MAKING DISCIPLES & BUILDING COMMUNITY

• It is what Jesus commanded his followers to do (Matthew 28:18-20).

• The goal for every believer is to become like Christ (Eph. 4:13; Phil. 1:21; Gal. 4:19). 
  

• Making a disciple is more than simply winning them to Christ.  A disciple must become like his master, the Lord Jesus Christ (Lk. 6:40). 
  

• Therefore, we are committed to the entire process of discipleship from conversion to maturity.  Jesus Christ is building His church (Matt. 16:18).  True building, or growth, must take place through multiplying disciples.

 Why Building Community?

• The Great Commission commands this progression.  Once a disciple is made, he was to be baptized.  Baptism is first and foremost about identification and incorporation.  Baptism identified the believer with Christ but also, most publicly, His followers.  Those who were baptized were baptized into a new community, the church.

• The very term, "church," presupposes the importance of community.  When Jesus said that He would build His church (literally, "called out ones") He was speaking of a new community of people who would be one (Eph. 2:11-22).

• Jesus main request for us, as His church, was that we would be one (John 17:20-21).  He never intended for any of us to do it alone.  We need a new community.

• The imagery used in Scripture highlight the need for community/oneness (the body of Christ, the household of God, a building/temple for God, a family).

• Jesus taught us that our oneness is the greatest testimony we have to a watching world (John 13:35).

How Do We Implement These Truths Into Our Ministries?

• By narrowing our focus down to these two things it brings simplicity to our ministry model. We do not want to simply offer as many options as we can for our people.  We want each and everything we do to have purpose in accomplishing these two things.

• We have defined our goal, spiritual maturity (Christ-likeness), and have developed an objective path for growth and development of our disciples.  We will not add new things to our calendar each year.  Rather, we will seek to hone and improve our current process so that it will be the best it can possibly be.

• We believe that growth only takes place within the context of community (remove one member from the body and it will not survive on its own).  Therefore, we will seek to develop a spiritual maturity plan that also builds community rather than simply knowledge or skill.

• We will seek to shift as much of the discipleship process to our small groups as possible so that deep relationships can be forged.

• In order to develop Biblical community, ministry needs will be met by families and small groups rather than simply individuals or committees.

• All ministries must naturally fit within our Path for Spiritual Growth Toward Maturity.