I used to think people need options, maybe even lots of options when engaging their discipleship pathways. For a while I was kind of anti-steps, bases or check-points.
People do need choices, right?
There is some merit to this way of thinking. The more limited and fewer options a system has, the more people it will not serve. If you’re a door company and you only offer brown doors, you’re only going to serve people who want a brown door or who are willing to settle with a brown door.
I discovered that too many options however could be equally as bad. It’s kind of like the scene with Aladdin and the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin. The scene where they are on the magic carpet and Aladdin is informed that there are exits in all directions. If our people have discipleship options in every direction, how can they determine which direction is the best for them. (Do I work on prayer and Bible study or do I go and participate in an outreach project?)
Shouldn't we have a system that directs people where to go?
As it turns out, some people approach things in life linearly; and others are never concerned if something has a sequential order. Some people want step by step direction and some individuals have a more adventurous approach to their discipleship path.
The discipleship systems in our church should encourage the people who need a first and second step approach to growth, and our system should envision the adventurous individuals to try something new in their spiritual growth too.
These days, I'm finding that each step (linear step) needs just two or three choices. Choices that help a person 'triage' their next best step. I also believe that we have to be OK with people bypassing whatever system we're using. I'm not going to say some people are rebellious, just that they like to find their own way of doing things.
How about you, do you need steps or choices… maybe a mix of both?
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