4 Reliable Fundamentals for Healthy Discipleship Ministries

By Jeremy Bell

Introduction

Many, hopefully most, Christians know of the great commission. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Although He spoke this to the apostles, there is unity in the Bible that this is a command for all Christians of all time. There is a great need for discipleship ministries. People are looking for them regularly and there are many offering it. Too often, discipleship is left unexplained in assumption that normal human relationship tactics will sufficiently guide the process. The problem with this method is that worldly relationship tactics come with instruction manuals and checklists of how to get what you want and deserve. It is a good idea to review the biblical basics and take notes.

Teaching, Learning, Growing

Discipleship ministries are teaching and learning services from the church and are relational in nature. Teaching is rooted in the Bible but may include more source material. For learning to occur, it is important for the teacher and student to be aware of where the student is in their learning. For spiritual growth there must be spiritual guidance rules. Theology is the study of God. This study is rooted in Scripture and, as with any study, there exists a framework for that study. Deeper understanding can occur through literary understanding and application. When there is a solid foundation, a solid parenthood, there is direction. Learning evolves from instruction, then to understanding, and then there is growth. When there is understanding, unity is possible. Discipleship ministries that produce the fruit of unity teach unity in the Bible.

1. Evaluate Reading Level

Discipleship ministries can be church words that have become so commonplace people use them without knowing how to define them. To get started, it is the following definitions this article expands on. Disciples are learners or students. Students recognize a need and learning is optimized when they desire fulfillment of that need. Disciples follow a teacher and more than just learn instructions, they learn ‘whys’ and ‘ways’. A ministry serves a need. A ministry is a department, or organized group. It may be one person, but if so, that person is not recognized as an individual, they represent some type of organization.

Discipleship ministries should be some type of organization meeting the ‘whys’ and ‘ways’ needs of students. In Christianity, the target for the student is Jesus, Christ. What did Jesus instruct? Why did He instruct it? In what ways did He live it out and did He intend it for truth? Discipleship ministries are teaching and learning services from the church and are relational in nature.

Know the Starting Place

For learning to occur, it is important for the teacher and student to be aware of what level of reading the student is in their learning. Of course, this can also be applied to the hearing person who cannot read. Teaching is rooted in source material that includes the Bible and more. Though all Christians believe that the Bible is the primary source of theology, there are secondary sources that help for understanding. Before discovering unity in the Bible, what is the level of reading? According to the book, How to Read a Book by Mortimer Jerome Adler and Charles Van Doren, there are four primary levels of reading. Scripture is the primary source of understanding, but irrespective of text, this is the most important assessment to begin with.

Reading Levels

1) Elementary level. This is an understanding of the words and grammar of what has been written.

2) Inspectional level. This is reading for basic facts of what is being read within a time frame. This includes systematically skimming material.

3) Analytical level. This is reading for understanding. It is comprehensive and active. Analytical reading is not needed to acquire information or be entertained.

4) Synoptical level. This is reading for big picture summary. It is comparative reading that includes reading from many sources related to a subject to conduct a more thorough analysis.

Most readers have elementary and inspectional levels acquired. From observation, most people remain at the inspection level for many reasons. There is no judgement in assessment, only realization. Everyone can only progressively learn by building on previous learning. Unfortunately, many discipleship ministries miss this important observation. Danger comes when steps are missed in the process. Many skip the analytical level when reading the Bible and go right for synoptic reading. Because the analysis was missed, fundamental truths are missed and doubted. Many stop at the inspectional level and once again, fundamental truths are missed and doubted. When analysis is missed, the ‘whys’ and ‘ways’ are missed or misunderstood. Inspectional is instructional and brings little to no understanding. Synoptical (if analytical is skipped) takes the instruction and compares it with outside sources. Finding wrong is easy because the world (secondary sources) is filled with conflict and disagreement.

Spiritually and Relationally, Analytical Level is Essential

Confidence in the unity in the Bible requires analysis. To understand another person, it is not enough to know instructions of how to behave around them. Checklists do help bring order and, if needed, justice. They do not grow understanding and intimacy. Understanding brings mercy and forgiveness. A good comparative in the Bible is the difference between the law and Christ. One brings instruction and condemnation, the other brings understanding and life. Choose life. The church is relational in nature and its’ life is to grow in unity in faith. Unity in the church is directly tied to unity in the Bible. Inspectional reading will struggle to find unity in the Bible and synoptic reading without analysis gives cause to doubt it. There is great opportunity for the student in this simple assessment and great wisdom for the teacher.

Work Questions:

How well do you know yourself and/or your student? As a student, what level do you feel you currently read? Are you willing to take it to the next level to fill your need for understanding the ‘whys’ and ‘ways’? What are some ideas you have in how you might grow or grow others? As a teacher, what level are your students in? How can you help them recognize their need for more? A teacher should be at level 3 or 4. Not perfect but reading for understanding at a minimum. If this is where you are, are you discipling? If not, why? What does Scripture say about it?

