LIBERTY UNIVERSITY RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Written Assignment: Disciple Making in a Healthy Church Assignment
Submitted to Dr. Jonathan Geukgeuzian
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500 – B02
Discipleship Ministries
By
Kion Bolden
January 31, 2022
ii
Contents
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………….1
Discipleship in the Healthy Church and Christian Community …………………………………..2
The Body of Christ ………………………………………………………………………………..5
The Healthy Church Assessment …………………………………………………………………7
The Local Church's Role and Importance in God's Plan for Being and Making Disciples ………8
Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………..…..10
Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………..…...11
1
Introduction
Dempsey and Early coined the term “Healthy Church,” which resembles and functions
similarly to a healthy body. According to the comparison, if there are healthy churches, then
there must also be unhealthy churches. These, according to the authors, are those churches that
“gradually slide into unhealthiness due to many poor choices that occur over a long period of
time.”1 Everyone wishes for a healthy body in which all of our bodily parts and organs perform
properly. In the same manner, Jesus felt about his own body. “There is one body, but it has many
parts,” the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. However, the body is made up of all of
its various parts. The same is true of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12 NIRV). “You are the body of
Christ,” Paul tells the church. “Every single one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27
NIRV). As a result, he teaches that the church is the Body of Christ. We become members of
Christ's body when we become disciples of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:27). Each member of the
body of Christ must perform his or her part. We were all created for a certain purpose, and as
disciples, we all have a role to play in the advancement of the kingdom. “From him the whole
body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work,” Paul informed the Ephesian church.
We grow additional disciples in our local congregations by intentionally exposing them to
God's Word and instructing them on how to live as a believer. Jesus Himself disclosed the
genuine and eternal condition of discipleship, as well as its ultimate issue, “to the Jews who had
believed him.” “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31 ESV). The body of Christ risks becoming
irrelevant to its society if it does not understand how disciples are made. God’s Word is the
1 David Earley and Rod Dempsey. 2013. Disciple Making Is How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. 186.
2
cornerstone to discipleship as the scriptures says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 KJV). This paper describes how Christian
disciples are produced in the context of a local church and a Christian community in detail. The
significance and relevance of the local church, pastors, saints, and spiritual gifts as
transformational agents are discussed first, followed by a look at both the objective and means of
becoming disciples of Christ.
Discipleship in the Healthy Church and Christian Community
Making disciples is essential for a healthy church that desires to grow. The church may be
considered sick if creating disciples is not obvious or a part of the church's mission based on the
Great Commission. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew
28:19-20 KJV), Jesus instructs His disciples. As a result, if a church is not following the Great
Commission to create disciples, it is clear that the church is sick or unhealthy, according to the
scriptures. “A church can become “unhealthy” as a result of poor choices, according to Dempsey
and Earley. Unhealthy churches do not provide conducive circumstances for discipleship.2 As a
result, a healthy church is perfect for potential disciple growth and development. The Apostle
Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus saying, “From him the whole body, joined and held together
by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”
(Ephesians 4:16 NIV). “We would be unwise to attempt to produce disciples inside an unhealthy
depiction of the body of Christ because the individual disciples is fostered, cared for, and grown
2 David Earley and Rod Dempsey. 2013. Disciple Making Is How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. 186.
3
by the surrounding joints and ligaments,”3 says the authors. Thus, the attempt at discipling a
person in an unhealthy church would prove to be unproductive work. As a result, discipling
someone in an unhealthy church would be fruitless. The whole is supported by the components
that are connected together. The whole is sick if the components are sick. The fruit of a
spiritually healthy church may be quantified. The process of making and discipling disciples is
critical to the growth of the kingdom. As a result, Dempsey claims that church life is about
assisting “believers grow and develop into maturity,” and that the local church's impact “comes
from transformed lives.”4
Jesus’ technique of producing disciples, according to Putman, Harrington, and Coleman,
consists of four tasks: share, connect, minister, and release disciple makers.5 Although the
theoretical foundation is vital, encouraging believers to carry out the four tasks without a
concrete mechanism for developing disciples is dangerous. The discipler, for example, is
supposed to assist people in obeying,6 according to the authors. Although the proposal is not
irrational, it may result in advice giving or manipulation, which could lead to a defensive
response that inhibits transformation unless a precise technique of disciple forming is in place.
