I congratulate you if you have read all the Posts up to this point. So far, we have covered the four stages in the training of Jesus’ Apostles. The New Testament speaks clearly to stages two, three and four as noted in Post #2. Careful reading of the New Testament reveals the “calls” indicating the transition from one phase to the next as pointed out in Post #2. Now we come to the issue of starting for an existing church.
Assumptions: (1) That you believe that the Bible is the inerrant Holy Word of GOD. (2) That you desire for your church to be in alignment with Jesus’ mandate to “make disciples”. (3) that you desire to follow the Stages in training that the Jesus’ Apostles experienced.
Shown is a diagram that summarizes the steps to develop a “built to last” church that is in alignment with Jesus’ mandate to “go make disciples of all nations.” If you are starting a new church then it is much simpler and momentum can be quickened as you do not have built-in culture issues to the degree as you have in an on-going church. — Looks simple, doesn’t it? – But – how or where do you start in an ongoing church?
Who Starts and When Do You Start
Step 1 – Senior Pastor-Teaching Elder
Intentionality begins with the leading sub-shepherd (Jesus is the head shepherd of any church) of your church or my church – the teaching elder. Normally this is a person professional trained and is a paid elder position. There are impeders for teaching elders to taking this step: ego (stubbornness), ignorance (lack of practical training), fear, culture and not facing reality. Does the senior pastor (teaching elder) wake up one morning and say: “I think I will start today”? Not so- some may but they are about to be “shot in the back.”
Once the senior pastor decides to initiate a process there are three immediate steps that have to be considered. These three items are intertwined and overlap and it is difficult to say specifically what comes first as it depends on the starting point of the teaching elder and the “state” or culture and spiritual level of his specific church. The three immediate steps are: 1. The development of a formal advocacy group, 2. Reach consensus with the ruling elder board and professional staff. {Approval by elder board (100% consensus)} 3. Culture change – casting of vision.
The chart Teaching Elder Functions indicates the teaching elder is personally involved through the Level 2 “beta” group training. The teaching elder, the elder board, the advocacy group and the professional staff (as required) must now oversee the process until the E-4 Management Team is formed. This team takes over the day-to-day management of the process at which time the teaching elder and elders become advocates, advisors and counselors to this group. The objective is for this to become “a movement” in the church such that others begin to align their respective ministries in the church to be in step.
Step 2 – The Advocacy Group
There are many Proverbs (11:14, 15:22, 20:18, and 24:6) that promote an advocacy group (see Advocacy Group figure) for guidance, advice, encouragement, and support. The reader can probably add other verses to my listing. Development of such a group is very essential for success and should be done by the teaching elder soon after his personal decision of opting for an intentional discipling process (IDM). Probably he has already discussed the idea with several close friends (an informal advocacy group) inside and outside the church. What is their role, what criteria for choosing, how many? These are all very good questions.
Role of Advocacy Group
They pray, they give advice, they counsel, they support, they promote, they help with the many decisions that must be made in the following steps. They search for Stage 1 and Stage 2 material that will meet the churches needs and help revise the material as required. This group must have 100% consensus on key issues. They act as the staff for the teaching elder under the authority of the elder board with the teaching elder being the chief-of-staff.
Step 3 – Elder Board and Professional Staff
There must be 100% consensus with the elders otherwise don’t start. If you don’t have 100% consensus then you should initiate a plan to get a new elder or elders that will back the change. Jim Collins calls this “getting the right people on the bus.” (Collins, James C. and Jerry I. Porras, ‘Built to Last,” Harper Business Essentials, HarperCollins Publishers, 1994.) The elders are the ones who build consensus with other elders and other leaders in the church. – I say again – you must have 100% consensus. If not, don’t start. The objective is to obtain approval from the elder board to move forward. Don’t get “shot in the back.”
The action taken with the professional staff is similar to that with the elders. If a staff member is not comfortable with the direction to be taken then perhaps, they need to find another church.
The question has to be asked: “Do we love our church’s existing spiritual state and is my position and status in it as being more important than being obedient to what Christ has asked of His church?”
