Spiritual formation is a vital process in making disciples because it transforms believers into mature, Christ-centered followers who can, in turn, disciple others. Jesus’ command to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) was not just about evangelism but about deep, intentional spiritual growth—helping people become fully formed in their faith.
Let’s explore how spiritual formation is essential for making disciples, the steps in disciple-making, and the consequences of neglecting spiritual formation in discipleship.
I. Why is Spiritual Formation Essential for Making Disciples?
Spiritual formation provides the foundation, growth, and multiplication of discipleship. Here’s why:
1. It Transforms People into the Image of Christ
Biblical Basis: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
- A true disciple imitates Christ’s character, lifestyle, and mission.
- Spiritual formation shapes the heart, mind, and actions of believers, aligning them with Christ.
- Without transformation, discipleship becomes just knowledge rather than life-changing growth.
2. It Develops a Strong Biblical Foundation
Biblical Basis: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)
- Many fall away because their faith is weak or not deeply rooted in Scripture.
- Spiritual formation teaches disciples to understand, apply, and obey God’s Word, ensuring they remain strong.
- A church filled with spiritually mature believers becomes a training ground for making more disciples.
3. It Strengthens Commitment and Perseverance
Biblical Basis: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” (John 8:31)
- Many people follow Christ for a short time, but only those deeply formed spiritually stay committed.
- Spiritual formation helps disciples develop endurance in trials, faithfulness in service, and passion for growth.
- A well-formed disciple will not be easily swayed by false doctrines or personal struggles.
4. It Equips Believers to Teach Others
Biblical Basis: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
- Discipleship is about multiplication—trained disciples must train others.
- A spiritually formed disciple knows how to disciple others effectively.
- Without spiritual formation, discipleship stops at conversion rather than growing into leadership.
II. The Steps of Discipleship Through Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation works as a structured process that ensures a disciple grows, matures, and multiplies.
Step 1: Encountering Christ (Conversion & Commitment)
- Biblical Basis: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)
The journey begins with an authentic encounter with Christ. - Spiritual formation starts by teaching new believers about faith, repentance, and salvation.
- Without proper spiritual nurture, many converts remain surface-level believers.
Step 2: Learning and Growing (Discipleship & Biblical Training)
Biblical Basis: “Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20)
- A disciple must learn to study Scripture, pray, worship, and develop spiritual disciplines.
- Spiritual formation teaches core doctrines and strengthens biblical knowledge.
- Without deep learning, disciples lack wisdom and understanding, making them vulnerable to spiritual attacks.
Step 3: Character Transformation (Spiritual Maturity & Application)
Biblical Basis: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
- Spiritual formation shapes the inner character of disciples.
- This includes developing Christ-like humility, patience, love, and holiness.
- Without character transformation, discipleship remains superficial and ineffective.
Step 4: Serving Others (Ministry & Spiritual Gifting)
- Biblical Basis: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” (1 Peter 4:10)
- True disciples must learn to serve in ministry, evangelism, and missions.
- Spiritual formation helps disciples discover and develop their spiritual gifts.
- A lack of formation in this stage leads to church members who attend services but do not contribute to the body of Christ.
Step 5: Multiplication (Mentoring and Making Disciples)
Biblical Basis: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
- A well-formed disciple trains others, multiplying the work of Christ.
- This is where leaders, pastors, and future disciple-makers are developed.
- If spiritual formation does not lead to multiplication, the church stagnates.
III. The Consequences of Neglecting Spiritual Formation in Making Disciples
When spiritual formation is missing or weak, discipleship fails, leading to negative effects:
1. Superficial Christianity
- Many profess faith but do not live it out.
- Without spiritual formation, new believers struggle with sin, doubt, and compromise.
- The church becomes full of attendees but not true disciples.
2. High Dropout Rates Among New Believers
- Many fall away because they were never deeply rooted in their faith.
- Without strong discipleship, people leave the faith when faced with trials or temptations.
- This weakens the church’s impact on society.
3. Lack of Evangelism and Church Growth
- Discipleship must lead to multiplication, but without spiritual formation, people do not feel equipped to share their faith.
- Churches that do not prioritize discipleship remain stagnant or even decline.
- Without trained disciples, the church becomes dependent on pastors only, rather than raising leaders from within.
4. Leadership Crisis in the Church
- Without deep spiritual formation, many churches struggle to find strong, biblically sound leaders.
- Untrained leaders lead from personal ambition rather than biblical wisdom.
- This leads to conflict, weak preaching, and a lack of vision in the church.
IV. How Churches Can Strengthen Discipleship Through Spiritual Formation
Churches that prioritize spiritual formation in discipleship create strong, faithful, and multiplying believers. Here’s how:
Develop Discipleship Classes & Training Programs – Teach members the Bible deeply and practically.
Encourage Personal Spiritual Disciplines – Prayer, fasting, worship, and scripture study should be prioritized.
Mentor & Multiply Leaders – Every disciple should eventually mentor others.
Promote a Culture of Accountability – Small groups and discipleship groups strengthen spiritual formation.
Emphasize Application Over Knowledge – Disciples must live out their faith in action, not just learn it in theory.
Conclusion: The Power of Spiritual Formation in Making Disciples
- Spiritual formation is the backbone of true discipleship. Without it, discipleship becomes shallow and ineffective.
- A spiritually formed disciple grows, matures, serves, and multiplies, ensuring that the church continues to expand.
- As Jesus demonstrated, discipleship is a process, not a one-time event—it requires commitment, teaching, transformation, and action.
A church that prioritizes spiritual formation will always be a growing, thriving, disciple-making church.