How To Define Discipleship In Your Church
Start With A Blank Page
Have you ever found yourself in a conversation about discipleship and felt a little unsure of how to explain what it looks like in your church?
Maybe you assume you have a clear picture—after all, you’ve been a pastor long enough to know what discipleship means. But when someone asks for details, you find yourself fumbling for words, defaulting to generalities: “It’s about becoming like Jesus” or “It’s helping people grow spiritually.”
Those statements aren’t wrong, but let’s be honest: they’re too vague to lead a church. Without a clear definition of discipleship, your church’s efforts will feel scattered, and people won’t have a consistent way to grow. The result? You’re left wondering if you’re making disciples at all.
You’re not alone in this struggle. I’ve walked with many pastors who feel stuck when defining discipleship. They’re passionate, committed leaders who want to see their churches thrive. But the lack of clarity keeps them spinning their wheels.
So let me ask you: *If I gave you a blank page and asked you to describe discipleship in your church, what would you write?*
This exercise might sound simple, but it’s where clarity begins. Let’s explore why this matters and how starting with a blank page can reshape your church’s discipleship efforts.
Why a Clear Definition of Discipleship Matters
As pastors, we’re often tempted to assume everyone is on the same page about discipleship. After all, it’s central to the Christian faith. But here’s the challenge: without a shared definition, people in your church may have wildly different ideas about what discipleship means.
For some, discipleship is about attending small groups. For others, it’s serving in the church or studying scripture deeply. Still, others might think it’s about sharing their faith with others. All of these are good things, but none of them fully define discipleship.
This lack of clarity creates three key problems:
Vagueness: Without a clear definition, it’s hard to measure success. How do you know if your church is effectively making disciples if no one agrees on what that means?
Misalignment: Different ministries in your church might approach discipleship in inconsistent ways, leading to confusion and frustration.
Inertia: When people don’t know what discipleship looks like, they default to doing nothing—or doing the bare minimum.
If any of this resonates with you, don’t worry. You don’t need a complex framework to fix it. You just need a blank page and a willingness to get specific.
Step 1: Grab a Blank Page
The first step is deceptively simple: grab a blank page and write your answer to this question:
*What does discipleship look like in your church?*
Don’t overthink it. Write down everything that comes to mind. Describe what you hope people experience as they grow spiritually. Be specific—what habits, relationships, or practices define a disciple in your context?
Here’s what you might discover: you already have a picture of discipleship in your mind, but it’s scattered across different ideas and assumptions. This exercise forces you to bring those ideas together in one place.
Step 2: Evaluate What You’ve Written
Once you’ve filled the page, take a step back and reflect on what you see. Here are some questions to guide your evaluation:
Is it clear? Could someone not on staff read your definition and understand what discipleship looks like in your church?
Is it actionable? Does your definition suggest specific steps or practices that people can follow?
Is it aligned with Jesus’ example? Does your description reflect how Jesus made disciples—inviting people into relationship, teaching them to obey, and sending them out to serve?
Be honest with yourself. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about clarity. Your goal is to create a definition that inspires action and aligns with the mission of making disciples who look like Jesus.
Step 3: Simplify Your Definition
Now that you’ve evaluated your page, it’s time to simplify. Summarize your ideas into a *phrase* and a *paragraph* that captures the essence of discipleship in your church.
For example:
Phrase: "Discipleship is a lifelong relationship with Jesus that transforms us to be like Him so we can do what He calls us to do."
Paragraph: "Discipleship in our church is about following Jesus in every aspect of life. It begins with a personal relationship with Him, grows through intentional habits and relationships, and results in a life that reflects His character and mission. We aim to equip people to love God, to love others, and to live out their faith in tangible ways."
This process may feel challenging, but it’s worth it. A clear, concise definition will guide everything you do as a church.
Why This Matters
Let’s pause and consider the stakes. What happens if you don’t define discipleship clearly?
Confusion: Without a definition, your church will continue to operate with mixed messages about what discipleship means.
Ineffectiveness: Ministries will struggle to work together, and your church’s efforts to make disciples will feel disjointed.
Drift: Over time, other voices—culture, tradition, or individual preferences—will fill the gap, leading your church away from Jesus’ vision for discipleship.
On the other hand, when you take the time to define discipleship, you unlock the potential for:
Clarity: Everyone in your church knows what discipleship looks like and how to pursue it.
Alignment: Ministries work together toward a common goal, creating a cohesive discipleship pathway.
Momentum: People are inspired to take consistent steps of faith, knowing exactly what’s expected of them.
From Confusion to Confidence
Imagine the impact of having a clear definition of discipleship in your church.
When a new member joins, they know exactly what it means to grow as a disciple in your community.
Ministry leaders have a shared framework for designing programs and measuring success.
You, as a pastor, feel confident and equipped to lead your church with purpose and direction.
This clarity isn’t just theoretical—it leads to real transformation. When people know what discipleship looks like, they’re more likely to take consistent action. And as they follow Jesus more closely, your church becomes a place where discipleship thrives.
The Next Right Thing
Here’s my challenge to you: schedule 15-30 minutes this week to grab a blank page and write your definition of discipleship.
When you’re done, text or email 3-5 key leaders in your church and ask them this question: *How would you define discipleship for our church?* Compare their responses to your own, and look for patterns. This collaborative process will help refine your definition and create shared ownership among your team.
Remember, this isn’t about getting it perfect on the first try. It’s about taking a step toward clarity—because clarity is the foundation of effective discipleship.
When you start with a blank page, you’re giving yourself permission to rethink, refine, and align your vision of discipleship with the mission Jesus has given us. And that clarity will ripple through your church, inspiring growth and transformation in ways you never imagined.
So grab that blank page, and let’s get to work. You’ve got this.
When you’re ready, I can help you turn clarity into consistent action.
Schedule time for us to look at your definition and learn how to use it to evaluate your church’s ministry and create a pathway to help people flourish as disciples of Jesus.