Jesus used three crucial disciple-making methods: (1) inquiry, (2) empathy, and (3)
encouragement. “Many of Jesus’ questions were designed to begin the process of prospective
transformation,”7 says Lee Wanak. “Jesus asked lots of questions.”8 Thoughtful inquiries foster
discovery while also reducing the possibility of defensiveness, which can stymie transformation.
Second, J. T. Holland claims that Jesus’ empathy, which is “the key to almost every encounter in
3 Ibid, 186.
4 Ibid, 40-42
5 Putman, Jim, Harrington, Bobby, Coleman, Robert, and Harrington, Bobby. 2013. DiscipleShift : Five
Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 152-160.
6 Ibid, 159.
7 Lee C. Wanak, “Jesus’ Questions,” Evangelical Review of Theology 33, no. 2 (April 2009): 170.
8 Ibid, 170.
4
the Gospel,”9 makes him a model for ministry. Many people, including the woman at the well
(John 4:39), were touched by Jesus’ empathy, which served as a transforming mirror that
encouraged life change. Finally, Jesus' words of encouragement were life changing. Lastly, Jesus’
words of encouragement were life changing. Even after denying Jesus three times, Jesus asked
Peter to feed His sheep, which is a tremendous illustration of encouragement (John 21:17). A
disciple maker can effectively assist transformation in a postmodern society through inquiry,
empathy, and encouragement.
To be a disciple maker, you must display an “upward” love for God in your daily life.
Daily reading, daily praying, keeping a prayer book, and scripture memorization are just a few
examples. The “inward” love is defined as a personal love for one another. The disciple will
come to meetings to draw strength from other saints, discover their spiritual gift, and use that gift
to build up others in the church of Christ in this growth evaluation. They will act in love and be
wary of being misled and drawn into gossip and other fleshly pursuits. On a personal level,
“outward” love (love for our neighbor) is just as vital as “inward” love (love for ourselves).
There are particular milestones that are developed in this “outward” love, such as a prayer list of
salvation for the unsaved persons you know or may not know. Being a good listener for those
you are attempting to disciple, using your spiritual gift to serve others in love, and building
bridges with those who have wounded me and loving them as Christ loves them. All of these
personal instances of inward, outward, and upward love will strengthen the individual disciple
“the parts,” and because the parts are healthy, the entire “Church-Body of Christ” will be healthy
9 J. T. Holland, “Jesus, a Model for Ministry,” The Journal of Pastoral Care 36, no. 4 (December 1982):
264.
5
as well. “A healthy church is a representation of the people of God coming together to
accomplish the mission of God by the glory of God,”10 say authors Dempsey and Earley.
The Body of Christ
The Church, which has long been referred to as the body of Christ, is, in essence, the
body of Christ. The Apostle Paul in the New Testament refers to the church as the body of Christ.
He used this metaphor to convey important truths about the church and to help believers see the
value of variety within it. He claims that being baptized by the same Holy Spirit brings us
together as one body, the body of Christ. “There is one body, but it has many parts,” he tells the
Corinthian church. However, the body is made up of all of its various parts. Christ is the same
way. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body” (1
Corinthians 12:12-13 NIRV). “You are the body of Christ,” he continues. “Each one of you is a
part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIRV). When we look at the body of Christ, we must remember
that it is made up of numerous parts that come together to form the total. Similarly, to how our
natural body has numerous organs and body parts that work together to form our body, the Body
of Christ has many organs and body parts that work together to form the Body of Christ. Because
Christ is the head of the church, and we are each called to do the work of Christ, the church is
called the body of Christ. Despite the fact that we all have various skills, purposes, and spiritual
gifts, every believer is equally necessary to the church’s full functioning, mission, and efficacy.
Paul told the church at Rome, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and
these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:4-5 NIV).
10 David Earley and Rod Dempsey. 2013. Disciple Making Is How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. 213.
6
The Apostle Paul is essentially arguing that the body is and belongs to Christ Jesus11. The
Body of Christ should be made up of healthy elements that work together in a logical manner.
