What Does Your Church Produce?

Long pause.

The professor waited for the students to answer. Crickets.

Again he asked, “What does the church produce?”

Another long pause. Finally, a student answered “Members.” Another said, “I’m not sure.” Yet another said tongue and cheek, “Budgets.”

The professor continued. “Ford produces cars. Intel produces microchips. What does the church produce?”

Long pause. One student said, “Disciples.”

Bingo. Your church was designed to make disciples.

Is it?

Do those under your care know how to make disciples?

When your leadership is not clear on the primary mission of the church, the people under your care will not know what to do. The church wallows and drifts. People check out. Nothing of substance gets accomplished.

Imagine for a moment if Jesus wasn’t clear on what he was doing.

Thankfully, Jesus was VERY clear.

He came to save his people from their sins so they may become disciples and follow him. (Matthew 1:21)

It was also clear to Peter. He was to build the church, that is he was to make disciples who make disciples. (Matthew 16:18)

It was clear to Paul as well. He would carry God’s message to the Gentiles, kings, and Israelites in order to make disciples who make disciples. (Acts 9:15)

How about your church?

It’s responsible for carrying out the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20) The “church” produces disciples that establish communities among the nations marked by grace, truth, and obedience to all that Jesus commanded.

The Great Commission clarifies ministry for you.

So, how do you do it?

The process is straightforward, but it is a stumbling block for many. Necessary skills are missing or not developed. Vision isn’t crystal clear. Often there is role confusion, structure misalignment, non-existent systems and the challenge of being underfunded.

The first church faced these same obstacles and overcame them to produce disciples. You can too.

Note: when the church started in the Upper Room in Acts 1, they had to replace a leader (Judas) before they even started. 3,000 people came to faith without a “church staff” or an “assimilation process”.  The way the widows were being continually neglected at the daily distribution forced the Deacons to be created (Acts 6). We discover in Paul’s letters that the Jerusalem church was vastly underfunded. So was the church in Macedonia.

Yet, none of those churches would be deterred. They made disciples. So should you. It’s what you were designed to do.

The early church didn’t do it by themselves. Nor should you.

We have two proven processes based on 25 years of research to get you going. One for church leadership and one for the church.

When followed, your congregation will experience a spiritual renewal. It will also be a blessing to the community because they will minister to more people in better ways.

Interested in learning more? 

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I’m thankful for Dr. Phil Sell, one of my Practical Theology and Leadership Professors, for raising the question, “What do churches produce?” in class years ago. It clarified my ministry and gave it a laser focus. Perhaps, it will do the same for you.