Discipleship Models

These three graphics provide a clear visual representation of two contrasting approaches to ministry: the inferior discipleship model, which operates primarily in a formalized counseling context, and the superior discipleship model, which thrives in the environment of the local church with intentional, life-on-life interaction. Let’s analyze the graphics and unpack their significance within the framework of biblical discipleship.

Graphic 1: Inferior Discipleship Model

The first graphic depicts two individuals standing apart within a rigid and formalized context. The star between them symbolizes the counseling event—a structured, scheduled meeting that is isolated from the rest of life. This model highlights a stark limitation: time and relationship.

• Limited Time: The “two-hour session” captures the essence of the counseling-only model. Even if these sessions occur weekly, the counselee spends only a minuscule portion of their life receiving guidance (2), while the remaining hours (166) are spent immersed in their chaotic realities. This model risks being a “band-aid” solution, attempting to provide order in a structured setting while the counselee returns to a life of disorder.
• Lack of Relationship: Typically, this model involves two individuals who are not doing life together. The counselor and counselee engage in conversation without deeper relational investment. There is no shared context, no communal life, and no opportunity to model biblical living beyond the confines of the counseling room.

This approach, while potentially helpful in moments of crisis, falls short as a long-term strategy because it isolates transformation from the rhythms and relationships of daily life. It resembles a doctor performing triage on the battlefield with limited resources—valuable but insufficient for comprehensive care.

Graphic 2: Superior Discipleship Model

This graphic illustrates the alternative: a full-body, life-on-life discipleship model within the church. Here, the two individuals are surrounded by numerous contact points, representing various avenues for relationship and ministry. The breadth of interaction is essential:

• Multiple Touchpoints: Discipleship occurs in the natural flow of life. Weekly church meetings, small groups, hospitality, shared ministry, and informal connections (e.g., texting, emailing, attending events together) create a web of relational influence. These ongoing interactions allow believers to speak into each other’s lives continuously, addressing issues as they arise and fostering accountability.
• Intentional Intrusion: This model embraces the concept of living in biblical community, where members willingly allow others to know, encourage, and confront them. It moves beyond the artificiality of formal counseling sessions and embeds discipleship in the everyday experiences of life.

This comprehensive approach mirrors a fully staffed hospital where everyone plays a role in the healing process. The church, as a community, bears one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), creating an environment where fewer problems escalate to the point of requiring formal counseling.

Graphic 3: Two Discipleship Models

The third graphic juxtaposes the two approaches. The contrast is stark:

1. Counseling (Inferior Model):
   1. Focuses on isolated events.
   2. Relies on the expertise of one individual.
   3. Functions apart from the life of the church.
   4. Lacks integration into the counselee’s everyday life.
2. Discipleship (Superior Model):
   1. Involves the whole church body.
   2. Engages in regular, multifaceted interactions.
   3. Empowers believers to minister to one another.
   4. Seamlessly integrates into life’s natural rhythms.

This side-by-side comparison underscores the inadequacy of a counseling-only model and the richness of church-based discipleship.

Case Study: Biff and Mable

The Inferior Model
Biff and Mable’s marriage is on the rocks. They decide to seek counseling but insist on keeping their struggles hidden from the church. Their rationale is understandable but flawed—they want a quick fix without the vulnerability of involving their community. They believe that if the counselor can resolve their issues in private, they can reenter church life without anyone knowing.

However, this approach isolates them from the very means of grace God has provided: the body of Christ. The counselor, functioning in a sterile context, has limited time and relational influence. Biff and Mable leave each session only to return to their chaotic lives, with little support or accountability between meetings. The counseling process feels like “one step forward, three steps back,” as the counselor’s guidance is swallowed by the ongoing turbulence of their daily lives.

The Superior Model
In contrast, imagine Biff and Mable engaging with a church that practices the superior discipleship model. Here’s how this could unfold:

1. Transparency: Biff and Mable share their struggles with their small group leader, who immediately comes alongside them with compassion and care. This leader, in turn, informs the pastor or church leadership, ensuring that the couple receives appropriate guidance.
2. Counseling Plus Training: The counselor involves the small group leader in the sessions. This creates a “twofer” benefit—Biff and Mable receive specialized care while the leader is equipped to disciple them more effectively in the future. This builds the small group leader’s capacity to minister to others with similar struggles.
3. Community Engagement: Beyond the counseling sessions, Biff and Mable experience the love and support of their church family. Members invite them into their homes for meals, babysit their kids to give them a break, and pray with them regularly. They sense the presence of Christ through the intentional care of His people.
4. Transformation Through Relationship: The consistent, multifaceted engagement allows for lasting change. Issues are addressed not only in the counseling room but also in real-time, as members of the church walk alongside Biff and Mable in everyday life. This relational discipleship fosters transformation at the heart level.

Key Insights

1. Counseling as a Subset: Counseling should not stand alone but function as part of the church’s broader discipleship ministry. The church provides the necessary relational framework for counseling to be effective.
2. Preventative Discipleship: When the church operates as a fully engaged body, fewer issues rise to the level of formal counseling. Intentional relationships within the church create an environment where problems are addressed early, often informally, and with greater relational depth.
3. The Power of Community: True transformation occurs in the context of relationships. The church, as a hospital for the soul, offers comprehensive care that no individual counselor can provide.

By choosing the superior discipleship model, the church fulfills its biblical calling to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12) and to live as a community that reflects the love and wisdom of Christ.

Find all our graphics here.

Peace,
Rick