In designing effective
disciple-making ministries for the church, it is essential that to be aware of
and sensitive to the unique characteristics of the congregations. For example,
if the church is a small church, one must be aware that smaller churches are
not a church waiting to become large. Smaller churches tend to be relational in
their orientation. People are more important than performance. Smaller
congregations are usually more intergenerational in their approach to ministry.
There is often a strong awareness of heritage and tradition. In fact, they can
be clannish and ingrown. There is a strong social dimension in their
gatherings. Smaller churches are different, but not inferior.
disciple-making ministries for the church, it is essential that to be aware of
and sensitive to the unique characteristics of the congregations. For example,
if the church is a small church, one must be aware that smaller churches are
not a church waiting to become large. Smaller churches tend to be relational in
their orientation. People are more important than performance. Smaller
congregations are usually more intergenerational in their approach to ministry.
There is often a strong awareness of heritage and tradition. In fact, they can
be clannish and ingrown. There is a strong social dimension in their
gatherings. Smaller churches are different, but not inferior.
Christian education is the
disciple-making arm of the church. Christian education ministry must be
concerned about reaching people for Christ. But it does not end there.
Effective Christian education ministries are committed to working with people
to help them become deeply devoted and obedient followers of Jesus who are
maturing as Christians and using their gifts to build and bless others. It
involves Sunday school ministry, but it also involves all ministries with a
disciple-making focus.
disciple-making arm of the church. Christian education ministry must be
concerned about reaching people for Christ. But it does not end there.
Effective Christian education ministries are committed to working with people
to help them become deeply devoted and obedient followers of Jesus who are
maturing as Christians and using their gifts to build and bless others. It
involves Sunday school ministry, but it also involves all ministries with a
disciple-making focus.
10 Key Principles Required in Christian Education and
Disciple-Making Ministries
Disciple-Making Ministries
1. Be clear about your church’s mission, vision, and
values.
values.
A church’s mission
statement articulates why it exists. The church’s vision provides direction—it
states what the church hopes to accomplish. A church that clearly understands
its mission and possesses a deep commitment to its God-given vision will
develop strategies and invest resources to fulfill them. These members will
express values that prioritize the lost, seek to lead them to Christ, and help
them become devoted, mature disciples of Christ. There is no substitute for a
passionate commitment to mission, vision, and values shared by church leaders
and every member.
statement articulates why it exists. The church’s vision provides direction—it
states what the church hopes to accomplish. A church that clearly understands
its mission and possesses a deep commitment to its God-given vision will
develop strategies and invest resources to fulfill them. These members will
express values that prioritize the lost, seek to lead them to Christ, and help
them become devoted, mature disciples of Christ. There is no substitute for a
passionate commitment to mission, vision, and values shared by church leaders
and every member.
2.
Ascertain your assets and build on them.
Ascertain your assets and build on them.
Churches possess special
features and assets that they can capitalize on to make them effective in
Christian education. The accountability of the church, the family atmosphere,
and the participatory nature all fall into this category. A key question congregations
need to answer is: What do we have to offer people? After these assets are
identified, develop strategies to maximize them for discipleship ministries.
features and assets that they can capitalize on to make them effective in
Christian education. The accountability of the church, the family atmosphere,
and the participatory nature all fall into this category. A key question congregations
need to answer is: What do we have to offer people? After these assets are
identified, develop strategies to maximize them for discipleship ministries.
3.
Identify and implement a disciple-making process.
Identify and implement a disciple-making process.
Not only do individuals
make disciples, so do congregations. Churches need an identified process for
disciple-making. In effective churches, disciples are not made by accident, but
intentionally—on purpose. What is the logical and biblical process a church can
follow as it seeks to make disciples? First, a disciple-making church seeks to
include people in its fellowship. Second, the congregation has a responsibility
to instruct people and help them develop a working knowledge of the Bible,
knowing what they believe, while developing the habits of life that will enable
them to become strong, maturing Christians. Third, the church has a responsibility
to help believers discover their gifts and abilities, present a strategy to
develop them, and begin utilizing them in ministry. Fourth, believers need to
develop a heart for outreach to their communities and the world. They also need
to develop necessary skills to share their faith with others. Finally, every
believer needs to learn to live out a life of worship, prayer, and praise.
Effective congregations do not leave this to chance. Their leaders are
passionate about implementing this process for every age group.
make disciples, so do congregations. Churches need an identified process for
disciple-making. In effective churches, disciples are not made by accident, but
intentionally—on purpose. What is the logical and biblical process a church can
follow as it seeks to make disciples? First, a disciple-making church seeks to
include people in its fellowship. Second, the congregation has a responsibility
to instruct people and help them develop a working knowledge of the Bible,
knowing what they believe, while developing the habits of life that will enable
them to become strong, maturing Christians. Third, the church has a responsibility
to help believers discover their gifts and abilities, present a strategy to
develop them, and begin utilizing them in ministry. Fourth, believers need to
develop a heart for outreach to their communities and the world. They also need
to develop necessary skills to share their faith with others. Finally, every
believer needs to learn to live out a life of worship, prayer, and praise.
Effective congregations do not leave this to chance. Their leaders are
passionate about implementing this process for every age group.
4. Keep
the ministry organizationally simple.
the ministry organizationally simple.
Churches most times do not seem
to cope well with the challenges of multiple and complex organizational
structures. Churches need simple, easy-to-manage structures to succeed.
Multiple ministries tax the already limited human leadership resources of the church.
The tragic result can be overworked leaders living on the ragged edge of
burnout. The simple, departmentalized, and age-graded organizational structure
of the Sunday school is ideal for organizing the ministry needs of the
congregation.
to cope well with the challenges of multiple and complex organizational
structures. Churches need simple, easy-to-manage structures to succeed.
