Jesus didn’t tell us to go make a church; He told us to go make disciples. We should not be focused upon building big churches, but should focus our efforts upon building spiritually deep disciples. If we build fundamentally strong Christians, then the by-product will be the formation of institutions to bring these people together.
As we analyze biblical prophecy and world events, it would appear that we are entering the end times. As our government continues to seek ways of controlling our faith, it will become increasingly difficult to sustain the megachurch within a culture that will begin to tax church properties, eliminate charitable deductions, and attack the freedom of religion. You add to this dilemma the increased interest and propagation of the Muslim faith and the cultic groups, and you have a formula that leads to the continued decline of Christianity.
What will save our nation and Christianity is for believers to band together like the first-century church and become radical about discipling others. Structure and process can be helpful only as they relate to a one-on-one discipling relationship. Churches that will survive in the twenty-first century are those that place an emphasis on making disciples rather than looking for ways to fund their building projects.
There will be tests, trials, and many unresolved problems, but we will stand fast and not be fearful. We will fight the good fight, for at the end of our journey we desire to hear those coveted words: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matt. 25:21)
Taken from The Spiritual Mentor, by Jim Grassi