Select an article $pending Christmas or Spending it Well $pending this Christmas or Spending it Well ...But Gives Grace to the Humble A Body to Kill For A More Excellent Way A New Italian Renaissance? A New Year, Renewed Purpose A Time of Troubles A Youth Revolution? Abstinence Education has Failed! Adrift From Our Past American Idol: Distorted Dreams and Grand Illusions American Idol: Fame, Fortune and Self-Delusion Apologetics in the 21st Century Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part II Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part III Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part IV Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part V Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VI Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VII Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VIII Are Christians Contributing to Unbelief? Art as Prophetic Proclamation Being Light in the Midst of Financial Darkness Being the Church in a Time of Troubles Between Two Extremes: Liberalism & Fundamentalism Beyond Ideologies Can thinking Small Change the World? Career vs Family: Is there a Choice? Chemical vs Spiritual Christian Grit Christianity & Islam: Two Worldviews and Why They Matter Christians, Politics, and the Fate of the Nation Clueless in Seattle Community and Evangelism Competing Worldviews Confusion & Compromise: Restoring the Next Generation Contextualizing In and Not Of Crisis of Civilizational Morale Demonizing the Lost Demonizing the Rich Denominational Demise Discerning the Answers Discipleship is Evangelism Doing Apologetics in a New Context Engaging Ideas Expelled: Exposing the Darwinian Paradox Fellowship and Humility Finding Community Football Fans & Missional Christians For my Mother Freedom for All Except... From Graveyards to Starbucks From Political Pessimism to Gospel Hope General Pace: Collision at the Crossroads of Morality Generational Drift & Decay Girls Gone Wild, Boys Gone Mild Giving Thanks Giving Thanks, Again God Opposes the Proud Greater Love Hath No Man... Have We Become Unfit for Democracy? Heroism Redefined Higher Education: Excellence but no Soul Higher Education: Excellence without a Soul Hope for a Christian Renaissance? Hope for the Future Ideological Tyranny In Defense of Marriage - Conclusion In Defense of Marriage - Part I In Defense of Marriage - Part II In Defense of Marriage - Part III In Defense of Marriage - Part IV In Defense of Marriage - Part V In Defense of Marriage - Part VI In God We Trust? In Pursuit of Community: What Can We Do? Is Loving Our Neighbor Merely a Means to End? Is Religion Bad? Islam, Secularism and the Gospel Islam, Secularism and the Gospel - Conclusion Islam, Secularism and the Gospel - Part II James Watson is Not a Racist; He's a Darwinist! Justin Martyr: A Man for Our Season Kingdom Project: Ground-Level Application of the Christian Worldview Lessons from Nature Let Us Resolve Let Us Resolve: A New Year, A Renewed Faith Love Believes All Things Love Sick Marriage Survives! Can it Endure? Miss HIV: A Film to Change How the World Sees HIV/AIDS Missional VS. Evangelical Moral Misdirection My Struggle with Fundraising NASA’s Moral Failures: A Clue to Culture? Parents: Do You Know WHAT Your Kids Think? Part I - No-Fault Divorce is Institutionalized Evil Part II - Creating a Culture of Marriage Part III - Does God Expect Me to Stay Married to a Jerk? Part IV - I Thought Jesus Came to Keep Me FROM Suffering! Part V - Where is the Church in the Midst of Our Marital Crisis? Part VI - Life Together: The Difference Between Doing Church and Being the Church Pedophiles & Politics Peter Pan and the Death of Marriage Politics, Religion, and Evolution: The Three Don'ts Postmodernism: A Kairos Moment? Proclaiming the Gospel by Caring for Our Elderly Redeeming Society Redefining Heroism Reevangelizing the Church Reevangelizing the Church: The Body of Christ Reevangelizing the Church: What is the Good News? Reevangelizing the Church: Where did we go wrong? Reflections on NBC's Responding to 'Green Politics' Responding to 'Green Politics' - Conclusion Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part II Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part III Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part IV Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part V Responding to a "Gay" Christian ReThinking Evangelism: The Lessons from Grapevine Faith Reviving the Doctrine of Revival Rosie O' Donnell & Pope Benedict Seeing Business as a Redemptive Instrument Sending Our Children Sex Ed: Education or Propaganda? Smoking Bad - Homosexuality Good Thanks Giving: A National Tradition The "Oprahfication" of Eastern Mysticism The 'Big Brother Link': More Pseudo-Science The Case of Hannah Overton The Church in Post-Christendom The Church in Post-Christendom: Recovering the Mission of the Church The Church in Post-Christendom: Understanding the “Good News” The Coming Collapse of Evangelicalism The Commencement & Vision of this Ministry The Culture of Celebrity The Culture of Praise The Culture War is Over: We Lost! The Death of Marriage? The Domestication of Christianity The European Church: A Lesson in Misplaced Dependence The Face of Utilitarianism The Financial Crisis: Lessons on the virtue of thrift The High Cost of Immorality The Kingdom Comes Forcefully The Kingdom: Serving the World, Loving Others The Loss of Beauty The Moral Order: Four Options The Muslim Rebuttal and the Islamization of Knowledge The Myth of Overpopulation The Secret War Within the Church The Unrelenting Culture of Life They Love Jesus; They Don't Like the Church Thinking Small Can Change the World This Beautiful Mess To the Class of 2008 To the Class of 2009 Uncompromised Faith is Here! Utilitarianism goes Dutch What Are We To Do? What Ever Happened to Discipleship? What is Normal? What is the Missional Church? What Missional Looks Like What to do in the Face of Tyranny? Why Theology Matters Why You Must Vote! Willow Creek's Confession “If You Build It, They Will Come” Ecclesiology
Navigation key

