As the year draws to a close, we have begun analysing our
spiritual temperature as a church. We think through our meetings, members,
ministries and missions of the church. There reason to rejoice and thank God
and there is a reason to be concerned, repent and revisit. One area that we have
spent time thinking through over the years is that of intentional and
meaningful discipleship. Believers should be people, people. A biblical congregation
will be characterised by ongoing discipleship relationships. Where members help
and encourage each other to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. Whenever a
church is not committed to building healthy discipleship relationships they:
Become Program
oriented
Programs are necessary for the church; after all, we are
commanded to “not forsake the assembling of the believers” (Heb. 10:24-25). However, programs are a means to an end and
not an end in themselves. If all we do is planning, organising and attending
programs and zoom off to our sheltered individualistic worlds till we meet
again then we have seriously missed the whole point. Programs are easy,
convenient and safe. You can meet together and not share life, not be
inconvenienced by the sins and needs of others. Nor are you going to experience
the pain of rebuke and confrontation in only meeting for a program.
Relationships, on the other hand, are work, they can be tasking on your person,
and they can be painful and costly. But they are also encouraging and spur you
to love and good works. One often results in fast and superficial growth, while
the other results are steady and meaningful growth
Reduce evangelism to
advertising
As a result of been program-oriented, churches that are not
committed to discipleship often mistake advertising their programs to evangelising
the lost. Now it is true we want to invite people to meetings where they will
hear the gospel. However, the invitations are simply the first step. We have to
follow up with the gospel proclamation. We have to initiate a relationship with
a definite go of having gospel conversations with the individual. We should be glad
when people respond to our invitations, but we should pray for more than just
attendance. It is the salvation of souls we are after.
Have numbers without
depth
Superficial growth is no growth at all. It is like
genetically modified food; it is so desperate for quick tangible success that it
circumvents that natural order of things. The result is growth but weak growth.
Program oriented, skilful marketing churches will invariably have numbers
without depth. People will flock, but there will be no salvation and no
spiritual growth. Leaders of such churches do not stay long, because
eventually, their strategies wear everyone out including themselves!
Look For leaders outside
the church
In a church where members are helping each other grow, you
will often find maturing believers. They will be using their spiritual gifts to
serve the body, and they will be doing the work of ministry. As members grow,
leaders, i.e. elders will arise from among the members. A church that only has
a superficial growth will struggle to find biblically qualified men to lead.
Hence, they will continually be looking for leaders from outside. And what
often happens in such congregations is that they settle for men who are not
qualified to fill the positions
Don’t engage in
church planting
Consequently, churches that are program-oriented, who do not
evangelise, and have a superficial growth and do not raise leaders will not be
committed to church planting and sending out men. They are so inward-looking
that they do not see that the harvest is plentiful all around them.
In the Lord’s design, we should be committed to helping each
other grow in grace and churches that are committed to discipling one another will
have meaningful growth, live out the implications of the gospel and proclaim it
to all.
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