Should churches primarily view discipleship as a «program» or a «way of life»?

The church should not view discipleship as a special event or a flashy program. Discipleship is not something random or unusual, something that can be isolated from the rest of our Christian life.

To be a Christian means to be a disciple of Christ. And to be a disciple of Christ means:

• (i) seek help from others to be like Christ (to be a disciple);
• (ii) seek opportunities to help others become Christ-like (teach others).

Discipleship as a lifestyle

Therefore, the church should view discipleship as a lifestyle. It should be a normal part of the life of a Christian and a member of the church. It is something that every follower of Christ does.

This means that the church may or may not use programs to encourage discipleship. However, it should actively foster a culture of discipleship.

• It should be the norm for young Christians to discuss spiritual matters with more mature Christians over dinner.
• It should be the norm for young Christians to spend time with more spiritually mature Christians to observe how their faith is manifested in different areas of life, even in the way they put their children to bed.

By God’s grace, a church that cultivates a culture of discipleship will be filled with members who are increasingly like the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 11:1).