Miguel wasn’t loud. He wasn’t a pastor. He didn’t lead a ministry. He didn’t have a seminary degree. What Miguel did have was a quiet love for Jesus and a heart to help others grow. He spent months walking alongside one new believer named Jordan, meeting weekly, reading Scripture, praying, and just being available. John Marks Comer says in his book, “Contrary to what many assume, Jesus did not invite people to convert to Christianity. He didn’t even call people to become Christians (keep reading…); he invited people to apprentice under him into a whole new way of living. To be transformed.” Jordan, in turn, discipled someone else. And that person eventually discipled another. Over time, what started with one spark, then another. Then another.
Before long, you have a flame, then a fire, then a bonfire that draws others in.
Discipleship is like that. It doesn’t begin with big announcements. It begins with one-on-one investment, quiet and faithful. But over time, the culture changes. What was once rare became normal. This is how the culture of a church changes. Not through events or flashy programs, but through ordinary people doing extraordinary work: making disciples.
Today, in part five of our discipleship series, we explore what it means for Fairlane to move from attenders to disciple-makers, and how every person, not just pastors, has a role in this movement.
What Is Culture, and Why Does It Matter?
Culture isn’t what we say, it’s what we do repeatedly. Churches can preach about discipleship. They can offer classes, post banners, and print bulletins. But if the people in the pews don’t live it out, discipleship never becomes culture.
At Fairlane, we’re asking an honest question: What would it take for disciple-making to become normal here? We’re not talking about one-time curriculum. We’re talking about a mindset shift, a relational model, and a spirit-led movement. If we want Fairlane to produce mature, reproducing believers, we must move beyond event-driven engagement to life-on-life transformation.
Testimony Is More Powerful Than Strategy
Discipleship may sound like a system, but it spreads like a story.
When people hear the testimonies of lives changed through simple obedience, they become more open to participating. Nothing breaks down fear and excuses like a real story.
- A young mom shares how her mentor helped her learn how to pray in the middle of chaos.
- A retiree talks about finding new purpose in discipling a younger man in the faith.
- A teenager tells how their youth leader helped them understand the Bible for the first time.
These stories create momentum. They make disciple-making desirable and doable, “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us,” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). This verse isn’t just about ministry, it’s about investment. Discipleship isn’t sharing lessons; it’s sharing your life.
From Programs to People
Here’s the hard truth: Churches can be program-rich and disciple-poor. We can fill calendars with events, classes, and activities while never creating the space for relationships to flourish. While programs have their place, they can never replace people. While programs have their place, they can never replace people. As John Mark Comer writes, “Following Jesus is not a three-step formula: be with him, become like him, and so on. But there is a sequence. It is not a program but a progression.” Jesus didn’t build a program. He built a pattern:
- He chose 12 men.
- He lived with them.
- He walked with them.
- He corrected and encouraged them.
- Then He sent them out to do the same.
This was Jesus’ model, and it’s still the best one. At Fairlane, this means shifting our mindset from, “How many people came?” to “Who is growing, and who are they investing in?”
Hebrews 10:24–25: Stirring One Another Up
The author of Hebrews urges believers to actively support one another in their faith, saying, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together… but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:24–25). This verse challenges us to think intentionally about how to inspire others toward spiritual action. That’s not a passive posture, it’s proactive. We stir one another when:
- We check in mid-week about spiritual struggles
- We text encouragement or verses at just the right time
- We meet regularly to pray, confess, or celebrate growth
- We create rhythms of mutual discipleship
Meeting together isn’t just about attendance, it’s about accountability and affection.
Culture is created when this kind of investment becomes the default, not the exception.
Mindset Shifts That Shape Culture
To move from attenders to disciple-makers, Fairlane must make several key shifts:
1. From Spectators to Participants
Church is not a show—it’s a spiritual training ground. Everyone has a role to play in growing the body.
2. From Leaders Do It All to Everyone Leads Someone
Disciple-making isn’t just for pastors and elders. Every believer is called to disciple, no matter their age, background, or schedule.
3. From Programs Drive Growth to Relationships Drive Growth
We don’t grow by attending more, we grow by connecting more deeply. Relationships are the vehicle for transformation.
4. From Knowledge-Only Discipleship to Obedience-Oriented Discipleship
Knowing more isn’t the goal. Living more like Jesus is. Culture shifts when we emphasize application, not just information.
Keys to Shaping the Culture at Fairlane
How do we actually change the culture? Here are five tangible ways to shift the discipleship DNA of our church:
1. Storytelling from the Pulpit and Platforms
Highlight testimonies of everyday disciple-makers. Let their lives cast vision.
2. Leadership Alignment
Elders, deacons, and ministry leads must model discipleship personally—not just administratively.
3. Launch Simple Tools for Starting
Give people a starting point—a guide, a reading plan, or 3 basic questions to ask in discipleship meetings. Simplicity increases action.
4. Celebrate Fruit, Not Just Numbers
Celebrate multiplication. Track not only attendance, but spiritual milestones and reproduction stories.
5. Normalize Ongoing Coaching
Offer relational coaching for those trying to disciple others. People stay engaged when they feel supported.
A Call to Fairlane’s Leaders and Members
It’s time. No more waiting for perfect conditions. No more assuming someone else will do it. Every elder. Every teacher. Every ministry volunteer. Every member. We are all disciple-makers. You don’t need a classroom. You need a coffee table. You don’t need a title. You need a burden. The harvest is ready. Let’s stop counting crowds and start releasing disciple-makers.
One Spark at a Time
Remember Miguel? He didn’t set out to change a church. He just said “yes” to walking with one man. And that decision changed everything. Fairlane can be a church filled with Miguels, ordinary people with extraordinary faithfulness. This is how cultures shift. This is how revivals begin. One spark. One story. One disciple at a time.Coming Next: “What If We Actually Did This?” In the final post in this series, we’ll imagine what Fairlane could become if we took all these ideas seriously. We’ll paint a picture of transformation, not just in theory, but in reality. If we obey Jesus’ command to make disciples, what might our church look like a year from now? We’ll dream, and then we’ll move.