ECCLESIOLOGY Part 10 - THE CHRISTOFORMITY PATHWAY OF A LOCAL CHURCH

For anyone to take their Christianity seriously requires that they believe the will of God for them is to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). Thus, being a disciple of Jesus is to walk on the pathway of and to Christoformity (being increasingly conformed into the image of Christ). Another way the Bible describes this spiritual journey and its link to the role of a local church appears in Ephesians 4 -

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

EPHESIANS 4:12-15

 While each local church has a collective purpose (what a church congregation is called to do together) it also has a mission directed at each individual: their Christoformity. This is not just the focus of the pastor, based on the ministries referred to by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:11, it is the ministry of each diverse ministry-gifted person within (or connected to) a local church. In Ephesians 4 Paul uses the word maturity (Gr. teleios) for our term Christoformity. This is why each local church committed to Christoformity is like a bird which can only fly with two wings as it seeks to facilitate their congregation collectively worshiping together, [wing #1:] through singing their adoration of God, commemorating Holy Communion, heeding God’s Word for the congregation, “the passing of the peace” (fellowship), presenting offerings, exercising spiritual gifts, Scripture readings and prayers; and, [wing #2:]  one-on one (or small-group) discipleship through Bible study, systematic theological, pastoral prayer, personal witnessing, admonitions and correction.

HOW CAN A BELIEVER THROUGH WING #1 and #2? 

1. Become a committed member of a local church family (Eph. 4:15-16).
2. Commit to learning to know God and His Word (Eph. 4:20-21).
3. Seek the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:22-24).
4. Humbly accept being challenged and corrected by those who know and love you (Eph. 4:25-31).

HOW CAN A LOCAL CHURCH DEVELOP A PATHWAY FOR CHRISTOFORMITY?

1. Establish a preaching curriculum to ensure there is intentionality about your congregation being biblically and doctrinally educated. This would also include educating about the Creeds (Apostles and Nicene).
   
   
2. Promote the purpose and reason for the ordinances of water baptism and communion so that each believer within the congregation understands this is a vital part of their discipleship (Christoformity) pathway.
   
   
3. Do not be a one-winged bird. Do not hinder your responsibility to take your congregation on the Christoformity pathway by assuming that Sunday attendance alone was enough. It isn’t. Ensure that all of your key people are on a two-winged pathway.
   
   
4. Promote discipleship triplets and/or small-groups for wing #2 to be facilitated.
   
   
5. Create a culture of servanthood and humility whereby people willingly serve with their time, talents, and treasure so that they are an increasingly focused on blessing others. 
   
   
6. Create a leadership culture whereby key people are trained to: (i) Prioritise their own lives; (ii) Develop their own Christian disciplines; and, (iii) Mentor others to do (i) and (ii). 

  

 DEVELOPING A DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY 

I would strongly recommend that every local church leadership team creates an achievable discipleship pathway which accommodates:

1. A pre-Christian discipleship  > 

  2. New Christian discipleship > 

   3. Connection into a mentoring/small-group discipleship relationship > 

      4. A Bible study program > 

        5. Leadership and serving  mentoring > 

          6. Leadership/governance role. 

It is important that this pathway be a prayerfully collaborative effort by a local church’s key people. It is also important that the congregation buys-into this pathway and that it is promoted and led well. The simplest way to implement this pathway is to encourage everyone in the church to sign-up to progress through the first step to the sixth step.