation without a conviction to participate in the actual mission. i.e., share the gospel in the sphere of their influence.

The solution to this challenge is to move from programs to a path. And the path or the journey is to equip the people to be a disciple-maker, not a Sunday crowd where the Church is benefited with all types of offering and all leave satisfied. Establishing a clear Discipleship Path is all about helping people move from where they are now to where God wants them to be. Everyone has a next step they can take:

A person new to faith may need to concentrate on biblical teaching and spiritual disciplines.

A more mature Christian may need to take steps toward reaching those outsides of the faith.

Each step on the Discipleship Path must have an easy to access on-ramp. I want to refer to Tony Morgan’s 5 stages of people’s journey.

Stage 1- Not interested.

Stage 2- Spiritually Curious

Stage 3- Believer

Stage 4- Being discipled.

Stage 5- Disciple Maker

When the Church finds where their members are and slowly move towards the final stage which is to equip them as a disciple maker you then actually fulfil the purpose of the Church.

In most of the churches today, we have a measurement problem. It’s not necessarily with finances or attendance, but with the one thing we’re tasked with doing: making disciples.

 

This raises two fairly important questions:

What does spiritual progress look like?

And how can we help people recognize movement in their own journey?

When our initiatives revolve around the 5 stages and move people from stage 1 to stage 5 the true purpose of the body of Christ is made complete. The Church is the only hope for the dying world and that means every believer is equipped to be a disciple maker and a missionary for Christ.

  

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When Mission is limited to strategy alone!

 

Strategy has recently found increased relevance and used to accelerate, accomplish, and achieve their desired goals. However, it is misused and misrepresented, misleading people. Being a strategist myself, developing Ministry Church blueprint and a roadmap, helping Churches and ministries in developing strategy documents for many Churches and Organisations, I noticed some assumed that their Church / ministries have not done well in the past because they either did not have a strategy or probably the present one is ineffective.

Using this word in the context of Church and Missions is good, but I don’t think it is all about strategy and activities alone. The Bible gives us so many patterns (good, bad and no pattern) of strategies and models. Unfortunately, some focus on one strategy and miss the true representation of God.  I have noticed some leaders judge my efficiency of my skill by wanting to know if I could show a strategy that worked. But what they fail to understand is that strategy by itself doesn’t work, the intention, motivation and conviction to the mission are some of the key factors that complement the process.

Let me place before you few incidents from the Bible which did right but failed. Probably you can say, they used the right strategy yet fell flat.

1.  Incident where the disciples couldn’t cast out the demon: In Matthew 17:14-20 When Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain to reveal His glory, a man brings his demon possessed son to the rest of the disciples. The disciples fail, so the man approaches Jesus and Jesus easily casts it out of the boy. After he heals the boy, the disciples privately ask Jesus why they could not cast out the demon (V 19-20). What do you think? These disciples who were with Jesus, by now so accustomed to how Jesus was doing yet failed to cast out the demon. It just shows that it was not just the skill but something more than that. Jesus responds that it was because of the little faith, and few other versions which has Verse 21 states this, “however, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”.  Prayer and fasting are not the result of a strategy but relationship and reliance on God. Today, sadly you will get to see today prayer has become a merchandise, a program, activity, and an event.

3.  Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:11-16): Here Luke records the many unusual miracles happening by the hands of Paul. In verse 12 it records, “so that even handkerchiefs of aprons were brought from his body to the sick and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them”. Probably many today assume it to be a strategy to be followed. Since it looks such a simple strategy probably the sons of Sceva wanted to replicate it. Yes, as a strategy it looked so simple to just use the name of Jesus, heal the people and cast the demons out. The sons of Sceva tried it, this is what it happened. (Verse 15 & 16) “And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”. This is so true of current times where people have a superficial relationship with Christ Jesus and yet use His name deceptively for spiritual ambience. Paul to the book of Timothy states about such people as “having a form of godliness but denying its power…” 2 Timothy 3:5.

3.  Demon possessed slave girl in Mission (Acts 16:16-18): An incident where a slave girl who was possessed by the spirit predicted the future for her owner and brought large profit encounters Paul and Silas was making this powerful mission statement. Acts 16:17 “…These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.”. Was she deviating from the gospel? Absolutely not! But Paul had to command the spirit to stop the annoyance and come out of her. And it left her right away. Acts 16:18. Many are using His name right, using Jesus’ model right, but still are not a voice that can impact transformation. They need to be transformed first to use the mission rightly. Even demons can preach gospel and say the right thing as seen here but God doesn’t recognize such people at all.