Multiple ministries tax the already limited human leadership resources of the church.
The tragic result can be overworked leaders living on the ragged edge of
burnout. The simple, departmentalized, and age-graded organizational structure
of the Sunday school is ideal for organizing the ministry needs of the
congregation.
5.
Feature relationally oriented ministry.
Feature relationally oriented ministry.
Churches are characterized
by a preference for close, personal relationships. Effective Christian
education ministries in the congregations will work hard to put people ahead of
programmes. Teachers and workers will not let anyone slip through the cracks
unnoticed. Wise leaders in congregations will ensure that guests are welcomed,
new people are incorporated, and the needs of people are met.
by a preference for close, personal relationships. Effective Christian
education ministries in the congregations will work hard to put people ahead of
programmes. Teachers and workers will not let anyone slip through the cracks
unnoticed. Wise leaders in congregations will ensure that guests are welcomed,
new people are incorporated, and the needs of people are met.
6. Mentor
leaders and train teachers.
leaders and train teachers.
Instead of large
leadership-development seminars, the church depends more on the pastor to
personally spend time mentoring promising leaders. In the church, an effective
Christian education teacher training program is nonnegotiable. The pastor takes
the leading role in teacher training. He will see that those involved in
teaching ministry attend training opportunities that are offered. The concept
of training teachers by placing them in team settings with experienced teachers
is ideal for the church. The pastor will do everything in his or her power to
combat an “anyone with a lesson manual will do” mentality.
leadership-development seminars, the church depends more on the pastor to
personally spend time mentoring promising leaders. In the church, an effective
Christian education teacher training program is nonnegotiable. The pastor takes
the leading role in teacher training. He will see that those involved in
teaching ministry attend training opportunities that are offered. The concept
of training teachers by placing them in team settings with experienced teachers
is ideal for the church. The pastor will do everything in his or her power to
combat an “anyone with a lesson manual will do” mentality.
7.
Involve people in ministry.
Involve people in ministry.
In the church, an
exceptional opportunity exists to get a high percentage of believers actively
involved in ministry. If the pastor exhibits a high level of commitment to
helping people identify their gifts and abilities, this will become a
congregational value. Gift discovery, development, and deployment must not
simply be an adult issue. A pervasive culture must exist within the church to
affirm giftedness in children and provide opportunities for them to begin using
their gifts in ministry to the church as a whole. The church must always
provide this kind of opportunity. Many who are effective in ministry as adults
today discovered their gifts as teenagers and began using them for the Lord in
the churches. Many churches continue to be a seedbed for ministry development.
exceptional opportunity exists to get a high percentage of believers actively
involved in ministry. If the pastor exhibits a high level of commitment to
helping people identify their gifts and abilities, this will become a
congregational value. Gift discovery, development, and deployment must not
simply be an adult issue. A pervasive culture must exist within the church to
affirm giftedness in children and provide opportunities for them to begin using
their gifts in ministry to the church as a whole. The church must always
provide this kind of opportunity. Many who are effective in ministry as adults
today discovered their gifts as teenagers and began using them for the Lord in
the churches. Many churches continue to be a seedbed for ministry development.
8.
Actively promote participation.
Actively promote participation.
Every person who claims to
be a Christian needs to be involved in small-group study and application of
God’s Word to grow and develop as a disciple. Second Timothy 3:14–17 makes it
clear that God’s Word is profitable for all age groups and is indispensable to spiritual
growth and maturity. Churches have a unique opportunity to actively promote the
participation of every member in small-group Bible study. A variety of
opportunities should be established that include Sunday morning and other days
of the week and times as well.
be a Christian needs to be involved in small-group study and application of
God’s Word to grow and develop as a disciple. Second Timothy 3:14–17 makes it
clear that God’s Word is profitable for all age groups and is indispensable to spiritual
growth and maturity. Churches have a unique opportunity to actively promote the
participation of every member in small-group Bible study. A variety of
opportunities should be established that include Sunday morning and other days
of the week and times as well.
9. Build
your ministry on proven growth principles.
your ministry on proven growth principles.
There are no shortcuts to
productive ministry. Christian education ministries that truly reach and build
people are established on well-proven growth principles. Churches cannot
sacrifice such things as systematic outreach, enlarging their ministry base,
using kinship or friendship networks, creating new units, and developing new
leaders with an outward focus, if they expect to grow.
productive ministry. Christian education ministries that truly reach and build
people are established on well-proven growth principles. Churches cannot
sacrifice such things as systematic outreach, enlarging their ministry base,
using kinship or friendship networks, creating new units, and developing new
leaders with an outward focus, if they expect to grow.
10.
Depend on supernatural power.
Depend on supernatural power.
The importance of supernatural
power to achieve the goals of Christian education is a critical issue. No
church can help people overcome life-controlling habits, destructive patterns
of thinking, and demonic power without God’s power. Churches need to identify
the processes they will use to make disciples. However, outward discipleship
processes without inward power is an exercise in futility. Prayer, faith,
obedience, and divine empowerment provide what is necessary to see lives formed
and transformed. Smaller churches have no need to feel intimidated or inferior
in their discipleship efforts.
power to achieve the goals of Christian education is a critical issue. No
church can help people overcome life-controlling habits, destructive patterns
of thinking, and demonic power without God’s power. Churches need to identify
the processes they will use to make disciples. However, outward discipleship
processes without inward power is an exercise in futility. Prayer, faith,
obedience, and divine empowerment provide what is necessary to see lives formed
and transformed. Smaller churches have no need to feel intimidated or inferior
in their discipleship efforts.