2. Understand Spiritual Reading Rules

The Bible has over 40 human authors and was written over the course of 1500 years. Some has been said about reading level. More will be stated later about ways to read the Bible and its’ parts. Now, it is important to bring spiritual context to the Scriptures. Discovering unity in the Bible will happen when fundamental scriptural rules are believed. Good discipleship ministries humbly give this area preeminence. As a group, or department, this is a necessary and great way to demonstrate where ultimate authority is given. It expresses trust, faith, and confidence. This is not only demonstrated but should be consistently reinforced with purposeful teaching. Like grammar rules that are broken routinely, spiritual rules are easily broken. The consequences are subjectively felt and easily dismissed.

If someone studies music theory, they will need to understand the rudiments, or musical notations. They will likely have knowledge of the history music. And they would study how music is put together studying rules and guidelines of musicology. Scripture understanding is similar, a person needs to know non-scriptural things like how to read and other literary information. They also need to know spiritual rules and guidelines. Here are some fundamentals every Christian believes, and all good discipleship ministries are operating from. Unity in the Bible, unity in the church, begins here.

The Origin and Production of Scripture

Truth: The writing of the Scriptures as they were originally given by the apostles and prophets was a result of the outbreathing of God’s breath.

The entire Bible is inspired in its very language and all its parts. The Bible is 100 percent divine and 100 percent human. The Spirit provides the concepts of Scripture, the specific words of Scripture, and agrees with the author’s beliefs. People make regular and recurring choices about Scripture. This is rooted in whether they agree that it is God-breathed or human-breathed. These choices affect all other choices that result in different behaviors from the teacher to the student. For example, without this rule, one might see conflicting truth between Paul and James. One states salvation is by grace alone and another, faith without works is dead. It would seem unreconcilable. However, with unity in the Bible by way of Gods’ breath, it is possible to discover how these are, in fact, in agreement. There is no conflicting truth in reading for understanding, knowing that truth is inspired by God and not human minds.

Intention

Truth: All that the Scripture teaches or intends to present as truth, is true.

The entirety of Scripture is true. The Messiah and Christ written of in the Old Testament are Jesus in the New Testament. Grace, faith, and works all work together in truth and are not opposed. Abraham was saved the same way Peter was. Cornelius became an heir with Israel the same way Isaac did. God alone saves and Jesus is the only name under heaven by which a person may be saved. There are countless examples and reasons for study. Discipleship ministries are not perfect but are subject to this. Good ministries are teaching this and constantly transforming their organization to be more like Jesus.

Completeness

Truth: Theology looks across the entire teaching of Scripture to answer questions.

Theology is the study of God. It considers various subjects (in the Bible), providing broad, comprehensive, whole Bible answers. Theology Acts as a guide, so one passage is not interpreted in a way that contradicts how another passage is interpreted. All truth is consistent in the Old and New Testament alike. This is similar to the truth of scripture but draws attention to the larger context of analytical reading. On the road to Emmaus, beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, Jesus explained to them (travelers) in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Jesus boldly taught and revealed the unity in the Bible.

Theocentric Source

Truth: Scripture is the primary source for theology.

There are secondary sources: history of doctrines, archeology, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, etc. As presented in this article, there are secondary sources to learn from. God gave humans minds with the capacity for discovery and learning. God is a creator and upholder of growth. He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ, until all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. He also gives the wicked blessing of intelligence, a measure of wisdom, and gifts of great learning and teaching. Using these tools can be a great blessing in teaching and learning. Use worldly knowledge to improve discipleship ministries, but always subject them to scripture as the ultimate authority.

Testing Teaching

Unity of faith and knowledge are taught and given through discipleship ministries, secondary sources. These should always be rooted in the primary source. This means they should be received with thanksgiving and what they teach be tested in scripture. They should be respected and refined. Give grace to the secondary sources but always hold them accountable to scriptural truths. Discipleship ministries are organizations beholden to another authority.

Discipleship ministries become sustainable when they are rooted in the fundamental truth that all of scripture teaches or intends to present as truth, is true. Scripture is God breathed and the entirety of scripture is considered when analyzing for understanding. They employ non-spiritual and non- scriptural teachings that are subject to the truth of scripture. When discipleship begins with unity in the bible, it by nature unifies the disciples.

Work Questions:

If you are starting a discipleship ministry, who are you helping, what are you teaching, and how is it an organization accountable to something higher than yourself? Do you believe scripture is God-breathed, originates with Him, and is true? How is this reflected in your ministry or life? Do you need to take some time to become a student of this truth? Are there others around you struggling with this truth? What is some fruit your ministry is producing? Do you struggle with believing this truth or the authority of this truth?

Taking time to consider the entirety of the Bible means reading it. Have you? Do you have a reading plan? Are you teaching or demonstrating that it needs to be read? Are you humble enough to be wrong when the Bible is right? Can you admit and ask forgiveness? Can you make mistakes but point students or recipients of your ministry to the primary source and continue?