Step 4 – Cultural Change – Casting the Vision
This is probability the most difficult issue if you are an ongoing church. It takes effort, intentionality and lots of time. It may be the next most important issue after the teaching elder decision and should overlap the remaining steps. From my perspective it should start from the pulpit on Sunday morning – but each church has its own set of unique circumstances and that is a decision to be made locally. Messing with the culture in an on-going church is hazardous to your job, prestige and standing as a member.
Each church has its own set of unique circumstances that make up its culture depending upon its location (rural, suburban, urban, and intercity) and its mix of people. The question becomes how you change it without being divisive. The start of culture change is from the pulpit.
You start when you reach a positive tipping point with your elders and you have developed a path or process and material at least for your Stage 1 and 2.
When Do You Start and How
Step 5 – First Small Group- Stage-1 (Beta Group)
We have answered the question of who starts – the senior pastor/teaching elder and the issue of getting the right elders and staff in place. Next you start with a “beta” group training using Stage 1 content material. Now you are about to embark upon the second most important step of the process – the first small group for Stage 1 training.
This step begins the intentional development of the basic DNA of your church for sustainability. The figure shown depicts this as a new small group different from your ongoing small groups. This is the beginning of the new intentional path for maturing and equipping people (Ephesians 4:12-15) to be useful disciples of Christ. This takes intentional effort, accountability and discipline by both the church and the individual. It represents the first step of impacting your church. What did Jesus say about this process?
In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” To be a useful disciple of Jesus a person has to be intentional on a daily basis of denying self and following and abiding in Christ. It is the primary role, work responsibility of Jesus’ Church to train people to be useful disciples of Jesus. The church is to be a disciple training center.
Note the word “intentional” and the words “spiritual disciplines.” Dallas Willard and Richard Foster made famous the words “spiritual disciplines.” With this first Stage -1 small group you are developing basic spiritual disciplines which will become the basic DNA of your church for sustainability. This is the “boot camp” for anyone who wishes to become a useful disciple of Christ. Two tools from Jesus’ ‘tool box’ are used; the first is the TMAA process and the second is small groups. Inherit in the process is accountability the last “A” in Jesus’ TMAA process as discussed in Post #4 Jesus’ tool box.
Caution Note: Most of those chosen for the ‘beta’ group have some level of spiritual maturity. They will complain the material is too elementary for them. That is true! However, they must understand that the material will be used to match the maturity level of 60 to 70 per cent or more of your congregation. It is not about them (individuals in the Beta group) but about the future Stage-1 groups. It is expected that Beta group members will in turn use the material to train others. If they do not have this perspective then they should not be in the Beta group.
What Material do You Use, How Often
Material
In Post #6 we covered material that I suggested be used for Stage 1 (see Post # 8 for more details). If you choose other material, I urge you if you decide to develop your own or chose other material then use the criteria for STAGE 1 that was given previously given previously in Post #5 and #6. I urge you to stick to the Biblical traits that the Apostles came with “built-in”. I can guarantee (100%) that Jesus will honor your obedience – don’t go “off script’.
My older son is now discipling a group in his church using material developed by Greg Ogden called “Discipleship Essentials”. For most new believers it is to advanced and requires supplemental information and assumes a person has some basic Biblical background. I have used it with Stage 2 groups (See Post #8 for more details.).
How Often
My wife and I scheduled meetings every week and with the issue of baby-sitters, sickness, work trips and weather the length of time took about 10 months. Recently I discipled 4 men and it took 12 months to complete the three manuals of the Nav. 2:7 series that we used. I supplement with material my wife and I have developed over the past 42 years.
Duration Of Meetings
Each session normally takes about 1.5 to 1.75 hours. Many times, people linger for additional discussions and for personal issues.
Summary: In this Post we have developed that it is the teaching elder/senior pastor that starts the Intentional Disciple Making (IDM) process in an ongoing church. We developed the steps leading up to the first “beta” group regarding the development of an advocacy group and the orientation of elders and staff. Previously we discussed material to be used. We discussed that it takes about 10 months for Stage 1 meeting on a weekly basis with each session lasting about 1.5 hours.
Future Posts – Post #8 will be on material to be used beyond Stage 1 and Stage 2. After Post #8 we will discuss E-4 Teams and their makeup, roles and function.
Suggestions: I appreciate the feedback many have given me and the suggestions for future Posts.
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