Measuring What Matters: How to Track True Discipleship in Your Church

It’s been said that we value what we measure. If all of our ministry activities were summed up in one mission to “make disciples,” how do we measure success?

At a pastors conference I attended recently, we were presented with the work of a large research organisation in the US. In order to measure discipleship among youth, they identified six traits:

1. Believe God exists and they can have a personal relationship with Him.
2. Pray at least weekly.
3. Read Scripture on their own at least weekly.
4. Believe Jesus is the Son of God.
5. Believe that forgiveness of sins is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ.
6. Believe the Bible is the Word of God.

This type of list is typical of many of our discipleship measures. Four of these traits are beliefs; two are practises. Can you see a problem?

While all of these traits may be helpful in following Jesus, none of them describe outcomes. Indeed, you could successfully check all six items, and you’ll have described the equivalent of a first century Pharisee! The religious elite of Jesus’ day believed all the right things and engaged in all the right practises but still missed Jesus. (John 5:39)

Instead, we must turn to Jesus’ criteria for discipleship.

Discipleship You Can See: Why Behavior Tells the True Story

Jesus described the essence of discipleship in two words, “follow me.” (Matt. 4:19) Then, after he left the earth, he sent the Holy Spirit to continue the process. The way of discipleship today therefore involves recognising and responding to Jesus’ continuing voice in the Spirit. The pathway involves taking up our cross, denying ourselves and losing our lives in order to find them (Luke 9:23-24). Therefore all our God conversations will lead us to a cross where we experience the death of sin followed by resurrection on the other side (Matt. 16:25).

The specific process of “followship” won’t look the same for every one of us, even while the ultimate destination is the same. Resurrection life is most fully expressed when we love our enemies, forgive those who hurt us and show generosity without expectation of return. We become like the One we follow (Gal. 4:19). We become more like Jesus. (For more on the making of a disciple, see Chapter 13, Harris, Tania M. The Church Who Hears God’s Voice. Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2022.)

Our chief measure of discipleship must then be behavioural change… Not just singing the right songs, following the right rituals and quoting the right Scripture verses. In Jesus’ words, we identify a disciple by the fruit we’re displaying (Matt. 7:18,20) and the love that we’re showing (John 13:35). Disciples are “sheep” known for their actions, not “goats” known for their claim to be (Matthew 25:31-46).

The Testimony Tally: Listening for Evidence of Transformation

This type of measure of course is not always straightforward. It is far easier to count people in the pews and dollars in the bank, than acts of repentance and grace. We must use qualitative methods rather than quantitative. The best way to do this is by collecting testimonies – stories of individuals who have heard from the Spirit and responded with courage and faith.

Take for example, a report from one church in Canberra who recently participated in 50 Days of God Conversations:

“All are saying that they have grown in their ability to discern the Lord’s voice or that they have heard Him for the first time. The practical outworking of this has been seen in many ways: people knowing a greater peace and sense of faith in the midst of trials; others taking steps of faith, such as changing careers that they otherwise would not have made; and more people in our congregation receiving encouragement and words for individuals and for our Church body as a whole.”

The report went on to share specific testimonies around a marriage that was restored and a person’s journey to forgive her father. They are profound measures of a community who together learnt how to recognise and respond to the Spirit and are now experiencing the fruit of changed lives.

Collecting testimonies such as these calls us to listen to people’s stories on the ground. It requires us to become attentive to the work of the Spirit in our own lives and in the lives of others. It calls us to ask the question; What is the Spirit speaking to you about? and then to listen carefully for the answer. When we do this, we will see the fruit of true discipleship.

Testimonies that Teach: Sharing Stories to Build a Discipling Culture

Our use of testimonies does not end here. As my PhD research showed, testimonies were a powerful tool for facilitating a culture where everyone is recognising the Spirit in their own lives. They are not just time fillers for a Sunday service or a moment of inspiration. Testimonies are teachers. When your congregation members share their story, they reinforce the key messages that 1. Everyone can hear from God, 2. Lives are changed when that voice is recognised and responded to.

Sharing testimonies with our congregations takes time and intentionality. Once they’ve been received, consider how best they can be delivered to your congregation. You may opt for pre-recording which allows for later editing. If you opt for live testimonials, take time to coach the individuals to avoid unnecessary rabbit trails and focus on the key points. You should further consider privacy issues – the use of pseudonyms may be necessary to protect the dignity of others.

How ever you choose to use testimonies in your church, let’s be leaders who are attentive to the Spirit among the lives of our congregation members. As we learn to measure the fruits of discipleship, we will reinforce their value for others. We encourage you to use testimonies as a powerful tool for assessing the work of the Spirit in your church.

Reflection and Action Questions

What percentage of your church are experiencing the Spirit in a tangible way?

What testimonies of the Spirit have you heard this week?

Ask three individuals this week, What is the Spirit talking to you about?