If formation is the goal, churches must stop asking only, “What did we teach?” and begin asking, “Who are our people becoming?”
Many churches have become skilled at delivering biblical information. Yet people can attend classes, take notes, and quote Scripture without developing the practices, relationships, and character of Jesus.
Begin With the Desired Fruit
Churches should identify what a formed disciple looks like. Are people growing in prayer, Christlike character, generosity, service, witness, and love for others? Clear fruit helps leaders teach with transformation in mind.
Connect Every Truth to a Practice
Every sermon and lesson should invite a faithful response. Teaching on forgiveness should lead to reconciliation. Teaching on prayer should lead people to pray. We haven’t finished teaching until people know how to practice the truth.
Build Relationships Around Growth
Formation rarely happens through content alone. People need mentors, small groups, ministry teams, and trusted companions who will encourage them and hold them accountable. Every disciple should know their next step and who is walking with them.
Create Rhythms for Reflection
Churches must give people space to reflect on what God is doing in their lives. Questions such as “What is God showing you?” and “What will you do this week?” help move truth from the head into daily life.
Measure Practice and Fruit
Attendance tells us who came. Participation tells us what they did. Fruit tells us who they are becoming.
The church must keep teaching Scripture faithfully. But information transfer cannot be the final goal. We teach so that people may be formed into the likeness of Christ and sent into the world to live what they have learned.
Paul D. Flowers, Sr. 