The Need for Making Disciples

Have you ever had one of those “God, why?” moments?

God, why did this happen to me?
God, why did I end up here?
God, I don’t understand.
God, are You even there?

Most of us have been there. Something in our lives has left us hurt, lonely, empty, or just wondering…

God, why?

My latest “God, why?” experience came in 2024. None of us expect our lives to come crashing down around us—but as we all discover, that’s simply part of living. I was helping my middle son and daughter-in-law move some boxes into our barn. I picked up a box, carried it about 20 yards, set it down—and then had to go sit down. I was completely exhausted. Thankfully, one of the ladies here at Community works in a heart cath lab, and she got me in for an EKG—which I failed. Soon after, I found out I had four arteries over 90% blocked. Two weeks later, I had said my goodbyes and prepared myself for the ride of a lifetime: open-heart surgery.

A guy I had discipled for several years asked me, “What do you need?”

I said, “I need you to text me this Scripture every day until I’m through the toughest parts of recovery—because when I wake up with a tube down my throat, I know I’m not going to handle it well.”

So we memorized Joshua 1:9 (NIV):

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

When I woke up with that tube down my throat, the very first thing that came to my mind was:

Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid.
Do not be discouraged.
God is with me.

Every day he texted me that verse—each time with a different picture and an encouraging note. And it helped carry me through several difficult months of recovery.

One day, when I was feeling sorry for myself, I realized one of the reasons God allowed me into that season: He slowed me down long enough to show me things I had never taken time to see.

We started Community Church in the early 1990s. God blessed us, and things looked great—at least on the outside. We grew quickly. From a handful of people…to 150…to 400…to 800…to 1,000. People were amazed. We hired staff, built buildings, expanded parking, added another campus—just trying to keep up. And we were living out our mission of loving God and loving people.

But growth can cover a multitude of weaknesses we don’t even realize are there—because we’re too busy trying to keep growing. 

During my recovery, God showed me we had missed a crucial part of the mission.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV)

We had the love God, love people part down.

But we were missing the go and make disciples part.

“We had the love God, love people part down. But we were missing the go and make disciples part.”

When I returned to church after recovery, I came back with a new passion and a renewed mission. Joel, one of our discipleship pastors, was thrilled—because he had been talking to me for years about making discipleship who we are, not just something we do. I heard him back then—but it didn’t fit how we were doing ministry. So he kept doing his discipleship thing, and the church kept doing its thing.…Until God slowed me down long enough and hit me over the head with a 2×4 just to say:

You need to change your plans…

I think churches are a lot like cruise ships. You get on board and sign up for the excursions and start taking everything in. The food, the shows, the pools, the ocean…and then we get comfortable. We like things the way they are, we don’t want to change, and we resist anything that threatens our comfort.

Trying to change direction in the middle of a cruise is really tough. The older the church (the cruise ship) is, the tougher it is to change. And if you decide to change, you will lose people, you will lose finances, and you will lose your job security.

But I didn’t feel like we had a choice and I have never been afraid to follow wherever I felt God leading.

So we took our mission—and we expanded it. It was “Love God, Love people.” The new mission is

Love God.
Love people.
Help others do the same.

That last part—that’s discipleship.

We want to be disciples who make disciples.

“We want to be disciples who make disciples.”

We began this discipleship journey as a church a year ago. It’s not perfect—but it has changed my life. I started meeting weekly with one guy. After about five months of walking through the life and teachings of Jesus, he was ready to disciple someone else—so he did. I prayed and began another discipleship relationship. After walking through Jesus’ teachings and life, he was ready to disciple someone too—and he’s doing that now. Then I prayed and started a third relationship, which I’m still walking through weekly. I am being changed, and they are being changed, and the church is being changed. And I still meet monthly with the first two guys for encouragement and support—because we all need it.

If I could leave you with one truth, it would be this:

Discipleship is not optional.

It’s not:
“Maybe someday I’ll try that discipleship thing.”

No.

Discipleship is God’s plan.
The church is God’s way of carrying it out.

It’s not another program.
It’s not an add-on to church.

It’s who we are.

“Discipleship is God’s plan. The church is God’s way of carrying it out.”

We are the church when we disciple others—bringing everyone we can to discover God’s love, power, mercy, and grace for everyday life.

Discipleship is not optional.
It must become who we are.