Healthy conversation is taking place in the church and discipleship circles today. One of the questions that surfaces is how and when discipleship intersects with spiritual formation. This is a really important issue when disciple-making movements are brought up. Behind the issue is the question: Is discipleship synonymous with spiritual formation?
In a sense, “yes,” they are one and the same thing; but in a pragmatic, functional sense – maybe not.
As an apprentice of Jesus you are learning to be like Jesus. I like what John Mark Comer has written about in “Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become like him, Do as he did”. In his book, he highlights stages of “The Critical Journey” from Dr. Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich.
These have become very familiar. Let me share these with you again.
When you follow the narrative of the evangelical church in the West, most agree the church has done a good job on stages 1-3, not so well with stages 4-6. Using the diagram as a backdrop, it appears that discipleship is a subset of spiritual formation.
And, some might suggest the Catholic church does a better job in Stages 4-6 by emphasizing the ancient practices the Reformation deconstructed.
Naturally, there is a ton of church history that one would need to research to argue the point. My goal is not to argue; but instead, to synthesize the current reality and what I believe the popular line is on spiritual formation so together, we can fill in the gaps.
In summary, authors like Pete Scazzero (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality) and John Mark Comer (Practicing the Way) reinforce the six stages. Both emphasize the need for a Rule of Life. A Rule of Life is a wonderful tool to potentially advance your spiritual formation, assuming you implement and practice a Rule of Life that uniquely fits you.
The bridge between let’s say, stages 3 and 4, is moving from information to application. For instance, reading about the Rule of Life is important. The next step demands more – living into a Rule of Life. Understanding and knowing are two different activities; one is information-based vs. the other, which is experiential.
So, this raises the question, “How?”
Glad you asked.
In a real sense, writing out a plan is half of the challenge, which is what Scazzero and Comer do so well. In coaching leaders for the last 35+ years, part of the battle is won by having a written plan in place. If you, an apprentice of Jesus, take this step, the authors have achieved part of their purpose behind writing a book about spiritual formation. However, implementing the plan is up to the apprentice of Jesus, and requires a different orientation–a depth of understanding and motivation.
This is where the hard work begins.
Challenges apprentices of Jesus face moving from a plan to taking action:
Intrinsic Motivation – deeper levels of motivation have not been tapped
Priorities – there are other “important” issues competing for attention
Sustainability – the level of complexity may be too great
Accountability – finding a person or group that will provide a level of accountability
Perfection over Progress – if perfection is the goal, you will fail; aim for progress
How to move from Stage 3 to Stage 4 in the Critical Journey
Following is a list of best practices I have discovered in moving from Stage 3 to Stage 4. It is not exhaustive, nor is it always the case in every situation. It should be considered as a list of suggestions that could help you sustain the shift from what evangelicals are generally strong in (Stages 1-3) and into the later stages (Stages 4-6), beginning with the shift from Stages 3-4. What I am trying to say is that I am an apprentice, just like you, and here is one apprentice sharing with another apprentice some things I’ve learned along my journey. See what resonates with you.
Pray for a Spiritual Friendship
Preferably a person trained in spiritual direction who can be a discerning listener to hear you process your experience through the exercises
Find a Road Map
I found that I benefited tremendously from a directive and detailed tool that has passed the test of time. The Ignatian Exercises (Journey With Jesus by Larry Warner) has been a helpful guide as I learned how to put my Rule of Life into practice.
Embrace the Long-Term
Don’t rush; just take the next step. The “intent to do” your exercises is as important as the actual exercises.
Don’t beat yourself up
You will go through seasons when it is easy to do your exercises and other seasons when it is challenging. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day, or have to cut it short; just pick up where you left off.
Be patient
Growth doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time. Set realistic expectations. The beauty is that the journey we are on will take a lifetime. Don’t be in a rush; enjoy the process
Curious about your unique strengths as an apprentice of Jesus?
Feeling stuck in auto-pilot ministry? You’re not alone. We’ve been diving deep into 5 key disciple-making habits, but what’s the real point? Here’s why it’s crucial to assess how you’re creating a ripple effect of disciples who make disciples.
STOP, REFLECT, and REIGNITE your disciple-making strategy:
1. Reignite Your Why:
Have you ever been on autopilot? Ministry can become routine. Summer’s a perfect time to rediscover your passion!
Reflection Question: What gets you FIRED UP about your ministry?
2. Evaluate Your Impact:
Is your ministry bearing fruit? Take a courageous look at the results. Are you excited, frustrated, or somewhere in between?
Reflection Questions:
What’s THRIVING?
What NEEDS WORK?
What NEEDS to CHANGE?
3. Make the Main Thing THE Main Thing:
Busyness can steal your focus on what truly matters: disciple-making disciples!
