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2 min read disciplemakers

Diagnostic for Disciplemaking

The system produces what it was designed to produce.
Diagnostic for Disciplemaking
Diagnostic for Disciplemaking

What stood out to me most in Hirsch’s article is his diagnostic approach to discipleship. His seven misconceptions strongly reminded me of the patterns Greg Ogden analyzes in Transforming Discipleship.

I [Dave Schanuel, US GDI Director] think Hirsch gives us an ecclesiological/systemic diagnosis. One statement especially challenged me:

“The deepest problems in discipleship locate themselves not primarily in the hearts of individuals but in the systems those individuals inhabit. If the system routes people toward passivity, they will be passive. If the system rewards consumption, they will consume. If the system centralizes ministry in a professional class, they will defer to professionals. The system produces what it was designed to produce.”

I also found this diagnostic framework especially powerful. Hirsch challenges us to look not at what the church says about itself, but at what the system actually rewards.

So perhaps I should ask my church seven questions:

  1. What do we celebrate: the number of people attending, or the number of disciples who are making disciples?
  2. What do we measure: attendance or transformation?
  3. Who does the ministry: professionals or the whole Body of Christ?
  4. Where does formation happen: on the stage or in everyday life?
  5. Are our groups primarily consuming material, or are they forming people who can form others?
  6. Does our structure encourage addition or multiplication?
  7. If the pastor stopped organizing everything tomorrow, would disciplemaking continue?
Misconceptions About Discipleship
Each one is a design error as much as a theological one. And each one, if left uncorrected, will ensure that the system produces something other than what Jesus actually commissioned us to build.
GO MICROGreg Ogden
What Is GDI’s DNA?
Our desire is to see disciples who follow Jesus wholeheartedly, grow in spiritual maturity, invest in others, and multiply from generation to generation.
GO MICROGreg Ogden
Budgets Are More Than Numbers
Do not write a budget first and later try to explain how it supports the mission.
GO MICROGreg Ogden
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Published by:

Greg Ogden

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