Information Doesn’t Transform—Relationships Do
Years ago, I taught a solid 10-week discipleship course at my church.
The curriculum was clean.
The theology was sound.
The workbook was tidy.
The lives? Mostly unchanged.
People could recite the doctrine of justification by faith…
…but couldn’t forgive a co-worker.
…or stay patient with their kids.
…or respond gently when criticized.
That’s when it hit me:
Information doesn’t always lead to transformation.
And Jesus never said it would.
🧭 The Big Idea: Truth transforms us when it’s absorbed in community, not consumed in isolation.
In a classroom, you can hide.
In a MicroGroup, you get known.
That’s where truth gets tested, absorbed, wrestled with, and lived out.
As John Ortberg once said:
“Two people can believe all the same doctrine — and have totally different character.”
Jesus didn’t settle for head knowledge.
He pursued heart transformation.
And He did it through purposeful proximity.
✅ What Makes Relational Disciplemaking Different?
1.We move beyond knowledge to vulnerability.
In MicroGroups, we don’t just ask, “What does the passage say?”
We ask, “What part of my life does this confront?”
That changes the stakes — and deepens the impact.
2. Everyone participates. Everyone prepares.
In most programs, one person teaches and the rest consume.
In relational disciplemaking, each voice matters.
The Holy Spirit teaches through the give-and-take.
3. We share from the heart, not just the head.
A 26-year-old in my group once dropped a truth bomb that changed the room. An 18-year-old offered insight I hadn’t considered. When people prepare, reflect, and share, we all grow.
4. We create safe spaces for repentance.
This is where the real fruit grows.
When someone says, “Here’s where I’m struggling…”
And others respond, “You’re not alone. Let’s walk it together.”
That’s how transformation sticks.
The church doesn’t need more content. It needs more courage to walk with people where they really are and love them into transformation.
That’s what Jesus did. And that’s what we’re reclaiming through MicroGroups.
Greg Ogden
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