Sometimes there is a tension between discipleship and disciplemaking. You might feel like you have to choose between them. Some think focusing first on spiritual growth equips people to better serve and share the gospel. In actuality, the two are inseparable. Outreach helps people grow spiritually, and spiritual growth helps people reach out. It’s time to combine discipleship and disciplemaking.
Redefining Discipleship
Being a disciple involves living and loving like Jesus and helping others to do the same. There is no daylight between the two: Being a disciple and making disciples are not sequential but simultaneous, creating a cycle of growth and multiplication. All disciples of Jesus, even brand new ones, are to begin making disciples. There is no waiting period.
Additionally, “making disciples” is often misunderstood as beginning with people who are already Christians and “discipling” them, meaning helping them grow toward maturity. Although helping other believers grow is also part of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, actually “making” disciples begins with those who are not yet followers of Jesus. The idea is to make new disciples, not just to improve current ones. This is active discipleship.
3 Outcomes from Active Discipleship
1. Mutual Growth
As disciples grow in their faith they are called to make other disciples. Often, it is brand new Christians that share their faith most effectively. This process is not only an act of obedience but also a means of personal spiritual transformation. Engaging in disciplemaking sharpens one’s understanding, obedience, and deepens their relationship with God.
2. Holistic Living
True discipleship integrates loving God, loving others, and making disciples as essential components. These elements form a holistic cycle where personal growth fuels outreach, and outreach fosters further growth. This process is what we witness throughout the New Testament as we see the growth of the Church.
3. Generative Nature
Disciplemaking is generative—it involves creating disciples who themselves make more disciples. This multiplication aligns with Jesus’ model of relational and reproducible discipleship, ensuring the mission continues across generations.
Active Discipleship is a Lifestyle
Following Jesus as one of his disciples is a holistic endeavor. It goes far beyond “just following the rules.” Following Jesus is more of a lifestyle of behaviors than a set of beliefs and it can be summed up as Jesus summed it up—in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission: Love God, love others, and make disciples (Matthew 22:36-40 and Matthew 28:18-20). We are to love with our hearts, with our minds, and with our actions. We are to love God and we are to love others. And part of being a disciple is making more disciples.
Consider your ministry. How could you take two separate programs—one outreach-focused and one spiritual growth-focused—and combine them together in a way that strengthens both?
More about Active Discipleship
Why do most discipleship programs fail to produce the kind of transformation the church longs to see? Often, it’s because the approach appeals to some—but not all. Like love languages and learning styles, people need an approach to spiritual growth that resonates with them. While the term Active Discipleship isn’t used, Discipleship Difference* recognizes the need for an individualized, relational approach to discipleship and describes ways to incorporate spiritual growth and outreach.
For Prayer and Processing
- How have you understood the difference between discipleship and disciplemaking in the past?
- What are some of the ways they bleed over into each other?
- How could you tie the two together more in your life? In your ministry?
Invest in your staff
If you are feeling the need to redefine discipleship and bring greater alignment to your ministry, you need a staff that understands the changes and has the skills to see them through.
With Logan Leadership’s coaching, your staff will gain the skills and confidence to integrate spiritual growth and disciplemaking into every area of ministry. This personalized support ensures your team leads with purpose, inspires others, and fosters a church culture where discipleship thrives. Contact us today to discover how coaching can transform your staff and your church.
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