Arizona Southern Baptist Convention

Churches must empower disciples, not just attract a crowd, a seminary professor recently told ministry leaders.

"What if we count the number passionately pursuing God instead of the number in the congregation?" asked Jim L. Wilson, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary professor and author of Soul Shaping: Disciplines that Conform You to the Image of Christ, LifeWay's 2010 doctrine study.

"We need to come to the understanding that the job is not about attracting a lot of people in one place, but making disciples and empowering them," he told more than 50 pastors attending a Spiritual Formation Workshop at Golden Gate's Arizona Campus March 2.

Like a business, a church must consider her product -- making disciples of Jesus -- and determine how to best produce them.

"One size-fits-all discipleship fits no one. Discipleship is participation with God as He adjusts you to the likeness of Christ," Wilson said, noting that spiritual growth often comes during life's difficult times.

"Things we do in church are based on the ends," he continued. "We decide to do a program based on what the ends are."

Traditionally, that means using an activity model.

By this method, a person far from God participates in church activity that should produce a person who loves God and loves others.

"You can be an active church member and starving on the inside," Wilson said. "Worship services once a week, no matter how good, will still leave people malnourished."

Churches must begin with the basics.

"At some point, we must teach people to read God's Word, believe it and live it," he said, emphasizing the need to meditate on God's Word. "It's time to live what we say we believe -- not just pastor, but people too."

Sharing examples of churches that are equipping their members to minister, Wilson challenged the pastors to teach people how to enter God's presence and to recognize His voice.

Keeping "the Sabbath holy," is essential, he said. "When we don't rest, we are saying to God, you can't do it without me."

Believers should see themselves as ministers.

"If you are a core member, it's your responsibility to encourage one another in your walk with God. I don't mean just to encourage them to attend worship, but ask, ‘How is your prayer life?'" Wilson explained. "Instead of talking about the football game, we need to encourage one another and take responsibility for spiritual health of one another."

Believers must love the church.

"Does it offend anyone that we have ‘church shoppers?' Don't kick the tires of the local church," he cautioned. "Who are we to criticize the bride of Christ like we do?"