4 x 4 Discipleship

The late, great Dallas Willard once wrote that the majority of Christian leaders (that’s you, teaching elders and ruling elders…and me) do not have a plan the fulfill Jesus’ commission to his followers: make disciples. We may have a desire to do so or a whimsy, but no plan.

            What is your plan to make disciples?

We had a beautiful time at the Synod Kaleidoscope talking discipleship under the tutelage of Dr. Mike Johnson from Ascending Leaders, a consultancy ministry to congregations and seminaries. Mike brought forward a tsunami of research that has been conducted the last few years that discusses discipleship as a 4 x 4 journey. In Mike Johnson’s world, one does not simply declare oneself a disciple, one lives ever deeper into discipleship.

Mike helped us see discipleship as a 4 x 4 journey. The “first four” of discipleship is that it is characterized as C.O.R.E. –Continual, Ours, Rooted, and Encompassing. Let’s take a closer look at these building blocks of discipleship:

·         Continual: discipleship is an ongoing process, a journey, life-long.

·         Ours: discipleship will conform to the values and character of your ministry.

·         Rooted: discipleship will reflect our Biblical roots, theological tradition and historical practice.

·         Encompassing: discipleship is for all, for each and every one, not just “super Christians.”

Mike’s next observation is that these Core Four characteristics are balanced with the reality of a four-fold journey from infancy to mature believer. Let’s take a closer look at this four-fold path:

·         Exploring (infant): this might be seen as the “pre-believer” stage of spiritual life.

·         Growing and Serving (child): this is the stage of learning doctrine, Christian practice and custom; it is estimated that 60% of our congregations live here.

·         Journeying Deeper (adolescent): this is an intentional move toward greater intimacy and intentionality in one’s relationship with God.

·         Abiding in Christ (adult): this is the life of self-sacrifice, of losing one’s life that one may find true life.

In the coming weeks as we move toward the holidays, I plan to unpack some of what it means to live 4 x 4 discipleship. What is the difference between the Growing and Serving phase and the Journeying Deeper or Abiding in Christ phase of one’s journey? What is the significance of how we shape and structure our ministries if 60% of our congregants live in the Growing and Serving phase? What catalyzes movement toward deeper maturity?

I leave you with these questions: where are you in your own journey of discipleship? How are you living a discipleship that continually seeks God’s Spirit, that expresses Christ’s character and is rooted in the rich history of Christ’s Church? How are you encouraging others toward the kind of discipleship that is CORE and which leads to abiding in Christ?

Do you have a desire, a whimsy, or a plan?

Can’t wait for the election to be over,

Brad Munroe