Discipleship for Spiritual Growth

God’s Mission for the Church Revisited

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Jesus commands us to “Go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19-20). According to the Barna group, many people in the U.S. Church today don’t know what the Great Commission is. Though the term itself isn’t found in the Bible, we need to ask if people know the words themselves and their significance for us as believers. Even more important, are we fulfilling this mission? Perhaps it’s time to revisit God’s Mission for the Church.

A Look at Jesus’ Command in Matthew 28:19-20

Often we think of the Great Commission as the outreach arm of the Church. A careful look at Matthew 28:19-20, however, lets us know that it’s much more encompassing. We are to …

“go and make disciples of all nations” — That’s the outreach part. We take the Good News of Jesus to the world around us and beyond (Acts 1:8).

“baptizing … and teaching them to obey …” — That’s helping people who have put their trust in Jesus to become more fully devoted followers (disciples) of Jesus.

Let’s Not Limit the Great Commission to Outreach Efforts

Matthew 28:19-20 commissions us to not only lead people to the Lord but also to shepherd them in the ways of the Lord. This is the mission of the Church. It isn’t merely about how many new converts we make. It’s also about how many of those people are going on to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind, so that His love spills over into loving others as themselves (Matt. 22:36-40). And, it’s about how many of those people are doing their part in the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:16).

Need Help Revisiting God’s Mission of Discipleship?

The TrainChurchLeaders.com site has a section devoted to this encompassing view of the Great Commission. The MinTools.com site divides it into two sections, one on Outreach Ministry and another on Shepherding Ministry. You’ll find much written on these sites but even more help if you order the Discipleship Bundle. In that resource you’ll get the Steering the Church Toward Discipleship Leadership Guide, Outreach Ministry Manual, and Shepherding Manual. These resources will help you gain a more comprehensive view on our mission to go and make disciples. (Each of those resources can also be ordered separately.)

The Process of Providing Christian Nurture

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

When we love God, we want to grow more and more in that relationship. That love spills over into love for others which leads to wanting them to know Him better too. God’s Word provides us with help about the process of providing Christian nurture.

3 Points to Remember about Providing Christian Nurture

Whether for ourselves, or to provide Christian nurture for others in the Church, the following three points should guide the process.

1) Christian nurture is a life-long process. We never stop learning.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Phil. 3:12)

2) The growth process is developmental. Not everyone will be at the same place.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity … (Heb. 6:1)

3) Nurturing our walk with God should happen in different settings. Each setting adds a different layer to the growth process.

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. (1 Tim. 4:13)

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Col. 3:16)

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15)

You’ll find these points listed in the Church Purpose Ministry Manual which looks at Christian nurture, taking time to get to know Him better, as one of the ways to express our love to God.

For resources about some venues for Christian nurture, go to:

Results of Making Christian Nurture a Priority

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

God established the home as the primary nurturing ground early on in the Bible. Parents were to make sure God’s commands were first in their own hearts and then impress them on their children (Deut. 6:4-9). Yet, God also wants His Church, believers of all ages, to be teaching one another (Col. 3:16). And, He gifted people to make sure it happens in the Church as “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph. 4:11-12). As we read on in Ephesians 4, we learn the results of making Christian nurture a priority.

3 Results of Making Christian Nurture a Priority in the Church According to Ephesians 4:11-15

1) It leads to spiritual maturity.

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:13)

2) It helps us acquire discernment.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. (Eph. 4:14)

3) It culminates in church growth.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Eph. 4:15)

The Church Purpose Ministry Manual considers Christian nurture as one of the ways we fulfill our primary purpose to love God with all of who we are. It lists the three results in this post along with two more important results of making nurture a priority.

Learn More: Resources for Bible Teaching Ministry

The Church Needs a Network of Shepherds

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Shepherding ministry in the church is about tending to the welfare of Christ-followers by watching over, nurturing, and guiding them. The needs of the flock are great and consequently shepherding is a big investment of time and effort into the lives of people. It will take a network of shepherds to best facilitate shepherding so people don’t fall through the cracks.