The Body of Christ should function in the same way as the physical body does. We as believers,
like the head of the body, follow Christ, listen to Christ, and let Christ direct our steps. Similarly,
this term for the church recognizes the importance of diversity within the body of Christ for the
church. To function, the body requires many parts, which is synonymous to various gifts,
abilities, and skills. As Christians, we must work together to complete the mission that Jesus has
given us. Rather than trying to be the same as everyone else, each of us can contribute what God
has called us to do and be.
My home church follows the conventional approach to a large extent, as indicated in the
TAHO chart. While the ministry exemplifies numerous aspects of other models, the conventional
model is the primary one. While we are a senior pastor-led ministry with a diaconate board, we
encourage all gifts to be used for the upbuilding and growth of the kingdom. While the pastor is
the primary leader, he also enlists the help of other leaders from within and outside the church to
teach and preach to the congregation. We provide comprehensive trainings and seminars that
nourish not only the spirit man, but also inspire personal growth. While Sunday worship is our
primary focus, we also offer a variety of additional opportunities for study, prayer, education, and
community. Our purpose is to help people achieve wholeness and then reach out to help others
do the same. This is how we practice discipleship.
11 David Earley and Rod Dempsey. 2013. Disciple Making Is How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. 188.
7
The Healthy Church Assessment
The findings of the Healthy Church Assessment came as no surprise to me, since my
home church performed admirably where I expected them to and struggled in the area where I
expected them to score the lowest. We make it a point to love God and to place Him at the heart
of everything we do and offer as a ministry. We create an environment that is receptive to God's
spirit and guidance. We also promote a family-oriented church that welcomes and supports all
members. We have a comprehensive New Members program that teaches you everything you
need to know about being saved and being a part of our ministry. For spiritual growth, we
provide discipleship classes and leadership workshops. Our head pastor and other clergy deliver
messages of truth, hope, empowerment, and conviction. Promoting a positive relationship with
Christ, one's brethren, and one's own self.
The subject of concern is "Love for Our Neighbor: (Out). While the pandemic has caused
the church to organize a weekly food drive for the poor, there are no other community-based
activities available to create a link between the church and the community. Given that we are
new to the city in which we now reside, disregarding the people of the community could be
detrimental to the ministry. It has the potential to stifle the church's growth and contaminate the
ministry's witness. The church should serve as a public service to the communities it serves,
offering a wide range of services. Making a positive effect in people’s life benefits both the
believer and the community. The church can have an impact on people’s lives and believers will
fulfill the Jesus’ mission on earth when it is thoroughly anchored in its community and its
members serve as public servants. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,” the prophet Isaiah
stated, “because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent
me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
8
prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1 KJV). The church’s primary function is to be
involved in every aspect of the believer's life. In keeping with his mission, Christ looked at the
needs of the people and met them. This was a demonstration of good deed for the church.
Today's church must live up to its actual calling, which is to address the needs of the people.
One improvement would be to canvass the neighborhood with flyers/tracks, bibles, and
gift bags to formally introduce ourselves to the community. Organize community events to spark
children and youth's interest. The majority of parents will spend time, energy, and money to
causes that are important to their children. Another area would be to in marketing and
advertisement. What the community does not know about cannot come to or support it. Weekly
or biweekly advertisements highlighting weekly services and forthcoming activities should be
made a priority. Determine the community's needs and establish a resource on campus to meet
those needs, such as a free clinic, computer training, tutoring/mentorship program,
community/youth center, daycare facility, summer camp, parenting programs, and so on. When
the community sees that the church cares, they are more likely to join and provide “reasonable
service” (Romans 12:1 KJV).
The Local Church's Role and Importance in God's Plan for Being and Making Disciples
The local church, pastors, saints, and spiritual gifts all play important roles in discipleship
as transforming agents. Prior to identify each specific job as it relates to discipleship, it is
imperative to define each phrase from a biblically perspective. First, according to Bauer's
Lexicon, the term church ( κκλησία) refers to an assembly (Acts 19:39), a meeting (Acts 19:32, ἐ
40), or a group of individuals who share common ideas, whether expressed locally (1 Corinthians
11:18) or generally (cf. Acts 19:32, 40). (Ephesians 1:22).12 According to Rod Dempsey, the
12 William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. 2000. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New
Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago. 303–4.
