Essay: The Connection between Discipleship and Leadership Assignment
DSMN 500: Discipleship Ministries (B02)
February 15, 2024
1
Content
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….2
Analyzing The Great Commission Leadership……………………………………………2
Compare and Contrast the Analysis of Earley & Dempsey and Putnam………………….4
A Healthy Church is the Goal of Discipleship…………………………………………...5
Ten Kingdom Leadership Principles Discussion………………………………………….6
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………...8
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………9
2
Introduction
When mediating around discipleship and leadership development among the church's
background, one should not assume one after the other. The two are interdependent: "If we
detach discipleship from leadership development, we will become with a practical categorized
imperious outlook of leadership.”1 Keeping this in thought, one can guess how the pair
efficiently worked together, specifically in favor of the Great Commission. “As disciples flourish
and establish within the body, the logical progression is that Great Commission leaders will
begin increasing.”2
The Great Commission leadership may have implied this by observing the Great
Commission alone. Matthew 28:19 says: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”3 The book of Mark
16:15 talks about the Great Commission: “Go into all of the world and proclaim the gospel to the
whole world.”4 We must first realize that the Great Commission is a challenging assignment.
“Jesus Christ wants his followers to go. Christ calls us to be on assignment to be useable as
disciples and participate in the work he started.”
Analysis the Great Commission Leadership
Leadership is a crucial part of Christianity. Christian leadership must be appointed to the
Great Commission. Christian leaders will guide other individuals to achieve the plan Christ
fulfilled in the temple. Conventional leadership is focused on the prosperity of the body of Jesus
Christ and how outstanding the assignment is being directed out. Leadership is still concerned
with the benefit of the church and the task, the Great Commission. But are confused about the
1 Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey. “Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion
and Confidence.”(Nashville: B&H Academic., 2013), 191
2 Ibid, 193.
3 www.biblegateway.com
4 www.biblegateway.com
3
welfare of the member.” It is believers who will achieve the responsibility of Jesus Christ. A
guide in formation with the Great Commission must be captivated by other disciplines.
When analyzing the Great Commission of leadership, a person must acknowledge the
clarification of a Christian leader. The authors Earley and Dempsey describe a Christian leader
as “a human being of guidance. They pursue the will of God for their lives and ambiance for
others to follow God's plans for their life."5 Despite everything, the Great Commission of
Leadership began with self. When the intentions are directed to the person, it recognizes the
development of sanctification. Sanctification is a continuous accomplishment, as is the Great
Commission. In "Discipleship," Bonhoeffer stated, “Jesus’ call to discipleship makes the
disciples into a single individual.6 Whether the disciples want to make the decision or not, it has
to be made. The Great Commission of Leadership is not equitable about the person's progression;
it is about helping leaders establish their disciples.
As discussed at the beginning of the essay, “Christian discipleship and Christian
leadership are completely joined.”7 Not having an efficient discipleship structure, the person will
not be able to lead for the purpose, and if there are no Christian leaders, they will not have
effective discipleship.8 The Great Commission details the absolute objective: to go out and
establish disciples or followers and implement growth.
Compare and Contrast the analysis of Earley & Dempsey and Putnam.
5 Earley and Dempsey, 202.
6 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Discipleship.” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press. 2003), 91.
7 Earley and Dempsey, 203-204.
8 Ibid, 204.
4
When comparing and contrasting the analysis of Early & Dempsey and Putnam &
Harrington's "Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and
Confidence” and “Disciple Shift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who
Make Disciples," I notice the text of both the discipleship and leadership surrounds some
comparison and contrast. Regarding leadership, Putnam says, "The purpose of a church leader is
to prepare individuals so that the body of Jesus Christ can be built up and all reach unity and
spiritual maturity.”9 In addition, the authors stated: “The desire in Christian believers' leadership
is that they are here to help the person become a strong, developed, and effective part of the body
of Christ.”10 Both authors intend to improve the person(s) on the structure to strengthen the
church.
Among both the authors’ books, we can notice the comparison that leaders need to be
accountable to an elevated measure. Dempsey & Earley and Putnam & Harrington both appear to
have taken their views from the Word of God, especially 1st Timothy 3: 2-5 and 1st Peter 5:13,
which speak about being “above reproach”11 Without question, because of a leader's impact, they
should be aware of developing a growth-above-approach approach. "Recognizing that a leader
will impact other people is imperative."12 Putnam and the other authors define it well when they
state: "When the objections and pressure of life become astounding, a pastor’s actions will flow
from his nature.”13
One of the characteristics given in the reading lesson is that Putnam has a glimpse of
development while Earley & Dempsey have an outlook of creating. Despite everything, the
9 Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman. Disciple Shift: Five Steps That Help Your
Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013) 202-203.
10 Earley and Dempsey, 193.
11 www.biblestudystools.com
12 Earley and Dempsey, 196.
13 Putman, Harrington, and Coleman, 102-103.
5
underlying thought of accomplishing the Great Commission is there; nevertheless, the measure
of how the information is given is somewhat different. Putnam & Harrington utilize a discernible
illustration of a mentor to demonstrate how developing others establishes the structure for
making disciples. Earley & Dempsey, however, express a considerable segment about impacting
and how that precisely interacts with growing disciples.
