PLAN FOR DISCIPLESHIP

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A Paper
Presented to
Dr. Allen England
Liberty University Theological Seminary

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In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for DSMN 500-Discipleship Ministries

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by
Chinita Richardson
December 17, 2010

Table of Contents
Introduction..1
Purpose..1
Scripture References
Discussion Questions
Leadership Profiles
Core Values..1
Leadership and Management of Disciples1
Principle 1: Clarify Your Vision2
Principle 2: Selling the Vision2
Principle 3: Change Lanes..3
Principle 4: Expect Distractions4
Principle 5: Know Your People5
Principle 6: Stay on Point..6
Principle 7: Carry an Information Sifter to Meetings7
Principle 8: Stay in the Here and Now.8
Principle 9: Separate Leadership from Technical Capabilities.9
Principle 10: A Leader In Discipleship is a Negotiator.10
Principle 11: Do Not Take It Personal..12
Principle 12: Rise Above It All13
Conclusion..14
Bibliography15

Introduction
The Discipleship Ministry, as a vital component of the church structure, has helped
advance the churchs mission and ministry. What happens among the disciples determines the
general health of the church. Thus, church leaders must always be relevant and effective.
Approaches which worked in one era may be harmful in others. Relevance demands that church
leaders review their approaches to leadership, and this plan is such a review.
Purpose
This discipleship plan reviews leadership principles that Christian Discipleship leaders
can use effectively in the 21st century. The root principles of effective Discipleship leadership
have not changed over the centuries, though their applications have. The time frame for
evaluation will be quarterly. By the time of the leader implements the core values of this plan
he/she will be able to implement and approach disciple ministry in a constructed approach
conducive to the vision and mission of the church.
Creating disciples must never become a hit or miss, or make it up as we go experience.
Rather it must be a part of processed of continuous improvement. For some leaders, a mild
tweaking will be all that is necessary. For others, a radical overhaul is required. Whether to tweak
or to overhaul, we implore Christian discipleship leaders to adopt these, and other generally
accepted leadership principles, for the sake of a more vibrant church organization in this century.
Scripture References

Matthew 27:20
Matthew 10:24-31
Numbers 12
Acts 15

Romans 12
Romans 7:15-25

Discussion Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

What is leadership? Does it differ from management?

Why is a review of leadership principles necessary today?
Are there new 21st century leadership principles?
Are the old (pre-21st) century principles still effective?
Identify three major leadership principles and explain their general applications
How can these principles be applied to Discipleship building
What are the benefits of applying generally accepted leadership principles to
discipleship growth in the church?

Caution
In this plan, there are references to various leaders and their achievements in discipleship
building. These references cannot be construed as blanket approval of those leaders. The chief
issue addressed in this plan is leadership and making disciples, not motives or theology, although
we respect both. This plan also does not discuss issues such as communication, leadership styles,
or perseverance because leaders are generally aware of these basic concepts.

Leadership Profiles
A careful study of successful leaders reveals they apply the same core principles in their
various roles. Notable Bible leaders include Moses, Jacob, Deborah, King David, and Apostle
Paul. Leaders in church history include the Pope, the Crusade Leaders, sir Winston Churchill,
President George W. Bush (Republican), President Barak Obama (Democrat), and Martin Luther
King., who made their mark in public service.

The Core Values

A favorite quote on leadership is John Maxwells, A Leader must be close enough to
relate to others, but far ahead enough to motivate them. Another description it that a real leader
for growing disciples stands with his/her people pointing, pulling, and pushing them to clearly
defined goals. The following framework for examining leaders is not presented in any order of
importance.
Leadership and Management of Disciples
There is a critical gulf between leading and managing disciples. Leading disciples is the
art and science of setting goals, motivating, and guiding others toward those goals. Conversely,
managing disciples is concerned with efficient use and control of processes and resources in
relation to set targets and objectives. There is a natural link tying leading disciples and managing
disciples. Many ignore the distinction and place an unhealthy focus on management, thereby
choking creativity and the risk appetite factor. The following are core principles of leading
disciples:

Principle 1: Clarify Your Vision

No leader succeeds without a vision. The vision creates the backdrop for assessing
success. Moses vision was to lead Israel, (under Gods direction), out of Egypt. Jesus Christ was
committed to the Kingdom of God and reconciliation of God and man. Pauls passion was
evangelizing the Gentiles.

