The Elephant in the Church

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The Elephant in the Church
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Two Questions

• Question 1
• . . . I am a true disciple of Jesus.

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• Question 2
• . . . I am a true Christian.

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Discipleship was intended by Christ to be the
standard for all who name Him as Saviour.

• If ANYONE wants to become my followers, they
  must deny themselves and take up their cross
  daily and follow me. Luke 923

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The Elephant in the Church
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• Nondiscipleship is the elephant in the church!

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• Message received from Deacon Choy at SCBC
• In the nurture ministry of our church we would
  like to do well in many things but we
  particularly want not to do poorly in. . .
  Disciple making.

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• A sober assessment of the GAP between what Jesus
  said disciples would look like (the biblical
  standard) and our actual practice.

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• I would describe disciple making at my church as
  ___________

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A COMPARISON OF

• The Biblical Standard
• Current Reality of Discipleship

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1. PROACTIVE MINISTERS

• The Biblical Standard an every-member ministry
• You are. . . A royal priesthood.
• (1 Peter 29)
• Current Reality A small percentage move beyond
  Sunday worship to the ministry of the
  congregation
• The 80/20 rule

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2. DISCIPLINED WAY OF LIFE

• The Biblical Standard a disciplined way of
  life
• Athletes exercise self-control in all things
  they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we
  an imperishable one. (I Cor 925)
• Current Reality a small percentage of believers
  invest in spiritual growth practices
• 80/20 rule Fewer than one in 5 born-again
  adults have any specific measurable goal related
  to spiritual development (Barna)

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3. DISCIPLESHIP AFFECTS ALL OF LIFE

• The Biblical Standard Faith affecting all
  spheres of life
• The disciple is under a NEW AUTHORITY that
  affects all we are in all we do.
• Current Reality Many have relegated faith to
  the personal, private realm

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4. COUNTERCULTURAL FORCE

• The Biblical Standard Christian community is a
  countercultural force
• Conduct yourselves honorably among the
  Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as
  evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and
  glorify God when he comes to judge. (I Peter
  212)
• Current Reality Christians blending into the
  culture
• One in four Christians thinks the more you
  have, the more successful you are. The
  proportion of Christians who affirm these values
  equals the proportion of non-Christians who hold
  similar views (Barna).

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5. AN ESSENTIAL, CHOSEN ORGANISM

• The Biblical Standard the church is an
  essential, chosen organism in whom Christ dwells
• The church is central to Gods plan it is not
  an option.
• Current Reality the Church is seen as an
  optional institution, unnecessary for
  discipleship
• Is it absolutely necessary to be a part of the
  church if you are a Christian?

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6. BIBLICALLY INFORMED PEOPLE

• The Biblical Standard believers as biblically
  informed people whose lives are founded on
  revealed truth.
• We affirm the uniqueness of the Bible. It is the
  God-breathed, written Word.
• Current Reality most believers are biblically
  ignorant people
• The church in North America faces a crisis of
  biblical illiteracy.

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• Incoming Freshmen at Wheaton
• 1/3 could not put in order Abraham, the Old
  Testament prophets, the death of Christ, and
  Pentecost
• 1/3 could not identify Matthew as an apostle
  from a list of NT names
• 1/2 did not know that the Christmas story was in
  Matthew 1/2 did not know that the Passover story
  was in Exodus.
• (Research of Bary Burge, NT Dept. at Wheaton
  College)

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7. PEOPLE WHO SHARE THEIR FAITH

• The Biblical Standard believers are those who
  share their faith in Christ with others.
• The Gospel is the power of God for salvation.
  . . (Romans 116)
• Current Reality We are an intimidated people
  who shrink from personal witness
• Of those who identified themselves as born
  again, only 55 said they had shared their faith
  in Christ with someone in the last year (Barna).

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THE CALL FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT

• How can we grow self-initiating, reproducing,
  fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ in this
  church?

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• Why have programs not accomplished the task?

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The task EXAMINE what youre doing

• The question to ask
• Does what were doing contribute to bringing
  people to maturity in Christ?

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• Why have programs not accomplished the
  task?

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• Programs tend to be information based
• 2. Programs are the one preparing for the many
• 3. Programs are characterized by regimentation
• 4. Programs generally have low personal
  accountability

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Discipleship Defined

• Christian discipleship is a process that takes
  place within accountable relationships over a
  period of time for the purpose of bringing
  believers to maturity in Christ.

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• Process of time
• 2. Relational
• 3. Accountable
• 4. Goal is maturity in Christ (Christlikeness)

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• Why have PROGRAMS not accomplished the task?
• a. Programs tend to be information or knowledge
  based.
• b. Programs are the one preparing for the many
• c. Programs are characterized by regimentation
  or synchronization
• d. Programs have low personal accountability

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Question?

• Do you agree with this critique of PROGRAMS in
  the local church? Why/why not?

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• Jesus clear strategy was to call people from the
  crowds and focus on a few.
• We rely on preaching and programs as the means to
  make disciples.

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• Discipleship is fundamentally a relational
  process
• HOW CAN WE MAKE THE TEACHING PROCESS LESS
  SOLITARY and MORE RELATIONAL?

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• Acknowledgement The material for this lecture,
  particularly the comparison of the Biblical
  standard and current reality came from Greg
  Odens book, Transforming Discipleship Making
  Disciples a Few at a Time (IVP 2003)