Growing in Faith and Living Out Joy

I chose this topic for two reasons. First, developing committed, lifelong followers of Jesus – what we call disciples – has been the heart of my ministry for more than 20 years. My doctorate examined the relationship between discipleship and congregational vitality; for more than seven years, I have focused almost exclusively on this area with the 138 congregations in the Diocese of New Jersey.

In our diocese, we try to keep things simple: our team helps congregations live into their call to be effective “schools of discipleship.” We teach clergy and lay leaders how to grow as committed followers of Jesus; we then go on to teach them how to help others do the same.

Second, I chose this topic because I’m convinced that the success of your other seven themes rests on how well you engage this one. We have found in New Jersey that starting with strengthening discipleship leads to more meaningful and effective prayer, advocacy, worship and especially service to those who need it most. It changes lives. For real.

A focus on discipleship development creates stronger ministry across the board because people do ministry, and discipleship strengthens people.

To live as a committed follower of Jesus is to be on a path that goes somewhere. It’s based on eternal truths that we can trust – truths that stabilize us in chaotic times. People who experience positive change through their relationship with Jesus are motivated to participate in and support their Christian communities. These people grow in their excitement about helping each other live and love like Jesus, and many naturally find themselves showing those outside the church how to live that way.

Growth in faith is energizing – and to be sure, energy is something every congregation can use more of. It also gives us a shared, inspiring purpose – very helpful in changing the kind and severity of the conflicts we experience in church.

To say “yes, I commit myself” to Christ’s call is much more than just a lifestyle choice: it is a response to a divine gift from God. From the inside out, it makes us more “other-focused” than we ever thought possible. Jesus’ path makes meaning out of suffering, makes treasures of our shortcomings, and provides fellow travelers. We become more creative, more courageous, and more compassionate, and people see the change in us (often before we see it). That change creates the precious quality of authenticity – essential if we are to speak our faith into the world effectively.

It’s not too strong to say that for our church to be what it was made to be, discipleship must be the starting point for everything. In Matthew, sometimes called the “church’s user’s manual,” Jesus starts with a call to choose his path and ends with a call to help others do the same. He promises to be with us always if we do these things. In this, he tells us exactly who we are and what we were made for.