Leaders of the church already have a written vision in terms of the purpose of missions
and goals of any given church organization. However, simply memorizing the doctrine will not
move the church forward in church growth. Each leader must personalize the purpose. That
personalized image generates the energy to excite members into embracing the gospel of Jesus
and the life of Jesus as a springboard to real Christian maturity, genuine fellowship and lasting
contributions to humanity.
Application: The Value of Vision
Have a vision review night to accentuate the value of vision. First, discuss visions and
goals. Second, ensure personal visions of individual members are consistent with the corporate
vision; reconcile as necessary. A vivid group vision, personalized by members, becomes a
dynamic propeller for successful growth of disciples.
Principle 2: Selling the Vision
John Maxwell wrote, He who thinks he leads but has no followers is only taking a
walk. I disagree with Maxwell on a few points but not on this one. Some leaders create their
own nightmares and then blame members for poor achievements. Usually the leaders inability to
sell a vision is at the heart of the churchs frustration. When any group is on a fast tract to
nowhere, people step off.
Yes, maybe the leader did explain the vision. Yes again, the leader did ask for support.
Yes, a third time, the leader worked hard. Selling visions calls for more than soft presentations
and appeals for support. It entails connecting the dream to new members self-interest and
aspirations. Real leaders give new disciples a stake in the vision.

Jesus Christ understood the importance of a vision. He labored to sell His vision of the
spiritual kingdom. He was so effective that disciples and apostles sacrificed their lives for it.
Exercise
Step 1. Ask persons to name two good leaders, one within the church, the other secular
Step 2. Relate the success of these persons to their visions or goals.
Step 3. Do this for groups or individuals using impromptu or planned research.
Principle 3: Change Lanes. Doing what is Necessary
The leader must know how and when to shift positions. If every time we see a leader he
or she is in the churchs showcase, seated in a privileged cushioned chair, something is wrong,
very wrong. The smart leader is often in the proverbial trenches, pointing the way toward the
vision. At other times, the leader is in front, pulling new disciples up to their goals. Occasionally,
the chief leads from the rear: pushing disciples, at times gently; other times forcibly toward the
vision.

Exercise: Guest Leader for a meeting or project.

Activity: Occasionally select a new disciple to be leader for a meeting or project.

The accredited leader becomes a normal member or resource person in these sessions.

Principle 4: Expect distractions, failures and setbacks.

Distractions and setbacks are in the leadership package, even if we do not acknowledge
them. Moses had to deal with them. His own sister and brother became distractions. St. Paul had
a burning desire to visit the saints at Rome, often planned the visit, but was hindered. We attract
the positive outcomes we proclaim, but with the pains of birth and the struggles of delivery.
Application: Past Failure Review with Leaders

Select one or two past projects where the results were less than desired or projected.
Let leaders identify distractions or failures that sabotaged or hindered the results.
Plan to repeat these projects with appropriate guards against identified pitfalls.

Principle 5: Know your people

Discipleship work remains a cherished, yet exigent experience. Leaders are present to
share ministry with brothers and sisters. What could be so challenging about that? As Christians,
we share the same basic theology. All the same, we have to respect cultural tradition. In order for
others to embrace our ministry to the same degree we have to respected traditions and practices
of others. Seek outside help to brief leaders on different customs and traditions. Jesus Christ
understood the Jews and spoke to them in terms of their customs. His parables illustrate this
powerfully.
Exercise: Profile New Disciples

Select a few leaders to send outside the meeting as immigrants.