What Ever Happened to Discipleship? February 5, 2007 S. Michael Craven There is a growing body of research demonstrating that there is a significant disconnect between professing faith in Jesus Christ and actually following Jesus. A recent study by the National Study of Youth & Religion entitled, Portraits of Protestant Teens reveals a great deal about our current approach to youth ministry and its shortcomings. The study revealed that 59 percent of Protestant teens (13-17) report regular church attendance, meaning they attend church at least 1-3 times per month while 41 percent of all teens reported regular church attendance. The study participants identified affiliation with nine Protestant denominations with Southern Baptist being the largest group represented in which 65 percent of teens reported regular attendance. Forty-seven percent of Protestant teens reported active involvement in their church’s youth group compared to 38 percent of all teens. The majority of Protestant teens also reported that they attend Sunday School “a few times a month,” participate in youth retreats, rallies, and conferences. In all, 90 percent of Protestant teens say they believe in God compared to 85 percent of all teens; only 12 percent of all teens say they are “unsure about the existence of God.” Clearly this generation is not irreligious, quite the contrary. However, further research begins to reveal this disconnect that I mentioned earlier. According to the study, only 55 percent of Protestant teens believe in life after death – a belief held by 50 percent of all teens including the non-religious. In a further contradiction, 69 percent of Protestant teens say they have made “a personal commitment to live for God” and yet only 32 percent read the Bible once a week or more and 19 percent report having had sexual intercourse in the last year compared to 22 percent of those who are un-churched. Additionally, 63 percent of Protestant teens report cheating in school compared to only 58 percent of all teens and 41 percent say that morals are relative – that “there are no definite rights or wrongs for everybody.” Barna Research further underscores glaring contradictions between the beliefs of most professing teens and accepted biblical doctrines. Sociologist, Dr. Christian Smith reported in an earlier, much larger, study gleaned from in-depth interviews which he published in his book, Soul Searching that “we suggest that the de facto dominant religion among contemporary U.S. teenagers is what we might call “Moralistic, Therapeutic, Deism.” This of course has very little to do with historic, orthodox Christianity. These findings are consistent with my own experience as well, as I travel and speak with teens and young adults around the country. Most have little idea why they believe what they believe or how to integrate these beliefs into a coherent view of reality that guides their lives in every area. The reasons for this unorthodox view of Christianity and the paradox between professed beliefs and biblical doctrine may be given by the teens themselves. More than one-third of Protestant teens say that Church “does not make them think about important things” and 51 percent say that church “is not a good place to talk about serious issues.” A Barna survey among 8-to-12-year-olds discovered that only one-third of them said the church has made "a positive difference" in their life and “most of them would rather be popular than to do what is morally right.” The fact is, according to research, most Americans have a period of time during their teen years when they are actively engaged in a church youth group. However, Barna’s tracking of young people showed that “most of them had disengaged from organized religion by their twenties.” Of course, these conditions are not exclusive to young people. Also according to Barna Research; “Among those adults who attend Protestant churches, only twenty-three percent named their faith in God as their top priority in life.” The “modern” idea of church, or ecclesiology, it seems is that the church exists as a venue to “attract” the lost through dynamic programs, performances and events – the more dynamic the better. What one pastor friend of mine referred to as “theo-tainment.” The problem with this approach exclusively is that a disproportionate amount of the church’s time and resources go into these efforts at the expense of discipleship and training the already saved. The result is the proverbial church that “is a mile wide and inch deep.” Yes the church grows in numbers but rarely in spiritual maturity and the witness of the Church is often rendered lackluster. Furthermore, this approach seems to ignore Christ’s final command, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-20) This is the duty and work of every Christian that is carried out through our relationships with the lost in which we endeavor to persuade them into the Truth and training up those already in the faith. In both cases, this process never ends this side of eternity. Scripture is full of admonitions on this point. One of the most direct in my mind is Romans 12:1-2 which challenges us “by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” This passage speaks to the fact that the resurrection of Christ and our adoption into the family of God demands a wholly new way of understanding the cosmos and the human situation in the cosmos. EVERYTHING relative to our view of reality must change and this new view must be integrated into every aspect of our lives and thinking. This is the role and necessity of Christian discipleship in producing this new way of thinking accompanied by obedience, i.e. presenting the entirety of our being as a living sacrifice. It is astonishing to note that despite the growing body of evidence demonstrating the American church’s failure to adequately and holistically disciple the faithful into maturity; the leadership in so many of our churches continue to do the same thing, employing the same paradigm that emphasizes programmatic evangelism rather than making disciples. Where are the courageous men and women who will raise their voices in the church to lead our congregations back to truly fulfilling the Great Commission? © 2007 S. Michael Craven

