DSMN 500: Discipleship Ministries Module 7_Week 7 Disciple Making Plan Part 2,
Final Assignment 2026- new version Liberty University
Liberty University School of Divinity
Disciple Making Plan
Part 2, Final Assignment
John L. Bolton
DSMN 500: Discipleship Ministries
, Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1
Overview .........................................................................................................................................2
Passages ...........................................................................................................................................3
Principles .........................................................................................................................................5
Philosophy .......................................................................................................................................6
Practices ..........................................................................................................................................9
Church Organization and Structure ......................................................................................10
Small Group Philosophy ..........................................................................................................11
Calendar and Events ................................................................................................................12
Budget and Personnel ..............................................................................................................13
Curriculum ...............................................................................................................................13
Slogans and Communication Plans.........................................................................................14
Proof ..............................................................................................................................................15
Empirical Evidence ..................................................................................................................15
Statistical Measures and Refinement......................................................................................16
Ratios, Numbers and the Health of the Church ....................................................................17
Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................18
Bibliography .................................................................................................................................19
i
, Introduction
Individuals who enter the house of God often experience salvation but they have not been
transformed, and many do not remain committed over time. These individuals embraced the
chance for salvation by permitting Christ to enter their hearts. Subsequently, individuals may
attend church for a brief period, engage actively in the work associated with Christ, yet
ultimately depart from the community. What is the rationale behind this? What occurred? What
factors have contributed to the decline of churches in contemporary society and the work of
discipleship? The Church welcomes new believers akin to toddlers who are in the process of
learning to walk, speak, pray, and fully commit themselves to Christ. Then the
churches approach can be equated to instructing individuals in swimming by abruptly immersing
them in the deep end of the pool accompanied by a mere wish of good luck. Individuals embrace
Christ, and the community of believers presents them with a Bible, offering encouragement for
their spiritual journey, emphasizing the importance of daily reading and prayerful reflection on
the scriptures. This approach has consistently been misguided. The result for most new believers
tends to be consistent: they struggle to maintain their stability and resilience. Subsequently,
members of the Church express surprise at the absence of returning individuals. They are
surprised, but they should not be. What they did was to help people cross three lanes of a busy
six lane interstate highway, then left them to fend for themselves. They set the new believers up
for failure. It is obvious that the Church has not fully adhered to this directive, failing to
consistently strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of national origin or belief, who
are called by the Holy Spirit, are engaged in a walk with Christ and actively replicating their
faith in others. To understand the reasons individuals, attend church and subsequently depart
within a short timeframe, it is essential to pose the question: What measures can be implemented
1
Final Assignment 2026- new version Liberty University
Liberty University School of Divinity
Disciple Making Plan
Part 2, Final Assignment
John L. Bolton
DSMN 500: Discipleship Ministries
, Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1
Overview .........................................................................................................................................2
Passages ...........................................................................................................................................3
Principles .........................................................................................................................................5
Philosophy .......................................................................................................................................6
Practices ..........................................................................................................................................9
Church Organization and Structure ......................................................................................10
Small Group Philosophy ..........................................................................................................11
Calendar and Events ................................................................................................................12
Budget and Personnel ..............................................................................................................13
Curriculum ...............................................................................................................................13
Slogans and Communication Plans.........................................................................................14
Proof ..............................................................................................................................................15
Empirical Evidence ..................................................................................................................15
Statistical Measures and Refinement......................................................................................16
Ratios, Numbers and the Health of the Church ....................................................................17
Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................18
Bibliography .................................................................................................................................19
i
, Introduction
Individuals who enter the house of God often experience salvation but they have not been
transformed, and many do not remain committed over time. These individuals embraced the
chance for salvation by permitting Christ to enter their hearts. Subsequently, individuals may
attend church for a brief period, engage actively in the work associated with Christ, yet
ultimately depart from the community. What is the rationale behind this? What occurred? What
factors have contributed to the decline of churches in contemporary society and the work of
discipleship? The Church welcomes new believers akin to toddlers who are in the process of
learning to walk, speak, pray, and fully commit themselves to Christ. Then the
churches approach can be equated to instructing individuals in swimming by abruptly immersing
them in the deep end of the pool accompanied by a mere wish of good luck. Individuals embrace
Christ, and the community of believers presents them with a Bible, offering encouragement for
their spiritual journey, emphasizing the importance of daily reading and prayerful reflection on
the scriptures. This approach has consistently been misguided. The result for most new believers
tends to be consistent: they struggle to maintain their stability and resilience. Subsequently,
members of the Church express surprise at the absence of returning individuals. They are
surprised, but they should not be. What they did was to help people cross three lanes of a busy
six lane interstate highway, then left them to fend for themselves. They set the new believers up
for failure. It is obvious that the Church has not fully adhered to this directive, failing to
consistently strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of national origin or belief, who
are called by the Holy Spirit, are engaged in a walk with Christ and actively replicating their
faith in others. To understand the reasons individuals, attend church and subsequently depart
within a short timeframe, it is essential to pose the question: What measures can be implemented
1
