In chapter four of The Naked Truth, I discuss discipleship for small group members in depth.
While researching American small group-driven churches that have a discipleship pathway in place and in use—of which there are only a few, I am sad to report—I discovered something quite disturbing.
Most of these churches are discipling members to be group leaders and then coaches. Only one or two I surveyed had a discipleship pathway that focused on developing the person into a staff pastor, church planter, or missionary!
This is very disturbing. If discipleship is only put in place to support a church's structure, it will not make true disciples of Christ but disciples of a church.
Take a good look at your discipleship pathway. To what end does it develop a person? For your small group program or a lifetime of ministry that extends well beyond small group leadership?
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