Believers or Disciples?

I have been invited to speak at an event in November on evangelism and discipleship in rural areas.

While I have a wealth of material on rural evangelism, I am still gathering material on rural discipleship, and would value any contribution anyone can make.  It would be particularly helpful to learn of any active programmes in rural area where the intention is clearly the making of disciples rather than the making of believers.

You may well be aware that the issue of discipleship has been raised in several denominations.  I am curious as to why this is and how it is being worked out.  Any information you have on this would also be helpful.

I am interested in how discipleship is being defined, if indeed it is being defined.  Is it understood in terms of the quality of personal devotional life, in terms of holiness, or in terms of mission?  How would you define discipleship?

I am also curious as to how the concept of discipleship sits with the concept of ‘committed Christian’ – a term common among evangelical Christians.  Is that expression something that people are familiar with today?  In the past it was usually understood in terms of support for two Sunday services plus at least two mid-week meetings each week!  Has it become redefined or are there just less committed Christians around!

Most churches in rural Britain, by reason of their denominational identity, are already committed to the ‘Five Marks of Mission’ of which one is the proclamation of the gospel, and another the making of disciples.  It seems to me that in rural Britain, unlike rural areas of many other countries, there is not a great deal of evidence of such a commitment.  Am I wrong?

Preparing for this talk is likely to produce an interesting, and perhaps helpful, paper.  I hope to make that available.  If you would like to make brief comments on any of the aspects raised above you can either leave them below or email me at barry@ruralmissions.org.uk.

Thank you.

Barry