	Select an article $pending Christmas or Spending it Well $pending this Christmas or Spending it Well ...But Gives Grace to the Humble A Body to Kill For A More Excellent Way A New Italian Renaissance? A New Year, Renewed Purpose A Time of Troubles A Youth Revolution? Abstinence Education has Failed! Adrift From Our Past American Idol: Distorted Dreams and Grand Illusions American Idol: Fame, Fortune and Self-Delusion Apologetics in the 21st Century Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part II Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part III Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part IV Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part V Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VI Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VII Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VIII Are Christians Contributing to Unbelief? Art as Prophetic Proclamation Being Light in the Midst of Financial Darkness Being the Church in a Time of Troubles Between Two Extremes: Liberalism & Fundamentalism Beyond Ideologies Can thinking Small Change the World? Career vs Family: Is there a Choice? Chemical vs Spiritual Christian Grit Christianity & Islam: Two Worldviews and Why They Matter Christians, Politics, and the Fate of the Nation Clueless in Seattle Community and Evangelism Competing Worldviews Confusion & Compromise: Restoring the Next Generation Contextualizing In and Not Of Crisis of Civilizational Morale Demonizing the Lost Demonizing the Rich Denominational Demise Discerning the Answers Discipleship is Evangelism Doing Apologetics in a New Context Engaging Ideas Expelled: Exposing the Darwinian Paradox Fellowship and Humility Finding Community Football Fans & Missional Christians For my Mother Freedom for All Except... From Graveyards to Starbucks From Political Pessimism to Gospel Hope General Pace: Collision at the Crossroads of Morality Generational Drift & Decay Girls Gone Wild, Boys Gone Mild Giving Thanks Giving Thanks, Again God Opposes the Proud Greater Love Hath No Man... Have We Become Unfit for Democracy? Heroism Redefined Higher Education: Excellence but no Soul Higher Education: Excellence without a Soul Hope for a Christian Renaissance? Hope for the Future Ideological Tyranny In Defense of Marriage - Conclusion In Defense of Marriage - Part I In Defense of Marriage - Part II In Defense of Marriage - Part III In Defense of Marriage - Part IV In Defense of Marriage - Part V In Defense of Marriage - Part VI In God We Trust? In Pursuit of Community: What Can We Do? Is Loving Our Neighbor Merely a Means to End? Is Religion Bad? Islam, Secularism and the Gospel Islam, Secularism and the Gospel - Conclusion Islam, Secularism and the Gospel - Part II James Watson is Not a Racist; He's a Darwinist! Justin Martyr: A Man for Our Season Kingdom Project: Ground-Level Application of the Christian Worldview Lessons from Nature Let Us Resolve Let Us Resolve: A New Year, A Renewed Faith Love Believes All Things Love Sick Marriage Survives! Can it Endure? Miss HIV: A Film to Change How the World Sees HIV/AIDS Missional VS. Evangelical Moral Misdirection My Struggle with Fundraising NASA’s Moral Failures: A Clue to Culture? Parents: Do You Know WHAT Your Kids Think? Part I - No-Fault Divorce is Institutionalized Evil Part II - Creating a Culture of Marriage Part III - Does God Expect Me to Stay Married to a Jerk? Part IV - I Thought Jesus Came to Keep Me FROM Suffering! Part V - Where is the Church in the Midst of Our Marital Crisis? Part VI - Life Together: The Difference Between Doing Church and Being the Church Pedophiles & Politics Peter Pan and the Death of Marriage Politics, Religion, and Evolution: The Three Don'ts Postmodernism: A Kairos Moment? Proclaiming the Gospel by Caring for Our Elderly Redeeming Society Redefining Heroism Reevangelizing the Church Reevangelizing the Church: The Body of Christ Reevangelizing the Church: What is the Good News? Reevangelizing the Church: Where did we go wrong? Reflections on NBC's Responding to 'Green Politics' Responding to 'Green Politics' - Conclusion Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part II Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part III Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part IV Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part V Responding to a "Gay" Christian ReThinking Evangelism: The Lessons from Grapevine Faith Reviving the Doctrine of Revival Rosie O' Donnell & Pope Benedict Seeing Business as a Redemptive Instrument Sending Our Children Sex Ed: Education or Propaganda? Smoking Bad - Homosexuality Good Thanks Giving: A National Tradition The "Oprahfication" of Eastern Mysticism The 'Big Brother Link': More Pseudo-Science The Case of Hannah Overton The Church in Post-Christendom The Church in Post-Christendom: Recovering the Mission of the Church The Church in Post-Christendom: Understanding the “Good News” The Coming Collapse of Evangelicalism The Commencement & Vision of this Ministry The Culture of Celebrity The Culture of Praise The Culture War is Over: We Lost! The Death of Marriage? The Domestication of Christianity The European Church: A Lesson in Misplaced Dependence The Face of Utilitarianism The Financial Crisis: Lessons on the virtue of thrift The High Cost of Immorality The Kingdom Comes Forcefully The Kingdom: Serving the World, Loving Others The Loss of Beauty The Moral Order: Four Options The Muslim Rebuttal and the Islamization of Knowledge The Myth of Overpopulation The Secret War Within the Church The Unrelenting Culture of Life They Love Jesus; They Don't Like the Church Thinking Small Can Change the World This Beautiful Mess To the Class of 2008 To the Class of 2009 Uncompromised Faith is Here! Utilitarianism goes Dutch What Are We To Do? What Ever Happened to Discipleship? What is Normal? What is the Missional Church? What Missional Looks Like What to do in the Face of Tyranny? Why Theology Matters Why You Must Vote! Willow Creek's Confession “If You Build It, They Will Come” Ecclesiology

Responses

	Response from : John H. Armstrong
	February 5, 2007 8:39 AM   Once again you have hit the center of the target! All the vital evidence, and all the anecdotal evidence I could add from thirty-five years of ministry, supports the conclusion that we have not made disciples, i.e. true followers of Christ the Lord. Thanks for helping us see this reality very clearly and for offering a better way forward for all of us. http://www.act3online.com
	Response from : Debbie Williams
	February 5, 2007 9:15 AM   Thank you for reporting the truth about the lack of discipleship in our churches. I am happy to say that I attend a church where discipleship is a top priority, but I know this to be outside the norm... The mind-set seems to be, "Have 'em say a quick prayer for 'salvation' & we (as a church) have done our job." http://www.InsuranceShoppingService.net
	Response from : Sherwood MacRae