Many missions, Church ministries, and leaders are assuming that a better plan, best model and an effective tool is the solution for global mission. I think it is time to have a relook at the perspective. Our God is a holy God. Stop improvising models, strategies, activities and hoping it is going to bring revival by the way we do things. There are many things that needs to be addressed at the heart level to make a serious impact. Would you consider doing so?

 

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Church Institution Part-3

 

In my last blog we were seeing why Jesus did not choose to centralize institutionalizing of the Church. You can click HERE in case you missed to read the last blog. Kindly stay with me as I conclude on this topic. 

If you carefully observe you will notice that Jesus constantly reiterated the purpose of His coming. The purpose of Jesus was straight and direct. It says, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10. In order this to happen He had to go to all places. After being in a particular place sharing about the Kingdom of God and showing who the Messiah is, Jesus’ next destination was always the next village, the next town where they don’t know about the Messiah.  In Mark 1:35-37 it talks about Jesus going to a deserted place early in the morning and was praying. But by then the crowd found the way to His place, looking for Him. I guess the disciples were constantly living in excitement to have large crowds waiting to hear Jesus and to be ministered. In Verse 36 it says, Simon and his companions searched for him, and when they found him, they said “Everyone is looking for you.” Verse 37 And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighbouring villages so that I may preach there too. That is why I have come”.

Jesus reiterates the purpose of His coming again and again. I guess Jesus was not interested to give the same message in a new package to the same crowd day after day or week after week. That will sound churchianity, where people would visit the Church, every week get excited and go back to never share the gospel. In Matthew 8:18 Again we notice this happening, “When Jesus saw a large crowd around him, he gave orders to go to the other side of the sea.” Jesus knew the crowds will always be there but then once He ministered in a particular place Jesus preferred to go the next place where He is still unfamiliar.

Fellowship with the believers on a weekly basis is a great idea but then people come together to comfort each other, love each other, help each other and then they are gone. In many cases even this is not a reality. Why do we say the Church is the only hope for the dying world when all we have is only Christian brothers and sisters surrounded. Today, the Churches are becoming a good moral school where constantly the members are taught how to live good life, morally teaching them how to love one another, and so many how to's... but never how to share the gospel and holding individuals accountable on the responsibility of sharing the gospel.

Today, the Church in many cases is nothing more than a structure or a building facility and sadly even that in most cases mired in property disputes. The institutionalization Church comes in various types of offering. Basically, money takes the top priority. And we show to people that if they pay more offering, more tithes, they will receive more blessings.

Most of the people who started with a great passion to reach out to people with the gospel soon settled with this concept of Church. And then with the sustainable income source from the people the Church culminates to an institution under a particular denominational bracket. Thereafter, the rest of their lives pastors with the floating numbers keep managing the crowd so that they are faithful to their version of Church. All survive except the Christ mission. Paul Washer puts this thought brilliantly, “The ministry has become so driven by business and entertainment that many of the men who now stand behind pulpits would do a better as corporate heads on Wall Street or entertainers in Hollywood.”

Don't mistake me that I am saying Church buildings are unnecessary. What am I questioning, why the purpose of the Church today has become so murky? Why aren't our congregation who are supposed to be teachers, speakers by now still need milk? (Hebrew 5:14)

We want to think and believe Church buildings attract people to hear the gospel. If this was true Jesus would have at the foremost made a connection and asked His converts to attend the existing temple with its grandeur. Instead, He was seen calling people to follow Him. Soon we learn Jesus prophesized the demolition of the temple. Matthew 24:2 “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.”. Jesus replaced the place with a movement.

