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The State of Discipleship
What is the current state of discipleship in the Church? How is it defined and understood? what are the hallmarks of transformative discipleship, and how do we measure its outcomes? What resources and models are necessary for effective discipleship in the 21st century?
With these questions in mind, The Navigators commissioned Barn Group to design a comprehensive, multi-phase study of churches, leaders and Christian adults. The State of Discipleship is the culmination of Barna's research and analysis.
Making disciples is an imperative delivered by Jesus in the Great Commission. The State of Discipleship evaluates how effectively the Church is carrying out that command and where there is need for better models or mindsets—or both.
With these questions in mind, The Navigators commissioned Barn Group to design a comprehensive, multi-phase study of churches, leaders and Christian adults. The State of Discipleship is the culmination of Barna's research and analysis.
Making disciples is an imperative delivered by Jesus in the Great Commission. The State of Discipleship evaluates how effectively the Church is carrying out that command and where there is need for better models or mindsets—or both.
144 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2015
15 people want to read
About the author
George Barna
150 books68 followersGeorge Barna was raised and educated on the East Coast before moving to California in the early 1980s. He held executive positions in advertising, public policy, political campaigns, and media/marketing research before beginning his own company, the Barna Research Group (now The Barna Group), in 1984. The firm analyzes American culture and creates resources and experiences designed to facilitate moral and spiritual transformation. Located in Ventura, California, The Barna Group provides primary research as well as developmental resources and analytic diagnostics. The company has served several hundred parachurch ministries and thousands of Christian churches throughout the country. It has also supplied research to for-profit corporations such as Ford Motor Company, The Walt Disney Company, Visa USA, and Prudential, and has assisted the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army as well.
To date, George Barna has written more than 40 books, predominantly in the areas of leadership, trends, spiritual development, and church health. Included among them are bestsellers such as Revolution, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, The Frog in the Kettle, The Power of Vision, and Pagan Christianity? Several of his books have received national awards. He has also written for numerous periodicals and has published various syndicated reports on topics related to faith and lifestyle. He also writes a bimonthly research report, The Barna Update, which is accessed by hundreds of thousands of people through his firm's Web site (www.barna.org). His work is frequently cited as an authoritative source by the media. He has been hailed as "the most quoted person in the Christian church today" and is counted among its most influential leaders. In 2009, George initiated Metaformation, a new organization designed to help people maximize their potential. More information about his current projects is available from www.georgebarna.com.
Barna is a popular speaker at ministry conferences around the world and has taught at several universities and seminaries. He has served as a pastor of a large multiethnic church, has been involved in several church plants, and currently leads an organic church. He has served on the board of directors of various organizations. After graduating summa cum laude from Boston College, Barna earned two master's degrees from Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he was awarded the Eagleton Fellowship. He also received a doctorate from Dallas Baptist University. He lives with his wife and their three daughters in Southern California. He enjoys spending time with his family, writing, reading novels, playing and listening to guitar, relaxing on the beach, visiting bookstores, and eating pizza.
To date, George Barna has written more than 40 books, predominantly in the areas of leadership, trends, spiritual development, and church health. Included among them are bestsellers such as Revolution, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, The Frog in the Kettle, The Power of Vision, and Pagan Christianity? Several of his books have received national awards. He has also written for numerous periodicals and has published various syndicated reports on topics related to faith and lifestyle. He also writes a bimonthly research report, The Barna Update, which is accessed by hundreds of thousands of people through his firm's Web site (www.barna.org). His work is frequently cited as an authoritative source by the media. He has been hailed as "the most quoted person in the Christian church today" and is counted among its most influential leaders. In 2009, George initiated Metaformation, a new organization designed to help people maximize their potential. More information about his current projects is available from www.georgebarna.com.
Barna is a popular speaker at ministry conferences around the world and has taught at several universities and seminaries. He has served as a pastor of a large multiethnic church, has been involved in several church plants, and currently leads an organic church. He has served on the board of directors of various organizations. After graduating summa cum laude from Boston College, Barna earned two master's degrees from Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he was awarded the Eagleton Fellowship. He also received a doctorate from Dallas Baptist University. He lives with his wife and their three daughters in Southern California. He enjoys spending time with his family, writing, reading novels, playing and listening to guitar, relaxing on the beach, visiting bookstores, and eating pizza.
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February 6, 2017
This is a must-read for pastors and church leaders.
So thankful for this resource from Barna and the Navigators. Insights from data show some startling facts about the state of discipleship. And it starts with most not even knowing what discipleship is. Unless church leaders define discipleship, show a clear plan, and cast vision in their top 3 values, chances are there is little to no discipleship taking place in a congregation. Many of the congregation just hasn't thought about it. Only 1 in 5 Christians are involved in some sort of discipleship activity (pg 56). And those activities could be as simples as attending a small group or Sunday School. The main blockers to people participating in discipleship are busyness and apathy. The stats show that there are no major barriers hindering discipleship, but rather we've weakly invested in spiritual development (pg 60). Less than 1% of pastors have used a survey method for evaluating spiritual condition (pg 70). Pastors either aren't measuring discipleship growth, or are using "simple" measurements such as attendance, giving, and program attendance.
I love this idea that Discipleship more of an identity than an activity (pg 72). A follower is a student/apprentice of Jesus. It's not a program, time, place, or assignment, but rather a 100% all in lifestyle. I really believe this is the center issue with the slowly dying church in the west. We've traded radical discipleship for easy belief-ism, impressive buildings, and growth in numbers.
I'd recommend this book to any Christian leader. I'm so proud of Barna and the Navigators for publishing this as a needed awareness. The book has useful data and loads of resources to get you or your church in gear with making disciples. I've also grown a new appreciation for the Navigators and all they do. Disappointed to see they aren't yet in my area!
So thankful for this resource from Barna and the Navigators. Insights from data show some startling facts about the state of discipleship. And it starts with most not even knowing what discipleship is. Unless church leaders define discipleship, show a clear plan, and cast vision in their top 3 values, chances are there is little to no discipleship taking place in a congregation. Many of the congregation just hasn't thought about it. Only 1 in 5 Christians are involved in some sort of discipleship activity (pg 56). And those activities could be as simples as attending a small group or Sunday School. The main blockers to people participating in discipleship are busyness and apathy. The stats show that there are no major barriers hindering discipleship, but rather we've weakly invested in spiritual development (pg 60). Less than 1% of pastors have used a survey method for evaluating spiritual condition (pg 70). Pastors either aren't measuring discipleship growth, or are using "simple" measurements such as attendance, giving, and program attendance.
I love this idea that Discipleship more of an identity than an activity (pg 72). A follower is a student/apprentice of Jesus. It's not a program, time, place, or assignment, but rather a 100% all in lifestyle. I really believe this is the center issue with the slowly dying church in the west. We've traded radical discipleship for easy belief-ism, impressive buildings, and growth in numbers.
I'd recommend this book to any Christian leader. I'm so proud of Barna and the Navigators for publishing this as a needed awareness. The book has useful data and loads of resources to get you or your church in gear with making disciples. I've also grown a new appreciation for the Navigators and all they do. Disappointed to see they aren't yet in my area!
Displaying 1 of 1 review