	February 5, 2007 2:48 PM   I read your article with a great deal of interest as you seem to be addressing a question that is uppermost in my mind. To begin with I am in my 78th year, my 32nd as a Christian, although I was raised in a Christian family and went to church fairly regularly for the first 45 years of my life. Then, one day when my my life had come apart at the seams, I dared to ask God what He meant by the word - repent, and to my utter amazement, He answerered me, and my life has changed drastically. What disturbed me - upon my sincere return to church attendance was the fact that so few actually knew anything about the Bible. Oh, they knew a lot about what they heard through others, but it was "second hand" knowledge at best. To answer your question, the reason we have so very little discipleship in the church is not because the youth are not involved or interested, it is because there are very few "disciples" with a real knowledge of the Bible to teach them. Some try to teach them as "teen agers" while most are still learning how to "walk" as Christians. If it were me, I would leave Matthew 28:18-20 to the adults and start with Acts 1:8 ..."you SHALL receive power WHEN the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you SHALL be My witnesses both in Jerusalem (the place where we live - where the "warts" are commonly known) and in all Judea (where we work and play) and Samaria (among the folks who really do not appreciate us) and even to the remotest parts of the earth." NASB - paraphrased. You must be - born again, Jesus taught and as the father of four children, I vividly remember the "route" that it took to get them prepared for the world in which they were to live. First, their mother and I had to change a lot of dirty diapers, then watch patiently as they got to their feet, learned how to walk and run and now, it was a matter of picking them up whenever they fell down, love them in their pain and soon, reach deep within to provide them with the resources they needed and often, for the things they merely wanted, but did not need. What am I saying? We - the church, have tried to short-circuit the process - we want to give them intellectual knowledge while the odor from their dirty diapers still fills the room. How do I know all this. I was 45 years of age when I first learned there was no one around to "clean up" all of the mistakes I made in reading my Bible, nor was there learned people eaeger to help me decipher what I was reading and when I made mistakes, it was the Lord Himself who would pause to teach me what I really needed to know. But, praise His name, He did!!! I would love to hear your response, so that I have not just written to another teacher/preacher/professor who is long on essay materials and short on empathy. In Jesus' name, your friend, Sherwood MacRae
	Response from : Pam Gessler
	February 5, 2007 4:18 PM   I think the problem with the differences in teens who say they are Christians and those who act like it is in the definition of Christian. Even in so-called evangelical churches, you just don't hear anything about repentance anymore. I hardly ever hear anyone even talk about being born again. If the term "born again" IS used, it is in a way that is cliche. I don't think teens even know what it means to be born of the Spirit. A church kid = a Christian in most people's minds. There isn't any talk about dying to oneself and belonging to Christ. No filling of the Holy Spirit to get that power to walk the narrow way. Just "accepting Jesus", as if Jesus is timidly standing in the corner hoping that someone will accept Him. Some of the most powerful terms in Christianity have become cliche and lost their power on deaf ears.
	Response from : Marty Renfroe
	February 6, 2007 8:49 AM   Amen. Amen. I am a 46 year old father of 3 daughters. I am also the Upper school principal of a Christian school. My wife is a kindergarten teacher. Our daughters (16,14,13) often say how disappointed they are with the bahvior of kids who say they are believers but don't live it out. I wonder if sometimes; at the risk of being insensitive if the postmodern church preached on the topic of Hell more often we might have true seekers in the church. If you have time please tell me what you think. Marty
	Response from : cyndi patouhas
	February 6, 2007 12:13 PM   My husband and I left a very liberal church with lots of bake sales, year round flea markets, and every imaginable fundraising event you could drean up. Few members could profess to owning a Bible. On top of that, the Council President was openly living in sin with another man totally overlooked by the congregation impressed with her organizational skills. However, the church we switched to was so focused on discipleship, there was absolutely nothing else for the congregation to do. After a brief stint, we left dissappointed and confused let alone totally burned our on Bible reading. Since then, we have joined the Greek Orthodox church which gives an unchanged version of the original Church and leaves the rest up to the individual. No more pressure to witness! (I was getting an ulcer over it.) Since then, we are happily involved with social events and I see none of this neurosis I saw in the fundamental church.
	Response from : Chad Lawrence
	February 6, 2007 5:26 PM   Our oldest son started kindergarten last fall, and not wanting to put him in public schools and not being able to logistically home school him, we looked at our private school options. We were very disappointed that almost all of the christian schools in our area were way out of our price range, and we have a very comfortable income. Meanwhile, our catholic friends sent their children to catholic schools for half the price of the schools we were looking at. Why don't more protestant churches set up schools like this? A couple of hours on Sunday is not enough to teach teenagers everything they need to know to survive in this world as a christian. I left the faith in college and for most of my 20's because there was so little depth to my faith, despite the fact that I had been very active in my high school youth group. Not only is there a lack of depth in the teaching of our young people, there is a lack of depth in the teaching of our adults. Everything seems watered down so as not to offend or ruffle feathers. But what is being lost is that at the first sign of trouble, shallow christians abandon the faith for an easier path. That's why we're happy we found a solid christian school that we can afford so that our children are getting bible teaching daily, not just on Sundays.
