Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19
Yesterday I discussed the tendency to over intellectualize Christianity. That’s not to say that teaching and learning are not important. In fact, “making disciples” is the greatest challenge facing the church.
Consider the challenge. Church attendance is down in America. Fewer folks attend church on a regular basis. Of those who do attend, most attend only a worship service on Sunday. Only a handful attend midweek services, Sunday School or other gatherings of Christians. Lots of Christians get their “teaching” from books, websites or from TV preachers. Some are great. Some not so much.
For these reasons, much of the focus of the local church is on the Sunday service. Consider those in attendance: long term members with varying degrees of maturity, new members, visitors. Those in attendance have innumerable concerns and distractions: raising children, paying bills, facing retirement, facing illness, facing death. On a Sunday morning a Pastor must attempt to somehow touch ever person and meet every need. Good luck.
Most pastors recognize the impossibility of meeting every need in one to two hours on Sunday morning. Many churches provide training at other times aimed at the needs of people at various stages of life: youth, young married, aging, etc. These opportunities may take the form of classes or “connect” groups and/or “events.” As our society becomes more complex there are more folks who don’t fit into traditional categories: divorced, single moms, older singles, gays, etc.
As a new Christian I attended Baptist churches and was impressed by their system of Sunday School classes, mid-week services, and “get together” events. I was particularly impressed in the high percentage of members who participated in these other-than-Sunday gatherings. I have not seen that success duplicated in most churches. Many Christians do not come from a tradition that puts emphasis on things like Sunday School or training. Most feel they are doing “good” if they make it to church on Sunday.
That just looks at discipling those who attend. Churches also have an obligation to the unchurched and unsaved in their areas of influence. It is an incredible challenge to reach and minister to these.
It seems with this situation churches need to take a multi-phase approach to discipleship:
1. Since Sunday morning is the time of greatest impact on the greatest number, the Sunday service has to be designed to have the greatest possible impact on the greatest number of souls.
2. Since not all needs can ever be met on Sunday morning, churches must develop extensive all week opportunities for all persons to be ministered to, mentored and encouraged.
3. We need to find ways to motivate members to attend the teachings and groups available to them on dates and at times other than Sunday morning.
Next we will consider some of the current attempts to deal with the challenges of discipleship in 2013.
Be blessed.
Nick
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