Reflection Question: What activities are DISTRACTING you from your core purpose?
4. Simplify Your Disciple-Making Cycle:
Busy schedules cloud the essentials. Refocus on the actions that truly transform lives.
Reflection Exercise: What are the FEW, CRUCIAL STEPS to cultivate apprentices of Jesus ?
5. Refine Your Invitation:
A clear, compelling invitation is key! Think about your own journey to faith. What drew you in?
Reflection Question: What are you inviting people to become, as followers of Jesus?
Ready to Refine Your Strategy? The Napkin Challenge Awaits!
In our Discipleship Collective, we challenge participants to describe their entire disciple-making cycle in a 3-minute video using just a napkin!
Here’s how:
Grab a napkin (or paper).
In 3 minutes, sketch out your disciple-making cycle.
Keep it SIMPLE, CLEAR, and COMPELLING.
The previous five blogs have been dedicated to unpacking 5 discipleship habits. In case you missed them, here they are:
For over 30 years, I’ve witnessed countless approaches to discipleship. The beauty of that? It’s not a one-size-fits-all game; new methods are constantly emerging, fueled by imagination and the ever-changing world.
But what if you’re facing a unique challenge? What if the people you are coming alongside, or those you are leading, are not seeing the results they want to see? Things are taking much longer than expected; they are experiencing setbacks. Deep down, their commitment is wavering, and they are asking if it is time to quit!
The answer lies in a powerful secret weapon: Strategic Partnerships.
Think of it as a three-legged stool. Each leg represents an essential partnership:
Leg 1: Your unwavering connection with God. This is your source of strength, wisdom, and spiritual fortitude.
Leg 2: The bond with your disciples. You walk alongside them, a trusted companion on their path of self-discovery.
Leg 3: The guidance of experienced apprentices of Jesus. Their experiences keep you focused, and provide invaluable insights as you navigate challenges.
Each leg is crucial. Try becoming and making disciples with just one or two, and things get wobbly. But when you leverage all three? That’s where the magic happens.
Imagine a community of fellow apprentices of Jesus encouraging each other. They celebrate the victories, big or small – a first-time prayer, an act of service, a deepening faith. This supportive network becomes the wind beneath your wings, amplifying your impact.
You are not doing this alone! It goes back to the principle of synergy: 1+1=3! You are part of a community that is pulling in the same direction.
But what about reaching those outside the faith, especially in a secular world? Creativity is key. I found the use of 3 Thirds Groups to be a helpful format to introduce newer disciples to, and a tool that allows everyone to engage regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey.
A 3 Thirds Group is a group format that’s structured into three segments.
Looking Back: this first segment gives group members the opportunity to provide care and support for one another based on what’s happening in their individual lives. It also provides accountability for the goals each person sets for themselves.
Looking Up: this second segment directs the group to “look up” to the Holy Spirit for direction, guidance, and revelation for the group’s journey through a passage of Scripture. What is the Spirit saying? What can we learn from this about God? About ourselves?
Looking Forward: this last segment offers the opportunity to look ahead and explore how each person can apply what they have learned or discovered.
Discipleship and disciple-making is a collaborative effort. By cultivating strategic partnerships with God, your newest disciples, and mentors, you unlock a community of support. It’s about walking hand-in-hand, celebrating victories, and weathering challenges together. Unleash the power of partnerships and watch your disciple-making journey take flight!
Curious about your unique strengths as an apprentice of Jesus?
Ignite Your Disciple-Making Engine: Start with the Big Why
Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels when it comes to disciple-making? It’s easy to get lost in tactics without a clear vision. That’s why, before you build your strategy, you need to answer the fundamental question: What am I trying to achieve?
1. Mission Trumps Religion: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Discipling
A shocking statistic: 1 in 3 churchgoers stopped attending church during the pandemic. This revealed a crucial truth: true faith goes beyond religious routine. Church leaders who were already making disciples saw this as an opportunity to double down on their mission. Others, forced to re-evaluate, discovered the power of a clear purpose.
2. The Gospel Thrives in Adversity: Crisis Breeds Innovation
“Thriving” might not be the first word you associate with a pandemic, but in this case, it describes the spirit of those who embraced the challenge. Some churches chose fear and isolation, while others chose to be open, curious, and explore new ways to connect. The results speak for themselves: churches with disciple-making communities or strong small groups thrived, while those without scrambled to catch up.
3. Disciple-Making Needs a Playbook: Keep It Simple, Keep It Shareable
We challenged a group of leaders we were training in our Leadership Collective to a fun competition: explain your disciple-making process using only a napkin and a 3-minute video. This forced them to distill their approach into its core essence. The result? Reproducible systems. Leaders with clear, transferable processes invested their energy in multiplying disciples who could then multiply themselves. Others refined their existing methods, making them easier to share and implement.
