Discipleship and Change, 2 Questions
I’ve spoken about discipleship for a while, and I usually begin most of those talks with two questions that qualify discipleship as the type of relationship that invests the kingdom in someone else through a close relationship. In other words, what Jesus did with his disciples.
The first question: “How many of you have been discipled like that?”
Often two thirds to one half of the room will raise their hands. Many have had that type of relationship with others and been led into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Most of the time it looks like a Bible study or a small group that meets once a week. It might be a breakfast or after dinner group, but usually the focus is a book or the Bible.
The second question: “How many of you are discipling someone else like that right now?”
This question never receives more than a ten percent response. I have spoken to lay people and pastors alike and it is never higher than ten percent. Less than ten percent of the people who come to a talk about discipleship are out there practicing what is called the Great Commission.
It’s time for something different, and that is what I have been trying for the past 15 years. There are four things that I have seen that have become hallmarks of the way I do discipleship. These four things are what I have come to rely upon to know that I am doing the right things in discipleship.
Process over Outcomes
Intrinsic over Extrinsic Value
Dynamic over Static Relationships
Heuristic over Algorithmic Structure
In the next few posts, I want to expand these markers of discipleship and make clear what I mean about each of these ideas.