	Response from : Charles McDowell
	February 7, 2007 9:08 AM   Thanks for this very enlightening article. As a retired professor of history I am of course very interested in the need forChristians to know, understand, and practice the scriptures. Keep up the good work. I always look for your comments week by week. Chuck McDowell, Ph.D
	Response from : Dave Smith
	February 7, 2007 9:16 AM   Why won't the Leadership of our churches wake up to the call of the Gospel, why won't the listen? May your voice be heard aloud and may the Body of Christ rise up to fulfill it's calling. In Jesus' name. Dave
	Response from : Mark Eaton
	February 7, 2007 12:00 PM   I sadly must agree. My experience confirms your conclusion. I participate in a weekly mens discipleship class. We study a book of the Bible in-depth and relate it to our daily lives. The group is sponsored by the church that I attend. Our church boasts of 8000 members out of which 4000-5000 attend weekly. However, our mens discipleship class draws only 10-30 men. At times, there is only a handful of us. Our class is published in the church bulletin and on the projection screen before Sunday services, but still we struggle to get men involved. How can we (as believers) keep His commandments (John 14:21) if we do not know what they are and do not seek to know? Woe is the lazy American church!!! http://www.crosswalk.com
	Response from : Dennis Warren
	February 9, 2007 8:52 AM   >> "Where are the courageous men and women who will raise their voices in the church to lead our congregations back to truly fulfilling the Great Commission?" Here: "http://www.harvestfoundation.org/" and here: "http://disciplenations.org/vision/" Thanks for the opportunity to respond! Maybe I can get back later and elaborate - but I'm supposed to be doing my secular "job" (work) now. -Dennis
	Response from : Raymond Trembath
	February 9, 2007 7:26 PM   Hi Michael, I enjoy your weekly emails. Do you have archived copies of previous articles?
	Response from : Hepzibah the Watchman
	February 10, 2007 11:55 AM   More importantly - evangelism was intended to be Spirit-directed; not self-directed. God knows the heart of each human and through His wisdom appeals to each heart individually based on their spiritual need. If our evangelism is Spirit-directed through prayer and His discernment, it will hit its intended mark. Acts 10 http://becausegodlovesyou.blogspot.com/
	Response from : xavier phillips
	February 11, 2007 5:31 PM   I agree one hundred percent brother, this is something I have often thought about. As an evangelist I face the daunting task of combating these strongholds that are so pervasive in the church today. We must continue to bring these truths to the forefront of the contiousness of leaders in this day and age, so that the mission wich all christians are called can be given priority, which is to live a life of faith and love exemplifying crist and making disciples.
	Response from : Corene B. Ashley
	February 15, 2007 8:58 AM   This article is so right on in its entirety. I will be circulating this article to various heads at my church. It is a right on word for the church at this time. I thank God for your God-given ability to articulate with clarity the urgent issue at hand. May God continue to use you as the voice to sound the trumpet!!!1 Amen, Amen, Amen. You are God sent and an answer to many questions. What a beautiful godly summary of the problem within the churches.
	Response from : Jeremy Blount
	February 15, 2007 9:10 AM   I agree with your article regarding discipleship. I believe that many Churches have gotten away from true Biblical Discipleship. I believe there needs to be balance on our approach to youth ministry. We need to teach students Biblical truth and how this impacts their daily living. To be honest, for me, I would love to do a more in depth study on any given book in the Bible. But I have students who are dealing with big issues in their life that are affecting their relationship with God. To cover an entire book of the Bible when students are not living a single verse is tough. I have an entry point into my ministry for the unchurched. I then encourage them to come to our Wednesday Night programs where we talk about the Bible and their lives. Most of my students don’t realize that the Bible addresses issues that they face everyday. Purity, materialism, peer pressure, cheating, drinking, and even living for God in a messed up world. I want them to understand that the Bible isn’t just a history book it’s a manual for living. I encourage my Wednesday Night crowd to Worship God as a lifestyle. We were created to worship Him in all we do. Rom. 12:1-2. Part of this is getting my students to read their Bibles. If they go from never reading their Bible to reading it 3 days a week, that’s a big deal. But I am not satisfied with that. Jesus says “If you love me keep my commandments.” Jn 8:42. To show your love for Jesus you have to know what He taught and how He lived and the only way to do that is study the Word of God. Sunday Morning I then take students to a deeper study of the word but continue to connect the word of God to their lives. The book of Ruth for instance shows a life that seemed unfair, just like their lives, but Naomi didn’t give up on God and He was faithful. This book also teaches about hard work, (Ruth in the Fields) respecting your elders, and living by the rules (Boaz wanted to marry Ruth, yet he went to find the closest relative anyway). We can not force every student to go to a deeper level with Jesus but we can encourage them and provide them the opportunities for growth. Even with what I am currently doing I am not satisfied. I believe Discipleship is the key to a faith that outlast a Pastor or the High School years. Please keep writing articles about discipleship. Drinking Deep of Christ.