Even in the Old Testament the Lord showed Prophet Isaiah an important thing. Prophet Isaiah apprises what the Lord said to him with great power.  Isaiah 8:13-14 “You are to regard only the Lord of Armies as holy. Only he should be feared only he should be held in awe. He will be a SANCTUARY; . . .”  Currently, the Church space has taken all the credibility. Christians respect church buildings more than Jesus and His mission. The church isn’t a building to be maintained, it’s a people to be mobilized. Let us not forget that all Christ’s disciples and His followers took the risk of going to all parts of the world and proclaim about the resurrected Jesus and being martyred for their faith. They wanted others to experience what they have found. Think about it! Let me leave with the thought by Leonard Ravenhill, "the world is not waiting for a new definition of Christianity, it's waiting for a new demonstration of Christianity.”.

  

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Church institution Part-2

In my last blog we were seeing why Jesus did not choose to centralize institutionalizing of the Church. You can click HERE in case you missed to read the last blog.

I am just thinking, what would today’s preacher or Pastor literally have done if he faced a situation like Jesus. Invariably, a big mega-church building project would have come up in almost every village, town and in a city. The preacher / pastor will be the new celebrity.  Plans to mobilize funds would have been the top priority. A largest auditorium would have been erected in a noticeable place to accommodate all the people. The preacher or the pastor would be the headlines in all the news all the week. In one gathering the pastor would address thousands of people.  It would be the highest fund turnover of all times. He would own almost anything, from helicopter, to airplane, ship, branded cars and probably an Island in his name. Soon the tag ‘international’ would be attached to his name and to his ministry. It looks so interesting and promising right?

It is an oxymoron and an assumed ideology to believe if we erect a Church building in all pin codes, towns, taluks, and cities, then the gospel by itself would spread and people will be saved! Christian presence is marked by number of Church buildings existing in a particular city or state. However, have you ever wondered why Jesus never did that? He could have always asked His people to build a large auditorium and called it as Church. And by the way, Jesus had many disciples and followers by then, who He could have entrusted with a Church for each one of them. Probably, that would have been the best prototype for us to follow as a pattern.  

It looked like a successful church model was emerging, but fortunately Jesus never intended Church that way at all.  Leonard Ravenhill Put’s it so beautifully “When I see the Church in the New Testament, they didn’t have stately buildings, they didn’t have paid evangelists, they didn’t have a lot of money, they didn’t have organization, they couldn’t get on TV and beg; but I’ll tell you what they did — THEY TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN!” Let’s give it some serious thought. Jesus had prominent funders with Him too. There was also a treasurer in His team. Then why did Jesus keep moving from one place to another leaving the crowd behind? Is Jesus a bad model for a pastor in today's standard? Analyse with me please if Jesus missed something or are we choosing to deliberately overlook something. Leaving all possibilities, Jesus takes the disciples to Caesarea Philippi filled with all types of gods and idols, and there He promises the establishment of a Church. He did not select a place to put a structure there but propelled a powerful movement which can soon govern not only a particular city but entire earth. Jesus' intention and purpose of building a Church was completely different than what we want it to be .  Jesus intended to built the Church on person, and eventually, people become His Church. Matthew 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.".

To be continued...

 

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Church Institution Part-1

 

Jesus quickly became famous from the moment He started doing miracles and healing people from all kinds of sicknesses and casting demons. Luke in 7:17 (NLT) records, “and the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.” Mark 1:28 records, “at once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.”. It was not easy anymore for Jesus to walk on the streets freely because He was surrounded by crowds always. Luke records in 8:42, “while He was going the crowds were nearly crushing him.”.  We can imagine how challenging it would have been for Jesus to navigate from one place to another. In Luke 6:19, the writer records, "The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.". So, now we realize why the crowds always pressed Him.

In addition to this, people who were healed by Jesus carried the news to all the places and that attracted more crowd. In a particular incident as recorded in Mark 1:45 talks about a man were healed from his leprosy, and we read in the scriptures that he went about to spread the news about Jesus to an extent that Jesus no longer could walk openly. “… with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.”. He had to find a deserted place with His disciples, but then, even there the crowd found Him. We learn that Jesus got all the attention from the people in a little time. It was not needed for Jesus to go and find the crowd anymore. The Bible registers that the crowd was always expecting Him. In Luke 8:40 Luke records, “when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were expecting Him.”. People knew Jesus’ schedule most of the time. I guess probably before Jesus could reach a particular place, the crowd already made their way to meet Him and touch Him. Isn’t it exciting?

