Week 2: Who Are You Helping Grow? A Simple Discipleship Step for Busy Pastors

Imagine finding an unexpected hour in your week.

Would you use it to prepare a little more, catch up on administration, or deal with the task you have postponed three times?

For many small church pastors, the answer comes quickly. There is always something waiting. You may also have another job, family responsibilities, long travel distances, or members facing urgent needs.

An invitation to make disciples can sound like one more responsibility for an already tired leader.

But what if the next step fits inside a relationship you already have?

Think about a person before planning an activity

Last week, we considered how to notice growth beyond attendance. This week, we turn to the patient work that helps people grow.

Mancini and Hartman's Future Church directs attention toward developing people. That emphasis raises a practical question for a small church pastor: Who could I help take a next step in following Jesus?

You may immediately think of the most confident person in the congregation. Consider others too: the quiet believer who follows through, the parent asking sincere questions, the younger adult who wants to learn, or the older member whose compassion is already blessing others.

This is not about choosing favorites. It is about giving intentional attention to someone who is willing to learn, with the hope that they will eventually help someone else.

Let people see faith being practiced

Mark 3:14 describes Jesus appointing the Twelve to be with Him and to be sent out. Their preparation involved proximity to His life as well as instruction.

We cannot reproduce Jesus' unique ministry, but we can learn from the way He formed people through relationship, teaching, example, and participation.

Consider prayer. We can explain its importance in a sermon. We can also sit beside someone, listen to their concerns, pray together, and help them begin praying for another person.

Consider hospitality. We can teach its biblical value. We can also invite someone to help welcome a newcomer, then reflect together on what made that person feel seen.

Christian formation involves truth taking shape through practice. The Holy Spirit works through Scripture, prayer, the gathered church, and relationships in which believers encourage one another.

Try a simple conversation

Choose one willing person and arrange a time that respects both your responsibilities. You could meet after worship, speak by phone, or talk during a task you already share. Where literacy or technology is limited, reading a short passage aloud and discussing it may be enough.

Use these four questions:

1. What are you noticing in this passage about Jesus and following Him? Begin with Scripture rather than an agenda for fixing the person.
2. Where does this meet something happening in your life? Listen before offering advice.
3. What is one faithful response you could practice? Keep it specific and realistic.
4. When we speak again, what would be helpful to revisit? Establish a caring follow-up rather than a performance inspection.

Pray together. At the next conversation, ask what happened, what was difficult, and what the person learned. Be willing to share honestly about your own learning too.

These questions are a starting point. They are not a substitute for sound teaching, pastoral judgment, or appropriate help when someone faces serious harm or distress.

Develop people within ministry you already do

Before starting another class, consider one existing activity.

If you visit someone who is lonely, could an appropriate person join you, with the host's permission? If you prepare a Bible discussion, could someone help and gradually learn to lead? If members distribute food, could you also help them learn to listen respectfully and follow up with those who welcome further contact?

Let responsibility grow with readiness. Offer encouragement and feedback. People need room to practice without being abandoned to tasks they are unprepared to carry.

This also protects the pastor from becoming the necessary center of every relationship. Ephesians 4:11–16 pictures a body growing as its members are equipped and contribute. A healthy church needs more people learning to care wisely for one another.

One step this week

Pray about one person you could invite into a more intentional discipleship relationship. Then offer a simple invitation: “Would you be interested in spending some time reading Scripture and talking about how we can live it?”

Begin with an invitation, not a new ministry structure. Faithful development often starts with a small commitment that both people can sustain.

Who are you helping grow? Visit SmallChurchGuys.com and send us this sentence: “The hardest part of helping people grow in our church is…” You do not need to identify anyone in your congregation. Tell us about the challenge in general terms, and let us know if you would prefer a written conversation or a call. We would welcome the opportunity to think through a next step with you.

Next week: Helping your congregation live its mission in everyday places.

Reading credit: This reflection engages themes from Will Mancini and Cory Hartman's Future Church: Seven Laws of Real Church Growth (Baker Books, 2020). The biblical reflections, conversation questions, and weekly exercise are Small Church Guys applications. Learn about the book.