	Response from : Jason Wells
	February 15, 2007 10:24 AM   I sadly enjoyed reading your article because I have been thinking this for a while. There is no more that I can say on the topic that has not been addressed, but what is anybody doing about it? It starts in the family, in your own family, but then I feel like it is going against the whole grove of the church because of what we as a family are trying to do. http://www.therealmag.net
	Response from : Michael Nance
	February 16, 2007 12:55 PM   This was a truthfull, excellent atical! In the last 2 years I have visited more than a dozen local church's, atemping to find a home church. I look for four qualities in church. 1. a place where the true Word of God is being taught, as is taught in His holy bible. 2. where there is a pastor that can and will help guide me through studies, of the bible. 3. a place where I can get involved in teaching and finally a place where I can worship my God. To date I have not found one yet. I have only found what you discribed in your artical. Although I am aware that I continually worship Our Father daily through committment to Him and obiedience to Him. Thank you for the artical it confirms to me that I am on the right track in my continual search for greater knowledge of our Father, God. Sincerely, Michael Nance
	Response from : Eric Kielhorn
	February 17, 2007 9:29 PM   Michael, I agree with your article about thr lack of descipleship in many churches. I feel that is a huge reason for what is going on in the Lutheran and Episcopal demoninations. Bibical illiteracy has created many problems. In the book of Judges we see the results of the previous generation training the next in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6 That is exactly what relative morality is all about, doing that which is right in ours eyes and not God's. Pastor Eric Kielhorn, Calvary Chapel
	Response from : Damian Masters
	February 19, 2007 7:28 AM   Dear Michael i liked your aticle and agree that we must get back to equiping of the committed by teaching scripture. We must teach them that our salvation is in Christ and he is our high priest. It is Him and Him alone living in us that we can understand the scriptures. We need to teach that we all have the ability to understand if we just ask and desire a new heart and new mind. after that the great commission as you call it, will take care of it self. We will all being living for and striving to be like Christ. And just as the first church in acts everyone will see the difference and want what true believers have in Christ. keep up the good work.
	Response from : Matthew Parr
	February 22, 2007 10:11 PM   I so enjoyed reading you article on Discipleship. It was refreshing to see. I wish I could articulate that to my church. You have done a good job of researching and referancing you article. If we could get our pastors to more fully come alongside this type of teaching the church would be a better place. "Theo-tertainment", I like the slap in the proverbial face, well put. I will endevour to approach our youth pastors with this article. Respectfully Matthew Parr http://??????????
	Response from : Robert
	February 24, 2007 9:35 PM   I read the article and beleive that what was said is true. Christ final words to use were to go make disciples not convert the world. Discipleship requires that we first have an understanding and knowledge of Christ which is not just from books and church attendance but a daily knowledge of him working in our lives and not just at prayer time but in the fact that we pray without ceasing and that's also the way he answers. Next we have to be willing to give up our lives for the life of someone else, that they may meet and get to love our Bridegroom. Most people in the church have a hard time giving up more than Sunday and one other night for Christ much less spend all of our time in the instruction and teaching that is discipleship. I will tell you from experience that once you get over the hump of giving up everything for Christ it is alot easier to give up your time so that one more may enter his kingdom. "Matt 7:22-23 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' NIV I beleive says that we must have ralationship with the Lord to enter into his kingdom, and the only way to get others there is not through programs and church attendance but through discipleship and spending time in constant conversation with our Lord.
	Response from : Nathan Allison
	March 1, 2007 8:22 AM   Dear Michael Craven, My brother in Jesus. I think the real problem lies in the fact that too much of the bride of Christ has forgotten to listen to or even believe that he is speaking to them today. John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Check out this website and try following the four keys to hearing God's voice and you will be amazed at what He says. http://www.cwgministries.org As far as discipleship goes there are some young adults and teens being discipled by the voice of Jesus and others into their callings. Places like Youth With a Mission and The Cause.(www.ywam.org / thecauseusa.com) There is hope because God gives us confident expectation for what He is doing and about to do on the earth. Discipleship to me is following Jesus in a commander and chief, brother to brother, listen and obey approach to life. Paul said follow me as I follow Christ. So I believe there needs to be more leaders in the western church who listen to and follow the heart of Jesus for his Bride and leads them more to Jesus than their brand of truth wrapped in religious trappings that almost seem to mask the truth at times. My generation needs to be engaged by the living God and prayer is the best way to see this process accelerated. Time is coming to a climax so encourage you to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our fatih. Nathan Allison http://www.freewebs.com/heartzablaze
	Response from : Eric L. Timmons
	March 1, 2007 1:26 PM   I agree with your article. Nine years ago I designed a product called The Perfect Tree which is a artificial christmas tree that i redesigned into the shape of the cross. It is a way to remind us of the Christ of Christmas. Although the Lord has been faithful to us I have seen a cold response among christians in reference to a return to Christ in the holiday season. In short we want Walmart to say "merry christmas" without reflecting the Christ of Christmas in our purchases. I pray that your article may change a few minds as i know from expierence that what you are saying is true. www.e5designs.com http://www.e5designs.com
	Response from : jason
	March 4, 2007 8:23 PM   God bless you brother for speaking out in truth and love. I hold a church service at an AIDS clinic, and I can ensure you that most of the followers there realize it is all or nothing. Christ demands and deserves nothing less.
	Response from : Vickie
	March 6, 2007 1:04 PM   You made mention of a key aspect that plagues our society today...relativism...it has, unfortunately led to the watering down of the authority of God's Word, His standards...effective discipleship and relativism can not co-exist.