Having referred to all the above facts about Jesus, let's do some honest thinking. Did Jesus miss in doing something? He could have worked around the already existing synagogue which He called it as a prayer house or established the largest facility and get everyone in one place? Generally, we believe all our evangelism work should culminate and settle to a particular destination i.e., ‘Church’, a literal building with a Christian identity. But Jesus who already conceived the idea of building a Church did not leave any pattern for us to follow at all. Jesus’ idea of building a Church was entirely different which is overlooked by the majority all the time. Today what draws the attention of Christians in most cases is the Church building. Diane Langberg states this, "Beautiful structures, a performance that moves  people, theological brilliance and correctness, and large audiences are things Christendom praises and prizes today."

To be continued...

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Protecting God or Protecting His Mission?

 

Recently in my blog to the public (non-Christian crowd. You may click to read HERE), I addressed a sensitive issue about  man trying to protect God and His religion with all his effort. In the process rioting and killing took place. This has happened in the past and continues to happen in many nations around the globe. People are desperate to protect God, religious buildings, monuments, shrines, and religion at all costs. Logically, it can be justified because man erected the religious building, monuments, and shrines, hence, it’s his duty to protect the structure. Religious monuments and shrines are considered as the dwelling place of God, therefore religious sentiments overtake the actual faith on God. Sadly, we Christians are not excluded from it. Today, the Church sentiments are stronger than Christ’s Mission. When I say Church sentiments, I mean the Church building (space), which is considered holy place in the sight of the people.

Mistaken priorities are always dangerous. There is an amazing lesson we learn from the last miracle before Jesus’ Crucifixion. Jesus healed a man wounded by one of his followers. The book of John Records it in 18:10 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.” Then He healed apostle Peter who wielded his weapon in anger and thought it was his duty to save Jesus. David Cassidy in one of His writings points this fact, “When the Church wounds the world in a misguided effort to defend itself and Jesus, it reduces the capacity of people to hear the Gospel. Judas sought to destroy the mission of Jesus through his betrayal. Peter sought to defend the mission of Jesus through violence.”. How strong and powerful this statement is.

Kyrie Elision states this, “Jesus did not leave Peter unmended anymore that he left Malchus bleeding and broken. Peter was commanded, “Put your sword away.” We don’t save the Savior. All of the saber-swinging has to stop. It was the first step in peter’s journey to heart-breaking repentance.” Jesus heals both the wounded and the one who inflicts the wound. You and I cannot protect God the Almighty. The Savior does not need saving. Mercifully, He heals those who wound as well. I have hope today not only for the wounded but the ones wounding; that’s how magnificent the mercy of the Savior is. But yes, He wants you to be the Church, more so, a mobile Church so that wherever you go, you have a space to accommodate people in.

God does not need our support for His existence, He exists eternally and at the same time we cannot protect the Church buildings too. According to 2023 World Watch list of Christian persecution, every day 12 Churches or Christian buildings are attacked in many cases razed down. This number is still low. The actual figures may be more. Our mission and priority are to carry the Great Commission and reach out to many lost souls as possible. Do not allow the mission to suffer in your struggle to protect the Church institution. Let us not forget, Jesus replaced the grandest temple and predicted its destruction which happened in AD 70. What He left for us is to carry His commission.

Christ’s Mission is conveniently ignored in all sense. Massive campaigns are held, conferences happen, planning and strategizing of ‘how’ questions are debated and at the end what we normally end up seeing is when large amounts of money is transacted it results in projection of unrealistic accomplishments. Someone somewhere is constantly trading the mission for money, just as Judas traded Jesus, transacting Him for a few silver coins. Protect the mission at all costs. As Philip Nation reminds us, ‘Let us not forget being “on mission” is not the vocation of a few select Christians who are international missionaries but the great privilege for every Christians. The antidote for spiritual decline in the Church isn’t in a clever strategy, rhetorical skill, entertaining kids, or impressive musical performances. It’s in discipling believers to live out the revolutionary mission of the gospel.'

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The infamous four criminals-Good Friday's Big Story!

The story of Good Friday revolves around the details of crucifixion and the greatest sacrifice Jesus made for the entire mankind. Churches usually ensure that they remind the congregation of all the sufferings Jesus bore for us and influence their commitment to Him by meditating on the seven sayings of Jesus with utmost melancholy and grief. However, the most important realization is the greatest sacrifice Christ made for us, make a fresh commitment to love Him with all our heart and soul and in response carry this greatest story of Christ’s love to the entire world.

