Would You Rather Connect More People or Make More Disciples?
Ever been caught up in a crazy game of "would you rather?" with your kids? You know what I'm talking about, right?
- Would you rather be 3 feet tall or 8 feet tall?
- Would you rather be rich and ugly, or poor and good looking?
- Would you rather eat a handful of hair or lick three public telephones?
Been there? Usually, I'd get sucked into answering one and then have to desperately change the subject or spend the rest of the car ride responding to progressively crazier questions!
Here's a grouplife would you rather question:
Would you rather connect more unconnected people or make more disciples?
What do you think? Which way do you land?
If you're like me, you immediately object. If you're like me, it isn't an either/or proposition. It's both. I'd rather connect more unconnected people and make more disciples.
Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you rather do both?
The Big Takeaway
For me, it's a logic misstep to pit one against the other. For me, both are essential.
I'm 100% certain that unconnected people are one tough thing away from never being at your church again. Loss of a job. Divorce or separation. A devastating diagnosis. A child in trouble.
One tough thing.
So...I absolutely must implement a strategy that connects people as fast as I can. See also, What's Your Urgency Level for Connecting People.
Unconnected people are one tough thing away from never being at your church again. Loss of a job. Divorce or separation. A devastating diagnosis. A child in trouble. One tough thing. Click To Tweet
And, I'm also certain that our mission is to make disciples. Fully devoted Christ-followers.
I've been captivated for years by Dallas Willard's definition of a disciple: "Disciples of Jesus are those who are with him, learning to be like him. That is, they are learning to lead their life, their actual existence, as he would lead their life if he were they." See also, Top 10 Things We Need to Know about Making Disciples.
Disciples of Jesus are those who are with him, learning to be like him. That is, they are learning to lead their life, their actual existence, as he would lead their life if he were they—Dallas Willard Click To Tweet
I have always believed that small group ministries with the right design (a) make it easy for unconnected people to get connected and (b) nearly automatic that they enter an environment designed for life-change that produces more and better disciples.
Small group ministries with the right design (a) make it easy for unconnected people to get connected and (b) nearly automatic that they enter an environment designed for life-change that produces more and better disciples. Click To Tweet
No, it should never be either/or. We should always insist on a design that connects unconnected people and makes more and better disciples.
See also, The Essential Ingredients for Life-Change, 5 Keys to a More Dynamic Group Experience and Top 10 Posts on Discipleship and Making Disciples in Groups.
Need help with this? Consider taking my newest mini-course: Making More and Better Disciples in Groups.
Image by Daniel Lee
