Most pastors care deeply about discipleship. But many churches struggle to clearly communicate how spiritual growth actually happens.
According to Lifeway Research, only 8% of pastors strongly agree their church is effective at discipleship and spiritual formation. That’s not because pastors don’t care. It’s because many church discipleship plans are difficult to explain, hard to repeat, and unclear to the average person in the pew.
In this practical and encouraging Zoom Meeting, church branding strategist Mark MacDonald from Be Known For Something will help pastors simplify and communicate a discipleship path people can actually follow.
You’ll learn:
Why most church discipleship plans stall
The communication mistakes that confuse people
How to create a simple discipleship framework
Ways to communicate next steps clearly and consistently
How to know if your discipleship strategy is actually working
This session is designed for busy pastors and ministry leaders who want practical next steps they can implement immediately. Because discipleship is too important to be unclear.
Key Takeaways
Clarity Creates Movement
Discipleship plans often stall not because of a lack of passion, but due to a lack of clarity. Confusion causes people to stand still, so if your path isn’t obvious, congregants will struggle to take the next step
Avoid Complexity and Insider Language
Effective discipleship communication must be simple. If a plan is too complicated or relies on “insider language” that a first-time guest wouldn’t understand, people will ignore it
Use the “CLEAR” Framework
To create a successful discipleship path, follow these five steps: Clarify the destination (what does spiritual maturity look like?) Label the steps simply (keep it to 3–5 steps) Explain it repeatedly (consistency is key) Align every ministry (all programming should support the path) Reinforce next steps constantly
Measure Movement, Not Attendance
Stop measuring just service attendance, which can be an easy trap for pastors. Instead, measure transformation and celebrate the stories of individuals who are actually moving forward down the path
The Power of “Say Their Name, Speak Their Pain”
To engage people, frame your communication by saying their name, speaking their pain (the real-life issues they are facing), offering a solution to proclaim, and then showing the gain through the testimonies of others who have gone through the process
