DiscipleShift

Over the last thirty years, many influential church leaders and church planters in America have adopted various models for reaching unchurched people. An “attractional” model seeks to attract people to a local church. Younger leaders may advocate a more “missional” approach, in which believers live and work among unchurched people and intentionally seek to serve like Christ. While each of these approaches have merit, something is still missing, something even more fundamental to the mission of the church: discipleship. Making disciples—helping people to trust and follow Jesus—is the church’s God-given mandate. Discipleship empowers Christians to be more like Christ, and devoted disciples attract people outside the church because of the change others see in them. DiscipleShift walks pastors and church leaders through the five key “shifts” that churches must make to refocus on that biblical mission. These intentional changes will attract the world and empower believers to be salt and light in their communities.