This is the sixth and final part in a series of blog posts that outlines my philosophy and practice of discipleship, a distillation and condensation of the stuff I’ve learned over the past few years from 3DM and others, a (somewhat) coherent “manifesto” on discipleship, if you will. Here are links to the first five posts in the series.
- Part 1: Discipleship is Character and Competency
- Part 2: Discipleship is Relational and Directive
- Part 3: Discipleship – Who to Invite
- Part 4: Discipleship is Structured and Spontaneous
- Part 5: Discipleship is Invitation and Challenge
In this post I finish the series by talking about the ultimate goal of the whole discipleship process: reproduction, disciples who make disciples.
Discipleship is the process of becoming like Jesus in both character and competency in a relational and directive context, where the discipler offers his or her life as a embodied example to imitate. We’ve discussed who to invite into this kind of relationship, and the BOTH/AND dynamics of structure and spontaneity as well as invitation and challenge, but what’s the goal of it all? At the end of this process, what should the results be?
Reproduction is Everything
The short answer is that every disciple of Jesus should eventually be capable of making other disciples of Jesus. The goal is reproduction. The end-game is a multiplying movement of discipleship and mission that fulfills the Great Commission.
Sometimes people wonder why training people in huddles combines discipleship and leadership development. I’ve encountered quite a few people who want some kind of “discipleship” investment but balk at the “leadership” expectation. Isn’t there something that just allows me to grow as a disciple and not as a leader? they ask. Does everyone have to be trained as a leader?
Ultimately the answer is Yes. Not everyone will lead in the same capacity, of course. Some will lead movements of thousands, others will lead a few, but every disciple of Jesus needs to be equipped to lead, because they are all called to make disciples. By definition, disciples make disciples. Part of being a disciple is making disciples.
The reason we combine “discipleship” stuff with “leadership” stuff is that we are dead serious about reproduction (no pun intended). Discipleship is, by its very nature, a reproductive process. Paul writes to his disciple Timothy, “the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim 2:2). That’s four generations of disciples in one sentence! Paul to Timothy to “reliable people” to “others.”
Doing a little math shows us the exponential power of this. If you disciple eight people, and each of those eight disciple six others each, and each of those folks disciple four others, you end up being responsible for 248 disciples being made! 8 first-generation disciples x 6 = 48 second-generation disciples x4 = 192 third-generation disciples = 248 disciples in three generations.
The challenge I bring to those who balk at thinking of themselves as leaders is this: You are not the end-product of this process. Your personal growth isn’t the main point of discipleship. Part of imitating my life is doing for others what I am doing for you. You are called to have rivers of living water flowing from you to others, not collecting inside of you in a reservoir.
This is the only way the exponential equation of discipleship works. Anytime someone interrupts this process by refusing to pass along to others what they have received, for whatever reason, they block the flow of living water in themselves. The ironic result is that it actually becomes quite difficult to receive more if you refuse to share what you have.
The goal of this process is not to simply to have a better church, it’s to catalyze a movement of discipleship and mission that actually changes the world. The only way to do that is by training people to reproduce, equipping disciples with the character and skills needed to make disciples themselves.
Ben, this has been an excellent series. It has helped me become more settled on my on philosophy and practice of making disciples who make disciples.
Glad for that Wayne! If you haven't done so already, I'd check out 3DM's resources if you want to dive deeper into this stuff. Weare3dm.com
Your link to day 5 here actually goes to day 4. Enjoying the thoughts here. Thanks.
These are valuable posts. Thanks a lot Ben. Can't get to Part 5: Discipleship is Invitation and Challenge. The link takes us to Part 4.
Blessings
Fixed now! Thanks.
I echo the other comments. Great series. I've appreciated your thought-provoking words.
Thanks Heather!
Ben, I deeply appreciate the clarity of vision this series has brought me. As a pastor of a small, rural church with an aging congregation– for whom "discipleship" means something along the lines of an altar call and a "bible study" (not to mention various forms of legalism)– I need all the clarity and encouragement I can get! I hope and pray that I can make use of such clarity by leading others into a disciple-making world-view and way of life.
The hard part (as Dallas Willard has pointed out in several places) is keeping the many and sundry "pastoral duties" from completely eclipsing the work of disciple-making. Makes me really appreciate the slogan: "Keep calm and Disciple On."
Thanks so much, Ben, for this excellent series. i’m starting my second and third huddles now, and this group of insightful, brief posts gives me some great material to reinforce what I’m teaching. This is not only good for my review and development, but also for those in my arena who are skeptical about Building a Discipling Culture en route to developing Missional Communities that ultimately can plant churches, etc. I am very grateful, and look forward to continued formation as I listen to the wisdom God has given and is giving you.
Blessings!
Rick Knox
Rick Knox Glad it has been helpful, Rick! Let me know if I can help in any other way.
Ben, the links to the other blogs on disicpelship are bad – get a not found error.
Sorry about that! All fixed now.