Ready to ignite your own disciple-making engine? Start with the big “why.” What are you trying to accomplish? Once you have clarity, you can build a strategy that gets you there. To help you understand your “why” – begin with the question: “What is the fruit of a disciple?” The answer will propel you into your disciple-making cycle.
“In order to develop a framework, it is necessary to be clear about what you are trying to accomplish; what are the identifiable traits of loving God, loving others and making disciples. You need to start with the big picture.”As You Go… Make Disciples by Colin Noyes
Here are a couple of coaching resources to help you assess, refine, or create your disciple-making cycle.
Resources to cultivate disciples that make disciples!
Humans aren’t designed to be islands; we’re wired for connection. It’s in our DNA, dating back to our hunter-gatherer days when survival depended on strong social bonds. Science now backs this up, showing that isolation can be as detrimental to our health as smoking. Strong relationships boost our immune system, lower stress hormones, and even help us live longer.
Beyond Survival: The Power of Shared Experiences
Connection isn’t just about survival; it’s about the richness life offers. Sharing laughter with friends, offering a shoulder to cry on, celebrating victories together – these moments weave the tapestry of our lives. They bring joy, provide comfort, and give our experiences meaning.
Building Bridges, Not Walls: Connection and Growth
Think about a time you learned something new or grew as a person. Often, it wasn’t in a vacuum. Maybe a friend challenged your perspective, or a mentor offered guidance. Connection exposes us to different ideas and experiences, helping us grow and evolve. It also allows us to share our own gifts and make a positive impact on others.
The Ripple Effect: Connection Creates Community
The connections we build don’t exist in isolation. They form a web that strengthens our communities. When we connect with our neighbors, support local businesses, or volunteer our time, we create a ripple effect of positivity. This sense of belonging fosters a more vibrant and supportive environment for everyone.
Connection Fuels Disciple Making
In the context of faith, connection takes on an even deeper meaning. Jesus himself modeled the power of relationships. He wasn’t just preaching to crowds; he was building a community of disciples. It’s through genuine connection that we can share our faith authentically, answer questions, and walk alongside others on their spiritual journeys.
Have you ever felt like your prayers are getting lost in the heavenly hum? We all know prayer’s importance—it’s echoed in scripture and preached from pulpits. But sometimes, it becomes a rote recitation, a to-do list on the divine grocery run. But what if prayer felt like less of a duty and more like a direct line to the heart of Christ?
Imagine prayer as a hidden chamber within your soul, a chamber where the flame of Christ flickers, waiting to be fanned into a roaring fire. Within lies a direct line to the source of salvation, a force capable of shaping reality and igniting transformation through the power of His love. This isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about forging a heart connection with Jesus, a connection that ripples outward, reflecting His light in the world.
But how do we fan this flame into a beacon? How do we transform our prayer lives from a dusty attic to a vibrant, Jesus-centered dialogue? The key lies in active prayer. It’s about ditching the autopilot and stepping into a dynamic, intentional conversation with our Savior.
1. Rekindle the Flame of Jesus: Pray for Yourself. This isn’t about begging for earthly treasures. It’s about deep soul-searching. Ask Jesus to chisel away the layers of self-interest and reveal your authentic purpose in His grand plan. Pray for a heart overflowing with Jesus-like compassion, a heart that aches for those who haven’t yet experienced the transformative power of His love. Imagine yourself as an extension of Jesus’s ministry, channeling His love outward, drawing others towards His light.
2. Become a Bridge to Jesus. The people you encounter daily – the barista, the stranger on the bus – they’re not random bumps in your life’s journey. They’re divinely orchestrated opportunities to share the love of Jesus. Actively pray for them! Ask the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to Jesus’s voice, to make them receptive to the whispers of His grace within. Pray for the wisdom to speak words that resonate with Jesus’s teachings and the courage to act with His love, even when it feels awkward or uncomfortable.
3. See Jesus in All. Every face you see is a reflection of God’s creation, a soul for whom Jesus died. Start your day by actively praying for two random people. Ask for Jesus’ wisdom and understanding to flow through them. Pray for the opportunity to be a tangible expression of Jesus’ love, even in a small way. A simple smile, a listening ear, or a helping hand – these seemingly insignificant acts can be the spark that ignites a fire of faith within another soul.
Passive prayer keeps you on the sidelines, a silent observer in the grand drama of salvation. Active prayer throws you into the heart of the story, empowering you to be a co-laborer with Jesus, a difference-maker who reflects His light in the world. Don’t settle for the flickering ember of a rote prayer life. Step into the hidden chamber within, fan the flame of Jesus into a blazing fire, and watch as incredible possibilities unfold in His name!
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