Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
The Importance of Discipleship and a Healthy Church
A Paper Submitted to Dr. Michael S. Pardue
In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for The Course
DSMN 500 – Discipleship Ministries
Submitted by
Julius K. Magee II
L23443744
September 15, 2019
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Table of Contents
Introduction…………………………..…………………..………………………………………..3
The Healthy Church Goals…………...……………..…...………………………………………...4
Focusing Importance on Areas of the Church Needs......................................................................5
Conclusion………………………..…………...……………….………………………………...10
Bibliography………………………………...……..…………….…………………………..…..12
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Introduction
Jesus, in all His three years of service, invested a sensible measure of energy helping the
groups yet constantly ensured that He never forgot about time to prepare, prepare and enable
twelve followers. From the manner in which Jesus did service, we see that apprenticeship is
indispensable to seeing God’s kingdom on earth for what it is worth in paradise. Many churches
today put overwhelming accentuation on teaching since apprenticeship works. Most would get
on board with the temporary fad that is teaching while never posing the inquiry “For what reason
does apprenticeship make a difference to God and so imperative to the Christian confidence?”
The wellbeing of the congregation must be the focal point of teaching and the
neighborhood church might be the most squeezing test confronting the assemblage of Christ in
the twenty-first century. The inquiry that exists is explicitly how apprenticeship and the nearby
church relate. Viable apprenticeship will deliver a sound church. Paul outlines this reason in
Ephesians 4:15-16. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is
the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that
which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part,
maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Until the group of Christ comprehends the significance of apprenticeship and its
relationship to the congregation, the potential for lives being changed into the picture of Christ
melts away. Changed lives that impart the gospel, take an interest in social living, send profound
skill into service, and give liberally of time, are a couple of ways how trains structure a sound
body. The accentuation in this document is obviously on creating a sound assemblage of
adherents. The congregation’s adequacy with the Gospel would be the best when the body is the
most beneficial.
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The Healthy Church Goals
The correct capacity of the group of Christ is a natural framework where every one of the
parts cooperate. Many churches center around a wide range of projects to get where they are
going. In a neighborhood church, we have to comprehend with the goal for it to be sound, every
one of the parts should work “as per the best possible working of every individual part.” The
most significant crucial sign for the congregation is how much every one of the pieces of the
collection of Christ cooperate.1
At this point when every one of the parts are working “similarly as He needed,” then the
body is solid. They create mission and vision clarifications around the open entryways providing
for the adherents are tasks, and openings are not unavoidably horrendous, anyway, when the end
round of a program isn’t to exhibit grown-up trains before the Lord, it is missing the mark. Pupil
making is tied in with helping people create to their maximum capacity for Christ and His
kingdom.2
This happens best in a solid body where every one of the parts are working the manner in
which He expected. Pupil making isn’t simple, yet it is conceivable in the event that we stay
concentrated on keeping the body solid. There are no ideal houses of worship. They all have
shortcomings since they are comprised of blemished individuals. Be that as it may, the objective
of a solid church is a beneficial objective.3
In this manner, a congregation’s main objective ought to be to fabricate solid and full-
grown adherents, consequently constructing a sound body. Churches that do this well will do an
extraordinary administration for God’s Kingdom. Then they will be able to apprehend as well as
1 Rod Demsey & Dave Earley, Disciple Making Is…. How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and
Confidence, (Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 191.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
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comprehend what they are supposed to learn and how to execute while exhibiting themselves as
servants of the Lord.
Focusing Importance on Areas of the Church Needs
Being on time is when the church doors are open is actually one of the areas pertaining to
the needs of church focus. When there is a scheduled time you should be there and then you
should be prompted to get and be ready for whatever is needed of you as a church member in
moving the ministry forward. “Pastors are to “train” or “equip” the saints, and the saints are to do
the “work of ministry.” Barnes’ Notes on the Bible explains that this “training” (katartismon)
properly refers to “the restoring of anything to its place.”4
“This arranging has to do with helping the saints “grow up in every way into Him,”
becoming “mature” believers. This maturity is exhibited by the fact that they “will no longer be
little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching.” It also
involves the body being “fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, [which] promotes
the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual
part.” This involves properly connecting the individual inside the body, just as Christ desires.”5
When I was an assistant pastor, I use to be there on time (a pet peeve of mine) to have
things set up and ready. Didn’t matter if the custodian was there or not. Always encouraged him
for it is important. The same when “I became pastor.” Mind you, today’s generation in my area
(and I am between two cities) are focused on trying to survive. The young families do not have
the discipline as when I grew up. They lack of leadership. Fighting this battle is not easy when
you have elders who are older than you who feel that the youth should be like them.
4Rod Demsey & Dave Earley, Disciple Making Is…. How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and
Confidence, (Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 41.
