Principles For A Healthy, Multiplying Church: Systematic Discipleship

Every healthy, multiplying church must be able to develop and empower new disciples. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 declares, “But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” Paul uses this analogy because of the Greek culture. Belleville mentions, “A daily regimen of physical exercise was central to developing the model Greek citizen.”[1] This draws attention to a systematic approach to spiritual training. It includes training in subjects such as the gospel, worship, prayer, tithing, offering, and holiness. Teaching these topics to new converts should be a primary responsibility of the church. Stetzer claims, “Discipleship is not happening properly when Christians must find their opportunities for spiritual growth outside the church.”[2] “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-12) The leadership of the church was given to the church to disciple the believers. Foulkes agrees and says, “the ministry of the church is given to it to equip the saints.”[3]

The process of multiplying lives within this principle of systematic discipleship. A disciples end goal is to find a make a new disciple, who in turn finds and creates another disciple. Ott describes the multiplication like this: "As new believers are won, they are discipled and taught to evangelize others. As they grow in discipleship, they in turn learn to disciple others. As they participate in a cell group, they learn to lead cell groups and eventually train other new cell-group leaders. As a cell group is formed, the vision for multiplying new cells is born from the outset. In this way multiplication becomes part of the ethos of the church in every aspect of its ministry."[4]

2 Timothy 2:2 states, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Paul was telling Timothy to teach and develop those who would then be able to teach and develop others. Laansma describes this teaching as a responsibility, saying, “By means of this entrusting, Timothy will fulfill his responsibility to guard the deposit.”[5] It is the responsibility of the church to disciple others to guard what has been passed down to us through the apostles. Discipleship is the church greatest defense and offense.

[1] Linda Belleville, “Commentary on 1 Timothy” in 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews, vol. 17,Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009), 1786, Logos.

[2] Ed Stetzer and Daniel Im, Planting Missional Churches: Your Guide to Planting Churches That Multiply (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2016), Logos.

[3] Francis Foulkes, Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 10, Tyndale New TestamentCommentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989), 126, Logos.

[4] Craig Ott and Gene Wilson, Global Church Planting: Biblical Principles and Best Practices for Multiplication (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011), 165, Logos.

[5] Jon C. Laansma, “Commentary on 2 Timothy,” in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, vol. 17 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009), 17156, Logos.