Meetings or Ministry?

 

Over the years I have noticed a slow transition in church and parachurch ministries.  In the early days discipleship was emphasized as the strategy at the heart of many ministries. Young leaders who were growing in their faith were challenged early to start bible studies with their friends.  About a year after I came to Christ as a freshman in college, I was encouraged to start my own discipleship group.  I asked, “Are you sure I am ready?”  They answered, “Sure.” Previously, I had been led to Christ by an older student at Penn State.  A different student followed me up by sharing the basics of the Christian life with me: assurance of salvation, God’s love and forgiveness, confession of sin, how to be filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, how to pray, etc. He also took me out witnessing on campus.  After showing me how to use a little booklet called the 4 Spiritual Laws, he said to me, “Now you try it.”  I’ll never forget that experience.  I tried to share with a graduate student in sociology.  He was not interested and had some hard questions.  My answer was simple, “All I know is that Jesus has changed my life.”

 

After initial follow-up, I joined a weekly bible study led by an older student.  We studied "What the Bible is All About" by Dr. Henrietta Mears.  I would often go with him to share Christ on campus.  I was active in meetings on campus led by Cru staff and in a small but growing CMA church. In those days the core of the ministry and spiritual growth was coming out of the small group discipleship ministry. This is not so common today.

 

For some reason many of the ministries in our day are focused on meetings to the detriment of dynamic ministry.  There are probably good reasons for this orientation:

 

1. Meetings can be planned and executed by a relatively small group of leaders.
2. Meetings are relatively simple.
3. Meetings don't usually involve the awkward aspects of relationships.
4. Meetings generally work to gather new people.
5. Meetings can give a superficial feeling of accomplishment. 
6. When the meeting grows it gives the impression that God is at work.

 

By meetings we are referring to all types of meetings, weekly gatherings on campus, planning meetings, worship services, Sunday School classes, elder’s meetings, community groups, church socials, etc.

 

Despite the positive aspects of a ministry based on meetings, there are significant drawbacks:

 

1. There is often little life-change resulting from meetings.
2. It is very hard for new believers to grow in the fundamentals.
3. Meetings are very dependent on facilities.
4. Little multiplication results from a strategy based on meetings.
5. Those running meetings must always find new and creative ways to make the meetings interesting. 
6. Meetings are not generally effective in cultures hostile to the gospel.

 

So, why is discipleship the solution?

 

1. When we build our ministry around small group discipleship, there will be significant leadership development.
2. When leaders are developed, the ministry can expand organically.
3. Relationships play a crucial role in a discipleship ministry.  These relationships meet many personal needs. Individual issues can be addressed.
4. Evangelism grows naturally out of a strong discipleship ministry. 

 

So, what makes a discipleship ministry different?

 

1. Fundamentals are taught effectively.
2. Content is modelled in the context of close relationships.
3. Correction can occur as well as encouragement.
4. A discipleship ministry will be more purpose driven.
5. True discipleship results in multiplication (2 Tim 2:2)
6. Discipleship is mandated by The Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20)

 

So how can we transition to a ministry built on discipleship?

 

1. Start slow.  Pick a few key leaders and encourage them to disciple a few people.
2. Start small.  Don't try to roll out a huge discipleship strategy all at once.
3. Emphasize relationships more than content.  Let an organic network of discipleship relationship develop.
4. Focus on the basics.  Don't assume anything.  Start with the gospel and include basic follow-up at first. 
5. Mobilize your disciples toward action.  Delegate strategic ministry as soon as possible.
6. Don’t feel like you need to cancel all your meetings, but you might. 

Discipleship should certainly be the focus of your ministry for those new to the faith, but it is important at all stages of Christian growth. I have tried to keep it at the center of all the ministries I have been involved with over the past fifty years. 

2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB95): 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.