{"id":580,"date":"2020-08-21T16:36:04","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T06:36:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplingasyougo.com\/?p=580"},"modified":"2020-08-21T16:40:12","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T06:40:12","slug":"the-discipleship-bell-is-ringing-but-few-people-are-listening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplingasyougo.com\/?p=580","title":{"rendered":"The discipleship bell is ringing but few people are listening"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I must admit I have mixed emotions about the hype surrounding discipleship at the moment. <\/strong> On the one hand, it\u2019s great that people are talking about it. I\u2019m thankful that people aren\u2019t looking at me with a confused look on their faces when I talk about our mandate to make disciples.  On the other hand, the dialogue also scares me.  My concern is that discipleship will become a fad just like all the other fads we have been subjected to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of the problem leaders face has been described by Martin M. Broadwell in his \u201cLearning Matrix\u201d or what is commonly called the \u201cConscious Competence Ladder\u201d. This model gives us some insights into Paul\u2019s words, \u201cThen we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Level 1 \u2013 Unconscious Incompetence – You don\u2019t know that you don\u2019t know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the stage often described as \u201cIgnorance is bliss.\u201d  There are practices, principles, and skills that would empower you, but you have no clue they exist.  You are unaware of the skills you need to succeed and, sadly, you don\u2019t realize you lack them.  This is often caused by a lethargic approach to biblical principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Level 2 \u2013 Conscious Incompetence – You know that you don\u2019t know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage you realize your inabilities.  Humility is the forerunner to this level of understanding.  The longer you live, the more you discover skills you are lacking or areas in which you need to mature.  Additionally, time with other believers helps you identify growth objectives in which to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Level 3 \u2013 Conscious Competence – You know that you know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this level you acquire knowledge, learn further skills, and implement what you know, fully aware of your abilities.  This level is where you sharpen your skills and hone what you do through practice and discipline. You create a powerful self-assessment tool by combining levels 2 and 3; you understand what you know and what you don\u2019t know.  You are still concentrating on the outworking of these activities but, as you get more practice and experience, these become increasingly automatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Level 4 \u2013 Unconscious Competence – You don\u2019t know that you know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage you operate with automatic ease.  Skills in this level have been stored as habits, and they are executed subconsciously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my experience, most believers operate in level 1 when it comes to disciple-making and even if the discipleship bell has been ringing for years, few people have listened. Isaac Newton\u2019s first law of motion states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest unless a force acts upon it.  Unfortunately, this law is an accurate explanation for the state of the church today.  Too much of the church is asleep, resting comfortably.  And unless something acts upon it, the church will likely remain that way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why has this taken place?  There are at least three answers to this question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n