3. Understand Theological Literary Rules

Theology is the study of God. For the Christian this means Jesus the son, God the father, and the Holy Spirit. We study not just for instructional information but also for His character and ways. The meaning of life is to glory God and enjoy Him forever. Theology assists growth in Christ. Theology is rooted in Scripture and there are literary rules for that study. Discipleship ministries use these to grow those they’re serving in different ways at different times. As teachers (those who disciple) who may have a ministry (serving a need) proper study is crucial. For the student (the disciple) who is being ministered to (receiving help for a need), study tools increase understanding as well as prepare for a discipling role one day. The following are some rules that may cross over every piece of literature and some that may only apply to scripture.

Literary Theological Rules

1) What is the genre? What type of literature is the book of the Bible you are studying? There are many books and many genres. Common Bible genres include historical, law, narrative, prophecy, poetry, wisdom, gospel, epistle, and apocalyptic.

2) Historically, what were the life and times in which the text was written like? Consider customs, laws, traditions, worldview, and historical events.

3) Dissect the grammar. Look carefully at the language of the text for what it reveals about its meaning.

4) Can you discover the single meaning? The bible has one interpretation, and many applications. Words and sentences have one significance in one and the same connection.

5) What is the context the passage, or passages, is contained in?

6) What is the plain and obvious meaning without complicated study or academic theology?

7) Try to discern the author’s intention when he wrote the text. Generally, there should not exist an interpretation of text that would be a surprise to the human author who wrote it.

8) Read for faith. Notice any theological themes in the text.

Work Questions:

Do literary theological rules apply to discipleship ministries? Do they apply to yours? As a student, what do you discover using these rules? Be sure these rules are used congruently with other foundational rules. In what ways are you finding unity in the Bible? How might you apply this unity in your witness and your testimony? How might unity be useful when working with and encouraging other Christians?

4. Understand and Apply General Literary Meaning

All of these are common to all literature. I will list primary literature elements but will leave the definitions to https://literaryterms.net/, a great literary resource. This may be the tip of the iceberg, but for some, it is sufficient. Consider these elements to better define the authors’ intended message. Discovering the elements of scripture is another tool that is going to reveal the unity in the Bible. God made people unique, and He honors their uniqueness. He is expressed through their uniqueness though His message is broadcast true to what He intends to broadcast. Look for and define, when you can, the following things. Setting, character, plot, conflict, theme, point-of-view, tone, style, and structure.

Work Questions:

Do your ‘students’ know basic literary elements? Would they benefit from understanding them? As a student, what can be learned from your scripture reading when taking general literary meanings into analysis? Most importantly, what impact do literary elements have in understanding scripture? Even more relevant, what is the impact to your understanding of the ‘ways’ and the ‘whys’?

Note:

Not everyone reads or has a written language. How will they call on him in whom they have not believed? By what manner will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? Scripture needs to be read or heard; the words are important. General revelation brings condemnation, but special revelation brings salvation. Special revelation is specific and with words. Everything written in this article assumes an educated reader. The same rules apply to speaking and hearing. The words going out of the mouth and being received to the ear go through the same process, just a different medium. Don’t listen for instruction, listen for understanding. Analyze, remember the rules. When what is heard is refined against these fundamentals, there is possibility of unity.

Christian Discipleship Ministries

Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy when He spoke to the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth”. For Christian discipleship ministries, there are more needs than the physical to address. Material needs are often required for those asking for help. It is important to remember that it is not the only help they need. God dispenses spiritual food through His people. He requires His people to obediently do that in the unique way they are made. He requires that He is the source of provision and the single point of praise and glory.

The source of truth is Gods’ breath, realized in scripture. There is unity in the Bible, there is unity in God, there is unity in the church. But it takes thought and understanding to realize and grow into it. Understand the reading level as a student and teacher. Understand fundamental spiritual reading rules. Apply theological and general literary rules to get an accurate idea of what the author of the Bible book wants to say. Consider all of them together to better understand what God is conveying for a better idea of His character. It will lead to worship Him. Discipleship ministries are necessary to bring others along and serve needs. Disciples discover that unity is possible when reading, or hearing, are received with analytical eyes and ears for understanding. All of this is only possible if one is born again in the Nature of Joy.

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Resources and Notes

All scripture in this article is from the WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE (WEB). The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.

This is a reliable translation, but it is always good to read other translations as well. Biblegateway.com has a multitude of translations to read from. It is a great resource.

Another great resource is Biblehub.com. There are multiple translations, commentaries, and so much more. Great research can be done on this platform.

One more I use regularly is Gotquestions.org. This is a great site to answer questions and find threads of related questions.

There are many resources. The key is that God wants relationship directly with you, the individual. His primary source for revealing who He is and growing in intimacy is His word, the scriptures. Don’t just read for instruction. Analyze and read for understanding. Explore, ask questions, and be transformed in Jesus every moment you possibly can. There is no dispute this is a key desire of God. People are brough to the Father, in the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This… This is the Nature of Joy.

Jeremy is an author, musician, and business intelligence manager. His mission is to equip and encourage those in Christ, to equip and encourage others in Christ. Jesus, Christ, is the Nature of Joy and melody of the heart. Jeremy unites business analytics (business intelligence), songs, and Scripture for Christian living in the power of the Holy Spirit.