What if I told you that your discipleship problem was not just spiritual, it was structural?
What if it wasn’t, “People just aren’t serious about discipleship,” and instead was, “I need a system in my week to put resources toward discipleship.”
Now, as small church pastors, we’re used to using phrases like, “We just don’t have the resources.” The truth is, when it comes to building a strong discipleship culture, resources are exactly what you have—more than you realize.
I know the feeling all too well. Pastoring a small church for over 20 years has taught me that we don’t need megachurch budgets to create disciples. We just need to be strategic with what we do have. Whether you’ve got 25 people or 250, these four resources are within reach right now—and you can start using them today.
Resource #1: Time
You might be thinking, “I barely have time to get my sermon done—how am I supposed to have time for discipleship?” I get it. Time is tight. But here’s a powerful truth: Even a small investment of time can yield big results when you’re intentional about it.
If all you have is 10 minutes a day, start there. Set a timer on your phone, pick a specific time (like your lunch break or your commute), and dedicate those 10 minutes to discipling others. Text someone you’re mentoring, pray for your disciples, or even call someone to check in on their spiritual journey.
You’ve just created a structural solution to your discipleship problem: a small, scheduled commitment that adds up over time.
I once interviewed a time management expert who had traveled across the country teaching large crowds about how to manage their time. I asked, “What’s the most powerful time management principle in the world?” He said, “There is always time for the thing you do first.”
There you go. Do small things, and do them first.
One pro tip: Combine time slots. You’ve got to eat, right? Why not use that time for discipleship? Grab coffee with someone you’re mentoring. Or use your daily commute to pray for specific discipleship needs in your church.
Resource #2: Money
I know what you’re thinking: “No, we’re a small church. We don’t have money!” But let me ask you this—does your church have a line item for mowing the lawn or buying toilet paper?
I’m sure you do. Yet, none of those things is the actual mission of your church from Christ!