Bring in the immigrants one at a time, and ask leaders to describe them. (this should

be fun with no embarrassing descriptions)

The immigrant later verifies or rejects the descriptions.
Leaders make notes of the verified descriptions and their own observations.
Over time, the leader will develop working profiles of new potential disciples.

Principle 6: Stay on point

Jesus Christs central theme was the Kingdom. Pauls was justification by faith in Jesus
Christ for all, Jews and Gentiles.
Application: Using Messages
Leaders of disciples should emulate this. Adopt a central message and work it into the
various programs and issues of the church. There is a leader with a basic message of Working
out your Soul Salvation. When he solicits a ride for a member: Lets work out our soul
salvation. When he requests a special offering: Lets work out our soul salvation. Too often
leaders change message in mid-stream an confuse new disciples. We can express a core message
in diverse ways.

Principle 7: Carry an information sifter to meetings.

Whats the impact on leaders? They have new options to create and circulate messages.
This enhances decision-making. In this era of blackberries and Smart Phones, leaders can set
virtual meeting with disciples in diverse places. There is no excuse for communication
bottlenecks, but there is a downside. New disciples in our churches receive heaps of circulating
news trash, and a few dare to bring it to meetings. Armed with revelations from their inboxes,
these new disciples are eager to update leaders on new ways to lead and manage.
Leaders require good filtering systems to sift new ideas. Off-hand rejection of a new
approaches can embarrass a new disciple and fuel trouble later. Wild approval of new methods

creates confusion. The leader for discipleship walks with a gamblers mentality: Know when to
hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, and know when to run.
Application: Using Data
As a rule, prior to using data with new disciples, assess it. We may have neither time nor
resources for full inquires. Still we must do face value reviews. It does not suffice that the email
came from a good site, trusted friend, or a professor. These are not error inoculated.
Exercise: Validating the Source.

Ask leaders to submit creative ideas to improve the conduct of meetings or projects.
After the submissions, request validation for third part material
Make careful notes of the validations. They tell an interesting story.

Principle 8: Stay in the Here and Now

A lyric to a Gladys Knight and the Pips hit, Help Me Make It Through the Night told us
Yesterday is dead and gone, and tomorrow is out of sight. This is not scripture, but it is sound
advice. Often we must transport a few leaders into the reality of the current times and remind
them that yesterday, with all its glory, is indeed dead and gone. They must lead in the current
conditions. In varying degrees, our past shapes our outlook and influences our opinions. Yet, we
must realize that the good old days are just that: good old days, gone forever, never to be
repeated. There must be proper respect for the past. Respect, however, should not hinder us from
trying new approaches.
Today leaders must get with it. i.e. be current in context and methods. Getting with it
does not mean ditching core values or institutions that have served us well. It can never mean we
forget the great sacrifices of our founders. It does mean relating to core values and institutions in

a contemporary setting. For example, in times past members filled churches for every meeting.
Then, people had little to do and plenty of time to do it. For many, church was the main social
interaction point. Now, people live in a vortex of activities, and church is only one of many
commitments they juggle. Hence, when a leader calls for a new members meeting, it must be for
a meaningful purpose. New members do not have free time to just talk shop. This is one reason
why a meeting agenda is crucial. Leaders for new disciples and church growth are time
conscious.
Application: Meeting Readiness
Have clearly defined goals for every new members meeting. At the end of each meeting,
state what the next meeting is to achieve. When the meeting notice is sent, state clearly the main
purpose of the meeting. Do not call meetings just to share routine information.
Principle 9: Separate leadership from technical capabilities.
In former times, a leader was also a dazzling performer in the related field. King David
led his men in battle, as he was also a mighty warrior killing ten thousands. That was then. This
is now. The leader in discipleship does not have to be the best technical person around. The main
goal is not necessarily to be the one to bring the disciple to Christ but it sometimes takes a team
effort to plant the seed in a timely and efficient way.
Application: Let leadership promotions be based on leaderships skills or potential, not
technical competencies
The best leader for discipleship is not necessarily the person who positioned himself to
grow the church in huge numbers. The ideal prospect may not be the most fluent in such matters.

