Building a Clear Path of Discipleship in your Parish (ft. Jim Jansen)
Summary
In this conversation, Brian Miller interviews Jim Jansen, the author of the book 'A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.' They discuss the concept of a clear path of discipleship and how it can help parishes effectively make and mature disciples. They also talk about the importance of conversion, clarity, and connection in building a missional parish. Jim Jansen shares his personal story of faith and how he became involved in evangelization. The conversation highlights the need for a coaching approach rather than a consulting model when working with parishes.
The conversation explores the importance of conversion and growth in ministry, and the need for a clear path to help make and mature disciples. It emphasizes the shift from focusing on mass attendance and numbers to the transformation of lives and the ability to equip individuals for their personal mission. The conversation also discusses the challenges and roadblocks in implementing a clear path, such as the need for a team and the importance of discernment and assessment. It concludes with practical advice for pastors and lay leaders who want to implement a clear path in their parish.
Keywords
clear path, discipleship, missional parish, conversion, clarity, connection, coaching, consulting, evangelization, conversion, growth, clear path, discipleship, ministry, mass attendance, transformation, equipping, challenges, roadblocks, team, discernment, assessment, practical advice
Takeaways
- A clear path of discipleship is a plan or framework for making and maturing disciples in a parish.
- A missional parish is one that is aware of its mission to make disciples and is attentive to its members as well as its neighborhood.
- The three key elements of a clear path are conversion, clarity, and connection.
- A coaching approach, where parish leaders are seen as the experts and are guided in self-discovery, is more effective than a consulting model.
- Every ministry in a parish, no matter how small, contributes to the mission of making disciples. Conversion and growth should be the focus of ministry, rather than simply mass attendance and numbers.
- A clear path is essential in helping make and mature disciples and equipping individuals for their personal mission.
- Building a team and conducting assessments are important steps in implementing a clear path.
- The desire for change and the vision for the parish should be strong enough to overcome the challenges and roadblocks.
- Practical advice for pastors and lay leaders includes taking time for personal discernment, building a team, and being patient and persistent in drawing others into the mission.
Sound Bites
- "A clear path of discipleship is like the highway, the main thing."
- "A missional parish is aware that it has been missioned, that it's a missionary outpost to its neighborhood."
- "Every little ministry in a parish is contributing to the larger mission of making disciples."
- "Conversion is the goal. Growth and maturity is the goal."
- "Engagement is not the goal. Like conversion is the goal."
- "A clear path gives you the opportunity to connect all the elements of evangelization."
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Music: Wildfire by Mary Kate Westrich. Used with permission.
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