5 Ibid.
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They have this “I shall not be moved attitude” and push the youth away. The elders talk at
and down to them, yet want them to be in church. My focus is geared toward the youth and
young adults because it is a new age, a new time. There is a difference between church and
ministry. And until we, myself and those like me, can get the elders in this area to see the vision
of what the Lord wants of us today in aiding these youth, the people of the church will keep
dying off and the doors are going to close, if they have not closed already.
“God grows Christians who spend time in His Word. Paul writes that “All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV. Time spent in scripture shapes and focus us so that we might be
righteous and godly servants of Christ. The Lord Jesus’s high-priestly prayer reflects this reality:
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” John 17:17.”6
I had a real problem when it came to Bible Study. Believe me when I tell you that noonday
and evening Bible Study was a joke to these people. No one for noonday Bible Study at all. Only
one would show up for the evening while still on the job baby-sitting. It would not have been so
bad, but this parishioner could not focus because she was tired when she came, on top of
bringing one of her clients with her, a baby. Really? And you show up late as well?
And 6:30p is not the time, let alone 6:45p. But you want to have a pastor to teach you. I am
packing up at 6:45p. And this is because I knew if she was not there by 6:30p., she was not
coming. I had to drive 100 miles to go home. And this is one way. Yet everyone else lives within
a 25 mile radius from the church. The rest will be stated in the closing.
6 Greg R. Scharf & Arthur Kok, The New Elder’s Handbook, A Biblical Guide to Developing Faithful Leaders
(Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2018), 41.
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Another area that is important, should be creating opportunities for Christians to serve
and thus use their gifts within the body. Let me say this: I do not know about you, being raised in
the lower middle class which does not exist anymore, I have learned how to observe what is
needed. You have churches that have incredible music, extraordinary classes, incredible
instructing, yet no spot to connect their individual congregants so they may start adding to the
body of Christ.
Here is where observing the community comes in: that seller of illegal pharmaceuticals and
his associates/employees, that person, especially a man, who solicits customers for a person who
engages in areas using her/his body for money in a nature that is not becoming, as well as the
person who engages in areas using her/his body for money in a nature that is not becoming, those
who do rap music, and other areas that we consider as lost causes have more talent and business
minds by experience that work in ways we cannot even imagine. These are the ones who are our
greatest challenge when persuading to come to Christ.
But no one wants to pursue them because of their irrational behavior. And I believe that
these who call themselves “Christians,” are just scared because of the reputation these
unbelievers have or hold. Besides the poverty stricken and homeless or sick, who also are our
challenges, our churches, our ministries, needs to learn how to engage themselves to encourage
to serve both in the local church and to pursue outside the church the ministries that God has
placed on their hearts. Too many have come and gone due to the attitudes of us who have been in
“church” most, if not, all of our lives.
“Prior to Christ We Were “in the Flesh” Romans 8:5-8In Rom 8:5-8, with just a few words,
Paul provided a rather extensive description of the life in the flesh. He painted an ugly picture of
living as enslaved victims of sin and self. He noted several grisly characteristics of a person who
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is given over to the flesh. Controlled by the sinful nature prior to being born again, we “lived
according to the flesh.” We were dominated by it. Mr. Hyde had the upper hand and called the
shots in our lives. King Self sat on the throne of our hearts.”7
You have to wonder if these people who have been in church are actually a part of the body
of Christ by the way they act when newcomers come to church and maybe want to be a part of
the congregation because of what they see and here.
I prefer a blend of both “The Traditional and Attractional Church setting. A rising steeple of
a church situated with this church attracting unbelievers to “come and see” what God is doing in
their church along with church members practicing a method of evangelism called “invest and
invite.” This approach encourages church members to be intentional about spending time with
their lost friends and inviting them to come to their church and hear their pastor. The building is,
likewise, the primary location where programs and events occur.”8
“The senior pastor whose role oversees the programs and ministries of the church, assumes
most of the leadership of the church, resembles a corporate executive, and there may even be an
executive pastor overseeing the details of the ministry to free the senior pastor to focus on the
weekend services. When it comes to Evangelism, it is not as central, but members are concerned
with “soul winning.” This model boasts of significant new conversions, yet it also attracts
members from other churches in the area. Due to this rapid, and often sustained, influx of new
people, the church sponsors routine “membership” classes. Individuals are encouraged to get
involved in serving in the Sunday morning ministries of the church. yet sometimes the deacons
or several influential families retain this role on some level.”9
7 Rod Demsey & Dave Earley, Spiritual Formation Is…. How to Grow in Jesus with Passion and Confidence,
(Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Publishing Group, 2018), 73.
8 Rod Demsey & Dave Earley, Disciple Making Is…. How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and
Confidence, (Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 231.