Shepherding by Pastors and Elders

Obviously people in the position of pastor would be included. But, the pastoral staff cannot possibly provide personal and consistent care for each member of the Body. And, God never intended for a single pastor, or two, to adequately care for everyone, which is why we find this command given to elders:
The Church Needs a Network of Shepherds with Elders and Pastors

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Pet. 5:2-3)

The congregation could be divided among the elders, or other designated persons, to help ensure that everyone in the Body has a shepherd. However, unless the span of care for each shepherd is small enough and the shepherd is willing, and able, to consistently be available, contacts will tend to be infrequent and therefore care will still be less than adequate in many cases on an ongoing basis.

Further Expanding the Network of Shepherds in the Church

God gave elders the role of shepherds but that doesn’t mean they must do it all themselves. They do, however, need to make sure it gets done. So, they, along with pastors, need to encourage and equip others in the Body to do their part in shepherding those in their spheres of influence.

Sometimes churches will relegate this responsibility to the small group ministry of the church. While that would help, those who aren’t members of a small group will probably get overlooked.

The best approach may be to expand the network even further. In addition to pastors, elders, and small group leaders, think about how Sunday School teachers, facilitators of support groups, ministry team leaders, equippers, mentors, and disciplers can help shepherd people in their sphere of influence. And, let’s not forget the role of parents in shepherding their own children.

In addition to content similar to what you find in this post, the Shepherding Ministry Manual includes a list of five benefits churches can experience when shepherding comes from a variety of sources as opposed to one shepherd over all.

A Changing Church Still Fulfills God’s Mission

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Though the Church is changing, not everything changes. In addition to continuing to fulfill God’s purposes and live within His design for the Church, we’re also still on the same mission — Jesus’ mission to “go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:18-20).

This mission doesn’t end when life gets difficult or changes. We have the promise of Jesus’ presence “to the very end of the age” so we always have the power needed to 1) reach out to those who feel hopeless and need the Lord, and 2) help those who do hope in the Lord to deepen their faith so they don’t lose heart but rather live in the fullness of life and joy Jesus came to bring us (Jn. 10:10).

Thoughts for a Changing Church Fulfilling God’s Mission to Make Disciples

As a Church, we must make the most of every opportunity to reach out to those around us (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5) as we go and make disciples of all peoples. That means we may need to learn new ways to present the Gospel and truth of God’s Word. We must learn to adapt as the Apostle Paul expressed in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. He said, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” To keep that mindset from turning into compromising, always remember these truths:

Discipleship will continue to be founded upon the truth of God’s Word which does not change.

faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Rom. 10:17)

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (Jn. 8:32)

The best discipleship practices will continue to grow out of relationships.

Read through the New Testament Gospel books and note all the time Jesus spent with His disciples. So, even in a digital age, relationships matter. Perhaps there will be times more of our discipling efforts will happen digitally. Nonetheless, even then we need to build into it times for questions, feedback, debriefing, and praying together. Where possible, it would be good to plan for at least one initial in-person contact to help lay the relational foundation.

For Additional Help on Fulfilling God’s Mission to Make Disciples:

Christian Nurture a Priority?

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Christian Nurture a Priority to Growth
When we love someone, we want to get to know all we can about that person. Certainly the same would be true of our relationship with the Lord. The more we love Him, the more we should want to get to know Him.

And, we should want that for others in their relationship with Him as well. Hence, teaching ministry becomes a priority in the Church for nurturing His people in ways that lead them to not only know about the Lord but to more intimately know Him.

3 Biblical Reasons Christian Nurture Should be a Priority

Teaching was a major part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. (Matt. 9:35; Jn. 17:6-8, 14, 17, 20)

The Apostles continued teaching people after Jesus ascended. (Acts 2:42; 5:42)

Jesus commanded us to teach others as part of His Great Commission to go and disciple all nations. (Matt. 28:19-20)

Whether Christian nurture takes place in the home or in the various teaching ministries of the Church, may this be our prayer:

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God … (Col. 1:9-10)

You’ll find these points in the Church Purpose Manual along with other help on Christian nurture as a practical outworking of our love for God.

Category Archives: Discipleship for Spiritual Growth