Any member, loyal to the vision; who can motivate and guide others is a suitable candidate for
being a leader in discipleship. Training can cover technicalities.
Principle 10: A leader in Discipleship is a negotiator.
Leaders must appreciate the art and importance of negotiations. Sadly, some leaders see
negotiations and compromise as signs of weakness. They are sure strong leaders and churches do
not negotiate. They are wrong. One of Christianitys landmark decisions was negotiated. The
ruling of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), gave Christianity a unique character. Christianity
threw off the robes of Judaism. External trappings (circumcision) ceased to be official badges of
righteousness. This decision, a negotiated compromise, shaped Christianity for Gentiles.

Application: negotiations
When negotiating, let someone who is flexible lead. Someone who is too black or
white and factual in such matters may not be the best negotiator.
Principle 11: Do not take it Personal.
President Obama is a good leader because it is his nature to engage and bring together people on
opposite sides. At the same time, he does not take their criticisms personally. In this century the
line separating the cogent, and the silly is fading. Any leader who takes harsh criticism
personally will suffer insomnia. The good leader for discipleship growing has a Teflon attitude to
personal criticism. Not even Jesus Christ escaped unwarranted personal attacks. Thank god for
the advice in Matthew 10:24-31.

Application: Be Brave

Set up a session to coach leaders on how to handle unwarranted personal criticism.

The leaders and selected members, will give presentations on a controversial topic.

Feel free to manufacture topics.

Ask members to critique the presenters strongly (Easy with controversial topics).
Not the reactions to the criticisms, including your own.

Principle 12: Rise above it All. Spiritual Formation

Being conscious of your own flaws, you now wonder if you can excite the discipleship
ministry with the fire of a Barak Obama. Yes, you can. Go back to the day you became a leader
and reflect on your motives. If your motives are solid and you are mentally ready to give life to
them, you shall succeed. If your motives lack grounding which means you say one thing, but
desire another, you will spin in a vicious circle, and failure will eat your lunch. Emile Coue, a
French psychologist who lived from 1857 to 1926, observed when the imagination and the will
are at war, the imagination always wins. Our failure to achieve springs from this imagination
versus will-conflict and not from lack of talent or capital.
The biographies of leadership icons show they had flaws, sometimes massive flaws and
suffered embarrassing failures. Moses problem was self-image. Lust and deceit set up David.
Apostle Paul had a thorn, and intense personal struggles. Despite their flaws, and failures, these
leaders forced themselves onto the pages of history and left significant contributions.
This is what leadership and discipleship is always about. Just knowing the principles will
not make us great leaders. We must force ourselves into leadership excellence despite the flaws.
Here then is the formula for discipleship ministry.

1. Examine your true motives and harmonize them with a real vision
2. Admit your flaws and put them in perspective. Flaws are just surmountable hurdles,
which force us to aim higher.
3. Manage yourself with a greater passion than you seek to lead others.
4. Then, apply the principle to discipleship making.
In conclusion this course has taught me the essentials to making disciples. This plan is a great
plan that will help leaders and teach them how to produce good disciples in the church. Disciples
start like babes and they grow into better disciples with good leaders. You have to start with a
plan and a vision. Sometimes the plan takes about a year or two to see results but if you stick to
the plan and the essentials of discipleship making you are bound to be a success. We as leaders
are responsible for helping disciples grow into their purpose. We as leaders are responsible for
helping disciples grow to their highest potential.
Church today should be implementing methods and procedures as to how to develop
disciples. One of the first things on the agenda is to create a common vision for the entire church.
The vision should be clear to everybody. The vision should be focused and mission oriented. The
vision should be attainable. The leaders of the church should first embrace the vision and the
mission and then learn how to implement the vision. The leaders should always stay focused and
be on one accord. A good plan will make this happen. Leaders then have the responsibility to go
out into the community and church family and teach objective that would help the church move
to its vision. Discipleship takes work so work it.

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