In my first post we explored the importance of centering discipleship in the gospel and structuring discipleship with flexibility. Then, we examined three primary environments for discipleship. In this post, we will take a close look at how to draw a line from what centers discipleship (a gospel-centered approach to Scripture) to what structures discipleship (various forms that can form a pathway).
The phrase “discipleship pathways” has become very popular with churches. It is typically used to express a desire to become intentional in making disciples of Jesus. This resolve is commendable but unless the pathway is robustly informed by Scripture, and centered in the gospel, our forms for disciple making will quickly become rigid, hyperspiritual, and legalistic, forming people away from Christ, e.g. being a disciple means observing these 9 habits, sharing the gospel in this particular way, being emotionally healthy. Therefore, it is critical to not only develop a discipleship pathway but ground it in the gospel of grace.
Centering our Structures
How do we center discipleship in the various church environments?
- Classroom: This environment informs the disciple. It is “teaching” them to observe all that Christ commanded, and Christ taught that the Law, the Psalms. and the Prophets have their fulfillment in him (Lk 24:44).
- Bible Studies: The sermons, classes, and seminars need to be grounded not only Scripture but also in the person and work of Jesus. For example, it isn’t adequate to have a Bible Study on the Book of Daniel. We need to ground our hope in Son of Man, not in figuring out the “signs of the times.” Otherwise, people will attach their spiritual significance to cracking the end-time code rather than the return of the Son of Man.
- Sermons: Many sermons contain exegetical insights, historical nuance, theological reflection, and still fall short of expounding the gospel. If the gospel is not in the text, it is always in the context. Thus, we should always examine a text in light of the greater gospel context. What is the passage saying about God and his saving grace? We are not making students but disciples of Jesus.
- We can discern the gospel of grace in the text/context by looking for (For more on this see GCD, 146-150):
- Person and work of Christ: the cross, resurrection, ascension, intercession
- Gospel Metaphors: justification, adoption, new creation, atonement, & union with Christ, suffering servant, the Rock, pearl of great price, treasure in a field.
- Actions of Christ: advocates, forgives, cleanses, transforms, obeys.
- Types of Christ: 2nd Adam, David, Abraham. The true Temple, Lamb, etc.
- Community:. This environment integrates disciples with one another. It is teaching “them to observe” all that Christ commanded. We cannot obey Christ apart from the Body of Christ. His teaching requires meaningful relationship with others. We cannot love, forgive, encourage, serve, and so without a community. Thus, the community is the context in which we are formed together, where we get to witness the love, grace, power, forgiveness, and service of Christ at work among us. But how do we make community structures gospel-centered? Too many small groups settle for social groups, Bible knowledge groups, gossip groups.
- Small Groups: Many churches provide sermon discussion guides that simply walk people through the sermon or biblical text without ever getting the gospel. As a result, the community can feel lifeless and academic. We have to intentionally structure the questions to get to the heart idols, concerns, and tensions. Only when these are surfaced can we apply the gospel to one another. This is when change happens! See resources like Gospel-Centered Life
- One-on-One: One-on-one mentoring can often devolve into passing on best practices instead of a formative encounter with the person and work of Christ. In order for discipleship groups or mentoring to transform, the mentor or leader needs to intentionally connect life aspirations and struggles to the gospel of grace by: 1) Listening to their Story 2) Empathizing with their Story 3) Retelling the Story around Jesus.
- Culture: This environment invites us to intentionally spread the gospel. It is making disciples “of all nations” not “from all nations.” We aren’t sent to extract people from the world into a Christian enclave, but to take the gospel into a cultural context. However, some Christians attempt to do this combatively, trying to conquer secular people’s politics and ethics, leaving them stranded with words of condemnation but no salvation. Alternatively, Christians can respond to culture passively, simply absorbing the views of the world around them and smuggling them into the church. Instead of taking a combative or passive stance against culture, we must intentionally engage the people, beliefs, and values around us with the gospel of grace. I recommend an ARC approach:
- Affirm: Validate cultural concerns and affirm secular values that align with Christianity. Build bridges not burn them.
- Redeem: Redeem secular impulses and values with the gospel. Show the difference Christ makes on an issue.
- Confront: Explain why a particular issue is not good for humanity and demonstrate how the biblical alternative is for their flourishing.