Building Effective Discipleship: Overcoming Barriers to Spiritual Growth

1. Describe a mature disciple • Why do so many fall away from faith as young adults? • Why are some non-Pentecostals more spiritually mature than many Pentecostals?

2. BUILDING A DISCIPLE-MAKING MINISTRY

3. THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE DISCIPLESHIP

4. Dallas Willard • Nondiscipleship is the “elephant in the church.” • “Consumer Christianity has become the accepted norm.”

5. Richard Foster • “Perhaps the greatest malady in the Church today is converts to Christ who are not disciples of Christ—a clear contradiction in terms. This malady affects everything in church life.”

6. George Barna • “Believers are largely indistinguishable from nonbelievers. . . .” ?

7. George Barna “. . . Steady spiritual growth has become the exception to the rule, the domain of spiritual superstars and fanatics.”

8. George Barna • “. . .Stunningly few churches have a church of disciples.”

9. John Ortberg • “Because by and large we do not expect people to experience ongoing transformation. . ., we will settle for being informed or conformed.”

10. Brian McLaren • “Why are so few of our good Christian people good Christians?”

11. Bill Hybels • “So why is it that we can be a part of churches…with very few people really becoming more Christlike? There is a problem!”

12. Thom Rainer • Survey Question: “At this point in your church’s life, what is your evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the church’s discipleship program?”

13. Response Very effective 2.1% Effective 2.5% Fair 37.2% Poor 26.2% Not effective 6.4% Nonexistent 20.2% No answer 5.3%

14. Aubrey Malphurs • Nearly one fourth of Christians- Sliding backwards spiritually • Over 40% felt stagnated • No correlation between number of years as a Christian and spiritual maturity • 40% of pastors – not growing spiritually

15. A Definition of Disciple • A disciple is a Christian whose passionate priority is to • Follow Jesus as Lord in every area of life

16. To become more like Him • Purpose • Understanding • Wisdom • Character • Actions • Spirit empowerment

17. And to accept the call to participate in Jesus’ mission in the world.

18. This results in a life of growing obedience, maturity and faithfulness, which brings glory to God.

19. Definition of Discipleship • Discipleship is the process of becoming such a disciple through the enabling of God’s Spirit, a community of believers, and our cooperation with God’s work in our lives.

20. Key Verses Matthew 28:19-20 • “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

21. Key Verses 2 Corinthians 3:18 • “We . . .are being changed into his likeness from degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

22. Deep Holistic Discipleship

23. Means for Deep Transformation • Spiritual Disciplines • Authentic Christian Community • Experiences of God Worldview: Immersion in God’s Word Ultimate love: Deep perception and experience of God’s love Character: Choices, actions, habits

24. Strategies for Building a Disciple-Making Ministry • Make the Great Commission with deep, holistic discipleship the driving mission of your church. • Use biblical paradigms to redefine success in ministry and reshape disciple-making. • Enable believers to resolve personal issues hindering discipleship. • Challenge cultural secudtions and misbeliefs with biblical vision. • Provide strong and sustained motivation for ongoing discipleship. • Enhance the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

25. Strategies for Building a Disciple-Making Ministry • Train and motivate believers in the practice of spiritual disciplines. • Encourage authentic Christian community through effective small groups and mentoring. • Provide training in growing through the circumstances of life. • Integrate spiritual and personal growth. • Develop holistic disciples.

26. HINDRANCES TO BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP

27. I. REPLACING FLAWED PARADIGMS Biblical Perspectives

28. Growing numbers Decisions Sin manage- ment Life Change Conversions Lordship of Jesus Replacing Flawed Paradigms A. INADEQUATE BIBLICAL GOALSPARADIGMS

29. Compliant members & zealous workers Full programming Growing Disciples Mission-driven Strategy Replacing Flawed Paradigms INADEQUATE BIBLICALGOALSPARADIGMS

30. Discipleship by osmosis Basics for new believers Intentional discipleship Ongoing Growth Replacing Flawed Paradigms FLAWEDBIBLICALAPPROACHESPARADIGMS

31. 3. Information Emphasis on classes and curriculum Limited duration Transformation Emphasis on relationships Lifelong process Replacing Flawed Paradigms FLAWEDBIBLICALAPPROACHESPARADIGMS

32. Reliance on self-responsibility Selective discipleship Unprepared disciplers Accountability Holistic discipleship Discipled disciplers Replacing Flawed Paradigms FLAWEDBIBLICALAPPROACHESPARADIGMS

33. CHALLENGING CULTURAL SUBVERSION Biblical Vision

34. Challenging Cultural Subversion A. SEDUCTIONS • Wealth and possessions • Ambition and success • Power and influence • Approval and applause

35. Challenging Cultural Subversion A. SEDUCTIONS 5. Comfort and ease 6. Entertainment and pleasure 7. Busyness and sensory saturation

36. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS • Orientation toward Life • The physical world is more real than the spiritual. • The present is what is more important. Spiritual Future Now

37. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS • Orientation toward Life • In life, our primary concern is to take care of ourselves and our families. • People exist to serve our needs.

38. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS • Orientation toward Life • God exists to take care of our needs when our resources are inadequate.

39. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS 2. Fulfillment and Significance • Personal fulfillment is the ultimate purpose of life. • In a universe which came into being by chance, we have no inherent significance.

40. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS 2. Fulfillment and Significance • Achievement, assets, appearance, and activities determine our worth.

41. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS 2. Fulfillment and Significance • The above, plus romantic love, health, and pleasure being happiness. • Spiritual obedience limits our fulfillment.

42. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS • Truth, Morality, and Character • Many biblical teachings are outdated and irrelevant today. • What we believe in the spiritual realm does not matter, since truth is relative. OLD FASHIONED

43. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS • Truth, Morality, and Character • Individuals and societies determine what is morally right and wrong. • The end justifies the means. • Talent, charismata, & style trump character.

44. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS • Romantic love, sex, and marriage • Romantic love overcomes every obstacle to a fulfilling relationship. • Sex outside of marriage is appropriate if we’re in love.

45. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS • Romantic love, sex, and marriage • Sex is a normal drive that should be satisfied by single as well as married people. • Living together enables us to determine compatibility.

46. Challenging Cultural Subversion B. MISBELIEFS • Romantic love, sex, and marriage • Divorce is appropriate if our marriage does not provide personal fulfillment. • Religious teachings should not stand in the way of sexual gratification.

47. III. SURFACING PERSONAL ISSUES Biblical Wholeness

48. Surfacing Personal Issues PERSONAL ISSUES • Limited emotional intelligence • Low self-esteem • Compulsiveness • Emotional pain • Evasion of truth

49. KEYS FOR BUILDING A DISCIPLE-MAKING MINISTRY

50. KEYS FOR BUILDING A DISCIPLE-MAKING MINISTRY 1.Make the Great Commission with deep, holistic discipleship the driving mission of your church or ministry.