	Select an article $pending Christmas or Spending it Well $pending this Christmas or Spending it Well ...But Gives Grace to the Humble A Body to Kill For A More Excellent Way A New Italian Renaissance? A New Year, Renewed Purpose A Time of Troubles A Youth Revolution? Abstinence Education has Failed! Adrift From Our Past American Idol: Distorted Dreams and Grand Illusions American Idol: Fame, Fortune and Self-Delusion Apologetics in the 21st Century Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part II Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part III Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part IV Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part V Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VI Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VII Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VIII Are Christians Contributing to Unbelief? Art as Prophetic Proclamation Being Light in the Midst of Financial Darkness Being the Church in a Time of Troubles Between Two Extremes: Liberalism & Fundamentalism Beyond Ideologies Can thinking Small Change the World? Career vs Family: Is there a Choice? Chemical vs Spiritual Christian Grit Christianity & Islam: Two Worldviews and Why They Matter Christians, Politics, and the Fate of the Nation Clueless in Seattle Community and Evangelism Competing Worldviews Confusion & Compromise: Restoring the Next Generation Contextualizing In and Not Of Crisis of Civilizational Morale Demonizing the Lost Demonizing the Rich Denominational Demise Discerning the Answers Discipleship is Evangelism Doing Apologetics in a New Context Engaging Ideas Expelled: Exposing the Darwinian Paradox Fellowship and Humility Finding Community Football Fans & Missional Christians For my Mother Freedom for All Except... From Graveyards to Starbucks From Political Pessimism to Gospel Hope General Pace: Collision at the Crossroads of Morality Generational Drift & Decay Girls Gone Wild, Boys Gone Mild Giving Thanks Giving Thanks, Again God Opposes the Proud Greater Love Hath No Man... Have We Become Unfit for Democracy? Heroism Redefined Higher Education: Excellence but no Soul Higher Education: Excellence without a Soul Hope for a Christian Renaissance? Hope for the Future Ideological Tyranny In Defense of Marriage - Conclusion In Defense of Marriage - Part I In Defense of Marriage - Part II In Defense of Marriage - Part III In Defense of Marriage - Part IV In Defense of Marriage - Part V In Defense of Marriage - Part VI In God We Trust? In Pursuit of Community: What Can We Do? Is Loving Our Neighbor Merely a Means to End? Is Religion Bad? Islam, Secularism and the Gospel Islam, Secularism and the Gospel - Conclusion Islam, Secularism and the Gospel - Part II James Watson is Not a Racist; He's a Darwinist! Justin Martyr: A Man for Our Season Kingdom Project: Ground-Level Application of the Christian Worldview Lessons from Nature Let Us Resolve Let Us Resolve: A New Year, A Renewed Faith Love Believes All Things Love Sick Marriage Survives! Can it Endure? Miss HIV: A Film to Change How the World Sees HIV/AIDS Missional VS. Evangelical Moral Misdirection My Struggle with Fundraising NASA’s Moral Failures: A Clue to Culture? Parents: Do You Know WHAT Your Kids Think? Part I - No-Fault Divorce is Institutionalized Evil Part II - Creating a Culture of Marriage Part III - Does God Expect Me to Stay Married to a Jerk? Part IV - I Thought Jesus Came to Keep Me FROM Suffering! Part V - Where is the Church in the Midst of Our Marital Crisis? Part VI - Life Together: The Difference Between Doing Church and Being the Church Pedophiles & Politics Peter Pan and the Death of Marriage Politics, Religion, and Evolution: The Three Don'ts Postmodernism: A Kairos Moment? Proclaiming the Gospel by Caring for Our Elderly Redeeming Society Redefining Heroism Reevangelizing the Church Reevangelizing the Church: The Body of Christ Reevangelizing the Church: What is the Good News? Reevangelizing the Church: Where did we go wrong? Reflections on NBC's Responding to 'Green Politics' Responding to 'Green Politics' - Conclusion Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part II Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part III Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part IV Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part V Responding to a "Gay" Christian ReThinking Evangelism: The Lessons from Grapevine Faith Reviving the Doctrine of Revival Rosie O' Donnell & Pope Benedict Seeing Business as a Redemptive Instrument Sending Our Children Sex Ed: Education or Propaganda? Smoking Bad - Homosexuality Good Thanks Giving: A National Tradition The "Oprahfication" of Eastern Mysticism The 'Big Brother Link': More Pseudo-Science The Case of Hannah Overton The Church in Post-Christendom The Church in Post-Christendom: Recovering the Mission of the Church The Church in Post-Christendom: Understanding the “Good News” The Coming Collapse of Evangelicalism The Commencement & Vision of this Ministry The Culture of Celebrity The Culture of Praise The Culture War is Over: We Lost! The Death of Marriage? The Domestication of Christianity The European Church: A Lesson in Misplaced Dependence The Face of Utilitarianism The Financial Crisis: Lessons on the virtue of thrift The High Cost of Immorality The Kingdom Comes Forcefully The Kingdom: Serving the World, Loving Others The Loss of Beauty The Moral Order: Four Options The Muslim Rebuttal and the Islamization of Knowledge The Myth of Overpopulation The Secret War Within the Church The Unrelenting Culture of Life They Love Jesus; They Don't Like the Church Thinking Small Can Change the World This Beautiful Mess To the Class of 2008 To the Class of 2009 Uncompromised Faith is Here! Utilitarianism goes Dutch What Are We To Do? What Ever Happened to Discipleship? What is Normal? What is the Missional Church? What Missional Looks Like What to do in the Face of Tyranny? Why Theology Matters Why You Must Vote! Willow Creek's Confession “If You Build It, They Will Come” Ecclesiology

Respond to This Article

Form Authentication:  Refresh the page if   image does not appear	Please enter the form validation code you see displayed above.
	Your Information:
Name:
Email Address:
URL:
	Respond to This Article:
Your comments will be reviewed and either approved or denied publication.

