{"id":33393,"date":"2022-08-02T11:38:54","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T15:38:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/liveoriginal.com\/?p=33393"},"modified":"2023-02-02T12:00:54","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T17:00:54","slug":"four-common-barriers-to-making-disciples-of-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/liveoriginal.com\/four-common-barriers-to-making-disciples-of-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Common Barriers to Making Disciples of Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"

My husband, RJ, and I were deeply motivated to care for the ethnic minority students in our ministry and to make our ministry feel more welcoming for everyone. We love these students deeply, and we were grieved to hear how they were hurting. Of course we\u2019d want to make changes to serve them!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But when we began to do so, I was surprised by some internal resistance that rose up within me.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It would be easier to just keep things the same.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What will the majority of those in our ministry think about these changes?<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do I have the time to learn new songs and styles of playing the guitar?<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What if my guitar skills aren\u2019t good enough?<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Though we may recognize that disciplemaking is a calling from God, that it\u2019s a good thing, and that we should be doing it\u2014and though we may be highly motivated to do so\u2014we may encounter some internal opposition that keeps us from making the changes we want to make.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A recent discipleship study by the Barna Group provides some insight into the most common challenges and barriers to overcome in disciplemaking. According to their research, some themes emerge from these challenges and barriers to disciplemaking. We can break them down into four categories:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. A lack of resourcing (i.e., wanting to learn from someone how to do it well and not having the right materials)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    1. Prioritizing disciplemaking among other responsibilities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      1. Not wanting to \u201cmake it weird\u201d (i.e., finding ways to keep it engaging over time and feeling like your beliefs would be imposed on someone else)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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        1. Lack of confidence in disciplemaking<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Can you relate to any of these challenges? The good news is that you\u2019re not alone\u2014and you have what it takes to conquer every one of these challenges. Challenges can feel daunting in the abstract, but when we take a closer look at them, more often than not we can find a way through.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          LACK OF RESOURCING<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          Do you want someone to teach you how to disciple well? Don\u2019t just find someone to teach you, <\/span>find someone to disciple you<\/span><\/i>. Learn from experiencing it firsthand. Don\u2019t get me wrong. Resources on disciplemaking can be incredibly helpful, and they\u2019re an excellent starting point for gaining knowledge, learning techniques, and finding inspiration. (Please keep reading this book!) But you\u2019ll learn what disciplemaking actually looks like if you\u2019re being discipled.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          Ask your pastor, your discipler or mentor, or someone whose walk with Jesus you admire for resources that have been helpful to them in their disciplemaking.<\/span><\/p>\n

          PRIORITIZING DISCIPLEMAKING AMONG OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          If we\u2019re to restore disciplemaking as a priority in the Christian life, we must start with the conviction that it is a calling not just for pastors and those in full-time ministry but for <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> disciples of Jesus. We must talk about disciplemaking from the pulpit, within our church communities, in our friendships, and in our discipling relationships. Disciplemaking must be a regular part of our conversations about what it means to live the Christian life with others.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          And then we must make an honest assessment of our lives: Is what I am giving my time to reflective of what is most important in the kingdom of God? Are my life and priorities truly aligned with God\u2019s? And if God led someone who wanted to be discipled into my life, does my pace of life provide enough space to do so? What would it cost me to obey Jesus\u2019 calling in this way?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t