Discipleship - Jesus' Method versus Today

I just ran across a guy in our PK Ambassador group who was messing around with ChatGPT. He got an incredibly accurate comparison of how Jesus and today's church approach discipleship. 

If you are familiar with AI (Artificial Intelligence) platforms such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini you might find this conversation I had with ChatGPT interesting. I gave it the following 3 prompts and this was the result.  

1. Provide me with a summary of the model of discipleship that Jesus demonstrated during his earthly ministry.
2. Provide with a summary of the model of discipleship used in most churches in America today.
3. Which of these two methods would likely produce more mature Christians?

Here is the response:

ME:  Provide me with a summary of the model of discipleship that Jesus demonstrated during his earthly ministry.

ChatGPT: The model of discipleship that Jesus demonstrated during His earthly ministry was relational, transformational, and missional. It involved several key elements:

1. Calling and Invitation – Jesus personally called His disciples (e.g., Matthew 4:18-22) and invited them to follow Him, emphasizing commitment and faith.
2. Teaching and Instruction – He taught His disciples through parables, sermons (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount), and direct instruction, helping them understand God's kingdom.
3. Modeling and Example – Jesus lived out the principles He taught, demonstrating love, humility, service, and obedience to God (e.g., washing the disciples' feet in John 13:12-17).
4. Community and Relationship – Discipleship took place in close, personal relationships, with Jesus forming a small, intentional community that learned together.
5. Empowerment and Sending – He equipped His disciples to carry out His mission, sending them out to preach, heal, and serve (e.g., Matthew 10, Luke 10).
6. Sacrifice and Servanthood – Jesus emphasized that true discipleship involves self-denial, taking up one's cross, and serving others (Luke 9:23, Mark 10:45).
7. Multiplication and Commission – Before His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make more disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), ensuring that His mission would continue.

This model of discipleship was holistic, focusing on spiritual growth, character formation, and mission-driven service, ultimately transforming the disciples into leaders of the early Church.

ME: Provide with a summary of the model of discipleship used in most churches in America today.

ChatGPT: The model of discipleship used in most churches in America today tends to be more structured, programmatic, and informational rather than deeply relational and life-on-life as Jesus demonstrated. While there is variation among churches, common characteristics include:

1. Classroom-Based Learning – Many churches emphasize discipleship through Bible studies, Sunday school, or small group curriculum rather than through personal mentoring and hands-on experience.
2. Preaching-Centered Approach – Discipleship often revolves around weekly sermons, where the congregation is taught biblical principles but may lack direct personal application and accountability.
3. Programs and Events – Churches frequently use structured programs (e.g., discipleship courses, conferences, and retreats) to foster spiritual growth rather than ongoing personal relationships.
4. Volunteerism and Church Involvement – Many churches equate discipleship with church participation, encouraging members to serve in ministries but sometimes without deeper spiritual formation.
5. Individualized Growth – Discipleship is often seen as a personal journey where individuals are responsible for their own spiritual growth through private devotions, rather than through intentional mentoring relationships.
6. Conversion-Focused – Many churches prioritize evangelism and church attendance over long-term discipleship, sometimes leading to shallow spiritual maturity.
7. Lack of Multiplication – Unlike Jesus' model of making disciples who then make disciples, modern discipleship often stops at personal growth without a strong emphasis on multiplication.

While some churches incorporate more relational, mentor-based discipleship, many rely on structured programs that, while beneficial, may lack the deep, life-on-life transformation that Jesus modeled.

ME: Which of these two methods would likely produce more mature Christians?

ChatGPT:The model of discipleship that Jesus demonstrated-relational, transformational, and missional-is more likely to produce mature Christians compared to the programmatic approach used in many American churches today. Here's why:

1. Personal Investment and Accountability – Jesus' model involved deep relationships, where He walked alongside His disciples, corrected them, encouraged them, and modeled faith in everyday life. This personal mentorship fosters real spiritual growth. In contrast, modern church programs often lack accountability and personal guidance, leading to passive learning.
2. Experiential Learning – Jesus sent His disciples out to minister (Luke 10:1-3), allowing them to practice their faith, make mistakes, and grow. Hands-on experience strengthens maturity far more than passive listening or classroom-style teaching. Many church programs focus on knowledge without real-world application.
3. Heart and Character Formation – Jesus' discipleship emphasized transformation, not just information. He challenged their hearts, attitudes, and behaviors, helping them develop Christlike character. Many modern discipleship programs prioritize head knowledge over heart change.
4. Community and Support – Jesus built a close-knit group of disciples who supported each other. Deep relationships within discipleship create an environment for confession, encouragement, and spiritual growth. Many church discipleship models are isolated and lack deep community.
5. Multiplication and Mission – Jesus' discipleship was designed to multiply. He trained disciples to disciple others (Matthew 28:19-20). In contrast, many churches focus on personal spiritual growth without emphasizing multiplication, leading to stagnation rather than widespread transformation.

While modern church programs can be helpful in providing structure and biblical knowledge, they often fail to produce deeply mature believers because they lack relational depth, real-life practice, and accountability. Jesus' relational model, on the other hand, fosters deep, lasting transformation and produces mature disciples who, in turn, disciple others.

Want to know more about ChatGPT? See www.chatgpt.com

Want to know more about Discipleship? Let's talk about it.