	Select an article $pending Christmas or Spending it Well $pending this Christmas or Spending it Well ...But Gives Grace to the Humble A Body to Kill For A More Excellent Way A New Italian Renaissance? A New Year, Renewed Purpose A Time of Troubles A Youth Revolution? Abstinence Education has Failed! Adrift From Our Past American Idol: Distorted Dreams and Grand Illusions American Idol: Fame, Fortune and Self-Delusion Apologetics in the 21st Century Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part II Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part III Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part IV Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part V Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VI Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VII Apologetics in the 21st Century - Part VIII Are Christians Contributing to Unbelief? Art as Prophetic Proclamation Being Light in the Midst of Financial Darkness Being the Church in a Time of Troubles Between Two Extremes: Liberalism & Fundamentalism Beyond Ideologies Can thinking Small Change the World? Career vs Family: Is there a Choice? Chemical vs Spiritual Christian Grit Christianity & Islam: Two Worldviews and Why They Matter Christians, Politics, and the Fate of the Nation Clueless in Seattle Community and Evangelism Competing Worldviews Confusion & Compromise: Restoring the Next Generation Contextualizing In and Not Of Crisis of Civilizational Morale Demonizing the Lost Demonizing the Rich Denominational Demise Discerning the Answers Discipleship is Evangelism Doing Apologetics in a New Context Engaging Ideas Expelled: Exposing the Darwinian Paradox Fellowship and Humility Finding Community Football Fans & Missional Christians For my Mother Freedom for All Except... From Graveyards to Starbucks From Political Pessimism to Gospel Hope General Pace: Collision at the Crossroads of Morality Generational Drift & Decay Girls Gone Wild, Boys Gone Mild Giving Thanks Giving Thanks, Again God Opposes the Proud Greater Love Hath No Man... Have We Become Unfit for Democracy? Heroism Redefined Higher Education: Excellence but no Soul Higher Education: Excellence without a Soul Hope for a Christian Renaissance? Hope for the Future Ideological Tyranny In Defense of Marriage - Conclusion In Defense of Marriage - Part I In Defense of Marriage - Part II In Defense of Marriage - Part III In Defense of Marriage - Part IV In Defense of Marriage - Part V In Defense of Marriage - Part VI In God We Trust? In Pursuit of Community: What Can We Do? Is Loving Our Neighbor Merely a Means to End? Is Religion Bad? Islam, Secularism and the Gospel Islam, Secularism and the Gospel - Conclusion Islam, Secularism and the Gospel - Part II James Watson is Not a Racist; He's a Darwinist! Justin Martyr: A Man for Our Season Kingdom Project: Ground-Level Application of the Christian Worldview Lessons from Nature Let Us Resolve Let Us Resolve: A New Year, A Renewed Faith Love Believes All Things Love Sick Marriage Survives! Can it Endure? Miss HIV: A Film to Change How the World Sees HIV/AIDS Missional VS. Evangelical Moral Misdirection My Struggle with Fundraising NASA’s Moral Failures: A Clue to Culture? Parents: Do You Know WHAT Your Kids Think? Part I - No-Fault Divorce is Institutionalized Evil Part II - Creating a Culture of Marriage Part III - Does God Expect Me to Stay Married to a Jerk? Part IV - I Thought Jesus Came to Keep Me FROM Suffering! Part V - Where is the Church in the Midst of Our Marital Crisis? Part VI - Life Together: The Difference Between Doing Church and Being the Church Pedophiles & Politics Peter Pan and the Death of Marriage Politics, Religion, and Evolution: The Three Don'ts Postmodernism: A Kairos Moment? Proclaiming the Gospel by Caring for Our Elderly Redeeming Society Redefining Heroism Reevangelizing the Church Reevangelizing the Church: The Body of Christ Reevangelizing the Church: What is the Good News? Reevangelizing the Church: Where did we go wrong? Reflections on NBC's Responding to 'Green Politics' Responding to 'Green Politics' - Conclusion Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part II Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part III Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part IV Responding to 'Green Politics' - Part V Responding to a "Gay" Christian ReThinking Evangelism: The Lessons from Grapevine Faith Reviving the Doctrine of Revival Rosie O' Donnell & Pope Benedict Seeing Business as a Redemptive Instrument Sending Our Children Sex Ed: Education or Propaganda? Smoking Bad - Homosexuality Good Thanks Giving: A National Tradition The "Oprahfication" of Eastern Mysticism The 'Big Brother Link': More Pseudo-Science The Case of Hannah Overton The Church in Post-Christendom The Church in Post-Christendom: Recovering the Mission of the Church The Church in Post-Christendom: Understanding the “Good News” The Coming Collapse of Evangelicalism The Commencement & Vision of this Ministry The Culture of Celebrity The Culture of Praise The Culture War is Over: We Lost! The Death of Marriage? The Domestication of Christianity The European Church: A Lesson in Misplaced Dependence The Face of Utilitarianism The Financial Crisis: Lessons on the virtue of thrift The High Cost of Immorality The Kingdom Comes Forcefully The Kingdom: Serving the World, Loving Others The Loss of Beauty The Moral Order: Four Options The Muslim Rebuttal and the Islamization of Knowledge The Myth of Overpopulation The Secret War Within the Church The Unrelenting Culture of Life They Love Jesus; They Don't Like the Church Thinking Small Can Change the World This Beautiful Mess To the Class of 2008 To the Class of 2009 Uncompromised Faith is Here! Utilitarianism goes Dutch What Are We To Do? What Ever Happened to Discipleship? What is Normal? What is the Missional Church? What Missional Looks Like What to do in the Face of Tyranny? Why Theology Matters Why You Must Vote! Willow Creek's Confession “If You Build It, They Will Come” Ecclesiology

Navigation Key

Return to topics  Return to articles   Read article with responses   Respond to this article