How does your church define a disciple?
Salvation?
Service?
Small Group?
Prayer?
Devotion?
Reproduction?
Etc….
I read an article on customer service that pointed out a fact frequently over looked….
 We Move what we Measure
So, I don’t intend to convince you or alter your definition of what a true disciple of Jesus looks like or does. What I want to do is challenge you on how important the command to make disciples is to you.
Make a list, a minimum of five, of the qualities you genuinely feel needs to be a requirement of a real disciple of Jesus. Then ask yourself these questions…
- How are we measuring that now?
- How could we measure it?
- What is a win in that area?
- If we can’t measure it, what other metric can we use?
- If we don’t see a win, what will we shift?
These are just a few vital questions that need to be measured. Can you think of another question or metric that needs to be considered?Â
Reminds me of the Peter Drucker quote,“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” But isn’t the premise of the whole exercise flawed? Can discipleship really be measured from outward observations before it is tested? I would suggest that the measure of a disciple can only be defined as that degree of one’s personal commitment to humble servitude of the one being followed. How can you measure one’s level of commitment? Certainly we can measure as “high” that level of discipleship displayed by those followers of Christ who died martyrs deaths for Him. I need to think this through a bit more
Wait a minute. Since
most of the disciples died a martyr’s death for their beliefs, maybe the minimum
standard of measurement for discipleship is simply – are you willing to die. That certainly appears to be the type of
disciples Christ chose, and we know that He doesn’t change.
Hey Artie,
I missed this one the first time around, so thanks for re-tweeting it. Having said that, I have to argue with your premise – even though it’s one of the foundational principles of the church growth movement.
We don’t measure the things that matter.
We measure the things we manage.
It strikes me that your premise would be accepted by every accountant and administrator in the world, but not by one artist. And here’s why.
How do we measure art? By audience? If so, Gangnam Style is the greatest music video of all time. Sales? That makes Thomas Kinkaid a greater painter than Gaugin, Matisse and Renoir combined. Price? Then a ticket for a One Direction concert is more valuable than having been on the street in London when the Beatles threw their impromptu final (and free) concert on the rooftop of Apple studios. Size? Then the tiny Mona Lisa is of less artistic merit than the banners made by a high school pep team.
We need to measure what we can manage – money, facilities, schedules and the like. That’s good stewardship. But let’s not fall into the trap of thinking we have more control than we do. The most important things in life – art, beauty, love and salvation – are immeasurable.
Plus, did Jesus use any term that even comes close to the word “metrics”?
Yes, I know Jesus told parables about turning small numbers into larger numbers. I’m also aware that he debriefed the disciples after sending them out two-by-two. And of course Jesus ministered to some large crowds. And someone counted those crowds. That all involves metrics.
But I also know that it wasn’t Jesus who measured the crowds, because whoever did, only counted the men. (Matt 14:21 & 15:28) So if we measure what matters… [Ouch!]
Jesus told us that our ideas about what’s important to measure are often wrong – like counting only the men. According to him, the humble will be exalted, the weak will be strong, the widow’s mite is the biggest offering of all, and women and children count, even to people who don’t count them.
So let’s count what can be counted, manage what we can manage and measure what needs to be measured. That gives us a baseline of competence upon which great things can be built. But let’s not be deluded into believing that our measuring gives us the ability to move anything that matters.
If we measure what we manage, may God give us the joy of an unmanageable, uncontrollable outbreak of joy, ministry, salvation and wonder.
Thanks Karl, I really do agree with you bro! Some of the most important things can’t me measured, however, the very things that can’t be measured produce fruit that can be measured. So we must see to those things, if not we will fall into complacency and not be willing to change.
Really appreciate you input!
instead of measuring disciples, lets measure maturity. the Scriptures give a lit of help to that.