9 Rod Demsey & Dave Earley, Disciple Making Is…. How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and
Confidence, (Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 231.
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The last area that the congregation needs to focus on to create as a body is walking around
scriptural and powerful solidarity while evangelizing the system. Disunity is maybe the most
easy ways for a strong church to wind up unfortunate. Keeping up solidarity requires deliberately
indicating solidarity, exhibiting solidarity, and revising in minutes when disunity begins to create.
“As a group, build up the scriptural vision for your congregation. Start the procedure by
uniting the pioneers God has sent you, to look to his Word so as to build up his huge picture for
the congregation in your general vicinity. Keep in mind that he needs develop followers who
make develop supporters.”10 “On the off chance that you are to prevail as a group, you should
make a typical language, utilizing similar words and similar definitions. Here and there, this is
done related to framing your vision explanation. Yet, in different ways, it comes thereafter. When
you go to an understanding together, you are prepared to take it to the following degree of
initiative in your congregation so you can jump on a similar page with them too.”11
“You should ensure that the language and procedure you have created is simple for your
kin to comprehend and to utilize. Keep in mind, you are outfitting your troopers with weapons
they should be comfortable with and talented with. The SCMD procedure and the teaching
definitions were made in view of our profound officers. Second, you should make a procedure or
framework for getting your kin prepared in your language and aptitudes.”12
“Reliably experience your vision, and reliably recast your vision. When you have the
vision worked out, the terms characterized, and the procedures set up, at that point it turns into
about usage. With usage, the key is to guarantee that regardless of what the program is at your
congregation, individuals at each otherworldly level acknowledge the down to earth
10 Putman, Jim, and Harrington, Bobby, Discipleshift, Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who
Make Disciples, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2013), 216.
11 Ibid., 220.
12Ibid., 222.
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consequences of the vision. Ensure you're doing what you state as well as could be expected at
each level.”13
Conclusion
If discipleship is centre of a healthy church, and if a healthy church is the goal, discipleship
must become the essential reason that believers congregate regularly. “Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16, KJV. In view of that, each program ought to have at its middle a motivation
behind teaching.
We, as disciples, as leaders, have turned out to be OK with past programs we know and
love, however, times have changed, and they have to go because they don’t guide us toward
Christian development. The church must be eager to cut programs that don’t prod or help
advance solid follower making. So many churches, on the planet today unfortunately, are
experiencing similar issues the Hebrews were experiencing before Christ. We have picked
structure over capacity. Places of worship ought to be solid and God ought to be celebrated.
Many churches refuse to accept responsibility to grow in His Word according to 2 Timothy
2:15, to follow the Great Commission in these changing times, discipleship became a struggle
because they looked at the world instead of the Word to guide them. Caught up with a “Jones
Lifestyle”, being like the Pharisees, instead of humbling themselves to be like Christ.
Where do we go from here? Discipleship has been a struggle for a community that feels
that they have been taken advantage of when those who are not of the same culture moves in and
change the way things used to be. But Christ is for all. He is for the human race, not just one race
by itself. So, being caught between two cities, I’m trying to share with others that “Brethren, I
13 Putman, Jim, and Harrington, Bobby, Discipleshift, Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who
Make Disciples, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2013), 225.
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count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14, KJV
We have to look over the fault and tend to the need. Every individual who calls themselves
“Christians” need to step up to the plate like they are Christians and stop hiding behind the cross
and step up to the cross to tell a dying world that “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”,
Philippians 1:21, KJV. The elders need to understand that because of technology and cyberspace
has moved into our homes, taking over our employment, and are in our churches, we have to
adapt and find out what it will take to bring those who need Christ into His Holy Tabernacle.
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no
more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love,
may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body
fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of
itself in love.” Ephesians 4:13-16, KJV
We need to keep up with the technology of this world in order to know how to conquer
what keeps us down so as to rise up and continue to be what Christ wants us to be. His Disciple!
Bibliography
Dempsey, Rod & Earley, Dave, Disciple Making Is…. How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence, Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Publishing Group, 2013.
Dempsey, Rod & Earley, Dave, Spiritual Formation Is…. How to Grow in Jesus with Passion
and Confidence, Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Publishing Group, 2018.
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Earley, Dave and Wheeler, David, Evangelism Is . . . How to Share Jesus with Passion and
Confidence, June 1, 2010, Nashville, Tennessee, B&H Publishing, 2010.
Putman, Jim, and Harrington, Bobby, Discipleshift, Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make
Disciples Who Make Disciples, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2013.
Scharf, Greg R., & Kok, Arthur, The New Elder’s Handbook, A Biblical Guide to Developing
Faithful Leaders, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2018.
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon, Psalm 111, The Treasury of David (3 Volumes Set), Peabody,
Massachusetts Hendrickson Publishers, 2018.