A closer look at the crucifixion story reveals parallel events happened along Christ’s suffering. Like the debauchery of the Priest and the leadership of the temple, the wickedness and lies of the crowd, the disoriented disciples and his followers, the boldness of the women who were following Him, the Mission Christ entrusted to the people, the announcement of his second coming, glimpse of the end time, the reaction of the crowd and the gestures of the criminals, to name a few.

My pick for this article is the, the story of the prominent criminals in Christ’s story. Let’s analyse them together.

Judas the thief:

In John 12:4-5, Judas is portrayed as, “Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and would steal part of what was put in it.”. Judas was not a common person but was a disciple of Jesus who was with him all the time yet was known as a thief. Jesus called Judas to be His disciple who accepted the call and was part of the team, but his intention was different. He wanted to use the opportunity with Jesus to make money by embezzling and he constantly found a way to do it to the point of betraying Jesus for money. Similarly, many today have identified a ministry and a profession named after God to be dishonest. The name of Jesus is used in vain for personal survival. Judas though was so close to witnessing the greatest sacrifice of Jesus on the cross yet failed, facing a miserable end. Sin in due course of time paid the reward in full.

Barabbas the notorious prisoner:

In Matthew 27:16 states, “at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.”. Barabbas was a man who lived in Jerusalem, Judea, around AD29 during the time of the Roman Empire. Barabbas was a troublemaker, a thief, and a murderer. The punishment for his crimes was that he had to be crucified, which was a common punishment. This meant that he was to be nailed to a wooden cross until he would die of exhaustion and suffocation. Often the Romans would force a criminal to make the cross that they were going to die on. This may have been to cause the criminal some mental suffering to go with the physical suffering that was going to occur later, because as they made it, they would have to be thinking about what was going to happen. I am sure Barabbas might be regretting that he was caught and now ready to be crucified. We all must understand that this world is orchestrated by a sovereign God in a particular way after sin entered the world. If a person is found guilty, he/she must face the consequences and it can come in any form. Sin has its consequences. One cannot keep going with sin and not get caught. Bible says in Numbers 32:23 "... Be sure sin will find you out.". One can only imagine the relief it might have brought Barabbas when Jesus was replaced in his place to die. Barabbas was the first person directly affected by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Criminal no 1 on the Cross:

Jesus crucified between two criminals had a story too. The first criminal who was unapologetic even in his pain hurled abuse at Jesus. Luke 23:39 records what this criminal said, “Then of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: Aren’t you the messiah? Save yourself and us!” Many today want God to just save them from their mess. They expect God to notice their suffering and come to immediate aid but never remorseful. This criminal knew who Jesus was. He knew Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, but never intended to use the opportunity to repent. Charles Spurgeon puts this beautifully, “Many choose to perish forever rather than trust God.”. Many people including Christians today know Jesus very well and yet are not willing to make an honest decision to follow His Lordship. Superficiality at its peak.

Criminal no 2 on the Cross:

This criminal also knew that Jesus was the Messiah, and he had a good understanding of God’s Justice. His response to the other Criminal was this, Luke 23:41 “We are punished justly because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”. The greatest testimony about Jesus from the criminal is historical. He had an amazing revelation. The criminal too was dying with Jesus yet believed in His resurrection. Later we come to know that even the other disciples were skeptical to some extent about His resurrection, but this criminal had the utter conviction that if he believes Jesus he is going to live. Luke 23: 42 He says this, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” I believe this gesture shows that the criminal already accepted Jesus’ lordship and engaged in sharing Christ’s Mission on the cross which is heard by the crowd and recorded by the writers.

Jesus’ response to the criminal was poignant and the fulfilment of all the prophecies. Luke 23:43 “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”. All of us can identify with one of the four categories of criminals portrayed above, but if we are willing to be remorseful and accept His Lordship, I guarantee our life would never be the same again. Being religious in this passion week is not going to do any good to our soul. There were many religious people, in the crowd watching the crucifixion, witnessed His goodness yet rejected Him blatantly. A true willingness to forego any hypocrisy will transform us and fulfil the purpose for which He created each one of us.

 

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