A Healthy Church Being the Goal of Discipleship
One crucial section to speak on in the development of making disciples is the church's
well-being. "In other words, a thriving church looks like and acts like a flourishing body.”14 In
"Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence,” Early
and Dempsey attempt many words that may benefit one to determine the church's well-being.
One of the many affirmations has a detail that is scripture-endorsed. A sanctuary can also assess
its well-being by taking the “Assessment for the Healthy Church," which falls into three main
sections: “Love for God, Love for One Another, and Love for the Neighbors."15 “The
improvement and progress of the Christian believer are both subjective (being Christ-like) and
extraneous (being Christ-like in accomplishments). As we continue to grow and develop, we
must accompany Jesus Christ on His assignment to reach the whole world.”16
After I finished reading through the many descriptions and redoing the assessment on a
healthy church, it is obvious to visualize that “A well-being church is a portrayal of the children
of God forthcoming together to achieve the mission of God for the praises of God.”17 As a whole
church and a person, we all must recognize that the Great Commission is an operating order that
is not rotting. It is a continuing, life-changing development. We all are guided to go and prepare
14 Earley and Dempsey, 210.
15 Personal Spiritual Growth Assessment.docx
16 Earley and Dempsey, 142.
17 Ibid.
6
disciples. Development can be solely skillful as “an array of actions or actions taken to
accomplish a precise end.” When we all acknowledge that being disciples is a necessary
behavior and action to develop disciples, we will be in better surroundings of capability. In the
book of 1st Corinthians 9: 24-27, Followers of Jesus are called to center their lives on Christ,
which requires self-control and discipline.18 This is not a vain religion but a pathway to true joy
in Christ, the ability to love one another in community, and cross-cultural lines with the gospel,
which speaks of life as a race, not a sprint or even a marathon.19 When the whole church is
healthy, it encourages the growth of disciples who sequentially go into the world and begin
disciples-making.
Ten Kingdom Leadership Principles Discussion
The "Ten Kingdoms Leadership Principles" given in the presentation were inevitably
understanding disturbing. For each principle found, I had to reread them over to seek and
embrace the entire approach while criticizing particular ones I could utilize, which surrounded
the text. I could attempt all of the principle discussions every day with complete fairness. The
main three that I need to be purposefully engaging are to spend more time with Christ, the whole
Church of Christ (the people), and associate more with others.
I need to spend more time with Christ. Spending time with Christ was a bit more
impeaching than the rest. For this reason, it is notable for attentiveness. I seldom disdain my
peaceful hour, nor do I ignore encountering others; nonetheless, I should be taking the time to be
quiet. I need to learn to breathe more! I frequently continue to run so much at a restlessly
draining rate. In this time, I need to be quiet and spend quality time with Christ, especially when
18 www.westhills.org/blog/runningtherace
19 www.westhills.org/blog/runningtherace
7
I am alone. I found myself praying explicitly at this very moment that my heart would deepen for
none other than Christ and his principles.
The following section is “the whole Church of Christ, which is the people.” This is
remarkably similar to my present text in many stances. I have the trust and freedom to guide our
congregation and be part of a committee for our ministry. Our ministry has so many developing
departments, but there are some departments where severe progression needs to happen. A
proper understanding of what the church is, who is in the church or Body of Christ, and why the
New Testament writers chose to use this metaphor will help to clarify the meaning of this
phrase.20 It implies that 1 Corinthians 13: 2 clearly states that we lack nothing without love.21 The
whole body of Christ is lacking without everyone working on one accord. I am willingly making
an effort for the people I am leading or guiding to use their unique abilities for the purpose of
fulfilling not only their assignment but also the assignment of the church. We are all in this race
together to accomplish the Great Commission.
The last of the kingdom leadership principle discussions I will discuss is the precept of
associating more with others. As a church ministry, we tend to do a fantastic task of guiding
others to Christ. We could associate individuals with others, especially the new followers of
Christ. Our church ministry has a well-known age range of young and middle-aged individuals,
with a few older (75 plus age group) people. I have a big heart for others and for getting
individuals to unite with others; nevertheless, this dedication was put on the back burner in this
area of effort. However, I have prioritized getting several individuals united into diverse groups
of people where we come together monthly.
Conclusion
20 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-body-of-christ.htm
21 www.biblegateway.com
8
The Great Commission is about habits that are exercised. It is a way of acting
unconditional carelessness to admiring God and keeping the commandments. Regarding the
assessment of discipleship and leadership, a person can recognize how two lives are quickly
joined together, one not trying to exist minus the other existing. When the ministry is healthy, we
tell how this generates the development foundation for mature disciples. Also, I determined the
Ten Kingdom Leadership Principles and elaborated on the top three that required more of my
awareness. I am continuously cautious of the endless gracefulness and mercy that God grants to
endure and keep worshipping him. I tend to pray daily and throughout the day that my
confidence is not rejected and for God to continue sharpening me into the disciple/follower I
know God has chosen me to be.
Bibliography
www.biblegateway.com
www.biblestudystools.com
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-body-of-
christ.htm
www.westhills.org/blog/runningtherace
9
Earley, Dave and Dempsey Rod. “Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great
Commission with Passion and Confidence.” Nashville: B&H Academic., 2013.
Putman, Jim & Harrington, Bobby and Coleman, Robert E. Disciple Shift: Five Steps
That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2013.
