Making disciples in an ever-changing world has been a focal point for the Church for millennia. Today there’s even more conversation around connection and belonging as fewer people live near family and established communities. As pastors and church leaders, we have the opportunity to create a congregational culture that invites and welcomes disconnected Christians and those far from God into a vibrant, experiential, and life-changing relationship with Jesus within our churches.
Some questions to ask first:
- Who are the disconnected in my church and why do I see them as disconnected?
- What are the most foundational aspects of discipleship that I want them to focus on?
- If a high percentage of people in my church were living out the spiritual disciplines, would I feel more confident about our discipleship efforts?
Take a moment to journal about these questions. These answers will help you move further towards clarity.
Now let's talk about practical steps that we can take to help the disconnected within our church engage with discipleship.
Define
The first step is to clearly define what it means to be connected within your church community and, most importantly, what it looks like to follow Jesus. When you think about all the things a single person or married couple has on their calendar each week and month, what will you set as benchmarks for church connectivity and following Jesus?
A good place to start, but not to stay, is actively attending worship services. This edifies, exhorts, and strengthens faith. Setting a benchmark for your congregation to attend at least three services a month can help guide and quantify what it looks like to be connected. And for many people, once they get in the building, they will hear about your discipleship pathway and opportunities to connect with others who are pursuing Jesus.
Moving from the corporate space to the communal space, set a benchmark of being a part of a home group/small group/Sunday school and attend that on a regular basis. Defining the spaces, actions, and frequency will help people prioritize their commitment.
Next is clarifying the vital importance of a daily devotion time. Reading scripture (preferably scripture that will be unpacked in a group), journaling, praying, and fasting are spiritual habits that change the way we see ourselves and the world.
Lastly, help your people define and quantify their personal kingdom impact. The gift of our time, our talents, and our resources shows our devotion to Jesus. In James 2:14-26 we see the relationship between faith and actions. Help define what giving and serving should look like in the lives of your congregants.
The first step is to define what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus through your church. Those who are disconnected might like your church’s music or message but not know what it means to be a part of the body, let alone follow Jesus in their everyday life.
Plan
The next step is to prepare your church's calendar and begin building in rhythmic on-ramps into the spaces and gatherings you have defined as the means to connection.
What’s most important ends up on our calendars. When you plan, you empower your staff and leaders to be inviters and you bless the disconnected with time to hear about what it looks like to move beyond only attending a service.
I’ve been in ministry for almost two decades and yes, many church-goers make last-minute decisions, but there might be equally as many people who will sign up early for things that are promoted four to six weeks out.
For example, we recommend at least four weeks of promotion for the discipleship starting point of Rooted. When prepared in advance, stories shared from the stage, announcements in newsletters and at information tables in the lobby, and personal invites become a catalyst for disconnected folks to say "yes" to connection.
Be honest with yourself. Has your church given enough time for someone who might attend once every four weeks to hear how to take a next step into discipleship that could change their life?
Begin within
Perhaps your church staff is full of pastors and staff who are consistently following Jesus and discipling others. If so, skip this step. However, I’ve seen a tendency for church leaders to get comfortable and relaxed in their walk with Christ and disengage in personal discipleship. The times I have followed Jesus most passionately and consistently are the times when I have been personally discipling others. It’s difficult to give away what we don’t have, so encourage full buy-in from your church leaders. Make discipling the disconnected a team effort. It is my prayer that discipleship lands on everyone’s job description.
Spread the word
Hit the campaign trail. Share what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus. Begin talking about it within your staff, your teams, and groups. Whatever you decide to make the defining characteristics and benchmarks, make sure everyone knows about them. Share stories of people who are deeply connected, following Jesus, and helping others. This will take some time as well, but put it on your calendar. Invite others to do the same. Make graphics, slides, sermon takeaways, and handouts. Talk about it in the weekend service and in your new attenders class. Make sure those who are curious about your church see what it looks like to follow Jesus.
I heard a great line once from a small group leader who was sharing a story of how his group was serving people in need in their neighborhood. He said “People like us, do things like this….”.
Do the disconnected see themselves in the stories that you share? And remember, the stories you share don’t have to be videos. There’s power in a written story, read aloud with a picture or shared in a church newsletter. Once you have defined the environments for spiritual connection, and planned the opportunities, get the word out with passion.
Be consistent
Changing the culture of a church means helping people change their individual and familial routines, habits, and priorities. This will take time. If you want your church to look differently in five years, begin now. Invite your staff to see a long-range, steady vision that involves relationships, continual planning, and building personal discipleship habits and routines. Keep defining discipleship connection, planning for it, and inviting people into it. Over and over again, season after season.
Define.
Plan.
Begin within.
Spread the word.
Be consistent.
And remember, you’re not alone in your discipleship efforts. Our team of pastors and coaches at Rooted Network would love to meet with you about your prayerful dreams for inviting the disconnected into discipleship. Email coaching@experiencerooted.com to get connected with a coach, no cost.