Number
132
Measure Your Effectiveness in Making Disciples
A Bulletin Insert Survey by Patrick Morley
How many churches do you know who have measured their effectiveness in making disciples? Probably not very many!
That’s because not everyone agrees on the importance of making disciples, not everyone agrees on what a disciple is, and it’s difficult to measure effectiveness. Let’s look at these three issues, and then introduce a simple bulletin insert survey you can administer to better understand the effectiveness of your church in disciple-making.
Importance: The Mission of the Church
The last words of Jesus were, “Go and make disciples...” A central mission of the church is to “make disciples...” More millions of people and more billions of dollars have been mobilized by this brief message than any other speech in recorded history.
Disciple Defined
A disciple is called to live in Christ, equipped to live like Christ, and sent to work for Christ. First, they are called to profess faith in Jesus Christ (evangelism). Second, they are equipped in a process of spiritual growth and transformation (teaching). Third, they are sent to minister, bear much fruit, and do good deeds (service). These three aspects of discipleship give us something we can measure...
- Has the person professed faith in Christ?
- Is the person engaged in a process of spiritual growth?
- Is the person serving the Lord?
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In A Survey of Our Church, the first three question directly address these questions. Questions #4 and #5 can be used for verification or, if someone checks “not sure” to #2 or #3, for clarification.
Difficulty in Measuring Effectiveness
However, it is difficult to measure disciple-making effectiveness unless we have a tool, and the will to use it. The next page contains such a tool -- a survey that you use as a bulletin insert, followed by some instructions about how to administer it.
A Survey of Our Church
We are conducting research to understand and improve discipleship within our church. Your help by answering a few quick questions would be invaluable and much appreciated. It’s anonymous, completely confidential, and only takes a minute. Thank you for your help!
PLEASE COMPLETE, FOLD, AND PLACE IN THE OFFERING PLATE TODAY . . .
1. Have you made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ? [ ] yes [ ] no [ ] not sure
2. Are you involved in a process of spiritual growth and transformation? [ ] yes [ ] no [ ] not sure
If “yes,” please describe briefly ___________________________________
3. Are you involved in Christian ministry and service? [ ] yes [ ] no [ ] not sure
If “yes,” please describe briefly __________________________
4. In which of the following do you currently participate?
(Check all that apply):
[ ] Private study (Bible reading and prayer)
[ ] Sunday school
[ ] Men’s small group
[ ] Couples small group
[ ] Home group
[ ] Men’s Bible study
[ ] Couples Bible study
[ ] Internet study
[ ] Other (please describe briefly) _______________
5. Check all the following activities in which you are currently involved:
[ ] Church leadership
[ ] Teacher
[ ] Service projects
[ ] Evangelism
[ ] Disciple-making ministry
[ ] Ushering
[ ] Choir
[ ] Child care
[ ] Committee work
[ ] Mission trips
[ ] Ministry outside the church
[ ] Other (please describe briefly) ________________
6. Age: [ ] under 15 [ ] 15-19 [ ] 20-29 [ ] 30-39 [ ] 40-49 [ ] 50-59 [ ] 60-69 [ ] 70 and over
7. Gender: [ ] male [ ] female
Copyright 2005. Patrick Morley. All rights reserved. This survey may be reproduced with proper attribution for any non-commercial ministry purpose.
How To Administer the Survey
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You will need someone to administer and tabulate the surveys -- a Project Coordinator. The Project Coordinator will:
(a) PREPARATION: Get the surveys inserted in one week’s bulletin (e.g., approvals, number of inserts to be printed). You can photocopy the survey from this article or download a copy at http://www.maninthemirror.org/alm/alm132.htm
(b) EXECUTION: The simplest way to administer the survey is to target one week’s attendees. Have the following statement read during announcements at each weekly church service on the Sunday selected:
“We are conducting research to better understand and improve discipleship in our church. In your bulletin you will find a half sheet of paper entitled “A Survey of Our Church.” Would you please get that in your hands at this time? If you don’t have one, please raise your hand and an usher will bring you one. (Pause). Thank you. Your participation in this survey is voluntary, confidential, and anonymous. Now, would you please take one minute to complete this survey, then fold it, and place it in today’s offering. Thank you.”
(c) COLLECTION: At the end of each service, collect all the surveys, and give them to the Project Coordinator.
(d) TABULATION: Tabulate the results by age and gender. Try to find someone who can present the results graphically.
(e) COMMUNICATION: Decide how to publish the results and any plans that have been developed because of the results (e.g., a leadership planning retreat to consider the results and next steps).
Conclusion
To gather and analyze information about our disciple-making effectiveness is not only wise, but demonstrates good stewardship of the resources God entrusts to us. 1 Corinthians 4:2 puts it this way: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
How many disciples do you have in your church? Do you know what percentage of your congregation are disciples by age and gender?
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