9
local church's purpose is to fulfill the Great Commission by growing people in their knowledge
of Christ and changing culture via transformed lives.13 As Christians, we are “in Christ, and
Christ is in us, thus, each member of Christ’s body participates in the new creation status that
Paul references in 2 Corinthians 5:17.14 Because of the church’s organic bodily character,
Dempsey correctly contends that the beginning point for a healthy church must be the
individual’s health, not the institution’s health. As a result, the local church’s goal is to help
believers grow in maturity.15 The church’s duty and significance is to transform lives. The role
and relevance of pastors becomes clear when the local church is understood as a body of
believers in Christ rather than an institution.
According to Bauer, the Greek lemma for saints ( γιος) can be translated either ἅ
substantively as “holy ones” or adjectivally as “committed to God's service.16 The term was not
primarily ethical in nature, says Moisés Silva, rather, it represents a concept similar to “called”
(Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1), “elect” (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12), and
“loyal” (Colossians 1:2).17 As new creations in Christ, Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and
Robert Coleman suggest that the purpose and significance of the saints or the holy ones is to love
others by cultivating deliberate relationships that are formed after the likeness of God in true
righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24).18
13 David Earley and Rod Dempsey. 2013. Disciple Making Is How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. 39-40.
14 Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 2003. Discipleship, ed. Geffrey B. Kelly and John D. Godsey, trans. Barbara Green
and Reinhard Krauss. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. 214-217.
15 Earley and Dempsey, Disciple Making Is, 42.
16 Arndt, Danker, and Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon, 10–11.
17 Silva. (2014). New International dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (Second edition.).
Zondervan, 130.
18 Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2013), 140–42.
10
A spiritual gift, according to James Stitzinger, is any God-given aptitude that is used for
God's glory in the body of Christ.19 To the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul discusses spiritual
gifts such as prophecy, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leading, and mercy (Romans
12:6-8 NIV). According to Dempsey, the role and relevance of spiritual gifts is to aid in the
development of a healthy body of believers, which supports the church’s role of life
transformation. As a result, the cornerstone of discipleship is built on a body of believers, the
church, who are equipped by pastors to use their spiritual gifts for righteousness.
Conclusion
Finally, the love exhibited to one another inside the body of Christ identifies a healthy
church. Because of the church's love, the community is likewise touched and has an encounter
with God. Because the pastor has an intentional strategy for discipleship, the proof of disciples
being formed and much fruit is the factor of multiplication. The pastor has power and allows for
the operation of the fivefold ministry and the utilization of spiritual gifts. Furthermore, the
congregation is involved in discipleship and personal spiritual formation. As we all know, the
components that make up the whole must be robust and healthy. As the body of Christ continues
to carry out the Great Commission, leaders who are equipped to learn and teach are required.
Bibliography
Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (1979). A greek-english lexicon of the
new testament and other early christian literature: A translation and adaptation of the
fourth revised and augmented edition of walter bauer's griechisch-deutsches worterbuch
zu den schriften des neuen testaments und der ubrigen urchristlichen literatur (Second,
revis and augment ed.). University of Chicago Press.
19 James F. Stitzinger, “Spiritual Gifts: Definitions and Kinds,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 14, no. 2
(September 2003): 161.
11
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 2003. Discipleship, ed. Geffrey B. Kelly and John D. Godsey, trans.
Barbara Green and Reinhard Krauss. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
Earley, Dave, and Dempsey, Rod. 2013. Disciple Making Is ...: How to Live the Great
Commission with Passion and Confidence. B&H Publishing Group.
J. T. Holland, “Jesus, a Model for Ministry,” The Journal of Pastoral Care 36, no. 4 (December
1982): 264.
James F. Stitzinger, “Spiritual Gifts: Definitions and Kinds,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 14,
no. 2 (September 2003).
Lee C. Wanak, “Jesus’ Questions,” Evangelical Review of Theology 33, no. 2 (April 2009): 170.
Putman, Jim, Harrington, Bobby, Coleman, Robert, and Harrington, Bobby. 2013. DiscipleShift:
Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan.
Silva. (2014). New International dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (Second
edition.). Zondervan.
William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. 2000. A Greek-English Lexicon of the
New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago
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