Where Did Discipleship Go?
A Wake-Up Call to the Modern Church
The greatest danger in today’s church isn’t persecution from the outside. It’s passivity from within.
We often talk about the threat of culture, secularism, or government pressure. But the real danger is inside the church. The modern church is growing in size, but shrinking in depth. Somewhere along the way, we traded spiritual formation for performance, Scripture for soundbites, and rebranded discipleship as optional — something for the “super spiritual.”
The result is a church that may be full on Sundays, but spiritually malnourished the rest of the week.
What Is Discipleship, Really?
Discipleship isn’t a ministry department. It’s not a six-week course or a catchy sermon series.
Discipleship means following Jesus, every day, in every way. It means denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and walking in obedience (Luke 9:23). It’s not an event, it’s a lifestyle.
But in many modern churches, the call to follow Jesus has been softened into a call to attend, consume, and feel good.
Jesus didn’t call converts. He called disciples.
When we look at the early church in Acts 2:42–47, we see a community marked by devotion, to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to prayer, and to sacrificial generosity. They weren’t just attending a service once a week. They were living the Gospel together, every day. Because of that, the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Compare that to today. We measure church success by how many seats are filled, not how many lives are surrendered. We offer coffee bars and concert lights, but where is the call to die to self, to repent, to follow?
The Church of Comfort
The modern church has become too concerned with how people feel, and not nearly concerned enough with their souls.
Sermons are often shaped around sensitivity instead of sanctification. We’re told not to offend, not to challenge too directly, just “love people.” But love without truth isn’t love at all. It’s enablement.
Jesus offended people.
He also washed feet.
He called sinners to repent, and He showed them grace.
He was never passive, and neither were His disciples.
Now we’re creating church experiences where the biggest concern is keeping people comfortable and entertained. The church has become a product, and we’ve become consumers.
Outreach or Optics?
Community outreach used to mean going out with the Gospel, bringing hope, food, prayer, and salvation to the streets.
Now, it often looks more like brand-building.
We sponsor events, hand out t-shirts, and post about it on social media. But are we making disciples, or just impressions?
It’s not wrong to be relevant.
It’s not wrong to care about presentation.
But when production value becomes more important than spiritual value, something is deeply off.
Jesus wasn’t looking for fans.
He was calling followers.
Followers who would leave everything to walk with Him.
Followers who would suffer, sacrifice, and serve.
Why the Decline in Discipleship?
Because discipleship costs something.
It requires time, vulnerability, accountability, and perseverance.
It’s not instant. It’s not flashy. It’s slow, deep work.
And in a culture obsessed with convenience, that doesn’t sell well.
Many churches would rather invest in what grows fast than in what grows deep.
But fast-growing things without strong roots won’t last. They collapse when storms come (Matthew 7:24–27).
The Western church is experiencing a slow erosion of depth.
We’re loud, but shallow.
Active, but not anchored.
Busy, but not bearing lasting fruit.
So, What Can We Do?
- Return to the Word
Make Scripture the foundation again, not just from the pulpit, but in homes, small groups, and personal lives. The Word transforms. Programs don’t. - Re-center on Jesus, Not Church Culture
Are we making better followers of Jesus, or just better churchgoers? There’s a difference. - Embrace the Cost
Discipleship will cost you time, comfort, pride, and popularity. But it’s worth everything. Jesus is worth everything. - Challenge, Don’t Just Comfort
Speak truth in love. Call people higher. Invite them into obedience, not just attendance. - Rebuild Real Community
Look at Acts 2. Smaller, deeper, Spirit-led communities, where people walk together, confess, pray, and grow together.
Let’s Be The Church
What happened to Christ’s Church?
We traded devotion for distraction.
We settled for crowds instead of cross-carrying followers.
But it’s not too late.
Jesus is still building His church, not the comfortable, casual, consumer-driven one, but the one He promised the gates of hell would not overcome.
It starts with us, one heart, one home, one gathering at a time.
Let’s not just go to church. Let’s be the Church.
Let’s make disciples again.
Stay strong and rooted, Brothers and Sisters,
– Douglas
