Freedom in the Methods

Pastors often work in such a way where the methods are just as important as the message. The message never changes, and the mission to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) never changes. However, we must realize that there is freedom in the methods. Pastors who are busy with the right things are asking the question, “What are the best methods I can use right now to make disciples?”

Show Notes

EPISDODE 4 OUTLINE:
  • THE PROBLEM: The bible clearly tells pastors their job description (to equip the saints for the work of ministry), but the bible never clearly defines the methods. The problem with pastors is that they never stop and ask the question, “What is the best method right now to make disciples?”
  • The methods have changed over the course of history in many ways:
  • The invention of the printing press
  • The globalization of technology
  • The emphasis on multisite and video venues
  • The current COVID-19 pandemic
  • What about the pastor who wants to create change and change their methods?
  • Read books about creating change
  • Begin to quantify “life-change”
  • Begin to tell stories of life-change
  • Begin to ask hard questions about the current results
  • Health goes further than just attendance and budget
  • How do we determine our methods for making disciples?
  • Look at the methods of Jesus (relational discipleship)
  • Look at your context and define the current methods
  • Look at your capacity and see what steps you need to take next to either create change or use the current methods to make disciples
  • What is one method we are using now to make disciples that we weren’t using last year?
  • Our 6 local ministry efforts that we started this year that we weren’t doing last year. We were saying “not yet” to those ministries because of capacity and resources.
EPISODE 4 QUESTIONS FOR YOUR TEAM:
  1. What are the current methods your church or ministry uses to make disciples? Make a list of every method and score them 1-5 (5 being the best).
  2. Look at the results of your current methods. Are the results you are seeing from your current methods worth keeping the current methods, or is time to create change? If so, why?
  3. What are 3 methods of making disciples you are not using right now that you can explore for your current context and capacity?
  4. If you could use any method(s) for making disciples in your church or ministry, what would it be and why?
  5. What are your 3 next steps for changing or tweaking your methods to make disciples at a greater capacity?
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